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Written Answers

Volume 983: debated on Thursday 24 April 1980

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Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 24 April 1980

Employment

Job Vacancies

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing for England the number of job vacancies unfilled per 100 registered unemployed for each year from 1966 to 1980.

Employee Activity Rates

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the employee activity rates for males and for females, respectively, for England for each year from 1966 onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the employee activity rates for men and for women, respectively, for each of the age groups 16 to 24 years and 25 to 44 years, for men only for the age group 45 to 64 years and 65 years and over, and for women only for 45 to 59 years and 60 years and over, for each of the standard regions of the United Kingdom.

Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of employees in employment in each of the standard industrial classification categories from I to XXIV in mid-1966, mid-1971, mid-1976 and at the latest available time.

Retail Price Index Advisory Committee

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the current membership of the Retail Price Index Advisory Committee, indicating the organisations represented by, or nominating, each member, the dates in the past five years when the committee has met, and the dates on which it discussed the inclusion or removal of tobacco products from the retail price index; and if he will publish its advice on this matter.

Heavy Weights (Lifting Regulations)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the proposals for lifting of heavy weights by employees' regulations; what is the composition of the working party to examine the matter; and when he expects to lay the regulations before Parliament.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 April 1980, c. 2]: As stated in my written reply on 24 January 1980—[Vol. 977, c. 351.]—the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) considered draft proposals from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for regulations and guidance on 18 December 1979, and decided to set up a working party to formulate general guidance for those responsible for designing work systems and for supervising work. The content of the regulations would need to be reconsidered in the light of the revised guidance. I have, however, been in touch with the chairman of the Commission about the possibility of making faster progress with this difficult subject, and I am pleased to say that he has promised that the Commission will reconsider the matter at the earliest opportunity.

Overseas Development

Liberia

asked the Lord Privy Seal what forms aid to the African Republic of Liberia take at present; and how much cash aid went to that republic in 1979.

Aid is in the form of technical co-operation. We provide 10 advisers in rubber development, health and education, and a mapping and survey project; and a small training programme in the United Kingdom. Total expenditure in 1979 was £290,000 In addition, the Commonwealth Development Corporation has investments in Liberia. In 1979 it spent £903,000 on oil palm, rubber, and water and sewerage projects.

Energy

Magnox Power Stations

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what the present output of electricity is from Magnox power stations; and how this compares with the forecasted output when these stations were commissioned;

  • (2) what is the expected life at current levels of operation of each of the Magnox power stations;
  • (3) what was the announced output of each Magnox station in 1979 compared with both performance figures notified to the European Economic Community and to original planned output;
  • (4) what is the estimated cost of boiler defects and failures at the Wylfa Magnox station.
  • Plutonium (Handling And Storage Costs)

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the total cost at current prices of plutonium handling and storage in each of the last 20 years.

    The cost of handling and storing the plutonium arising from the Magnox power station programme is very small and is not separately identified within the price charged to the generating boards for reprocessing spent fuel.

    National Nuclear Corporation

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is ready to announce a new chairman for the National Nuclear Corporation.

    I am pleased to say that Mr. Denis Rooney, an executive vicechairman of BICC Ltd., has agreed to take up the chairmanship of the National Nuclear Corporation in succession to Lord Aldington. The formal appointment will run from 1 July. Meanwhile, he is joining the NNC board as a director and will devote as much time as possible to NNC affairs. I would like to pay tribute again to Lord Aldington's unstinted service to the nuclear industry over the last seven years.

    Geothermal Energy Project

    asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made on the geothermal energy project at Marchwood, Southampton.

    The first results of the test which have proved the existence of a large deposit of water at a temperature of 70°C, are encouraging. Although it is too early to draw firm conclusions about the commercial usefulness of this new energy source, I am hopeful that the project team will be able to demonstrate that Britain now has a new and useful source of natural heat.At Marchwood, the drilling was done to a depth of 8,600 ft, and the geothermal water was found at 5,600 ft. Allowing for heat loss in transit, the water will come to the surface at a temperature of 65° – 67°C. There is sufficient water in the Marchwood well to heat about a thousand houses over a period of several decades, and further wells of similar potential could be drilled into the same reservoir.The use of geothermal heat is an entirely new technology for the United Kingdom. Although its uses are limited by the amount of geothermal water in Britain's rock structure, this new resource might eventually prove a useful alternative to conventional fuels in heating homes and offices.A pump will be installed in late summer this year to bring the water to the surface, and project workers are looking at possible uses for the water in the local area. In the meantime, further tests will be done to assess the available volume and mineral content of the water.

    Scheduled Offences (Northern Ireland)

    asked the Attorney-General how many charges of scheduled offences have been withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions against persons in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years.

    Since 1976 the number of persons charged by the police with scheduled offences in respect of whom the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland subsequently directed no prosecution have averaged approximately 6 per cent. of the total charged and are as follows:

    YearNumber of Persons
    197653
    197772
    197857
    197965
    1980 (to end of March)12

    National Finance

    Capital Transfer Tax

    3.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has examined the feasibility of a capital transfer tax levy on recipients rather than on donors.

    This is one of the possibilities we have considered and, of course, a Green Paper was published in 1972 which examined in some detail the possibility of a switch from a donor to a donee basis. In 1972 there was little enthusiasm for the change and, judging from the representations received over the past year, this is still the case today.

    Loi Monory

    13.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set up a departmental investigation of potential benefits from introducing a scheme similar to the French Loi Monory.

    This matter is one of a number of issues relevant to studies we have in hand of the effect of tax provisions on the pattern of personal savings.

    Inflation

    14.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of inflation

    The year-on-year increase in the retail price index up to March 1980 was 19·8 percent.

    Widows' Pensions

    16.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to introduce proposals to remove the anomalies in the taxation of widows' pensions.

    The new allowance which my right hon. and learned Friend proposed in his Budget will reduce the burden of tax on widows in the year of bereavement. We are taking full account of the rise in prices in raising the level of widows' pensions this year, but I do not regard as anomalous the fact that, like retirement pensions, they are treated as income for tax purposes.

    Public Expenditure

    19.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the circumstances in which public expenditure will be permitted to exceed cash limits.

    It is the Government's policy that expenditure should be contained within cash limits.

    Capital Transfer Tax

    20.

    asked the Chan cellor of the Exchequer when the annual yield from capital transfer tax will rise to the same percentage of gross domestic product as that provided by death duties in 1972.

    The level of gross domestic product and the yield of capital transfer tax in future years will depend on the level of incomes, profits, prices and so on in those years.

    Budget Reactions

    21.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters, resolutions and petitions he has received favourable to his Budget, and how many critical ones.

    My right hon. and learned Friend continues to receive a large number of letters and so on about the Budget. About two thirds of these have been in support of his proposals. Most of those which were critical took issue with particular details, not with the strategy as a whole.

    Stamp Duty

    22.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will institute a study of the possibility of indexing the threshold at which stamp duty be comes payable on house purchase.

    My right hon. and learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has no plans for a formal study in mind but I shall keep the level of stamp duty under review in the light of inflation and trends in house prices.

    Value Added Tax Tribunals

    24.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the House of Lords decision in Customs and Excise Commissioners v. J. H. Corbitt (Numismatists) Ltd., he will consider introducing legislation extending the taxpayer's statutory right to appeal to a value added tax tribunal by giving such a tribunal a general appellate jurisdiction.

    I refer my right hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Grist) on 17 April.

    International Monetary Fund (Substitution Account)

    25.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made in the International Monetary Fund with discussions on the substitution account.

    The IMF executive board has been continuing its work on the proposed substitution account. The IMF interim committee is expected to discuss this at its meeting in Hamburg on 25 April.

    £ Sterling (Exchange Rate)

    26.

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now instruct the Governor of the Bank of England to intervene in the foreign ex change markets in order to reduce the exchange rate of the £ sterling.

    International Organisations (Consolidated Fund Payments)

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report subscriptions paid to international organisations by Her Majesty's Government directly from the Consolidated Fund and which are thereby excluded from table 9 of the Chief Secretary's memorandum.

    The note preceding table 9—subscriptions etc. to international organisations—in the Supply Estimates 1980–81—Cmnd. 7869—states that payments to the European Community are excluded because they are met directly from the Consolidated Fund and not from Votes. Details of payments made to the European Community under the European Communities Act 1972 are published annually at the end of the year in the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts and supplementary statements. The latest published accounts and supplementary statements published in December 1979 are those for 1978–79 (House of Commons Papers, Nos. 307 and 308).

    Dundee (Inland Revenue Staff)

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue staff have been employed in Dundee in each year since 1970; and if he will give assurances that there will be no redundancies in Dundee, in view of his Budget Statement that there will be a general reduction in Inland Revenue manpower.

    The number of permanent staff—counting part-timers as half units—employed in Dundee by the Inland Revenue in each year since 1970 is as follows:

    1 April 1970115
    1971115
    1972118½
    1973122½
    1974114½
    1975124
    1976131
    1977136½
    1978135½
    1979134½
    1980130½
    It is intended to rely to the maximum extent on natural wastage to secure manpower reductions.

    European Community (Council Of Finance Ministers)

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Community Finance Council in Luxembourg on 21 April.

    The Finance Council met, with the Italian Finance Minister in the chair.The Council prepared the ground in certain respects for the forthcoming European Council. There was no discussion of the size of the settlement of the United Kingdom's budget problem. There was, however, general agreement on the nature of the measures needed to reduce our net contribution to the Community budget. There were differences of view over the duration of the measures. I argued that they should last long enough for the Community to tackle the underlying cause of the United Kingdom's problem by reducing the share of Community spending devoted to price support expenditure under the common agricultural policy, and thus to prevent a recurrence of the problem when they expired.The Council also heard a statement from the chairman of the monetary committee on the proposed IMF substitution account and approved the text of a statement which the Presidency will make on the Community's behalf at the meeting of the IMF interim committee in Hamburg later this week.Ministers examined the Commission's proposals for a second tranche of the Ortoli loan facility and for expanding the scope of the facility. They asked officials to continue work on the subject and to bring it back to the Council at an early date.The Council agreed a common Community line for the forthcoming review of the OECD consensus on export credits.

    Ordinary Share Disposals (Capital Gains Tax)

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to the Inland Revenue of collecting capital gains tax on the disposal of ordinary shares which had been held for not less than 12 months for 1979–80; and what proportion of the yield of the tax this represents.

    Trade

    Civil Hydrography

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statment on civil hydrography.

    The Government fully recognise the important contribution which up-to-date charts make to the safety of merchant shipping around our coasts. About one-third of survey work currently undertaken by the Hydrographer of the Navy is relevant to the needs of international shipping. In addition, however, the Government have decided that the Hydrographer will assign survey resources over the next two years to undertake repetition surveys of the unstable areas in the southern North Sea and off the eastern and southern coasts of the United Kingdom, and to carry out the most urgent of the new surveys required for tanker routes in north-west Scottish waters. Contract negotiations are expected to begin later this year for the purchase of one new coastal survey vessel for civil work. Design studies to this end are in hand. The progress of the civil hydrographic programme will be monitored jointly by the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Trade, and the Government will keep under review the question of whether further resources should be made available for civil surveys.

    Esso Petroleum Company (Agents' Contracts)

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what representations he has received from the Motor Agents Association concerning the Esso company's proposals for new contracts for its agents' forecourt shops and other proposals;

  • (2) if he will consider the monopoly situation caused by the new contract proposals by the Esso oil company with its agents.
  • National Film Finance Corporation

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make it a condition of future grants to the National Film Finance Corporation that it should either give bona fide researchers access to its archives, as is frequent practice among public corporations, or deposit its records with the Public Record Office, the British Film Institute, or another such institution with facilities for preservation and public access.

    Though I sympathise with the general objective of making information more widely available, I believe that, in this instance, because questions of commercial confidentiality are involved, the proposed form of access to NFFC archives would be inappropriate.

    Oil Tankers (Inert Gas Systems)

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement about the fitting of inert gas systems to oil tankers.

    Inert gas systems are an important safety device which reduce the risk of explosions on oil tankers.The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974, which will come into force on 25 May, requires large new oil tankers to be fitted with an inert gas system (IGS).The Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation convened a conference in February 1978 which adopted a Protocol to SOLAS 1974 embodying more extensive IGS requirements.We have decided additionally to give effect to these requirements for United Kingdom registered tankers, although the Protocol will not yet be in force, on the timetable developed at the 1978 Conference. This will require large existing tankers to be equipped with a IGS by June 1981, and medium sized and smaller existing tankers to be so equipped by June 1983.

    IEXPORTS OF SCOTCH AND NORTHERN IRISH WHISKY
    A)Million proof gallonsPercentage of total exports
    BottledBulk blendedBulk maltBottledBulk blendedBulk malt
    197874·021·89·670219
    197972·319·19·472199
    B)£ million fobPercentage of total exports
    BottledBulk blendedBulk maltBottledBulk blendedBulk malt
    1978580·053·427·48884
    1979622·451·63308875
    II
    EXPORTS OF SCOTCH AND NORTHERN IRISH WHISKY TO SPECIFIED MARKETS
    A)
    Million proof gallons
    BottledBulk blendedBulk malt
    197819791978197919781979
    United States of America22·020·914·212·3**
    France4·65·01·01·2**
    Japan4·04·6*0·16·36·4
    Belgium-Luxembourg2·52·40·30·4**
    Federal Republic of Germany2·12·11·31·20·10·1
    South Africa1·81·90·10·20·10·1
    Spain1·81·2**1·00·8
    Argentina0·20·40·80·6
    Australia0·30·22·81·8**
    Brazil0·30·20·20·10·60·5
    New Zealand0·10·10·40·5**
    * less than 50,000 proof gallons

    Comparable requirements will apply to foreign tankers when in United Kingdom ports.

    Scotch Whisky (Exports)

    asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether he will list, by volume in millions of proof gallons and by value in £ sterling for each of the calendar years 1978 and 1979, the total exports of bottled Scotch whisky, the total exports of bulk malt Scotch whisky and the total exports of bulk blended Scotch whisky to each of the following countries: the United States of America, Australia, West Germany, France, New Zealand, Belgium, Luxembourg, Japan, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa;(2) whether he will list by volume in millions of proof gallons and value in £ sterling for each of the calendar years 1978 and 1979, the total exports of bottled Scotch whisky, the total exports of bulk malt Scotch whisky and the total exports of bulk blended Scotch whisky; and if he will express these figures as a percentage of total exports of Scotch whisky.

    [pursuant to his reply, 15 April 1980, c. 573]: The information for Scotch and Northern Irish whisky (which are not separately identified in the Overseas Trade Statistics) is as follows:

    B)
    £ million fob
    BottledBulk blendedBulk malt
    197819791978197919781979
    United Staffs of America164·2162·030·130·1
    France37·345·51·92·90·1
    Japan31·140·00·10·118·222·9
    Belgium-Luxembourg21·621·10·60·90·1
    Federal Republic of Germany19·724·32·22·50·20·2
    South Africa11·513·60·40·60·30·2
    Spain10·69·12·82·4
    Argentina2·13·22·62·4
    Australia3·22·812·48·1
    Brazil3·52·60·40·21·21·1
    New Zealand0·71·02·22·7
    † Less than £50,000 fob.

    Prime Minister (Engagements)

    Q4.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 April.

    Q6.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    Q9.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    Q10.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 April.

    Q11.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    Q12.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    Q14.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 April.

    Q15.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 April.

    Q16.Mr.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    Q17.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 April.

    Q19.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 April.

    Q20.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    022.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 April.

    Q23.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    Q24.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 April.

    Q25.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    Q27.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 April.

    Q28.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    Q29.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 April.

    I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Isle of Ely (Mr. Freud).

    Textile Industry

    Q5.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the position of the textile industry.

    We recognise the special problems of the textile industry and the difficulties it is facing and we appreciate what the industry has already achieved in rationalising itself, and its fine export record. Its position in future will ultimately depend on the state of the market at home and abroad and on the drive, determination and enterprise of those working in the industry.

    Washington Dc

    Q8.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to pay an official visit to Washington DC.

    I paid an official visit to Washington last December and have at present no plans for a further visit.

    London Borough Of Harrow

    Q13.

    asked the Prime Minister if she plans to visit the London borough of Harrow.

    Dialysis Units

    Q18.

    asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the provision of trained staff for dialysis units.

    Health authorities are responsible for recruiting the staff they need. Training facilities are generally adequate but there are sometimes difficulties in attracting qualified nursing staff to dialysis work. Local campaigns are being planned to draw back to nursing those who have left the service and, by increasing the pool of qualified staff, these may help recruitment to dialysis units.

    Clegg Commission

    asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the recommendations of the Clegg commission in respect of the teaching profession in Scotland regarding its pay comparability exercise.

    As I said in the House on 22 April, the salaries of Scottish teachers are negotiated in their own negotiating body and I believe that it is best to leave matters to that body.

    Tuc

    Q21.

    asked the Prime Minister when next she will meet the leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

    I meet representatives of the TUC at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

    Common Market (Referendum)

    asked the Prime Minister whether she will hold a referendum on whether the United Kingdom should leave the Common Market.

    National Enterprise Board (Ex-Members)

    asked the Prime Minister what consideration she has given to requests from former members of the National Enterprise Board, or their current employers, for compensation for loss of emoluments from public funds following their voluntary resignation from this board; and what conclusions she has reached.

    My right hon. Friend and hon. Friends have considered one such request; no payment has been authorised in respect of it. Another case is still under consideration.

    Civil Service

    Recruitment Policy

    asked the Minister for the Civil Service why the Civil Service refuses to recruit training opportunities scheme graduates in data processing who have not obtained two A-level passes.

    The Civil Service needs to maintain the standard of executive officer entrants who are recruited for a range of posts, not just to work in the specialised area of data processing for which the TOPS graduates have specifically been trained. This question has been examined on many occasions, including earlier this year. If my hon. Friend has any particular point in mind which he would like me to look at afresh, I should be pleased to do so.

    Training Opportunity Scheme Graduates

    asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many TOPS graduates in computing, currently employed in administration, are awaiting promotion to executive officer grading.

    1 regret that this information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many TOPS graduates in computing have been recruited to the Civil Service in the year ended 31 March.

    I regret that this information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Education And Science

    Educational Disadvantage

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant

    (i) Grants for information and support services:£
    National Youth Bureau245,250
    National Council for Voluntary Youth Services8,150
    (ii) Grants towards the headquarters administrative expenditure of national voluntary youth organisations:
    £
    Anglican Young People's Association500
    Army Cadet Force Association5,000
    Association for Jewish Youth10,350
    Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland4,700
    Boys' Brigade*21,000
    British Council of Churches4,300
    British Red Cross Society6,100
    Campaigners2,750
    Catholic Youth Service Council9,600
    Church Lads' Brigade and Church Girls' Brigade6,850
    Church of England Board of Education20,700
    Co-operative Union1,550
    Council for Nature5,350
    Duke of Edinburgh's Award41,850

    to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 17 March, if he will give details of the information he has received from the Centre for Information and Advice on Educational Disadvantage showing that there is use by local authorities and schools of its services; and if he will list the local authorities and schools concerned.

    My right hon. and learned Friend received a detailed submission from the centre's governors in January and he has also received copies of various recent publications by the centre. These contain information about the local authorities and schools which are cooperating with the work being undertaken by the centre's field officers, about other authorities visited by centre staff, and about inquiries which authorities and teachers made to the centre last year. A list of the local authorities and schools concerned is not, however, available.

    Youth Organisations

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report which youth organisations receive money from public funds and the figure each receives; and for what purposes the money is used.

    Details of grants paid by my Department to voluntary youth organisations during the financial year 1979–80 are given below. Information about grants paid by other Government Departments and by local authorities is not available.

    £
    Endeavour Training*14,200
    Foudroyant Trust6,500
    Girls' Brigade16,600
    Girl Guides Association43,000
    Girls' Venture Corps15,700
    Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade2,850
    Methodist Association of Youth Clubs37,800
    National Association for Asian Youth13,250
    National Association of Boys' Clubs107,350
    National Association of Youth Clubs165,300
    National Elfrida Rathbone Society10,200
    National Federation of 18+ Groups*21,750
    National Federation of Gateway Clubs6,600
    National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs29,100
    National PHAB10,350
    National Youth Assembly6,000
    National Youth Theatre15,030
    Ocean Youth Club4,500
    Outward Bound Trust10,150
    Sail Training Association3,000
    Salvation Army6,000
    Scout Association46,850
    Sea Cadet Association12,350
    St. Ambulance Brigade5,900
    Union of Maccabi Associations2,250
    United Kingdom Federation of Jazz Bands3,700
    United Reform Church11,700
    Woodcraft Folk4,400
    Young Christian Workers13,150
    Young Men's Christian Association*82,450
    Young Women's Christian Association46,750
    Youth Hostels Association*69,050
    * These figures include grants for capital projects undertaken by the headquarters organisation
    iii) Grants paid to support specific developments of an innovatory nature in the work of an organisation:
    £
    National Association of Youth Clubs (8 projects)72,000
    Scouts Association (2 projects)16,300
    Girl Guides Association (2 projects)15,500
    Young Men's Christian Association9,000
    British Council of Churches1,500
    Endeavour Training4,300
    Duke of Edinburgh's Award2,750
    (iv) Grants for experimentpal projects designed to pioneer new ground in work with young people:
    £
    National Association of Youth Clubs21,500
    National Association of Asian Youth13,050
    National Council for Voluntary Youth Services19,750
    Sheffield Association of Youth Clubs13,550
    (v) Grants for research in the youth service field:
    £
    National Association of Youth Clubs4,300
    National Youth Bureau12,650
    (vi) Grants for the training of youth and community workers:
    £
    Young Men's Christian Association National College74,750
    In-Service Training and Education Panel34,750
    The Department also paid grants amounting to £1,737,000 to supplement local authority grants voluntary youth organisations for local capital projects.

    Scotland

    Quangos

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the non-departmental public bodies he has abolished, or cut back, from 1979 until the latest available date, giving the financial cost, including administrative costs, and the amount disbursed by the non-departmental public bodies in the latest available 12 months; and how many persons, including secretarial services, were involved directly in each non-departmental public body.

    Abolished since 3 May 1979Financial (including administrative) costs 1978–79Amount Disbursed By The Body 1978–79Number of persons (including secretarial services) involved directly in body at 1 January 1979
    £
    Advisory Committee on Committee medicine Establishments *1,4447
    Advisory Committee on Vocational Preparation6,70018
    Scottish Committee for Schools/Industry Liaison2,70026
    Scottish Home Ownership Forum11,20018
    Animals Board of the Joint Consultative Organisation for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food15,60023
    Cut back since 3 May 1979Financial (including administrative) costs 1978–79Amount disbursed by the body 1978–79Number of persons (including secretarial services) actively involved in the body At 1 January 1979At 1 January 1980
    £
    Newbattle Abbey College233,409NilStaff3434
    Members of governing body6229
    * Now amalgamlated with the Advisory Committee on Hospital Medical Eastablihments.

    Unemployment Statistics

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the travel-to-work areas in Scotland in which, at the latest convenient date, percentage unemployment was higher than for Northern Ieland.

    The information, as at 13 March 1980, is set out in the table below:

    Travel-to-work-areaTotal Unemployed percentage rate
    Campbeltown12·3
    Cumnock11·7
    Dumbarton12·7
    Forres13·5
    Girvan12·9
    Greenock12·6
    Irvine15·1
    Kilmarnock12·6
    North Lanarkshire13·3
    South Lanarkshire11·7
    Newton Stewart15·7
    Portree18·6
    Rothesay13·6
    Sanquhar13·6
    Stornoway14·1
    Northern Ireland11·5
    * Estimated figures due to industrial action at careers offices.

    Dental Health

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage of people in Scotland with no

    The information is as follows:natural teeth in the following age groups:

    (a) 16 to 24 years,(b) 25 to 34 years,
    (c) 35 to 44 years,(d) 45 to 54 years,
    (e) 55 to 64 years,(f) 65 to 74 years,
    (g) 75 years and over and(h) all ages.

    The information set out in the table below is the most recent available; it derives from a survey of adult dental health in Scotland carried out in 1972. A United Kingdom survey was carried out in 1978, and its findings will be published later this year.

    Age groupProportion of population edentulous
    Per cent.
    16–242
    25–3413
    35–4435
    45–5454
    55–6478
    65–7486
    75 and over89
    All ages44

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage of children at the following ages with untreated dental diseases in need of attention (a) 5 years, (b) 9 years and (c) 14 years.

    Information about all children is not available either as a single total or by separate ages. However, statistics relating to the school dental service for 1978—the latest year for which information is available—show that 57·1 per cent. of children seen at routine inspections in schools during that year were found to have defects. Complementary figures in relation to pre-school and other children examined by general dental practitioners are not readily available.

    Tayside Region

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the projects within Tayside region whose capital expenditure has been approved by the Scottish Office in each year since regionalisation; and if he will state the location and cost of each project.

    Such information is not readily available as consents under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 are now given in respect of total capital expenditure incurred within each main programme. If the hon. Member requires details of capital projects undertaken by local authorities in Tayside, he may care to seek the information from them.

    Manufacturing And Non-Manufacturing Industry

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage breakdown for public and private sectors of those employed in (a) manufacturing

    Born 1975 vaccinated by 31 December 1977Born 1976 vaccinated by 31 December 1978Born 1977 vaccinated by 31 December 1979
    SCOTLAND55·449·147·7
    Argyll and Clyde61·147·647·9
    Ayrshire and Arran27·937·136·1
    Borders58·055·860·0
    Dumfries and Galloway69·957·159·9
    Fife55·042·345·2
    Forth Valley56·852·150·3
    Grampian63·453·455·1
    Greater Glasgow52·749·249·1
    Highland64·348·647·9
    Lanarkshire55·558·041·6
    Lothian58·446·948·7
    Orkney62·741·026·5
    Shetland13·038·150·7
    Tayside57·747·346·5
    Western Isles75·560·862·5
    Note: The figures for Greater Glasgow health board are estimates based on a sample.

    A75 (European Community Aid)

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in the light of the assurances given by European Economic Community officials that improvements to industry and (6) non-manufacturing industry in Scotland.

    Work Force (Public And Private Sectors)

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the Scottish work force is employed in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector.

    Comprehensive information on the numbers employed in the public and private sectors, respectively, in Scotland is not available. The estimated percentage employed in central Government Departments, the National Health Service and local government as a percentage of total employment in Scotland in 1979 was 21·9.

    Whooping Cough

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the vaccination rate for whooping cough in Scotland in each of the past three years; and if he can provide a breakdown per health board.

    The whooping cough vaccination acceptance rates for the relevant groups of children are:the A75 road are classed for European Economic Community aid, when he will be making application for such aid.

    This will be done at the appropriate time. The major improvements schemes planned for the A75 are not yet sufficiently prepared to be proposed as candidates for aid from the European regional development fund.

    Primary Education (Dundee)

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received Tay-side region's recommendations on the future of primary schooling in the West End of Dundee; and when he expects to make a statement on the recommendations.

    School Meals (Dundee)

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for a Minister from his Department to visit Dundee schools to see the school meals service now being provided by Tayside region.

    The operation of the school meals service in Dundee is the responsibility of Tayside regional council and it would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene.

    Home Department

    Immigration (Italian And United Kingdom Nationals)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Italians have settled in the United Kingdom since British entry into the European Economic Community; and how many Britons have gone to live permanently in Italy.

    Statistics on the number of Italians accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom are published annually by the Home Office in " Control of Immigration Statistics "—table 4(c) of the issue for 1979, Cmnd. 7875, published on 18 April 1980. The Home Office has no information available on the number of Britons who have gone to live permanently in Italy.However, the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys make annual estimates from the international passenger survey of the number of citizens of various countries who leave, or enter, the United Kingdom with the intention of remaining abroad, or of staying in the United Kingdom, for at least a year. It is so estimated that during the period 1974–78, 4,000 more Italian citizens left the United Kingdom to reside abroad than came here to stay; and 3,000 more citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies left the United Kingdom to reside in Italy than came from Italy to stay in the United Kingdom.

    Detained Persons (Assaults And Deaths)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions of police officers for assault on people in police custody there have been during the last 10 years.

    The number of police officers convicted of assault while on duty in each of the years 1970–1979 is given in the following table. We have no information as to the place or circumstances of the assault.

    YearNumber of officers convicted
    19702
    19713
    19722
    19733
    19745
    19754
    19764
    197711
    19786
    197910

    Immigration

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons, at the latest and most convenient stated date, from the Arabian States are settled in Great Britain; for what periods of time these are permitted to stay; how many are classified as students; and to what extent any of the costs for these people remaining in Great Britain fall upon the British taxpayer.

    The information requested by the hon. Member is not available. However, statistics on those admitted to and accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom, analysed by citizenship and nationality, are published annually in " Control of Immigration Statistics". The issue for 1979, Cmnd. 7875, was published on 18 April.A sample survey of households and hotels taken in May 1977 by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys suggests that there were then about 45,000 people resident in Great Britain who said they had been born in the States of Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yeman (Arab republic), and Yeman (People's Democratic Republic). This estimate includes students here for more than six months—other than those living in hostels or other institutions—but excludes, for example, visitors for less than six months.

    Electoral Registers

    27.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are entered in the electoral registers for England and Wales who attain the age of 18 years during the period of validity of the registers; and what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that all entitled persons are registered.

    We understand that about 536,000 such persons—approximately two-thirds of those eligible—are included in the 1980 electoral registers in England and Wales. Detailed figures will be given in an OPCS monitor to be published shortly.In order to increase the rate of registration among this group of electors, we intend to pay special attention to them in the publicity which accompanies the annual registration process and in the redesigned version of form A.

    Remanded Prisoners

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prison department establishments which do not allow domestic visits to remand prisoners on Saturdays.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those prison department establishments where (a) telephones have been installed for use by remand prisoners and (b) where such prisoners are allowed supervised use of telephones to communicate with legal representatives.

    The information requested is not available in the form requested. In some of the establishments listed below there is a special telephone which can be monitored by staff, available for the use of unconvicted prisoners. In others, an ordinary telephone is made available to unconvicted prisoners and in the remainder staff make calls on prisoners' behalf. The establishments holding unconvicted prisoners participating in this scheme are as follows:

    • Brockhill
    • Low Newton
    • Risley
    • Thorp Arch
    • Ashford
    • Latchmere House
    • Norwich
    • Cardiff
    • Exeter
    • Winchester
    • Holloway
    • Bedford
    • Birmingham
    • Leicester
    • Lincoln
    • Shrewsbury
    • Durham
    • Leeds
    • Brixton
    • Canterbury
    • Lewes
    • Norwich
    • Wandsworth
    • Wormwood Scrubs
    • Camp Hill
    • Bristol
    • Cardiff
    • Dorchester
    • Exeter
    • Gloucester
    • Oxford
    • Swansea
    • Winchester
    The telephone may be used to consult a solicitor within the guidelines issued to governors about the telephone scheme for unconvicted prisoners.

    Offences By Minors (Parental Responsibility)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to make parents responsible for injuries to persons arising from criminal offences committed by minors.

    Following conviction a court may order an offender to pay compensation for any personal injury resulting from the offence. Where a court orders a juvenile to pay compensation it may, and must if the offender is under the age of 14, order that the sum be paid by the parent or guardian, unless satisfied that the parent or guardian cannot be found or has not conduced to the commission of the offence by neglecting to exercise due care and control of the offender. I do not think it is right or necessary for vicarious liability to be carried any further than this.

    Member's Correspondence

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 16 April to send a formal acknowledgement letter stating the matter would receive attention to the communication from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West dated 19 March, enclosing one from the Reverend D. O'Hanlon S.C.C.; and whether he will expedite replies in future.

    It is the practice in the Home Office for letters from hon. Members to be formally acknowledged on receipt by means of a printed card. I am sorry that it has not yet been possible to send the hon. Member a substantive reply to his letter and that an interim reply should have been delayed by pressure of work within the Department. The matter raised by the hon. Member is being looked into and a full reply will be sent to him as soon as possible.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 16 April to send a formal acknowledgement saying this matter would be receiving attention to the letter dated 4 April from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West; and whether, in the light of the fact that it is now taking between six weeks and two months to get any substantive reply from his Department, he will expedite replies to correspondence.

    It is the practice in my Department for letters from hon. Members to be formally acknowledged on receipt by means of a printed card. The letter of 16 April to which the hon. Member refers was sent when it became apparent that, because of the need to consult the governor of Pentonville, there might be some delay in sending a full reply. A substantive reply was, in the event, sent on 23 April. Bearing in mind the volume of correspondence received in my Department I am satisfied that letters from hon. Members are dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

    Mrs Evelyn Williams And Mrs Lee Williams

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on what has happened to Mrs. Evelyn Williams and Mrs. Lee Williams who were formerly in custody in Her Majesty's prison, Holloway.

    Mrs. Evelyn Williams and her sister, Mrs. Lee Williams, were removed from the United Kingdom on 4 April 1980.

    Casinos (Certificates Of Consent)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been made to the Gaming Board for casino certificates of consent for the London area in the last six months; and how many of these have been granted.

    I understand that during the six months from 1 October 1979 there were 18 applications for certificates of consent for new premises, of which five have been granted; 10 for extensions to existing premises, of which three have been granted; and seven for the transfer of existing licences, of which none, has been granted.

    Voluntary Services Unit

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations are funded by the voluntary services unit of his Department; and what financial support is given to each of these organisations.

    I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 31 March.—[Vol. 982, c. 31–32.] In addition to the grant applications there listed as agreed in 1979–80, the following grants-in-aid were administered by the voluntary services unit:

    National Council for Social Service (from 1 April 1980 renamed National Council for Voluntary Organisations)—£528,000.
    Women's Royal Voluntary Service—£2,860,000.

    Obscenity And Film Censorship

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for consultations on the report of the Williams committee on obscenity and film censorship.

    Letters are being sent to a number of organisations inviting them to submit comments on the report. I should also welcome observations from any other organisations or individuals who wish to offer them. It would be helpful if these could be received by 31 July 1980. A consultation note is available on request from the Department.

    Public Order Act 1936

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the promised Green Paper on his review of the Public Order Act 1936 and related legislation.

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are publishing the Green Paper today. We hope that it will stimulate a full and informed debate on the difficult issues involved in the review and so assist in determining the right balance in law between the interests of those who wish to demonstrate and those of the rest of the community.

    Special Constabulary

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Police Advisory Board's working party on the special constabulary will accept evidence from members of the public.

    The working party will welcome written evidence concerned with the expansion and increased effectiveness of the special constabulary. It should be sent to the secretary of the special constabulary working party, F1 Division, Home Office, Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT, by 30 June 1980. For reasons of economy, evidence will not be acknowledged unless specifically requested.

    Industry

    Ethane Cracker (Cromarty)

    asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the implications for the chemical industry of permitting an ethane cracker to be built at Cromarty in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

    It is the Government's policy to seek to maximise the benefits of our North Sea resources, including ethane, by encouraging their use, where appropriate, as a feedstock. I understand that a planning application for the building of a fractionator has been recently submitted to the Highland regional council and that this will be considered in the normal way. However, no application has been received in respect of an ethane cracker.

    Sir William Barlow

    asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he can give an assurance that, as Sir William Barlow resigned voluntarily from his chairmanship of the Post Office, he will not receive any form of golden handshake.

    Ferranti Limited

    asked the Secretary of State for Industry what recent representations the National Enterprise Board has received on the future of the public stake in Ferranti Limited; what reply has been made; and if he will make a statement.

    asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the cost of the public stake in Ferranti Limited when it was acquired by the National Enterprise Board; what is its value now; and if he will give the increase in percentage as well as money terms.

    In February 1976 the board aquired from my Department 4,000,000 ordinary 50p voting shares and 2,666,666 ordinary 50p restricted-voting shares in Ferranti Ltd. at a total cost of £8·67 million. (My Department also transferred to the board a loan of £6·34 million which was repaid by the company in 1977). In September 1978 the company issued one new ordinary 50p voting share for each ordinary 50p voting or restricted voting share held, and converted its restricted-voting shares into ordinary 50p voting shares. The board then reduced its holding to 10,666,666 shares. The Stock Exchange closing price of these share was £5·15 each on 21 April 1980, implying a value of about £54·93 million for the board's holding. But, because of the share restructuring in 1978 and the board's subsequent sale of shares, the current value of the board's present holding cannot be compared directly with the cost to it of acquiring its original holdings in 1976.

    Lucas Aerospace

    asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will withdraw the loan under section 7 to the Industry Act 1972 to Lucas Aerospace, in view of the summary sacking of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions' committee co-ordinator.

    If the company had taken the action described, it would be a matter to be settled between management and work force within the existing legal framework.

    Manufacturing Industry

    asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the percentage annual growth in manufacturing industry over the past five years in the United Kingdom, West Germany, Italy, the United States of America, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Japan.

    Such information as is available on a comparable basis is provided by the OECD. This is set out in the table below:

    INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR MANUFACTURING
    Annual rate of growth 1974–1979
    per cent
    United Kingdom0·4
    West Germany+2·1
    Italy+2·1
    United States of America+3·3
    Belgium+0·9
    Netherlands+0·7
    France+1·1 *
    Japan+3·3
    * 1974–1978 only

    Source:

    OECD " Industrial Production" and " Indicators of Industrial Activity ".

    asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the amount of investment in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom as a percentage of total investment in each of the past 10 years.

    The proportions of United Kingdom total investment, gross domestic fixed capital formation—GDFCF—at current prices, for the 10 most recent years are:

    MANUFACTURING GDFCF AS PERCENTAGE OF UNITED KINGDOM TOTAL GDFCF
    197022·5
    197120·8
    197217·6
    197316·5
    197418·1
    197517·1
    197616·8
    197719·2
    197819·9
    197919·9

    Sources:

    " National Income and Expenditure Blue Book " (1970–1978)

    " British business" and Central Statistical Office (1979)

    Defence

    Exercise Elder Forest 80

    asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the participation of Hunter and Hawk aircraft of the Royal Air Force in exercise Elder Forest 80 and their performance in the roles assigned to them.

    Although they are used in peacetime for training, RAF Hunter aircraft, and the Hawks which are replacing them, would be used in wartime to supplement our specialist air defence fighters. Flown by instructor pilots, they are assigned a local defence role behind the main shield of our long range interceptors. It was one of the objectives of Exercise Elder Forest to test this element of our plans. The results are still being evaluated.

    Social Services

    Motability

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of rising motoring costs through increases in charges for tyres, petrol and running costs, which affect disabled people benefiting from the motability scheme, if he will dedicate part of the increased motability allowances to those participating in the scheme.

    Motability is an independent organisation providing cars by leasing or hire purchase to mobilty allowance beneficiaries. The mobility allowance is used to finance the lease or purchase and the level of payment required is entirely a matter for Motability to determine. In hire purchase agreements future increases of mobility allowance are retained by the beneficiary. This is not so in leasing agreements. It would not be appropriate for the Department to dedicate any part of the allowance to any particular costs incurred by those participating in the Motability leasing scheme. As I have said, Motability is an independent organisation.

    National Health Service Reorganisation (Management Costs)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the £30 million to be saved as a result of National Health Service reorganisation envisaged in " Patients First" will include the £11 million savings in management costs planned and embarked upon by the previous Government.

    No. The reduction in the cost of managing the National Health Service, that will be achieved if the proposals in " Patients First" are confirmed as policy and implemented, will be additional to the reduction achieved under the previous Government's initiative.

    Fuel Costs

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has declined to meet representatives of the London borough of Newham to discuss the seriousness of the costs of fuel to those on social welfare benefits; whether he will reconsider this decision and agree to meet a deputation led by the three Members of Parliament for the London borough of Newham.

    I should be pleased to meet the deputation proposed by the hon.

    Great Britain (Thousands)
    DateReceiving unemployment benefit onlyReceiving unemployment benefit and supplementary allowanceReceiving supplementary allowance onlyNot receiving any benefitTotal claimants
    1979—February4501055242041,284
    May366854661881,106
    November387804722131,152

    Source: 100 per cent. count of registered unemployed claimants.

    Note: Non-recipients include persons whose entitlement to benefit had not been determined at the date of the count, those disqualified and those who had exhausted their benefit entitlement. Unlike the Gazette figures, they do not include those registered unemployed who do not claim benefit or credits.

    Member. When I wrote to the chief executive of the London borough of Newham on 20 February, I explained the constraints on my right hon. Friend's and my time and asked that the borough let me have any views in writing.

    Shooter Report

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the Shooter report.

    I intend to publish the report as soon as legal problems arising from pending proceedings are resolved.

    Walsall (Ear, Nose And Throat Treatment)

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time in the town of Walsall to see a specialist and to obtain treatment for ear, nose and throat problems, respectively.

    I refer the hon. Member to the Walsall area health authority for up-to-date information regarding waiting times.

    Unemployment By Entitlement To Benefit

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any more up to date information regarding unemployment by entitlement to benefit than that published in the February issue of Employment Gazette; and, if so, if he will publish it in the Official Report.

    The table in the Employment Gazette to which the hon. Member refers has been discontinued. The table below, however, gives later DHSS figures for those registered unemployed who claim benefit or national insurance credits:

    Transport

    Road Users (Taxation)

    28.

    asked the Minister of Transport what will be the total taxation which he expects to be paid by road users in 1980–81.

    I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr. Fitch) on 28 March.—[Vol. 981, c. 724–32.]

    M1

    asked the Minister of Transport (1) how long he anticipates that major sections of the Ml motorway between London and Coventry and Birmingham intersections will remain subjected to road repairs and other maintenance; why it is necessary to undertake all such work at the same time; and when he anticipates the Ml, which has been subjected to intensive repair work for the past three years, will be restored to its normal condition; (2) how long it has been since the main part of the Ml motorway between London and the Coventry and Birmingham turn-offs were free from major road and crash-barrier repairs.

    Major carriageway repairs on one or more lengths of the Ml south of Birmingham have been in progress at some time during each of the last 10 years. Further essential work will continue well into the 1980s.The Ml is the oldest and most heavily trafficked highway in the country. It has succeeded in attracting a greater volume of traffic—particularly heavy lorries which contribute most to road wear—than was forecast when designed. The result has been the need to strengthen some sections of the carriageway earlier than originally planned in order to extend its life. Far from undertaking such renovations simultaneously, works have been deliberately phased over time to avoid excessive traffic disruption.Damage to crash barriers cannot be anticipated and in some cases, in the interests of safety, must be tackled immediately. Wherever possible the repair of less serious accident damage is delayed until an optimum length of barrier requires replacement.

    asked the Minister of Transport why repeated sections of the Ml motorway were under repair from London to the Birmingham turn-off on Saturday 12 April, when it should have been known there would be exceptionally heavy traffic in connection with the two Football Association Cup semi-finals at Birmingham and Sheffield.

    On the Ml in particular we encourage night time and weekend working in an effort to finish work quickly in the hours when traffic flows are lightest. It is costly to suspend at short notice a maintenance contract which includes such conditions: many hours of working time are lost and the contract has to be extended at great expense to the Department. In any case, because traffic has to be protected from machinery and from the dangers of any uncompleted repairs, stopping work rarely frees the whole carriageway, so the benefits to drivers are limited.Where it is appropriate, we include in contracts plans for stoppage on bank holiday weekends and for major fixtures such as the Motor Show. Unfortunately, in the case of the FA Cup semi-final we cannot anticipate either the venue of the games or the participating teams, so it is not possible to plan for them in the same way and to avoid work on the routes under pressure.

    Commercial Vehicles (Inspectors)

    asked the Minister of Transport how many of his Department's inspectors of commercial vehicles there are; how many are employed in the Merseyside area; how many random spot checks have been carried out in 1979–80 nationally and on Merseyside; and how many prosecutions resulted.

    My Department employs 221 traffic examiners and 455 vehicle examiners who are responsible for the enforcement of road traffic law in relation to commercial vehicles. I regret that detailed information is not available in precisely the form requested by the hon. Member, but 23 traffic examiners and 55 vehicle examiners are employed in the north-western traffic area, which includes Merseyside. During 1979, 187,529 vehicles were inspected by traffic examiners at spot checks nationally, of which 12,090 vehicles were checked in the north-western traffic area. As a result of these checks there were 19,426 summonses issued nationally involving 14,295 prosecutions of which 935 and 441 respectively were in the north-western traffic area.During the same period vehicle examiners inspected 73,433 vehicles nationally of which 6,606 were in the north-western traffic area. My Department's vehicle examiners do not normally institute prosecutions as a result of examinations for mechanical condition, although some prosecutions are instituted by the police.My vehicle examiners have powers to issue prohibition notices and during the year ending 31 December 1979, 4,267 immediate and 10,599 delayed notices were issued nationally of which 529 and 1,155 respectively, were issued in the north-western traffic area.

    Motor Cycles (Noise)

    asked the Minister of Transport what action he is taking to restrict noise from motor cycles imported into the United Kingdom being emitted noise above permitted noise levels; and if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the permitted noise level for motor cycles.

    Enforcement of the current noise limits for motor cycles is primarily a matter for the police. However, the condition of exhaust systems is checked as part of the MOT test which applies to them after their third year of life. Consultations have already taken place on proposals for more stringent noise limits for various categories of vehicles including motor cycles. It is hoped to proceed with the necessary regulations shortly.

    Orange Badge Scheme

    asked the Minister of Transport when he expects his Department to publish its final recommendations on the review of the orange badge scheme; and if he will make a statement.

    I am considering what changes should be made to the proposals in our consultation document in the light of the reactions to those proposals. I hope to complete this review quite soon now.

    Rail Services (East Anglia)

    asked the Minister of Transport if he will undertake not to give approval to proposals again submitted to him to cut rail services between Norwich and Cromer and Sheringham and Norwich and Great Yarmouth.

    The right hon. Gentleman is mistaken. I have at no time received any such proposals.

    Environment

    Local Authorities (Purchasing Policy)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities requiring them to give preference to British producers, particularly of textiles, and to show good cause if they purchase foreign goods.

    I have no power to impose on local authorities such a requirement, which would in any case conflict with our obligations to our EEC partners on non-discrimination. Local authorities must always be ready to justify their purchasing decisions and I hope that they do in fact buy British products wherever possible.

    Thames Water Authority

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to amend section 30 of the Water Charges Equalisation Act 1977 to reduce the burden of payments on the Thames water authority.

    We have already announced our intention to repeal the Water Charges Equalisation Act 1977. We believe that section 30 of the Water Act 1973 broadly provides the best system of financing, although we are concerned about certain aspects of charging.

    Anglian Water Authority

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total expenditure of the Anglian water authority in each year since it has existed, together with the total staff employed and number of vehicles in use in each year.

    The following are figures for the Anglian water authority's total revenue expenditure, excluding any amounts placed to reserves, and total staff employed—on a full-time equivalent basis, at the end of the financial year in question. No information is held on the number of vehicles used by water authorities.

    Total revenue expendituremillion)Total staff employed
    1974–7578·66,662
    1975–7697·56,684
    1976–77117·66 667
    1977–78137·96,648
    1978–79157·86,885

    Water Rates

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the Government are studying any methods of charging for water rates other than the existing one; and, if so, what they are;(2) whether he has received the report he requested from the National Water Council on the methods of raising water charges and their impact on consumers; and, if so, what its conclusions were.

    I have received the National Water Council's advice on water charges policy. More work still needs to be done, but briefly the council's general conclusion is that section 30 of the Water Act 1973 provides the right long-term charging philosophy, and that there is no need to extend the 1 April 1981 deadline set in section 30(5) of the Act. The council also endorsed the principle that industrial and commercial consumers should be offered the option of receiving measured supplies and paying for those services by measure.These moves will go some way towards the elimination of present crosssubsidisation of the domestic consumer by the industrial and commercial consumer. The council estimates that on average the impact on domestic charges would be, to raise them by 10 per cent. over four years: I am seeking more detail on this in the light of the transitional arrangements proposed by the individual water authorities.

    Domestic Water Meters

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the cost would be at current prices of installing water meters in domestic dwellings throughout the United Kingdom.

    I have asked the National Water Council to up-date its 1976 estimate that it would cost between £650 million and £950 million in England and Wales.

    Woolwich Town Centre

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from organisations or individuals about the proposed General Gordon Place redevelopment in the Woolwich town centre; and what reply he has given.

    My right hon. Friend has received two representations, one from a local resident and the other on behalf of a local action group, requesting that he should call in the redevelopment proposals for his own decision. The replies sent on behalf of my right hon. Friend have indicated that details of the proposals may be referred to him formally since they involve a departure from the development plan, and that it would be inappropriate for him to comment at this stage.

    Housebuilding (Labour Requirements)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any studies have been undertaken under the auspices of his Department since the Building Research Station document entitled " A Survey of Progress in House Building", published in July 1969, into the disparities between man-hours required to build public sector dwellings and those in the private sector; and, if so, what was the outcome of those studies.

    The Building Research Establishment has carried out a further study of labour requirements for housebuilding based upon construction between 1967 and 1973. This was more extensive than the earlier study and particular care was taken to relate sample and results to the national pattern of housebuilding. I am sending a copy of the report, BRE Current Paper 76–78, to my hon. Friend. Copies of both reports are in the Library of the House.

    Supplementary Rate Demands

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the first supplementary rate demand to be issued by a local authority in 1980–81; and if he expects a substantial number of local authorities to issue such demands.

    Decisions about whether or not to levy supplementary rates rest entirely with individual local authorities. The Department has no information as to whether there will be any supplementary rate demands.

    British Waterways Board

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what encouragement is being given to the British Waterways Board to develop further its freight-carrying capacity.

    The board is aware that we are prepared to consider schemes likely to provide an adequate return on investment. In this connection we and the board will be interested in the results of improvements currently being made to the South Yorkshire Canal which will enable it to be used by larger vessels.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the effect of the reference to the British Waterways Board in the public expenditure White Paper in light of his answer on this matter on 25 July 1979.

    No change is envisaged in the status of the British Waterways Board or its statutory functions. We now see

    ESTIMATED DWELLING STOCK BY TENURE AND AGE MIDLANDS, SOUTH AND NORTH OF ENGLAND: 1978
    Percentages
    MidlandsSouth of EnglandNorth of England
    Tenure
    Owner-occupied565754
    Rented from local authority or new town322634
    Year of construction
    Pre 1919273132
    1919–1944232223
    1945–1963242221
    1964–1978262524

    Housing Costs

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish its organisation and objectives as matters which may need, as with other bodies, to be considered from time to time and adjusted if necessary in the light of its activities.

    Gypsy Caravan Sites

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now consider meeting a deputation from the Carlisle district council, along with the hon. Member for Carlisle, to discuss the question of gypsy sites.

    I have notified Carlisle district council and Cumbria county council that I require planning applications to be made to me in respect of its proposals to establish a gypsy caravan site at Hadrian's Camp, Carlisle and Engine Lonning, Carlisle respectively.The applications will be the subject of a joint inquiry. In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to discuss the matter with a deputation from Carlisle district council and the hon. Member for Carlisle in advance of the public inquiry.

    Housing Statistics

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of houses is owner-occupied and what percentage is owned by local authorities in the Midlands, South of England and North of England; and what percentage of houses in those areas was built before 1915, between 1915 and 1939, between 1940 and 1963 and between 1963 and 1980.

    Following are the available estimates:a table showing housing costs as a percentage of household income in London, the South, the Midlands, the North, Wales and Scotland.

    The available information is as follows:

    Housing expenditure * as percentage of gross household income† for the two year period 1977 and 1978
    London13·3
    The South13·4
    The Midlands12·1
    The North11·0
    Wales9·8
    Scotland9·1
    Source: Family Expenditure Survey.
    * Rebated rents, rebated rates, mortgage payments (before allowing for tax relief), water charges, and the cost of repairs, maintenance and decorations.
    † i.e., before deduction of income tax, National Insurance contributions etc.

    Dwelling Completions (International Comparisons)

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings were completed in 1979–80 per 1,000 population in Great Britain; and if he will publish the comparative figures for Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Holland, Denmark, Scotland and Wales.