asked the Lord Privy Seal how the proposed £15 million aid to Turkey is to be distributed.

The £15 million programme aid loan which Her Majesty's Government pledged at the recent OECD meeting will be available for purchase of United Kingdom products conducive to the economic, commercial and industrial development of Turkey.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on how many occasions he has written to the Confederation of British Industry concerning changes in the law relating to trades unions; and whether he has also written to the Institute of Directors on the same occasions.

My right hon. Friend has consulted both the Confederation of British Industry and the Institute of Directors on all the working papers we have published on our proposals for changing the law on industrial relations. My right hon. Friend has also had discussions and corresponded with both organisations on various issues arising from their comments on the working papers and subsequently on the Employment Bill. My right hon. Friend will be meeting representatives of the Institute of Directors again later this month to discuss further points it has raised about the law on industrial relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the total annual cost of education and training undertaken by his Department.

The total annual cost of training of non-industrial staff employed in the Department of Employment group in the training year ended July 1979 has been assessed as £15 million. This covers training internally at the Civil Service college and externally. Salary and accommodation costs of the students themselves are included, but travel and subsistence costs related to staff training were not readily available and are excluded.The estimated expenditure in 1979–80 of the training services division of the Manpower Services Commission is £328 million, of which £98 million relates to training in industry and £230 million to the training opportunities scheme run by the MSC itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many notified vacancies existed in the Preston travel-to-work area at the latest known date.

At 2 April the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at employment offices and careers offices in the Preston travel-to-work area were 933 and 66, respectively, Vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the working population in the Preston travel-to-work area was registered as unemployed at the latest possible date.

At 10 April the provisional unemployment rate in the Preston travel-to-work area was 6·8 per cent. The rate is based on the estimated number of employees—employed and unemployed—which differs from the working population in that it excludes self-employed people and members of Her Majesty's Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in respect of the Standing Commission on pay comparability report No. 1, local authority and university manual workers, National Health Service ancilliary staffs and ambulancemen, he will list the outside comparators in respect of pension schemes provided by the Office of Manpower Economics and the Pay Research Unit to the Government Actuary's Department, referred to in Appendix 7, paragraph 1, page 60.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are unemployed in the county of South Yorkshire; and how many young people in South Yorkshire he expects to leave school and require employment in the current year.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to match supply and demand for skilled engineering labour.

I shall reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the job creation, job subsidisation, special employment and other special measures, excluding training and work experience, at present used by the Government to alleviate unemployment; and what is his estimate (a) of the cost of each scheme and (b) of the numbers of participants in the current financial year.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average cost to the Exchequer in terms of social security and other payments, and lost income tax and other receipts, of an unemployed school leaver and a married man with two children.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have completed career review and development courses in each year they have operated since their introduction in 1975; and what have been the annual costs of the courses in each year.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of staff employed by the Manpower Services Commission in each of its divisions.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which groups he has consulted about the future of the disablement advisory committees; if the majority opinion was in favour of reducing the number of their meetings or integrating them with local manpower committees; and when he expects to make a decision on the future of the disablement advisory committees.

I shall reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what qualifications the Health and Safety Executive considers it necessary for an inspector to have before he can be authorised to enforce The Electricity (Factories Act) Special Regulations 1908; and if he is satisfied that only persons having those qualifications have been so authorised.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1980, c. 322]: All those appointed as Her Majesty's inspectors of factories are regarded as qualified to enforce The Electricity (Factories Act) Special Regulations 1908 and 1944, and are authorised accordingly. Where necessary, advice and assistance is provided by specialist electrical inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the Employment Medical Advisory Service to complete the study of workers exposed to bischloromethyl ether; whether any financial contribution to the study is being made by Diamond Shamrock Chemicals and Rohn and Hass; if so, why; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the Pliatzky report as it affects the Health and Safety Executive; and whether it will mean a lowering of safety standards in order to avoid costs in applying safety measures.

Inspectorate	April
	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
Her Majesty's Agricultural (joined HSE 1976–77)	—	5	178	175	179	177
Her Majesty's Alkali and Clean Air	38	45	46	47	46	47
Her Majesty's Explosives	10	13	13	13	13	12
Her Majesty's Factory	660	753	805	846	888	919
Her Majesty's Mines and Quarries	125	122	120	118	115	113
Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations	89	103	116	110	88*	85
* The drop in numbers of NI inspectors between 1978 and 1979 is accounted for by a transfer of inspectors to work on radiological protection elsewhere in HSE.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for the future development of the Industrial Health and Safety Centre in Horseferry Road.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 592]: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has carried out a cost-effective study in relation to the Industrial Health and Safety Centre in Horseferry Road, which indicated that the cost per head for visitors was higher than for comparable methods of bringing relevant information to the public. The cost of the centre is not justified in relation to the total resources of the Health and Safety Commission, and the Commission has accordingly decided that the centre shall be closed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints of unfair dismissal under the Race Relations Act were heard by industrial tribunals in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979; how many were supported by the Commission

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present number of inspectors in each of the inspectorates of the Health and Safety Executive; and how this compares with each of the last six years.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 692]: The number of inspectors in post for each of Her Majesty's inspectorates in the Health and Safety Executive at the beginning of April 1980 and for the beginning of April in each of the last five years are as follows:for Racial Equality each year, and what percentage of these cases was successful.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 592–93]: The information about complaints of racial discrimination in dismissal brought under the Race Relations Act 1976 which were heard by industrial tribunals is as follows:

	Number of complaints	Number upheld	Percentage upheld
13 June 1977 to 30 June 1978	24	0	—
1 July 1978 to 30 June 1979	52	2	4

In the period 1 July 1979 to 31 December 1979 a further 18 cases were heard, none of which was upheld.I understand from the Commission for Racial Equality that the information requested about the applications it supported is not available from the records it keeps of applications for assistance under section 66 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of members of industrial tribunals hearing cases of unfair dismissal under the Race Relations Act came from ethnic minority groups; and if he is satisfied that such groups are sufficiently represented.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 592–93]: Some 3 per cent.—or 67—of members of industrial tribunals have special knowledge or experience of race relations in the employment field. They are specially selected to sit on tribunals hearing cases under the Race Relations Act, and I am satisfied that the interests of ethnic minority groups are sufficiently represented in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in how many of the successful complaints of unfair dismissal made to industrial tribunals under the Race Relations Act it was

Compensation (£)					July 1977 to June 1978	July 1978 to June 1979	July 1979 to December 1979
1–49	…	…	…	…	—	1	—
50–99	…	…	…	…	3	10	2
100–149	…	…	…	…	—	2	1
150–199	…	…	…	…	1	2	1
200–299	…	…	…	…	—	2	—
300–399	…	…	…	…	—	1	—
400–499	…	…	…	…	—	—	—
500–749	…	…	…	…	—	—	—
750–999	…	…	…	…	—	—	1
1.000 and over	…	…	…	…	—	1	—
					4	19	5

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many scheduled passenger air journeys within the United Kingdom were conducted by private airlines in the past 12 months; how this compares with the previous 12 months; and if he will encourage further competition between airlines for domestic journeys.

The latest convenient period for which figures are available is the calendar year 1979, when private sector airlines carried 2,500,178 pasengers on 113,874 domestic stage flights. The comparable figures for 1978 were 1,949,052 and 89,002 respectively.Any British airline already has the ability to apply to the Civil Aviation Authority for a licence to begin a service on any route on which it thinks that it can operate successfully, but experience suggests that most domestic routes do not

found that the complainant had (

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 592–93]: Under the Race Relations Act 1976 two complaints of dismissal on grounds of racial discrimination have been upheld by industrial tribunals. Both were heard in the period 1 July 1978 to 30 June 1979.I regret that I cannot separately identify amounts of compensation relating to such complaints. The amounts of compensation awarded by industrial tribunals in respect of all upheld complaints under the employment provisions are:generate enough traffic to support more than one airline profitably.Provisions in the new Civil Aviation Bill are designed to create the conditions in which sensible competition can flourish.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by what criteria he judges it relevant to place restrictions on night flights at airports; if he is aware that night flights have been introduced at Hum airport; if he was consulted; and if he will intervene to prevent such flights until local consultation has taken place.

The criteria by which the need for restrictions on night flights is judged depend on the circumstances at the particular airport. I was not aware of, nor was I consulted about, the introduction of night flights at Hurn airport, and as the airport has not been designated under section 29 of the Civil Aviation Act 1971 I have no powers to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representation he has made to the EEC Commission, or to the Governments of other EEC countries, about unfair competition arising from differences in fuel price policy.

I shall reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if the flight data and the cockpit voice recorder of the Dan Air Boeing 727 which crashed in Tenerife on 25 April have now been read out; at what location or locations the read-outs were undertaken; and if he will make a statement on what they reveal about the circumstances and cause of the disaster.

The flight data recorder of the Dan Air Boeing 727 which crashed at Tenerife on 25 April 1980 is now in the process of being read out in Madrid by Spanish and United Kingdom experts. The cockpit voice recorder has now been

United Kingdom Imports (£ million cif)
				1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Iran	…	…	…	701·3	1,048·2	789·0	527·8	243·6
Israel	…	…	…	91·2	128·7	162·3	187·3	227·6
Saudi Arabia	…	…	…	858·5	985·5	1,132·4	870·5	1,108·6
Syria	…	…	…	4·9	7·7	5·3	4·3	7·0
Iraq	…	…	…	102·6	279·4	332·1	496·7	393·7
Jordan	…	…	…	0·7	0·8	2·0	6·1	7·9
Kuwait	…	…	…	418·2	587·3	554·9	606·0	743·1
Egypt	…	…	…	44·4	70·3	89·4	99·9	252·7
Libya	…	…	…	128·1	166·6	141·7	98·0	62·2
United Kingdom Exports (£ million fob)
				1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Iran	…	…	…	495·5	515·7	659·0	752·0	231·8
Israel	…	…	…	237·8	250·2	276·1	243·4	270·7
Saudi Arabia	…	…	…	200·2	409·0	601·1	785·7	893·6
Syria	…	…	…	35·2	64·4	57·2	57·7	66·7
Iraq	…	…	…	137·3	152·1	167·4	216·7	201·2
Jordan	…	…	…	37·0	56·1	48·9	67·4	86·9
Kuwait	…	…	…	100·2	149·6	253·8	331·9	233·4
Egypt	…	…	…	107·9	174·1	191·9	205·1	264·5
Libya	…	…	…	107·5	134·9	173·9	214·3	253·2

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the imports, by country, of fish into the United Kingdom in the years 1977 to 1979; and what was the percentage of total imports in each case.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the (a) exports and (b) imports between the United Kingdom and Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt and Libya, respectively, for each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions he has had with the hotel and travel industries about proposals that the price of every hotel room should be prominently displayed.

None. The Tourism (Sleeping Accommodation Price Display) Order 1977 already requires establishments having a stated minimum number of bedrooms or beds to display at reception maximum and minimum price for each basic type of room.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of possible redundancies in Halifax, what proposals he now has for assisting the tufted carpet industry, in view of the fact that quota restrictions have been placed on United States-made nylon carpet yarn but not upon United States man-made fibre tufted carpet imports.

The European Commission rejected the United Kingdom application for quota restrictions on imports of tufted carpets, on the grounds that import penetration had not reached a level at which such restrictions would be justified under the rules of the GATT. But the Commission recognised the need for safeguard action if imports continued to increase and caused injury to the United Kingdom industry. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the £16·5 million cuts in export promotion; and which industrialists, manufacturers' organisations and trade unions were (a) consulted and (b) gave consent to the proposals.

Details of the estimated total savings of £16·5 million which are to be made in the Government's export promotion services during the four-year period from 1980–81 to 1983–84 will be found in the table annexed to the " Action Document " on Sir Derek Rayner's report on these services that my right hon. Friend placed in the Library of the House on 30 April in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, Central (Mr. Grant). The changes in the export promotion services were made on the advice of the British Overseas Trade Board and after consultation with the British Overseas Trade Advisory Council. Both bodies include industrialists and trade unionists.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated expenditure for non-advanced further education in 1980–81, compared with the figure for 1979–80.

The Government's expenditure plans, as embodied in the 1980–81 rate support grant settlement, allow for expenditure on non-advanced further education in England and Wales of some £580 million, before allowing for the introduction of full cost fees for new overseas students from September 1980. This is some £20 million higher than our best estimate of expenditure on non-advanced further education in 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received any proposals for a school leaving assessment for the lower 30 to 40 per cent. of the ability range of children.

I have received no such detailed proposals, but I believe there is much to be said for offering all children a documentary record when they leave school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to improve the educational facilities for handicapped children.

The Government remain committed to the maintenance and improvement of the quality of all education. Our plans provide for the maintenance of expenditure on special education at its present level and, to the extent that the numbers of handicapped children may fall, scope exists for modest improvements. It is, however, for local authorities to decide how best to deploy the resources available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate is available of the global capped pool for advanced further education in 1981–82; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's expenditure plans assume a small reduction in expenditure on home students in higher education and account will be taken of this in the size of the advanced further education pool for 1981–82. I shall be consulting the local authority associations before determining the exact sum later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current position on proposals for a less academic public examination to be taken at the age of 17-plus.

I am considering the recommendations in the Keohane report in the light of comments and alongside other proposals relating to examinations at 17-plus. However, I have not yet reached decisions on these complex issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present pupil-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools.

The overall pupil-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools in England in January 1980 is estimated at 18:7:1.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his latest estimates of the effect of increases in overseas student fees on the number of overseas students entering the United Kingdom and on the range of countries from which they come.

It is not possible to make reliable predictions of the precise effects of the fee increases on demand nor on the way in which different countries may be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost to the taxpayer in 1978–79 of providing university education below cost for students from Europe, the United States, Iran, Kuwait and Nigeria; and what percentage this represented of the total provision of university education below cost for overseas students.

£23·5 million. This represents 32 per cent. of the total subsidy to overseas students in universities in the academic year 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current state of progress in the assisted places scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made in plans for the assisted places scheme in private schools.

Provisional expressions of interest in the scheme have been received from 469 schools, including all the direct grant grammar schools that are becoming independent. Local education authorities have been informed of the response from schools serving their areas and invited to make known to the Secretary of State their views on the operation of the scheme in their areas. Schools will be invited to submit formal applications for membership of the scheme later this term as soon as it is possible to let them have details of the likely content of regulations relating to the scheme and also of the income scale to be used, following consultations on the proposals for an income scale contained in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Mr. Shelton) on 7 February.—[Vol. 978, c. 288.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has reconsidered his decision to close the Centre for Information and Advice on Educational Disadvantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to be able to make a further statement on the future of the Centre for Information and Advice on Educational Disadvantage.

I have given careful consideration to the representations I have received from the centre's governors and others about my decision to close this body, including a detailed document submitted by the governors which described the centre's current work and argued for it to remain open. I have, however, concluded that my decision to close the centre should stand, and I have written accordingly to the centre's acting chairman.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what changes he has made in the definition of home and overseas students; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the right hon. member to my answer on 25 April to the hon. member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short).—[Vol. 984, c. 302.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average sum for each child in both primary and secondary schools which he expects to be provided by local education authorities during 1980–81 for the purchase of books; and how this figure will compare with provision in 1979–80.

For 1980–81 the Government's expenditure plans embodied in the rate support grant settlement assume that, nationally, per capita standards in schools should be maintained in real terms; it is, however, for each local authority to determine its own pattern of expenditure in the light of local needs and circumstances. Details of actual expenditure by local education authorities in 1979–80 are not yet available, but in 1978–79 average expenditure on books per pupil in primary schools was £4·20 and in secondary schools, £7—November 1978 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which education authorities are still using the 11-plus selection examination for secondary eduction; and if any authorities have added themselves since the recent Education Act was passed.

Information about examinations or other arrangements adopted by local education authorities for the admission of pupils to their schools is not held by the Department. However, in September 1980 admission to secondary schools in parts of 36 local education authorities will be based on selection according to ability. These are listed below. There have been no additions to this number since the passage of either the 1979 or of the 1980 Education Acts.

• Barnet.
• Bexley.
• Bromley.
• Enfield.
• Kingston-upon-Thames.
• Redbridge.
• Sutton.
• Birmingham.
• Walsall.
• Wolverhampton.
• Liverpool.
• Wirral.
• Bolton.
• Trafford.
• Calderdale.
• Kirklees.
• Avon.
• Berkshire.
• Buckinghamshire.
• Cheshire.
• Cumbria.
• Derbyshire.
• Devon.
• Dorset.
• Essex.
• Gloucestershire.
• Hereford & Worcester.
• Kent.
• Lancashire.
• Lincolnshire.
• Norfolk.
• North Yorkshire.
• Shropshire.
• Staffordshire.
• Warwickshire.
• Wiltshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received " The Call for Careers in Medical Research " by the Association of Researchers in Medical Science; what are the views of his Department concerning this report; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has only recently received this document and he is considering it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the amounts of revenue obtained by the Treasury from the tax upon cigarettes, cigars, tobaccos and snuff.

In the period from 1 January 1978, when the conversion to the tobacco products duty was completed, to 31 December 1979, excise duty revenues from cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products were £4,294·9 million, £132·9 million and £365·7 million, respectively. In this period snuff has been exempt from excise duty.It is estimated that in these two years the amount of VAT charged on sales of cigarettes was about £650 million and on all other tobacco products about £100 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the sterling deposits in United Kingdom banks owned by overseas banks on a weekly basis since the abolition of the exchange control.

Monthly information on various categories of sterling deposits—for example separating those of overseas residents from those of United Kingdom residents—for three types of overseas banks—American, Japanese and " other "—are published in Financial Statistics—respectively tables 6.11, 6.12 and 6.13 in the latest issue—April 1980. Figures for total sterling deposits, including certificates of deposit, covering all three types of overseas banks are provided below for end-banking month dates since the abolition of remaining exchange controls from 24 October 1979.

STERLING DEPOSITS WITH UNITED KINGDOM BRANCHES AND SUBSIDIARIES* OF OVERSEAS BANKS
	(£bn)
1979
November 21	13·9
December 12	14·2
1980
January 16	13·7
February 20	14·3
March 19	14·5
Source: Financial Statistics, Tables 6.11, 6.12 and 6.13.
* Consortium banks, that is banks which are owned by other banks but in which no one bank has a direct shareholding of more than 50 per cent., and in which at least one shareholder is an overseas bank—could arguably be

included. Their sterling deposits are relatively small, amounting to £0.8 bn on 19 March 1980—see Table 6.14 of Financial Statistics.

Weekly information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total full year cost of all recommendations made by the Clegg Commission to date.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of the metal content of the ½p coin was at the latest date for which the figure is available.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the saving if mortgage tax relief were paid at the same rate as life insurance premium tax reliefs.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage (a) the duty on tobacco and (b) the duties on alcoholic drinks would each have to be raised beyond the increases proposed in the Budget, in order each to yield the cost of an increase in child benefit to £5·20 per week (i) in a full year and (ii) in the current financial year instead of £4·75 as proposed; and what would be the effect on the prices of 20 cigarettes, a pint of beer, a bottle of spirit and a bottle of wine.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the case that two payments from the Consolidated Fund, namely class VIII vote 6, subhead D2 and class X, vote 32, subhead C2, constitute accounting events Which form part of a closed cycle of transactions internal to government, at no stage of which any actual transfer outside the public sector of voted money in fact takes place.

[pursuant to his reply 2 May 1980]: No actual transfer outside the public sector of voted money takes place. The payments constitute public expenditure for the reasons set out in my written answer to the hon. Member on 14 April.—[Vol. 982, c. 517–18.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost to each current income tax payer of transferring the total cost of all local government spending to the central Exchequer.

I have been asked to reply. The yield of domestic rates in Great Britain in 1979–80 was approximately £2·8 billion and the yield of non-domestic rates was approximately £4 billion. If the yield from both domestic and non-domestic rates had been raised instead from individiuals who paid income tax, the average burden would have been of the order of £260 per taxpayer.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Tuesday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Tuesday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Stirlingshire, West (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the light of developments in Iran and Afghanistan, she considers that the Treaty of Rome should be amended to permit regular discussion of defence matters by European Economic Community Ministers and the European Parliament.

I do not think Treaty amendments of the sort suggested would be either necessary or desirable. Our defence is based on NATO to which we are fully committed.Under its own rules of procedure the European Parliament can and does discuss matters outside the direct responsibility of the European committees, including defence. Defence is, of course, discussed by Members of Parliament in the Assembly of the Western European Union and in the North Atlantic Assembly.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the achievements of the Government's first 12 months of office.

We have accomplished a great deal, but I am never fully satisfied.

asked the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Brandt Commission proposal that international food security should be assured through the early establishment of an international grains arrangement, larger international emergency reserves, and the establishment of a food financing facility; and whether Her Majesty's Government will take an international initiative in this matter.

The Government are studying the detailed recommendations of the Brandt Commission's report and will make their views known as soon as possible. As regards international food security, we agree generally with the basic aims of the Commission's proposals. In particular, we shall continue to work with our Community partners for a new international grains arrangement, including internationally controlled reserves, which we believe would be an important element in improving food security in the world.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Treasury and the sponsoring Ministries regarding the application of external financing limits to the nationalised industries.

External financing limits are set after discussion between the Treasury, sponsoring Departments and the industries. In monitoring the industries' progress towards meeting them there is similar consultation between the Treasury and the Departments. The system is very far from perfect.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit Tameside.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when next she will be meeting the Trades Union Congress.

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

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit Cardigan.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what is her policy on trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and what discussions she has had with manufacturers' associations regarding such trade.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade informed the House on 4 February, the Government believe that trade should continue where this is genuinely in the interest of both countries. We continue ready to act with our allies against trade which is not in our interest. My right hon. Friend maintains contact with organisations concerned with trade with the Soviet Union.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the decisions by the United States to resume grain shipments to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and by the European Economic Community to resume the supply of cheap butter, she will reconsider the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the Olympic boycott and her subsequent advice to British athletes.

No. Nothing has happened to cause us to alter the advice we have given to British athletes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why there has not been a chief nursing officer for the prison service since October 1978; what steps he has taken to fill the vacancy; and when it is expected to be filled.

The chief nursing officer resigned in October 1978. Since then the management of nursing and hospital staff in the prison service has been under review. Firm conclusions as to the future of the post will be reached as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the mentally-disordered prisoner who has been waiting for a place in a hospital in the Wessex regional health authority since 2 December 1977 is still waiting; if so, where the prisoner is held; what is the prisoner's age; from what he or she is suffering; and why a hospital place has not yet been found.

The prisoner was recently transferred to a special hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the

Prison	Under 1 month	1 to 3 months	3 to 6 months	12 months to 2 years
Parkhurst	1 (23)	1(44) 1(25)	—	—
Pentonville	1 (69)	—	—	—
Winchester	1 (28)	—	—	—
Wormwood Scrubs	3 (25, 32 and 41)	1(23)	3 (21, 31 and 44)	1(25)
Birmingham	—	1(27)	—	—
Wakefield	—	—	1(32)	—
Wandsworth	—	—	1(47)	1(33)
Dartmoor	—	—		1(26)
Lincoln	—	—	—	1(42)

The Lincoln prisoner suffers from severe subnormality within the meaning of section 4 of the Mental Health Act 1959; all the others suffer from mental illness within the meaning of that section.Three prisoners have been accepted in principle for admission to hospital. Nine cases have only recently been submitted mentally-disordered prisoner who has been waiting for a hospital place in the area of Oxford regional health authority for between 13 months and two years is still waiting; if so, where the prisoner is held; what is the prisoner's age; from what he or she is suffering; and why a hospital place has not been found yet.

This prisoner was discharged from Dartmoor prison on 29 April on the expiry of his prison sentence. He is 26 years old and has been diagnosed as suffering from mental illness within the meaning of section 4 of the Mental Health Act 1959. The regional health authority did not offer him a place in a local psychiatric hospital and it was not considered that he met the criteria for admission to a special hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Ormskirk on 3 March, he will give the, details of the age, sex, illness and location of those mentally-disordered persons who are still in prison awaiting transfer to National Health Service hospitals and indicate, in each case, the length of wait and the reason for the delay.

On 22 April 1980, 19 male prisoners recommended for transfer to local psychiatric hospitals under section 72 of the Mental Health Act 1959 were awaiting vacancies. The distribution of these prisoners in the prison system showing their ages in parenthesis and the length of time during which they had been awaiting transfer is given below:and the appropriate regional health authorities are still making enquiries about the availability of hospital vacancies. Five prisoners are considered by regional health authorities to need a greater degree of security than is available in local hospitals in their regions; efforts to find suitable vacancies for them are continuing. In two similar cases, the prisoners concerned have been released to out-patient care after 22 April 1980 on the expiry of their sentences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prisoner who had been held on remand in custody in Holloway for 440 days on 31 January is still in custody.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the person who had been held on remand in custody in Pentonville prison for 483 days on 31 January is still on remand in custody.

He was still held on remand in custody on 1 May 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prisoner who had been held on remand in custody in Brixton prison for 566 days on 31 January is still on remand in custody.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that Government contracts are placed with employers who have endorsed and are enforcing guidelines recently drawn up by the Commission for Racial Equality.

Government contractors, like other employers, have a responsibility to comply with the general provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 and this is reinforced by a standard clause which has formed part of all these contracts since 1969. If the reference to guidelines relates to the code of practice recently published by the Commission for Racial Equality, this is a draft issued in accordance with the provisions of section 47 of the Act for the purpose of consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take immediate action to improve relations between the police and black youths pending the results of the inquiries that are shortly to be started.

I think it is right to await the outcome of the inquiries mentioned in my statement to the House on 28 April about the recent disturbances in Bristol. Meanwhile, I know that in those areas where problems exist chief officers of police devote considerable effort to improving relations between the police and all sections of the community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the lime scale for the taking of evidence for the first triennial review of the police complaints procedure under the Police Act 1976; how many submissions he has had already; and when he expects to publish his conclusions.

Section 8 (6) of the Police Act 1976 requires the Police Complaints Board to keep under review the working of the relevant provisions of the Act and to make to me a report thereon at least once every three years. I received the board's first triennial review report on 18 April and I am carefully considering what it says. It is my intention to publish the report in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, written answer, 23 April, on robberies in the Metropolitan Police area, he will give for the years as stated, the number of arrests made in each of the years where the number of prosecutions successful and otherwise and the amounts of the stolen property recovered out of the total loss of £35 million on either an annual or collective basis.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the possibility of combining the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission on Racial Equality into a single commission.

This would require legislation and we see no advantage in such a merge.I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Halifax (Dr. Summer-skill) on 1 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have committed offences whilst on bail since the new Bail Act came into effect; and how many people committed offences whilst on bail during a similar period prior to the new Bail Act coming into force.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Aspinwall) on 2 April.—[Vol. 982, c. 225.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his intention to lay an order before the House with a view to seeking alterations in the existing Firearms Act 1968; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) on 6 March.—[Vol. 980, c. 293.]An order increasing the level of fees charged in England and Wales under the firearms legislation was laid before the House on 30 April.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what facilities are available for hon. Members to receive urgent telex messages at the House; and if none exist, if he will take steps to provide such a service for hon. Members.

Telex facilities are available in the House only on a very limited basis.The Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee has examined a number of proposals for providing a fuller service, but came to the conclusion that none of them could be recommended for implementation.

asked the Attorney-General what has happened to the one prosecution awaiting appeal and two others in the pipeline which he mentioned in his statement on the Rhodesian sanctions order, Official Report 19 December 1979, column 639.

The appeal was allowed in part and no proceedings were instituted in respect of the two matters still under consideration on 19 December 1979.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the outcome of the latest discussions at official level with the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the delimitation of the continental shelf between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

Officials met in Dublin on 17 and 18 April to continue discussion on the modalities of the proposed arbitration. Satisfactory progress was made.A further meeting will take place in June.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether free medical treatment and education are made available to any foreign diplomats resident in the United Kingdom.

Foreign diplomats who are in post in the United Kingdom are eligible for National Health Service facilities on the same basis as other people ordinarily resident in this country. This also applies to members of their families who accompany them, but it does not extend to any dependants who might come to the United Kingdom specifically for treatment or to staff who might be posted to the United Kingdom for the same purpose.If a foreign diplomatic wishes his child to attend a maintained school—at which no fees are chargeable—this would normally be possible: but for higher and further education establishments tuition fees must be paid.

asked the Lord Privy Seal which countries afford to United Kingdom diplomats the provision of free medical treatment and education.

Under the terms of the relevant social security conventions, diplomatic service staff are eligible for free medical treatment in Bulgaria and Romania: and for limited free treatment in European Community countries and in Austria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary. New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, the U. S. S. R. and Yugoslavia. The terms of the conventions with Finland, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Turkey exclude diplomatic service staff, who are therefore not entitled to free treatment in these countries, or in other countries with which the United Kingdom has no Convention.I do not have full information about which countries provide free education for members of the diplomatic service. Eligibility depends on local practice and legislation rather than on inter-Governmental agreements. Factors such as language, curriculum and ideology necessarily influence the extent to which facilities for free education can be used in practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the average volume of gas flared each day and how much offshore oil was exported in the first quarter of the current year.

I shall answer the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what taxes are imposed on fuel oil used by industrial consumers in each of the EEC countries, including the United Kingdom.

The following table shows the excise duty and VAT imposed on fuel oil in each of the EEC Countries as at 1 April 1980.

	Excise duty £/tonne	VAT Per cent.
Belgium	1·48	6
Denmark	26·02	20·25
France	0·08	17·6
Germany	3·55	13
Ireland	4·09	0
Italy	0·05	14
Luxembourg	1·48	5
Netherlands	3·27	18
United Kingdom	8·00	0

Currencies have been converted at the exchange rates current on 1 April 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the present costs to industrial consumers of gas and fuel oil; and how this compares with the costs of the same fuels to consumers in each of the other EEC countries.

Based on a Department of Energy survey of some 900 large industrial consumers in the United Kingdom during the period October to December 1979 the average prices of heavy fuel oil and gas were £76.1 per tonne and 14.10p per therm respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what further discussions he has had with oil companies and representatives of the Scottish fishing industry on the code of practice which it is intended to bring into use when allocations are being made for the seventh licensing round on oil and gas exploration in the North Sea; and if he will make a statement.

I am presently considering proposals put forward by representatives of the fishing industry. I have in mind that a code of practice concerning oil and fishing activities should be prepared in consultation with the representatives of the two industries, and with the Fisheries Departments, and my Depart- ment will be undertaking discussions to that end.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with the testing of hollow steel structures built for use in the North Sea; what information has been gained from the accident to the Alexander Kielland rig; and what inspection and testing procedures he proposes to institute.

In the light of present knowledge I am satisfied with the present procedures for testing of structures, but this is a matter which is constantly kept under review. The Department of Energy is a major sponsor of an international research programme into the fatigue, fracture and buckling of welded steel offshore structures; the results of this programme are being incorporated into the survey requirements as they become available.The results of the Norwegian inquiry into the Alexander Kielland accident which is continuing are not yet available. Close contact is being maintained with the Norwegian authorities and Department inspectors plan to visit Norway this month to review the progress of the inquiry. The report of the inquiry into the Alexander Kielland disaster will be considered in any future reviews of safety standards.At present there is no evidence on which to base changes in the inspection and testing procedures involved in the certification of offshore structures required by the Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations 1974.

asked the Minister of Transport how many acres of land in rural areas and in urban areas have been taken for motorway and trunk road building; and how many for local authority road building since 1959.

I regret that the information requested is not readily available. Land requirements are considered in relation to individual road schemes, but the Department keeps no comprehensive records of land taken.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will now order a survey of vehicle excise duty evasion by heavy goods vehicle operators;(2) what is the latest estimate of vehicle excise duty evasion by heavy goods vehicle operators, whether by operating unlicensed vehicles, or by paying at too low a rate.

The survey of evasion undertaken by the Department in 1977–78 suggested that the level of evasion for goods vehicles might be 10 to 13 per cent.,

VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY: PENALTIES AND BACK DUTY 1979
	London Area	Elsewhere in Great Britain
	All Vehicles	Goods Vehicles	Other Vehicles
	£	£	£
Fines	431,238	251,021	1,468.105
Mitigated penalties in lieu of prosecution*	174,666	177,560	1,177,112
Back Duty†	408,600	612,201	766,680
* includes an element for back duty
†ordered by the Courts or collected as a result of Departmental check weighing.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the subsidies to the railway operation in each of the countries of the European Economic Community; and how this compares with the

			State intervention (£)
		Stale intervention (£ million)*	per head of national population	per rate kilometre	per passenger kilometre
BRB—Great Britain	…	376	6·9	0·02	0·01
CFL—Luxembourg	…	59	163·9	0·22	2·46
CIE—Ireland	…	33	10·3	0·02	0·04
DB—West Germany	…	1,796	29·3	0·06	0·05
DSB—Denmark	…	88	17·3	0·04	0·03†
FS—Italy	…	705	12·5	0·04	0·02
NS—Netherlands	…	212 610	15·3	0·07	0·03
SNCB—Belgium	…	610	62·1	0·14	0·08
SNCF—France	…	1,220	23·0	0·04	0·02
Sources: EEC, International Union of Railways (UIC).
Notes
* Converted at 1977 market exchange rates.
†Includes shipping.