asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much gas has been flared off from all United Kingdom sea fields each month from September 1979 to March 1980.

Gas from United Kingdom continental shelf fields was flared at the following average daily rates from September 1979 to March 1980, expressed in million cubic metres a day:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the instruction not to sell oil more than two years in advance, Official Report, 28 July 1977, column 380, stands or has been withdrawn.

I believe that there is a case for oil companies preserving their long term flexibility in disposing of North Sea oil to provide for changes in the world oil supply situation. I would, therefore, expect companies as a general rule not to commit substantial quantities of North Sea crude for more than two years ahead.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official duties for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

Meacher asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements on 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson).

asked the Prime Minister whether she will place in the Library a copy of her public speech a Birmingham on 21 April on the subject of British industry.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend did so or 22 April.

asked the Prime Minister what major current international issues she will seek to raise at the next meeting of European Economic Community Heads of Government.

I have been asked to reply.European Councils have no fixed agenda. It is too early to say what topics my right hon. Friend will wish to raise.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a further appeal to the British Olympic Committee to reconsider its decision to send a team to the Olympic Games in Moscow, in the light of events since the decision was taken.

I have been asked to reply.Developments are still taking place. A crucial decision for Europe will be that of the National Olympic Committee of the Federal Republic of Germany on 15 May. The question of a further appeal to the British Olympic Association is being considered.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Aberystwyth.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects next to meet the Trades Union Congress.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer).

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Collieston.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the value and amount of each major species of fish, respectively, imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last 18 months.

Details of imports of fresh, chilled or frozen fish—excluding fillets—are published in table IV of the monthly issues of the Overseas Trade Statistics under sub-groups 034·1 and 034·2. The genus or species to which the individual 8—digit code numbers under these sub-groups relate are set out in the Guide to the Classification for Overseas Trade Statistics for the appropriate year. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980, c. 9]: The Government are strongly opposed to all forms of unfair competition and this view is well known to the European Community Commission and to other EEC Governments. Where differences in fuel price policy lead to unfairness I am ready to consider appropriate action with our Community partners.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he proposes taking to encourage limited companies to share their profits with their employees.

I have been asked to reply.Amounts paid by a company to its employees by way of bonus under a profit sharing arrangement will normally qualify as a deduction for corporation tax purposes in the same way as the payment of wages. The present Finance Bill contains proposals to improve the income tax reliefs, available to employees who participate in schemes approved by the Revenue under the Finance Act 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the equity involvements of the Scottish Development Agency, giving in each case their initial cost to public funds and estimated current market value.

Details of investments made by the Scottish Development Agency up to 31 March 1979 are contained in its annual reports, copies of which are in the Library. No estimate is available of the current market value of these investments as the private companies involved are unlisted. If my hon. Friend wishes to have more detailed and up-to-date information than that contained in the Agency's annual reports, I would refer him to the Agency which will provide such information as it can within the limits of commercial confidentiality.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish schoolchildren were being educated at independent, grant-aided and State schools at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous 10 years.

In 1978–79, 978 per cent. of primary schoolchildren in Scotland were attending education

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the higher leaving certificate passes was obtained by pupils at independent, grant-aided and State schools at the most recent examinations for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figure for each of the previous 10 years.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement concerning changes in the law and practice recommended by the House of Lords in Hanlon v the Law Society in respect of which judgment was given on 1 May.

The Lord Chancellor has asked the Legal Aid Advisory Committee to consider the operation of the Law Society's charge in matrimonial cases in the light of the suggestions made by the House of Lords in this case and his Department is discussing authority school; 1·1 per cent. at grant-aided schools; and li per cent. independent schools. The figures for secondary school children for the same year were 95·l for education authority; 2·8 for grant-aided; and 2·2 for independent. Comparable figures for each of the previous 10 years were as follows:

Pupils leaving secondary schools in 1979 obtained a total of 81,556 passes at higher grade of the Scottish certificate of education. Of these 86 per cent. were obtained by pupils from education authority schools; 9·9 per cent. by pupils from grant-aided schools; and 4·1 per cent. by pupils from independent schools. Comparable figures for each of the previous 10 years were as follows: the implications of the judgment with the Law Society.

asked the Attorney-General whether his future references to the Court of Appeal will be heard by a court of five as recommended by Professor Granville Williams in the Criminal Law Review 1980, page 281.

The constitution of a court of five judges for any given case is not the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor or the Attorney-General but is a matter for the judicial authority..

asked the Attorney-General what was the average waiting time in custody between committal and trial in London in (a) 1975 and (b) 1979

The average waiting times for defendants in custody between committal and trial in the Crown court in London was 125 weeks in 1975 and 19·5 weeks in 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the Official Report the annual expenditure on adult education in each of the last five years, together with the projected expenditure for the year 1980–81.

The figure for 1979–80 is not yet available. The figures for the previous five years with planned expenditure for 1980–81 are as follows:Net recurrent and capital expenditure by Local Education Authorities, Department of Education and Science and Welsh Office on Adult Education in England and Wales

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the United Kingdom customs duties paid to the EEC as own resources in 1979, broken down by two-digit standard industrial classification headings.

I assume that my hon. Friend requires a list by standard international trade classification headings. The Vol. 984 gross amount of customs duties of about £870 million in 1979 is broken down as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has given to rating and valuation officers to ensure that the development in the private sector of purpose-built flatlet houses for the elderly is not discouraged by assessing them for rating purposes in comparison with local authority homes.

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the valuation officer is required by law to arrive at rating assessments in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions. It would not be appropriate for me to give him guidance as to how he should carry out these duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a school journey to a youth hostel is or is not eligible for value added tax refund.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his Budget Statement, Official Report, 26 March, column 1481, whether a short-term bond proposal accepted by letter from an insurance company dated 25 March 1980 will be affected by the new life assurance premium proposals.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member of 24 May 1979, he has now had time to prepare the necessary legislation for the removal of the word " new " from the coinage as recommended in the report " Decimal Currency in the United Kingdom", Cmnd. 3164, 1966, paragraph 20.

The necessary legislation will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he decided not to impose a windfall profits tax on the future earnings of the British Gas Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have decided in principle to impose a levy on the British Gas Corporation in respect of gas purchased from the United Kingdom continental shelf, and sold to the corporation under contracts not subject to petroleum revenue tax (PRT). The corporation's financial target set for three years will be modified to compensate for it. The North Sea gas levy will therefore have no effect on gas prices during the target period.This will mean that some of the financial benefits which would otherwise accrue to the corporation will be permanently transferred to the benefit of the nation as a whole.Legislation will be required and this will be introduced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how much is to be paid to Russell Reynolds for helping recruit Mr. Ian MacGregor; and who will pay it;(2) whether the payment or payments to Russell Reynolds for helping recruit Mr. Ian MacGregor will be related to his pay to the payments to be made to Lazard Frères, or to any other factors.

Russell Reynolds Associates Inc. was engaged on standard terms, namely, a fee calculated on the basis of a proportion of the first year's remuneration received by the new BSC chairman, if he was appointed with its assistance. Russell Reynolds is also being reimbursed for its expenses incurred during the search for a new chairman. The payments are made by the Department of Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people Russell Reynolds interviewed in the course of its efforts to recruit a new chairman of the British Steel Corporation.

Russell Reynolds supplied a list of 31 people whom it had approached or considered for the BSC chairmanship.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people Russell Reynolds recommended to him as possible candidates for chairmanship of the British Steel Corporation; and how many of them were British.

Russell Reynolds presented seven possible candidates, of whom five were British.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether any payments or inducements in cash or kind, additional to those outlined in his statement of 1 May, are to be made by the Government or the British Steel Corporation to Mr. MacGregor; and if he will list them.

Mr. MacGregor will serve as part-time deputy chairman of the British Steel Corporation from 2 May to 30 June at a salary of £15.000 a year. From 1 July he will serve as chairman on the terms indicated in my statement on 1 May. No other payments in cash or kind are to be made by the Government or BSC to Mr. MacGregor, beyond the £48,500 annual salary referred to in that statement, except to the extent that Mr. MacGregor is entitled to allowance for travel, accommodation and other expenses appropriate to his position as chairman of BSC.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the involvement of Lazard Freres in assessing the results achieved by Mr. Ian MacGregor at the British Steel Corporation will mean that this United States bank will be involved in determining at the outset the output, productivity and other targets of the British Steel Corporation.

No. BSC's financial and other objectives will as hitherto be set in consultation between the Government and the corporation's management. The assessment of Mr. MacGregor's performance, in which Lazard will have a say through the performance review committee, will be done separately.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the total amount of British foreign aid; and what proportion of this is tied to the purchase of British goods and services in the current year.

The gross aid programme in 1980–81 will be £961 million. It is not possible to estimate in advance the proportion of bilateral aid which is tied to the purchase of British goods and services because the conditions attached to individual loan and grant agreements vary. In 1978, the most recent year for which statistics on tying are available, the proportion of United Kingdom bilateral aid—excluding technical cooperation—fully tied was 55 per cent. A further 16 per cent. was limited to procurement in this country or the recipient countries.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the fishing projects financed by Her Majesty's Government abroad, the countries, and the sums allocated to each.

The information requested will take a little time to assemble and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has of the weekly rates of subscription payable by members of the five largest trade unions; and if he will publish the figures.

The rates of subscription/contribution payable by members of the five largest trade unions, for the highest level where there is more than one scale of membership, are understood to be:

Transport and General Workers Union: 33p per week

Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers (Engineering Section): 45p per week

National Union of General and Municipal Workers: 35p per week

National and Local Government Officers Association: £2.43 per month

National Union of Public Employees: 25p per week

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980, c. 3]: At 10 January 1980, the latest date for which an age analysis of the unemployed is available, the number of young people aged under 20 registered as unemployed at employment offices and careers offices in the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire was 7402.The figures for April 1980 will become available shortly and I shall write to the hon. Member.It is estimated that about 19,000 pupils will leave school without any known plans to enter full-time further education in the county of South Yorkshire in 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the mean and the median gross weekly earnings of male employees in Dundee, Scotland, and Great Britain in each of the past four years.

Since separate figures for Dundee are not readily available, figures are shown for Tayside—including Dundee. The data in respect of the four years up to 1979 are:The figures of average gross earnings in April 1979 for women aged 18 and over in the earlier answer should have been:those arising from the structures of industry, and do not necessarily imply a difference for comparable jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether any work permit issued to the British Steel Corporation for the employment of a chairman is or will be for an initial period not exceeding 12 months, in accordance with the rules of the work permit scheme;(2) if he considers that a work permit should be issued for the employment of Mr. Ian MacGregor by the British Steel Corporation because it is in the national interest; and, if so, on what date such a decision was taken;(3) on what date he received an application for a work permit for Mr. Ian MacGregor to be employed as chairman of the British Steel Corporation;(4) what steps were taken to ensure that the pending vacancy for a chairman of the British Steel Corporation was notified at the relevant employment office and was advertised, in line with rules of the work permit scheme;(5) what consideration has been given in the case of Mr. MacGregor and the British Steel Corporation to the work permit scheme rule that only workers between 23 and 54 years of age are eligible for permits.

Mr. MacGregor was born in Scotland and is to the best of our knowledge still a patrial. He would not, therefore, be subject to immigration control and the question of a work permit does not arise.In the unlikely event of a work permit being required, Mr. MacGregor would fulfil the skill criteria necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of skilled manpower needs of the engineering, foundry and engineering construction industries over the next five years; how this compares with the number of training places that will be available; and if he is satisfied that supply and demand of skilled manpower will be in balance.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 691–92]: The prime responsibility for industrial training, including the balance between the supply and demand for skilled labour, rests with individual firms and industries, which receive advice and assistance from their industry training organisations. Neither my Department nor the Manpower Services Commission makes statistical estimates of the manpower needs of individual industries. Nevertheless, I am informed that the MSC, through the training policies of its operating divisions, such as the training for skills programme, seeks actively to ameliorate the effects of any imbalances which may arise, particularly where the skills concerned are used in a number of industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the manual occupations in the engineering and allied trades which his Department classifies as skilled.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 691–92]: My Department does not attempt to define which occupations are skilled. For statistical purposes selected occupations in CODOT—and key list—groups XII to XVI and XVIII are classified as skilled. Of these the 68 occupations in CODOT group XIV cover engineering and allied trades.The Following occupations from group XV may also be included:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of financial support from his Department for the training activities of the Engineering Industry Training Board; and how this compares with each of the last five years.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980 c. 691–92]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it will make available £13·4 million to the Engineering Industry Training Board in the 1980–81 financial year for training activities. This sum excludes funds for computer training on which agreement has yet to be reached. MSC grants to the board for the preceding five years were 1979–80, £13·6 million (estimate): 1978–79 £15·1 million; 1977–78 £16·3 million; 1976–77 £12·7 million and 1975–76 £5·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women and girls are at present in apprenticeships in the engineering, foundry, and engineering construction trades.

Lester [pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 691–92]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that reliable information can be given only in respect of women and girl craft and technician apprentices recruited by firms in scope to the Engineering Industry Training Board and its foundry industry training committee and who follow approved courses of training. The latest available figures for women and girl apprentices are 823 in the engineering, nil in engineering construction trades and one in foundry trades in the 1978–79 training year.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980, c. 3]: It is primarily for

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which groups he has consulted about the future of disablement advisory committees; if the majority opinion was in favour of reducing the number of their meetings or integrating industry itself to decide what skilled engineering labour it requires and to make appropriate arrangements to meet the demand.MSC is, however, giving considerable support to industry's effort through the training for skills programme, and substantial funds are being made available through the EITB and other national training organisations to meet key objectives including apprentice recruitment.MSC also contributes directly to skill needs through the training opportunities programme (TOPS) and through direct training services (DTS) provided at a charge to employers. TOPS and DTS trained respectively about 16,500, and about 14,000 people last year in engineering and related occupations.

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; and what is his estimate (a) the cost of each scheme and (b) the numbers of participants in the current financial year.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980, c. 3]: The following schedule includes all those who it is estimated will be covered by the special employment measures referred to by my hon. Friend at any time during the current financial year.them with local manpower committees; and when he expects to make a decision on the future of disablement advisory committees.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980 c. 4]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980, c. 3]: In order to estimate the cost to the Exchequer of a person who is unemployed it would be necessary to make a whole series of assumptions about his employment income and family circumstances. For an illustration of this point, my hon. Friend may wish to refer to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) on 18 January.—[Vol. 976, c. 893–94.]

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980, c. 3–4]: The Manpower Services Commission aggregate statistics of career review and development courses with statistics of transfer of employment courses, career development conferences and career development courses since these courses are all similar in duration—two to three weeks—content and objective. The yearly figures are:

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980. c. 45]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that on 1 April 1980 the total number of staff employed by the Manpower Services Commission in each of its divisions was:

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 Haas; if so, why; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980, c. 4–5]: The Employment Medical Advisory Service (EMAS) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is not conducting a study of workers exposed to bischloromethyl ether (bis CME). A mortality study of workers employed in the manufacture of bis CME in two factories in Great Britain was set up by EMAS in August 1971 to investigate whether excess mortality was observed in workers who might have been exposed to bis CME. When further information regarding the hazards of bis CME became available from other sources, the HSE advised that exposure to the chemical should be kept as low as is reasonably practicable.The mortality study was taken over for completion and reporting by the Department of Occupational Health and Hygiene (DOHH). University of Newcastle upon Tyne. HSE no longer has any direct involvement in the study. I am informed that the DOHH has received contributions towards expenses from the two firms concerned, namely, Rohm and Haas (UK) Ltd. and DiaProsim Ltd., a subsidiary of Diamond Shamrock Corporation, but I understand that completion of the study has been temporarily delayed by lack of funds. As HSE already acknowledges the hazards associated with bis CME EMAS does not recommend priority for further HSE funding of the study.

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 would mean a lowering of safety standards in order to avoid cost in applying safety measures.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1980, c. 5–6]: The Health and Safety Commission is taking steps to implement Sir Leo Pliatzky's recommendation that it should publish appraisals of the cost to industry and employers of the measures it proposes, together with estimates of the gains from those measures. This will not lead to any lowering of existing safety standards. But it will help to ensure that the implications of proposed new requirements are systematically examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in view of the growing practice of senior police officers using the media to declare their personal views on politically controversial matters which fall within the purview of Ministers, he will not take steps to require such statements to be cleared by Ministers in the same way as applies to statements made by civil servants.

The Government are not responsible for the statements of chief constables.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to protect the lives of Libyan nationals resident in the United Kingdom whose lives have been threatened by Colonel Gaddafi.

The Metropolitan Police will continue to give advice to those who feel themselves to be threatened. My right hon. and noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary are actively considering what steps the Government should take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which four category C prisons are under consideration for an extension of the removal of restrictions on the contents of letters; and what reasons are advanced by the Prison Officers Association for opposition to this removal.

As an experiment it was decided to relax the censorship of prisoners' letters at Channings Wood, Haverigg, Highpoint and Ranby prisons. Although the Prison Officers Association acquiesced in the experiment, the local branches withheld co-operation and their National Executive Committee have stated they will not press their members to participate in the experiment. Opposition has been based on the belief that in category C prisons censorship helps to maintain control and is in the interests of prisoners' welfare.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Shops Act 1950 to permit fish and chip shops to trade on Sundays in the same way as other shops providing hot food to take away.

We are currently looking at the question of the restraints which the Shops Act 1950 imposes on shopping hours, including Sunday trading. But there is unlikely to be time available in the foreseeable future for Government legislation on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he issues to chief constables on special training for police duties on picket lines; whether such training is included at police colleges; whether it will be extended; and if he will make a statement.

Responsibility for training within a force rests with the chief officer of police. Home Office guidance recommends training of probationers in handling trade disputes.Courses at police training centres and the Police Staff College, Bramshill, include aspects of public order and crowd control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a full statement on how and for what reason prisoners at Pucklechurch remand centre are being denied association.

Association at Pucklechurch remand centre is organised on a rota basis and every effort is made to maintain this programme. It is occasionally curtailed when, for example, sickness reduces the number of staff available for supervision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) men's and (b) women's prisons are being considered as candidates for the extension of the experiment with pay telephones; and if he will speed up and extend this experiment.

Askham Grange is under consideration for women and Rudgate for men. Extension of the experiment is the subject of continuing consultations with the Prison Officers' Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total estimated cost of community service order schemes in 1979–80.

Probation and after-care committees, which are responsible for administering community service schemes, do not account for expenditure on community service separately from that on the service as a whole. The booklet " Probation Service Statistics Based on Estimates " 1979–80, produced jointly by the Conference of Chief Probation Officers and the Society of County Treasurers, gives an estimated expenditure of £4·2 million on community service in England and Wales (excluding inner London).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the sanitary conditions at the Ashford remand centre.

The sanitary facilities at Ashford are being improved in a phased programme which is well on its way to completion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the fact that the preponderance of the representations made to him have opposed the Government's change of policy in relation to the fourth television channel in Wales, he will now reconsider this matter and make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet reached a conclusion on the virginity test case concerning the payment of compensation to Mrs. Kakar; and if he will make a statement.

I am sorry that consultations with interested parties are taking so long. We hope shortly to be in a position to let the hon. Member know the outcome of our consideration of the request for compensation to Mrs. Kakar.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the judicial status in British domestic law of the European Convention on Human Rights, ratified by the United Kingdom on 8 May 1951; and whether the efficacy of the provisions of that convention would be enhanced by their incorporation into statute law.

The provisions of an agreement between the United Kingdom and other sovereign States do not ordinarily have legal force in the domestic legal systems of this country except to the extent that they are embodied in United Kingdom legislation. There is no such legislation embodying the European Convention on Human Rights. The extent to which United Kingdom courts have regard to the Convention was examined in a Home Office memorandum submitted in June 1977 to the Select Committee of another place on a Bill of Rights. The memorandum, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend, was published by the Select Committee with its Minutes of Evidence—HL 81 of 1977–1978, pages 84–86. The possible advantages and disadvantages of a Bill of Rights, which might embody the convention in our domestic law, have been a matter of public debate for some years and were considered in a discussion document " Legislation on Human Rights" published by the last Government in 1976 and in the Select Committee's report—HL 176 of 1977–1978. As we made clear in the manifesto, the Government intend at a suitable time to propose all-party talks about a possible Bill of Rights.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1975 the numbers of applications to magistrates courts for place of safety orders in respect of children, together with the numbers of such orders granted.

These figures are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is available to magistrates hearing applications for place of safety orders in respect of children as to the procedures they should adopt and the principles upon which they should act.

Magistrates hearing applications for place of safety orders under section 28 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 have available to them the advice and assistance of a clerk who is trained in these matters. The principles upon which they should act are set out in section 28; there are no special procedures involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were received into prison following sentences of immediate imprisonment for offences relating to prostitution in 1979.

Information on the number of receptions of females into prison department establishments in England and Wales for offences relating to prostitution is published annually in Prison Statistics, England and Wales—tables 3·2 and 5·1 of the issue for 1978, Cmnd. 7626. These figures include any sentenced to borstal training. Figures for 1979 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female fine defaulters were received into prison in 1979

Information on receptions of females into prison department establishments in England and Wales in default of payment of a fine is published annually in Prison Statistics, England and Wales—table 7·1 of the issue for 1978, Cmnd. 7626. Figures for 1979 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men were received into prison following sentences of immediate imprisonment for importuning in 1979.

Information on the receptions specified could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will use his powers under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 to deport from the United Kingdom any Iranian citizens who may be found not to be observing the conditions attached to their leave to enter the United Kingdom, or to be found remaining in the United Kingdom beyond the time limited by the leave.

Deportation is considered in any such case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with existing procedures for checking and ensuring that aliens entering the United Kingdom for specific periods leave the United Kingdom after their work or entry permits have expired.

We hope that the arrangements to replace the existing manual record-keeping of arrivals and departures by a computer system will provide more accurate and timely information as to whether a passenger has overstayed. Since the manpower which the police and officers of our Department can devote to following up records suggesting that a passenger may have overstayed is bound to be limited, it is important to concentrate effort where it will be most effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the implications for the United Kingdom of the eradication from the world of smallpox: and if he will make a statement.

The World Health Assembly today agreed a resolution confirming that smallpox has finally been eradicated from the world. This historic event is the culmination of a long and intensive campaign by the World Health Organisation and its success marks a landmark for mankind.Many countries have contributed to the success of the campaign, not least the United Kingdom. Edward Jenner was the first to demonstrate the value of vaccination to the world and this was the first country in which vaccination against smallpox was made available free. It was also the first country which, in the light of the early success of the WHO eradication campaign, ceased recommending routine vaccination against the disease.Sir George Godber, formerly a chief medical officer in the Department, was one of the most influential people in supporting the WHO campaign and a former principal medical officer, Dr. William Bradley, devised in this country the methods which led to the eradication of the disease here. It was only with the application of these methods in parts of the world where the disease was endemic that eradication became feasible and was achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the data from the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys on deaths from hypothermia in winter.

Routine statistics based on a single cause using the International Classification of Diseases are an incomplete measure of the number of deaths involving hypothermia and therefore a special count of all death registrations which mention hypothermia—whether alone or with other causes—is carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The figures, for all ages and all circumstances in which hypothermia was mentioned on death registrations in England and Wales in recent December and March quarters, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing progress since 1971 towards the objectives of the White Paper " Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped " for places in adult training centres, giving statistics for each county in England.

At 31 March 1979, there were 41,614 adult training centre places in England or about 90 places per 100,000 population compared with 25,461 places or about 56 places per 100,000 population on 30 December 1970. As local government was reorganised in 1974 it is not possible to provide comparable figures by county, but the following table gives figures for each local social services authority (non-metropolitan counties, metropolitan districts and London boroughs) as at 31 March 1979.