asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the implications for the expenditure of the intervention board for agricultural produce of the current low market prices for beef and cereals.

The current market prices of beef and cereals are resulting in substantial increases in expenditure by the board on intervention purchases and the beef premium scheme. A winter Supplementary Estimate will be required. Pending the presentation of this Supplementary Estimate an advance from the Contingencies Fund of £25 million was made on 29 September and further advances of up to £40 million may be required. Additional Exchequer expenditure on intervention purchases will be recouped when the stocks are sold, with any losses being reimbursed from the European agricultural guarantee and guidance fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will study the report concerning work for disabled people entitled "Part-time Employment—Time for Recognition, Organisation and Legal Reform" and published by the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation and the Multiple Sclerosis Society; and if he will make a statement on the steps which he plans to take.

I have studied the report, and welcome the contribution which it makes to our understanding of the problems facing disabled people seeking part-time employment.I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that disablement resettlement officers (DROs) will continue to maintain close contact with employers, and to take advantage of any part-time vacancies which arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the broad average increase in salaries over the past two years of representative categories of the following groups of publicly employed persons: teachers in further education, firemen, civil servants, local government officers, doctors, nurses, other Health Service employees, coal miners, electricity workers, policemen, railway staff, train drivers, prison officers and Members of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report as much detailed information as may be readily available for the longest and most convenient stated period of time figures giving the actual or percentage increases in the stated wages and salaries of given groups of workers in private and public employment and those granted to Members of Parliament over the same period.

I shall reply shortly when the relevant data for 1980 become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study he has made of the high unemployment in population growth areas like the Cannock Chase on the borders of major conurbations; what steps he is taking to reduce unemployment in these areas; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 October 1980; c. 1351. The Government are very much aware of the unemployment problems of areas such as the Cannock Chase which are situated on the borders of major conurbations. A substantial improvement in the employment situation in the area, however, and indeed in other parts of the country depends to a large extent on an upturn in world trade. It is essential, however, that to take advantage of this, our industry must be at least as efficient as that of our competitors, and this is one of the principal aims of Government policy.In the meantime, our programme of special employment and training measures will continue to help people in the Cannock Chase area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons registering as unemployed at the latest count available were out of work for fewer than five weeks; and if he will give the comparable figures for the same period last year.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1980): The precise information requested is not available, but, at 9 October 1980 the provisional number of people registered as unemployed for up to four weeks in the United Kingdom was 342,742. The corresponding figure at 11 October 1979 was 239,185.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of European Economic Community nationals who are registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures on Merseyside.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 October 1980, c. 137]: At 9 October 1980 the provisional number registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area was 102,247. This figure includes school leavers and is not adjusted for seasonal variation.I fully accept that unemployment on Merseyside is much too high. The serious unemployment situation throughout the United Kingdom reflects the impact the world recession is now having in this country as well as many others. There is, however, a great deal we can do to avoid even higher unemployment and to prepare ourselves for the up-turn in world trade. Our main task is to control inflation, but we shall achieve this only if increases in pay are matched by higher output. The faster we do this the better the prospects will be for more jobs on Merseyside and elsewhere.In the meantime Merseyside is retaining its special development area status so that it will still be eligible for the highest levels of regional assistance. And the Government will continue to do everything they can to help those who are hardest hit, particularly young people looking for their first job. The youth opportunities programme, for instance, is being expanded on Merseyside by 26 per cent. in 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a breakdown of earnings per standard industrial classification.

[pursuant to his reply 27 October 1980, c.142]: Figures of average weekly and hourly earnings for each significant minimum list heading of the standard industrial classification—distinguishing manual and non-manual employees, and men and women—are published in tables 4 to 7 (pages All to A18) of part A of the report on the new earnings survey. Copies of the 1979 report are available in the Library. Part A of the 1980 report will be published next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide (a) a breakdown of the number out of work in Great Britain by standard industrial classification together with (b) a similar breakdown for registered job vacancies and (c) a table showing (a) as a ratio of (b).

[pursuant to his reply, 27 October 1980, c. 140]: The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed and the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled in Great Britain, analysed by each order of the standard industrial classification 1968. The information is for August 1980, the latest date for which an industrial analysis is available. The unemployment figures relate to the industry in which the unemployed person last worked.The vacancy figures relate only to those notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be

									Unfilled vacancies
	Standard Industrial Classification Order							Numbers unemployed	At employment offices	At careers offices
Agriculture, forestry, fishing				…	…	…	…	24,788	955	189
Mining and quarrying			…	…	…	…	…	26,206	238	35
Food, drink and tobacco				…	…	…	…	51,318	2,318	189
Coal and petroleum products				…	…	…	…	2,396	88	11
Chemicals and allied industries					…	…	…	21,477	1,542	215
Metal manufacture			…	…	…	…	…	43,451	592	177
Mechanical engineering				…	…	…	…	55,491	4,937	423
Instrument engineering				…	…	…	…	6,099	963	122
Electrical engineering			…	…	…	…	…	36,871	4,360	339
Shipbuilding and marine engineering						…	…	14,198	435	126
Vehicles	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	31,009	2,197	552
Metal goods not elsewhere specified					…	…	…	50,235	2,399	236
Textiles	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	44,017	1,183	150
Leather, leather goods and fur					…	…	…	3,968	196	49
Clothing and footwear			…	…	…	…	…	34,748	2,837	305
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.					…	…	…	16,316	570	64
Timber, furniture, etc.			…	…	…	…	…	20,009	1,206	110
Paper, printing and publishing				…	…	…	…	22,260	1,260	176
Other manufacturing industries					…	…	…	27,458	1,153	108
Construction	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	210,006	9,349	564
Gas, electricity and water				…	…	…	…	7,658	812	112
Transport and communication					…	…	…	68,907	4,157	466
Distributive trades			…	…	…	…	…	168,671	17,482	1,846
Insurance, banking, finance and business services							…	39,305	7,424	901
Professional and scientific services					…	…	…	70,452	13,153	881
Miscellaneous services			…	…	…	…	…	168,834	26,733	1,388
Public administration and defence					…	…	…	82,167	9,486	2,090
Not classified by industry				…	…	…	…	564,811	—	—
	TOTAL	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,913,126	118,025	11,824

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies in the West Midlands are in receipt of the temporary short-time subsidy; how many employees are involved; and how this compares with the position (a) three months ago and (b) six months ago.

[pursuant to his reply 27 October 1980, c. 145]: I regret that the information is not available in the form requested, but I am able to provide the following information for our Midlands region.(

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were (a) the numbers employed in manufacturing industry and (b) the numbers expressed as a percentage of the total number of those employed in both 1970 and at the latest

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT
					June 1970		June 1980 (provisional)
					Manufacturing industries (000s)	Manufacturing as percentage of all industries and services	Manufacturing industries (0000s)	Manufacturing as percentage of all industries and services
South East		…	…	…	2,231	30·5	1,761	24·4
East Anglia		…	…	…	197	31·6	195	28·4
South West		…	…	…	442	30·9	415	26·6
West Midlands			…	…	1,139	50·7	916	42·4
East Midlands			…	…	637	44·2	562	37·3
Yorkshire and Humberside				…	815	41·4	657	33·7
North West		…	…	…	1,186	43·7	922	35·6
North	…	…	…	…	478	38·8	397	32·5
Wales	…	…	…	…	332	34·3	281	29·0
Scotland		…	…	…	708	34·4	555	27·4
Great Britain		…	…	…	8,164	37·1	6,660	30·4

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number and percentage of unemployed in the area covered by the city of Manchester for the latest available month and the comparable figures for the same months in each of the previous 10 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 October 1980, c. 145]: The following table gives for October each year from 1970 to 1980 the numbers of people registered as unemployed and the unemployment rates for the Manchester travel-to-work area.

October each year	Numbers unemployed	Percentage rate
1970	15,649	2·2
1971	25,401	3·6
1972	28,739	4·3
1973	17,355	2·6
1974	20,028	2·8
1975	34,423	4·9
1976	39,813	5·7
1977	45,108	6·4
1978	42,196	6·0
1979	39,478	5·6
1980(provisional)	62,290	8·7

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has completed con-

[pursuant to his reply 27 October 1980, c.140]: The following table gives for each standard region at June 1970 and June 1980 the numbers employed in manufacturing industries and expresses these as percentages of those employed in all industries and services.sultations with representative bodies about the main recommendation in the Law Commission report No. 88 that would require that unpaid accounts should carry interest at bank rate after the expiry of any specified term of credit; and what are his proposals.

I have completed the consultations to which my hon. Friend refers and I am considering the results. I hope that an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the feasibility study of possible improvements to the Tan-yr-Unto bend, Llanbedr district council, Ruthin, Clwyd, to be completed.

The investigation into the possibility of carrying out an improvement at this location has now been completed. The improved signs and surfacing already provided has resulted in a decline in the number of accidents and bearing in mind the cost of the major works necessary to provide a new route and their environmental impact, it has been decided not to proceed with the project at the present.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of cubic feet per day of gas that are flared from each of the North Sea oil fields producing more than 50,000

ASSOCIATED GAS FLARED AT UKCS OILFIELDS PRODUCING MORE THAN 50,000 BARRELS OF OIL A DAY
			1979		Units=Million standard cubic feet; average daily rates Third quarter 1980
			Gas flared	Percentage of gas produced	Gas flared	Percentage of gas produced
Beryl	…	…	19	17	12	9
Brent	…	…	324	97	107	44
Claymore	…	…	4	26	1	6
Dunlin	…	…	26	93	21	86
Forties	…	…	109	69	74	54
Ninian	…	…	44	86	48	59
Piper	…	…	56	45	29	31
Thistle	…	…	18	80	19	67
	TOTAL	…	600	71	314	41

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what reductions have been made in departmental staff engaged in preparing documents for forwarding to the Public Record Office; and what consequential arrangements have been made at the Public Record Office to cope with the increased work load.

Such information about departmental staff is not held centrally. I understand that no increase in the workload of the Public Record Office has yet become apparent.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the size of the Civil Service at the latest convenient date.

At 1 October 1980 there were 697,100 staff in post.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the current provision relating to the Housing and Em-

The following table provides the information requested for the third quarter of 1980 and compares it with average gas flaring for 1979 as a whole, as stated in appendix 4 of my Department's "Brown Book" dated June 1980:ployment Laws of the Channel Islands, and the availability of published legal literature on the laws that govern the inhabitants of the islands.

The main provisions relating to housing are to be found in: the Housing (Jersey) Law, 1949, as amended; the Housing General Provision (Jersey) Regulations, 1970, as amended; the Housing (Control of Occupation) (Guernsey) Law, 1975; and the Housing (Control of Occupation) (Implementation) Ordinance, 1975, as amended. Provisions relating to employment are to be found in a variety of Island laws.Copies of Island legislation are obtain. able from the States Greffe in each Island. The availability of other published legal literature is not the responsibility of the Island authorities but in both Islands the Greffe officials are available to give advice to litigants in person.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's responsibility for appointing the Crown Officers in the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey and for their actions.

It is the responsibility of the Home Secretary, in his capacity as Privy Councillor responsible for the affairs of the Channel Islands, to advise Her Majesty the Queen on appointments to the offices of Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, Attorney-General and Solicitor-General in both Bailiwicks.The Crown Officers are accountable at law for their actions; and the Crown has the ultimate responsibility for the good government of the Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of persons who have received sentences of imprisonment for the crime of murder in respect of the years 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and the first six months of the current year; and what proportion was in the category of male. female and juvenile, respectively.

The numbers requested are published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". In table 5(a) of the volume for 1978, Cmnd. 7670, column 24 shows the numbers sentenced to immediate imprisonment and column 25 the numbers detained under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Figures for 1979 will be published next month. The percentages available are given in the following table:

PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS SENTENCED FOR MURDER WHO WERE MALES, FEMALES OR JUVENILES ENGLAND AND WALES 1976–78
			Percentages
	All ages
Year	Males	Females	Juveniles*
1976	100	—	5
1977	97	3	3
1978	96	4	7
* Persons aged 10 and under 17.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been received by Her Majesty's Government from Hong Kong and the Chinese community in Great Britain, respectively, concerning proposed changes in British nationality law.

Since the publication of the White Paper on British nationality law a few letters have been received on behalf of people working in Hong Kong. When I visited Hong Kong recently I had discussions with the Hong Kong Government and they have also sent their views to Her Majesty's Government. I also had talks with representatives of various interests there. No representations have been received from the Chinese community in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps will be taken to ensure that no citizen of Hong Kong is rendered stateless by any change in British nationality law or change in the status of the territory itself.

The citizenship acquired by birth or other connection with Hong Kong is that of the United Kingdom and Colonies. Paragraph 35 of the White Paper on British nationality law (Cmnd. 7987) summarises the classes of people in a dependency who it is proposed shall acquire citizenship of the British Dependent Territories when new legislation comes into force; and it is made clear in paragraph 28 that no one who is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies immediately before the new Act comes into force will be left without one of the newly created citizenships. There are no plans to change the status of Hong Kong.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the light of the deterioration in the speed with which Departments reply to correspondence, causing a substantive reply to take at least three weeks and sometimes as long as 12 weeks, she will take steps to ensure that replies to hon. Members letters are provided more rapidly.

Some letters unavoidably take longer to receive a final reply, particularly where investigations have to be carried out, and when correspondence is very heavy. Ministers are well aware of the need to reply as rapidly as they can.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the administrative co-ordination between the Departments of Energy, Environment, Industry and Trade in connection with research and development and exploitation of the potential for energy savings, environmental improvement and for export sales of battery-driven vehicles of all sizes; and if she will make a statement.

The Departments mentioned, as well as the Department of Transport, all have an interest in the development of battery-powered vehicles. I am satisfied that inter-departmental liaison and co-ordination is adequate to take all the relevant interests into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Iranian students are known to his Department to be studying in the United Kingdom; and how many of these are in receipt of grants from British public funds.

In the academic year 1978–79 there was a total of 9,095 full-time Iranian students in the universities and colleges of further education in the United Kingdom. A further 1,596 students were attending private sector colleges and institutions for full-time courses lasting for at least six months. Complete information is not yet available for the academic year 1979–80, but the available figures for Iranian students in further education show a 10 per cent. fall as compared with 1978–79.Only three Iranian students on course in December 1978 were funded under the British aid programme. However until the current academic year, the fees charged to overseas full-time students did not represent the total cost of the course. For further details I refer my hon. Friend to the written reply I gave to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 11 June 1980.—Vol. 986, c. 197.]

asked the Attorney-General, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge on 30 July, whether he is now in a position to list the total cost to public funds of the litigation involving Mohammed Zamir, an illegal immigrant.

No. I repeat the undertaking I gave in my earlier answer to write to my hon. Friend with details as soon as I have them.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a further statement on the position and finances of British Leyland.

The latest position on BL's finances was announced by the chairman, Sir Michael Edwardes, at the time of the half-yearly results—a loss before tax of £155 million. My right hon. Friend does not expect to make any such statement except in the context of Government decisions on BL's 1981 corporate plan, which we have recently received and are now studying.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the meeting of European Economic Community Foreign Ministers in September when the procedures for implementing the reductions in the United Kingdom's net contribution were discussed.

The outstanding points on the draft regulations under which the refunds to the United Kingdom will be made were settled at the Foreign Affairs Council on 7 October.For the details, I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Carlisle) on 27 October.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what communication he has received from the European Commission concerning Community initiatives for the International Year of Disabled People 1981; and if he will make a statement.

I have not yet received any communication from the Commission about the International Year of Disabled People 1981.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the number of United Kingdom trade officials located in each of the member States of the European Community, stating how many of these are (a) United Kingdom citizens, (b) citizens of the member State in which they are based, and (c) others.

						Locally engaged officers
				United Kingdom-based officers	Total number	Citizens of member state	United Kingdom citizens	Others
Belgium		…	…	4	6	3	3	—
Luxembourg		…	…	—	1	1	—	—
France		…	…	11	11	4	7	—
Italy	…	…	…	4	14	7	7	—
West Germany			…	14	19	6	13	—
Netherlands		…	…	3	4	2	1	1
Denmark		…	…	3	4	1	3	—
Ireland	…	…	…	4	—	—	—	—

asked the Lord Privy Seal if it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to refuse to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation so long as it retains its intent to destroy the State of Israel.

I refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave earlier this afternoon to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short).

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on Government policy on the Middle East.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals for improving the progress towards peace in the Middle East.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made by the European Economic Community mission to the Middle East.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).

There are 43 United Kingdom-based officers employed mainly on trade promotion work in the member countries of the European Community. All are United Kingdom citizens. Of 59 locally engaged officers, 34 are United Kingdom citizens, 24 citizens of the member State in which they are based, and one is a Commonwealth citizen. The position in each of the member States is set out in the table below.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps have been taken in the past three months to improve relations with Iraq.

Since my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Oxon (Mr. Hurd) paid a useful visit to Baghdad in July, normal bilateral exchanges have continued at official level. We hope that when the present hostilities between Iraq and Iran cease, there will be further opportunities for exchanges of views both on issues which affect our bilateral relations, including commercial relations and consular cases, and on regional and international questions of mutual interest and concern.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what plans he has to visit South Africa to discuss Anglo-South African relations.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to visit South Africa.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on progress towards independence for Namibia.

Following the South African reply of 29 August to the United Nations Secretary-General, the gap between the parties has been further narrowed. A United Nations secretariat team visited Pretoria from 20–25 October in an effort to reach agreement on early implementation of the United Nations settlement plan. We await the Secretary-General's report to the Security Council on these negotiations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the independence of Namibia.

The Government continue to work in conjunction with our partners in the Group of Five Western countries and with the United Nations Secretary-General for independence for Namibia to be achieved as soon as possible, through the agreed plan for United Nations supervised elections.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on current relations between Bolivia and the United Kingdom.

We strongly deplored the military intervention in Bolivia. We remain concerned about reported violations of human rights. The question of recognition does not arise and our ambassador remains in La Paz. In consultation with our European partners, we are, however, continuing for the present to restrict formal dealings with the regime. We are keeping the position under review.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about the future of the Falkland Islands.

Our objective remains to ensure for the Islands a secure and viable future both politically and economically, in accordance with the wishes of the islanders. We continue to discuss with all the parties concerned the best means of achieving this end.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations have been made recently to the Government of Vietnam regarding the continuing flight of its citizens from persecution.

We are satisfied that the Vietnamese Government are well aware of the views which Her Majesty's Government, and all civilised Governments, hold on those Vietnamese policies which have caused the outflow of boat refugees. I raised the question with the Vietnamese Ambassador on 6 May. I also drew attention to it in my speech to the Geneva conference on Cambodian relief on 26 May.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he next plans to meet the French Minister for Foreign Affairs.

On present plans, I expect to meet the French Minister for Foreign Affairs either at the European Community Foreign Affairs Council on 24 and 25 November, or at that on 16 December.

asked the Lord Privy Seal of he will make a statement on the latest preparation for the Madrid review conference.

Her Majesty's Government are disappointed at the slow progress so far at the CSCE preparatory meeting. This is the result of attempts by Warsaw Pact countries to place unacceptable limitations on the time available for the review of implementation at the main Madrid review meeting. Her Her Majesty's Government nevertheless continue to expect the meeting to open, as agreed, on 11 November.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list in the Official Report the main points of agreement on the section for an international seabed authority, including constitution and voting rights, as approved by the United Nations conference on the law of the sea.

The draft convention on the law of the sea (informal text), of which copies have been placed in the Library, reflects the broad agreement reached at the conference on many aspects of the international seabed authority. These include voting in the Assembly of the proposed authority (article 159); composition of, and voting in, the Council (article 161); and the respective powers and functions of these two organs (articles 160 and 162).

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish as a White Paper the text of the convention on the law of the sea as finally agreed by the United Nations conference on the law of the sea.

A new informal text was issued after the conclusion of the resumed ninth session of the conference. It has been distributed as a document and, like previous texts, will be the basis for further discussion. It would not be appropriate to publish it as a White Paper, but copies have been placed in the Library.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what matters in relation to arms control and disarmament are currently being studied by his Department.

The arms control and disarmament field covers a wide range of issues. Those of greatest current interest to us are described in Issue No. 5 of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's newsletter. "Arms Control and Disarmament", copies of which are available in Library of the House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many persons currently are employed in the arms control and disarmament department of the Foreign Office and of approximately what grades.

The arms control and disarmament department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the research unit, has a staff of 15 at present. It is headed by a counsellor, assisted by three first secretaries, three second secretaries, two third secretaries and six secretarial/clerical staff.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, in the light of the forthcoming Madrid conference on co-operation and security in Europe, what information her Majesty's Government have about the numbers of Jewish people who have emigrated from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics since the signing of the Helsinki agreement in 1975; and if he will publish the figures for each of the past five years so far as they are known.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 27 October.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give an assurance that the nationality rights of the present Hong Kong citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies will be preserved in the event of any change in the political status of Hong Kong.

There are no plans to change the political status of Hong Kong.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government accept the stated position of the Chinese Government that the treaties concerning the status of Hong Kong are invalid and not binding on China.

Her Majesty's Government's view of the status of Hong Kong was set out in a letter addressed by the United Kingdom permanent representative to the United Nations to the United Nations Secretary-General of 14 December 1972.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the political future of Hong Kong was discussed in the talks in October in London between the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and Mr. Huang Hua; and what was the outcome of those discussions.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether it is the intention of the British and Chinese Governments to extend, modify, annul or otherwise vary the second convention of Peking 1898; and if he will make a statement.

We have not discussed this matter with the Chinese Government.

asked the Lord Privy Seal in which British colonies the death penalty for murderers is still in force; how many people are awaiting sentence or trial in each colony; and what are the powers of the British Government and Privy Council in these cases.

The information is as follows:(

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will raise in the United Nations as a threat to world peace the South African incursions into Angola.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley).

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the total cost to the United Kingdom of the supervision of the ceasefire election in Zimbabwe following the Lancaster House conference.

The total estimated cost to the United Kingdom of the supervision of the ceasefire and election in Zimbabwe is £23·5 million.The total includes the cost of the governor and his staff, but excludes the costs of any Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence career personnel involved during the period of the settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are detained in penal establishments in Scotland who were sentenced by courts outside the United Kingdom, broken down by country or territory of origin and by length of sentence; and what are the corresponding figures for each of the last five years.

Two persons sentenced by courts outside the United Kingdom are at present detained in Scottish penal establishments. Both were sentenced in Jersey. One is serving borstal training and the other a prison sentence of 18 months. Four other prisoners at present in Scottish prisons were sentenced by courts-martial held in West Germany. Corresponding figures for each of the last five years could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding SED circular 1053.

Representations about the size of the flexibility factor in primary school staffing have been received from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, the Educational Institute of Scotland and several other bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the proposed "parents' charter" will allow parents the right to insist that their children be taught a Scottish certificate of education subject in the school of their catchment area rather than be forced to accept the transfer of pupils to another school;(2) what provisions exist to allow parents to have their childen study Scottish certificate of education subjects at the appropriate school in their catchment area rather than see them transferred to another school because of a lack of teachers in those particular Scottish certificate of education subjects.

It is for the education authorities to decide, in the light of their needs and resources, on the courses to be offered at secondary schools under their management. In my right hon. Friend's consultative document "Admission to School—A Charter for Parents" issued in March this year, he made it clear that with the rapid decline in school rolls it would in the future become progressively more difficult to offer in all schools as wide a range of courses as is now available; and that it is not too early for education authorities to consider how their schools can, by specialising in certain subjects, particularly at S5 and S6, still offer a good range of choice to pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which regional authorities are bound to provide Gaelic in Gaelic-speaking areas in schools;(2) what criteria he uses in terms of the number of Gaelic speakers in an area to decide if it is a "Gaelic-speaking area".

Section 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 imposes upon education authorities the duty to secure the provision of adequate and efficient school education for their areas. The same section of the Act further provides that school education includes the teaching of Gaelic in Gaelic-speaking areas. I understand that Gaelic is being taught on this basis in some schools in the Strathclyde and Highland regions and in the Western Isles. It is for education authorities themselves to define, in the first instance, what constitutes a Gaelic-speaking area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the cost of incontinence supplies prescribed by general practitioners in Scotland in the current financial year to the latest date for which figures are available in terms of gross cost and as a percentage of the total cost of prescriptions by general practitioners; and if he will publish the comparable figures for the financial years 1979–80, 1978–79 and 1977–78.

I regret that information in the form requested cannot be pro- vided without breaching the commercial confidence of NHS contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will examine the potential in Glasgow for a centre for mobility disorders bringing together clinical, research, rehabilitation, bioengineering, pharmaceutical and other disciplines engaged in dealing with rheumatism and arthritis and those other conditions affecting mobility.

It is for the Greater Glasgow health board to consider how best within the resources available to them to provide for patients suffering from these disorders.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will promote a meeting between his officials, both sides of industry, medical interests and other parties concerned with the high incidence of rheumatic and arthritic complaints in the West of Scotland to discuss ways of reducing the number of days lost in industry through such complaints and improving the general approach to the problem.

I am sure that the doctors specialising in the treatment of these diseases are doing all they can to reduce disability and the consequent loss of working days; and I do not think that intervention by my right hon. Friend would be helpful.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current position with regard to shortages in the number of teachers of specialist subjects in secondary schools in Scotland.

Information about excesses and deficits of teachers in education authority secondary schools derived from the September 1980 school census is not yet available. Figures showing the position at September 1978 and 1979 are contained in SED statistical bulletin No. 6/Cl/1980 of June 1980, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what improvement there has been since his reply of 4 June 1980 in the arrangements for home visits by an ophthalmist to blind persons in the Glasgow area requiring to be examined for the purpose of registration.

So far as I am aware the situation is unchanged. One factor allegedly causing difficulty is the fee charged by ophthalmologists for completion of the form certifying blindness. My Department will shortly be issuing proposals on payment of a range of medical fees, including this one if implemented, these proposals should alleviate the situation in Glasgow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been received from the European Economic Community so far towards projects in Great Britain in order to redress the imbalance in our contribution receipts from the European Economic Community budget.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Carlisle) on 27 October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what gross contribution has been made by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community budget to date in 1980.

In the period from 1 January to 30 September this year the United Kingdom's gross contribution to the European Community budget was £1,354 million. In the same period receipts by the United Kingdom amounted to £671 million, giving a net contribution of £683 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to have a discussion on future European Economic Community budget policy in the Council of Ministers.

My hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury will be discussing the European Community budget at the Budget Council on 24 November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the changes in bank rate or minimum lending rate for each year since 1945.

The changes in bank rate and the Bank of England's minimum lending rate from 1932 to 1979 are listed in Economic Trends Annual Supplement 1980 Edition, page 184. The only change since 1979 was from 17 to 16 per cent. on 3 July 1980.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present interest rates of EEC countries, including the United Kingdom.

The table below gives the latest available short and long-term rates for each of the EC countries except Luxembourg, where comparable data is not readily obtainable. The short-term rates are mostly three-month interbank rates and the long-term rates are yields on long-term issues of domestic Government bonds.

	Short-term	Long-term
Germany	9·1	8·4
France	11·3	13·0
Italy	17·9	15·8
Netherlands	10·8	11·3
Belgium	12·1	12·1
Denmark	17·8	20·7
Ireland	14·5	14·5
United Kingdom	16·3	13·1

National or EC sources. Rates relate to the last week in October except: short rate for Denmark (mid-August) and long rates for Belgium, Denmark and Ireland (end-August).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the views of Her Majesty's Government about the appropriate size of an International Monetary Fund substitution account and how these views agree with those held by Germany, France, Japan and the United States of America.

There is a general provisional agreement that the account should become effective when the fund is satisfied that there is a level of participation which is both widespread in terms of numbers of countries willing to make deposits in the account, and substantial in terms of the aggregate amount to be deposited. What is appropriate in terms of the size of the account will therefore depend to a considerable extent upon the number of countries involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the views of Her Majesty's Government about provisions for covering any running or capital losses on the proposed International Monetary Fund substitution account.

Her Majesty's Government recognise that these provisions will need to be the subject of further detailed negotiation. We are prepared to consider the earmarking of part of the IMF's holdings of gold to cover any capital deficiencies, but do not rule out other approaches.As regards interest shortfalls on the account, we are looking for arrangements which are both equitable and durable. In both cases the scale of the United States contribution will be a critical element.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the granting of observer status at the International Monetary Fund to the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

As the United Kingdom's governor of the International Monetary Fund, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer joined the governors of other EEC member States in supporting a resolution which provided for the whole question of the attendance of observers at the annual meetings to be further studied. The resolution, which limited observers at the 1980 annual meetings to those who had attended in 1979, meant that the PLO could not attend. The resolution secured the necessary majority of votes and the necessary quorum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the International Monetary Fund concerning the interest rate yield on special drawing rights.

Her Majesty's Government welcome the decision of the interim committee of the IMF that the executive board should give early attention to the question of adjusting the SDR interest rate to the full market rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to encourage commercial use and marketability of special drawing rights.

Her Majesty's Government support measures designed to enhance the attractiveness of the SDR and promote its use by private as well as public holders. They therefore welcomed the decision of the fund to promote the role of the SDR as an international reserve asset by permitting its use in swap arrangements and forward operations and by increasing the number of official institutions that can hold and deal in SDRs. They also supported the recent decision to simplify the composition of the SDR and to unify the SDR valuation and interest rate baskets as a step to facilitating the wider use of SDR denominated assets and liabilities in financial markets and in international transactions generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the borrowing requirement in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the Industry Act forecast to be published shortly. A revised assessment of the public sector borrowing requirement will be included then.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total public sector borrowing requirement in the financial year to date.

The public sector borrowing requirement (PSBR) for the period April to June 1980 was £4,910 million. Figures covering the period July to September will be published on 20 November 1980.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now take steps to ensure that all goods essential for personal sanitary protection shall henceforth be either exempt from, or zero rated under, value added tax.

No. In a broadly-based tax like VAT many essential goods and services must be taxed, and it would not be appropriate to single out sanitary protection for special treatment.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is satisfied with the work of the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am confident of the Arts Council's ability to make effective use of public money in promoting high standards in the arts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will seek to amend the Social Security (No. 2) Act 1980, to enable kidney dialysis patients to claim sickness benefit for periods of less than three days.

I am pleased to announce that my right hon. Friend intends to bring forward proposals to enable sickness and invalidity benefit to be paid where there are only two or three days of incapacity within six consecutive days. This change will apply only if the incapacity is due to renal dialysis or, possibly, other circumstances where treatment for a serious condition causes incapacity for only two or three days in each week. At present incapacity benefits are payable only where there are at least four consecutive days of incapacity. It is recognised that this rule—which came into force in September—could adversely affect patients undergoing renal dialysis. Until the necessary legislation is approved by Parliament, benefit is being paid in these cases on an extra-statutory basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what study he has made of the evidence supplied to him of a years' delay for the Industrial Injuries Commission to hear an appeal for industrial disablement benefit; and if he will take steps to reduce this appeal's delay;(2) what was the average waiting time for the Industrial Injuries Commission to hear appeals for industrial disablement benefit; what steps he is taking to speed up this process; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the evidence referred to by the hon. Member consists of correspondence relating to the time taken to deal with an individual case in which a claimant has applied to a Social Security Commissioner for leave to appeal from the decision of a medical appeal tribunal. The Secretary of State has no authority to expedite the determination of individual cases before the Commissioners, who are independent authorities and not subject to ministerial or Departmental control. I am advised, however, that the secretary to the Commissioners has informed the hon. Member that the case in question will go forward at the first practicable opportunity.I am concerned about the time taken to determine appeals to the Commissioners, which in the case of appeals on points of law from decisions of medical appeal tribunals in industrial disablement cases is about 12 months. In my reply to the hon. Member from Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 22 July—[Vol. 989, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest figures available for the time taken to repair invalid cars, electrical wheelchairs, other wheelchairs and other appliances for use by disabled people; what steps he is taking to reduce these repair times; and if he will make a statement.

Repairs to invalid three-wheelers and wheelchairs on loan from the Department are normally arranged by the user directly with the repairer and any attempt to establish average times would necessitate the repairers maintaining extra records and rendering additional returns. If the user would otherwise be left without a vehicle whilst the repair is effected, it is usually possible to provide a reserve. There is no evidence that times for repair are generally excessive, and no special steps are planned to reduce them.The phrase "other appliances for use by disabled people" covers a wide range of equipment provided under a variety of arrangements. The information about much of it is simply not available at all, and I am afraid that where the information does exist it could not be ascertained and collated without considerable and disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the context of the access to the skies programme, he is satisfied with the access facilities available for disabled people and the elderly to travel from the underground stations to the airline booking-in points at Heathrow; and if he will make a statement.

Facilities provided for disabled and elderly people between the underground station and the airline booking-in points at Heathrow are a matter for London Transport and the British Airports Authority. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any particular problem I will have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the nature of the advanced medical work being carried out on diabetic patients in the Newcastle upon Tyne area; if he will make such facilities available elsewhere in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Under the direction of Professor George Alberti, two experimental machines are in use at the Royal Victoria infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. Funds have been provided by the British Diabetic Association, the University Grants Committee and manufacturers. Each machine acts as an artificial pancreas, is sensitive to the blood sugar level of a patient to whom it is connected and injects an appropriate amount of insulin into that patient.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is considering any changes in the procedures for paying child benefit to European Economic Community nationals living or working in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Nationals of member States of the European Community working in the United Kingdom and subject to our social security legislation are entitled under European Community Regulation 1408/71 to receive United Kingdom child benefit for their children wherever those children live in the Community. United Kingdom nationals working in another member State (except France) have similar rights with regard to family benefits under the legislation of that State. In France, the worker receives the family benefits provided by the law of the country where the children reside. The ultimate cost is in all cases borne by the country in which the worker is employed.These provisions were adopted as a compromise when the regulation was drafted in 1971—before the United Kingdom's accession to the Community. The regulation, however, required the Council to re-examine the problem in order to reach a uniform system of payment for the whole Community. The European Commission has proposed that family benefits throughout the Community should be provided in accordance with the legislation to which the worker is subject. The Federal Republic of Germany has, however, put forward a counter proposal that family benefits should be provided in accordance with the law of the country where the children reside, although the expense would still be borne by the country in which the worker is employed.These proposals are at present being considered by the social questions working group of the Council on which the United Kingdom is represented. The issues are complex and further study is needed before the Government come to a final decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the total amount of supplementary benefit and other such payments made to European Economic Community nationals temporarily resident in the United Kingdom.

I have no information on which to base such an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what circumstances persons suffering from chronic disorder of the respiratory organs are unable to obtain relief from prescription charges: and if he will take steps to ensure that all such persons are eligible for relief.

People suffering from chronic respiratory disorders are not automatically entitled to exemption from prescription charges on medical grounds. Many sufferers will, however, be exempt on age or low income grounds. I receive many requests to extend exemptions to various groups of patients, including those suffering from chronic disorder of the respiratory organs, but I have no plans to make any change.People requiring frequent prescriptions who are not entitled to exemption can limit the cost of treatment by purchasing a prepayment certificate (season ticket).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the study group of senior officers from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department of the Environment set up to examine in detail the housing problems of East Belfast and Castlereagh; if he will list the membership of the study group, its terms of reference, the number of meetings it has held and the progress it has made; whether it intends to invite persons and bodies outside the Department to make submissions; when and to whom it is to report; and whether its report will be published.

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

asked the Minister of Transport if, to avoid desecration of country and town by old disused cars, he will seek to reimburse the last year's taxation payment to car owners who provide a certificate showing that they have surrendered their car at a local authority car breaking-up yard.

No. The revenue loss of about £60 million annually and the additional administrative costs would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the broad categories of reasons given for the 6,339 immediate prohibitions issued by the licensing authorities in respect of heavy goods vehicles in the traffic year 1978–79.

These prohibition notices arose from checks carried out by this Department's vehicle examiners at the roadside and at operators' premises. Defects recorded on such notices are not analysed, but it seems likely that the main reasons will follow a similar pattern to those causing failure at the annual test. Apart from brake performance, which cannot always be assessed at the roadside, the most common causes of failure at annual test during the period April to December 1979 arose on brake pipes, reservoirs and so on; mechanical brake components; obligatory stop lamps; smoke emission; oil leaks; transmissions; suspension (attachments); fuel tanks and system; and steering linkages.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to restore driving test facilities in St. Andrews; and if he will make a statement.

The driving test centre at St. Andrews has had to be closed because of termination of the lease. An intensive search is being made for alternative premises. Tests are meanwhile being conducted from the centre at Cupar, 10 miles distant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals are being made by the EEC Commissioners for a common standard of environmental impact assessment to be appried to all planning applications; and what is his response to the principle of such a proposal.

The EEC Commission has proposed a draft directive with the aim of introducing common statutory requirements for the prior assessment of new public and private sector development projects which might have significant effects on the environment.

1980–81 BREAKDOWN OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR ROYAL PALACES
Service	St. James's Palace	Buckingham Palace	Windsor Castle	Kensington Palace	Hampton Court Palace
	£	£	£	£	£
A.1. Major Works (over £100,000)	Nil	Nil	Nil	202,000	Nil
A.1. Minor Works (not exceeding £100,000 each)	17,000	132,000	414,000	109,000	115,000
A.2. Supplies	18,000	9,000	Nil	Nil	Nil
Total Capital	35,000	141,000	414,000	311,000	115,000
A.3. B&CE Maintenance	641,000	807,000	1,802,000	119,000	48,000
Fuel	Nil	30,000	140,000	5,000	Nil
Gas, Water, Electricity	59,000	177,000	148,000	12,000	Nil
Telecommunications	11,000	181,000	69,000	3,000	Nil
Other	31,000	157,000	150,000	Nil	Nil
Total Current	742,000	1,352,000	2,309,000	139,000	48,000
Gross Total	777,000	1,493,000	2,723,000	450,000	163,000
Appropriations-in-Aid	14,000	8,000	5,000	12,000
Net Total	763,000	1,485,000	2,718,000	438,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in considering alternatives to the rating system.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on Tuesday 3 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).—(Vol. 985, c. 672.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a detailed breakdown of the estimated net expenditure on each of the Royal Palaces for 1980–81, totals for which are contained in the Revised Estimates 1980–81, Class VIII, 6.

A breakdown of expenditure is given in the table below.Holyrood House is now the responsibility of the Scottish Development Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the purpose of (a) the group discussions and (b) the in-depth interviews which will form part of the research being financed by his Department into people's attitude towards rent allowances; and what is the estimated cost of this research;(2) what previous research has been officially financed into people's attitudes towards rent allowances or similar matters; what was the cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement;(3) what is the estimated length of time that the research being carried out by his Department into people's attitudes towards rent allowances will take.