asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has had discussions with the representatives of the film industry as to the impact of the video cassette for home use upon film-making, film distribution and the showing of films in cinemas.

When I see shortly representatives of the film industry I shall be glad to receive their views on this and on other subjects of current interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing imports of concentrated orange juice in 1980 from (a) the European Economic Community, (b) countries enjoying a preferential tariff and (c) other countries, together with details of the tariff and the level to which they are to be reduced in the Tokyo round of tariff negotiations.

The information is as follows:

Imports of concentrated orange juice, 1980
	£ thousand cif
Area whence consigned:
European Community	191
Countries enjoying a preferential tariff	16
Other countries	42

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Isle of Ely of 10 March, why it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to disclose particulars of export licences for works of art; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will arrange for the travel-to-work areas of Barnstaple and Bideford to return to development area status and for Ilfracombe to obtain special development status.

On present evidence of the situation in these travel-to-work areas relative to that in other parts of the country, I would not be justified in changing their assisted area status. My hon. Friend will recall the discussion in his recent Adjournment debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will examine the working of the provisions of the British Telecommunications Act 1981 which require approval by British Telecom of equipment to be connected by private sector suppliers to the public telephone network, in view of the delays to approval of telex teleprinter equipment submitted by them, even in circumstances where, as with Transtel telex teleprinters, British Telecom is itself already connecting identical equipment to the network.

I am devoting constant attention to the provisions of the British Telecommunications Act 1981 and intend to ensure that competition in the supply of telex teleprinters for connection to the telex network is introduced in October 1982, the target announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Information Technology, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stevenage (Mr. Wells) on 16 November 1981—[Vol. 13, c. 28.]Liberalisation of telex teleprinters is complicated by British Telecom's arrangements to begin installing new technology public telex exchanges which will require modifications to all telex terminal equipment. I intend to ensure that this changeover does not distort competition or delay liberalisation. In the meantime, I am actively exploring the scope for Transtel Telecommunications Limited and other manufacturers of telex teleprinters already supplied to the public by BT to be given earlier freedom to supply these machines to the public direct. I hope to make a further announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what consideration has been given to participating in the pilot photo-voltaic project at Marchwood, Southampton.

The Department has been asked to contribute towards the cost of this project. Advice is being sought from the mechanical and electrical engineering requirements board and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans for establishing some form of outside scrutiny to monitor the efficiency of the Central Electricity Generating Board.

The CEGB, like other nationalised industries, will be subject to investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in accordance with the arrangements announced by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 30 November last year. The costs and efficiency of the CEGB were recently investigated by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, whose report was published in May 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will set up an inquiry into the differing practices of the electricity boards in respect of the charges they make for units of electricity and in respect of the standing charge, and to ascertain the reasons for the substantial differences in these charges, despite similar costs, as, for example, in the London area where the Eastern electricity board makes a standing quarterly charge of £5·85 and charge for unit costs at 4·44p, whilst the London electricity board has a standing charge of £7 per quarter and a unit cost charge of 5·02p.

The Price Commission report on area electricity boards (MC132 (1979)) examined the charges made for electricity, including standing charges. It looked in some detail at the reasons for the differences in charges between the London and Eastern electricity boards and identified a number of factors contributing to higher costs in the LEB area, including the much higher proportion of underground cables, which are expensive to repair, the declining level of demand, the higher wages in the London area, and the incidence of bad debts. No useful purpose would be served by holding a further inquiry at this stage. Area boards do of course discuss their tariff proposals including standing charges, with their respective consultative councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the Government's consideration of the Severn barrage committee's report will be completed; when he proposes to make a decision on the matter; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Aspinwall) on 8 March—[Vol. 19, c. 288].

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Dr. Thomas) on 15 February, Official Report, c. 10, when he expects to complete his consideration of the effects of gas and electricity standing charges on low income consumers.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, North (Mr. Durant) on 8 March—[Vol. 19, c. 584].

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he intends to take in respect of the recommendations on pre-contract delays in civil engineering made to him by the Construction Industry Research Information Association.

The main recommendations of the CIRIA report are matters primarily for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport. Although the report makes no specific recommendations on energy projects, I have drawn it to the attention of the nationalised energy industries. What action they may take is for them to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department has employed "headhunters" in the last 12 months for recruitment to jobs that are within his control; if so, what fees have been paid to the "headhunters"; for what jobs they have sought applicants; and how many jobs they have filled.

"Headhunters" have been employed with a view to filling two posts within my control during the last 12 months. Neither post has yet been filled. To maintain commercial confidentiality, it is not the practice to divulge individual fees paid; and I cannot at this stage disclose which posts are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much civil plutonium has been sold to the United States of America in each year from 1971 up to the latest available date.

As I explained in the answer given on 29 October 1981 to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook), approximately 50 kgs of civil plutonium of United Kingdom origin has been sold to the United States since 1971. This material was subject to the relevant bilateral safeguards agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he received any advice from the oil companies concerning the introduction of lead-free petrol prior to the Government's decision to reduce lead levels in petrol to 0·15 grammes per litre; and if he will make a statement.

For their own technical and cost reasons, the oil companies indicated a preference for introducing lead free petrol with reduced octane, retaining current fuels for existing cars.We did, however, decide to move by 31 December 1985 to low lead petrol with maintained octane—that is, petrol suitable for all existing cars—which will, at that date, achieve an immediate two-thirds reduction in the amount of petrol lead emitted to the environment. The benefits of lead-free petrol, on the other hand, would build up gradually and over a much longer timescale because it would only be suitable for engines specially designed to burn it.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much is being spent in the current financial year on research into solar energy; what are the figures for each of the last five years; and what are the comparable amounts being spent by each of the countries in the EEC, the United States of America and Japan.

Expenditure by my Department on research into solar energy in the current and previous three financial years has been as follows:

Financial Year	Expenditure £000's (including VAT)
1978–79	132
1979–80	1,118
1980–81	789
1981–82	*500
* Forecast.

I regret that the figures for earlier years could only be extracted at disproportionate cost.Figures for each of the countries of the EEC are given in the publication "Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Programmes and Expenditures of the Member States and the European Communities". The most recent volume is the Inventory of 1976–1978 Ref XII/1000/79-EN, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Similarly figures for IEA countries, including the United States of America and Japan, appear in the OECD's annual publication "Energy Research Development and Demonstration in the IEA Countries". The most recent volume is for 1980. This is also available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what projects his Department is sponsoring into the conversion of sunlight into electricity.

None. My Department's solar energy research programme has concentrated on space and water heating. There is insufficient annual sunshine, and it is too intermittent, for the use of photovoltaic cells to make a useful contribution to electricity generation in the United Kingdom. The Department of Industry, however, is supporting development for use in the space industry and to help export opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much has been spent on wave energy projects by his Department for each of the last six years at constant prices.

Expenditure on wave energy projects by my Department for each financial year since 1978–79, converted to 1981–82 prices using the GDP market price deflator has been as follows:

Council House Sales: 1981
	Number of Applications			Number of Sales
	Right to buy	Voluntary	Applications accepted*	Right to buy	Voluntary
Alyn and Deeside	501	—	476	200	—
Colwyn	2	53	—	—	85
Delyn	544	2	530	101	197
Glyndwr	558	—	577	160	—
Rhuddlan	359	—	347	80	—
Wrexham Maelor	1,501	—	1,101	297	—
Clwyd	3,465	55	3,031	838	282
* Information on the number of voluntary applications accepted is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the 81 per cent. of the North Sea oil contracts placed in the United Kingdom represent value added within the United Kingdom in the years 1979, 1980 and 1981.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 March 1981, c. 292]: The share of contracts placed in the United Kingdom has never in fact reached 81 per cent. In 1979 and 1980 the United Kingdom share was 79 per cent. and 71 per cent. respectively. The 1981 figure will be published in due course in the Secretary of State's annual report to Parliament.These figures represent, as far as is possible at the time main orders are placed, the nett benefit of contracts to United Kingdom based industry—i.e. with planned major foreign contributions excluded. It is not possible to provide a detailed measure of United Kingdom value added because of timing and resource problems.

asked the Secretary of State for 'Wales how many applications to purchase council houses were received by each of the borough and district councils within the county of Clwyd during the year 1981; and in each case, how many of those applications were accepted and the houses concerned actually sold to the applicants during that year.

The figures given in the following table refer to events occurring during 1981 and, therefore, some of the acceptances and sales listed will refer to applications made during 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress is being made in negotiations to provide a new Government information technology centre in South Wales designed to give unemployed youngsters training in electronics and computer skills.

The Manpower Services Commission has had discussions with the Mid Glamorgan, West Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and Gwent county councils aimed at the establishment of information technology centres in South Wales. I am keeping in close touch with progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons were unemployed in each of the travel-to-work areas in Wales (a) in May 1979 and (b) in February 1982.

The information is as follows:

Travel-to-work Area	May 1979	February 1982
Ebbw Vale	3511	6008
Monmouth	337	655
Newport	5963	13624
Pontypool	3599	8038
Aberdare	1961	4017
Bargoed	2991	5420
Merthyr Tydfil	1834	4099
Pontypridd	5369	11275
Cardiff	14587	27795
Neath	2115	4711
Port Talbot	5230	13028
Swansea	8084	17516
Aberystwyth	648	1350
Cardigan	448	824
Carmarthen	595	1146
Fishguard	317	474
Llandeilo	223	445
Llanelli	2460	6211
Lampeter	739	1303
Milford Haven	1598	3205
Pembroke Dock	553	1267
Tenby	323	900
Barmouth	133	482
Blaenau Ffestiniog	208	374
Caernarfon	1976	4004
Colwyn Bay	1790	3494
Holyhead	2309	4050
Llanwrst	169	457
Pwllheli	691	1608
Rhyl	2121	3941
Denbigh	395	786
Llangollen	361	686
Shotton	3203	9188
Wrexham	4612	8631
Brecon	341	656
Llandrindod Wells	406	884
Machynlleth	113	263
Tywyn	92	205
Newtown	315	1086
Welshpool	304	772

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is yet in a position to announce measures to alleviate and make more profitable and secure the position of the hill farmers of Wales.

Hill farmers within the less favoured areas of Wales will benefit to the extent of £24 million hill livestock compensatory allowances in 1982. In addition, support for livestock farmers is provided under the beef and sheepmeat regimes, including the headage payments on breeding cows and sheep. Enhanced rates of grants are available in the less favoured areas for improvements of a capital nature. A case for extending the less favoured areas is currently under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the total cost to local authorities in Wales of providing gipsy accommodation for gipsies residing in or resorting to local authority areas in the Principality.

Approved capital expenditure on providing gipsy accommodation is eligible for 100 per cent. grant from the central Government. In Wales in 1981–82 this is estimated to be £368,026. County councils are responsible for management costs and this information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of persons employed in education in Wales for each of the years 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1981; and if he will break the figures down into the following categories (a) lecturers and teachers and (b) non-teaching staff.

The following information on numbers employed in education by local authorities is derived from the quarterly joint manpower watch survey which was first introduced in March 1975.

Numbers of Local Education Authority Employees
Full-time equivalents
	September 1975	September 1980	September 1981*
Lecturers and teachers	33,268	34,026	33,027
Non-teaching staff	24,421	22,394	21,686
* Provisional.

Matters relating to the numbers employed by universities are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is now able to provide the composition of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for Wales in 1982–83.

I have today placed this information in the Library.

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) if he is satisfied with the security procedures of the House;(2) if he will ask the Services Committee to recommend procedures whereby all persons working within the precincts of the House are checked for sympathy with the Irish Republican Army.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) during Business questions on Thursday, 11 March—[Vol. 19, c. 971.] The arrangements for the security of the House are kept under constant review by the appropriate authorities.

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings have now taken place of Anglo-Irish Joint Studies; who have participated; where and when these meetings have taken place; what subjects have been discussed; and what future meetings have been arranged.

The Anglo-Irish Joint Studies which I laid before the House on 11 November (Cmnd. 8414) were prepared at eight meetings in London and eleven in Dublin between 30 January and 14 October 1981. The United Kingdom was represented by senior officials of the Cabinet Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Northern Ireland Office, supported as necessary by officials from other Departments directly affected and by representatives of Her Majesty'a embassy, Dublin.As I reported to the House at the time the subjects discussed were possible new institutional structures, citizenship rights, security matters, economic cooperation and measures to encourage mutual understanding. The task of the groups which prepared the Joint Studies was completed with the presentation of the studies to the then Taoiseach and me in November 1981. Accordingly, there have been no meetings since and none are planned.

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings have now taken place of the Anglo-Irish Ministerial Council; who have participated; where and when these meetings have taken place; what subjects have been discussed; and what future meetings have been arranged.

There has been one meeting of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Council at ministerial level. This took place in London on 29 January, in two sessions. In the first session the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland exchanged views on matters of mutual interest in the political, economic and security field. In the second session the Minister and my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal discussed international developments of common concern. No date has been arranged for any future meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles were received into custody before trial or sentence in 1981; of these how many were found not guilty, how many received non-custodial sentences and how many received custodial sentences.

The information requested for 1981 is not yet available. The latest available information is published in table 2·2 of "Prison statistics, England and Wales 1980" (Cmnd. 8372).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time spent in custody by juveniles remanded to (a) prisons and (b) remand centres in the latest year for which figures are available.

Estimates of the average time spent custody by juveniles on remand could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The only information readily available is given in the following table.

Untried and convicted unsentenced juveniles aged 15–16 in prisons and remand centres in England and Wales on 31 December 1981: by time since initial remand in custody and type of establishment
Length of time since initial remand in custody*	Prisons	Remand centres
Under 1 month	13	81
1 month but less than 2 months	9	45
2 months but less than 4 months	7	14
4 months but less than 8 months	3	6
Total	32	146
* Including any time which may have been spent on bail after a first remand in custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the longest time spent in custody by juveniles remanded to (a) a prison and (b) a remand centre in the latest year for which figures are available.

Information in the form requested is not readily available. The longest period since initial remand for a juvenile held on remand in custody in England and Wales on 31 December 1981 was (a) 233 days for juveniles in prison and (b) 189 days for juveniles in remand centres. In each case some of this time may have been spent on bail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles are currently being held in adult prisons; in which prisons they are held; and how many are held in each of these prisons.

The latest readily available information is given in the following table:

Juveniles aged 15–16 in adult prisons in England and Wales on 31 December 1981 by establishment
Prison	Number
Birmingham	2
Canterbury	1
Durham	3
Gloucester	1
Holloway	2
Leeds	8
Leicester	1
Lincoln	1
Manchester	31
Shrewsbury	2
TOTAL	52

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the growing practice of robbers, burglars, bank raiders and so on carrying sawn-off shotguns, he will now seek to make it a specific criminal offence for any person to have in their possession, or on their person, or premises, a sawn-off shotgun, as such can be used only for nefarious purposes.

Under the Firearms Act 1968 it is an offence to possess, purchase or acquire a firearm without a valid firearm certificate. The offence is aggravated if the firearm concerned is a shotgun whose barrel has been shortened to a length less than 24 inches, and such an offence carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment. The same penalty can be incurred by anyone convicted of the offence of shortening a shotgun barrel contrary to the Act. Moreover, possession of a firearm with criminal intent carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment, and carrying a firearm with intent to resist arrest or injure carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. I am satisfied that these provisions are adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made to facilitate the accessibility of magistrates' courts buildings for disabled persons.

The Department's design guidance on new courthouse buildings draws attention to the needs of the disabled in relation to access; and any approved building work for this purpose ranks for the normal 80 per cent. Exchequer grant. But responsibility for magistrates' courts buildings rests with the local authority and magistrates' courts committee, who decide what provision it may be practicable to make for disabled people at particular courthouses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress on the fourth television channel to date.

I understand from the Independent Broadcasting Authority that engineering work to provide both the Fourth Channel and the Welsh Fourth Channel services is on schedule for both services to commence broadcasting in November. The preparation of programmes for these services is a matter for the Channel Four Television Company Limited and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to legislate to establish

Recorded Offences of Robbery and Other Violent Theft by district and Victim Perception of Appearance of Assailant 1981
	Appearance of assailant
District	White	Coloured	Mixed gang	Not known	Total
A—(Part) Westminster	86	42	7	57	192
B—Kensington and Chelsea	176	299	14	92	581
C—(Part) Westminster	224	143	22	197	586
D—(Part) Westminster	232	422	34	72	760
E—Camden	309	225	28	136	698
F—Hammersmith	157	351	20	50	578

The Independent Broadcasting Authority has indicated that it believes there could be a place for a national independent radio service later in the decade. My right hon. Friend has no plans for legislation at this stage, but the option for such a service is one which is being kept open in our preparation for the regional administrative radio conference, which at its final session in 1984 will plan assignments for VHF sound broadcasting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has happened since his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 12 June 1980, Official Report, c. 282, with regard to the building of the new Brent magistrates' court; when he expects details now to be finalised; what has caused the delays; and when he now expects the building works to start and to be completed.

Detailed planning discussions with the Greater London Council on the scheme for a new magistrates' courthouse in Brent have been continuing since June 1980 with a view to establishing firm requirements. We now await the submission of revised plans and cost estimates. A start in 1983–84 is scheduled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the number of recorded offences of robbery and other violent thefts by police district in the Metropolitan Police district for 1980 and 1981, showing the percentage change and also the same table by police district and victim perception of appearance of assailant for 1981 and for any previous years which are available to the Metropolitan Police;(2) if he will publish in the

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information readily available is as given in the following tables which were circulated at the Metropolitan Police press conference on 10 March 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the publication of statistics of recorded crime in London by the Metropolitan Police on 10 March 1982.

The publication of these statistics, which are collected by the Metropolitan Police, is a matter for the Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definitions are used for crimes of violence known as "muggings" in the compilation of crime statistics; and what variations there are in these definitions between different police authorities.

Mugging is a term with no legal definition. The 43 police forces in England and Wales are required to supply information to the Home Office giving the numbers of offences recorded according to legal definitions. The collection of information for operational purposes is a matter for chief officers of police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that all future crime figures and statistics for London and elsewhere show the racial spread amongst criminals for all types of crime and not just robbery and violent theft.

I have no plans to collect such statistics centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the crime figures for London are broken down to show the racial spread in crimes of robbery and violent theft and not for other types of crime.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police that such information is also collected for other types of offence where the assailant is likely to be seen by the victim—i.e. recorded offences of assaults, etc. and of non-violent 'theft from person of another'. Ethnic appearance is also collected for persns arrested for all types of serious crime.

asked the Secretary of St ate for the Home Department whether, as the police authority for London, he sanctioned or was consulted about the release of figures concerning the involvement of blacks in street crime by the Metropolitan Police; and if not, what action he proposes to take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he authorised the publication by the Metropolitan Police of lists showing area by area the colour of offenders involved in street crime in London; and if he has any plans to authorise the publication by the Metropolitan Police of similar lists demonstrating the religous or political beliefs of such persons.

The publication of these statistics, which are collected by the Metropolitan Police, is a matter for the Commissioner, who informed me in advance of his intention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether statistics are kept of the racial spread of the victims of robbery and violent crime in London.

I understand that the Metropolitan Police do keep such statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research studies have been carried out into crimes of violence known as "muggings"; if he will give details of their results; and if he will publish them.

My Department has carried out a limited study of these crimes in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. An article reporting on this study will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out for each London borough and for London as a whole for the last two years each of (a) the proportion of black population, (b) the black population between 14 and 21 years as a proportion of the total population between 14 and 21 years, (c) the proportion of crimes of violence allegedly committed by blacks only, (d) the proportion of crimes of violence allegedly committed by whites only, (e) the origins of crimes of violence proven to be committed by blacks and whites as above and (f) the number of crimes of violence.

Such information as is available could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made against the police since 1970 to the latest available date in (a) London and (b) other parts of the United Kingdom; what proportion of the complaints came from ethnic minorities in each case; how many complaints were upheld in each year; and what proportion of the successful complaints came from ethnic minorities in each case.

Information about complaints against the police and their outcome is contained in the annual reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (for forces other than the Metropolitan Police) and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The reports are available in the Library of the House. Statistics in respect of ethnic minority complainants are not collected centrally but my right hon. Friend is exploring with the Commissioner what figures may be available in relation to the Metropolitan Police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an interdepartmental study consisting of members connected with the various police forces and the defence services to examine the possibility of establishing a special police corps, consisting of retired Service men, to assist the police on a full- and part-time basis to combat the growth in crime.

No. Police forces already seek, with the full co-operation of the Ministry of Defence, to recruit suitable Service men at the end of their engagements. Retired Service men who wish to help the police part-time can join the special constabulary, although some categories of reservists are ineligible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the latest police reports of the substantial growth in crime, the difficulties of the police in dealing with this and the shortage of police to fill their limited establishment he will now consider establishing a separate Metropolitan Police force to deal with road transport matters, consisting of pensioned policemen, police officers who are disabled or otherwise unfit for normal police duties and concentrating the Metropolitan Police crime preventive section on matters connected with matters other than road traffic items.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the Metropolitan Police's current recruitment drive "All London Coppers are Members of a Minority"; how much has been budgeted for this campaign; and what action will be taken to ensure that recruits from the extreme political non-democratic parties are not enrolled.

I understand that the purpose of this advertisement, which is one of a series designed to attract recruits of the right quality, was to make it clear that the Metropolitan Police want recruits from all sections of our multi-racial society. The estimated cost of Metropolitan Police recruitment advertising in 1981–82 is £430,000. The initial selection procedures and a continuous process of assessment during initial training are used to identify and eliminate those who, because of their extreme political beliefs or other reasons, could not be relied upon to maintain the standards of impartiality expected of the police service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there has been an increase in the police establishments and the special constables during the past year commensurate with the increase in crime over that period; and whether he will initiate a campaign to increase the numbers of special constables.

During 1981, the establishment of the police service in England and Wales was increased by 1,092 posts and its strength by 2,152; at the end of December 1981, its strength was 119,575 the highest ever and over 8,000 more than in April 1979. The full benefit of these increases will be felt as new young officers are trained and gain experience.The strength of the special constabulary has not increased over the past year, but remains about 15,000. A working party set up by the police advisory board concluded that recruitment campaigns were best conducted locally, but my right hon. Friend will continue to give forces his full support in their efforts to attract more volunteers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been killed on duty (a) in each of the last six months and (b) in each of the last five years (i) in total and (ii) broken down by (a) deaths as a probable result of criminal activity and (b) other deaths.

The number of police officers killed in each of the last six months and in March to date are:

September 1981	1
October 1981	2
November 1981	1
December 1981	1
January 1982	—
February 1982	1
March 1982 (to date)	2

The two deaths in March were the result of criminal activity.The numbers killed in each of the last five years and this year to date

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any abuses by those granted access to the register of building society members have been notified to the Registrar of Friendly Societies.

No case of such abuse has been notified to the Chief Registrar. However, there was one case, to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 8 March, where the circular subsequently issued by the members who had access to the register involved some risk of damage to the interests of members generally.The wording of the circular was such that it could have given rise to misgivings, at least in the minds of some readers, about the society's financial position, and so put at risk the confidence of investors generally in the society. The authors did not intend to give this impression—and the careful reader of the circular would not have received it. So this was not an abuse of the direction giving access to the register. But it did point to the need for some vetting procedure, such as was the subject of the hon. Member's previous question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Chief Registrar will use the powers given to him under section 110 of the Building Societies Act 1962 to establish whether the Anglia Building Society is making adequate provision for its members to participate effectively in the proceedings of the society.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that building society annual returns—form AR11—are available to all building society members 14 days before the annual general meetings take place.

The question of what information should be either circulated to members or available to them on request is a matter which will have to be reviewed when next there is major building society legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total sales of spirits in the United Kingdom for the most convenient recent 12-month period; and w hat percentage of that figure was represented by Scotch whisky.

I have no statistics of the quantity of spirits sold in the United Kingdom. In the 12 months to 31 August 1981 duty was paid on 97 million litres of alcohol in the spirits. About 50 per cent. of this alcohol was in Scotch whisky. I regret that, owing to industrial action, figures for later periods are not yet available.For the estimated value of consumers' expenditure on spirits in 1980, I refer my hon. Friend to table 4.6 on page 32 of National Income and Expenditure, 1981 edition. There is a copy in the Library of the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in the retail price index from May 1978 to the most recent convenient date.

The increase in the retail prices index between May 1978 and January 1982 was 58·7 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all changes in rates since May 1979 in (a) petrol excise duty, (b) diesel excise duty, (c) vehicle excise duty for private cars and for a medium goods vehicle and a heavy goods vehicle, (d) car tax and (e) value added tax on vehicle and fuel sales; and what was the revenue for each category of tax in 1978–79 and that estimated for 1982–83, together with the percentage increase in the period, in nominal and in real terms.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now publish data for 1981–82 on the same basis as the article "Costing Unemployment" which appeared in the economic progress report for February 1981.

I am at present considering the basis on which estimates of the Exchequer cost of unemployment are prepared.

asked the Chancellor of he Exchequer whether steps are taken to ensure that Her Majesty's Stationery Office gives contracts for paper supplies to United Kingdom producers; if he will list the principal suppliers of paper to Her Majesty's Stationery Office from the United Kingdom and from abroad; if he will express the figures as percentages; and if he will make a statement.

Except for telephone directory paper, which is no longer manufactured in the United Kingdom, over 97 per cent. of paper purchased by HMSO is from United Kingdom sources, mainly:

• East Lancashire Paper Mill Co Ltd
• Wiggins Teape Paper Ltd
• Thomas Tait and Sons Ltd
• James Cropper & Co Ltd
• Bowaters Paper Sales Ltd
• J A Weir Ltd
• DRG Paper and Board

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of quality paper orders given by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to the Grosvenor Chater mill, Holywell, Clwyd, in the years 1980–81 and 1981–82.

These amounted to approximately £14,400 in 1980–81, and to £46,100 in the first 9 months of 1981–82.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the estimated public sector borrowing requirement in 1981–82 he expects will have been funded by borrowing from the banks and increase of coins and notes.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a report on the review of gaming machine taxation referred to in the Official Report, 9 March, column 744.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he proposes to hold before 1 October on the implementation of the new gaming machine licence duties.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to amend the law to prevent building societies advancing money which has been invested with those societies to private nursing homes.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 March 1982, c. 514]: No. I am not aware of loans secured on such property causing concern on prudential or other grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what ways the British pregnancy advisory service benefits from public funds for the purpose of carrying out abortions; and by how much in the current year.

The British pregnancy advisory service receives no grant from the Department but I understand that it provides counselling or abortions for NHS patients on behalf of a number of NHS authorities. The total cost of these arrangements is not known centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what ways the Save the Unborn Child LIFE organisation benefits from public funds; and by how much in the current year.

LIFE receives no grant from the Department but in the current financial year, Life Care and Housing Trust received a grant of £4,750 from the Department of the Environment under section 13 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has had discussions with the British Medical Association or the Royal College of General Practitioners with a view to installing new machinery for charging overseas patients who visit general practitioners for treatment.

Consultations have taken place with these two bodies on the proposals to charge overseas visitors but no new machinery of this type is called for by the decisions I announced on 22 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what local authorities have banned corporal punishment in homes for mentally handicapped children and teenagers; and whether, in the light of the recent Court of Human Rights ruling, he will take steps to require all local authorities to ban corporal punishment in such homes.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how frequently during the last 12 months his Department has used immigration information to establish the legitimacy of a claim for benefit.

When it is necessary to obtain information about a claimant's immigration status in order to determine his entitlement to supplementary benefit, such information can be obtained from the claimant's passport or, if necessary, direct from the immigration authorities. A record is not kept of the number of occasions on which such information is used to establish entitlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to implement the provision in schedule 1 to the Supplementary Benefit Act 1976 to allow either spouse or partner in a household to be nominated as the principal person in the household for the purpose of state benefit assessments.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for Crewe (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 2 February—[Vol. 17, c. 116.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received to the effect that the introduction of increased dental charges will result in a decline in preventive and timely treatment; and whether he will make a statement.

We have received a number of letters on this point and a deputation from the British Dental Association, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Members for Blaydon (Mr. McWilliam), Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) and Burnley (Mr. Jones) on 9 March—[Vol. 19, c. 388–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement outlining areas of non-reciprocity in the social security systems of the United Kingdom and Isle of Man.

The reciprocal agreement on social security between the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man enables the social security schemes in both countries to operate virtually as one. The agreement covers all contributory benefits and most non-contributory benefits but supplementary benefit and family income supplement are excluded. The Isle of Man authorities generally confine the payment of their supplementary benefit to those who have completed a minimum period of residence on the island.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to introduce high-powered hearing aids; and when they will be available for National Health Service patients.

During the last 18 months the standard range of National Health Service aids has been extended by the introduction of a very high-powered body-worn aid and two series of behind the ear aids, one of very high power and the other of high power. NHS hearing aids should now meet the needs of all but a small minority of patients. In the few cases where they cannot be met adequately by an aid from the standard range, health authorities are able, where a consultant considers it necessary, to provide a commercial model to a National Health Service patient.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital pharmacists employed by the National Health Service work outside contracted hours free of charge.

The number is unknown, although the pharmaceutical Whitley council, which negotiates pay and conditions of service for hospital pharmacists, recognises that some staff have undertaken emergency duties outside normal hours without remuneration, and agrees that payments for this service should be introduced. As announced on 8 March, additional funding has been approved for this purpose, and I expect that an agreement will now be be concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to lay before the House the proposed amendment to the Boarding Out of Children Regulations 1955 so that single men can be considered for the role of foster parents, following the letter reference PO (PS-HPSS) 2304/22, from the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Melton, dated 14 December 1981, stating that the regulations would come into force early in the new year.

We expect that the amending regulations will be laid before the House rises for the Easter Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information is made available to the public by his Department on the dangers of high blood pressure and the need to have regular check-ups.

The United Kingdom Health Departments have recently published "Avoiding Heart Attacks" in the Prevention and Health series—a booklet on coronary heart disease for health professionals and the public. Chapter VI of this booklet discusses the significance of high blood pressure in the development of heart disease and advises that it is wise to have blood pressure checks from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce a screening programme to detect children at risk of developing kidney disease.

The decision whether to undertake screening for specific conditions is one for individual health authorities, which would first wish to be satisfied that it was both beneficial and cost-effective. There has been a number of studies on the possible value of screening children for urinary tract infection—a condition which in certain circumstances can cause renal damage. As yet there is no definite evidence that routine screening is cost-effective but I understand that research on this subject is continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) girls and (b) boys are estimated to begin their school life with urinary tract infection; and what steps are taken to detect this.

This information is not collected centrally, but studies suggest that around two per cent. of children, most of them girls, have a urinary infection when they start school. All school children are required to have at least one medical examination during their time at school but it is left to health authorities to decide what it should include. I have referred to the question of screening for urinary tract infection in my reply today to another question from the hon. Member concerning kidney disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of patients awaiting treatment in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West

Number of Patients on In-Patient waiting list at 31 March 1981 West Midlands Region
Specialty	Urgent		Non-urgent		Total of all cases
	All cases	Cases on list for more than one month	All cases	Cases on list for more than one year
General Medicine	34	—	157	9	191
Paediatrics	—	—	—	—	—
Chest Diseases	—	—	—	—	—
Dermatology	—	—	90	10	90
Neurology	30	14	285	4	315
Cardiology	40	20	297	99	337
Rehabilitation	—	—	—	—	—
Genito Urinary Medicine	—	—	—	—	—
Rheumatology	3	1	205	10	208
Geriatrics	113	57	714	176	827
Younger Disabled	—	—	18	11	18
General Surgery	964	621	20,952	8,303	21,916
ENT	241	174	11,943	4,932	12,184
Trau and Orth	779	685	14,679	7,268	15,458
Ophthalmology	401	360	5,636	1,989	6,037
Radiotherapy	55	—	52	—	107
Urology	340	221	1,929	526	2,269
Plastic Surgery	98	48	4,041	2,035	4,139
Thoracic Surgery	151	99	395	124	546
Dental Surgery	108	67	2,996	747	2,704
Orthodontics	—	—	—	—	—
Neurosurgery	14	6	502	118	516
Gynaecology	79	28	10,566	2,718	10,645
Psych Children	3	—	8	3	11
Mental Handicap	22	22	42	39	64
Mental Illness	29	12	205	92	234
Adolescent Psych	—	—	3	—	3
GP Other	8	—	1,043	289	1,051
GP Dental	—	—	—	—	—
OSU	166	129	112	11	278
Totals	3,678	2,564	76,470	29,513	80,148

Wolverhampton
Specialty	Urgent		Non-urgent		Total of all cases
	All cases	Cases on list for more than one month	All cases	Cases on list for more than one year
General Medicine	—	—	11	—	11
Paediatrics	—	—	—	—	—
Chest Diseases	—	—	—	—	—
Dermatology	—	—	—	—	—
Neurology	3	—	—	—	3
Cardiology	—	—	—	—	—
Rehabilitation	—	—	—	—	—
Genito Urinary Medicine	—	—	—	—	—
Rheumatology	—	—	—	—	—
Geriatrics	1	—	11	—	12
Younger Disabled	—	—	—	—	—
General Surgery	3	1	1,316	326	1,319
ENT	—	—	147	3	147
Trau and Orth	9	6	678	170	687
Ophthalmology	107	80	755	328	862
Radiotherapy	—	—	8	—	8
Urology	—	—	300	42	300
Plastic Surgery	—	—	—	—	—
Thoracic Surgery	—	—	5	—	5
Dental Surgery	—	—	103	—	103
Orthodontics	—	—	—	—	—
Neurosurgery	—	—	—	—	—

Information in the form requested is not held centrally but those figures that are available are as follows: