asked the Secretary for Trade if he intends to make changes under the sterling fixed rate export credit scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Following discussions with the main banking associations, the Government have reviewed the rate of return payable to the banks under the Export Credits Guarantee Department scheme for sterling fixed rate export credits. As a result, the Government have decided that the banks' margin on new fixed rate lending will be reduced from 1¼ per cent. over three-month sterling LIBOR to a maximum of ⅞ per cent. for credits involving repayment periods of less than 12 years. For credits of 12 years or more, the maximum margin will be ⅞ per cent. for the first 12 years and 1 per cent. thereafter. At the same time as these changes are introduced, arrangements will be made for interest make-up payments to the banks to be made by ECGD on a quarterly rather than half-yearly basis. In addition, certain detailed changes will be introduced to the methods of calculating amounts payable to the banks.These changes will apply to new facilities and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry has asked me to confirm that they will also apply to the home shipbuilding scheme.ECGD and the Department of Industry will be writing shortly to the banks participating in the schemes notifying them of the new arrangements and of the date on which they will come into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set out in tabular form for 1981, or the latest available 12-month period (a) the number of cars exported from the United Kingdom to the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics and Czechoslovakia, respectively, and (b) the number of cars imported into the United Kingdom from those two countries over the same period.

The available information is as follows:

United Kingdom Trade in Motor Cars March 1980—February 1981
Country whence consigned/country of destination	(Number)
	Imports	Exports
Soviet Union	11,201	36
Czechoslovakia	6,384	11

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his best estimate of the United Kingdom's share of world trade in manufactures in the fourth quarter of 1981 in terms of volume and his estimate of the extent to which this was affected by any speeding up of notifications of exports.

According to Treasury estimates, based on incomplete data, the United Kingdom share in the fourth quarter of 1981 was about 7·5 per cent; the effect on this of the speeding up of notifications was neglible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why the survey fee for a passenger-carrying boat operated by Mr. W. Shiel of Seahouses, Northumberland, has increased from £191 to £250 in the current year.

The figures quoted are not strictly comparable. In 1981–82 the fee for a renewal survey on a class VI passenger ship was fixed at £191. From 1 April 1982, as in the case of most survey fees, the charge will be determined by the amount of time, including travelling time, required to complete the work, assessed at an hourly rate of £33·35 up to a maximum fee of £250. The fee for the survey of Mr. Shiel's ship may not therefore amount to £250; if the maximum fee is payable, it will reflect the fact that the costs involved will be equal to or exceed that figure.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will now list, in specific, numerical terms in respect of major industries such as electronics, toys and motor manufacturing the detailed steps which Japan has indicated to him it intends to take to reduce her imports into the United Kingdom in both real and monetary terms in the financial year 1982–83 compared with 1981–82; and what action his Department intends to take to ensure that those reductions are fully achieved.

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

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will set out in tabular form details of the visits undertaken by the present Minister for Trade and his immediate predecessor since May 1979 to overseas countries in their official capacities; on which visits the Minister was accompanied by United Kingdom business men; what was the cost to public funds of each visit; and what is the value of the orders obtained by United Kingdom firms, where known, as a result of each visit.

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

asked the Minister for Trade how many reports have been published by the Office of Fair Trading under section 3(10) of the Competition Act 1980.

Four.

asked the Minister for Trade on how many occasions he has passed on to the Director of Fair Trading representations received alleging anticompetitive practice covered by section 3(1) of the Competition Act 1980.

No separate record is kept of the number of representations received alleging anti-competitive practices within the meaning of section 2 of the Competition Act 1980. Those received by my Department are normally passed on to the Director General of Fair Trading or his officials.

asked the Minister for Trade what has been the average length of time taken by the Director of Fair Trading to complete investigations under section 3 of the Competition Act 1980.

The average length of time between the announcement of an investigation and publication of the Director General's report has been about 30 weeks.

asked the Minister for Trade on how many occasions he has exercised his powers under section 3(5) of the Competition Act 1980.

I have never directed the Director General not to proceed with an investigation under section 3.

asked the Minister for Trade how many representations from hon. Members he has received alleging anti-competitive practices defined under section 3(1) of the Competition Act 1980.

No separate record is kept of representations relating to anti-competitive practices. I understand that many hon. Members write to the Director General direct.

asked the Minister of Trade how many investigations have been instituted under section 3 of the Competition Act 1980; and, of these, how many have been related to newspapers.

Nine investigations have been announced; two involve newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for each police authority area, expenditure in the years 1980 and 1981, respectively, on anti-riot equipment, including helmets, body armour and shields, personnel carriers and CS gas.

The Home Office has estimates of numbers of items of equipment. Details of expenditure are not held centrally, but by each police authority. The cost of assembling that information would be disproportionate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for each police authority area, expenditure in the years 1980 and 1981 on telecommunications equipment and computers for all types of police work.

Total police authority expenditure in England and Wales on police vehicles, plant and machinery in the years 1979–80 and 1980–81 was £33·5 million and £40 million respectively. Central records do not show the proportion of that expenditure which was attributable to telecommunications equipment and computers and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what account is taken of damage to a person's reputation when calculating compensation for false imprisonment;(2) if the wrongful conduct of a responsible public servant is taken into account when assessing compensation for anyone falsely imprisoned; and if the awards include any element of exemplary or punitive damages.

The procedure followed by the independent assessor, who advises the Secretary of State on the amount of compensation to be paid on a particular case, and the factors which he takes into account are explained in a memorandum which is sent to all persons to whom it has been decided in principle to pay compensation. The text of this memorandum was published in the Official Report in answer to a written question on 29 July 1976.—[Vol. 916, c. 328.] I am sending a copy to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any rules apply to chief constables or other senior policemen who submit articles of political controversy to journals or newspapers which may be read by the general public; and in what circumstances such officers may be paid fees for such articles.

The Government are not responsible for articles written by chief constables or other senior policemen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to prevent chief constables from denying to the news media access to police activities or public interest, such as riot control exercises, subject to his discretion; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the prison population at the latest available date.

About 44,200 on 2 April 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases, since the abolition of the death penalty, persons convicted of murder have subsequently been pardoned or had their conviction quashed.

Since the abolition of the death penalty in 1965 Timothy Evans is the only person convicted of murder to have been granted a free pardon on the recommendation of a Home Secretary. That part of the question relating to convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal is a matter for the Lord Chancellor; but I understand that the figures are not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 26 November 1980, Official Report c. 114, what funds have been allocated for the provision of accommodation in sub-regional civil defence headquarters in Wales.

The precise amount required for North Wales in 1983–84 and 1984–85 in the sub-regional headquarters building programme has not yet been determined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, following his statement about increases in the fees for registration or naturalisation, Official Report, 10 March, c. 423–24, the necessary forms were not made available until the increases had come into effect, thus imposing additional charges of £20 and £50, respectively, with immediate effect.

Forms were available to meet demands from individual applicants, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the following details about the community projects foundation (a) date of incorporation, (b) terms of reference, (c) details of its constitution, (d) the names and addresses of trustees, (e) details of trust deed, including the extent of financial responsibility of the trustees, (f) details of the foundation's financial position and (g) date of submission of the latest set of accounts to the Charity Commission.

The community projects foundation, originally known as the young volunteer force foundation, was constituted on 12 December 1967 with the object of involving young people in service to the community. On 21 November 1977 the name was changed to community projects foundation and the activities were broadened to encompass a range of community work.While maintaining a programme of practical projects, the foundation also has a demonstration role in disseminating good practice. It is governed by a board of trustees appointed by my right hon. Friend, which is responsible for operations headed by a director. The trustees are:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans for an outside scrutiny of the efficiency of the British Gas Corporation.

My hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury announced on 30 November 1981—[Vol. 14, c. 48–49]—that the efficiency of each nationalised industry is in future to be subject to outside scrutiny at least once every four years. Such scrutinies are to be carried out either by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission or by management consultants.In the case of British Gas, I have agreed with the corporation that my Department and the corporation will jointly commission an independent study by management consultants of the corporation's efficiency.The consultants who will be carrying out the study have yet to be selected, but it is my intention that they should begin their examination this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the deferred deficit and operating grants in respect of 1981–82 will be paid to the National Coal Board.

The deferred grant of £198 million will be paid as soon as possible. Some £109 million will be met from the Vote on Account for Class IV, Vote 5. The remainder will be paid from a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund pending parliamentary approval of the main Estimates for 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the recent Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen dispute affected the National Coal Board's external financing requirement in 1981–82; and what change will be made to the board's 1982–83 external financing limit to reflect this and other factors.

The NCB's audited accounts for 1981–82 are not yet available, but the board has told me that the effects of the ASLEF dispute were responsible for £121 million of its external cash requirement in 1981–82 of £1,238 million. When account is taken of this, NCB's performance was consistent with its EFL of £1,117 million. The Government will not expect the NCB to recoup this £121 million in 1982–83, except to the extent that NCB recover sales lost in 1981–82.My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced today the change of the NCB's EFL of £1,026 million for 1982–83, which was announced on 2 December last, to £962 million, to take account of a number of factors, including the recovery of sales after the ASLEF dispute, which the NCB expects to make in 1982–83, and the reduction in the employers' national insurance surcharge, and assistance for foundry coke producers, which were announced on 9 March.I shall announce in due course an appropriate adjustment to the board's deficit grant for 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he has taken to offset the effect of the rail stoppages earlier this year on supplies of coal to the Central Electricity Generating Board.

The Government have decided to make a grant of up to £17 million to cover the net cost of additional oil consumed by the board in generating electricity from 11 February to 3 March 1982 to offset in part the effect of the rail stoppages. Parliamentary approval of the grant will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Industrial Support; Department of Energy Vote 1982–83, Class IV, 5. The grant will be accommodated within the industry's external financing limit, so no increase in public expenditure will be involved. Pending that approval the grant will be paid from a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list in the Official Report the actions taken by the Council of Ministers in furtherance of the framework decisions taken by each meeting of the European Council, over the past two and a half years.

It is normal for meetings of the European Council to ask the Council of Ministers or the Commission to take action in a number of fields. The list requested by my hon. Friend covering eight meetings of the European Council could be produced only at disproportionate expense, but progress at meetings of the Council on these and other topics is regularly reported to the House.

asked the Prime Minister when Her Majesty's Government last asked the United States Government to release the Ruger pistols and rifles for the Royal Ulster Constabulary which formed part of the order frozen by President Carter in 1979; and when it is intended to raise the matter again.

The Government have left the United States Administration in no doubt of their view on this matter. It was discussed most recently in June 1981. As far as the future is concerned, as my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland indicated on 25 March, the Royal Ulster Constabulary has adequate and sufficient weapons: any request from the police authority for more weapons or weapons of a different sort will be sympathetically considered.

asked the Prime Minister which Departments are currently concerned with the promotion of information technology; what activities each is responsible for; what were their budgets in 1981–82; and what are their proposed budgets in 1982–83 for information technology.

The Department of Industry takes lead responsibility for the promotion of information technology outside Government Departments; it provides financial assistance for this and for the development of new IT products and services, and funding for the IT Year committee. The Treasury, through the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, is responsible for the promotion of IT applications within Government Departments, but each Department is also responsible for keeping its own operations under review in order to identify cost-effective IT applications. Many Departments are also contributing to IT Year activities.IT is generally not a separately identifiable item of Departmental expenditure. However, the Department of Industry allocated £19 million specifically for the development and application of information technology products in 1981–82 and has allocated a further sum of approximately £25 million for 1982–83. For information on allocations to other Department of Industry schemes within the broader IT field, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given her by the Minister of State, Department of Industry on 8 March 1982.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement about the departmental responsibility for the Government hospitality fund.

Responsibility for this fund passed from the Minister for the Civil Service to my right hon. and noble Friend the then Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on 1 April 1982. The fund will continue to arrange hospitality for distinguished overseas visitors invited to this country as official guests of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the percentage State ownership of the following industries, by turnover: steel, metalworking, base chemicals, synthetic textiles, plastics, fine chemical, pharmaceuticals, glass, construction materials, cardboard, foundry, machine tools, capital goods, heavy engineering, arms, computer and office equipment, power generating equipment, electronics, consumer durables, shipbuilding and aircraft.

This information is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what sums of money were paid by way of grants or aid to industry from the European Economic Community to organisations in the Morecambe and Lonsdale constituency in the last year for which figures are available.

No grants from the European regional development fund were made in respect of industrial projects in the Morecambe and Lonsdale constituency during 1981. Such grants are in any case payable only in respect of projects which have already received United Kingdom regional aid, and are retained by the Government as a contribution thereto, as provided for in the fund regulation. There were no applications for loans from the European Investment Bank from firms in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if the National Enterprise Board has any plans to raise additional funds from the private sector for investment in Inmos Ltd.

This is a matter for the NEB.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when an announcement will be made on the siting of the second Inmos production unit in the United Kingdom.

This is a matter for the company. However, my right hon. Friend has received assurances from the company that its second United Kingdom production unit will be located in an assisted area, although it is too early to say what the actual location will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what regional aid grant has been made to the Hanson Trust and for what purpose; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1982, c. 286]: No regional development grants and no selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 has been made to date to the Hanson Trust.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will support common agricultural policy price increases on products in surplus.

The Council of Agriculture Ministers has held three meetings to discuss the Commission's price proposals for 1982–83 and on each occasion we have urged the need for prudent price increases for products in surplus.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sums of money were paid by way of grants or aid to agriculture from the European Economic Community to organisations in the Morecambe and Lonsdale constituency in the last year for which figures are available.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his replies of 2 March, Official Report, c. 66, and 19 February, Official Report, c. 235 to the hon. Member for Southend, East concerning export rebates for food exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, he has now received the comparable figures for 1981 from the Commission in respect of the other member States of the European Economic Community.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1982, c. 204–5]: The Commission services have now given, as requested, an estimate of the cost of refunds paid for exports to the Soviet Union from the European Economic Community—excluding the United Kingdom—in the period January-September 1981. These are aggregate figures for the whole Community for each commodity, since I understand that the Commission does not have the figures broken down by individual member States. The figures that I have received are as follows:

Tariff heading and Product	Estimated total cost (million ECU)
02 Meats:
Beef	98·51
Poultry	9·68
04 Milk products:
WMP	26·70
08 Fruit:
Lemons	1·32
10 Cereals:
Wheat	11·33
Barley	17·84
11 Processed cereals:
Flour	40·67
Malt	8·52
15 Oils and fats:
Olive oil	0·10
17 Sugar:
White sugar	85·42
Raw sugar	—
21 Diverse food products	50·0
22 Drinks:
Wine	9·76
23 Residues etc.:
Soya cake	—
Animal feed	18·22
	379·07

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider affording extra protection to the British Antarctic Territory.

Article 1 of the Antarctic treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature in Antarctica. The United Kingdom, together with 24 other States—including Argentina—is bound by this provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the adverse effect on the United Kingdom's negotiating position of holding an exhibition to promote sales of military equipment at the same time as the United Nations special session on disarmament in New York, is taking place, he will postpone the British Army equipment exhibition due to take place from 21 to 25 June.

No. There is no conflict of interest between these two events. We are fully committed to the pursuit of arms control and disarmament, but we have always recognised that, until multilateral agreements on disarmament that maintain the security of nations at lower levels of forces are achieved, the United Kingdom and other countries around the world will have to rely on adequately equipped armed forces to protect our independence and deter aggression. Just as we need to buy arms from our allies from time to time, so countries without their own defence industries will look to the United Kingdom and other industrialised nations to supply them with the equipment they need to defend themselves, and it would be inconsistent for us to deny them the right to adequate means of defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of maintaining the British Army of the Rhine's television service for 1980–81 and 1981–82; what is the estimated cost for 1982–83; and what is the size of its audience.

The costs of the English language television service for British Forces, Germany, including those incurred on related works services both here and in Germany by the Property Services Agency, were £5·5 million in 1980–81, and are estimated to be £3·9 million in 1981–82 and £4·7 million in 1982–83. The service is now estimated to reach an audience of 158,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that a flight recorder be lodged in every military aircraft.

No. Although most new aircraft are fitted with accident data recorders, it is not practicable to fit them into older ones.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the weight of a cruise missile; and what will be the approximate total weight of any road transporter carrying such a missile.

The General Dynamics Tomahawk ground launched cruise missile weighs approximately 3,000 lb. The weight of the transporter-launcher which will carry the missiles will be about 30 tons—that is, about the same weight as a large commercial vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the state of progress with the MCV 80 project; and whether any problems have been encountered.

MCV 80 entered full development in 1979. Work is proceeding satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all British-built warships, by name and class, that are now in the possession of the Argentine Navy.

The Argentine Navy possesses two United Kingdom-built type 42 destroyers the ARA "Hercules" and the ARA "Santisima Trinidad", six ex-RN Ton class coastal minesweepers and an ex-RN Colossus class aircraft carrier purchased from the Netherlands Navy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is now prepared to answer questions on the volume of defence equipment sales in respect of Argentina.

All defence sales to Argentina have been suspended. In the present exceptional circumstances I am prepared to consider questions on our past sales to Argentina on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will indicate in detail the number and function of all Armed Services personnel available in the Falkland Islands at the time of the invasion.

A detachment of 75 Royal Marines together with a small survey party of Naval personnel from HMS "Endurance" were on the Falkland Islands at the time of the invasion.The function of the detachment was to assist the Governor of the Falkland Islands in maintaining the seat of government and to support him in his role as commander-in-chief in resisting any incursion.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latest estimate of the number and functions of the Argentinian force which invaded the Falkland Islands.

I do not believe it would be in the public interest to disclose this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to keep essential personnel in the Royal Navy who would otherwise be entitled to leave the Service during the Falkland Islands operation.

Steps are being taken to extend the service of those Royal Navy and Royal Marine officers who are nearing the end of their commissions but who are needed for the current operation. In addition, we intend to invoke the powers under section 4 of the Armed Forces Act 1966, and under schedule 7, paragraph 4A of the Army Act 1955 to retain in service ratings of the Royal Navy and Royal Marine other ranks for a period not exceeding 12 months from the date they would otherwise be entitled to be discharged or fall to be transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve. The reason for these actions, beyond ensuring the continuance in service of all essential personnel, is to protect their status as members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces. We intend to use these powers only in the case of those who are needed for this operation, and to release them as soon as they can be spared.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the total number of unemployed women who are not registered at employment exchanges.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 11 February 1982.—[Vol. 17, c. 437.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of women aged 16 to 59 years in employment as a percentage of the total female population for that age group for each of the past four years.

Estimates of the numbers of women in employment aged 16 to 59 years represented as a percentage of the total female population for that age group are given in the following table:

Female employed labour force aged 16 to 59 as a percentage of total female population aged 16 to 59 (Great Britain)
	Percentage
June 1978	59
June 1979	60
June 1980	59
June 1981	56

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many establishments in Wales come within the scope of wages councils.

On 31 December 1981 there were 22,001 establishments in Wales known to be within the scope of wages councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many wages inspectors are employed in Wales; and how many were employed in each of the last three years.

Currently five wages inspectors are employed in Wales. There were seven in 1979, five in 1980 and five in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many establishments in Wales were visited by wages inspectors in each of the past three years.

Information is not available in the precise form requested because some visits are advisory or explanatory in nature and these are not always recorded for statistical purposes, and because some inspections involve more than one visit.However, the following figures are available for establishments in Wales inspected by visit in each of the last three years:

	Number
1979	2,079
1980	2,131
1981	1,753

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what courses on information technology are sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission; how many people attended such courses in 1981; and what are the target figures for 1982.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements exist to detect infringements of the retail food and retail non-food wages council orders concerning payment for work on Sundays by employers who contravene the provisions of part IV of the Shops Act 1950.

Yes. I regard the current arrangements for detection of all infringements of wages council orders as adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the National Association of Port Employers about the financing of the national voluntary severance scheme for dock workers; and if he will make a statement.

I have had two meetings and some correspondence with the National Association of Port Employers on this issue this year. The Government have not been prepared to agree to grant aid severances outside the ports of London and Liverpool. But to put the national voluntary severance scheme on to a sound financial footing and in recognition of the difficulties for the NVSS stemming from the special problems of the ports of London and Liverpool, I have told NAPE that for three years the Government will waive interest payments on the NVSS, defer capital repayments due and accept that the National Dock Labour Board shall raise from employers for severance purposes the same cash sum as they raised in 1981. I have also told it that the Government will seek parliamentary authority as necessary to extinguish NVSS debt of the order of £22 million in respect of past severances in the ports of London and Liverpool. The terms of this assistance are conditional on agreement regarding maximum severance payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the first payments will be made to employers under the young workers scheme.

The scheme is a new employment measure announced by the Prime Minister in the House on 27 July 1981 and introduced in January of this year. Quarterly payments in respect of initial applications will begin this month. Provision has been made in the 1982–83 Supply Estimates under Class IV, Vote 14, subhead A5. Pending parliamentary approval of the Estimate, expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on co-operation between the Manpower Services Commission's jobcentres and private employment agencies.

I am glad to be able to say that, from 13 April, licensed private employment agencies and employment businesses will be able to display details of their services in jobcentres. In return, these private establishments will provide reciprocal facilities for publicising Manpower Services Commission services. I warmly welcome these arrangements because they will assist jobs seekers in making use of all possible sources of help in finding jobs. I hope that as many private agencies as possible will come forward to take part in the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in international negotiations on the concept of a world development fund as suggested by the Brandt Commission.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations has prepared a report on the proposal for a world development fund. At its thirty-sixth session the General Assembly unanimously adopted a decision taking note of this report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what increase in front-end fees required by the World Bank has been made in the past 12 months; and whether increases are envisaged in the course of 1982.

The executive board of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development agreed on 5 January to establish a front-end fee of 1·5 per cent. on new IBRD loans, the fee being a one time charge due on the date of effectiveness of a loan. Borrowers may elect to capitalise the fee and have it financed from the loan. The amount and the continued existence of the front-end fee is subject to periodic review by the executive board in the light of the bank's income prospects. There are no immediate plans to increase or decrease it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much more will be paid to the World Bank by developing countries in 1983, as compared with 1982, on account of higher interest charges and lower disbursements from IDA funds.

About $10 million more will be paid by developing countries in 1983 than in 1982 in respect of the new service fee on undisbursed balances of IDA loans which was agreed in January. It is not possible, however, to quantify how much more they will pay as a result of the introduction of the front-end fee on new IBRD loans as borrowers have the option of deferring payment and capitalising the fee as part of the loan.To compensate for the expected shortfall in IDA commitments during the World Bank financial year to 30 June 1982, lending by the IBRD to developing countries is being increased by $800 million over this period. Current terms for IBRD loans are repayment averaging about 17 years, including a four-year grace period, at 11·6 per cent. interest—which has remained unchanged this year—and the 1·5 per cent. front-end fee. This compares with IDA terms of repayment over 50 years, including a 10-year grace period, at no interests, with a service charge of ¾ per cent. on disbursed balances and the ½ per cent. fee on undisbursed balances. The amount of interest payable in 1983 on the new IBRD loans will depend on the timing and rate of their drawdown, and any variation in the interest rate for loans not yet approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department would be prepared to assist the cultivation of jojoba in the Sudan and the Sahel region to combat desertification.

Subject to the priorities attached to the use by the recipient Governments of our bilateral aid, we would be prepared to consider requests to assist in combating desertification. Whether this would include the cultivation of jojoba would depend on the particular characteristics of the area involved. We already provide assistance for international research, including institutions concerned with arid and semi-arid regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has anything to add to the reply of the Lord Privy Seal on 24 March, Official Report, column 183, relating to the figure for aid being given to the Government of Ethiopia.

Total expenditure in 1981–82 is now expected to be about £75,000. This represents the fulfilment of long-standing commitments and comprises £40,000 for places on extended training courses begun some years ago but not completed until 1981 or 1982, and £35,000 towards a commitment of £100,000 towards the total costs of a building connected with water resources. The remaining £65,000 of this latter commitment is expected to be spent in 1982–83; and the final expenditure on the training awards will be about £4,000. Ethiopia also benefits from aid from multilateral organisations to which Britain contributes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will support the proposal by Japan at the United Nations committee on disarmament in Geneva that the committee should make use of the seismological data and telecommunications system which the World Meteorological Organisation possesses in order to facilitate the seismological verification of a comprehensive nuclear test ban.

Yes. The United Kingdom has already joined in two experiments using the World Meteorological Organisation's global telecommunications system to exchange seismic data on a trial basis. We support the fullest possible use of the World Meteorological Organisation network and will continue to seek progress on verification issues relating to a comprehensive test ban.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the substance of the agreement between the Minister of State and his Argentine counterpart reached at the negotiations in New York in March and to which his predecessor referred in his speech in the House of Lords on 3 April.

At the New York talks the two sides considered in detail an Argentine proposal on procedures, including the setting up of a negotiating commission at ministerial level, for a more rapid tempo to negotiations on the dispute. We agreed to consider this proposal and to give a reply to the Argentine Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the substance of the sealed orders held by the governor of the Falkland Islands to be opened in the event of an Argentine invasion.

The governor was given instructions to make his dispositions as he thought fit to resist an invasion. As commander-in-chief he was given discretion to carry on resistance for as long as he considered to be in the interest of the Falkland Islanders. The Marines resisted and repulsed an attempt to seize Government House. There were casualties on the Argentine side. The order to cease fire was only given when the defenders were surrounded by overwhelming odds and further resistance would have caused needless loss of life to both the civilian and military population.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what exchanges, including those at an informal level, have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and that of the Argentine since the invasion of the Falkland Islands.

Following the severance of diplomatic relations, British interests in Argentina are represented by the Swiss embassy, which is in touch with the Argentine authorities as necessary on our behalf. In London the Brazilians are the protecting power for the Argentines. There have been no exchanges of substance between ourselves and the Argentines since the breaking of diplomatic relations, although we have been in touch about arrangements for respective embassy staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are in the Falkland Islands; and what steps are proposed to ensure their safety.

The latest Falkland Islands census showed 1,723 British nationals and Commonwealth citizens resident in the islands. The safety of the islanders is of the highest priority to the British Government and all possible steps will he taken to assure their protection.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many residents of the Falkland Islands have the right of abode in the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act 1971.

Of the 1,800 residents of the Falkland Islands, about 1,400 have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has given an assurance that no Falkland Islander, whether he has the right of abode or not, will have any difficulty over admission to this country.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she has been able to quantify the improvement in Civil Service efficiency since 1979.

Yes, wherever possible. Examples were given in the White Paper "Efficiency in the Civil Service"—Cmnd. 8293—and, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on January 28—[Vol. 16, c. 400]—savings from firm decisions on the programme of scrutinies introduced by Sir Derek Rayner have so far amounted to £130 million a year and £28 million once-for-all. We are also particularly concerned to remove underlying obstacles to efficiency by means of the programme of lasting reforms.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of children entitled to free school meals do not claim; and how much revenue is saved as a consequence.

Information is not available on the take-up rate of this benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many teachers received in-service training into the use of micros in schools in 1981; and how many he estimates will do so in 1982 and subsequent years;(2) if he is satisfied that there are sufficient teaching staff trained in information technology; and whether steps are at present being taken to encourage further training.

It is estimated that some 3,000 teachers attended short pilot courses of in-service training supported by the micro electronics education programme—MEP—during the financial year 1981–82. In each of the following years—1982–83 and 1983–84—11,000 teachers are likely to benefit from similar MEP schemes. Comprehesive information about the training arrangements made by local education authorities independently of the MEP is not centrally available, but the number of teachers receiving some form of training is likely to increase steadily as more schools purchase microcomputers subsidised by the Department of Industry. In 1981–82 at least two teachers from 1,500 schools received some training as a condition of participation in the micros in schools scheme, and this number is likely to be exceeded in 1982–83. Longer in-service training courses in polytechnics, colleges of higher education and universities, concerned with information technology and/or computer applications in schools., provided places for some 1,300 teachers in 1981–82; and a further 100 teachers attended DES short courses organised by Her Majesty's inspectorate. It is likely that the demand for such courses will increase, and, although my right hon. Friend has at present no plans to earmark additional resources, there is evidence that in-service training of this kind is already receiving a measure of priority from local education authorities. Government support through MEP will continue until 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has had discussions about the extension of information technology into wider areas of the curriculum.

This is an important objective of the Government's microelectronics education programme sponsored by the DES, the Welsh Office and the Department of Education, Northern Ireland. The programme is concerned with ways of using the microcomputer as an aid to teaching and learning in a wide range of subjects as well as with the introduction of new elements in subjects such as electronics and craft design technology, in order that as many young people as possible become familiar with information technology and its applications. Consideration of this issue by local education authorities forms part of their responsibility for curriculum policy, and is likely to receive particular attention in 1982 as part of Information Technology Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange, on 31 March, Official Report, c. 129, if he will publish in the Official Report the text of his Department's circular 1/81.

The text of the relevant annex is as follows:ANNEX THE ADMISSION TO MAINTAINED SCHOOLS OF CHILDREN FROM OVERSEAS AND THE ADMISSION OF TEACHERS FROM OVERSEAS1. This guidance replaces that given in Administrative Memorandum 4/73.Admission of Children from Overseas to Maintained Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total sum of grants made available to local museums during the financial year ended 31 March from the fund for acquisitions by them which is administered by the Victoria and Albert museum and for which £1 million was provided in the Supply Estimates for 1981–82; and what was the unallocated balance, if any, standing on 31 March to the credit of the fund administered by the Victoria and Albert museum for the purpose of making grants towards acquisitions by local museums.

The total paid to local institutions during the financial year ending 31 March 1982 was £1,612,890. The balance in the fund on that date was £181,819, of which £61,313 was provisionally earmarked for particular grants. The sum available for payment in 1981–82 was £1,794,709, comprising the grant-in-aid of £1 million for that year, a balance of £787,914 carried over from the previous year in accordance with normal grant-in-aid practices, and a sum of £6,795 repaid during the year from grants previously made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will specify the objects and property accepted in satisfaction of estate duty or capital transfer tax during the financial year ended 31 March; and if, in listing them, he will specify (a) the amount of tax

Property accepted in lieu of tax	Amount of tax satisfied £	Conditions as to destination
Two water-colours by J. M. W. Turner entitled respectively "Salisbury" and "Flint Castle"	50,662	None
Six drawings:
(i) The Dream of Human Life, a black chalk drawing by Michelangelo	628,887	Offer conditional on allocation to the Home House Society
(ii) Christ on the Cross, a black chalk drawing by Michelangelo
(iii) Landscape with Two Mules, a pen and ink drawing by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
(iv) Landscape with an Artist sketching, a pen and ink drawing by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
(v) Alpine Landscape, a pen and ink drawing by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
(vi) View of Antwerp from the Sea, a pen and ink drawing by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Twenty-eight paintings:
Landscape by Frederick Lee	53,277	None
Landscape by Edmund Bristow
Lord Sefton, his brother and son by Richard Ansdell RA
Portrait of a dark bay horse outside a loose box by Richard Ansdell RA
Lord Sefton and his brother mounted by Richard Ansdell RA
Landscape by Richard Ansdell RA
Portrait of a member of the Molyneux family by Richard Ansdell RA
Landscape at Altcar by John Ferneley
Landscape by John Skeaping RA
Ghillie with a pony by Richard Ansdell RA
Boy with his dogs, by Richard Ansdell RA
Portrait of a member of the Molyneux family (English school)
A river landscape with a mill by Frederick Richard Lee RA
Portrait of the 6th Earl of Sefton by John A. Berrie
Jewel, a dark bay hunter by Frank Paton
Portrait of Hugh, 7th Earl of Sefton by W. Llewellyn
Portrait of Osbert, 6th Earl of Sefton by J. A. Berrie
A pair of portraits of young girls by J. C. Morre
A portrait of the Sefton children by Richard Ansdell RA
Portrait of Isabella, Countess of Sefton by John Russell RA
Portrait of the Countess of Sefton by A de Solome
Portrait of Hugh, 7th Earl of Sefton, by Philip de Lazslo
Portrait of Cecil Molyneux RN by Philip de Lazslo
Two views of a Scottish house and two landscape sketches by Richard Ansdell RA
Romantic river landscape with fisherman, by Barreth
Highland loch landscape by Frederick Richard Lee RA
The river Lyon by Frederick Richard Lee
Four studies of a stag's head by Richard Ansdell RA
A painting by Sir Anthony Van Dyck, 'The Betrayal of Christ'	702,635	Offer conditional on painting remaining in situ at Corsham Court, near Bath
A late fourteenth century English rectangular ivory diptych	12,813	None
Some 128 acres of marshland at Brightlingsea, in Essex	60,955	None
A framed watercolour by J. M. W. Turner depicting an Italian scene	15,150	None

The of tax thus satisfied during the financial year in question is £1,524,379. In addition, payments amounting in total to £10,813 were made to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue from the acceptance in lieu provision because of a reduction in the notional rate of tax applicable to an item offered in lieu of tax as a result of a diminution in the value of the estate after the item has been accepted in lieu of tax.

Since 1 April 1981, with the agreement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, the following property has been accepted, in satisfaction of estate duty or capital transfer tax:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle track have been constructed by local authorities on disused railway track in the most recent period for which figures are available.

We do not maintain such records centrally, but a recent consultant's study commissioned by my Department has shown the scope for converting disused railway lines into cycle tracks. I hope that publication of the report will encourage more local authorities to take up this idea.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to compel road users to drive with headlights at all times during the hours of darkness.

No. Headlights are already required at night where the street lighting is inadequate. I do not think motorists should be compelled to use headlamps in well-lit urban areas. The problems of dazzle and the reduction in street light effectiveness are being studied, but at present the decision to use headlamps in well-lit urban areas must be left to the judgment of the driver. If a driver is uncertain, then he will be well advised to use his dipped headlights.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a statement on main line electrification.

As and when I am satisfied that the financial targets set out in the business plans are realistic, that the necessary productivity gains have been achieved and that the particular investments are worth while.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Railways to discuss further electrification.

I meet the chairman frequently to discuss this and other matters of mutual interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from, or discussions he has held with, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities about the future siting of major road-rail freight interchanges involving his Department; and whether he will make a statement.

I have seen the association's report on road and rail freight and I agree with it on the importance of coordination between local authorities, British Rail and industry on the development of road-rail interchanges. I understand that a working group set up by the association and British Rail is now studying this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with the progress of the preparatory work for the Blythe bridge to Uttoxeter section of the A564 Stoke to Derby link.

Yes. We expect to be ready to start construction before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further representations he has received about London Transport fares since the increase on 21 March.

I continue to receive correspondence and newspaper coupons about London Transport fares, which are a GLC responsibility, generated by the GLC's misleading propaganda campaign which has already cost ratepayers £250,000 and to which I understand it is now voting fresh sums.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to discuss the revised fares scheme with London Transport, following the change in the fares structure on 21 March.

London Transport fares are a matter for the London Transport Executive and the GLC; but I have made it clear that I deplore the increase in faxes which they have judged necessary to put London Transport's finances back into order following the follies and extravagance of the last few months. So that Londoners are not faced with further irresponsible cost rises and fare increases, I have asked the GLC to prepare a proper and well considered plan for London Transport that will make more effective and responsible use of the very considerable resources available to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the leader of the Greater London Council to discuss fare levels in London.

I met him on 8 January when the LT budget, approved by the GLC and from which the fare levels flow, was among the subjects discussed. I also met him on 8 March when I asked him to consider how, by adjusting services better to real need and by containing costs, it would be possible to reduce fares.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to allow insurance industrial branch agents to be exempt from the seat belt provisions of section 27 of the Transport Act 1981 when they are collecting cash door to door in built-up urban areas.

In response to my statement of proposals for implementing compulsion, I have received comments from three organisations representing insurance agents and I am carefully considering their views, along with others I have received, before laying the necessary regulations before Parliament for approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on his policy towards the Channel tunnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on his policy towards the Channel tunnel.

Next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters he has received on the subject of the Channel tunnel.

Over 1,100.

asked the Secretary of State, for Transport whether, in the light of two reports from the Transport Committee stating that no interested organisation has changed its fundamental opposition to the privatisation of testing and that the Committee believes that the present system within his Department should be retained, he will review his proposal to sell heavy goods vehicle testing stations to the private sector.

I have welcomed the Select Committee's valuable reports, and have taken up several of its recommendations. I have, however, no plans to modify my basic proposal to move the heavy goods vehicle testing stations out of the public sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the M6 link to Heysham.

We have carefully considered the arguments for constructing a link road, but the scale of operations at Heysham and the amount of heavy traffic to and from the port are insufficient to justify trunk road status. There are seasonal traffic problems in the Lancaster and Morecambe areas, but these could be resolved by improvements to the existing local road network. Improvements to local roads are, of course, a matter for the local highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total amount of Government grants paid to London Transport in 1980–81 and 1981–82.

London Transport operates on a calendar year basis. The total amount of grants, including concessionary fare payments, paid to London Transport in 1980 was £229 million and in 1981 about £250 million, of which some £100 million came from the taxpayer through the transport supplementary grant and rate support grant system. In addition, London travellers benefited from some £150 million annual support to BR London and South-East services.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to nominate the chairman of the independent inquiry into British Railways' finances.

I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Railways.

I meet the chairman from time to time and discuss a number of issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has come to any decision on proposals for the private funding of roads; and if he will make a statement.

We are considering possible methods of tapping private finance for road building, but have not yet reached any decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is yet able to make a statement on his plans for the sale of Sealink UK Ltd.

Not at present. The Railways Board is in the lead in working out how to implement the policy, and I await its proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to avoid future repetition of the underspend of the 1981–82 trunk road construction budget.

We have added several schemes, mainly bypasses, to the programme and revived others on which work had been temporarily suspended. Both the main programme and the reserve list for the current two-year period are substantially larger, both in value and number of schemes, than were those for 1980 and 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if there is to be a further public inquiry or hearing at which travellers and others will be able to put forward their objections before he makes any new decision on the future of the Epping-Ongar section of the Central Line.

In the event of closure proposals being made, the usual statutory procedures will be followed, which include a public hearing.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether there is any indication that there has been an overall deterioration in road conditions between 1980 and 1981.

The 1981 national road maintenance condition survey indicates a slight overall deterioration in road conditions between 1980 and 1981, but conditions have remained broadly constant over the last five years. The survey did not include the effects of the bad weather in December 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the national road maintenance condition survey has demonstrated any increase in the level of defects for trunk roads since 1979.

The national road maintenance condition survey indicates a slight overall increase in the level of defects for trunk roads since 1979 but with no real change since the survey started in 1977. The latest report does not cover the effects of the recent spells of bad weather.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has had to the document "Policy for Roads: England 1981", Cmnd. 8496.

The replies received have generally been very favourable.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made any estimate of the effects on employment of his road spending policies.

No. The number of workers needed for road construction varies greatly according to the characteristics of particular schemes. The indirect effects on employment elsewhere in the economy are even more difficult to quantify, but the Government's first priority for road investment is schemes which aid economic recovery and development.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how the maintenance spending on local roads has varied in each year in real terms since 1973.