asked the Minister for Trade whether, in view of the serious risk to young children of choking and intestinal obstruction posed by imported plastic erasers in the form of imitation sweets, he will consider making an order under the Consumer Safety Act 1978 prohibiting the sale of these goods.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 14 June 1982—[Vol. 25, c. 181.]. Although it is possible that objects of this size and consistency could cause intestinal obstruction I understand that this would be unusual; the greater potential risk is of choking.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will ensure that the Export Credits Guarantee Department gives prompt and comprehensive assistance to the industries of Stoke-on-Trent in general and the pottery industry in particular; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out in the Official Report the current staff level and prospective staff establishment of the headquarters of the Manpower Services Commission in Sheffield, together with details of its cost.

The head office staff of the Manpower Services Commission in London is being dispersed to Sheffield. The employment services division is already there, and the transfer of the other divisions is expected to be completed by the end of 1982. The total number of staff in the MSC head office in all locations at 1 April 1982—including casual staff—was 2,075, and expenditure on salaries etc. in 1981–82 was £20·1 million. In its corporate plan for 1982–86 the commission has assessed its total head office staff requirements for 1984–85 as 2,158 and their cost as £20·9 million. These figures take account of additional costs for the administration of YOP and the youth training scheme, and of further economies in head office staffing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the staffing level of the headquarters of the Manpower Services Commission; and if he is satisfied with the cost-efficiency of its administration.

The chairman of the commission is responsible for the efficient and cost effective use of the staff it employs in discharging its responsibilities. I am assured that staffing reviews are being carried out in head office branches already in Sheffield and that other reviews are planned as work is transferred there under the dispersal programme, and I am satisfied that these reviews will ensure that MSC's head office staff are properly employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children were attending schools in the Leek parliamentary constituency in September in each of the past five years.

The information requested is not readily available for areas smaller than local education authorities. The numbers of pupils in primary and secondary schools maintained by the Staffordshire local education authority in January of each year are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities operate cycling proficiency schemes in schools; and how many schools are involved.

The Department does not collect detailed information in the form requested, but the cycling proficiency scheme developed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is in use in almost all local education authorities in England, and I understand that the remaining authorities have schemes of their own.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that children of gipsies moving about the United Kingdom are receiving satisfactory formal education.

The movement of gipsies and other travellers presents major difficulties in the education of their children. Often there will be practical problems which cannot easily be overcome, and the education of the children suffers as a result.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of children who left full-time education in the years 1979, 1980 and 1981, who were unable to read and write sufficiently to cope with everyday life.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the percentage of young people in the North-West region remaining at school after the age of 16 years.

Early provisional counts suggest that the proportions of pupils aged 16 years remaining at maintained secondary schools in the North-West region in January 1982 were 21·9 per cent. for boys and 26·9 per cent. for girls. Corresponding proportions for January 1981 were 19·5 per cent. and 23·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools with under 200 pupils have mixed age classes with more than 25 children in them; and whether he has any plans to ensure that such classes are made smaller.

Information about mixed-age classes is not available from my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received representations from the Universities Grants Committee on the question of maintenance of the 1968 agreement on parity of salaries for clinical academic staff with National Health Service hospital doctors.

This matter is under discussion with the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a contribution is to be made to the Edward Boyle memorial trust on behalf of the Government; and if he will make a statement.

The Edward Boyle memorial trust has been established under the patronage of HRH The Duchess of Kent, Chancellor of the University of Leeds, to honour the memory of the late Lord Boyle of Handsworth. The objects of the trust are the advancement of education, music and learning, fields in which Lord Boyle made his own distinguished contribution. I am glad to announce that, subject to the approval of Parliament, the Government intend to make a donation of £25,000 to the trust and hope that the public appeal will be widely supported. The trustees have agreed that the Government's donation will be devoted to the support of students attending educational establishments in the United Kingdom and of students from this country attending establishments abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy in which EEC countries coal gasification plants are expected to be constructed; what will be the effect of recent cancellations; and what are the proposed capacities of plants.

A commercial scale coal gasifier is under construction near Cologne in the Federal Republic of Germany. The initial capacity will be 1,300 tonnes/day of coal, and the final capacity will be 6,500 tonnes/day. British Gas is at present constructing a demonstration gasifier of 600 tonnes/day at Westfield in Fife. Schemes have reached the advanced stage of planning at Bremen—2,500 tonnes/day and Oberhausen-Holten—900 tonnes/day—in Germany and at Le Havre—1,000 tonnes/ day—in France.Recent decisions to cancel gasifier projects reflect a growing view that the commercial exploitation of coal gasification will be needed later than was assumed a few years ago; the effects of the cuts will depend on how well founded these views are.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of electricity produced by the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1981 was produced from coal; and what are expected to be the comparable figures for 1985, 1990 and 1995.

The latest figure available relates to the year ending 31 March 1981 when 82.3 per cent. of electricity produced by the CEGB was produced from coal. Information for 1981–82 is due to be published at the end of July.The percentages of electricity expected to be produced by the CEGB from coal in 1985, 1990 and 1995 are uncertain and will depends amongst other factors, on the rate of growth of electricity demand, the availability of generating plant using other fuels and the future prices of coal and other fuels. The Department will be including estimates of the future value of this percentage in its revised energy projections, which are expected to be published later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the price index for domestic gas on 1 January in each of the past five years, taking the price on 1 January 1980 as 100.

The price of domestic gas forms a component of the general index of retail prices published by the Department of Employment. Data from this source yield the following index values:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many persons are employed by the National Coal Board in total and in each coalfield, broken down between underground and surface workers and administrative and clerical staff.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board. I have asked the chairman of the board to write to the hon. Member giving the information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will give the total annual production figures of the British Steel Corporation from 1972 to the most recent date;(2) if he will give the total annual production figures of the private sector of the British steel industry from 1972 to the most recent date.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will give the total figures of financial aid received by the British Steel Corporation from the EEC, covering grants, loans and benefits for redundancy, training and welfare;(2) if he will give the total figures of financial aid granted to the private sector of the British steel industry from the EEC covering grants, loans and benefits for redundancy, training and welfare.

Substantial payments are made to redundant steel workers under the iron and steel readaptation benefits scheme, which is funded jointly by the Government and the ECSC. These payments are normally paid directly to the individuals concerned, and not to BSC or private sector steel companies. BSC has received some payments under the scheme by way of part reimbursements for costs incurred in training certain eligible redundant employees for redeployment within the corporation. The amounts of these payments are not readily available but are known to be comparatively small.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give the total figures of financial aid received by the British Steel Corporation from the European Coal and Steel Community, covering grants, loans and other benefits.

The British Steel Corporation received in total £413 million in ECSC loans between 1974 and 1978. These were interest-bearing loans at the prevailing market rate. BSC has also received in total £13·5 million in ECSC grants for research and development.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give the total figures of financial aid granted to the private sector of the British steel industry from the European Coal and Steel Community, covering grants, loans and other financial benefits.

Loans totalling £62 ·3 million for projects under articles 54 and 56 of the ECSC treaty and grants totalling £1·7 million for research and development under article 55 have been allocated to the private sector of the British steel industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is his intention to reduce the grants currently available for research projects at the Machine Tool Industry Research Association; and if he will make a statement.

The Machine Tool Industry Research Association has received and continues to receive extensive funding from the Department. The Department will continue to appraise applications from the association for funding of R and D projects on their merits. However, in line with the Department's overall policy towards funding research associations, it is intended gradually to reduce the proportion of public funding and for MTIRA increasingly to turn to industry for the balance. MTIRA has been aware of this shift in policy since 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to announce a conclusion to current talks between his Department, the British Steel Corporation and private steel firms on further rationalisation between public and private sector steel.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State hopes that announcements of further rationalisation between private sector companies and the British Steel Corporation will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what consultation has taken place between his Department and the trade unions concerned in current talks on joint ventures involving public and private steel firms.

None. Consultation with trade unions about any proposals for joint ventures is a matter for the companies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry at what stage before the public announcement of a conclusion to current discussions on joint ventures between public and private steel firms he expects the management and unions concerned to be notified.

This a matter for the companies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which private steel firms are engaged with his Department in talks on joint ventures with the British Steel Corporation.

The identity of the companies involved is a matter of commercial confidentiality.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which production areas his Department has examined in current discussions on joint ventures between public and private steel firms.

Recent studies carried out for public and private steel companies have considered rationalisation of various sectors including engineering steels, bright bar, cold rolled strip and heavy forgings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants currently are employed in the city of Leicester.

There were 2,400 non-industrial home civil servants—part timers counted as half units—in Leicester at 1 January 1982, the latest date for which this information is available centrally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss of revenue if corporation tax was abolished for companies operating solely in Northern Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Departments of Industry and of Health and Social Services with regard to helping general practitioners and family practitioner committees to buy and develop computer systems; which systems were considered; what were the alternatives; and if she will make a statement.

Payments of mainstream corporation tax by companies operating solely in Northern Ireland are estimated to have been between £35 million and £40 million in recent years. These figures exclude the profits of any branches in Northern Ireland of companies operating elsewhere in the United Kingdom. As companies might change their structure in order to take advantage of any new situation the potential loss of tax revenue would probably be larger than is implied by the figures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each financial year since 1970–71 (a) the nominal public sector borrowing requirement both in £ sterling and as a percentage of gross domestic product, (b) the real public sector borrowing requirement both in £ sterling and as a percentage of gross national product, (c) the nominal national debt, both in £ sterling and as a percentage of gross domestic product and (d) the real national debt, both in £ sterling and as a percentage of gross domestic product.

The information is as follows:

Yes. The Government's recently announced arrangements are part of the IT Year initiatives to promote a national awareness of the advantages of new technology. The application to the work of general practitioners, which is being carried out with the full cooperation and support of representatives of the medical profession, is based partly on the work carried out in these fields by the NHS and partly on commercial developments. British equipment will be used by two companies which have been chosen for their ability to provide the appropriate support required for a large nationwide scheme. For FPCs the objective is to adapt the NHS standard computerised registration system to run on British equipment and details have still to be finalised. The detailed arrangements were the result of the work of a joint working party of DOI, DHSS and representatives of the medical profession.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the poor state of television reception in the area of of Llandegla, Clwyd, he will take measures for its improvement.

The current phase of the transmitter programme, which is designed to extend coverage to all communities with a population of about 500 or more, should be completed by about 1984. The BBC and IBA hope then to devote their resources to a further phase; but communities of fewer than 200 people, such as the Llandegla area, are unlikely to benefit. Part of the village of Llandegla does receive a marginal service from the Moel-y-Parc transmitter and I am writing to my hon. Friend about the possibility of a self-help scheme for the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a full reply will be sent to the letter dated 8 March from the hon. Member for Goole to the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) about a complaint concerning the use of citizens band radio.

After receiving a report from the radio interference service of British Telecom I have today written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish guidance on local consultation arrangements between the community and the police; and if he will make a statement.

Guidance about local consultation arrangements between the community and the police is being issued today to chief officers of police and police authorities in England and Wales and, separately in the Metropolis, to the Commissioner of Police and to the chief executive of each borough and district in the Metropolitan Police district. The guidance covers the purpose and aims of local consultation and the machinery that might be appropriate to support it within the existing statutory framework for policing. It has been prepared after discussion with a wide range of bodies. I have placed copies of the guidance in the Library.The development of better understanding and mutual support between the community and the police is a crucial element in enhancing police effectiveness. A regular means of consultation can enable local views to be taken into account by chief officers and police authorities in carrying out their respective statutory responsibilities and, at the same time, provide opportunities for the community to gain a better understanding of the police. I firmly believe that there is a need in all areas for an agreed means of consultation, and I hope that this two-way flow of information will, in its focus on local problems, encourage an agreed and constructive response by the local community in joint efforts to discourage and prevent crime.Because the needs and problems of different areas vary, a uniform pattern of consultation would, in my view, be neither necessary nor constructive. The guidance to chef constables and police authorities offers, therefore, illustrative examples of possible arrangements. As police authority for the Metropolis, I have concluded that the arrangements most likely to be effective in the Metropolitan Police district would be based on the boroughs and districts, but this would not preclude mare informal arrangements for consultation being made within these areas. I hope borough and district councils in the Metropolitan Police district will play their full part in the development of consultation arrangements.The success of consultation arrangements depends on the full support and active participation of the community. Those who become involved will need to understand the purposes of, and the limits to, consultative arrangements, and those to whom the guidance is addressed will, of course, make it available to all those involved in consultation groups. It is also being distributed, with the assistance of the CRE and NCVO, to community relations councils and ethnic minority organisations, and to councils for voluntary service. Because of the general public interest in consultation, copies of the guidance will be available on request from the Home Office. The guidance is also being circulated to chief probation officers, chief education officers, and directors of social services. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education, for the Environment and for Social Services share my wish that local representatives of the services for which they have statutory responsibilities should play a full part in helping to prevent crime.The issue of this guidance fulfils the commitment I made after the publication of Lord Scarman's report. I am still considering the wide range of views that have been put to me on the question of statutory provision to govern consultation arrangements, and will make my views known as soon as possible.Much good work has already been done in many areas. I am sure that chief officers and police authorities, and the commissioner and the boroughs and districts in the Metropolis, will seek to build on this work in the light of the guidance and develop consultative arrangements best suited for their own areas. For my part, I accept that it is my responsibility to review the arrangements made on a regular basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will tabulate in the Official Report the current level of levies on foodstuffs imported into the European Community in the manner of his answer of 5 March.

The following is the information requested for the United Kingdom as at 14 June:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest available figures on those patients with conditions classified as urgent who were awaiting admission to National Health Service hospitals in Wales and who were not admitted within one month; and what are the comparable figures for the two previous six-month periods.

At 30 September 1981, the figure was 1,889. The comparable figures at 31 March 1981 and 30 September 1980 were 2,698 and 2,835 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for people with psychiatric disorders attending hospital out-patient departments in Mid-Glamorgan; what is the comparable figure for the previous year; and what percentage in each case are patients under the age of 25 years.

The figures for 1980 and 1981 are given in the following table. Information is not held centrally on the ages of out-patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for people with psychiatric disorders attending hospital out-patient departments in Wales; what is the comparable figure for the previous year; and what percentage in each case are patients under the age of 25 years.

The figures for 1980 and 1981 are given in the following table. Information is not held centrally on the ages of out-patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the cost to Welsh industry of delays on the Severn Bridge.

No. However, both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I are fully aware of the great importance of the crossing to industry in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places are available in Strathclyde on the Manpower Services Commission community enterprise programme in 1982–83; and how many applications have been refused because of the ceiling on places.

The Manpower Services Commission's target figure for places on the community enterprise programme in Strathclyde in 1982–83 is 3,240. Applications to sponsor schemes are not refused because of the ceiling on places but are held in abeyance and will be considered for approval whenever existing schemes are to be replaced. It is estimated that at present about 90 applications are pending in this way in Strathclyde.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has issued any guidelines to health authorities operating within the Highlands and Islands concerning bilingual policy.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether funds for conservation under section 32 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act will be made available by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland in the Western Isles during the life of the integrated development programme.

Such expenditure under section 32 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as might arise in the Western Isles during the life of the integrated development programme would be incurred by the Nature Conservancy Council, whose funding is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what damage to the fragile and biologically important ecosystem of the Machair in the Western Isles has taken place.

The many natural and man-induced changes affecting the biologically rich grasslands on calcareous sands known as machair on the western seaboard of the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles have been well documented in several studies including those on the beaches of Scotland sponsored by the Countryside Commission for Scotland and on sand dune machair published by the Natural Environment Research Council. The factors producing change include variations in the grazing regimes of domestic stock and rabbits, drainage, pasture improvement, cultivation, sand extraction for building and agricultural purposes and use for tourism and recreation. In common with almost all other natural or semi-natural habitats in Great Britain the machair is undergoing modification or reduction because of changing trends in land use. However extensive areas remain managed under traditional agricultural systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people in Greenock and Port Glasgow under the age of 18 years have never had a job since leaving school.

On 13 May 1982, 379 young people under the age of 18 years who had not been in employment since completing full-time education were registered as unemployed in Greenock. The comparable figure for Port Glasgow was 186.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total area of industrial floor space allocated for industrial or service trade occupancy by the Scottish Development Agency in each of the travel-to-work areas in Renfrewshire for the last month for which statistics are available.

This information is not readily available in the form requested. I shall write to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the committee on the administration of sheriffdoms by full-time sheriffs principal.

I have received the committee's report and have arranged for it to be printed; it is being published today. The committee has made a number of recommendations about ways in which the administration of sheriffdoms can be improved and my Department will be consulting interested bodies before I reach a final decision on these. I have, however, accepted the committee's principal recommendation that the office of sheriff principal should continue to be whole-time but that there should be a review of the size and number of sheriffdoms. This review will be put in hand as soon as possible. I am most grateful to Lord Grieve and his two colleagues for the expeditious way in which they have discharged their remit.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing which political parties he met in Northern Ireland to discuss his devolution proposals and the dates of such meetings.

Since the beginning of this year I have had the following meetings with Northern Ireland political parties to discuss, among other issues, the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value of goods and services provided under the National Health Service by dentists in the area covered by the Leek parliamentary constituency in each of the past five years at constant prices.

This information is not available centrally. Figures are not generally kept by constituency but my hon. Friend may like to approach the North Staffordshire district health authority for such information as it may have.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many eye tests were undertaken by opticians under the National Health Service in the area covered by the Leek parliamentary constituency in each of the past five years.

Information about eye tests by opticians is not available in the form requested. However, the number of NHS eye tests carried out under the general opthalmic services in the Staffordshire family practitioner committee area, and in which the Leek constituency is situated, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value of goods and services provided under the National Health Service by opticians in the area covered by the Leek parliamentary constituency in each of the past five years at constant prices.

Information on the provision of ophthalmic services is not available in the form requested. However the annual costs of the provision of general ophthalmic services by opticians in the Staffordshire family practitioner area, in which the Leek constituency lies, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the average hours worked per week by junior hospital doctors in each regional health authority in the United Kingdom for the latest 12 months for which figures are available.

Information on average hours worked per week is not collected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average number of teeth extracted per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure in the Leek parliamentary constituency.

The average number of teeth extracted per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in England in 1980 was 543. Information is not available in respect of parliamentary constituencies, but the comparable figure for the area of the former Staffordshire area health authority was 945.The dental officers concerned spent some of their time treating patients other than in the school dental service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average number of general anaesthetics administered per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for the Leek parliamentary constituency.

The average number of general anaesthetics administered per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in England in 1980 was 105. Information is not available in respect of parliamentary constituencies, but the comparable figure for the area of the former Staffordshire area health authority was 157.The dental officers concerned spent some part of their time treating patients other than in the school dental service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportions of National Health Service total costs are met from (a) central Government, (b) charges and (c) other sources.

We estimate that in 1982–83 about 85 per cent. of the cost of the NHS will be met from general taxation, 11·5 per cent. from NHS contributions, and the remainder from charges and miscellaneous receipts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 28 May, Official Report, column 447, if he will take steps to ascertain the numbers of hyperactive mentally-handicapped children and adults being looked after at home, whose hyperactivity precludes the use of public transport.

No. There would be considerable problems of definition and identification if the collection of such information were to be attempted. This is not a task to which we could give any priority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue advice about drinking and the effect of alcohol during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement.

My reply to the hon. Member's questions on 26 November 1981—[Official Report, vol. 13, c. 457–8]—explained the advice issued and how it is made known. The Department is in touch with the relevant professional bodies which are best placed to review that advice in the light of the most recent research findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what help is to be given to general practitioners and family practitioner committees to buy and develop computer systems; what systems will qualify for help; what alternatives were considered; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are to make available up to £2·5 million for the development and purchase of computer systems for general medical practitioners and family practitioner committees.The Government will finance the major part of the purchase and installation costs, and the maintenance costs for three years, of 150 microcomputers for selected general medical practices throughout the United Kingdom. The reamining costs will fall to be met by the practices concerned. Two microcomputer systems will be on offer, one from CAP Limited, the other from British Medical Data Systems Limited using a system developed by the South Western regional health authority's computer project team at Exeter. These two British companies were capable of installing the systems in a relatively short period at the start of the trial and were also considered able to support the installations nationally throughout the three-year period.The funds will also be used to finance the computerisation of patient registration in two family practitioner committees and to help to finance the purchase of a cervical cytology recall, and the development of a cervical cytology recall module. The detailed arrangements have yet to be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with the British Medical Association about choosing computer systems to help general practitioners and family practitioner committees.

The British Medical Association was consulted at the outset on the initiative which was announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Industry and Information Technology on 7 June. Two BMA representatives were appointed to a steering group which was set up to co-ordinate arrangements in respect of general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give details of the latest guidelines issued to his Department's staff on questions to be asked of single mothers claiming benefit;(2) whether it remains the practice of his Department that questions on sexual activities are not asked of single mothers claiming benefit.

Questions on sexual relationships are not asked of single mothers when they make a claim to benefit. Subsequently, and only where substantial doubt exists in relation to a claim for one-parent benefit or national insurance widow's benefit, inquiries may be made about the specific circumstances in which a claimant is living. This is done using a form of guidance which is for departmental use only, and which staff are enjoined to use with tact and discretion. The questions which may be asked are intended to provide the independent adjudicating authority with a comprehensive range of evidence to enable them to decide title to benefit.However, in the light of the differences which exist in the guidelines used in relation to the two benefits to which I have referred and those which apply to claims for supplementary benefit, where direct questions about sexual relationships are forbidden when the issue of living together arises, I have instigated an urgent review, with a view to ensuring that all the procedures are brought into line with the practice on supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many redundancies in the National Health Service there have been since 3 May 1979.

Total numbers of redundancies in the NHS were collected quarterly until 1981. In the period 1 April 1979 to 31 March 1981 there were a total of 675 redundancies. There is at the moment no central information for any later date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, Official Report, 8 June, c. 63, whether the same rates of death grant will be paid for children as for adults under the proposals in the consultative document.

Yes. Under each option only one rate of grant would be paid to those who qualify.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the names, occupations and status of those persons who have served on pneumoconiosis panels for claims regarding asbestosis since 1970; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 June 1982, c. 131]: The information requested is shown in the following table. I regret that information relating to the part-time membership of the Newcastle panel before 1972 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he is sending to the town clerk of Manchester in response to his letter of 14 May about the falling level of apprentice intake in the direct works department from 140 in 1979 to 60 in 1981.

This is being considered, but I will send the hon. Member a copy of the reply that is sent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Nature Conservancy Council has yet identified those areas in the Western Isles which qualify for protection under article 4 of EEC directive 79/409/EEC.

A number of sites in the Western Isles of significance to birds in relation to article 4 of the directive are being reviewed by the Government on the advice of the NCC to ascertain their suitability for notification. I will, in due course, place a copy of the initial list, and any subsequent lists, of notified sites in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to enforce the agreement with the tobacco industry that all advertisements for tobacco-sponsored sports events shall include health warnings.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 15 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) in which I announced publication of a new voluntary agreement with the tobacco industry on the sponsorship of sport.—[Vol. 25, c. 235.] Included in this agreement is a provision for the use of health warnings on cigarette advertisements, which is to come into effect by 1 January 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to make available figures for the services components of grant related expenditure in 1982–83.

I have today placed in the Library copies of the "Technical Handbook of Grant Related Expenditure, 1982–83," which details for each local authority in England the amounts of grant-related expenditure attributable to the different services it provides. Copies of this publication are being sent to each local authority as agreed with the local authority associations.The grant-related expenditure assessment for each local authority is the total of the amounts for the individual services. The amount of GRE for a particular service reflects an informed judgment, reached after consultation with the local authority associations, of the amount each authority would need to spend in 1982–83—given its particular circumstances—if it chose to provide a level of service comparable to that of other authorities. But the figures are necessarily approximate. It is the overall GRE for each authority which is the basis for calculation of its unhypothecated block grant; the amount to be spent on each service is a matter for each individual local authority to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is yet able to publish more detailed guidance on the urban development grant scheme that he announced on 6 April.

I issued guidance notes on the scheme yesterday and am placing copies in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated capital cost of the new plutonium process facility to be constructed at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston; when it will be completed; when he approved the proposals for construction; and why the construction of the facility is being proceeded with at this time.

As I explained to the House on 19 October 1981— [Official Report, Vol. 10, c. 71]—the new plutonium processing facility to be constructed at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, is part of a continuing programme of replacement and improvement of ageing capital facilities to maintain the effectiveness of the British nuclear deterrent. Approval for the facility was given in th spring of 1980 and the work will take account of the recommendations on health protection and safety made by Sir Edward Pochin in his 1978 report. It is planned to complete the work in the late 1980s. It is not the practice to disclose detailed costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of new solid and liquid waste treatment, decontamination and disposal facilities and stores to be constructed at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston; what other facilities are to be constructed during the next decade and at what cost; and what is the total estimated cost of planned new works at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston during the next decade.

A programme of replacement and improvement of capital facilities at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, is planned over the next decade. It is not the practice to disclose detailed costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian vessels have been requisitioned or chartered by his Department since the outbreak of the Falklands crisis.

The Government have so far requisitioned 24 ships and chartered 28 in support of the task force in the South Atlantic.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list the funds available for the assistance of widows and dependants of Service men killed or injured in Northern Ireland comparable to the recently-established South Atlantic Fund.

The Army Benevolent Fund administers a special relief fund which over the years has met the needs of soldiers, ex-soldiers and dependants who have suffered as a result of action in Northern Ireland. Royal Navy/Royal Marines and Royal Air Force personnel are eligible for assistance from the King George's Fund for Sailors and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Third world countries purchased military equipment from the United Kingdom in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

There is no generally accepted definition of the term "Third world countries". Taking 45 of the least developed countries listed by the Overseas Development Administration as recipients of aid during the period in question, the numbers which purchased a significant amount of military equipment from the United Kingdom in these years was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate cost of replacing military equipment used during exercises off Ascension Island to the nearest available date.

Elements of the task force now operating in the South Atlantic carried out exercises en route, some of which took place off Ascension Island. These exercises consumed ammunition and fuel, but replacement costs, which are relatively small, cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present position with regard to the disposal of the former RAF station at Lindholme, near Doncaster.

The southern area of the station comprising all the hangars, workshops, messes and barrack blocks, together with a few of the married quarters, will be transferred to the United States Army for use as a medical storage site and wartime hospital. The majority of the married quarters and the runway and taxiway area of the airfield will be disposed of in the usual manner by the Property Services Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the plans for rebuilding the Military Corrective Training Centre at Colchester.

It is planned that the rebuild of the Joint Services Corrective Training Centre at Colchester will start on site at the end of 1983. Phase I of the rebuild covering the most pressing requirement, the construction of a new accommodation block for the soldiers under sentence, and some new mains services, is expected to be completed in 1987 The timings of subsequent phases of the rebuild have not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce legislation imposing no-fault liability for road accidents.

No. This would run counter to the recommendations of the Pearson Commission on Civil Liability on Compensation for Personal Injury, that compensation for road accident victims should continue to be available through the tort system, and should be improved through the social security system rather than by changes in the law of liability. The Government are still considering these recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had recent discussions with the chairman of British Rail about the contribution made by the Sealink and hotel operations to the finances of the board.

I frequently meet the chairman of the British Railways Board to discuss the performance of the board's subsidiary businesses, and other major issues. In recent years these businesses have been a drain on BR finances. Last year there was a net cash outflow from the BRB parent body to these subsidiaries of £27 million, at a time when the board has urgent needs for funds for its main railway business.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the implementation of his policy on cycling, as issued in January 1982.

A number of local authorities have shown an increased interest in the development of improved facilities for cyclists. This has been encouraged by the appointment of more senior officials as regional cycling officers in the Department's regional offices, by the publication of the Department's study of the conversion of disused railway lines to cycle tracks and by the promise of increased financial support, both through the Department's research programme and through the system of transport supplementary grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the response from county councils to his invitation that they make specific reference to cycling in their transport policies and programmes.

Transport policies and programmes are not due to be submitted to the Department until the end of July. Informal contacts suggest an increased interest by a number of local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that there are sufficient means to ensure that goods vehicles comply with regulations relating to maximum permitted weights.

No. that is why additional traffic examiners are being appointed and expenditure on the provision of dynamic weighbridges is planned nearly to double this year. I am looking for a substantial increase in the number of vehicles check-weighed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, as a result of the Armitage report, there has been any assessment made of the regional impact of variations in the permitted maximum weight of lorries.

My right hon. Friend's proposals will bring benefits throughout the country by making road haulage more efficient and industry more competitive through fewer lorry journeys for a given amount of freight. These benefits are particularly important for the areas which face longer journeys to the major markets and thus higher shipping costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further views he has received from representatives of British industry concerning the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Armitage report relating to heavy lorries.

I have received many representations from British industry in support of the Armitage inquiry's recommendations to maintain and develop the economic benefits of heavy lorries and to reduce their adverse effects on people and the environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to require heavy goods vehicles to have front under-run guards to protect car occupants in car to heavy goods vehicle accidents.

I shall consider introducing legislation on front under-run guards when effective devices have been developed to provide adequate protection in head-on collisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his proposals on lorry weights.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a decision on the recommendations of the Armitage report.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the level of central Government support for public transport in Staffordshire.

I have received two letters from the chairman of the highways committee and transportation sub-committee of the council, and the hon. Member has himself written to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to bring forward further proposals to improve motor cycle safety, following the implementation of those measures contained in the Transport Act 1981.

The main emphasis must now be on the implementation and monitoring of the far reaching changes in the Act. Nevertheless, we are also making progress on an internationally agreed wet braking standard and the control of helmet visors for light transmissions and abrasions. We are also carrying out further research on the potential of daytime running lamps.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the rate of progress in placing contracts for the construction of sections of the M25 motorway.

Yes. We recently let the contract for Leatherhead interchange, and have invited tenders for the M40 interchange and the Wisley-Leatherhead section.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many new bypass schemes have been brought into the active programme since the beginning of 1982.

Two new bypass schemes have been added to the trunk road programme and work has been resumed on a further six from the suspended list.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the total increase in miles of major roads under the Government's bypass programme announced earlier in 1982;(2) what is the total land taken in acres by the new bypasses under the new programme announced earlier in 1982;(3) what is the total land acreage to be enclosed by the new bypasses under the new programme announced earlier in 1982.

The trunk road programme set out in the recent White Paper "Policy for Roads: England 1981" includes 15 bypasses added to the active programme since the previous White Paper. It is not possible to give either the mileage involved or the areas of land likely to be affected since no line has yet been selected for most of them. In planning them we shall, as required by statute, take into account the requirements of local and national planning, including the requirements of agriculture, and we shall seek to minimise the amount of land taken and the severance caused.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if any proposals have been put to him by British Rail for investment in connection with the development of its engineering workshop capacity.

I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for St. Helens (Mr. Spriggs) earlier this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to reach a decision on the application to build a container terminal at Falmouth.

I hope within the next two months.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any recent proposals from London Transport to close the Epping-Ongar section of the Central line.