asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given to traders about the observance of the law on Sunday trading.

My right hon. Friend has given no specific guidance to traders about the observance of the law on Sunday trading, but the Government have made it clear that the law should be obeyed until such time as it is changed by Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue codes of practice in accordance with sections 66 and 67 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

I have today laid before Parliament draft codes in accordance with section 66 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. It is my intention to bring them into operation with effect from 1 January 1986 by order made by statutory instrument and I shall seek the approval by resolution of each House of Parliament as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the allocation of frequencies for new national radio networks.

One of the United Kingdom's objectives at the international VHF band II planning conference in Geneva in late 1984 was the creation of two new national VHF radio networks to add to the three which already exist. As my noble Friend Lord Whitelaw informed the House on 29 March 1983, at column 90, he envisaged that one of the new networks would be allocated to the BBC so that there could be separate VHF networks for Radios 1 and 2, and the other, provided that satisfactory financing arrangements could be developed, to the IBA for the provision of an independent national radio service.In the light of the satisfactory decisions taken at the Geneva conference, the two new national networks (97·6 to 99·8 MHz and 99·8 to 102 MHz) will become available at the beginning of 1990, although some of the frequencies in the fourth network (97·6 to 99·8 MHz) may be capable of use at an earlier stage. In considering the allocation of the new networks, I have taken account of the fact that legislation would be required to enable the IBA to provide a new national service, and that detailed consideration will need to be given to how such a service might fit into the existing pattern of sound broadcasting and, in particular, to its relationship with independent local radio. I have therefore decided to allocate the fourth network to the BBC to enable progress to he made on the provision of separate services for Radios 1 and 2. The fifth network (99·8 to 102 MHz) will remain available for independent national radio, and I have asked the IBA to develop proposals on the form such a service might take.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce separate funding for youth training scheme mode A schemes and youth training scheme mode B schemes; and if he will make a statement.

With the introduction of the two year youth training scheme, the present separate arrangements for funding mode A and mode B schemes will be replaced by a more flexible and cost effective system under which all training providers will receive a managing agent's fee as well as a basic grant £160 per trainee per month. Many current mode B providers will also be eligible for an additional premium of £110 per trainee per month for those offering places for disadvantaged young people or in areas where there is a shortage of employer led provision. There will also be transitional funding for those presently running mode B schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from managers and staff who operate the youth training scheme mode B scheme regarding future ex-mode B schemes funding; how many mode B schemes are currently operating in the North East Wales institute; how many information technology centres operate in (i) North Wales and (ii) Wales; if he has assessed the impact upon the future of information technology centres of new youth training scheme funding policies; and if he will make a statement.

We have received two representations about the future of mode B schemes in Wales under the expanded youth training scheme. There are four mode B schemes wholly operated by the North East Wales institute and one scheme in which the institute is a cosponsor.There are 12 information technology centres operating in Wales, of which four are in North Wales. The Manpower Services Commission is currently considering the future funding and development of these centres within the new scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide special financial help to Mencap's play scheme for handicapped pupils at Ysgol y Bryw, Shotton, when the five year urban aid grant expires in 1986; and if he will make a statement.

Longer-term funding of projects supported by the urban programme is a matter for the sponsoring councils to consider. MENCAP could also explore with the Clwyd Joint Secretariat for Services to Mentally Handicapped People whether the Ysgol y Bryw scheme could be included in the development of services under the mental handicap strategy, which is funded by the Welsh Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects a second crossing of the River Dee in the Connah's Quay area to be built; when he expects the Plough Lane Link road scheme to be built; and if he will make a statement.

Clwyd county council, as the local highway authority, is responsible for these projects. The council's latest published road improvements programme envisages a start on the second crossing of the River Dee after 1993–94, and the Plough Lane link road scheme being undertaken in two parts, with construction of the hospital access starting in 1988–89 and the remainder in 1993–94.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, on receiving a video film of the traffic problems of Shotton, Connah's Quay, and Queensferry from the Alyn-Deeside district council and on receipt of the authority's views concerning the road programmes for the alleviation of traffic congestion, he will visit the Alyn-Deeside local authority for discussions; if he has received the Clwyd county authority proposals for priority road building and improvements; and if he will make a statement.

We have not received from Alyn and Deeside council the video film or the views of the district council to which the hon. Gentleman refers. We have received a copy of Clwyd county council's roads improvement programme, which was approved by the highways sub-committee on 6 March 1985, and its bid for capital allocations and transport supplementary grant for 1986–87. We note that its future programme includes proposals for a Shotton-Connah's Quay bypass.If the Alyn and Deeside district council has views on these proposals, it should convey them to the county council. It would not be appropriate for us to discuss with the district council matters which are the responsibility of the county council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to meet members of the National Health Service unions to discuss competitive tendering for hotel services in the National Health Service in Wales; what representations he has received from them objecting to competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to meet representatives of the National Health Service unions, from which I have received a limited number of representations. Experience has shown that competitive tendering can improve efficiency and release resources for the benefit of patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has had discussions with area health authorities in Wales concerning the open competition for catering, domestic and laundry services in the National Health Service in Wales; which area health authorities have declared their willingness to test the cost effectiveness of the area health authorities hotel services by subjecting them to open competition; when he met area health authorities chairmen in Wales concerning open competition; which area health authorities expressed their acceptance of Government guidance concerning this aspect of policy; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend had discussions with the chairmen of district health authorities in Wales last July and all authorities are aware that we require them to take decisive action to test the efficiency and cost effectiveness of their catering, domestic and laundry services. I am aware of delays in implementing some competitive tendering programmes, but I expect all authorities to realise the potential savings which exist in these services.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to meet the South Glamorgan area health authority to discuss competitive tendering for hotel services in National Health Service establishments; if he proposes to direct South Glamorgan area health authority to expose hotel services to open competition; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to meet the South Glamorgan health authority specifically to discuss competitive tendering. The authority is aware of the Government's wishes concerning the testing by competition of catering, domestic and laundry services.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit the Welsh plant breeding station at Aberystwyth to meet staff members and to discuss the station's future.

I have no immediate plans to revisit the Welsh plant breeding station. However, I recently met Lord Selborne, chairman of the Agricultural and Food Research Council, to discuss the station's future and have also met Professor Owen, Principal of Aberystwyth university.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give financial assistance to Yr Herald Gymraeg and Herald Môn Welsh language newspapers; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the financial problems facing Yr Herald Gymraeg and Herald Môn but have received no direct requests for financial assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why the research centres at Llanishen and Bangor are to be closed; how many staff there are at each; how many at each will be made redundant; what work each centre does for Welsh agriculture; where that work will be carried out in future; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 22 January 1985 that Government expenditure on agricultural research and development was to be reduced. The contribution to these economies which is to be made by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in 1986–87 will be achieved by rationalising the organisation of the service's R and D and concentrating work on fewer sites.The laboratories at Llanishen and Bangor provide analytical and diagnostic services in the fields of analytical chemistry, entomology, microbiology, nutrition chemistry, vertebrate pest control, plant pathology and soil science. Arrangements are being made to maintain these services to the agricultural industry. Laboratory services will be provided mainly from the centre at Trawsgoed, and advice from the divisional offices in the areas concerned.There are 20 scientific staff in the science service laboratory at Bangor and 15 at Llanishen. Some of these staff can be redeployed, and a number of job losses can be achieved by natural wastage, but the total cannot be achieved without some redundancies. It is not possible at this stage to state the number of redundancies which will be necessary at each location. Reductions in the Welsh Office support staff of three at Bangor and four at Llanishen will be achieved by natural wastage or redeployment.

asked the Prime Minister why the revised list of ministerial responsibilities within Departments together with the Ministers' Private Office telephone numbers, produced by the Cabinet Office, was not available to right hon. Members and hon. Members when the House sat again on 21 October; and when it will be available.

I have been asked to reply.A revised edition of the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities" was not available on 21 October because the information required to update the text was not complete until late on 16 October. The final text was sent for reproduction on 18 October and copies will be available in the Whips' Office tomorrow.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the different criteria adopted by the Scottish Office, the Welsh Office, Northern Ireland Office and other United Kingdom Government Departments in relation to projects involving proposals for the European anti-poverty programme.

I have been asked to reply.Decisions on whether the different parts of the United Kingdom should participate in the second European Community programme to combat poverty were taken by Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Department of Health and Social Security. The criteria for the selection of applications were set out in a Council decision (85/8/EEC) of 19 December 1984 and associated Commission document (COM(84)681) and communicated to Government Departments and possible applicants in the United Kingdom by the Department of Health and Social Security. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland concluded that the potential benefits to Scotland were not sufficient to justify participation in the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of the operation to remove wisdom teeth for hospital inpatients.

Information is not available in precisely the form requested. However, for 1984–85 the estimated cost to the National Health Service of treating inpatients for disorders of tooth development and eruption, including the removal of wisdom teeth, was £164 per case treated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in each five-year period since 1964, what was the number of yellow card reports made to the Committee on Safety of Medicines regarding sudden death, that is within 48 hours, after (a) vaccination against whooping cough and (b) other vaccinations; in each of these periods, how many vaccinations against whooping cough were carried out and what was the number of other non whooping cough vaccinations; and what investigations were made by the Committee on Safety of Medicines as to the possibility of a causal relationship between vaccination and the reported deaths.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proportion of overseas trade which is tied to aid.

In 1984 about 74 per cent. of the bilateral aid programme, excluding administrative costs and expenditure by the Commonwealth Development Corporation, was tied to the purchase of British goods and services. Contributions to multilateral institutions from Britain and other donor countries are untied thus allowing British firms to bid for all contracts which these institutions finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what requests have been made to the Tropical Development Research Institute and the Land Resources Development Centre, relating to famine, which have had to be declined since August; and what were the reasons in each case.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made, or intends to make, to facilitate the transport of his officials, scientists visiting London, the personnel of university departments and learned societies, Ministers of foreign Governments and officials of multi-national agencies to and from Chatham and London after the transfer to Chatham of the Tropical Development Research Institute.

I do not expect any special arrangements to be necessary. Direct public transport links between central London and Chatham are good and there will be convenient motorway access to Chatham from Heathrow and Gatwick.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he gave to relocating the various elements of the Tropical Development Research Institute in the London Docklands.

The possibility was investigated. A large warehouse site which was potentially available was considered but not pursued because of expected high conversion and maintenance costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bodies or groups, including scientific societies, he consulted over his decision to re-locate the Tropical Development and Research Institute in Chatham.

The directors of ODA's scientific units and their staffs, many of whom are members of scientific societies, were consulted. So also were Ministers of several other Departments, including those with regional interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received from the United Kingdom branch of World University Service concerning return of political refugees to Chile; what response he has made; and for what reasons.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what study his Department has made of the relative potential benefits to the United Kingdom and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics economics of increasing trade between the two countries.

The relative potential benefits of increased trade between two countries are unpredictable and very difficult to assess. However, the Government believe that a higher level of trade with the Soviet Union would be to the benefit of both countries, and we are therefore doing all that we can to see that this is achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the visible trade deficit with Japan during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how this compares with the previous 12 months.

In the period from September 1984 to August 1985 the United Kingdom had a crude visible trade deficit of £3,086 million with Japan. This compares with a deficit of £2,723 million for the previous 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on recent moves by the Japanese Government to liberalise exports to Japan from the free world.

The Japanese Government's action programme announced on 30 July proposes a wide range of measures to improve access to Japan's domestic market. The Community is studying how far the action programme meets the Community's stated objective of achieving a significant and sustained increase in the level of Japan's imports of manufactures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received regarding Government assistance for United Kingdom companies selling in overseas markets.

My Department has received a variety of different representations this year in response to a consultative document on changes to BOTB services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is yet able to give details of any investment advisory scheme for the footwear industry.

There is no investment advisory scheme designed specifically for the footwear industry. However, under my Department's business and technical advisory services the industry has been invited to submit an application for a consultancy study. This study would determine the feasibility and industrial need for a computer-integrated manufacturing package.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings his regional staff have had with firms in Tameside during the last three months to discuss Government assistance.

My right hon. Friend and I attach the greatest importance to regional policy and in the three months ending 30 September staff in the north-west regional office of my Department have had 34 meetings with firms in Tameside to discuss Government assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the negotiations to renew the multi-fibre arrangement.

Detailed negotiations are not likely to begin until next year. In the meantime I am meeting representatives of the textile industry next week to discuss developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to discuss the multi-fibre arrangement re-negotiations with representatives of the knitwear industry in Scotland.

I and my officials are in touch with all interested parties, including representatives of the knitwear industry in Scotland, and intend to remain in touch with them throughout the negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with the business prospects of the north-east region.

The broadening of the industrial base in the north-east to include new and expanding industries as well as the efforts in promoting industry-education links and training initiatives provide a sound base for the region's future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to prevent counterfeiting of United Kingdom confectionery products; and what representations he has received from the United Kingdom confectionery industry on this subject.

The existing laws covering trade descriptions, trade marks, copyright, patents, designs and passing-off, protect against counterfeiting in the United Kingdom. Protection in other countries depends on national laws there. I have received no representations specifically from the United Kingdom confectionery industry although proposals for changes in the law have been made by the Anti Counterfeiting Group which represents companies in a range of industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the organisations he has consulted about the terms of the Insolvency Bill [Lords] during the summer Adjournment.

The Department has consulted the following organisations:

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants

The Insolvency Practitioners Association

The Law Society

The Law Society of Scotland

The Committee of London and Scottish Bankers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies are currently in default for failure to file accounts at Companies House on 1 March.

Of 379,000 companies which had failed to deliver accounts to the Registrar of Companies at 1 March 1985, 140,000 have still to remedy the default.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what specific proposals he has for the simplification of company law, especially as regards the regulatory burden on smaller companies.

Work is in hand on the proposals relating to company law requirements outlined in the White Paper, "Lifting the Burden" (Command 9571). More generally, I am considering the case for further reforms, with the desirability of simplification and the needs of small companies very much in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any proposals to extend recognition under section 161 of the Companies Act 1948 to other accountants' associations.

No. But I am ready to consider any request for recognition on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about orders for the sale of British aircraft to Philippines and assistance provided by his Department for such exports.

The full range of services of the British Overseas Trade Board is available to companies wishing to export to the Philippines. Representations have been received from aerospace companies in relation to the dispute with the Philippines over air services. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. However, I understand that at recent negotiations in London, agreement was reached which should allow the continuation of air services until March 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had within the European Economic Community concerning the abolition of internal barriers to trade.

I attended a meeting of the Internal Market Council on 7 October which discussed the framework for follow-up action on the Commission's recent White Paper in the light of the conclusions of the European Council meeting at Milan.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further steps he proposes to take to encourage the growth of exports by manufacturing industries.

My Department provides a full range of export services in support of British industry arid commerce, including the manufacturing sector. Exports of manufactured goods were up by 9·5 per cent. in volume terms in the first eight months of this year compared with the same period in 1984, and in the first half of this year the United Kingdom increased its share in volume terms of exports of manufactures from the main manufacturing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has had any discussions with the chairman of the British Steel Corporation concerning the corporate plan.

A statement on the British Steel Corporation's corporate plan was made by my right hon. Friend on 7 August, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to attract more overseas companies to the United Kingdom.

The Invest in Britain Bureau in the Department of Trade and Industry is currently engaged in a major promotional campaign — Britain Means Business. In collaboration with the public and private sectors the bureau is conducting this campaign in addition to its normal activities and draws attention to the undoubted attractions of the UK to foreign investors. Not least of these is the new economic climate for which this Government have been creating the right conditions. More than 88,000 jobs are likely to be created as a result of foreign-owned projects embarked upon between 1980 and 1984 and in 1984–85 my Department made offers totalling more than £128 million to foreign companies whose projects are likely to create more than 17,000 jobs and safeguard some 4,000 others.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to seek to boost the output of manufacturing industry.

I intend to encourage the growth of manufacturing industry through the further development of a climate which encourages enterprise and in which business can become more competitive, and through various forms of assistance to business. The success of this policy is already evident. Manufacturing output has risen 11 per cent. since the trough of the recession in the first quarter of 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the latest progress in privatising the interests of British Shipbuilders.

British Shipbuilders have sold two of their warship yards: Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd and Brooke Marine Ltd. Negotiations are continuing for the sale of Hall Russell Ltd, Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd and Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. The sale documents for Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd, together with its subsidiary Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Ltd, were issued on 10 October. In addition, during the current financial year, British Shipbuilders have sold Sunderland Forge Ltd and Vosper Shiprepairers Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received about the effects on the United Kingdom book publishing industry of infringements in Singapore of their copyright; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are much concerned by piracy of United Kingdom books in Singapore. Over the past few years we have received representations from the Publishers Association, the British Copyright Council, the British Printing Industries Federation and the Confederation of Information Communication Industries. Three Ministers have raised the matter during visits there. We are, however, encouraged to learn that new legislation is being drafted, and we will monitor its progress carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reasons for imposing a moratorium on the development and investment programme of English Estates.

There has been an unprecedented demand for English Estates (EE) to build factories to the specific order of prospective tenants, and there is just not enough money to meet all the demands. EE has called a temporary halt to further commitments on specific projects whilst it sorts out with the Government what type of work should be given priority within its limited financial resources.This does not mean, of course, that the Government have taken a decision to stop English Estates' factory building in the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is now his intention to implement the proposal contained in his Department's Green Paper, "The Recording and Control of Audio and Video Copyright Material", to make video tapers pay both a television licence fee and a tape levy.

We hope soon to publish a White Paper setting out our proposals for the reform of copyright law. The White Paper will announce our conclusions on whether a levy on blank audio and video recording tape should be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been received on the consultative document, "Accounting and Audit Requirements for Small Firms".

We have received comments on the consultative document from more than 197 representative organisations, individuals and other Government Departments. Work on analysing the responses is now under way. This will inevitably take some time to complete, but I will let the House know the outcome as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what actions he has taken since 18 July to promote the sale of British exports in Latin America and provide more lenient Export Credits Guarantee Department cover.

My Department has continued with its selective marketing strategy, identifying those sectors within the Latin American market which offer the best prospects for United Kingdom exporters. In recent months ECGD has resumed medium-term cover for Ecuador and Venezuela.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the share of United Kingdom exports and imports attributable to manufactured and semi-manufactured goods in 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, Tuesday 22 October 1985, c. 118]: Information as follows:

United Kingdom trade in manufactures (SITC 5–8)
BOP basis
Percentage share of total trade
	1965	1970	1975	1980	*1985
Exports
Total manufactures of which	84	84	82	74	66
Semi-manufactures	35	34	30	30	25
Finished manufactures	49	50	52	44	41
Imports
Total manufactures of which	41	53	53	64	68
Semi-manufactures	25	28	23	27	24
Finished manufactures	16	25	30	37	44
* January-August.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the United Kingdom share of world exports in (a) manufactures and (b) total trade in 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, Tuesday 22 October 1985, c. 119]: The available figures are:

United Kingdom share or world* exports
Per cent. (at current prices)
	Total trade	Manufactures†
1955	9	‡14
1960	8	13
1965	7	11
1970	6	8
1975	5	7
1980	6	7
1984 January to June	5	6
* Excluding trade among the centrally planned economies of Asia.
† Standard International Trade Classification, sections 5 to 8.
‡ 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children with dyslexic problems have been placed in private boarding schools by local education authorities for each of the last five years; and at what cost.

The information requested is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish a new grant for rural areas along the lines of the urban aid grant.

In England, the Development Commission in conjunction as necessary with its agency, the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, already provides help to strengthen the economic and social life of rural communities especially in rural development areas. It does so through the provision of advance factories, grants for the development of redundant buildings, business advice, job training, support for voluntary bodies and rural services and other forms of assistance. Development boards or units in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland perform similar functions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent announcement of his intention to allocate £37 million to 28 local authorities to enable them to repurchase defective prefabricated reinforced concrete houses previously sold to tenants.

My predecessor announced on 9 August 1985 that an additional £37 million would be made available for 1985–86 to help those local authorities which were unable to meet their obligations under the Housing Defects Act 1984. Of the 119 authorities which applied for assistance, 28 seemed unlikely, on the basis of their own estimates, to have sufficient resources to meet these obligations. Additional housing investment programme allocations will be made retrospectively, after the end of the financial year, if these estimates are confirmed by actual expenditure.The estimates submitted were drawn up early in the financial year and were inevitably subject to some uncertainty. For this reason I have asked all those local authorities which applied for assistance to send updated returns to my Department at the end of December.A list of the 28 authorities is given below:

Region	Authority
	Bolton
	Preston
North West	Wigan
	Cannock Chase
	Hereford
West Midlands	North Warwick

Region	Authority
	Barnsley
	Bradford
Yorkshire and Humberside	Rotherham
	Chiltern
	Epping Forest
	Hertsmere
	Southend-on-Sea
	Three Rivers
Eastern	Thurrock
	Havering
Greater London	Redbrige
	Eastbourne
	Hart
	Rochester
	Vale of White Horse
South East	Wokingham

		Payments (out-turn prices)
Enterprise Zone	Local Authority	1981–82 £	1982–83 £	1983–84 £	1984–85 £
Corby	Corby DC	125,644	507,694	1,146,190	1,678,820
Dudley	Dudley DC	701,965	1,201,198	1,230,854	1,545,351
Glanford	Glanford DC	—	—	—	65,505
Hartlepool	Hartlepool BC	26,371	147,954	255,734	314,345
Isle of Dogs	Newham LBC	—	109,288	99,450	197,640
	Tower Hamlets LB	—	1,144,672	1,386,381	2,232,004
Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough BC	—	—	—	240,819
NE Lancashire	Burnley BC	—	—	36,525	126,446
	Hyndburn BC	—	—	17,331	74,881
	Pendle BC	—	—	6,008	37,117
	Rossendale DC	—	—	210	21,011
NW Kent	Gillingham BC	—	—	48,749	223,937
	Gravesend BC	—	—	36,000	117,097
	Rochester-upon-Medway CC	—	—	—	544,500
Rotherham	Rotherham MBC	—	—	68,023	251,690
Salford/Trafford	Salford CC	220,837	469,842	617,945	895,164
	Trafford BC	252,534	726,121	973,831	1,201,888
Scunthorpe	Scunthorpe BC	—	—	24,735	260,181
Speke	Liverpool CC	516,244	1,173,880	936,110	1,483,882
Telford Wrekin DC	—	—	—	—	225,000
Tyneside	Gateshead MBC	919,415	1,701,284	1,967,080	2,115,066
	Newcastle-upon-Tyne CC	496,268	880,225	975,354	1,144,774
Wakefield	Wakefield MBC	249,492	392,863	480,903	532,402
Wellingborough	Wellingborough BC	—	—	13,094	74,351
Workington	Allerdale DC	—	—	56,836	127,289
Payments in respect of rates revenue foregone in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not a matter for my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial arrangements have been made with English Estates Ltd. for the relocation of the Tropical Development Research Institute in the former Chatham Dockyard; and what will be the capital cost of the building adaptation.

English Estates Limited will meet the capital cost of approximately £10·8 million of adapting buildings in the former HMS Pembroke. It will then lease them to the Property Services Agency, on behalf of the institute, on completion of the work, and lease negotiations are now in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums have been paid to each local authority in the United kingdom in lieu of rates forgone from enterprise zones for each of the years 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85, respectively.

Payments in respect of rates revenue forgone by local authorities in England were as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a report on the work needed to improve existing housing stock; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend expects to publish the findings of the Department's recent inquiry into the condition of the local authority housing stock shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what support and encouragement the Government will give to the Royal Armouries Littlecote appeal.

My right hon. Friend welcomes and supports the Royal Armouries in its bid to purchase the collection of civil war uniform and armour at Littlecote house. In the light of the amount of money that the armouries are able either to raise from their public appeal, or find from within their existing budget, he will consider with the trustees what further support he might be able to give.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current situation regarding the future of the London Ecology centre.

[pursuant to his answer Monday 21 October 1985, c. 104]: The London Ecology centre is currently run by an interim charitable trust supported by the Greater London council, pending incorporation of the London Ecology centre trust and its registration by the Charity Commission. My right hon. Friend has given his consent to a GLC grant to support the running costs of the centre up to 31 March 1986.Following abolition, full responsibility for local authority grants to voluntary bodies in London falls to the boroughs. A collective scheme for funding Londonwide voluntary bodies has already been established under powers we provided in the abolition legislation, and such bodies as the London Ecology centre should by now have approached the grants unit at Richmond. In addition, we are providing transitional grant on £20 million a year of grants expenditure by individual boroughs and districts: once again, groups seeking funding should by now have approached the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the outcome of the latest meetings between representatives of his Department and their counterparts from France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and Spain about the proposed European fighter aircraft; and when he now expects to make a decision about the future of this project.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 22 October to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Atkins), the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull (North) (Mr. McNamara) and the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) (Vol. 84, c. 140).

asked the Attorney-General why, on 8 October, a spokesman for the Director of Public Prosecutions announced that no legal action was being considered against the right hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Parkinson) and Miss Sara Keays following publication of parts of her book; and for what reasons the Director of Public Prosecutions has now called in the police to investigate the matter.

I am informed that no such announcement was made.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Government's policy on the external financing limits for the gas and electricity industries: what consequences this will have for their future prices: and if he will make a statement.

The Government agree external financing limits with the industries. The setting of prices is a matter for the industries. They must take into account the cost of supply, as well as the financial framework agreed with the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much his Department has spent on office furniture, curtains and carpets and office decorating in each of the last five years.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1985, c. 23]: Prior to 1983–84, these goods and services were provided to Departments on an allied services basis by the Property Services Agency.Expenditure is not formally recorded by the classifications requested but was approximately:

	1983–84 £000	1984–85£000
Furniture	99	38
Curtains and Carpets	2	11
Office Decorating	122	5

The 1983–84 figures included expenditure on the first major redecoration and refurbishing of the Department's headquarters building in 10 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent measures he has taken to ensure that Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have all the necessary staff and resources to prevent the Illegal importation of drugs into the United Kingdom.

Customs and Excise resources are being reviewed in the context of this year's PES round, but during my visit to Heathrow on 7 October I announced that a minimum of another 150 preventive staff would be recruited next year. This follows the announcement in June that a further 50 specialist drugs investigators would be appointed in the current year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assumptions regarding the dollar/ecu exchange rate were made in the draft 1986 European Economic Community budget prepared by (a) the European Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers;(2) if he will list all amendments to the Commission preliminary draft 1986 European Economic Community budget made by the Council of Ministers; and if he will place copies of both documents in the Library;(3) what steps he has taken to ensure that European Economic Community spending on agriculture during 1986 does not exceed the budgetary discipline limit of 20·6 billion ecu.

I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rating under the business expansion scheme for £1 invested for a person paying tax at a marginal rate of (a) 60 per cent. and (b) 30 per cent.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1985, c.7]:60p and 30p respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average amount of relief claimed by individuals making qualifying business expansion scheme investments; and what is the average rate of taxation so relieved.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1985, c. 8]: The average investment in 1983–84 was about £5,000 and the average rate of tax relief was about 50 per cent. Figures are not yet available for 1984–85 investments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown between business expansion scheme relief allocated to individuals and to qualifying business expansion scheme funds, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1985, c. 8]: Relief for investment under the business expansion scheme is given to individuals only. In 1983–84 just over 60 per cent. of the investments were made direct with the balance being made through approved funds. A comparable breakdown for 1984–85 is not yet available.

asked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the contribution of the arts to tourism.

Tourism is a growth industry to which the arts already make a significant contribution. The Government believe there is scope for further development and co-ordination between the interests concerned. I would refer the hon. Member to the report by the Cabinet Office Enterprise Unit, "Pleasure, Leisure and Jobs: The Business of Tourism", published in July.

asked the Paymaster General what reactions he has received from small businesses following the publication of the White Paper, "Lifting the Burden".

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received on the White Paper, "Lifting the Burden".

I have received extensive representations from businesses following the publication of the White Paper "Lifting the Burden". These responses welcome the Government's commitment to the reduction of unnecessary administrative and legislative burdens on business which divert scarce resources from wealth and employment creating activities.My right hon. and noble Friend and I propose to publish a further White Paper in the spring to describe progress on the proposals and reviews announced in "Lifting the Burden". Departments are now setting up their own mechanisms to review all new regulations for their costs to businesses. The enterprise and deregulation unit in my Department continues to act as the co-ordinating focus for this important work across Government. We shall continue to give priority to our work with our European partners in reducing EC burdens of regulation.

asked the Paymaster General what account he takes, when fixing the annual grant-in-aid to the statutory tourist organisations, of the work they carry out to seek to persuade overseas visitors to visit United Kingdom regions; and if he will make a statement.

The British Tourist Authority is responsible for overseas promotion of tourism to Great Britain. Its marketing activities benefit all areas of the country and one of its objectives is to take all possible steps to spread overseas visitors to destinations throughout Britain, thus emphasising the attractions of Scotland, Wales and the English regions. However, it is not possible to isolate the benefit received by each region of BTA's expenditure directly.

asked the Paymaster General how many young people have been (a) killed and (b) injured at work whilst participating in the youth opportunities programme or youth training scheme at the latest available date.

The following are the numbers of fatalities and injuries on the youth opportunities programme and youth training scheme in the period 1 April 1980 to 30 June 1985—during this period there were some 1·5 million entrants to the youth opportunities programme and some 850,000 entrants to the youth training scheme.

asked the Paymaster General what proportion of average weekly male earnings is attributable to overtime working.

The information requested is published in table 1 of new earnings survey, 1984, part A, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General how many men have taken advantage of the job release scheme since its inception and if any plans exist to extend its scope.

Since its inception in January 1977, 293,000 people have taken advantage of the job release scheme. Figures are not available to show how many of these people were men. However, of the 57,000 participants in the scheme at the end of August 1985, 52,000 were men.The scope of the job release scheme is kept under review.

asked the Paymaster General what estimates he has made of skill shortages both nationally and regionally and which skills are now in shortest supply.

Evidence of skill shortages has emerged as the economic recovery has gathered pace. These shortages have been restricted mainly to the south east and are most prominent in high technology occupations, in particular, professional engineers and computer staff, but have also appared in traditional craft skills such as machinists, welders, and textiles-clothing occupations.

asked the Paymaster General how many redundancies have been registered in Coventry, the west midlands and nationally in each year since 1974.

The latest available information is set out in the table below. Data on confirmed redundancies are not available for years before 1977. The hon. Member will wish to note that the figure shown for Coventry jobcentre areas for 1979 replaces that given in error in my reply to the hon. Member on 9 April 1984 at column 97.

Redundancies* confirmed as due to occur 1977 to 1985
Year	Coventry Jobcentre Areas	West Midlandst‡	Great Britain
1977	1,232	6,135	158,360
1978	2,641	10,006	172,563
1979	1,798	19,320	186,784
1980	13,665	69,436	493,704
1981	5,024	59,556	532,030
1982	3,087	40,229	400,416
1983	3,667	40,413	326,638
1984	2,674	25,675	237,770
1985 January-August†	1,161	14,321	127,616
* Confirmed by the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur and based on notifications of impending redundancies involving ten or more workers.
† Includes provisional figures for July and August 1985.
‡ Some figures for earlier years have been revised following late notification.

asked the Paymaster General what are the unemployment figures for Coventry categorised by (a) sex, (b) age and (c) duration, for the latest month for which figures are available.

The following information is in the Library. The figures relate to 11 July 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available