asked Her Majesty's Government:How many serious crimes were recorded in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland during 1980 of criminals or terrorists who gained access to a private dwelling on the pretext of reading (

The information requested is not separately available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of GDP devoted to public spending, according to the following three definitions:

The information requested is given in the table below for financial years from 1970–71 to 1979–80, the latest year available. Figures of the planning total are not available for the years before 1974–75.

PUBLIC SPENDING(1) AS PERCENTAGE OF GDP AT MARKET PRICES
		Public expenditure as defined in Cmnd. 7841	General Government expenditure(2)	Public expenditure(3) planning total
		(i)	(ii)	(iii)
1970–71	…	37·9	41·2	N.A.
1971–72	…	37·9	41·3	N.A.
1972–73	…	38·7	41·6	N.A.
1973–74	…	40·5	43·4	N.A.
1974–75	…	45·6	48·7	46·4
1975–76	…	45·8	48·9	46·5
1976–77	…	43·6	46·4	44·5
1977–78	…	40·1	42·9	40·7
1978–79	…	41·3	44·2	41·6
1979–80	…	41·8	44·7	41·5

N.A. = Not available.(1) Includes non-trading Government capital consumption so as to be comparable with GDP at market prices.(2) Current and capital expenditure,

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the cost for each of the last 10 years of: (

Following are the estimated outturn figures for 1980–81. For the information in respect of the previous nine years I would refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave him on 23rd March (Official Report, Vol. 418, No. 56, cols. 1043–1050).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the net cost to the Treasury for each year since inception of the exchange cover scheme for each nationalised industry; all figures to be expressed both in current prices and in constant 1979 survey prices.

Any breakdown between years of the benefits from, and costs of, loans covered by the exchange cover scheme would be misleading. The sterling costs and benefits to the exchange equalisation account of the scheme depend upon the exchange rate between sterling and the various currencies borrowed at the beginning and at maturity of individual loans and the movement in sterling and overseas interest rates throughout the periods of the loans. During the life of the loans the exchange equalisation account also benefits from payments into the account by the public sector borrowers. The cost to the exchange equalisation account of the scheme consists of the increased sterling liability for the foreign currency borrowing. The assessment of any eventual net cost to the exchange equalisation account in respect of a particular loan can be completed only when that loan has been repaid.On 11th March 1981 the Financial Secretary to the Treasury announced that in future cover under the scheme will normally be offered only on approved loans through the Community institutions with which the Government wish to maintain a programme of borrowing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the cost of a complete kidney dialysis unit in terms of constant 1979 survey prices.

There is no standard dialysis unit and the cost will vary according to the size and type of facilities provided, and whether the unit is in a purpose-built, prefabricated or adapted building. The costs for providing a four station minimal care dialysis unit have ranged from £30,000 in an adapted building to £61,000 for a prefabricated unit and £140,000 for a larger purpose-built unit. The cost of a 10-station main hospital dialysis unit brought into use in 1970 was £350,000. All costs given are at 1979 survey prices.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the total cost to public funds of the Concorde project since its inception, in terms of 1979 survey prices.

The total cost to public funds of Concorde development, production and in-service support, including that of work undertaken in Government Research Establishments as well as by the manufacturers and net of manufacturers' receipts, up to 31st December 1980 was £849 million at the prices and exchange rates prevailing when the costs were incurred or income received, and £2,007 million at 1979 Public Expenditure Survey prices.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will say why Government Ministers from the Department of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recently visited West Sedgemoor, an important area for wildlife on the Somerset Levels, and what conclusions were reached as a result of the visit.

Where applications for capital grant present difficulties over reconciling agricultural and nature conservation interests, it is normal procedure to seek the views of Ministers both in the Ministry of Agriculture and in the Department of the Environment. If appropriate, a visit to the site is made. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Wiggin) recently visited West Sedgemoor, which we recognise is an area of wildlife importance, for this purpose. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Monro) expects to make a visit for the same purpose within the next few days. No decision has yet been made on the case in question, but it is not our policy to disclose details of individual cases.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will delay reaching any further decisions on outstanding applications for land drainage grants in the Somerset Levels area until the Somerset County Council's study into conflicting land use problems in the area is published, and has been considered by all concerned.

The Government cannot anticipate the eventual outcome of the study by the Somerset County Council, nor how this might affect the administration of land drainage grants in the Somerset Levels. In the meantime every capital grant case in that area will be treated on its merits in accordance with present procedures, taking account of the obligations imposed by Sections 11 and 37 of the Countryside Act 1968 and weighing very carefully the balance of farming and conservation arguments applying to any particular case.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have received to have the minimum size of bass which may be caught increased to at least 38cm forthwith, in view of its commercial importance to British fishermen; and what conclusions they have reached.

Her Majesty's Government received many representations following the announcement of a proposal to increase the minimum size for bass to 38cm in line with the scientific advice that this would increase catches in the long-term and help to safeguard the stock. We considered very carefully all the views which were put forward and we concluded that an immediate increase to 38cm could have a serious effect on some inshore fishermen. We therefore decided to introduce the new size in two stages in order to allow fishermen time to adapt to the changed circumstances. An order laid before Parliament on 10th April provides for the minimum size for bass to be increased to 32cm from 1st May 1981 and to 38cm from 1st May 1983.

asked Her Majesty's Government:To set out their proposals for the restoration of the ceiling of the Chamber of this House.

A survey and report on the state of the ceiling of the Chamber of this House has been presented to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment by the consultants Donald W. Insall and Associates. The report concludes that restoration may take up to four years to complete and cost well over £2 million. It will be a complex task and many uncertainties remain to be clarified, but my right honourable friend is determined that this marvellous example of Victorian craftsmanship must be preserved as part of our national heritage. He has therefore agreed that contracts may be placed for this work to start in the Summer Recess. The work is bound to cause some inconvenience to noble Lords in the next few years, but every effort will be made to minimise the nuisance. My right honourable friend will be discussing the detailed arrangements with your Lordships' Administration Committee shortly.House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past eight o'clock.