asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will list, for each local education authority in England, the number of school teachers in post in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in 30th September 1977.

Figures of teachers in post in schools are collected by my Department only at January each year. The figures given below, which are derived from regular returns made to my Department by each local education authority, relate to all school teachers in the LEAs' employment at 30th September 1977 whether or not they are in the schools on that date; for example, they include those seconded for in-service training.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will update the information on school meals given to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker), Official Report, 13th December 1976, columns 592–4.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, after the present round of pay negotiations for university teachers is completed, she will take steps to ensure that the increase in student numbers is taken into account in negotiations in the future.

Those who take part in the negotiation of pay settlements for university teachers are free to take account of any factor they may consider relevant.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with co-ordination between the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of Education and Science on implementation of the Court Report on child health services.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered unemployed young people there are in each of the employment areas in Cheshire; and what were the comparable figures in each of the last four years.

The following table gives the numbers of young people under

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many married

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been registered as unemployed for more than eight weeks in each of the employment areas in Cheshire; and what were the comparable figures in each of the last four years.

The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed for more than eight weeks in each of the employment office areas in Cheshire. Information is not available for January 1974 because of an energy crisis and for January 1975 because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment group.25 years of age registered as unemployed in each of the employment office areas in Cheshire. Information is not available for January 1974 because of an energy crisis and for January 1975 because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment group.women seeking to return to work are registered as unemployed in each of the employment areas in Cheshire; and what are the comparable figures for each of the last five years.

The following table gives the numbers of married women—including any who may not have worked before

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate for each of the employment protection measures introduced by the present Government the number of jobs saved in each of the last four years in each of the employment areas in Cheshire.

I regret that I am unable to give the information in the precise form requested. Statistics of persons helped under these schemes are not maintained on an annual basis. Cumulative figures by employment office areas are, however, kept in respect of the temporary employment subsidy, the job release scheme, the youth employment subsidy, the recruitment subsidy for school leavers and the job introduction scheme. Figures for

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give a breakdown according to the minimum industrial classification list of all unfilled vacancies in each of the Cheshire employment areas in November 1972, 1973, 1974. 1975, 1976 and 1977;(2) if he will give a breakdown according to the minimum industrial classification list of all those unemployed in each of the Cheshire employment areas in November 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

I regret that the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many job vac

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men aged 60 to 65 years were: (a) employed and (b) unemployed at the latest available date; and what has been the average over the last 12 months.

Very approximate estimates can be made by applying the proportion of male employees in various age groups as shown by the 1976 Family Expenditure Survey to the total number of male employees in the annual census of employment for June 1976. It is estimated that in 1976 the numbers of male employees in employment in Great Britain in the age groups 60–64 and 65 and over were of the order of 1 million and 400,000, respectively.

The following table gives the numbers of vacancies held at employment offices and careers offices in Cheshire. The figures relate only to notified vacancies and are not a measure of total vacancies. Because of possible duplication, the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.Because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment group, figures for January 1975 and January 1977 are not available.The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed by age groups twice a year. The analysis identifies those between 60 and 64 years of age and those aged 65 and over. The information for Great Britain is given below.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent discussions he has had on current official policies for monitoring pay increases in the private sector, the maintenance of wage increases within the official guidelines, and the official list of companies excluded from official and subsidy payments as a result of Treasury policy decisions on wage curbs.

I maintain very close contacts with my officials and my colleagues on all aspects of the Government's pay policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, for each United Kingdom special development area, development area and intermediate area, and for

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of jobs in the private sector affected by the existence of an official list of companies excluded from official aid, assistance, grants or subsidies since they are deemed to have exceeded the wage guidelines policy promulgated in 1977.

As stated in the White Paper (Cmnd. 6882), the precondition for success in returning to full employment is the mastery of inflation, in which the pay policy and the steps we

Because of changes in definitions and in the composition of the assisted areas, information for all dates specified could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The following table gives comparable information for January 1970, July 1977 and January 1978.are taking in support of it have an important part to play.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people were unemployed at the latest available date in each of the following age groups; and what has been the average over the last 12 months (a) 16 to 18 years and (b) 16 to 19 years.

The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed by age groups twice a year. The analysis identifies those under 18 years of age and those aged 18 to 19. The following table gives the information available for Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has any further information on the content of schemes which it is proposed to implement under the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill now before Parliament.

The broad principles of the schemes which my right hon. Friend proposes to implement by Order under the Bill are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the policy of the National Enterprise Board towards the requirement of equal opportunity as regards race and sex discrimination.

This is a matter for the Board, but I would expect its employment policies and practices to have full regard to the need to provide for equal opportunity as between different racial groups and men and women.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what considerations he had regard to in concluding that a directive to the NEB to dispose of the private health interests in the United Kingdom of Allied Investments was unnecessary.

The NEB, and the companies with which it is acting in this matter, had already publicly undertaken that United Medical Enterprises Ltd., a subsidiary of the NEB, would dispose of these assets.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was, for each year since the implementation of the Industry Act 1972, the average amount of regional and selective financial assistance paid per head of population to each special development are and intermediate area, and for the United Kingdom as a whole.

Assistance under Section 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 has been offered as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total amount of grant aid and loans made to industry in the South-West development area, South-West assisted area, and the United

Assistance has been made available under the Industry Act 1972 as follows:South-West development area.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the prepared text of the recent speech by Sir Peter Carey, the Permanent Secretary, to the Industrial Society; and whether any significant changes to the prepared text were made at the time of delivery.

Yes. The prepared text was not significantly changed but some additional points were made in reply to the foregoing discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether a regional development grant has been issued for the Alpha Steel project in South Wales.

Alpha Steel Co. Ltd. has not applied for regional development grant for its project in Newport, Gwent, South Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to publish the White Paper in response to the Carter Committee's Review of the Post Office.

The period of public consultation on the Carter Report ended in December 1977 and all the comments received from interested parties are

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Arundel, Official Report, 16th December 1977, column 561, if he will give financial details for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75 when the Post Office's postal business made negative returns on net assets.

Financial details of the postal business for each of these years were published in the Post Office Report and Accounts. These have been laid before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Arundel, Official Report, 16th December 1977, column 561, why interest costs are still excluded from the Post Office's present target rate of returns on the telecommunications business of 6 per cent. on net assets; and if he will further define "historical and supplementary depreciation", column 562.

The financial target for Post Office telecommunications is expressed as a rate of return on net assets before interest, since this is a measure of how well the business has managed its resources, irrespective of how those resources are financed. Historic and supplementary depreciation are defined in Notes VI(2) and VI(3) on page 39 of the Post Office Report and Accounts for 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Arundel, Official Report, 16th December 1977, column 561, why no financial targets of any kind have been sent for the Post Office's telecommunications business for the years 1973–74 to 1975–76, inclusive.

In the years mentioned the financial results of Post Office telecommunications, as of other nationalised industries, were distorted by the price restraint policies initiated by the previous Conservative Government. It would not have been appropriate to set a financial target which the business was effectively prevented from achieving.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Arundel, Official Report, 16th December 1977, column 561, why no financial targets of any kind have been set for the Post Office's postal business since 1974.

No useful purpose would have been served by fixing a financial target for the postal business during the period when it was having to overcome the large financial deficits caused by the price restraint policies of the previous Conservative Government. However, now that the business has been re-established on a sound economic basis, discussions are in hand with a view to setting a new financial target. I expect an announcement will be made in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whom he is proposing as the participants in the tripartite discussions on the electricity industry.

I have asked management and unions in the industry to let me know who their representatives will be in the tripartite discussions. I am anxious to make progress with these talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current level of coal stocks, distributed and undistributed; and what were the figures for 1975 and 1976.

The latest available figures, with corresponding figures for the pre vious two years, are given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Arundel, Official Report, 16th December 1977, column 530, why no financial targets of any kind have been set for the Gas Corporation since 1974.

After the period of price restraint in the early 1970s, it was first necessary to restore the gas industry to profitability. Now that this has been done, the Government intend to set a financial target for the industry as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Arundel, Official Report, 16th December 1977, column 527, why the National Coal Board has not been given financial target rates of return on average net assets in the last 10 years as envisaged in the White Paper of 1967 entitled "A Review of Economic and Financial Objectives", Command Paper No. 3437.

Paragraph 35 of Command Paper No. 3437 recognised that targets might be set in other terms than a return on net assets. The target set was considered appropriate in the light of the financial circumstances of the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 16th December 1977, column 528, to the hon. Member for Arundel why the financial target rates of return on net assets for the Central Electricity Generating Board and area electricity boards excluded the costs of interest payments between the years 1967–68 and 1973–74; and why no financial objectives of any kind have been set since 1974.

The financial targets for the CEGB and area electricity boards were expressed as a rate of return on net assets before interest since this measures how well the boards manage their resources, irrespective of how those resources are financed.The policies of the last Government deflected the electricity industry from the course set by the targets established in the late 1960s and forced it into deficit. This Government, on taking office, made recovery from this position their first objective for the industry. Now that this has been substantially achieved, we shall be considering the establishment of a formal target.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider the decision to discontinue funds for the organisation Fair Play for Children.

I have recently seen a deputation from Fair Play for Children and am considering the representations it made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the fact that the industrial action within the Prison Service is increasing pressure at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, since Camphill on the Isle of Wight has placed a ban on new prisoners, what action he proposes to take.

No major difficulties have yet arisen at Wormwood Scrubs, but the situation is being kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis and for what reasons the well-known and self-admitted terrorist organisation the Palestine Liberation Organisation which has carried out international terrorist activities was allowed to have some of its top people admitted to Great Britain with VIP treatment during the week ended 8th January 1978.

On 5th January, four representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organisation arrived at London Airport, Heathrow, to attend the funeral service for Mr. Said Hammami, the London representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. They were examined by immigration officers who gave them limited leave to enter the United Kingdom. They were met on arrival by the Algerian Ambassador who had arranged for the party to use the Alcock and Brown suite at Heathrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the present allocation for refugees from Cambodia, as suggested by the British Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, without reducing the allocation for other categories of immigrants; and if he will make a statement.

My predecessor announced in the House on 8th May 1975 that he was prepared to admit refugees from Vietnam who had some previous connection or tie with the United Kingdom. This now applies to refugees from any part of Indo-China. In addition, we agreed last year to accept up to 116 of the so-called "small boat" refugees from Indo-China, who wished to come here, and are at present considering what further steps might be taken to help with this particular category.My Department has no record of any representations on these matters from the organisations referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Professor Bernard Williams' Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship to report its recommendations to him.

I understand that the Committee hopes to report towards the end of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a photographic survey of Holloway Prison was made as demolition proceeded, in view of its importance as an example of Victorian prison architecture.

I understand that, as the result of facilities made available by the Department, the National Monuments Record Library contains photographs of the prison before and during demolition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what items of machinery and fitments were salvaged from Holloway Prison during its demolition in view of their social and industrial interest.

A number of items, including a chandelier from the chapel, a cast iron lamp bracket and a cell door and cell window frame were given to the Museum of London. Items retained in the prison include treadmill planks, copper fire-fighting equipment and a complete "money tree" commemorating the original foundation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give consideration to the possibility of amending Section 23(7) of the Representation of the People Act 1949 so as to enable postal voting to take place in the election of Welsh community and town councillors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to amend Section 23(7) of the Representation of the People Act 1949, in order to allow the use of postal votes in community council elections in time for the round of elections scheduled for 1979.

No. The extra costs involved could be considerable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report a summary of the time and contents of all messages and information in respect of flood warnings received and passed on by Wisbech Police Station on 11th January.

An "Alert" message was received at 7.05 a.m. and a further message at 2.14 p.m. confirmed that there was danger of tidal flooding at 7.28 p.m. On receipt of the second message, the Fenland District Council was notified immediately. The message was passed simultaneously to the Anglian Water Authority by the Cambridgeshire Constabulary headquarters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now say how many police officers resigned, prior to pension, from forces in England and Wales in 1977; and how this total compares with 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing, in each of the past three years, the numbers of police officers who have resigned from the service.

The figures for police forces in England and Wales are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a list of those companies which will not be allowed to tender for or be given contracts placed by his Department because they have broken the Government's pay guidelines; and what criteria were applied for the selection of these particular companies by his Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library a copy of the letter signed by his official, Mr. R. W. Mott, entitled "Witholding of Tender Invitations and Contracts from Firms in Breach of the Incomes Policy" following the published extracts from it in The Sun newspaper; and whether he will give the reasons for his decision in this matter.

No. Where discretionary action is taken against firms, it is done in accordance with paragraph 16 of Cmnd. 6882.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether James Mackie and Sons, Belfast, T. Baker and Sons, Staffordshire, P. Shirley Smith, Warwickshire, W. Allport and Sons, Warwickshire, Delapre Precision, Northants, Brain Haulage, Essex, High Speed Turnings, Lancashire, South Crofty Tin Mine, Cornwall, and Hall Foundries, West Midlands, are blacklisted by his Department; and for what reasons.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to a Question by the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham). Where discretionary action is taken against firms, it is done in accordance with paragraph 16 of Cmnd. 6882.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations took place between the Government of the United States of America and Her Majesty's Government concerning the possible landing on earth of the nuclear-powered satellite Cosmos 954; and if he is satisfied with the speed of international consultations and arrangements for alerting Parliament to such dangers in any future accident of such a kind.

As regards international consultations, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2nd February to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Churchill).—[Vol. 943, c. 306.] The Government are well aware of the need to take all necessary steps to keep Parliament and the public informed of any risks in matters of this kind, and I am satisfied with the arrangements for this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to secure internationally agreed guidelines to ensure that the use of nuclear reactors in space is strictly controlled in the interests of safety.

A review is being undertaken of the adequacy of the present arrangements for the international control of space satellites. President Carter has already announced his intention of taking an initiative in this field. We have been in touch with the United States Government and expect to be consulted by them in the near future on the measures they think appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent meeting of the Anglo-Japanese Cultural Mixed Commission.

The Anglo-Japanese Mixed Commission met in London on 17th and 18th January and had a useful general exchange of views on cultural relations between the United Kingdom and Japan. The Commission recognised the urgent need in Britain for improved knowledge about Japan. It was decided that the University Grants Committee should make early recommendations on ways of achieving through Japanese studies the widest possible spread in the United Kingdom of informed knowledge about Japan. The Commission also decided that a bilateral committee should be set up to discuss further certain aspects of the teaching of English in Japan. Various cultural manifestations in both directions were discussed, including Japanese exhibitions in London and a proposed visit to Japan by the Royal Opera.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the address given at Canning House on 31st January 1978 by an official from the British Embassy in Paraguay was made with his authority.

With my right hon. Friend's approval, Diplomatic Service officers regularly give off-the-record background talks at Canning House. The address in question was part of the continuing and mutually beneficial exchanges between the Diplomatic Service and private bodies concerned with South America.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the number of people entitled to apply for British passports giving them right of abode in the United Kingdom in each of the following countries: Kenya, Tanzania. Zambia, Malawi and Rhodesia.

The latest estimates available are as follows: Kenya 12,500, Tanzania 2,000, Zambia 25,000, Malawi 4,000, and Rhodesia 80,000. Many of these people already hold United Kingdom passports.The figures do not include citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who do not have the right of abode in the United Kingdom but who may be eligible to apply for special vouchers enabling them to settle in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights the unexplained disappearance of large numbers of people in Argentina.

We have made the Argentine Government aware of our concern over violations of human rights. We reserve the right to mention any case of serious violation of human rights in the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission now opening in Geneva, but we do not intend at present to table a formal item concerning the question of disappearance of people in Argentina at the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action he intends to take to achieve settlement of claims made to the German Democratic Republic by British asset holders.

Negotiations with the German Democratic Republic are continuing and a further round of talks will be held in East Berlin at the end of this month. It is not yet possible to predict when a settlement will be achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in his reply to the Soviet President's letter calling on NATO members to resist the deployment of enhanced radiation/reduced blast nuclear warheads in Europe, he will make clear that Her Majesty's Government have no such objection and will not bow to this sort of pressure.

The position on possible production or deployment of enhanced radiation/reduced blast warheads remains as described in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member on 16th December last. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be replying to President Brezhnev at the appropriate time.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list for 31st December 1972 and 31st December 1977 the numbers of (a) professional officers, (b) court clerks and (c) others employed in the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The numbers were:

asked the Attorney-General what was the total number of cases referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the years 1972 and 1977 (a) for advice or for prosecution, (b) complaints against the police and (c) others.

The numbers were:

asked the Attorney-General what was the average workload (a) for professional officers and (b) for court clerks in the years 1972 and 1977.

The figures were:

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the number of professional officers employed in the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions on 31st December 1977, and on the same date in each of the preceding 10 years.

The complement of professional officers—senior legal assistants and legal assistants—was:

asked the Attorney-General what was the average workload for professional officers employed in the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the year 1977, and for each of the preceding 10 years.