asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

Under my overall responsibility for the work of the Ministry of Defence and for the Armed Forces, the Minister of State deals with aspects of defence procurement and the defence equipment programme, Service and civilian administration and the supervision of Ministry of Defence interests in industrial matters. The Under-Secretaries of State for the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force are responsible for the day-to-day running of their respective Services and any tri-Service responsibilities that may be allocated to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what study he has made of the Three Mile Island reactor incident in Pennsylvania, United States of America, in so far as it is relevant to the addition of a pressurised water reactor in the United Kingdom.

The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, the Nuclear Power Company and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority will be providing considered assessments of the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power station as soon as they are in a position to do so, and the Central Electricity Generating Board is considering the implications for its safety procedures. The lessons to be learnt from the incident will need to be studied carefully in the light of these reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will compare the stocks of major oil products with what they were 12 months ago; and say how he proposes to match production with demand to avoid excessive price escalation.

The latest figures comparing 1978 and 1979 oil product stocks relate to the end of March and are as follows:

Thousand tonnes
	March	March
	1978	1979
Light distillates	2,156	1,924
Middle distillates	3,664	2,987
Fuel oils	4,126	3,223
Other products	1,450	1,745
Total products	11,396	9,879
Crude oil holdings were	7,536	7,518

The lower 1979 product stock figure reflects especially the increased demand for heating oils during the winter. Forward stock estimates for end April indicate that stock rebuilding is now taking place.In an effort to match supply and demand the United Kingdom is joining with other member States of the International Energy Agency and the EEC in measures to reduce by 5 per cent. demand on world supplies in 1979. In the United Kingdom action includes a programme of reduced oil burn by the CEGB and a campaign to reduce oil consumption in all parts of the public sector. I shall be watching the effects of the measures and will introduce further measures if these become necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

Subject always to my own ultimate responsibility for the Department as a whole and my intention to deal with major policy questions in the energy field, international policy and matters of major public interest, I have allocated among Ministers at the Department of Energy the following areas of special concern: The Minister of State for Energy, my hon. Friend the Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. Gray) will be my deputy. He will also have a special concern with offshore oil and gas matters and with United Kingdom continental shelf operations as a whole, including the offshore supply industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current position on the turbine-generator orders for the advanced gas-cooled reactor stations; and if he will make a statement.

The generating boards are currently assessing tenders for the generating units for the AGR stations at Heysham and Torness.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make an early statement on the reasons for closing down Dungeness A reactor; and if he is satisfied that there is no health risk to employees at the nuclear power station and those living in close proximity thereto.

I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that number 2 reactor at Dungeness was shut down in late August 1978 for its routine statutory inspection and overhaul and has not yet been returned to power. Number 1 reactor started its programmed statutory inspection and overhaul in April this year and accordingly both reactors are now shut down.The inspection of number 2 reactor was planned to take about three months, but was extended to enable repairs to be carried out to a gas circulator drive coupling and to weld defects found in the gas circuits and attachments. The major defect found in the gas circuits was cracks in a weld in a compensating bellows in the branch duct of a main gas circulator and the investigative work and repairs to this weld were the principal cause of the extended shutdown. After completing the repair to the defective weld final nondestructive testing checks on the bellows unit revealed some surface defects in the weld between the bottom of the bellows and a flange forging. These defects were also found in the equivalent units in the other gas circuits. No similar defects have been found in any of the other bellows units at Dungeness or in bellows units at other nuclear power stations.In common with other industrial activities the operation of nuclear power stations cannot be entirely free from risk but the precautions taken in the design and operation of these stations reduce the risk to a very low level. The Health and Safety Executive would not grant a nuclear site licence or allow continued operation unless it was satisfied with the standards achieved. The weld defects at Dungeness A have not introduced any additional risk to the health and safety of employees or the public but the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has requested further supporting information on the nature of the surface defects in the welds. This information is required to gain assurance on the continued integrity of the gas circuits and the reactors will not be permitted to return to power until it has been received and assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current year's financial allocation for repair and maintenance of prison officer accommodation.

The provision made for repairs and maintenance of prison establishments in England and Wales for the financial year 1979–80 is £8·9 million. This includes the cost of repairs and maintenance of prison officers quarters for which no separate provision is made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussion he is having with the Hong Kong Government regarding the future entry into the United Kingdom of refugees from Vietnam.

Arrangements are in hand for the admission to this country of 1,000 Vietnamese boat refugees from those at present awaiting resettlement from Hong Kong, in accordance with the scheme announced by the previous Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees were allowed to enter the United Kingdom from Vietnam during the last 12 months.

In the past 12 months entry clearances have been authorised to enable 951 refugees from Vietnam to come to the United Kingdom for resettlement; the vast majority of these arrived here during that period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding immigration generally and the entry of relatives of families from the former Commonweath and colonial countries, in particular.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to announce his policy regarding immigration to the United Kingdom from Asia and East Africa.

The measures we shall be taking in pursuit of our manifesto objectives will be announced at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that there is a full-time salaried chairman and part-time salaried deputy chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission; and, in view of the Government's declared policy of cutting expenditure, if he will cease payment to the deputy chairman and put this on a voluntary unpaid basis.

The post of deputy chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission is at present vacant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were convicted of crimes involving the use of firearms in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

Information in the form requested is not collected centrally. Information on the numbers of indictable offences recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been used and on numbers of persons found guilty of non-indictable offences under the Firearms Act 1968—where this was the principal offence—is published annually in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales"—tables 3.1 and 1(a) of the volume for 1977—Cmnd. 7289.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is with regard to the lifting of the ban on the entry of Scientologists in the light of the recommendations of the Foster report and committee of inquiry; and whether the will make a statement.

The Government will consider this matter but I cannot say when conclutions will be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

I shall of course myself retain overall responsibility for all the matters dealt with by my Department. Within that, I am asking my hon. Friends to concentrate on, and to exercise delegated responsibility as appropriate for, particular subjects, under the following main headings:

My hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State the Member for Cleveland and Whitby (Mr. Brittan): Criminal justice matters including criminal law, penal policy, juvenile offenders, the magistrate's courts, and criminal justice casework;

My hon. Friend the Minister of State, the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison): Immigration and nationality; community relations and equal opportunities; voluntary services; animal welfare; radio regulation; and certain other licensing and regulatory functions;

My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State (Lord Belstead): The police; treatment of offenders, including the prison system and the probation and after-care service; and the fire service.

My hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, the Member for Cleveland and Whitby, will assist me in answering questions and dealing with the passage of legislation in this House on subjects which fall within the range of matters dealt with by my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the existing situation, namely, overcrowding, and so on, at Her Majesty's prisons, with particular reference to Liverpool prison.

The new training prison at Wymott which received its first prisoners at the end of March should afford some relief of overcrowding at Liverpool as the population builds up during the next 12 months. More general relief will be afforded as the existing building programme continues. Its scale of provisions may need to be reviewed in the light of the recommendations of the inquiry into the United Kingdom prison services.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much of the 8,275 acres of land owned by the Post Office is surplus to requirements and is being offered for sale as development land.

The land requirements for its future operations are a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

The Minister of State, Lord Trenchard, deals primarily with the following private sector industries—except for subsidiaries of the National Enterprise Board: chemicals and textiles; mechanical equipment; electrical engineering and process plant; machine tools and mechanical engineering; vehicles; computers and electronics; paper, timber, minerals, metals and other manufacturing. His other responsibilities include regional policy.The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Butler), deals with aerospace; shipbuilding and shiprepairing; steel (including the private sector); the Post Office; Cable and Wireless Limited; the National Enterprise Board and its subsidiaries; and research and development.The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Mitchell), assists Lord Trenchard; he also assist me with responsibility for small firms.The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member Arundel (Mr. Marshall), assists my hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is his intention that Merseyside should continue as a special development area; and if so, what steps he will take to encourage new industry or safeguard existing industry, in the area.

My right hon. Friend is studying the arrangements in operation to help areas such as Merseyside.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish the corporate plan of British Shipbuilders submitted to his predecessor at the end of 1978 so that the employment implications for the various parts of the industry may be made known.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 18 May.—[Vol. 967, c. 9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he proposes to raise the exemption limit of 15,000 sq. ft. for industrial development certificates; what the new limit will be; and when it will come into force.

I am considering the requirements about industrial development certificates as well as other aspects of regional industrial policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he intends to proceed with the acquisition and development as an industrial estate on the site known as Number One, Consett.

The site has been acquired and development work by the English Industrial Estates Corporation is in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list all firms situated in the Consett constituency and on the Cattleside industrial estate which have been assisted under sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 since 1974.

Lists of individual firms receiving selective assistance are published quarterly in Trade and Industry in accordance with arrangements announced in the House on 31 July 1974. The lists exclude cases where assistance is below the prescribed minima; where no payment has so far been made; or where the offer was made before 31 July 1974.Details of offers under section 7 published under these arrangements up to 31 January 1979 to firms in respect of projects in the Consett constituency are as follows:

Name of firm	Value of offer
	£
Finlay Packaging Ltd.	13,800
Ransome Hoffman Ltd.	7,400
Anthony Carrimore Ltd.	150,000
Cumberland Fibres Ltd.	37,200
John H. Taylor Ltd.	26,700
Cumberland Fibres Ltd.	840,000
Ransome Hoffman Pollard	1,200,000
R. B. Bolton (Hydraulics) Ltd.	147,000
Northern Assemblies (Coach builders) Ltd.	26,957
Nightbridge Ltd.	61,888
Eden Engineering Ltd.	15,246
Alan Hood	17,625

No offers were made under section 8.I regret that information relating to projects on the Cattleside industrial estate is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his policy towards the rationalisation of the turbine industry; and whether he will make it his policy in any rationalisation to build on the GEC at Rugby, since that firm contains the greatest expertise in advanced turbine technology and exports, and is the largest firm in the industry.

I am reviewing the issues involved and our policy will be determined in the light of that review.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what communications occurred between his Department and the Independent Broadcasting Authority concerning the appearance of Mr. Rory O'Brady on the television programme "Global Village" on 15 May; and if he will make a statement.

There was no communication between the Northern Ireland Office and the Independent Broadcasting Authority on this matter.

asked the Prime Minister if she has yet received the conclusions of the Central Policy Review Staff on the advanced gas-cooled reactor turbine-generator orders.

No.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to publish the Doctors and Dentists Review Body report 1979.

Shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about the Government's plans for British Airways.

British Airways will continue to receive support from Her Majesty's Government in the development of British civil air transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the work of the marine pollution control unit and of the Standing Committee on pollution clearance at sea in relation to the procurement of equipment to combat oil spillages.

My Department's marine pollution control unit is proceeding with the acquisition of additional equipment on the basis of the proposals contained in the report "Improved Arrangements to Combat Pollution at Sea". The Standing Committee on pollution clearance at sea has been informed of these proposals and its advice will be sought as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many investigations by the Monopolies Commission in the past 12 months were the subject of final reports and how many were abandoned.

The commission submitted final reports during last year on six investigations. One merger reference was laid aside when the merger concerned was abandoned by the parties; the reference of the supply and export of certain metal fasteners was allowed to lapse without a report, in particular because of definitional difficulties that made it impossible for the commission to collect the necessary information.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the fire risks, he will tighten up the regulations governing the use of polyurethane foam in furniture and textile manufacture; and if he will make a statement.

There are no such regulations at present but I am urgently considering whether, having regard to all the relevant factors, regulations should be made under the Consumer Safety Act 1978 relating to the ignitability of upholstered furniture.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he intends to take to reduce aircraft noise nuisance around Heathrow airport.

As my hon. Friend knows, there is a wide range of noise abatement measures in force at Heathrow. We shall want to make sure that the appropriate authorities continue to implement these efficiently and to strengthen them if it is practicable to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to remove restrictions on the development of provincial airports.

My Department will give careful consideration to any development proposals which can be justified by the demand and offer a reasonable prospect of economic viability.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry for providing added stimulus to the export performance of British industry.

None. But the CBI is represented on the British Overseas Trade Board and is in continuous contact with my Department on matters of importance to our export performance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of his proposals to abolish the Price Commission, he will take steps to remove the powers of the commission to take legal action against firms which have refused to fill in questionnaires issued by it.

Pending the abolition of the Price Commission, it is my intention that the three examinations which it is currently conducting should continue. I have great sympathy with companies, especially small firms, who find the weight of questionnaires issued by the commission to be onerous. This is part of the operation of the Price Commission Act, which we have announced our intention to repeal as soon as possible. However, while it remains in effect the law is the law and must be obeyed and I would hope that firms will comply with lawful requests from the commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why he intends to abolish the Price Commission.

The effect of the Price Commission Act has been to depress industrial confidence and investment while its impact on inflation has been negligible. Our proposals for the strengthening of competition together with firm monetary and fiscal policies are the best way of containing inflation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the common fund now under discussion at UNCTAD V.

The Government support the proposal to establish the common fund and can associate themselves with the general consensus that was reached at the UNCTAD negotiating conference in March on the main elements of the structure and financial resources of the fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he proposes to take, both through the international organisations of which the United Kingdom is a member and through direct contact, to persuade other maritime nations from subsidising their mercantile fleets and to subscribe to an open seas policy.

I intend to oppose discriminatory measures which are contrary to the interests of the United Kingdom shipping industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a full statement on the Government's attitude to the textile industry and the need for a continuing arrangement such as the multi-fibre arrangement to ensure the orderly marketing of textiles.

The re-negotiated MFA still has some time to run. We are watching its workings carefully and will play a full part in EEC discussions on future textile policy with a view to safeguarding the interests of the British textile industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the latest estimate of the United Kingdom trade balance in relation to the other EEC countries; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the positive or negative trade balance with the EEC and with the rest of the world, respectively, since the United Kingdom joined the EEC.

Figures for the United Kingdom visible balance of trade with the world and the EEC are given in table 4 of the article "United Kingdom trade in the fourth quarter and year 1978", which appeared in "Trade and Industry" on 9 March 1979, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a table showing the balance of trade figures, excluding oil and foodstuffs between the United Kingdom and the original six members of the Community, expressed in £ sterling as at the time of joining and for the latest 12 months, and the comparative figures for United Kingdom trade, excluding oil and foodstuffs, with the rest of the world.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about the siting of a third London airport.

As I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle), earlier today, a progress report was issued on 18 May by the study group on South-East airports which identified six locations for detailed evaluation as possible sites for a new airport. The Government have reached no view on these matters and will not do so until all the relevant advice is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

In addition to assisting me in the exercise of my overall responsibilities, I have given Ministers in my Department the following special responsibilities:The Minister for Consumer Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mrs. Oppenheim), has special responsibility for consumer affairs and competition policy.The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South (Mr. Parkinson), has special responsibility for overseas trade policy, commercial relations and tariffs; the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the British Overseas Trade Board.The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit), has special responsibility for civil aviation, marine and shipping policy; the newspaper, film and publishing industries; and tourism, hotel and travel industries.The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre), has special responsibility for company affairs and insolvency; insurance supervision; patent, trade mark and copyright matters; and the distributive and service trades.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what plans he has to improve trade with the democratic states in Latin America; and what attitude he will adopt to those with dictatorships.

In common with the policy of previous Governments, and where compatible with our international obligations, I believe that civil trade with other countries should be determined by commercial considerations and not by the character of the Governments concerned. I shall be doing all I can to improve our trade world wide.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what permission has been granted for the export of Mar-ageing steel used in nuclear technology; and for which countries.

None. Certain specially designed items with a nuclear application and made of Mar-ageing steel have been placed under export control, but the material itself, which has a wide range of uses, has not. Export controls on items and materials which may be used in a nuclear facility are under constant review.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, in pursuance of the Government's declared policy of reducing public expenditure, to what extent he intends reducing both the number and expenses involved of the various quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and when he expects such actions to commence.

All departmental Ministers are reviewing the public bodies for which they have responsibility as part of their search for economies in public expenditure. The result of any reduction, and its timing, depends on decision still to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

The individual responsibilities of Ministers in my Department are:

My noble Friend Baroness Young, Minister of State: all matters relating to schools; local government finance; and teacher employment.

My hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Dr. Boyson) Under-Secretary of State: higher, further and adult education; education of teachers; student awards and student affairs; and educational broadcasting. My hon. Friend will also answer in this House on matters relating to schools, including legislation.

My hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Macfarlane) Under-Secretary of State: civil science; international education matters; education and vocational preparation of 16 to 19-year-olds; training for science and engineering; industrial training; youth and community service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement of his policy on job creation schemes and other measures to sustain employment.

As stated in the Queen's Speech, the Government's policy on maintaining and increasing employment is to restore incentives, encourage efficiency and create a climate in which commerce and industry can flourish. This will help to bring into existence more real jobs.We shall be reviewing which special employment measures shall be retained, taking account of their cost-effectiveness and the public expenditure implications, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

I have overall responsibility for matters relevant to my Department. The division of responsibilities among other departmental Ministers is as follows:

The Minister of State, Lord Gowrie:

• EEC—and other overseas matters;
• Work permits;
• Employment Agencies
• Youth—including Careers Service, Youth Opportunities Programme, Vocational Preparation;
• Social Security questions relating to unemployment;
• Race Relations;
• Equal Pay and Women's General Employment questions;
• Disablement;
• Wages Councils;
• Job Satisfaction—the Work Research Unit;
• Statistics.

Lord Gowrie also has responsibility for all other matters relevant to my Department in the other place, and other departmental Ministers will deal with his particular responsibilities in this House.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the Trades Union Congress general council or members of it, regarding the future of trade union law and industrial relations in Great Britain.

My right hon. Friend has had two informal meetings with members of the TUC general council at which trade union law and industrial relations were discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current numbers and percentages of unemployed men, women and young persons in Consett and Stanley, County Durham.

In the area covered by the Consett and Stanley employment offices, the numbers of males and females registered as unemployed at 5 April were 2,122 and 900, respectively. Of these, 237 males and 224 females were under 20 years of age. The rates of unemployment for the Consett travel-to-work area, which also includes Lanchester, were 11·7 per cent. for males and 8·6 per cent. for females. Rates of unemployment for young persons are not calculated for local areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many minutes a person earning the average industrial wage would have to work to purchase 10 gallons of petrol in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) West Germany and (d) Italy, respectively.

Following is the latest available information based on average industrial gross hourly earnings. Caution is required in making comparisons based on these figures, which are before tax, because of differences in national systems of remuneration and taxation and in the definitions and methods for compiling the statistics.

Minutes of work required to earn (a)—before tax—the price of 10 gallons of "four star" or equivalent grade of petrol in October 1977
United Kingdom	300
France	411
German F R	218
Italy (b)	553

Notes: (

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the annual report of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

I have received the ACAS report for 1978 and copies have been laid in both Houses. The report is being published today and I have arranged to put copies in the Library and in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will recon- sider his predecessor's decision to close down Llangwyfan hospital, Clwyd; and whether, if he finds it impossible to reverse that decision, he has in mind an alternative use of the hospital premises for ancillary medical purposes.

It is not now practicable to reconsider the decision to close Llangwyfan hospital since the provision of alternative services in other hospitals in the area is well advanced. The Clwyd health authority is responsible for considering any other health use for the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will take steps to expedite the completion of the feasibility study currently being carried out with regard to road improvements at Tan-yr-Unto Corner, Llanbedr DC, Ruthin, Clwyd.

The Welsh Office is pressing ahead with the feasibility study as fast as possible. The next step is to carry out further soils investigation work and my right hon. Friend hopes to award a contract for the survey shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will take immediate steps to ensure that adequate compensation is paid, with a minimum of delay and negotiation, to all owners and occupiers of houses and land affected by the construction of the North Wales expressway.

Compensation is assessed by the district valuer in accordance with the prevailing statutory compensation code and represents full open market value disregarding the existence of the proposed road scheme. Any vendor dissatisfied with the level of compensation offered may refer the matter to the Lands Tribunal to determine. Speed of payment depends on how quickly terms are agreed between the district valuer and the vendor's agents.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will take immediate steps to speed up the route study currently begin undertaken to determine the longer term need for improvement of the A5 trunk road between Pentrefoelas and Llangollen, Clwyd, and the straightening of the dangerous bend in the vicinity of Maerdy post office, near Corwen, Clwyd.

I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that the study will be completed as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reconsider the decision not to resite the Colwyn Bay accommodation bureau on the route of the proposed North Wales Expressway.

My right hon. Friend has no powers that would enable him to resite the accommodation bureau. Whether it stays on its present site or is relocated is a matter for its owners to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the Land Authority for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he intends to abolish the Land Authority for Wales.

My right hon. Friend is giving this matter very careful consideration but would not wish to come to any conclusion as to the authority's future before he has consulted the building industry and local authorities in Wales. He intends to undertake these consultations very shortly.

asked the Secretary of Sate for Wales how many acres of land are owned by water undertakings in Wales; and how much of this is surplus to requirements and is being offered for sale as development land.

This information is not held centrally. It should be obtained from the undertakings concerned, namely the Welsh and the Severn-Trent Water Authorities, the Wrexham and East Denbighshire Water Company and the Chester Waterworks Company.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the state of the sheep industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The latest figures indicate that sheep production in Wales is on an upward trend, with the breeding flock well placed for further ex-pension. The average price for fat sheep at Welsh markets is currently well above that of a year ago. It is, however, too early to assess the impact of the losses which have occurred during the severe weather of the past winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the state of the dairy industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Milk production in Wales continues on an upward trend, despite a temporary setback during the bad weather this spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the state of the beef sector of the agriculture industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Although beef cow numbers have been falling during the past few years there are indications that this decline of the beef breeding herd is levelling out. Market prices for both fat and store cattle are currently firm.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

I have overall responsibility for the policy and functions of the Ministry. The division of responsibility between the other Ministers in my Department is as follows:My hon. Friend the Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) the Minister of State has responsibility for agricultural support policy and the EEC, including matters connected with the annual review and EEC price fixing; fisheries policy; marketing policy; and the following commodities—cereals, meat, milk, potatoes and sugar.My noble Friend, Earl Ferrers, the Minister of State, has responsibility for agricultural resources policy, which includes agriculture in the national economy; agricultural finance and taxation; the supply of fertilisers; energy and other inputs; horticulture; animal health and welfare; advisory policy; regional administration; agricultural labour matters; environmental pollution, pesticides and infestation policy; plant health; and seeds.My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has responsibility for food policy and food standards; agricultural land and forestry matters, including land use, tenure, improvement and drainage; research and development; emergency services; relations with all overseas countries and international organisations—except community member States; economics and statistics; and

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the outbreak of sheep scab in the county of Devon;(2) what further steps he will take to control the outbreak of sheep scab in the county of Devon.

A total of 56 outbreaks of sheep scab, virtually all in the South-West, have been confirmed during the current season: 37 have been in Devon. Restrictions on the movement of sheep from Devon and Cornwall and to markets in those areas, designed to localise the spread of infection, have been imposed since early February. This action has proved effective in containing the infection.To eliminate the disease, flock owners must adhere strictly to the proven dipping procedures. The Ministry will continue to work closely with the responsible local authorities in the supervision of dipping diseased and suspect flocks and continue to impress upon them the need to ensure that the law is rigorously enforced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the impact of the following measures on the retail price index (a) a 1 per cent. rise in the standard rate of value added tax (b) a single rate of value added tax levied at 12½ per cent. and (c) a single rate of value added tax levied at 15 per cent.

It is estimated that the retail price index would be increased by about (a) ½ per cent. (b) 2 per cent., and (c) 3½ per cent. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, assuming an identical pattern of spending, what would be the extra annual cost to a family of two adults and two children with a total gross family income of £4,000 per year of a standardisation of value added tax of 12½ per cent.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total net contribution made to the EEC by the United Kingdom since Great Britain joined the EEC; and what estimate he has made of the likely contribution in 1979.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the United Kingdom gross and net contributions to the EEC budget since joining the Community, together with whatever forecasts are available to him for future years.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will itemise all those benefits in kind which are either wholly or partly exempt from the normal rates of income tax.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra revenue will accrue to the Government from further charging of benefits in kind to income tax.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, assuming an increase in the personal income for allowances for the fiscal year 1979–80 in accordance with section 22 of the Finance Act 1977, what would be the extra weekly benefit in take-home pay to a person with a weekly gross income from employment of (a)

GROSS DOMESTIC FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
£ million at current prices
		Total	Nationalised industries	(Per cent. of total)	Private sector	(Per cent. of total)
1969	…	8,591	1,348	(15·7)	4,860	(56·6)
1970	…	9,453	1,497	(15·8)	5,343	(56·6)
1971	…	10,515	1,685	(16·0)	6,091	(57·9)
1972	…	11,604	1,601	(13·8)	7,098	(61·2)
1973	…	14,149	1,804	(12·8)	8,415	(59·5)
1974	…	16,924	2,182	(12·9)	6,695	(57·3)
1975	…	20,536	2,982	(14·5)	11,514	(56·1)
1976	…	23,597	3,411	(14·5)	13,531	(57·3)
1977	…	25,808	3,469	(13·4)	16,315	(63·2)
1978	…	29,521	3,558	(12·2)	19,963	(68·2)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his target for the rate of inflation, as assessed by the retail price index, in accordance with the principle of sound money recently examined by the Prime Minister.

The Government's policy is to curb inflation by ensuring that effective financial disciplines operate in both private and public sectors. The Government's monetary and fiscal stance will be framed accordingly. I do not consider that setting inflation targets will in any way further this policy.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the levels of investment, respectively, by the nationalised industries and the private sector over each of the past 10 years; and what percentage these form of total national investment amounts for each of these years.

The following table shows the levels of fixed investment—gross domestic fixed capital formation—in the whole economy, by nationalised industries and by the private sector at current prices in each year from 1969 to 1978 inclusive. The estimates for the private sector include very substantial amounts of non-industrial fixed investment, for example, by persons on new private dwellings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to control bank lending in view of the effect of such lending on the money supply.

The Government intend to ensure that financial discipline is applied to both the public and private sectors. The growth of bank lending to the private sector will be closely monitored, but it is not intended that within the limits which the Government impose on monetary growth private borrowing should be crowded out by excessive Government borrowing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of total revenue for the latest available year was raised in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) France and (c) West Germany by taxes on incomes and value added tax, respectively.

The latest available information refers to the calendar year 1976. The respective percentages of total taxation—including social security contributions and local authority taxation—are as follows:

	Taxes on Personal Incomes	Value added tax
United Kingdom	37·3	8·6
France	12·5	23·4
West Germany	30·2	14·2

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum raised in national taxation in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and by what percentage this would have to be increased if the Treasury accepted responsibility to provide funds required to abolish domestic rates and all rate payments, respectively.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18 May 1979; Vol. 967, c. 7], gave the following answer:The total sum raised in national taxation—excluding national insurance contributions—in 1978–79 was £40·9 billion. National taxation would have had to be increased by 5·8 per cent. in 1978–79 in order to fund domestic rates and by 14·2 per cent. in order to have funded all rate payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

These are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of raising a single person's tax allowance to £1,350, and a married person's tax allowance to £1,900.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of restoring residual child tax allowances at levels equal in value to the difference between child benefit at £4 and the supplementary benefit scale rates for children of different ages.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to publish a Green Paper on family taxation; and when is the likely date of publication.

I have this under careful consideration and I shall be making a statement in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects a financial sector of the Treasury economic model to be available for public use.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18 May 1979; Vol. 967, c. 7], gave the following answer:Some time this year, I hope.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an assurance that all the projected capital programmes within the National Health Service will go ahead as planned.

I have not yet considered in detail the individual schemes in the Health Service building programme; but I have no reason to think that the priorities in the existing programme should be altered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those local authorities which have officers designated to assist co-operative development in the industrial and housing fields, statting whether this is their sole responsibility or not, and listing each officer's title.

Detailed information on particular appointments in local authori- ties is not generally available, but it is known that the city of Glasgow district council employs a co-operative promotions officer who is solely employed assisting the development of co-operatives in the housing fields and is supported by a small number of staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the Government's policy on the future of Scotland's five new towns and, in particular, details of any plans for the continued development of Cumbernauld new town.

Our manifesto made clear that we would continue to support the existing new towns in Scotland and expressly recognised their role in creating jobs and securing our industrial future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of patients, both geriatric and psycho-geriatric, awaiting admission to Woodilee hospital, Lenzie, Dunbartonshire; and what steps are being taken to improve the position.

The total number of psycho-geriatric patients awaiting admission to Woodilee hospital at mid-May 1979 was 74. Geriatric patients are not accommodated in this hospital. The Greater Glasgow health board is providing 420 beds in 14 system-built units, of which nine are for geriatric and five for psycho-geriatric patients. Two of the units for psycho-geriatrics are under construction at Woodilee hospital and should be completed by the end of the year. The major building programme also includes schemes for the provision of new facilities at Woodilee and five other hostals in Glasgow, mainly to replace existing unsatisfactory geriatric and psych-geriatric accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures to show the numbers of single and double-manned ambulances in each district of Tayside region and the frequency of distribution of each service.

Figures supplied by the Scottish ambulance service, for day shift vehicles only, are as follows:

	Number of Single-manned Ambulances	Number of Double-manned-Ambulances
Dundee	15	7
Angus	8	4
Perth	15	6

Information about the frequency of distribution of each service is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the capital and current expenditure outlayed on ambulance services in Dundee and Angus districts in each of the past five years; and what estimates he has of planned future financial allocations.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers, age and comparative equipment of the ambulances serving Dundee Royal infirmary, Ninewells, Forfar infirmary and Arbroath infirmary.

Ambulances are not allocated to serve individual hospitals; but information about the number of ambulances in each district of Tayside and their date of registration is given in the following table. Nearly all of these vehicles are fully equipped with oxygen resuscitators, analgesic gas, orthopaedic stretchers and a full range of first aid equipment.

Scheme						Currently employed	Total employed since scheme started
(a) Temporary Employment Subsidy			…	…	…	155	1,773
(b) Youth Opportunities Programme*			…	…	…	439	777
(c) Work Experience Programme*†		…	…	…	…	No longer operates separately from YOP	200
(d) Special Temporary Employment Programme*				…	…	191	288
(e) Job Creation Programme‡		…	…	…	…	No longer operative	2,962
(f) Youth Employment Subsidy		…	…	…	…	No longer operative	432
(g) Small Firms Employment Subsidy§			…	…	…	182	267
(h) Job Release Scheme	…	…	…	…	…	146	368
* Figures for YOP/WEP and STEP relate to the area covered by the Special Programmes Area Board in Dundee i.e. Tayside and Grampian regions.
† WEP figures relate to the period 1 January to 31 March only. Figures for the period prior to 31 March are not available.
‡ Figures for JCP related to approved places in projects in Tayside region.
§ SFES total related to period from July 1978. Before that date no analysis by local office area was made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Dundee are currently employed or have been employed in each of the following schemes (a) the temporary employment subsidy, (b) the youth opportunities programme, (c) the work experience programme, (d) the special temporary employment programme, (e) the job creation programme, (f) the youth employment subsidy, (g) the small firms employment subsidy, and (h) the job release scheme.

The following table gives the information avialable on the numbers employed in the various schemes:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) women and (b) men are currently unemployed in Dundee.

On 5 April 1979 there were 2,905 women and 5,422 men registered as unemployed in Dundee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of those unemployed in Dundee are (a) under the age of 25 years and (b) under the age of 21 years.

Information is not available in the precise form requested. On 5 April 1979 20·3 per cent. of those registered as unemployed in Dundee were aged under 20 years and 33·4 per cent. aged under 25 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of those unemployed in Dundee have been unemployed for (a) one year, (b) two years and (c) more than two years.

Information is not available in the precise form requested. On 5 April 1979 72 per cent. of those registered as unemployed in Dundee had been unemployed for periods of up to one year, 14·8 for between one and two years and 13·2 per cent. for over two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current respective rates of unemployment for Dundee, Scotland and the United Kingdom.

On 5 April 1979 the total unemployment rates in the areas listed were 8·6 per cent. 7·9 per cent. and 5·6 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the numbers of unemployed claimants drawing supplementary benefit for each year since 1948; and if he will express these totals as a percentage of the total number of unemployed.

Following is the information requested:

Year	Registered unemployed receiving national assistance supplementary benefit	Great Britain Col. (2) figures as percentage of all registered unemployed
(November)	(thousands)
1948	53	16
1949	66	20
1950	77	25
1951	66	23
1952	102	25
1953	94	29
1954	80	30
1955	61	27
1956	73	28
1957	96	30
1958	151	29
1959	129	30
1960	107	30
1961	103	27
1962	150	28
1963	155	32
1964	111	32
1965	91	28
1966	119	25
1967	192	34
1968	190	34
1969	196	35
1970	200	34
1971	332	39
1972	358	45
1973	228	45
1974	266	43
1975	479	44
1976	554	46
1977	659	49
1978	605	47