asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, as part of the Government's plans to cut Government spending, he is considering the possibility of linking the remuneration and job security of assistant secretaries in the Civil Service with those of Members of this House.

The reductions in expenditure for 1979–80 were made as part of an urgently needed reduction in total expenditure. It is not appropriate to consult outside bodies on an issue of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been paid by way of financial assistance to Opposition parties for each year since the scheme was started.

The amounts in respect of each year ending 31 December are as follows:

I have been asked to reply.The pay of assistant secretaries in the Civil Service is determined in accordance with the Civil Service pay agreements and there are no plans for a pay link to any single outside group, such as Members of Parliament.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he supports self-determination for the Western Sahara; if he is prepared to recognise the Polisario Front; and if he will make a statement on the present situation.

The Government's policy is to encourage the parties to the Western Sahara conflict to reach a peaceful solution through the mediation of the Organisation of African Unity and on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions. An ad hoc committee of the United Nations has recently visited the area and made recommendations. In common with a majority of Governments, the United Kingdom does not have formal contacts with the Polisario Front.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list all the State-trading countries which are known to have contravened sanctions against Rhodesia.

We have at various times notified the United Nations sanctions committee that we had information of sufficient reliability to merit further investigation that official agencies of the following countries might have engaged in trade with Rhodesia: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Romania and the Soviet Union.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many Indo-Chinese refugees are now estimated to be in Hong Kong; and how many have been accepted for permanent resettlement.

On 3 July there were 59,718 Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement elsewhere. In addition, 11,000 Vietnamese, 2,100 Cambodians and 1,200 Laotians have been accepted for permanent settlement in the territory since 1975.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what restrictions Spain now places on communications with Gibraltar; and what exchanges there have recently been between Her Majesty's Government and the Spanish Government about them.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25 June 1979], circulated the following further answer:I have to make a correction. The text should have read as follows.Although telephone links were resumed 18 months ago, I much regret that there has been no substantial change in the main border restrictions which impede movement of people and goods between Spain and Gibraltar. The Government have had no recent contact with the Spanish Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many postal votes were cast in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, in each general election since 1959.

To provide all the information requested from official sources would involve disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to table 8.01 of "British Electoral Facts 1885–1975" compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (MacMillan).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the costs of imprisoning those convicted of motoring offences for each of the past five years.

Details of expenditure on the prison service are published annually in the report on the work of the prison department, but the cost of detaining prisoners convicted of particular offences is not separately recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportation orders were signed in each of the months January to June; and how many of those subject to the orders remain in the United Kingdom on 27 June.

The numbers of deportation orders signed in each of the months January to June 1979 were:

January	98
February	103
March	164
April	95
May	94
June—to 27 June 1979	122
	676

It is not possible to say without disproportationate expense how many of those subject to the above orders were still in the United Kingdom on 27 June. From 1 January 1979 to 27 June 344 deportation orders were enforced but some of these orders were signed before 1 January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the timetable for the submission of the report of the committee of inquiry into the United Kingdom prison service.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by how much he intends to reduce the budget of the Commission for Racial Equality in the current year; and what reduction he intends to make in staff levels;(2) by how much he intends to reduce the budget of the Equal Opportunities Commission in the current year; and what reduction in staff levels he intends to make.

In common with central Departments, both commissions have been asked to suspend recruitment for three months and will be expected to reduce staff costs by a minimum of 3 per cent. The budgets of both commissions will be included in the Government's overall review of public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement giving the reasons for the arrest of Tom McDonnell in Liverpool on Saturday.

No. Mr. MacDonnell was detained under article 10(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1976. I understand that he was released at 8.36 p.m. on 2 July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to make an exclusion order against Tom McDonnell; and what are the reasons for such an order.

I have received no application from the police for the exclusion of Mr. McDonnell.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost per case of courts seeking to recover fines or duty where these are not paid within the period so ordered by the court.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the disposals in respect of those persons found guilty of motor vehicle excise licence offences and show (a) how many persons were fined and what was the average fine, (b) how many persons were ordered to pay duty into the court, (c) how many persons were given custodial sentences and at what average cost, and (d) how many persons were otherwise dealt with.

The sentences or orders imposed following findings of guilt for motor vehicle excise licence offences in England and Wales are published annually in "Offences relating to motor vehicle"—tables 4 and 6, offence group 10, of the volume for 1977—(Cmnd. 7349). In 1977 the average fine imposed for these offences, when a fine was the most severe sentence, was £18. Cases in which a person was ordered to pay duty into the court are not recorded separately, being classified according to the most severe other disposal. Information on the cost of custodial sentences for these offences could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (a) how many persons were prosecuted for criminal offences in respect of the motor vehicle excise licence, (b) how many persons were found guilty of these offences, and (c) what is the average cost of the prosecution of each motor vehicle excise licence case.

In 1977 there were 176,545 prosecutions for motor vehicle licence offences in England and Wales, of which 161,732 led to a finding of guilt. Information on the average cost of the prosecution for these offences is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the saving to his Department in the event of the motor vehicle excise licence being abolished.

I am not able to make any satisfactory estimate of the costs to the police and the courts of the enforcement of the present requirement, or of any savings in Home Office grants to those services that might result from its replacement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the basis of the trend in population growth over the last five years as shown in "Population Trends" No. 16, what will be the size of the new Commonwealth and Pakistani population in 2051, on the assumption that the trends were to continue according to variant B.

I have been asked to reply.The projections published in "population Trend" No. 16 were based on a number of detailed assumptions which could not sensibly be extended mechanically for a further half century. Any projection to the year 2051 would be too speculative to serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what alternative courses of action were open to him on receiving the appeal by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority against the rejection by Kyle and Carrick District Council of its application to carry out test bores in the Loch Doon area for the possible disposal of nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is bound to reach by due process a determination of the subject of the application; namely the drilling of bore holes for the purposes of studying the properties and structure of rocks and the movement of water within them, and the temporary siting of up to six small portable buildings or caravans. If, as in this case, either the appellant or the planning authority so requests, he must provide for a public local inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to initiate talks on the future government of Scotland; and with whom he hopes to conduct such talks.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and I have begun discussions with parties in the House which are represented in Scotland, on an individual basis. We hope that these preliminary discussions will very shortly lead to the establishment of all-party talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will meet Glasgow district council and Strathclyde regional council to discuss proposals for action arising from the report on "Implications of Population Changes to 1983".

My right hon. Friend has not received any request to meet the authorities specifically to discuss this report. I shall, however, be meeting Glasgow district council, at its request, to discuss a range of matters arising from its housing plan, to which this report is relevant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the chairman of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

I last met the president, with other representatives of the Convention, on 2 July to discuss local government finance, and look forward to our next meeting on 28 September.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will start his promised review of the organisation of local government in Scotland, especially of the Strathclyde region; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to consult the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities later this summer about the review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet represenetatives of the Highland regional council and the Highland river purification board.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet the council and board together.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will make a statement on the relaxation of school catchment zones in Scotland.

This is a complex matter which will require extensive consultations with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other interested bodies. I am at present considering this and a number of related issues with a view to opening consultations as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the substantial increase in the number of "glue sniffing" incidents, what legislative or other action he proposes to take to curb this practice, and if he will make a statement.

I do not consider that legislation would help to curb this practice, which is limited to certain areas. I propose to continue to keep the problem under review and to encourage local arrangements to ensure that any local outbreaks are quickly identified and dealt with by the police, teachers, social workers and, when necessary, doctors. I hope that a comprehensive health education programme will ultimately eliminate the practice altogether.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a White Paper indicating the likely effects on employment prospects of the proposed cuts in public expenditure.

No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the provision by local authorities of permanent sites for travelling people.

The lack of progress in providing sites in Scotland over the past few years has been disappointing, but I am glad that a number of local authorities are now considering proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the Government's view of the proposed Craigroyston power station.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board has not as yet submitted its proposals for Craigroyston to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for reducing unemployment in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Stiring, Falkirk and Grangemouth (Mr. Ewing) and the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 23 May.—[Vol. 967, c. 1038–40].

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to remedy the injustice to ratepayers brought to his attention by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, whereby a ratepayer who has been paying excessive rates through an admitted error in the assessor's department cannot recover previous year' excessive payments.

To remove this difficulty would require legislation which I now have under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in the light of the restoration of full pay comparability for the Armed Forces, he will reassess the local overseas allowances paid to members of Her Majesty Forces in Germany.

Local overseas allowances—LOA—are paid in Germany and other overseas stations to enable Service men and women to maintain their standard of living wherever they may be posted. In 1977 the last Government placed a moratorium on changes in the real value of LOA because they were aware that reductions in certain of the rates were due and that to impose these at a time when the pay of Service men had been allowed to fall so far behind under their incomes policy would have had a disastrous effect on morale. At the same time they ordered an examination of the basis for calculating the allowance. Following their undertaking last year to restore pay to its proper level in stages, they announced that a review of the allowances in Germany would take place at the beginning of 1979 and that decicisions on the future of the allowances would be taken in April.The result of the prolonged moratorium has been that rates of LOA in many overseas stations, including Germany, have become increasingly unrealistic, with many Service men being over-compensated and many others under-compensated, for the extra living expenses which they necessarily incur.Having fully restored the pay of the Forces the Government have now decided to introduce the new criteria which have been worked out as a result of the re-examination of the LOA system. The effect will be to distribute the allowance more fairly and to take more account of the actual needs of those—especially married men accompanied by their families—who are posted overseas. I have placed a brief examination of the new system in the Library of the House. The changeover to the new rates in Germany will be made gradually, with staging on 1 October and 1 January next year.Meanwhile, from 1 July, other changes in the rules for the payment of LOA are being introduced which will benefit significantly all those who move temporarily from an overseas station for short or emergency tours in the United Kingdom and who now suffer an immediate loss of LOA. In future they will be allowed to keep in full their allowance for 20 days after posting or 30 days if they have left a family behind, to help them meet their continuing long-term commitments at their overseas station.Also from 1 July, the eligibility for "sea-going" rates of LOA will be extended to include the companies of Her Majesty's Ships in Northern European waters who hitherto have received no compensation whatever for the additional expenses which they incur when visiting Northern European ports.Reviews, also using the new system, will be resumed on other overseas stations starting in September. It is not possible to forecast the outcome of these at this stage.The Government believe that the new system of calculating LOA, together with the two important extra benefits to which I have referred, will be generally welcomed by the Forces throughout the world, even though in some rates it will involve reductions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by how much the defence budget has been underspent in each of the years since 1972.

The information requested is shown in the table below. The figures represent the difference between outturn and original Estmates for each year, expressed at Estimates prices. Outturn figures for 1978–79 are not yet available.

Financial Year and Amount underspent
	£ million
1972–73	2·6
1973–74	226·9
1974–75	112·8
1975–76	49·1
1976–77	185·3
1977–78	146·9

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women are paid in employment in firms which employ fewer than (a) 6, (b) 12, (c) 25, (d) 50 and (e) 100 persons.

The information requested is not available.The census of employment provides some information about the size of firms or parts of firms. Available size analyses, however, relate to all employees. Similar information for female employees could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the transfer of the headquarters of the Manpower Services Commission to Sheffield to be complete.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Osborn) on 19 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether any new initiatives will be taken to promote the employment of disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC), which administers the employment and training services for disabled people, that a major promotional campaign will be mounted in the autumn with the slogan "Fit for Work". The campaign which has the support of the national advisory council on the employment of disabled people, the CBI and TUC, will commence on 17 September 1979, and will have three main elements:

(1) a British Rail exhibition train which will visit 12 major centres around Great Britain. The train will stay for two days in each centre, during which time presentations of the theme of the campaign will be given to groups of employers, opinion formers and trade unionists. At the same time and afterwards a series of local presentations will take place in those areas not visited by the exhibition train;

(2) a scheme of annual awards to firms for exemplary policies and practices in the employment of disabled people, which will sustain interest in successive years following the train exhibition;

(3) the issue of a "mail pack" to some 75,000 employers which will include:

(a) a brochure about the annual awards scheme—enclosing an application form—; and

(b) a booklet designed to persuade firms to adopt constructive policies in the employment of disabled people, giving guidance on how to do so, and explaining how MSC can help.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the current number of long-term unemployed in the Northern region, male and female, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled.

I regret that the information is not available. The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed both by duration and by occupation but there is no cross-analysis of these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the promised information about current legislation relating to liquefied gas terminals in the United States of America and the Netherlands and about research into the behaviour of liquefied gases which might have a bearing on the siting of such terminals will be sent to the hon. Member for Essex, South-East.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20 June 1979] gave the following answer:It has taken some considerable time to assemble the information required. I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that he has now written to my hon. Friend outlining the current position on the points raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms and how many employees have been assisted and at what cost by the small firms employment subsidy in: (a) the London borough of Islington and (b) the Hackney-Islington inner city partnership area and how many applications are outstanding.

As at 31 May 1979, 468 applications for subsidy under the small firms employment subsidy scheme from small firms in the Hackney-Islington inner city partnership area—including 219 in the area of the London Borough of Islington—had been approved. At the same date the numbers of extra jobs provided in the two areas was 942 and 406 at an estimated cost of £489,800 and £211,100 respectively, if subsidy is claimed for the full period of 26 weeks.A total of 15 applications from small firms in the Hackney-Islington inner city partnership area—including seven in the London borough of Islington—are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how claims may be made under the provisions of the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979, which came into force today; and if he will make a statement.

The Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Determination of Claims Regulations 1979 which were laid before Parliament and come into force today provide for claims to be made in such form, provided by the Secretary of State, as he may determine. Application forms are now available from the Department of Employment:

• HSL 6
• Rex House
• 4–12 Regent Street
• LONDON SW1
• Office for Wales:
• Companies House
• Crown Way
• MAINDY
• Cardiff
• Office for Scotland:
• Pentlands House
• 47 Robb's Loan
• EDINBURGH EH14 1TW

Application forms will be available in Welsh at Cardiff by 16 July.I regret that it has not yet been possible to lay before the House draft regulations prescribing the amount of payments to be made under the Act. The construction of an appropriate schedule of payments has proved technically more difficult than was orginally envisaged.It is now clear that it will be impossible to lay these draft regulations in sufficient time for them to be approved, as I had hoped, before the Summer Recess, but I shall ensure that they are ready to be laid immediately Parliament reassembles. The first payments will, accordingly, be made later in the autumn than had been foreseen. Claims should, however, be made now, to enable payments to be made as soon as the regulations come into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to lay regulations on the notification of accident and dangerous occurrences; when he expects such regulations to come into operation; and if he will make a statement.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2 July 1979], gave the following answer:I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the consultative period for the latest consultative document containing draft regulations for the notification of accidents, dangerous occurrences and ill health ended in June 1979, and that the comments which were received are now being collated and evaluated.It is hoped that the commission will shortly be in a position to advise me on an appropriate date on which the regulations should be laid, with a view to bringing them into operation as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the number of long-term unemployed for each region in the United Kingdom, cate gorised by age and sex

The following table gives for 5 April, the latest date for which the quarterly analysis is available, the numbers of people in each region of the United Kingdom who had been registered as unemployed for more than 52 weeks, analysed by age group and sex.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, by region, the number of factory inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive for each of the years 1976–77, 1977–78 and to date in 1979; and what increase he expects in the inspectorate over the next five years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, following the events at Harrisburg, he will take steps to overcome the communications gap between nuclear scientists and the public on issues relating to nuclear power.

The Government recognise the important of promoting public understanding of nuclear power, particularly where safety is concerned, and will encourage full and open debate as our programmes develop.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the revision of the United Kingdom nuclear electricity programme.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 11 June the Government believe that nuclear power has a vital long-term role to play in our energy policy. My right hon. Friend gave investment approval last week for the construction by the CEGB of the 1,320 MW second stage of the advanced gas-cooled reactor power station at Heysham, and work to establish the pressurised water reactor systems as a viable option for the United Kingdom is being carried forward and will continue. Further decisions will be taken and announced as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) on the basis of a projected EEC subsidy of £6·35 tonne, how he estimates that the National Coal Board should develop a viable inter-Community trade in coal on the assumption of a National Coal Board price of £28 to £30 tonne and South African price of $42 tonne f.o.b. Rotterdam:(2) what are the current policies ruling on the spot market in Rotterdam for steam coal and the quantities traded.

In 1978 the Community imported some $3 million tonnes of third country coal under arrangements of less than one year's duration. In addition, several million tonnes of Community-produced coal were exported under similar arrangements. There is a wide range of prices depending upon quantities, calorific value, ash and sulphur content and other factors. For example figures of $30 to $49/tonne cif main continental ports were quoted in the 18 June edition of the authoritative American publication "Coal Week". It would be for the National Coal Board to judge what trade it might usefully wish and be able to develop in this context with a subsidy, just as it now has to do in the absence of one.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the sites on which nuclear power stations are now being constructed.

Nuclear power stations are being constructed for the Central Electricity Generating Board at Dungeness B, Romney Marsh, Kent; Hartlepool, Co. Durham; and Heysham I, Lancashire. The CEGB has also been given investment approval for the construction of the second stage of the power station at Heysham where it is planned that site work will begin next year.Power stations in Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether the Central Electricity Generating Board is continuing with its intention to place the turbine generators for the Drax B power station with Northern Engineering Industries; and whether these orders were placed as the result of competitive tender;(2) by how much the Northern Engineering Industries' price for turbine generators for Drax B power station exceeds the price offered by GEC; what was the amount of the subsidy to be paid by his Department to the Central Electricity Generating Board; and what cost per job maintained in Northern Engineering Industries this sum represents;(3) by how much the date of ordering Drax B has been brought forward as a result of Government intervention; how much money has been and will be paid to the Central Electricity Generating Board by way of compensation for early ordering of Drax B, and what subsidy per week for early ordering this represents; and whether any of the money voted by Parliament has been or will be used to cover the higher price the Central Electricity Generating Board paid to Northern Engineering Industries than it would have paid as the result of competitive tendering.

The previous Government were advised by the CEGB that the order for Drax B would have been placed in 1980 without Government intervention.Under the Nuclear Safeguards and Electricity (Finance) Act 1978, compensation to a maximum of £50 million may be paid to the board; compensation payments are calculated by reference to expenditure actually incurred by the board on the station as a whole—not on particular items of equipment—in the financial year preceding the payment. So far, £23,769 has been paid in respect of expenditure incurred in 1977–78.The CEGB was asked by the previous Government to negotiate with Parsons (NEI) for the turbo-generators for Drax B. The commercial details of the main contract finally negotiated are a matter for the board which has said that it is satisfied with the price agreed. There is no question of payment of a subsidy to NEI. Contracts for the manufacture and erection of the generators were placed with NEI in November 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy since many homes in villages around Rugby are dependent on oil for heating, and since oil is becoming increasingly scarce, if he will, in the interest of oil conservation, give a general direction to the British Gas Corporation to re-examine its criteria for introducing gas supplies in country areas.

No. The British Gas Corporation goes beyond its statutory obligation to give a gas supply to premises within 25 yards of a gas main in cases where this is consistent with its general duty to satisfy, so far as it is economical to do so, all reasonable demands for gas in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what consideration is being given to relaxing the statutory monopolies over the collection and delivery of mail and of the production and installation of telephone equipment.

We are looking into these questions with the aim of providing the best possible services to the customer at reasonable cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what amount of Government expenditure is spent on microprocessing research and development; and what proportion this is of the total Government research and development expenditure on industrial projects.

Microprocessor application research and development is a widespread activity playing a not readily quantifiable part in many projects. The Department of Industry is spending in the region of £1 million on projects or parts of projects in Government laboratories and industry during 1979–80. Additionally, some aspects of the microelectronics applications project to which £11 million has been committed in 1979–80 are relevant. The total is around 6 to 7 per cent. of the Department's estimate for expenditure on R & D this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has taken a decision upon the future of the footwear industry scheme of assistance.

The footwear industry scheme is to be allowed to run its course and will remain open for applications until 31 March 1980 with a further 12 months allowed for completion of projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many firms have been assisted in the Northern region by the National Enterprise Board; what is the total investment; and how many jobs are involved.

The Board has invested £2·3 million in seven companies that are wholly based in the Department's Northern region; they provide about 700 jobs. In addition, four other companies in which the Board has made substantial investment on a national basis provide about 1,450 jobs in the region.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the working of the new arrangements for Fleet Street casual employees; and if he will make a statement.

The information obtained by the Inland Revenue is still being processed. It is too early to make a considered judgment but the new arrangements are being closely monitored.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when making future tap stock issues, consideration will be given to the possibility of redemption dates being shorter than those on recent issues, the coupon being lower and the interest payable thereon being treated as franked income in the hands of recipients.

The Government look for ways to minimise the long term costs of public sector borrowing, consistent with that debt being funded in ways which secure the Government's monetary objectives. The issue of short dated stock can have a cost advantage in certain conditions. But, given the portfolio preferences of financial institutions and other private sector lenders and borrowers, it is not practicable to rely solely on short term issues, nor would it necessarily be cheaper, given the effect on relative yields, if the Government concentrated their funding on shorter maturities. To treat interest on gilt-edged stocks as franked investment income would be inappropriate in relation to the general structure of corporation tax and would not necessarily reduce the overall cost to the Exchequer of such borrowing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of the assets of the National Land Fund on 2 July.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the general secretary of the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff concerning luncheon vouchers and taxation; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that I can find no evidence of any communication having reached me from the general secretary of APEX about luncheon vouchers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received the communication sent to him by the general secretary of APEX dated 18 June concerning luncheon vouchers; if he will epitomise the contents of this letter and publish the terms of his reply; and if he will make a statement.

, pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 3 July 1979], gave the following answer:I regret that I can find no evidence of any communication having reached me from the general secretary of APEX about luncheon vouchers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in regard to VAT revenues on motor spirit, on what basis the rise in motor spirit VAT revenue was calculated, bearing in mind that the pump price has risen by 50 per cent. since last year and the rate of VAT has risen from 12½ per cent. to 15 per cent.

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

, asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of abolishing the rating system in the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.If the entire rating system in the United Kingdom were abolished the cost, in revenues forgone to the public sector, would be around £6·8 billion this year. If only domestic rating were abolished the revenues forgone—not including domestic rate relief and rate rebates which are rate income forgone at present—would be £2·8 billion this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading the excessive price increases by traders in the North-East as a result of recent increases in VAT.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action his Department will take to increase tariffs on United States commodities, particularly textiles, entering the United Kingdom because of the policy of the dual pricing of oil in the United States, which gives their manufacturers a substantial commercial advantage.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2 July 1979], gave the following answer:The EEC Council of Ministers has agreed that the Community will have recourse without delay to the appropriate provisions of the GATT should the Community textiles market be disrupted on account of artificial differences in energy and feedstock prices available to overseas producers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will support a multi-footwear arrangement similar to that in the textile industry; and if he will arrange for negotiations to be set up in the European Economic Community for this purpose.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2 July 1979], gave the following answer:Footwear imports from a number of sources are already under restraint. I do not think that there is any case at present for extending these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much chrysotile has been imported into the United Kingdom from Cyprus in each of the last 10 years: and if he will make a statement.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15 June 1979; Vol. 968, c. 363], gave the following answer:Details of United Kingdom imports of asbestos from Cyprus are as follows:

	Thousand Tonnes
1969	6·09
1970	6·79
1971	6·96
1972	8·94
1973	7·77
1974	6·76
1975	8·29
1976	7·53
1977	7·81
1978	5·40

White asbestos—Chrysotile—is not separately distinguished in the

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the current position of the United Kingdom's trade with Malta, with particular reference to whether the European Economic Community is supporting our stand on tighter quotas from Malta; and if he could make a statement.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2 July 1979], gave the following answer:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that the Budget proposals will not increase unemployment in Wales.

Unemployment levels in Wales depend on a number of factors, the main one being the general state of the United Kingdom economy. The Government's policy, as exemplified in the Budget, is to stimulate investment which in turn should create new employment opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the unemployment figures for males and females in the Ogmore constituency on Friday 29 June.

The area corresponding most closely to the Ogmore constituency is that covered by the Bridgend and Maesteg local offices of the Department of Employment. The most recent information relates to mid-June, when there were 1,577 males and 774 females registered as unemployed in these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will offer an assessment of or initiate an inquiry into the likely effect upon educational standards and attainment as a result of the reduction in public expenditure required by Her Majesty's Government.

An inquiry would not be appropriate. The effects will depend mainly on the measures selected by individual local authorities as a means of effecting the necessary economies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the proposals for reducing educational expenditure within each local education authority in England and Wales.

No. It is for each local authority to decide in the light of its own needs and priorities within and between services how to meet the Government's request for a reduction of 3 per cent. in current expenditure this year compared with the level envisaged in the rate support grant settlement last autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to prevent school closures in rural areas in view of planned reductions in public spending in 1979–80 and 1980–81.

This is essentially a local question: local education authorities decide which schools to propose for closure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has of the number of teachers and of other persons employed by local education authorities who will lose employment before the end of 1980 as a result of the expected reduction in public spending.

This will entirely depend on decisions taken by individual local authorities about the way in which the necessary economies should be achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to abolish the subsidised school meals service in 1980–81.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he expects the in-service training of teachers to be affected by recent advice to education authorities to freeze staffing appointments and by the operations of stringent cash limits; and if he will make a statement.

It will be for each local education authority to review its plans for expenditure and for the deployment of teachers. I recognise that authorities may be unable to maintain the levels of in-service training previously planned, but I cannot forecast what the total effect may be.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make arrangements to collect and publish information on the destination of pupils leaving special schools.

My right hon. and learned Friend will consider this in due course in the light of the Government's

							Pupils aged 16 years over school leaving age as a percentage of those aged 14 years two years previously per cent.	Pupils aged 17 years as a percentage of those aged 14 years three years previously per cent.
North—
Gateshead	…	…	…	…	…	…	13·6	11·1
Newcastle upon Tyne			…	…	…	…	23·5	18·7
North Tyneside		…	…	…	…	…	23·0	18·7
South Tyneside		…	…	…	…	…	12·8	12·1
Sunderland	…	…	…	…	…	…	16·8	13·5
Cleveland	…	…	…	…	…	…	18·3	16·0
Cumbria	…	…	…	…	…	…	21·0	17·9
Durham	…	…	…	…	…	…	16·1	13·9
Northumberland		…	…	…	…	…	25·7	18·0
Total North region			…	…	…	…	18·8	15·6
Yorkshire and Humberside			…	…	…	…	21·6	17·2
North-West	…	…	…	…	…	…	19·5	15·7
East Midlands	…	…	…	…	…	…	20·4	16·4
West Midlands	…	…	…	…	…	…	20·7	16·9
East Anglia	…	…	…	…	…	…	19·7	15·0
Greater London	…	…	…	…	…	…	34·1	23·4
Other South-East		…	…	…	…	…	30·7	23·2
South-West	…	…	…	…	…	…	22·6	17·3
Total England	…	…	…	…	…	…	24·5	18·8

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will publish for each education authority in the Northern region the percentage of pupils entering full-time further education on leaving school at 16 years;(2) if he will publish for each region in England the percentage of pupils entering full-time further education on leaving school at 16 years.

I regret that this information is not readily available in the detail requested.However, the total number of school leavers in 1976–77 entering full-time further

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will publish for each education authority in the Northern region the percentage of pupils staying on at school after 16 years;(2) if he will publish in the

In January 1978, the latest date for which information is available, the proportions of pupils aged 16 and 17 years who had stayed on in maintained secondary schools after the compulsory school leaving age were:education for each region and for the larger local education authorities in England, is given in the table which was placed in the Library in answer to the question from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton) on Friday 22 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to encourage the provision of pre-school playgroup facilities in Ormskirk and Kirkby.

I have been asked to reply.The encouragement of playgroups in individual areas is a matter for the local authority concerned. The Department is, however, encouraging and giving substantial support to the development of the playgroup movement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the local authorities in Scotland that continue to use corporal punishment in children's homes, day centres, assessment centres and list D schools.

This information is not available centrally except for list D schools, only two of which are operated by a local authority. Both of these are in Strathclyde, where the regional council recently decided to discontinue the use of corporal punishment in all social work establishments for children.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of jobs that have been created and how many have been safeguarded in Dundee through financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in each year since 1973.

The estimated employment created or safeguarded by projects in Dundee for which offers have been made of financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in each of the years 1972–73 to 1978–79 is as follows:

Financial year	New jobs	Safeguarded jobs
1972–73	280	0
1973–74	770	0
1974–75	830	0
1975–76	280	150
1976–77	550	2,900
1977–78	190	180
1978–79	540	270

The estimates relate to the jobs associated with the projects, and it does not follow that they are all entirely attributable to the assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on revision of the criteria for the provision of telephones for the elderly in the light of the views received from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

Decisions whether to provide assistance to elderly or handicapped persons towards the provision or retention of a telephone are for the local authorities themselves to take, but minimum criteria were suggested in a circular issued in 1972. Following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, my right hon. Friend does not at present propose to issue any further guidance on the provision of telephone facilities. Local authorities will continue to take decisions on this matter in the light of their assessment of individual need.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average cost per case of courts seeking to recover fines or duty when these are not paid within the period so ordered by the court.

This information is not available.