asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why the photostating machines in Norman Shaw North are switched off during sittings of the House; and if he will take steps to have this practice changed.

The copying machine on the ground floor in Norman Shaw North is left on until the rising of the House, but the remainder are turned off when the attendants hand over to the night watchman at 9 pm. Similar arrangements are in force in Norman Shaw South.The times of operation of all copying machines are approved by the Services Committee.

asked the Chancellor of tie Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to ensure that the bench in Bolton metropolitan borough is representative of the whole community; and if he will make a detailed statement.

With the help of my advisory committee, I try to ensure that all significant parts of the community of the metropolitan borough of Bolton are realistically reflected in the make-up of the bench.Problems such as changes in the population and the availability of suitable persons to serve make the task difficult. Progress is, however, being made, and further suggestions of likely persons who are worthy of consideration for appointment will be welcomed by me; these will be considered as and when vacancies become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he plans to change the British Gas Corporation's statutory obligations to supply gas.

I intend to introduce legislation in the New Year which among other things will limit all statutory entitlements to gas supply to 25,000 therms a year and will make provision for the corporation to enter into contractual arrangements for any supplies above that level.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much money was recovered during the past 12 months from civil servants who reimbursed his Department following private use of the telephone, in accordance with the Civil Service code of conduct.

	United Kingdom	Germany	France	Belgium	Ireland
1. Total capital expenditure on coal production committee at the beginning of 1978 for that year (£ million)	361	201	31	16	Not available
2. Miners employed underground on average, April-September 1978 (000s)	188·5	121·0	35·5	17·6	0·4
3. Capital expenditure committed per miner underground (£s)	1,917	1,665	879	887	Not available

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what tariff barriers exist in trading between the United Kingdom and each of the five ASEAN States; and what steps are being taken by the United Kingdom alone or in partnership with the EEC to reduce tariff barriers as a means of promoting trade.

Current tariffs: The imports of ASEAN countries from the United Kingdom receive the same tariff treatment as imports from other Western industrialised countries. Singapore permits a wide range of products to enter free of duty. Tariffs are, however, levied on certain goods—for example, sugar confectionery, wines and spirits, tobacco, some chemicals and machinery. The levels of Singapore's tariffs are generally low, ranging in the main from 1 per cent. to 15 per cent.

During the period 1 December 1978 and 30 November 1979 the sum of£135 was recovered from staff working in my Department's London headquarters.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report the present level of capital investment per miner in the coal industry compared with other EEC countries.

The latest estimates on a comparable basis provided by the Commission and the statistical office of the European Communities are as follows:Indonesian tariffs on imports from the United Kingdom range from 5 per cent. to over 100 per cent. for some consumer goods. Basic raw materials and goods, including machinery, for industry attract low tariffs of around 5 per cent. to 15 per cent.The Philippines imposes tariffs ranging for the most part from 10 per cent. up to 100 per cent. and more. Machinery, raw materials and essential goods generally attract tariff towards the lower end of this range, while consumer goods and those classified as luxuries attract tariffs towards the upper end.Thailand's tariffs range from 5 per cent. to as high as 150 per cent, for some consumer items. Imports needed by Thai industry generally carry the lower tariffs, whilst non-essential imports including consumer items attract high duties.Malaysia's tariffs range from under 10 per cent. for some basic commodities and food items to 30 per cent. to 50 per cent. for most types of capital goods and some other manufactured goods, to over 100 per cent. for other manufactured goods, in particular consumer goods.As a member of the European Economic Community, the United Kingdom applies the common external tariff to imports from ASEAN countries.For some types of industrial product, all imports from ASEAN and other developing countries enter duty-free under the Community's generalised scheme of preferences (GSP). For other types of product, imports enter duty-free up to specified limits, and imports in excess of these limits attract duty. Preferential tariff rates are also accorded to a range of agricultural products.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) which authorities now exercise powers conferred upon them by the Home Safety Act 1961; when each such authority commenced exercising such powers; and in what manner;(2) whether he will issue a circular encouraging local authorities to exercise powers conferred upon them by the Home Safety Act 1961.

I regret that my Department does not have this information. However, it is understood from the Association of District Councils that home safety is promoted to some degree by the majority of district councils under the powers provided by the Home Safety Act 1961. In the circumstances, and as it is in any case for each local authority to decide whether and to what extent it uses these powers, I do not propose to issue a circular of the kind suggested by the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether his Department has received information that three piece suits from Italy are currently being offered in the United Kingdom for under£20, that these suits were made in Romania and exported to Italy at a landed price of£8, and that the Italians re-export them to the United Kingdom taking advantage of the European Economic Community regulation permitting free circulation; and what action he intends to take seeing that these suits do not count against Romania's quota for the United Kingdom.

The Government applied to the EEC Commission on 15 November 1979 for authority under article 115 of the Treaty of Rome to withhold import licences from Romanian suits in free circulation in the Community. The Commission has rejected this application, pointing out that at the time of the application the quota for Romanian suits imported into the United Kingdom direct from Romania was not fully used. The United Kingdom is now consulting the Commission on the price of these goods in the context of the price clause in the bilateral EEC/Romania textiles agreement concluded under the multi-fibre arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in the light of the fact that a considerable quantity of suits imported into the United Kingdom from West Germany are in fact manufactured in East Germany under the outward processing system, what action he intends to take.

If evidence is provided that suits of East German origin are entering the United Kingdom on the basis of false declarations of West German origin, I will have the matter investigated as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary State for the Home Department, in banned list the export of uranium hexafluoride, pressure gauges and other equipment used in the manufacture of ultra-centrifuge plants in November; and if this was a consequence of the failure of the Dutch partners in URENCO to inform the British Government of Dr. Abel Qader Khan's activities until the summer of the current year, over three years after he had left Holland.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1979]: In answering on 14 December the question from the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) about the reasons for recent additions to the schedule of prohibited exports, assumed that the hon. Member was referring to the changes made by the Export of Goods (Control) (Amendment No. 4) Order 1979 (SI 1979 No. 1437). On that assumption the answer needs clarification. Uranium hexafluoride has been under control for some years; the recent addition, as the order makes clear, was plant for the purification of uranium hexafluoride.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will include clarification of the law in regard to building societies legislation in his discussions with the Director General of Fair Trading about testing consumer law;(2) what discussions he has had with the Director General of Fair Trading about testing consumer law regarding building societies; what conclusions were reached; and if he will make a statement.

I have had no discussions with the Director General about testing consumer law regarding building societies and I have no plans for such discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why General Hussein was admitted to the United Kingdom and for what purpose; and, as the authorities in Iran have publicly stated that Iranian terrorists are entering the United Kingdom to take retributive action against Iranians who served the Shah's regime, if he will take action to stop such terrorists from entering.

I am not able to identify the individual concerned from the details given by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of of State for the Home Department, in each month of the current year, how many cases of overstayers have been raised; how many overstayers have been apprehended; how many have been allowed to remain subsequent to apprehension; and how many have been deported.

Information is not available in the form requested. The following table gives available information for 1979 about the number of inquiries initiated by the special overstayers tracing units in the Home Office to trace possible over-

Inquiries initiated by the special overstayers tracing units in the Home Office
1979			Number of inquiries initiated	Number of overstayers traced*	Total deportation Orders made
January	…	…	Not available	80	98
February	…	…	2,082	142	103
March	…	…	3,213	152	164
April	…	…	1,802	99	90
May	…	…	2,281	101	94
June	…	…	1,911	112	135
July	…	…	1,748	164	95
August	…	…	1,973	174	120
September	…	…	1,676	199	132
October	…	…	1,388	179	74
TOTAL			18,074	1,402	1,105
*The inquiries about overstayers traced in a particular month may have been initiated in a previous month.
Total deportation orders made in the month including those made against people who were not overstayers. A deportation order may relate to an overstayer traced in a previous month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the building works which necessitated the vacating of the special security wing at Leicester prison were completed.

Structural alterations to the special security wing at Leicester prison were completed early this year and work on the emergency control room was concluded in mid-October. The installation of cameras is still in process.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of the industrial dispute between his Department and the Prison Officers' Association which prevents the reopening of the special security wing at Leicester prison.

The dispute at Leicester prison, which arose over staffing requirements for the special security wing, has been settled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much longer he expects prisoners norm- stayers, and about the number of overstayers traced in that way. Information about the action taken on those traced is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For illustrative purposes, however, the table shows also the total number of deportation orders made for all reasons during the months in question, many of which would relate to overstayers.ally confined in the special security unit at Leicester prison to have to remain in solitary confinement conditions outside the unit;(2) what essential differences there are between the conditions of imprisonment of prisoners normally located in Leicester special security wing and their present conditions of imprisonment.

It is expected that the prisoners normally held in the special security wing at Leicester prison will be returned there in the next two or three months.In a special security wing it is possible to allow fairly free association between prisoners for most of the day. Those prisoners from the Leicester special security wing who are now in local prisons are segregated under prison rule 43 so that, except for exercise, they are normally confined to their cells.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the administrative and security objections to locating the Leicester special security wing inmates in the Parkhurst special security wing.

One of the former occupants of the Leicester special security wing is now in Parkhurst special security wing. It would not be appropriate to elaborate on the security reasons for locating other former occupants of the Leicester wing elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proposals he has to increase staff at the immigration appeals office in Birmingham, in view of the fact that appeals are now being listed for hearing in June 1980;

(2) in view of long delays in deciding to grant or refuse British citizenship applications, what proposals he has to increase the staff of his nationality division;

(3) what proposals he has to increase the staff of his nationality division in order to reduce the delays in granting or refusing naturalisation applications.

I am arranging some increase in the staff of the nationality division, in view of the delays in dealing with applications for naturalisation and registration. But the need to contain public expenditure limits what can be done, and I am unable at present to increase the resources at the immigration appeals office in Birmingham.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take steps to have the Countryman investigation extended to include allegations, some of which were made in connection with the murder of the Luton sub-postmaster in 1969, that between 1969 and 1972 certain officers in the Flying Squad were involved in staging robberies and other crimes; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish in the

As I stated in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 13 December—[Vol. 975, c. 715.]—in accordance with the provisions of section 49 of the Police Act 1964 allegations against members of the City of London and Metropolitan Police forces are currently under investigation by a senior officer from another force, and his report will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for his independent consideration of the possible need for criminal proceedings. It would not be appropriate to provide detailed information about the investigation. To do so would be prejudicial both to its success and to individuals involved. It is for the Commissioners of the two forces concerned to consider whether the investigating officer should be asked to investigate other allegations against members of their forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the lifting of the ban or otherwise on foreign Scientologists who wish to visit the United Kingdom.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Stoddart) on 13 December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the circumstances under which regulations now permit the police to be armed.

The issue of firearms to police officers is a matter within the discretion of the chief officer of police concerned, and it is not covered by regulations.The general policy is that firearms are issued only when there is reason to suppose that a police officer may have to face an armed man or, on a limited scale, for protection purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any resignation of Mr. Jonathan Pollitzer and on behalf of prison officers calling for the resignation of Mr. Jonathan Pollizer and Kay Douglas-Smith as voluntary workers at Wormwood Scrubs; and, if so, what was the nature and content of the representations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the response of the Government and the Independent Broadcasting Authority to the tenth report from the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries, 1977–78 Session.

The response of the Government and the Independent Broadcasting Authority to the Select Committee's report is being published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office.The Committee recommended amongst other things that the Government should be empowered to extend the life of the IBA for a period of 15 years and that the prescriptive right for newspapers to take shares in the equity of ILR companies should be abolished. The Government propose to take the necessary powers in the forthcoming Broadcasting Bill. The Select Committee's recommendation that the IBA should be allowed to proceed with its plans for the expansion of independent local radio has already been implemented.The Government recognise the importance of close co-operation between those Departments which have responsibility for all the various aspects of telecommunications policy, including broadcasting, but consider that the degree of co-operation achieved under existing arrangements is satisfactory and that there is no present need for bringing these functions together within a single Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average age of the RAF's Victor tanker aircraft; and when he expects that they will need replacement.

The average age of the RAF's Victor tanker aircraft is 18 years. There are no plans for their early replacement.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will ask the Law Commission to review the operation of the taw in relation to building societies.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Dr. McDonald) on 15 November.—[Vol. 973, c. 765.] I have to add that the Law Commission does not regard itself as the appropriate body to conduct a review of this nature, and the Lord Chancellor endorses its view.

asked the Attorney-General if he is now ready to proceed with prosecutions on the basis of the reports so far received as a result of the Countryman investigations.

I do not expect to be in a position to make a decision on proceedings for some time yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the high attendance figures for children at accident and emergency departments in Welsh hospitals, he will make it his policy that, within such departments, separate waiting areas for children should be provided, thus keeping the mapart from the very ill or very violent adults, commonly being treated in such departments.

Area health authorities have guidance on the need to provide, wherever possible, separate or screened waiting areas for children in accident and emergency departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will bring up to date the information published in the Official Report on 9 March 1978, volume 945, columns 758–59 in reply to the questions concerning new export orders in the mechanical engineering industry.

The volume of exports of manufactures by the main manufacturing countries is not available on a basis consistent with the figures given in the reply published in the Official Report on 9 March 1978 and subsequently updated in a reply given in the Official Report on 19 June 1979. The latest available figures for quarterly changes in the volume of new export orders for mechanical engineering and relative export prices for manufactures are given in the following table:

Percentage changes on previous quarter
		Relative export prices of manufactures*	Volume of mechanical engineering new export orders
1975:
First quarter	…	+4	-8
Second quarter	…	-½	-5 R
Third quarter	…	+½	-6 R
Fourth quarter	…	-0	-1 R
1976:
First quarter	…	+2	+13 R
Second quarter	…	-5½	+1 R
Third quarter	…	+1½	+14 R
Fourth quarter	…	-4	+23 R
1977:
First quarter	…	+5	-12 R
Second quarter	…	+3½	+1 R
Third quarter	…	+l½	-8 R
Fourth quarter	…	+3½	+4 R
1978:
First quarter	…	+3	-9 R
Second quarter	…	-5½	-8 R
Third quarter	…	+3½R	+18 R
Fourth quarter	…	+1½P	-12 R
1979:
First quarter	…	N.A.	+5 P
Second quarter	…	N.A.	+6 P
Third quarter	…	N.A.	-12 P
* The ratio of United Kingdom export unit value to a weighted average of competitors' export unit values, both expressed in a common currency. Published in table B23 of the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics.
New orders, net of cancellations, received by United Kingdom companies, at constant 1975 prices, seasonally adjusted. Source: Monthly Digest of Statistics(issue for December 1979 to be publish 16 January 1980).
P=Provisional
R=Revised
N.A=Not available

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects the completion of the study of the problems of dereliction in those travel-to-work areas which are due to become non-assisted areas after 1 August 1982.

It is as yet too early to forecast when the study will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry to what factors he attributes the current level of penetration of the domestic market for new cars; how the present level of penetration compares with the position in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Import penetration in the United Kingdom car market since 1969 has been as follows:

					Per-cent.
1969	…	…	…	…	10
1970	…	…	…	…	14
1971	…	…	…	…	19
1972	…	…	…	…	24
1973	…	…	…	…	27
1974	…	…	…	…	28
1975	…	…	…	…	33
1976	…	…	…	…	38
1977	…	…	…	…	45
1978	…	…	…	…	49
1979	…	…	…	…	56
					(11 months)

Many factors have contributed to this trend, including, at times, inability on the part of British manufacturers to meet demand adequately in terms both of volumes and model ranges available. It is clear enough, however, that our car industry has not met the challenge of the EEC market to the same extent that European car manufacturers have seized their opportunity in ours. A significant feature also reflected in the import penetration figures is the way in which the major car manufacturers increasingly regard Europe as a single market: some two-thirds of our car imports are from the rest of the EEC, but of these about 40 per cent. are imported by companies which also manufacture in the United Kingdom. Such cars contain a good deal of exported British components.The Government are most concerned about the level of car imports, but as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has recently made clear, import controls are no answer for a trading nation. The remedy must lie with the management and workers in the domestic industry, and also with domestic consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, at current rates of consumption, what is the anticipated life of current reserves of chrome, cobalt, nickel, manganese, tin and copper (a) in the world and (b) in the free world.

At current rates of consumption the expected life of known reserves in the world and the world excluding COMECON countries is as follows:

		World years	World excluding COMECON countries years
Chrome	…	280	370
Cobalt	…	60	60
Nickel	…	80	90
Manganese	…	240	210
Tin	…	50	50
Copper	…	50	60

These estimates are constantly changing due to the discovery of new resources, developments in mining and mineral processing techniques, and to short and long-term variations in consumption.

IMPORTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL DELIVERIES TO UNITED KINGDOM MARKET
	1976	1977	1978	1979 January-September
Rods and bars for reinforcement	21	15	16	10
Wire rods and other rods and bars in coil	11	14	11	14
Other light rolled sections and hot rolled bars	11	18	22	21
Heavy rails and accessories	0	0	13	11
Other heavy rolled products	8	9	9	13
Plates	29	30	28	27
Sheets (coated and uncoated)	39	36	41	35
Hot rolled strip	7	8	7	8
Cold rolled strip	9	11	13	15
Tinplate and buckplate	13	11	12	14
Tubes and pipes	28	28	19	24
TOTAL FINISHED STEEL PRODUCTS	21	20	21	21

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why insufficient copies of the Official Report of 4 December were printed; and if he will take steps to avoid such shortages in future.

The number of copies printed of the Official Report for 4 December was slightly above normal. I hope that the hon. Member was not inconvenienced.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what degree of import penetration has taken place in the individual markets for the British Steel Corporation's products, in view of the importance of imports of steel; if the degree of penetration has increased in markets where cartel arrangements exist; and whether this represents the British Steel Corporation's inability to supply the demands of these markets rather than a lack of competitiveness.

The following table shows import penetration of finished steel products in total and by sector since 1976. The degree of import penetration, which is the result of many factors, has overall remained quite steady during the last few years.publish in the

No. Information on the staffing of Ministers' private offices is not available centrally.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will publish, for the longest and most convenient stated dates since 1945, the salaries of hon. Members; when they changed and to what extent; whether he will give similar details on pension contributions and benefits at the same dates; how these compare with a civil servant who was in 1945 or at the date stated on a salary scale near to or the same as an hon. Member; and how these have changed during the same course of time, so far as

Year of increase of MP's salary			MP's salary	Salary at the mid-point of Civil Service principal grade scale
1946	…	…	£1,000	£1,056
1954	…	…	£1,250(Including Sessional Allowance)	£1,450
1957	…	…	£1,750	£1,705
1964	…	…	£3,250	£2,500
1972	…	…	£4,500	£4,093
1975	…	…	£5,750	£6,565
1976	…	…	£6,062	£6,877
1977	…	…	£6,270	£7,085
1978	…	…	£6,897	£7,760
1979	…	…	£9,450	£8,846

Civil servants were pensionable under successive Superannuation Acts until the introduction of the principal Civil Service pension scheme in 1972. Male civil servants have paid contributions to widows' benefits since 1949, and under the pay research system deductions are made from salary levels in respect of other pension benefits. These contributions and deductions are at present equivalent to an average contribution of about 7 per cent. of salary.When the parliamentary pension scheme was first introduced in 1965, contributions were paid at a flat rate of£150 a year. The present parliamentary contributory pension scheme was introduced in 1972 and amended in 1976 and 1978. Contributions were intially 5 per cent. of salary and were increased to 6 per cent. in 1978. Pension benefits for hon. Members are broadly in line with those available in other public service pension schemes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing the percentage of gross national product or gross domestic product taken by general Government net borrowing for each year since 1970 in the case of salaries, pension contributions and benefits are concerned.

The table below sets out hon. Members' ordinary salary rates since 1945 and, for comparison, the rate payable to an individual at the mid-point of the salary scale of the principal grade in the Civil Service at the same dates.the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Germany, Italy and Japan.

As I indicated to the hon. Member in my answer to him of 6 December—[Vol. 975, c. 332]—the aggregate most similar to the general Government borrowing requirement for which data are available for a variety of countries is the general Government financial deficit. For 1974 to 1978, this aggregate as a percentage of GDP for the countries in question is given in OECD Economic Outlooknumber 25 July 1979, table 68 on page 143. Comparable figures for the earlier years may be derived from data given in "National Accounts of OECD Countries" 1960–1977 volume 2.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing for each quarter since 1 January 1973 the percentage increase in the money supply, domestic credit expansion, wholesale prices, retain prices, gross domestic product and the real money supply.

The figures for the money supply (£M3) were included in my answer to the hon. Member on 14 November.—[Vol. 973, c. 623–4.] As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 11 December—[Vol. 975, c. 567–8]—there are no stock figures for domestic credit expansion from which percentage increases can be calculated. Quarterly percentage increases in wholesale and retail prices—since the first quarter of 1975—in gross domestic product—since the first quarter of 1974—may be calculated from data given in Economic Trends, the latest issue of which was for November 1979. Percentage increases for earlier quarters may be calculated from data given in Economic Trends,annual supplement 1979. Percentage increases in the real money supply—interpreted as£M3 deflated by the implied deflator for total domestic expenditure—are shown below.

PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN REAL MONEY SUPPLY* (not seasonally adjusted)
1973
1	…	…	…	1·5
2	…	…	…	3·4
3	…	…	…	2·8
4	…	…	…	3·4
1974
1	…	…	…	-4·3
2	…	…	…	-3·7
3	…	…	…	-3·4
4	…	…	…	-0·1
1975
1	…	…	…	-7·1
2	…	…	…	-2·4
3	…	…	…	-1·4
4	…	…	…	-1·3
1976
1	…	…	…	-3·7
2	…	…	…	0·7
3	…	…	…	0·7
4	…	…	…	-1·5
1977
1	…	…	…	-5·8
2	…	…	…	1·3
3	…	…	…	0·7
4	…	…	…	3·4
1978
1	…	…	…	-0·1
2	…	…	…	1·8
3	…	…	…	0·6
4	…	…	…	2·9
1979
1	…	…	…	-3·9
	…	…	…	0·6
*£M3 deflated by the implied deflator for total domestic expenditure (mid-1975=100)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what adjustment should be made to the figures which he circulated in the Official Report on 13 November, concerning the change in the gold and foreign currency reserves, to allow for (a) receipts from and payments to the International Monetary Fund and (b) the funding of the old sterling balances.

The able below sets out the effects on the official reserves of receipts from and payments to the International Monetary Fund between January 1976 and November 1979. As regards part (b) of the question I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the offer of foreign currency bonds made to the official holders of sterling in April 1977. This has so far had no effect on the reserves. The official holders subscribed for the bonds in sterling; none of the bonds has yet matured.

Receipts from (+) and payments to the IMF (-)
Date	…	…	…	$ million
January 1976	…	…	…	+1166
May 1976	…	…	…	+806
January 1977	…	…	…	+1139
May 1977	…	…	…	+360
August 1977	…	…	…	+374
November 1977	…	…	…	-54
April 1979	…	…	…	-943
May 1978	…	…	…	-75
July 1978	…	…	…	-31
October 1978	…	…	…	-980
November 1978	…	…	…	-47
January 1979	…	…	…	+367
February 1979	…	…	…	-36
April 1979	…	…	…	-1085
May 1979	…	…	…	-68
July 1979	…	…	…	-82
October 1979	…	…	…	-83

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the figures which he circulated in the Official Report on 13 November concerning the change in the gold and foreign currency reserves were affected by a revaluation of the existing stock of gold; and, if so, whether he will circulate a table in the Official Reportshowing the adjustment which should be made to the original figures on that account.

The changes to the reserves given in the Official Reporton 13 November excluded the revaluation of gold and non-dollar currencies in the reserves, which took place on 31 March 1979 and will take place annually at the end of March in future. The effect of the revaluation was to increase the book value of the gold held in the reserves by $3,116 million, SDRs by $63 million and non-dollar currencies by $1.315 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the extra tax expenditure cost of mortgage interest tax relief if mortgage interest rates go up to 15 per cent.

If all allowable interest on mortgage were at the rate of 15 per cent. rather than 11¾ per cent. for a full year, it is estimated, on the basis of the information currently available, that the extra cost of mortgage interest relief would be of the order of£375 million, at 1979–80 income levels and tax rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate in the Official Reporta table showing for each band in the taxation

		Estimated number of tax units liable to tax
Range of total income in 1979–80		Total '000	Proportion claiming mortgage interest relief Per cent.	Average per mortgagor of mortgage interest qualifying for relief (£)	Average per mortgagor of additional qualifying interest, net of tax relief, for 1 per cent. increase in interest rates (£)
Under 2,000	…	1,600	1	460	35
2,000–10,000	…	18,000	24	730	40
10,000–12,000	…	800	60	1,050	55
12,000–16,000	…	600	62	1,250	65
16,000–20,000	…	200	58	1,580	70
Over 20,000	…	200	49	2,250	80
All ranges	…	21,400	25	830	45

The average amount of mortgage to which the mortgage interest shown relates is not known precisely.The interest rates recommended by the council of the Building Societies Association tend to be among the lowest rates charged on new mortgages. When the Government came into office the recommended rate was 11¾per cent. and the prospective rate from January 1980 is 15 per cent. In January 1976 the recommended rate was 11 per cent., and subsequent changes in the rate are given below together with the dates thereof.

		per cent.
April 1976	…	10½
October 1976	…	12¼
April 1977	…	11¼
June 1977	…	10½
September 1977	…	9½
January 1978 8	…	8½
June 1978	…	9¾
November 1978	…	11¾
January 1980	…	15

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish such scale (a) the estimated number of taxpayers in the current financial year, (b) the estimated number claiming relief in respect of mortgage interest and the average amount of mortgage qualifying for relief, (c) the lowest rate of interest charged by building societies generally since 1976, the rate charged when the Government came to office, and the prospective rate and (d) the average additional cost to each group net of tax of a 1 per cent. increase in interest rates.

Information is not readily available by bands of taxable income and the following table gives information by bands of total income, counting married couples as one:analysis as has been undertaken on the expected impact of the European monetary system on the United Kingdom if the United Kingdom were to join, including the economic effects on employment, inflation, balance of payments, investment and growth in the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many building societies are currently registered with the Registry of Friendly Societies; and how many directors hold offices in these societies.

The number of building societies currently registered with the Registry of Friendly Societies under the Building Societies Act 1962 is 290. The total number of the directors of these societies is, on the basis of the figures contained in the latest annual returns submitted by the societies to the registry, 2,021. Figures are not available to show the total number of these directors who also hold some other office in their societies, but the number of directors who are also chief executives or secretaries of their societies is 157.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will now set up an inquiry into the influence of consumers on the operation of building societies; and if he will make a statement;(2) what steps he proposes to take to strengthen the position of the consumer in building society affairs.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 November 1979 to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Dr. McDonald).—[Vol. 973, c. 765.] I have no plans to set u pan inquiry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the next public expenditure White Paper to be published.

As I told the House on 5 December, we intend to publish a White Paper as early as possible in the new year. The Government are continuing to examine some of the policy issues relating to public expenditure, and I expect that publication will be in March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are being made to the cash limit on the Registry of Friendly Societies in the light of the inspection of the Grays Building Society.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the cash limit will be increased by£51,000 to£739,000 to cover the additional costs of the inspection and the subsequent strengthening of the registry's investigations branch.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for a married man with two children, what is the increase in mortgage interest tax relief he receives with the rise in interest rate to 15 per cent. if his gross salary is£3,000,£5,000,£8,000.£12,000 and£20,000, assuming in each case a mortgage loan of three times the gross salary, and assuming in the case of the£20,000 salary man firstly that he is subject to the investment income surcharge of 15 per cent., and secondly that he is not.

[pursuant to his reply. 13 December 1979]: On the assumptions stated by the hon. Member and assuming that the additional interest payable is a new mortgage for a full year, the value of the consequential increase in the mortgage interest relief, in terms of tax, is as follows:

				Value of additional relief in a full year
Income£				£
3,000	…	…	…	32
5,000	…	…	…	146
8,000	…	…	…	234
12,000	…	…	…	244
20,000 (Earned)	…	…	…	378
20,000 (Investment)	…	…	…	463

The figures are based on a new mortgage and the tax relief is limited where appropriate to the interest on£25,000 of the mortgage. When the mortgage is near the end of its term the value of the additional relief is much smaller.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the reply given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill, Official Report, 18 June, column 393, what is his forecast for the rate of inflation on 3 May 1980 and 3 May 1981.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 December 1979]: The Industry Act forecast published last month indicated that retail prices might rise by about 14 per cent. in the year to the fourth quarter of 1980. I do not intend to publish a forecast path for inflation in the intervening period, nor for subsequent quarters.

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer what proportion of public expenditure cuts for the years 1979–80 and 1980–81 will result from (a) increased efficiency, (b) reduced provision of goods or services and (c) increased charges to the public, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1979]: In his Budget Statement my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced specific cuts of£1,468 million in programmed expenditure in 1979–80. Of this total about£600 million was attributable to reduced procurement of goods and services and£27 million to increased prescription and dental charges. The remainder was attributed to reduced transfer payments and net lending. In addition, he referred to the estimated receipts of£1,000 million from sales of public assets and to the effects of the cash limit policy, expected to reduce the volume of planned programmes by a further£1,000 million in 1979–80. The squeeze on cash limits is resulting in a further reduction in the take-up of goods and services. Spending authorities are under pressure to make best use of the reduced resources available to them; but quantified estimates of such extra increases in efficiency are not available.Cmnd. 7746 announced the intention to stabilise public expenditure in 1980–81 at the level projected for 1979–80. Within this total, however, savings of some£240 million are expected to be made on school meals, milk and transport, but local authorities will decide the nature of and charges for these services. Net expenditure on the National Health Service will be reduced by a further£40 million by increasing prescription and dental charges from April 1980 and by increased recovery under the Road Traffic Act 1972 of the cost of treating the victims of road accidents.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the cost to the Exchequer of inflation-proofed pensions in the public sector for each of the years 1979–80 to 1984–85, assuming an inflation rate of 10 per cent., 15 per cent. and 20 per cent. respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1979]: I regret that, in view

Accidental deaths in fishing and other industries
			Fishing		Coal Mining		Manufacturing*		Seafaring
			Number	Incidence Per 100,000 at risk	Number	Incidence per 100,000 at risk	Number	Incidence per 100,000 at risk	Number	Incidence per 100,000 at risk
1976	…	…	30	140	50	20	175	3	58	90
1977	…	…	25	140	40	16	179	3	52	90
1978 provisional			45	250	63	25	160	3	84	140
*In Factories Act premises only
Figures for 1976, and 1977, given in reply to a similar question last year, have been revised.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is now prepared to restore any or all of the reductions in public expenditure announced by him in respect of the special temporary employment programme.

I have no plans at present to alter the scope or nature of the programme although I have made certain technical modifications to ensure an orderly rundown of the programme outside the new STEP areas and my Department's cash limits have been adjusted to take account of commitments already incurred when the programme was restricted which were greater than estimated at that time. The programme of special measures for 1980–81 is being reviewed and I shall be announcing our proposals for STEP and the other measures during 1980–81 before the end of the present financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what comparisons have been made between accidental deaths for British fishermen and those in mining, manufacturing, industrial and seafaring sectors, expressed as a percentage of the labour employed in each of those industries.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission has provided the following table. It is customary for accident incidence rates to be shown per 100,000 employees at risk.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1970 and for the latest quarter (a) employers' national insurance contributions as a percentage of manufacturing labour costs, (b) average weekly earnings in manufacturing as a percentage of their level in 1970 and (c) unit labour costs in manufacturing as a percentage of their level in 1970.

The following table gives indices of average earnings and unit labour costs in all manufacturing industries with the year 1970 = 100.

	MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
		Index of average earnings—all employees—Great Britain—seasonally adjusted	Index of labour costs per unit of output—United Kingdom*
1971	…	111·2†	109·9
1972	…	125·5‡	115·0
1973	…	141·6	121·6
1974	…	165·9	151·1
1975	…	209·2	197·8
1976	…	243·7	226·3
1977	…	268·8	253·8
1978	…	308·1	288·0
1979:	…
First quarter	…	334·0	Not available
Second quarter	…	352·6
Third quarter	…	356·1§
* Based on census of production.
†As industrial activity was severely disrupted by restricted electricity supplies, the monthly survey on which these figures are based was not carried out in February 1972. This figure is an average of the 11 months excluding February.
‡This figure reflects temporary reductions in earnings while three-day working and other restrictions were in operation in January and February.
§The figures reflect abnormally low earnings due to the effects of the national dispute in the engineering industries.

Estimates of employers' national insurance contributions as a percentage of manufacturing labour costs are available from the 1973 and 1975 surveys of labour costs. These indicate that employers' statutory national insurance contributions made up about 5 per cent. of total labour costs in manufacturing industries in Great Britain in 1973 and about 6½per cent. in 1975. Taking account of the national insurance surcharges made in 1977 and 1978, the current figure is probably just over 10 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) unit labour costs in manufacturing in the principal industrial countries in terms of dollars and as a percentage of their level in 1970 and (b) earnings in manufacturing in dollar terms as a percentage of their level in 1970.

A general measure of the absolute level of unit labour costs is not available. However, trends in unit labour costs can be measured by use of index numbers. The available figures for principal industrial countries are given in the following table both in terms of national currencies and adjusted for relative movements in exchange rates against the dollar.

WAGES AND SALARIES PER UNIT OF OUTPUT IN MANUFACTURING SECOND QUARTER 1979* AS A PERCENTAGE OF 1970 LEVEL BASED ON:
		(i)	(ii)
		National currencies	US dollars
United Kingdom	…	297	248
Germany (FR)†	…	149	296
Japan‡	…	193	377
United States	…	155	155
* Seasonally adjusted
†Including mining
‡Whole economy

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the United Kingdom for each year since 1967 and for the latest quarter (a) weekly earnings in manufacturing and the whole economy as a percentage of their levels in 1967 and the increase on the preceding year and (b) unit labour costs in manufacturing and the whole economy as a percentage of their levels in 1967 and the increase on the preceding year.

The following table gives the available information: