asked the Lord Privy Seal what additional aid is proposed for Zambia in view of the country's present acute financial problems.

Britain has offered a project loan of £10 million to the Government of Zambia. It is hoped to sign the agreement shortly.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he has considered further the Colombo declaration on population matters; and if he will make a statement.

I have studied the declaration. For our part we recognise the link between economic development and the limitation of population growth, but our ability to use aid to promote the objectives of the declaration is limited by the use of constraints on our resources and the fact that many of its recommendations are essentially within the responsibility of national Governments.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how much of current British aid to India is tied to British exports.

In 1978–79, 94 per cent. of British bilateral aid to India was tied to British goods and services. The percentage for the current year is expected to be slightly lower because of increased local costs aid expenditure.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what aid was given by Her Majesty's Government to Pakistan in the last financial year.

£21.7 million, consisting of £20.4 million capital aid and £1.3 million technical co-operation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he will complete his consideration of the continuance of the grant to the Trades Union Congress for trade union education in the developing countries.

Very soon.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on his Department's participation in the International Year of the Child; what work was carried out by his Department in connection with the International Year of the Child; and what further follow-up studies are being planned for 1980.

During the International Year of the Child we increased our contribution to UNICEF by £1·5 million and subscribed £150,000 towards the cost of the international secretariat set up to handle arrangements for the Year. We provided £40,000 towards the cost of a conference in London organised by the Institute of Child Health as part of a programme to encourage school children in developing countries to concern themselves with the health and welfare of younger children. As a follow-up, £115,000 is being made available over a period of three years to implement ideas from the conference. We provided £90,000 towards two projects sponsored by the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Child. One project, in Nepal, was co-financed by Oxfam and Christian Aid; the other, in Swaziland and Lesotho, by the Save the Children Fund. We shall continue to support these and similar projects in 1980.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the approximate cost of holiday visit passages paid in respect of the children of Overseas Development Administration personnel in receipt of education allowances for the latest year available.

During the financial year 1978–79 the approximate cost of holiday visit passages was £40,000 in respect of the children of Overseas Development Administration personnel and £240,000 in respect of the children of technical co-operation officers. These figures include passages for children in respect of whom education allowances are not paid, such as those undergoing higher education.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether her Majesty's Government will give support to the re-established constitutional Government in Bolivia by announcing approval of the aid project for Bolivia's mining sector.

We welcome the reestablishment of constitutional Government in Bolivia, but a decision on the aid project for the mining sector must still await decisions on the whole aid programme for next year. The position has been explained to the new Bolivian Government.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the International Committee of the Red Cross appeal from Africa for the seven months June to December 1979.

Her Majesty's Government made a contribution of £500,000 to the ICRC on 28 December in response to this appeal. In view of the urgent needs of the people of Rhodesia, we have earmarked the whole of this contribution for the ICRC's operations in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from Commonwealth Governments on the proposed changes in the immigration rules; and what reply he has given.

Some Commonwealth Governments have expressed an interest in our proposals for revision of the immigration rules. We have undertaken to consider their views in reaching final decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to offer Mr. Mahmoud Zaid political asylum in Great Britain.

Mr. Zaid's application for asylum has only recently been received. I shall inform the hon. Member of the decision when the necessary inquiries are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward amendments to the Firearms Act 1968 to provide stricter criteria for the granting or renewal of shotgun certificates and to give chief officers of police the right to refuse such certificates.

Section 28(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 already authorises chief officers of police to refuse the issue of a shotgun certificate in certain circumstances. I have no immediate plans to introduce amending legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's participation in the Intenational Year of the Child; what work was carried out by his Department in connection with the International Year of the Child; and what further follow-up studies are being planned for 1980.

My Department is contributing £62,500 to the Government grant to the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Child, which undertook responsibility for the main direction of the national response to the Year.Remands of girls under 17 to prison department establishments under certificates of unruliness have been prohibited since 1 March 1979. No follow-up studies are planned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many interpreters are employed by the immigration division to assist with the questioning by medical inspectors of non-patrials seeking entry clearance.

In addition to members of the immigration service, most of whom are proficient in at least one foreign language, nine interpreters are currently employed. They are available to assist with questioning on any aspect of control on entry work. Other interpreters are used where necessary, on an ad hoc basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were repatriated under section 90 of the Mental Health Act 1959 in each of the last three years; and to which countries were they repatriated.

The information is as follows:

		1977	1978	1979
Cyprus	…		1
France	…		3
Germany	…		1
Ghana	…		1
Iran	…		1
Irish Republic	…		2
Italy	…			1
Nigeria	…	1		1
Norway	…		1
Poland	…	1
St. Kitts	…	1
		3	10	2

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-patrials seeking entry clearance to the United Kingdom in each of the last three years were permitted entry but required to report to a medical officer of health;

(2) how many non-patrials refused entry clearance in each of the last three years have been referred to a psychiatrist by either a medical inspector or an immigration officer;

(3) how many non-patrials seeking entry to the United Kingdom in each of the last three years have been referred by an immigration officer to a medical inspector.

Statistical information about the port health control is kept by the Department of Health and Social Security. In each of the last three years 373 (1977), 296 (1978) and 264 (1979 provisional) passengers subject to immigration control were given notice in writing by the immigration officer under paragraph 7 of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 requiring them to report their arrival to a specified medical officer of environmental health. In 1976, 1977 and 1978, 55,537, 45,514 and 43,844 passengers respectively were referred to port medical inspectors. Statistics for 1979 are not yet available. Information is not available about the number of passengers who were refused leave to enter and referred to a psychiatrist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many restricted patients who appeared before mental health review tribunals during 1976, 1977 and 1978 waited (a) less than one month, (b) one to three months, (c) four to six months, (d) seven to 12 months, (e) one to two years or (f) more than two years for a decision from him following their tribunal hearing;

(2) in how many of the references considered by a mental health review tribunal in each of the special hospitals and local hospitals during 1976, 1977 and 1978 the tribunal recommended (a) absolute discharge, (b) conditional discharge, (c) transfer from a special to a local hospital, (d) removal of a restriction order, (e) trial leave, and (f) no absolute or conditional discharge, removal of a restriction order, transfer or trial leave; and how many of each of these recommendations he accepted;

(3) how many patients who are subject to a restriction order under section 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959 but are no longer detained in a special or local hospital have not been recalled to hospital for less than one year, one to two years, two to five years, six to 10 years, 11 to 15 years or more than 15 years.

This information is not readily available in the form requested; but I am looking to see what relevant information it might be possible to provide and I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patients waited (a) less than one month, (b) one to two months, (c) two to three months, (d) three to four months and (e) more than four months between the date of a patient's request for reference by him to a mental health review tribunal and the date of the hearing during 1978.

The following table gives, in respect of hearings which took place in 1978, the length of time that elapsed between the receipt by the Home Office of a patient's request for his case to be referred to a mental health review tribunal and the date of the hearing.

Less than one month	One to two months	Two to three months	Three to four months	More than four months
—	6	123	138	64

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what directions have been issued to hospitals concerning the procedures to be followed when a restricted patient absents himself without leave.

Specific instructions are given in the case of each restricted patient

			1975	1976	1977	1978
Conditional discharge	…	…	1	4	10	6
Tranfer	…	…	6	3	5	11
No discharge or tranfer	…	…	4	4	6	12

In addition, there was one case in 1976, two in 1977 and one in 1978 where the advice of the board drew attention to areas requiring further investigation before a final view could be reached. There were no recommendations for absolute discharge or the termination of the restriction order.The board's advice was accepted in all cases except for:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patients were recalled to hospital pursuant to section 66(3) of the Mental Health Act during 1976, 1977 and 1978; and in how many of such cases conditions of any previous conditional discharge had lapsed.

The numbers of persons recalled to hospital under section 66(3) admitted to a National Health Service hospital that in the event of the patient's escape or failure to return from leave the local police should be informed at once. Similar action would be taken by the special hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the recommendations of the Advisory Board on Restricted Patients were for (a) absolute discharge, (b) conditional discharge, (c) transfer from a special to a local hospital, (d) lifting of a restriction order, and (e) no discharge, transfer or lifting of a restriction order; and how many of the recommendations in each case were accepted by him.

The recommendations of the Advisory Board on Restricted Patients in the period 1975–1978 were as follows:of the Mental Health Act 1959 are published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"(table 18 of the volume for 1978, Cmnd. 7670). In only one case during the years 1976 to 1978 had the conditions of supervision and residence been discontinued at the time the recall took place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances he exercises his power under section 66(6) of the Mental Health Act 1959 to refer a conditionally discharged patient to a mental health review tribunal for its advice;(2) how many restricted patients, who have been conditionally discharged from hospital, requested reference to mental health review tribunals in pursuance of section 66(6) of the Mental Health Act during 1976, 1977 and 1978; and how many of these requests he accepted.

A conditionally discharged patient has no statutory entitlement to require his case to be referred to a mental health review tribunal, but I may myself refer the case of such a patient to a tribunal if I think fit. There has been no occasion to do this in recent years, although I am aware of two such patients who have asked for their cases to be referred, both in 1978. I am, however, always prepared to consider such a request if it appears that the tribunal's advice would be of assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patients are currently subject to restriction orders under section 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959; and how many of these patients are in (a) special hospitals, (b) local hospitals, and (c) neither local nor special hospitals.

Information in the form requested is not available.The available information relates to patients who, on 31 December 1978, were subject to restrictions on discharge under section 65 or other equivalent provisions under part V of the Mental Health Act 1959. Of these patients, 1,261 were in special hospitals and 656 were in local hospitals. Information on patients who

Reasons for absolute discharge	1976	1977	1978
Imposition of subsequent restriction order	1	3	3
Imposition of sentence of life imprisonment	0	0	4
Imposition of finite sentence of imprisonment	2	3	2
Repatriation of patient	0	0	0
Other reasons why restriction order no longer required for the protection of the public	7	4	4

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in 1976, 1977 and 1978 where patients have been recalled to hospital pursuant to section 66(3) of the Mental Health Act 1959 the Secretary of State has referred the case to a mental health review tribunal within six months of the date of the warrant for recall.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people currently in prisons in England and Wales would be more appropriately placed in special or local psychiatric hospitals;(2) how many people currently detained in prisons in England and Wales fit the criteria set out in section 72(1)(

On 30 June 1979, the latest date for which figures are avail-

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patients who were subject to restriction orders under section 65of the Mental Health Act 1959 were absolutely discharged during 1976, 1977 and 1978; and in how many of such cases the absolute discharge was made (a) on account of the imposition of a subsequent restriction order, (b) on account of the imposition of a sentence of life imprisonment, (c) on account of the repatriation of the patient, and (d) where the Secretary of State was satisfied that it was no longer necessary for the patient to be subject to any of his legal powers of control or recall.

The available information is as follows:able, 557 people in prison department establishments in England and Wales were suffering from mental disorder which in the opinion of prison medical officers warranted their detention in hospital for medical treatment. Of this number, 206 were unsentenced and four were non-criminal cases. The remaining 347 were convicted prisoners or trainees, of whom 174 were suffering from mental illness and of the remainder 143 from psychopathic disorder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of complaints made against the police in 1977 and 1978, respectively; in each case, how many were not pursued; what were the reasons, including the numbers in each case, why such complaints were not pursued; and how many were pursued and therefore referred to the Police Complaints Board.

In 1977 a total of 27,450 complaints were made against members of police forces in England and Wales. Of the 16,935 complaints completed by the end of the year, 7,917 were withdrawn or not proceeded with, the complainants having given written notification that they withdrew the complaints or did not wish any further action to be taken on them. After 1977, for the reasons given in chapter IX of the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, 1978, statistical returns from police forces to the Home Office were made on the basis of complaints completed instead of complaints received. In 1978 a total of 28,234 complaints were completed in England and Wales, of which 12,955 were withdrawn or not proceeded with. The Police Complaints Board came into operation on 1 June 1977 and only complaints relating to police officers' conduct on or after that date had to be referred to the board. The reports of the board show that it dealt with 2,249 complaints in 1977, and 13,079 in 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, having regard to table VI of the 1978 report of the Police Complaints Board, he will state in how many cases, where charges were preferred under section 2(1) and 2(3) complaints, convictions were obtained, for each type of complaint listed; and what was the range of penalties imposed.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by him on 15 January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases, in each of the last three years, where complaints had been made against the police, police officers subsequently took out libel suits against those who had made complaints.

I have asked chief officers of police for such information as may be available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government are now prepared to implement the recommendations of the Speaker's Conference on electoral reform on 21 October 1973, which proposed an amendment of section 4(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1949.

We have no present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his Departmeent's participation in the International Year of the Child; what work was carried out by his Department in connection with the International Year of the Child; and what further follow-up studies are being planned for 1980.

My Department has so far contributed £25,000 towards the expenses of the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Child and has also made direct contributions to a number of projects linked to the IYC. These include the preparation of a directory of cultural and artistic opportunities for young persons and a research project on the education of schoolchildren for the role of parenthood. The need for follow-up studies will be considered in the light of a review of the Year's activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research his Department is undertaking to ascertain the effects on the establishment of the reproductive cycle of female babies whose mothers have received Depo Provera, following post-partum rubella vaccination, during the nursing period.

The Medical Research Council supports research into the long-term and delayed effects of oral contracentives including progesterone. This research may yield information relevant to injectable contraceptives which contain progesterone, of which Depo Provera is the most widely used. The council, however, is not at present undertaking work specifically related to Depo Provera.

asked the Prime Minister what further progress has been made in her review of various public bodies.

At the end of August 1979 Sir Leo Pliatzky was retained in the public service for the time being to help me in carrying this review forward. I received his report on non-departmental public bodies last month and I am presenting it to Parliament today as a White Paper—Cmnd. 7797.A substantial part of the report consists of a factual survey of executive, advisory and judicial bodies. I believe that this information will be of considerable value to Parliament and the public.The report also brings together the ministerial decisions which have so far been taken about the future of individual bodies. The effect of these decisions, including measures taken or announced at earlier stages in the review, will be to reduce the number of executive bodies by 30 and the number of advisory bodies by 211, with a consequent reduction of around 3,700 in the number of public appointments. Five judicial bodies are also to be wound up.The administrative economies from these measures, when fully implemented, will be roughly £11 million in a full year. These will be additional to the financial savings of about £350 million in 1980–81 from reductions made in the previously planned programmes of the largest executive-type bodies as a result of the general public expenditure exercise.The report also suggests some lessons for the future, based on a study of past experience. A general conclusion indicated is that a more cautious and selective approach should be adopted in the future towards the creation of non-departmental bodies, and in particular towards the "hiving off" of departmental functions to such bodies. The Government endorse this view. I can assure the House that we will look critically at all fresh proposals for new bodies and that we should be opposed to a policy of further hiving off of functions to non-Departmental public bodies.Other suggestions relate to control and accountability as regards new and existing non-Departmental bodies. The Government endorse these suggestions also, including the suggestion for taking a fresh look at each of the executive-type fringe bodies from time to time in the future. A stocktaking will be carried out later this year of a number of cases where decisions about individual bodies have still to be taken in the current review, and the Government will also carry out further reviews from time to time in later years.It will remain my objective to encourage the good management of public bodies which continue to serve the country, while dispensing with those for which there is no further need.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the arrangements which he is making for the financing of British-Soviet trade after the credit arranged by the previous Government has been exhausted; and if the policy of Her Majesty's Government has been reviewed in the light of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

No decision has yet been taken about the arrangements for official support for British Soviet trade after the Anglo-Soviet credit agreement expires. This is one of the subjects that are being discussed with our Allies in the light of events in Afghanistan, in order to arrive at a common position.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration has now been given to limiting quotas of oil from third countries by the Council of Ministers; and what progress will be made in achieving greater independence in energy resources for the remainder of this century.

The EEC Energy Council has not discussed quota restrictions on oil imports from third countries. Member States have, however, agreed individual national targets for 1980 and 1985, within the Council's decision to set a Community net oil import objective of 472 million tonnes for the years 1980 to 1985. The Community and member States have also acted to promote energy conservation and the development of alternative energies through research and demonstration programmes. The vigorous energy conservation policies which are needed across the board will be fundamental to reducing the Community's future dependence on imported oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek to extend the responsibilities of the Offshore Supplies Office to enable firms wishing to embark on deep sea mining to be assisted with information about opportunities in the new industry.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in the light of the undertaking given in a letter to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) that a full public debate should precede any commitment to a major nuclear programme, he will now take steps to initiate such a debate.

The Government attach great importance to informed public discussion of nuclear power and it is our policy and that of all concerned with the nuclear industry to make as much information available on nuclear safety as is reasonably possible.On fast reactor policy, to which my hon. Friend referred in this correspondence, no decisions have yet been taken, but we have already announced that any decision to build a full-scale commercial demonstration fast reactor would be subject to a full and thorough public inquiry. I have also told the House that an inquiry will be held in due course on the PWR.—[Vol. 976, c. 288.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether fuel for the pressurised water reactor will be purchased from the United States of America if this type of reactor is adopted by the Central Electricity Generating Board.

The procurement of fuel for a PWR station would be a matter for the CEGB. Licence arrangements already agreed between Westinghouse and BNFL would permit fuel to be manufactured in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether fuel for the pressurised water reactor can be enriched by the plant at Capenhurst; whether modifications will be required; and, if so, at what cost.

Fuel for a United Kingdom pressurised water reactor could be enriched by the Capenhurst centrifuge plant without any modification to the plant. Many of Urenco's existing contracts are for enrichment supplies for PWRs in other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether spent fuel from a pressurised water reactor can be reprocessed by the plant at Windscale; whether modifications will be required; and, if so, at what cost.

The thermal oxide reprocessing plant currently being designed for construction at Windscale will be able to reprocess PWR fuel elements. There are existing contracts with overseas customers for the reprocessing of such fuels.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the type of cladding of fuel rods in a pressurised water reactor; and in what respects this will differ from the fuel rods used in the advanced gas cooled reactor design.

Material currently used in pressurised water reactor designs for cladding of fuel rods is a zirconium alloy, whereas the cladding used in advanced gas cooled reactors is stainless steel.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will tabulate in the Official Report the quantity, expressed in tons of coal equivalent and value of energy imported into and exported from the EEC, indicating the net position during the 1970s; and if he will indicate from information available to him the estimated situation for the remainder of the century allowing for anticipated expansion of the Community;(2) if he will tabulate in the

The information requested for the nine members of the present EEC for the years 1969 to 1979 is tabulated in terms of million tonnes of coal equivalent and in billions of United States dollars. The uncertainties attached to the determinants of prices and quantities of imports and exports of fuel for the EEC are so great that it would not be helpful to attempt to make forecasts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to relieve unemployment among former crew members of Great Line fishing vessels in the North and North-East of Scotland.

No Great Line fishermen are currently registered as unemployed at employment offices in the North and North-East of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the acceptance by the Local Government Ombudsman that objections on grounds of maladministration to a particular project being proceeded with come within his remit for consideration and judgment should result in work on the project being suspended; and if he will make a statement.

Section 26(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 makes it clear that there is no obligation on a local authority to suspend action on a matter under investigation by the Ombudsman. A local authority is, however, free to decide to do so in the light of its own judgment of the circumstances of each case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many boys will be catered for in the proposed intermediate centre at Blairgowrie; and where they will come from;

(2) what will be the cost to the Scottish Office of opening the intermediate centre in Blairgowrie;

(3) how many intermediate centres the Scottish Office plans to open in Tayside during 1980.

A voluntary group proposes to provide an intermediate treatment scheme for eight boys from the area of Blairgowrie, Coupar Angus and Alyth. My Department's grant is estimated at £10,000 for the purchase of a van and some building work and £15,000 per year for salaries. Intermediate treatment schemes are provided by local authorities and voluntary organisations, and I am not aware of any other plans to extend existing provision in Tayside.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the delay in proceeding with the Northpress project in Inverness, in view of the public investment involved and the prospects of secure employment.

I am aware of the difficulties which have prevented Northpress Ltd. from starting a newspaper reproduction process in Inverness. These fall to be resolved by negotiation between the company and the trade unions concerned, and I understand that there are to be further discussions between the parties shortly. I hope that agreement can soon be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the

			Lecturers/teachers	Police officers and cadets	Firemen	All other employees*
1976—
March	…	…	62,601	12,918	3,823	177,408
June	…	…	62,828	12,859	3,830	177,631
September	…	…	63,007	12,761	3,888	176,281
December	…	…	63,872	12,698	3,868	173,265
1977—
March	…	…	63,883	12,732	3,877	170,159
June	…	…	63,357	12,488	3,879	168,355
September	…	…	62,985	12,395	3,848	166,286
December	…	…	63,977	12,407	3,873	165,034
1978—
March	…	…	63,977	12,377	3,794	165,445
June	…	…	63,552	12,316	3,807	168,278
September	…	…	64,106	12,611	3,996	170,818
December	…	…	64,183	12,842	4,224	170,828
1979—
March	…	…	64,173	13,068	4,325	172,273
June	…	…	64,128	13,270	4,441	174,865
September	…	…	64,536	13,675	4,446	176,193
* Excluding employment created by the job creation and special temporary employment schemes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to bring forward further legislation affecting the operation of trustee savings banks.

This information is not readily available. I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the figures for local authority manpower, in terms of full-time equivalents, for each quarter from March 1976 to date, broken down into figures for teachers and lecturers, policemen and firemen, and other employees respectively.

The information requested is as follows:

Legislation will be introduced in the 1980 Finance Bill which will change the trustee savings banks' status for tax purposes from that of investment companies to bring them into line with other trading concerns. The legislation, with appropriate transitional provisions, will apply to the accounting periods beginning 21 November 1979. The change follows the closing of the ordinary department and continues the development of the trustee savings banks towards full banking status.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take to promote further amalgamation of trustee savings banks.

This is a matter for the trustee savings banks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take in connection with the restrictions being placed by the Bank of Ireland on the transfer to the United Kingdom of accounts held in the bank by British account holders; if he has examined the compatibility of such restrictions with EEC rules; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue has de minim is limits for automatic repayments of tax.

Where an assessment has been made, and this shows a repayment due to the taxpayer, repayment is invariably made of the full amount. But where the end of year check applied to schedule E taxpayers shows an overpayment or £5 or less, an assessment is not made except at the taxpayer's request; for larger sums an assessment is made automatically. Where an employer has paid over more PAYE tax during the year than the amount shown on his returns, and exceptionally it is not practicable to carry the excess forward to the next year, a repayment is not made automatically if the excess is £5 or less.As regards payment of tax assessed, where a payment to the collector exceeds the amount due, and the discrepancy is not noted before the payment has been processed, the excess is not repaid automatically unless it is greater than £1.For capital transfer tax, assessments which lead to repayments of sums overpaid are not initiated automatically by the capital taxes office if the amount involved is £10 or less.The aim of these tolerances is to minimise work which is highly cost-ineffective; they cannot operate to deny a repayment to a taxpayer who has claimed his full entitlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authority associations about the need for local councils to receive early notification about the disposal of surplus publicly owned land; and what steps he is taking to meet this request.

The London Boroughs Association, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of County Councils have asked for early notification of surplus Government land for disposal.As from now this land will be advertised in the

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his review of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act.

I am not as yet able to say as not all the interested organsations who have been invited to do so have yet given their views on the operation of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Department's participation in the International Year of the Child; what work was carried out by his Department in connection with the International Year of the Child; and what further follow-up studies are being planned for 1980.

The Department's participation is detailed as follows:

(i) Representation on the inter-departmental group concerned with the Inter- national Year of the Child, and contribution to the general work undertaken by the Government in response to questionnaires and other inquiries from the United Nations;

(ii) The provision of rent-free accommodation by the Property Services Agency for the United Kingdom Committee for the International Year of the Child;

(iii) Representation on the technical committee of the British Standards Institution concerned with the production of a new British Standard on play equipment. (Parts 2 and 3 of the Standard, BS 5696, were published in February 1979;

(iv) The publication of a paper (HDD 4/78) surveying the homes and life-styles of handicapped children;

(v) An invitation to local authorities in connection with the urban programme 1979–80 to consider in particular the needs of children (the outcome was that the Department allocated £2·4 million in 1979 to 125 child-related projects drawn up by local authorities and voluntary bodies);

(vi) Involvement in the organisation and administration of the great children's party which took place in Hyde Park in May 1979, and which was enjoyed by tens of thousands of children from all over the country;

(vii) The sponsorship of research on the development of safer playground surfaces, carried out in conjunction with the London borough of Lewisham—this work is approaching completion and the results should be published in due course;

(viii) The mounting of a pilot extension of the home accident surveillance survey to cover accidents in playgrounds—jointly with the Department of Trade;

(ix) The preparation of a report of an investigation carried out by the Department of the problems of children and their parents living in multi-storey accommodation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that the parking of cars on pavements can be a hazard to pedestrians, particularly the blind and disabled, he proposes to bring forward legislation to make the practice illegal.

Section 7 of the Road Traffic Act 1974 already makes provision for a national ban on footway parking beside urban roads, but, although we are very conscious that such parking can be a hazard to blind and disabled pedestrians, amongst others, my right hon. Friend has decided, for the reasons given in his reply to my hon. Friend the Mem- ber for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 27 July—[Vol. 971, c. 631–32]—that it is necessary to defer implementation of section 7.However, yellow line waiting restrictions apply to the footway as well as the carriageway, and there are other powers to control footway parking. Heavy goods vehicles are prohibited from parking on all footways under the Heavy Commercial Vehicles (Controls and Regulations) Act 1973. Both dangerous parking and obstruction are offences, and local authorities have power to ban parking on individual lengths of footway. In addition, we are doing what we can in the present circumstances to discourage footway parking by giving publicity to the inconvenience it causes.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the difference between road costs and tax revenue for a 4-axle 32-ton articulated vehicle in the year 1977-78 based on (a) road expenditure and vehicle taxation as estimated in the annex to the transport policy White Paper 1977 and (b) the actual road expenditure and vehicle taxation in 1977–78.

To smooth out variations in road expenditure for the purposes of track cost allocations, it is the practice to use the average of three years' expenditure. When the relevant estimates were prepared for the 1977 transport policy White Paper, 1977–78 was the last of the relevant three years. Had forecast expenditure for that year alone been used, the difference between the allocated costs and revenue for the 4-axle 32-ton articulated vehicle would have been £400 compared with the £900 quoted in the 1977 White Paper. Actual expenditure for 1977–78 has proved to be lower than was estimated, and if that figure were used in a restrospective recalculation for 1977–78 the deficit on this vehicle would work out at less than £400. But there are other factors relevant to the size of deficit (for example, vehicle populations, average mileages, vehicle load factors, changed patterns of road expenditure) and a complete and comparable calculation would require a major exercise.The outturn expenditure figure for 1977–78 has of course been taken into account in determining the three-year average of expenditure for the latest track cost calculations (1979–80). I am sending a copy of these to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in order to prevent unfair competition from direct labour departments, he will refuse to approve road schemes of over £100,000 unless they have been advertised for contract.

For trunk road schemes in excess of £100,000 it is my normal policy that the work should be undertaken by direct labour only if competitive tenders have been invited in the normal way and the estimate by the DLO is the most favourable. I have no control over the allocation of work by local authorities on their road schemes, but the Government will produce proposals in the Local Government (Planning and Land) Bill to expose direct labour departments to more competition in appropriate circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those changes in services and programmes that the Manpower Services Commission is proposing as a result of the proposed reduction in its staffing levels by approximately 3,400.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1980]: The Manpower Services Commission has submitted to me its corporate plan 1980–84. This contains details of how the proposed reduction in its staffing levels might be achieved, and the MSC's proposals are summarised below. These proposals are subject to approval by the Secretary of State and he will be discussing them with the commission.In formulating its plans, I understand from the commission that it has adopted three main priorities: safeguarding the provision of skilled manpower, increasing opportunities for training and work experience for young people, and providing a completely modern employment service. The commission, however, considers that, in consequence of the staff reductions, some reductions in present levels of service are inescapable.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give for the latest and most convenient stated date the redundancy and severance pay entitlements to those now employed in public service.

The redundancy and severance pay entitlements of public service employees vary from service to service and with the circumstances in which redundancy occurs. Full details of the provisions currently applying to civil servants are contained in section 10 of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will state the precise reasons for the non-publication of part II of the Official Report of 21 December 1979.

Part II of the Official Report of 21 December 1979 was pub- lished on Wednesday 9 January 1980. A part II was necessary in the first place because of the amount of matter to be completed and because of shortage of staff at the St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many retired persons in receipt of a public service pension

Amount of the increase					Number of pensioners	Percentage of all pensioners	Cumulative percentage total
More than £2,500	…	…	…	…	18	0·005	0·005
£2,000 to £2,500	…	…	…	…	60	0·017	0·02
£1,500 to £2,000	…	…	…	…	250	0·07	0·09
£1,000 to £1,500	…	…	…	…	2,900	0·8	0·9
£500 to £1,000	…	…	…	…	20,500	5·9	6·8
£200 to £500	…	…	…	…	74,000	21·3	28·1
Below £200	…	…	…	…	250,000	71·9	100·0

I regret that corresponding information on other public service pension schemes is not available centrally.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what the criteria are by which documents are currently classified as, respectively, restricted, confidential, secret and top secret.

Documents are classified according to the following definitions:(

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table showing the subsidies he estimates received an increase last year in their pension of, respectively (a) more than £2,500, (b) £2,000 to £2,500, (c) £1,500 to £2,000, (d) £1,000 to £1,500, (e) £500 to £1,000 and (f) less than £500.

The table below shows the approximate number of retired civil servants who will be paid the annual amounts shown as a result of the 16 per cent. increase on 12 November 1979:given to the British Steel Corporation over each of the past five years expressed as an annual sum per person employed by the corporation.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a comparison of the scale of employment provided by the British Steel Corporation with that of all other major steel producers; and if in his comparison he will include all those indirectly employed by overseas producers in occupations which are carried out by persons directly employed by the British Steel Corporation.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table showing the subsidies given to British Shipbuilders in each year since it was established, expressed as an annual sum per person employed by British Shipbuilders.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the profit or loss per ton of steel produced by all steel production companies or organisations within the EEC which produced more than 1 million tonnes of steel in 1978–79; and what dividend, interest or return on capital was paid by each of them.

Figures for all steel production companies and organisations within the EEC which produced more than 1 million tonnes of steel in 1978–79 are not readily available, nor are comparable figures for dividends, interest or return on capital. The following are the profit and loss figures for some of the largest companies for the latest available year:

	12 months ending	Profit/(loss) per tonne
		£
Arbed	31 December 1978	(6)
BSC	31 March 1979	(17)
Cockerill	31 December 1978	(20)
Estel	31 December 1978	(6)
Krupp	31 December 1978	(3)
Italsider	31 December 1978	(21)
Peine-Salzgitter	30 September 1978	(10)
Thyssen	30 September 1978	3
Usinor	31 December 1978	(23)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the independent study groups set up by the London health planning consortium have yet reported on the future pattern of cardio-thoracic, neurological and neuro-surgical services in the Thames regions and when he expects a decision to be reached about the future of the regional units now at the Brooke hospital, Woolwich.

The study group on cardiology and cardio thoracic surgery reported in October 1979—copies of the report are in the Library; the report of the study group on neurology and neurosurgery is expected in February. Through its parent bodies, the consortium has invited comments on the former report and a similar procedure will be adopted when the latter report is received. In the light of the comments received the consortium will—later this year—reach its own conclusions and make recommendations. Decisions will then be a matter for the responsible health and academic authori- ties or, if need be, by Ministers in the interest of achieving a balanced and compatible provision of services across London as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his Department's participation in the International Year of the Child; what work was carried out by his Department in connection with the International Year of the Child; and what further follow-up studies are being planned for 1980.

The Department took the lead in co-ordinating the Government's response to the International year of the Child, including regular liaison with the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Child, which organised the national programme for the year, with the help of a Government grant of £138,000 over a two-year period for administrative expenses.The year was marked by the following major events organised by the Department: