asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are at present held in custody and awaiting deportation for immigration offences.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, information is published annually in "Prison Statistics" on the number of receptions and the average daily population of persons held under the Immigration Act 1971 in prison department establishments in England and Wales—for example, table 1.1 of the issue for 1978, Cmnd. 7626; these persons include some not awaiting deportation and some who have not committed an immigration offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-patrials refused entry in each of the last three years were diagnosed as suffering from (a) mental illness or mental disorder, (b) subnormality, (c) fits, (d) conduct disorder and (e) senility.

Information is not available in the form requested. The available information is given in the following table:

REFUSALS OF LEAVE TO ENTER THE UNITED KINGDOM ON MEDICAL GROUNDS—COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS AND FOREIGN NATIONALS
		Number of refusals
	Mental disorder*	Others—medically unsuitable*	Total refusals
1976	102	39	11,534
1977	128	54	12,942
1978	150	66	15,729
* As recommended by the port medical inspector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether women police officers are expected to undertake the same physical risks and activities as men; and what assessment he has received as to their effectiveness.

Ability, not sex, should be the criterion for the allocation of police duties, including those involving physical risks. I am convinced that women police officers make an essential and effective contribution to the police service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the general privileges removed from persons serving long-term prison sentences since May; and if he will make a statement.

Revised instructions were issued to all prison department establishments last April with the aim of rationalising privileges and simplifying arrangements for their administration.No privileges which were generally available in the prison system were withdrawn from long-term prisoners. Indeed, some privileges previously permitted only after completion of three years of a sentence are now allowed from the outset.Many long-term prisoners serve their sentences in dispersal prisons where it has been the practice over a number of years to allow prisoners extra privileges including the right to retain rather more personal possessions than are generally permitted in the rest of the prison system. However, the range of items that prisoners may retain has varied substantially between dispersal prisons. In his report on the riot at Her Majesty's prison, Hull, the Chief Inspector of Prisons identified the disparity in this practice between the various dispersal prisons as a source of discontent in these prisons, and he recommended that there should be a greater uniformity of practice. The opportunity was taken to implement this recommendation when the revised instructions on privileges were issued. As a consequence of harmonisation, many long-term prisoners will benefit from the wider availability of additional personal possessions, but it would not have been possible to do this without withdrawing some items from a few prisoners in particular dispersal prisons, because the availability of these items could not be extended to all dispersal prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the most recent data, for which figures are available, how many prisoners were (a) in cellular confinement as a punishment, (b) confined to cell because they had been deprived of associated work as a punishment, (c) segregated for their own protection, (d) segregated for the maintenance of good order and discipline, or (e) confined to their cells because they were unemployed owing to unavailability of work or of workshop staff, giving the figures for unconvicted and convicted separately if possible.

On 30 November 1979, 807 male and two female prisoners were segregated for their own protection; and 104 males and 9 females were segregated for the maintenance of good order and discipline. I regret that the other information requested is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria applied in respect of the payment of pensions, or part pensions, to a convicted person who was, prior to conviction, a police officer.

A convicted person's entitlement to a police pension may be forfeited if the conviction is for offences:

(a) of treason;

(b) under the Official Secrets Acts involving sentence of at least ten years' imprisonment; or

(c) committed in connection with police service and certified by the Secretary of State to have been gravely injurious to the interests of the State or to be liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service.

In those cases it is for the police authority concerned to determine whether the pension, or part of it, should be forfeited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will recommend chief constables to make sure that all members of police special patrol groups, and similar groups under different names, receive training in community relations.

All police officers receive training in community relations during their probationary period. There is an element of community relations training in both the initial and continuation courses provided at Home Office police training centres, and this is supplemented in a number of forces by locally arranged training. It is for chief officers of police to determine the precise form and content of local training in community relations, but where new recruits are concerned forces are recommended to follow a special standard syllabus drawn up by a Home Office working party.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual average cost of maintaining in prisons in England and Wales a prisoner who fits the criteria set out in section 72(1)(a) and (b) of the Mental Health Act 1959.

A prisoners who fits the criteria set out in section 72(1)(a) and (b) of the Mental Health Act 1959 is detained in a prison appropriate to his security category and the cost of his maintenance is not separately identified. The average annual cost of keeping a person in prison in England and Wales during 1978–79 was £5,894.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which prisons groups of the organisation Recidivists Anonymous operate; and what arrangements are made to encourage staff to become involved in their work.

One group operates in Standford Hill prison. The concept of Recidivists Anonymous, as an organisation run by prisoners for their mutual help, limits the scope for involvement of staff in its activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the number of cases prosecuted by the Crown in the High Courts and costs of each case; and what action he has taken or intends taking to reduce these costs in accordance with the Government's policy of reducing public expenditure.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to prosecutions in the Crown court.The number of cases disposed of in the Crown court in 1978 is published in table B1 of Judicial Statistics, England and Wales, 1978 (Cmnd. 7627). The costs of each case are not centrally recorded. The Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure is examining the prosecution process and its terms of reference include the need for the efficient and economical use of resources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring he carries out as to local authorities' plans for home defence; if he is satisfied with these plans and local authorities' preparedness; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's scrutiny of the payment of specific grant-in-aid affords some appraisal of the performance of duties under the Civil Defence (Planning) Regulations 1974, and there is considerable informal contact between my officials and local authority staffs responsible for home defence planning. I am satisfied that progress is being made in most areas in improving local preparedness. The current review of home defence arrangements includes the vital contribution made by local government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the reason for the delay in implementing the £2½ million scheme for modernising Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight.

Industrial action by prison service staff has delayed the start of major works inside the prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he endorses the views contained in "Prisons and the Prisoner".

The introduction to this account of the prison services in England and Wales makes clear that the content reflects developments up to early 1977. If the hon. Member wishes to pursue a particular aspect of this publication, I will be glad to consider his further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he endorses the views contained in "A Review of Criminal Justice Policy".

This Home Office working paper, prepared under the previous Administration, consists for the most part of an analysis of objectives in the criminal justice field and a summary of the findings of research completed at that time. I broadly agree with the main conclusions set out in paragraph 17 of the working paper. If the hon. Member wishes to raise any point on other sections of the paper, I shall be glad to consider his further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the evidence given by his Department to the Expenditure Committee on the reduction of the prison population.

I have no plans to make any such statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what subjects the Crime Policy Planning Unit compiled reports; and if these will be published.

Subjects with which the Crime Policy Planning Unit has recently been concerned include the prospects for the criminal justice system over the next decade; ways of reducing the prison population; and the development of a co-ordinated criminal justice research programme. The unit is not primarily engaged in producing formal reports, but contributes in a variety of ways to the work of the Department as a whole. I have no plans at present to publish any material arising from the unit's work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that other Departments are represented on the committees of the Crime Policy Planning Unit to ensure that the importance of education, social services, employment and housing are fully taken into account in planning crime prevention policy.

The Crime Policy Planning Unit, like the rest of the Home Office, retains close contacts with other Departments on all subjects of common interest, including crime prevention. There is no set practice about how other Departments are associated with the unit's work, and I think it best to leave the arrangements flexible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average term served at release on licence by prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment who were released in each of the last five years in England and Wales.

The average periods of detention, calculated from the date on which each prisoner was first remanded in custody were as follows:

	Average period of detention
Year	Years	Months
1975	10	7
1976	10	4
1977	9	10
1978	9	9
1979	9	8

The figures include persons detained during Her Majesty's pleasure under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 or for life under section 53(2) of that Act but not persons who had been previously released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison. The average periods of detention provide no indication of the time for which any individual prisoner is likely to be detained, since the figures do not show the range of such periods—which have varied during the years to which the question relates from two years seven months in one case to over 20 years in another.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present number of teachers registered as

Employment Services Office Area						Males	Females	Total
Antrim		…	…	…	…	6	19	25
Armagh		…	…	…	…	3	14	17
Ballymena		…	…	…	…	5	13	18
Ballymoney		…	…	…	…	2	9	11
Ballynahinch		…	…	…	…	3	4	7
Banbridge		…	…	…	…	0	8	8
Bangor		…	…	…	…	8	39	47
Belfast		…	…	…	…	77	148	225
Carrickfergus			…	…	…	3	8	11
Coleraine		…	…	…	…	11	33	44
Cookstown		…	…	…	…	4	10	14
Downpatrick		…	…	…	…	3	9	12
Dungannon		…	…	…	…	10	21	31
Enniskillen		…	…	…	…	7	26	33
Kilkeel	…	…	…	…	…	3	1	4
Larne	…	…	…	…	…	2	8	10
Limavady		…	…	…	…	6	16	22
Lisburn		…	…	…	…	2	37	39
Londonderry		…	…	…	…	19	22	41
Lurgan		…	…	…	…	4	13	17
Magherafelt		…	…	…	…	6	10	16
Newcastle		…	…	…	…	2	12	14
Newry	…	…	…	…	…	12	26	38
Newtownards			…	…	…	2	24	26
Omagh		…	…	…	…	8	23	31
Portadown		…	…	…	…	0	14	14
Strabane		…	…	…	…	2	5	7
Northern Ireland Total						210	572	782

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been claimed or paid to the participants at the conference taking place at Stormont.

£1,355 up to 20 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the takings in the two bars provided for participants at the conference taking place at Stormont.

£59 up to 9 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give an estimate of the cost of (a) re-locating staff from Parliament Building, Stormont, in preparation for his conference, (b) decorating and refurbishing the rooms used for the conference, (c) decorating and refurbishing the rooms used by the parties involved, (d) decorating and refurbishing the rooms used by the press, unemployed in each region of Northern Ireland.

The information is as follows:Unemployed teachers in Northern Ireland on 6 December 1979:(

The information is as follows:

(a) About £2,000.

(b,c and d) No expenditure was incurred in decorating or refurbishing the rooms used for the Conference by the parties involved or by the Press.

(e) No expenditure was incurred in providing the two bars for the participants. The cost of providing a separate press bar was about £800.

(f) the main cost of providing the necessary security for the conference has been the staff costs which are of the order of £1,150 each day that the conference meets.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the member States of the EEC which do not impose fees on foreign students studying at universities within their country.

According to our information, Denmark and Luxembourg do not charge fees either for their own or foreign students; France, Italy, the Netherlands and West Germany charge the same fees for all students; Belgium's policy, in general, is to charge foreign students the same fees as home students up to a limit of 2 per cent. of the number of Belgian students and thereafter full cost fees; and the Republic of Ireland charges differential fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of children attending Inner London Education Authority schools and taking school meals; and how many of these are free meals.

On a day in October 1979, 299,047 children were attending schools maintained by the Inner London Education Authority, of whom 186,832—62·5 per cent.—took a school meal. The number receiving free school meals was 67,362—22·5 per cent. of those in attendance.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to lower the recommended specific temperature ranges for school buildings.

No. Regulations and published departmental guidance lay down temperature values which are appropriate for different categories of educational premises and the children and staff who use them. The efficient use of fuel and energy within this range of specified temperatures can be best achieved by following the advice contained in my Department's publications on energy conservation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the staff of his Department of the rank of under secretary and above have one year or more of practical experience of the use of each of the following computer languages: ALGOL, COBOL, BASIC, FORTRAN, PILOT, TUTOR, PASCAL and FORTH.

One, in ALGOL and FORTRAN.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish an estimate of the average weekly cost to parents of sending a child to a State school, taking into account the costs of school uniform and sports equipment, subscriptions and outings, school meals and average transport costs.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of school children live within the statutory walking distances from the schools which they attend; and how this figure compares with the position 10 years ago.

Information is not available to answer the question in this form, but a special survey conducted in 1972 showed that in England and Wales about 90 per cent. of primary and secondary school pupils lived within the statutory walking distances of their schools. No comparable information exists for any other years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rother Valley on 19 December 1979, he will explain why, despite his undertakings made on 26 November 1979 to keep the trade union side of the Central Council for Non-Teaching Staffs in Universities informed of matters affecting universities, no notification was or has been given of an announcement concerning supplementary payments which was made within 48 hours of the undertaking being made.

In the light of the undertaking given at the meeting on 26 November 1979, arrangements were put in hand on 27 November for the trade union side of the central council to be informed of matters affecting universities, but those arrangements were not fully implemented by 28 November when the announcement of supplementary grants to universities was made.—[Vol. 974, c. 648.] I infer from the hon. Members' question that the central council is none the less aware of the announcement and, presumably, of its content.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what expenditure he expects will have been incurred by universities in England and Wales during the current year; by how much he expects this sum to exceed the original estimates; and by how much support will be increased to meet the deficiency.

I explained in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 19 December 1979 that it was not possible at this stage to estimate the total expenditure of universities in the current financial year. £63 million has been added to the universities' recurrent grant in this financial year towards the cost of pay and price increases higher than those assumed when the grants for the academic year 1978–79 and 1979–80 were originally settled.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what payments of value added tax were made in 1978–79 and have been or could be made in the current year by universities in England and Wales; and by how much the increased payments in the current year will be compensated.

No central record is kept of payments of value added tax by universities and the information, if available at all, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. During this financial year no additional grant will be made for price rises higher than those assumed in the grants as originally settled.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rother Valley on 19 December 1979, he will now list the numbers of staff, other than teaching and research staff, at each university in England and Wales.

This information is not available in my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people employed at universities in England and Wales are currently at risk through failure to meet the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act or of fire precautions.

The Department has no information on this subject. Each university is responsible for making its own arrangements to comply with the requirements arising from legislation on fire precautions and health and safety at work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a report on the progress of the three-year study of existing integration schemes begun in September 1978, stating the interim findings of that study and how it relates to his consideration of submissions on the Warnock report and the implementation of section 10 of the Education Act 1976.

A three-year study of current provision for handicapped children in ordinary schools, sponsored by my Department, was started in September 1977 by the National Foundation for Educational Research. It is not intended to publish a report until after the study has been completed later this year. I shall consider at that time whether to make any statement on the study.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he plans to exempt overseas students currently on GCE, non-advanced or foundation courses in the United Kingdom from the proposed 100 per cent. plus increases in tuition fees in 1980–81 when they proceed to higher level courses.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he plans to include polytechnic postgraduates in the special arrangements to allow selected students to pay home fees; and whether these arrangements will be in addition to a continued programme of fees awards for postgraduates from developing countries operated by the Overseas Development Administration.

Initially these arrangements apply only in universities. I will be prepared to consider with those concerned whether similar arrangements might be introduced in maintained institutions. The scheme is quite distinct from

Visits by Secretary of State (Mr. Mark Carlisle, Q.C.)
9 May 1979	…	…	…	Grange School, Northwich.
14 July 1979	…	…	…	King Edward's School, Birmingham.
14 September 1979		…	…	St. John's Roman Catholic School, Warrington.
21 September 1979		…	…	St. Nicholas' Roman Catholic School, Northwich.
26 September 1979		…	…	Cavendish School, Hemel Hempstead.
5 October 1979		…	…	Appleton High School. Warrington.
8 October 1979		…	…	Lytham High School.
8 October 1979		…	…	Queen Mary's School, Lytham.
11 October 1979		…	…	Kirkham Grammar School, Preston.
11 October 1979		…	…	Highfield Priory School, Preston.
27 October 1979		…	…	Mostyn House School, Parkgate, Cheshire.
2 November 1979		…	…	Bradford Grammar School
23 November 1979		…	…	Heath School, Runcorn, Cheshire.
25 November 1979		…	…	Mount Carmel School, Alderley Edge, Cheshire.
26 November 1979		…	…	Hounslow Heath Infant School.
26 November 1979		…	…	Belmont Junior Mixed and Infant School, Chiswick.
26 November 1979		…	…	Martindale School for the Handicapped, Hounslow.
7 December 1979		…	…	Kenton Bar Primary School, Newcastle.
7 December 1979		…	…	Kenton Comprehensive School, Newcastle.
10 December 1979		…	…	Pimlico School, London S.W.1.
14 December 1979		…	…	Wirral Grammar School.

Visits by Minister of State (Baroness Young)
2 July 1979	…	…	…	Townfield School, Hayes.
2 July 1979	…	…	…	Queensmead School, Ruislip
9 July 1979	…	…	…	Upton House School, Hackney.
9 July 1979	…	…	…	Skinners' Company School, Hackney.
18 September 1979		…	…	West Horndon County Primary School, Essex.
18 September 1979		…	…	Anglo-European School, Ingatestone, Essex.
20 September 1979		…	…	Chipping Camden School, Gloucestershire.
3 October 1979		…	…	Sevenoaks School, Kent.
15 October 1979		…	…	Kings School, Canterbury.
17 October 1979		…	…	Henry Fanshawe School, Derbyshire.
1 November 1979		…	…	Eaton School, Norwich.
22 November 1979		…	…	Castle Donington High School, Leicester.
22 November 1979		…	…	Burleigh College, Loughborough.
27 November 1979		…	…	Onslow School, Hertfordshire.
27 November 1979		…	…	Watford Boys' Grammar School, Hertfordshire.
4 December 1979		…	…	Corporation Road Nursery School, Durham.
4 December 1979		…	…	Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Durham.
4 December 1979		…	…	Salters Lane Special School, Durham.
4 December 1979		…	…	Newton Aycliffe Byerley Park Junior and Infants School, Durham.
4 December 1979		…	…	Greenfield Comprehensive School, Durham.
11 December 1979		…	…	Eleanor Palmer Nursery School, London N.W.5.
11 December 1979		…	…	Highgate Nursery, London N.6.
14 December 1979		…	…	St. Michael's Convent, Finchley.

Visits by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Dr. Rhodes Boyson)
11 September 1979	…	…	Oliver Goldsmith School, Kingsbury.
18 October 1979	…	…	Sir Robert Southwell School, London N.W.9.
19 October 1979	…	…	Eton College.
9 November1979	…	…	Highbury Grove School, London N.5.
14 November 1979	…	…	Wembley High School.
5 December 1979	…	…	Jewish Free School, London N.W.1
12 December 1979	…	…	Wolver Hampton Grammar School.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the schools which he and each other Minister in his Department has visited since assuming office.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the level of investment in manufacturing industry at 1965 prices in each year since 1945.

Statistics of manufacturing investment are not compiled at 1965 prices. The figures given below have been derived by reducing the published 1975 price based series to 1965 price levels by applying a constant factor. This adjustment rescales the series to the general level of 1965 capital expenditure prices, but retains the year to year percentage movements of the original 1975 price series.The table is from 1955, the earliest year for which this adjustment can be made.

	Gross Domestic Fixed Capital Formation by Manufacturing Industry at 1975 prices resealed to 1965 prices £ million
1955	917
1956	1,063
1957	1,125
1958	1,065
1959	1,016
1960	1,183
1961	1,406
1962	1,299
1963	1,136
1964	1,283
1965	1,423
1966	1,460
1967	1,425
1968	1,521
1969	1,628
1970	1,754
1971	1,636
1972	1,415
1973	1,444
1974	1,588
1975	1,478
1976	1,403
1977	1,527
1978	1,617

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects an access agreement to the Nantlle Ridge in Snowdonia to be completed.

Access agreements to the Nantlle Ridge are primarily the responsibility of Gwynedd county council, which has been negotiating with tenants of agricultural holdings within my right hon. Friend's ownership. Three holdings, known as Drws-y-Coed Isaf, Talymignedd Uchaf and Drws-y-Coed Uchaf, are affected and I understand that agreement has been reached on the areas of land to be included and the means of access thereto. Negotiations are proceeding on the valuation of the consideration payment and access agreements are expected to be concluded later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was paid to sheep producers in Wales during 1979 through the guaranteed deficiency payment scheme for lambs and sheep; what were the corresponding figures for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The amount of money paid in respect of sheep presented at certification centres in Wales during 1979 and the corresponding figures for each of the last 10 marketing years is as follows:

Marketing Year (April/March)	Amount (£ million)
1968/69	0·80
1969/70	0·36
1970/71	1·35
1971/72	2·21
1972/73	0·28
1973/74	NIL
1974/75	1·39
1975/76	1·18
1976/77	0·03
1977/78	0·09
1978/79	0·01
1979/80 to 31.12.79	1·81(estimate)

The guaranteed price for fat sheep will be reviewed this spring in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales from what sources he supplemented the grant of the Development Board for Rural Wales for the year 1979–80.

The supplement came from the October 1977 construction package and from resources released by adjustments made to other Welsh Office programmes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Serivce what are the criteria applied in respect of the payment of pension, or part pension, to a convicted person who was, prior to conviction, in the service of the Crown.

Pension benefits may be withheld wholly or in part if a civil servant or former civil servant is convicted of a serious offence in connection with his employment. Such cases are rare and no set criteria have been laid down for determining when and to what extent these discretionary powers should be used. Each case is considered individually according to the nature and seriousness of the offence, the penalties imposed by the courts and the personal circumstances and past record of the individual. In certain cases, the Minister is required to certify that the offence was either gravely injurious to the State or was liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what support his local overseas offices are giving towards the elimination of poliomyelitis throughout the world; and if he will make a statement.

Our contribution is being made through support of the WHO expanded programme of immunisation and the stop polio campaign undertaken by the Save the Children Fund in close co-operation with the World Health Organisation, other international agencies and the overseas Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what contribution the Employment Protection Act 1976 has made towards the creation of new jobs.

I believe the overall effect of this Act, now consolidated, has been to inhibit rather than encourage the creation of new jobs—especially in small businesses. The provisions of the Employment Bill, when enacted, will relieve this.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in money terms and in terms of numbers affected under each heading, what is the effect on (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk of his cuts in job promotion, job protection and training schemes, giving that information itemised for each scheme.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has carried out a survey of the different types of training schemes for young people which have been pioneered by employers and voluntary bodies; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that a number of surveys relating to training provision have been carried out in recent years, in particular those which preceded the introduction of the youth opportunities programme and the training for skills programme for action. A survey has also recently been completed by the National Foundation for Educational Research for the MSC and the Department of Education and Science on the development of the unified vocational preparation schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what the latest unemployment rates are for the North-West of England.

At 10 January the provisional unemployment rate in the North-West region was 7·6 per cent. The rates for males and females were 9·0 and 5·6 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to conclude his review of the temporary short-time working scheme.

The annual review of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme has not yet been completed, but I hope to make an announcement about the scheme shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside.

The strength of the construction industry on Merseyside is linked to the overall strength of the economy. Merseyside however may benefit particularly from the measures taken to promote urban development.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with the Trades Union Congress and other trade union representatives since the Employment Bill received a Second Reading on 17 December last.

My right hon. Friend had a further meeting with representatives of the TUC on Thursday, 10 January to discuss the Employment Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the employment practices of small firms; and if he will make a statement.

I have no grounds for criticising the employment practices of small firms generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment

At 10 January the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain was 1,404,439.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimate of the numbers and percentage unemployed in the United Kingdom; and what measures the Government intend to take to reduce these figures.

At 10 January the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 1,470,621, a percentage rate of 6·1. The Government will continue their fiscal and monetary policies to provide the right economic climate for an expansion of real jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people currently are unemployed, and how many unfilled vacancies exist, in the county of South Yorkshire.

At 10 January the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the county of South Yorkshire was 38,115. At 4 January there were 2,148 vacancies remaining unfilled at employment offices and 229 at careers offices. Vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the vacancy figures at employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his expectation of the changes in the level of unemployment in 1980; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has made no secret of his view that unemployment will rise during 1980. However, it lies within the power of both sides of industry working together to improve their productivity and competitiveness and this would offer the best hope of bringing unemployment down.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many letters he has received supporting the legislative proposals regarding the use of the secret ballot in trade union matters.

Well over 100 letters about the use of secret ballots by trade unions have been received either by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister or myself.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trade unions make no provision in their rules for a secret ballot of their members.

I regret that a completely comprehensive answer would involve disproportionate cost. However, of the 42 unions which have 50,000 members or more, and cover nearly 90 per cent. of union members, six have rules which omit any reference to provision for secret ballots of their members.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans to continue the job release scheme beyond 31 March 1980; and if he will make a statement.

A decision about the future of the job release scheme will be made as part of the annual review of the special employment and training measures, which has not yet been completed. My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement about the scheme shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress he has made in reducing the delays in processing applications for the approval and certification of equipment by the British Approval Service for electrical equipment in flammable atmospheres.

To speed up certification work at BASEEFA it is necessary to recruit and train suitably qualified people. Further progress has been made in that direction by engaging five professional staff since October. This is additional to the secondment and recruitment of five staff earlier in the year. The benefits of these measures should be felt once the staff are fully experienced.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the trade unions on the provision of strike pay.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to limit unemployment in Bradford.

I am very much aware that the difficulties experienced by the textile industry have contributed to Bradford's current unemployment problems and in this connection the forthcoming redundancies at Associated Weavers are a matter of concern. We remain convinced, however, that the solution to unemployment lies in a positive response to the Government's economic policies from both management and work forces in seizing market opportunities and increasing productivity and quality of output linked with sensible wage bargaining. Only with the wholehearted co-operation of both sides of industry and commerce can we achieve a healthy economy which will provide the new jobs which are needed in Bradford and elsewhere in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total of working days lost as a result of strikes in 1979.

The total for 1979 is not yet available. In the first 11 months of 1979 27·7 million working days were lost through industrial disputes in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total sum presently being spent by the Government to encourage the conservation of energy; and what are the Government's plans for encouraging the more efficient use of energy by industry and commerce.

The energy conservation programme is expected to cost some £125 million in 1979–80. The greater part of this expenditure is on conservation in homes in both the public and private sectors, and in other public sector buildings. The Government believe that the economic pricing of energy provides the main stimulus to the more efficient use of energy by industry and commerce. This incentive is reinforced by information and advisory services such as the energy survey scheme, the energy quick advice service, and a wide range of publications, including the Department of Energy's monthly newspaper Energy Management. In addition, a programme of projects aimed at promoting new energy-saving technology is being funded by the Government under the energy conservation demonstration projects scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the percentage share of United Kingdom refiners in the EEC market for refined products;

									Refined petroleum products* 1976
Mode of transport									Million tonnes	Percentage of total inland deliveries
Road	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	49·2	61·2
Rail	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	16·7	20·8
Water—
Coastal		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	29·2	36·4
Inland		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	5·1	6·4
Inland pipeline			…	…	…	…	…	…	22·4	28·0
Total inland deliveries				…	…	…	…	…	80·3
Source: UKPIAC return.
* Because of un quantified double handling the tonnage figures are in excess of total inland deliveries for the year and the quoted percentages sum to more than 100: they give the proportions of total inland deliveries that were transported, at least part way, by each mode.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer, Official Report, 20 December 1979, c. 295, what is his estimate of the royalty oil available to him in the second half of 1980 and on an annual basis thereafter.

The amount of royalty oil available is expected to be a little under 12½ per cent. of total production from United Kingdom continental shelf oil-fields in the periods concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the estimated total value, respectively, of North and what are the figures for the preceding five years.

The marketable output of petroleum products from United Kingdom refineries is expressed as a percentage of the EEC consumption of petroleum products for each of the years 1974 to 1978 and for the latest available period in 1979.

				Percentage
74	75	76	77	78	79
				January-June
21·2	18·3	17·8	17·5	17·5	16·8
Source: OECD quarterly oil statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the total volume of refined products for the last year for which figures are available, what tonnage and percentage were moved by road, coastal shipping, pipeline and rail.

The inquiry for collecting data on the transport of refined petroleum products has been discontinued. The latest year for which figures are available is 1976.Sea oil and gas reserves at current prices each year since 1965 and at constant 1980 prices; and what percentage these figures represent of the gross national product.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1980]: Comparable estimates of total recoverable reserves of oil and gas on the United Kingdom continental shelf are not available annually from 1965, and reserve estimates are subject to a wide margin of error. However, in 1978 reserves of oil were valued at around £200,000 million at current prices, equivalent to about 140 per cent. of 1978 GNP. At average 1979 prices these oil reserves would be worth around £250,000 million or about 160 per cent. of the latest GNP estimate—1979 third quarter rate. At January 1980 prices oil reserves would be worth around £350,000 million or about 220 per cent. of the latest GNP estimate.The value of gas reserves at oil-equivalent prices is estimated to be approximately half that of oil reserves.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to inland waterways to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

Yes. An exhibition prepared by the Canals and Waterways Alliance will be on display in the Upper Waiting Hall during the week commencing 21 January.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions regarding the safety of road users in the light of the excessive damage caused to roads by the increasing numbers of heavy vehicles and lack of spending or maintenance.

Local authorities are spending over £550 million a year on road maintenance—on local roads and as agent authorities on roads for which my right hon. Friend is responsible. Urgent motorway repairs are receiving prority attention because of the effects or increased volumes of heavy vehicles.Road safety continues to be a major consideration in determining priorities.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that his Department has taken sufficient interest in the encouragement of car and truck tyre developments in the areas of grip on wet roads, road damage and protection from blowout punctures.

The Department has in hand various work on tyres. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory is examining the wet-grip performance of a range of truck tyres and, based on earlier work at the laboratory, we have put proposals to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe for possible international standards for the wet-grip performance of motor-cycle tyres. The laboratory has also investigated the influence of tyre size and design on road damage, but concluded that this was slight. I welcome development and use of "run-flat" tyres and devices to maintain deflated tyres on the wheel-rim while a damaged vehicle is brought to a halt. The Department is assessing various of these in co-operation with the industry.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive detailed electrification proposals from British Railways; and whether he will view maximum electrification proposals with favour if a good economic case is made.

The case for a programme of main line electrificaton is currently the subject of a joint study by the Railways Board and my Department. An interim report was published in September and the final report should be published during the summer. Sir Peter Parker and I will consider this very carefully, taking into account the outlook for the economy as a whole and the prospects of the main railway business, especially its major commercial sectors. Meanwhile, I am willing to consider any individual electrification proposals which the Railways Board may wish to submit to me.

asked the Minister of Transport how many towns and villages are known to suffer such heavy traffic that they need bypasses immediately; to what extent the expected growth in traffic will increase that total of towns and villages by 1990; to what extent his Department's plans will fulfil that need for bypasses by 1990; and what is the estimated cost of providing all of these bypasses.

There are no precise criteria of need for a bypass. Schemes in the trunk road programme would provide bypasses for almost all the communities for which they are, or are likely to become, justified on economic and environmental grounds. On timing and cost, I must ask the hon. Member to await the forthcoming White Paper. Bypasses on non-trunk roads are the responsibility of the local highway authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the directors of the National Freight Corporation and the dates on which their appointments expire.

The board of directors of the National Freight Corporation, and the dates on which their appointments expire, are as follows:

	Date of end of current term
Mr R. L. E. Lawrence C.B.E.	31.12.81
Mr V. G. Paige C.B.E.	14.2.82
Mr J. S. Flemming	9.9.81
Mr. F. S. Law	8.12.80
Mr. D. G. MacDonald	31.1.80
Mr. J. E. B. Sieve	14.2.83
Mr. P. H. Spriddell	9.9.81
SirRonald Swayne M.C.	8.12.80

asked the Minister of Transport by how much the net assets of the National Freight Corporation exceed its liabilities.

I refer my hon. Friend to the NFC's report and accounts for 1978, which contain on pages 36 to 37 a consolidated balance sheet for 31 December 1978. This indicates that liabilities exceed net assets by £10·9 million at 31 December 1978.

asked the Minister of Transport how many people are at present employed by the National Freight Corporation; and what were the equivalent figures in each of the last five years.

The NFC and its subsidiaries employ approximately 36,000 people. The equivalent figures in each of the last five years are as follows:

1974	49,400
1975	44,600
1976	41,700
1977	40,100
1978	36,500

asked the Minister of Transport, in the compilation of total road track costs for 1979–80, what sums were included under motorway mainten- ance for (a) lighting, (b) sweeping and cleaning and (c) patrolling.

The three-year average of road expenditure used in the track cost calculations for 1979–80£2,171 millions—include estimated expenditure on the following items for motorways, sweeping, cleaning and patrols £2·0 million, lighting £3·5 million. Patrol costs cannot be separated.