asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much timber and timber-based products are imported into the United Kingdom; and how this compares with United Kingdom-produced timber.

The value of imports of timber and timber based products by the United Kingdom in 1979 was £2,817 million. In the same year, 9 per cent. of the wood raw material equivalent of imports of timber and timber-based products was derived from home-grown timber.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the level of (a) outward and (b) inward industrial investment to or from the United Kingdom and other members of the EEC since entry to the EEC.

The information available relates to net direct investment outward other than oil and to net direct investment inward other than oil and insurance. The latest figures for individual countries are published in tables 3·3 and 4·3 in the Business Monitor series MA4 (Overseas Transactions), copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the dangers of Loctite and similar super glues, if he will seek to take steps to restrict sale of such substances to keep them from children.

I am not at present aware of any hazards associated with the use of " super glues " so great as to warrant imposing restrictions on their sale to children. Members of the British Adhesive Manufacturers' Association have voluntarily adopted a code of packaging and labelling which is intended to keep these glues from children. I shall keep under consideration the case for making it compulsory to label these glues with appropriate warnings and to provide advice on safety with each package.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what consideration was given to the events surrounding the fire at Woolworth's store in Piccadilly, Manchester, in drawing up the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations 1980; whether the tests set down in the regulations are adequate, in view of the coroner's findings on the Manchester fire; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 18 March. I am satisfied that the tests stipulated in the draft Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations 1980, which are shortly to be debated in Parliament, should, if complied with, provide protection against the risks of smokers' materials igniting upholstered furniture.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) of imports of textiles and clothing into the United Kingdom in 1978, what amount in dollars per thousand dollars of gross domestic product the United Kingdom imported from developing countries; and what was the amount for 1979;(2) what is the value of each of the following textile products that have been imported into the United Kingdom so far in the current year; trousers, jeans, shorts, men's and boys' shirts, blouses, other women's and girls' outer garments, knitted garments, jumpers, cardigans, pullovers, other outer garments and skirts;(3) what the value of the imports of the following textile products into the United Kingdom was in 1979: man-made staple, man-made filament yarn, wool, corded or combed spun yarn cotton, man-made fibre, wool, woven fabrics, cotton, man-made fibre wool, carpets, knitted fabrics and other textiles; and which three countries, in order, exported on average the most textile products to the United Kingdom;

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Inland Revenue to have completed its task of computerising the whole of income tax assessment and collection; and what are the current obstacles to an early achievement of this aim.

Part of the Department's work of assessment and collection is already on computer. Computerisation of collection is due to be completed in 1982 and the feasibility of computerising Schedule D assessing is under study. The Inland Revenue's current plans include a target date for completion of computerisation of PAYE work in 1987. Ministers hope to make an announcement about the project in the near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate for 1980–81 proportion of total income tax raised from the following income groups (a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the top 10 per cent., (c) the top 40 per cent., (d) the bottom 30 per cent., and (e) the bottom 10 per cent.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of taxpayers, treating married couples as one unit in each of the following income bands: up to £2,000, £2,000 to £4,000, £4,000 to £5,000, £5,000 to £6,000, £6,000 to £8,000, £8,000 to £10,000, £10,000 to £15,000, £15,000 to £20,000 and over £20,000.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in full all the assumptions underlying the Treasury estimate of total Government oil revenue in 1983–84 as £4¾ million at 1978–79 prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 May 1980, c. 180]: I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Woolmer) of 14 April 1980.—[Vol. 982, c. 513.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his Budget Statement, Official Report, 26 March, column 1481, whether a short-term bond proposal accepted by letter from an insurance company dated 25 March 1980 will be affected by the new life assurance premium proposals.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1980, c. 191]: Where a short-term bond proposal has been unconditionally accepted by letter from an insurance company posted before 26 March 1980, any qualifying policy forming part of that bond will not be disqualified from life assurance premium relief.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the recent increases in the price of gas were carried out in order to increase the consumption of electricity and to justify the Government's nuclear energy programme.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest available figures relating to orders for goods and services for United Kingdom continental shelf oil and gas developments.

In 1979, orders totalling £2,679 million were placed for goods and services for the United Kingdom continental shelf oil and gas developments. Of these, £2,111 million or 79 per cent. was placed in the United Kingdom. The

AN ANALYSIS OF ORDERS PLACED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR GOODS AND SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENTS OFFSHORE DURING 1979
	Value of orders placed (£ million)
Sector	Total	United Kingdom share	United Kingdom percentage *
Exploration
A. Surveying	18	14	78 (73)
B. Exploration and appraisal drilling	59	17	29 (19)
Sub-total	77	31	40 (27)
Development
C. Production platforms	1,116	941	84 (74)
D. Installation operations	175	123	70 (41)
E. Plant and equipment	162	119	73 (74)
F. Submarine pipelines	96	34	35 (38)
G. Development drilling	59	41	69 (70)
H. Terminals	434	427	98 (85)
Sub-total	2,042	1,685	83 (70)
Production
I. Maintenance	146	133	91 (73)
Sub-total	146	133	91 (73)
General Services (excluded wherever possible from A-I above)
J. Transport	109	81	74 (84)
K. Diving and underwater services	37	23	62 (77)
L. Drilling tools and equipment	76	47	62 (52)
M. Support of personnel offshore	81	29	36 (30)
N. Miscellaneous	111	82	74 (33)
Sub-total	414	262	63 (63)
Grand total	2,679	2,111	79 (66)
* 1978 percentages in brackets.

The United Kingdom share represents the value of the contracts and main sub-contracts placed with companies which through employment, manufacturing or subcontracting make a substantial contribution to the United Kingdom economy. The main purpose of the returns is to monitor the flow of orders in respect of United Kingdom continental shelf activity and the share of orders gained within the United Kingdom. They are designed to fit in, so far as possible, with the normal recording processes of the offshore operating companies and cannot deal in detail with what is imported and what is home produced.The value of orders and expenditure data are not directly comparable for a number of reasons including the facts that the expenditure resulting from an order is often spread over a number of years varying as it progresses due to inflation and other causes and that the allocation of orders between categories is difficult because of subcontracts that flow from the main order.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the assumptions upon which the Government estimated that North Sea oil revenues would reach £3·5 billion in 1983–84.

I have been asked to reply.I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Woolmer) of 14 April.—[Vol. 982, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement regarding a replacement for Polaris.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the replacement for Polaris.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said on this during the debate on the defence Estimates on 28 April.—[Vol. 983, c. 1003–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on current international proposals for a European nuclear-free zone from Poland to Portugal.

The Government are determined to work for balanced and verifiable measures of arms control which would lead to lower levels of nuclear armaments on both sides. It would, however, be unrealistic and dangerous for NATO to remove its theatre nuclear weapons from Europe while theatre nuclear weapons capable of hitting targets throughout Western Europe continue to be deployed in the Soviet Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps will be taken in 1980 to strengthen the air defences of Hong Kong.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons are currently full-time members of each of the Armed Forces; and how this compares with the number 10 years ago.

The full-time strengths of the Armed Forces as at 1 March 1980 were: RN/RM, 72,264; Army, 170,873 and RAF, 89,283. These figures include full-time members of the UDR and locally entered service personnel. The corresponding figures for 1 March 1970 were: RN/RM 88,076; Army, 192,259 and RAF, 113,629.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the consultations he has had on the report on the future of the Royal naval dockyards.

The dockyard study steering group received a wide range of evidence in the course of their study, including evidence from the hon. Member, for which I was grateful. I have now submitted the report to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence. In the light of his views, a consultative document will be prepared to form the basis for consultation with those concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what improvements in the Services' worldwide capability are being considered.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Price) on 12 February, [Vol 978, c. 1255–6]—and to paragraph 409 in the Statement on Defence Estimates 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in which countries Her Majesty's Forces have recently given aid to the civilian community by way of construction projects or assistance following disasters.

Over the past year Her Majesty's Forces have provided such assistance overseas in Belize, Dominica, the Falkland Islands, the Gambia, Jamaica, Kampuchea, Kenya, Nepal, Nicaragua, St. Helena, St. Vincent, Sudan and Tuvalu.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to set in train co-operation between the Royal Navy and the South African Navy in the surveillance and defence of the Cape route; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in allocating future defence equipment contracts, he will give special consideration to the claims of Cammell Laird Limited, Birkenhead, and CBS Engineering Limited, Liverpool, and the need to stimulate employment on Merseyside.

In placing defence equipment contracts, the Ministry of Defence takes all the relevant factors fully into account, including shipbuilder capacity and regional and industrial considerations. It would not be right to give preferential consideration to any particular contractor. The Laird group has now announced the closure of CBS Engineering Limited within the next three weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek a meeting with Mr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, the United States National Security Adviser, for the purpose of discussing the deployment of American nuclear weapons based on British soil.

My right hon. Friend meets members of the United States Administration regularly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will increase the strength of the Royal Navy in the Indian Ocean.

As I announced on 25 March in reply to a question from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Buck)—[Vol. 981, Col. 550]—a Royal Navy task group will deploy through the Indian Ocean to the Far East from May to December. On the outward and return legs of this deployment the group is expected to spend a total of some nine weeks in the Indian Ocean area. We have no current plans permanently to station ships in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on co-operation with the United States of America in the development of the AV8B.

We are currently evaluating the AV8B, taking account in particular of the results of a flight test programme recently completed by British pilots. I hope that this evaluation will enable us to reach decisions in the next ing the AV8B. taking account in parti-pation in a joint AV8B programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the equipment failures, he remains satisfied with the reliability of United States helicopters for possible purchase by Her Majesty's Government, in the light of recent events in Iran.

The only United States helicopter featuring in current United Kingdom defence plans is the Boeing-Vertol Chinook and this aircraft was not used in the incident to which my hon. Friend refers. Thirty-three Chinooks equipped with United Kingdom avionics, are on order for the RAF. I have every confidence that this tried and tested aircraft will prove a very useful asset to the RAF.

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

Returns to egg producers in Wales are well ahead of last year, reflecting the industry's efforts to adjust supply more closely with demand. Prices in the table poultry sector are also firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the increases or decreases in numbers of nutrition advisers employed by him in the last five years; and if he will consider extending the number of advisers to cope with the changes in standards of school meals which will flow from the Education (No. 2) Act 1980.

The services of the two catering advisers employed in connection with the school meals service were dispensed with in March 1978 and I have no intention of appointing staff to advise education authorities on the provision of school meals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will establish a committee of inquiry into security arrangements in Scottish mental hospitals.

No. My right hon. Friend is himself examining carefully the implications of recent incidents involving security at mental hospitals, and the report on mental health services for adults in Scotland now in preparation may contain relevant advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospital beds in mental hospitals are in buildings built before 1900; and how this compares with the figures published by the Scottish Home and Health Department in " The Way Ahead " in 1976.

The figures published in " The Way Ahead " in 1976 related to beds in mental illness hospitals, 90 per cent. of which were reckoned to be in nineteenth century buildings. Information to up-date this assessment is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Most of the accommodation in hospitals which opened before 1900 has been substantially adapted and upgraded in recent years. New and replacement bed accommodation including beds in acute psychiatric units in district general hospitals has been and is being provided where necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive a report from the Scottish Home and Health Department's planning group on mental disorder and on psychiatric services for adults.

A report on mental health services for adults is at present being prepared by the programme planning group on mental disorder set up jointly by the Scottish Healh Service planning council and the advisory council on social work. It is expected that this report will be completed towards the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were admitted or readmitted to hospitals in Scotland for treatment of alcoholism in the years 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

The information is given in the table below for 1976, 1977 and 1978: figures for 1979 are not yet available.

NUMBER OF PERSONS ADMITTED WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF ALCOHOLIC PSYCHOSIS OR ALCOHOLISM TO HOSPITALS IN SCOTLAND
Year	First admission	Re-admission	Total admissions
1976	1,997	3,390	5,387
1977	2,118	3,179	5,297
1978	1,991	3,131	5,122

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for grants under the urban aid programme were approved in 1978 and 1979; and what was the cost of the programme in each year.

In 1978, 95 projects were approved, costing £1·8 million (capital) £1·0 million (current). In 1979, 221 projects were approved, costing £5·9 million (capital) and £2·9 million (current).Grant is paid in arrears, by financial year, at the rate of 75 per cent. on approved costs. Grant payments in the last three financial years were:

1977–78	£2·55 million
1978–79	£6·31 million
1979–80	£6·32 million

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the outstanding applications for grants under the urban aid programme.

41 applications are currently under consideration by my Department. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, I would be happy to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if Hampden Park Ltd. has yet been successful in obtaining the financial guarantees which are a condition of the grant from Her Majesty's Government; if the invitation to contractors to register for tendering, published in the Scottish press on 30 April, was inserted with his authority, approval or knowledge; and if he will make a statement.

As I told my hon. Friend on 21 April I am still discussing with Hampden Park Ltd. the conditions on which a formal offer of grant might be made. The invitation to contractors to which he refers is the responsibility of the company, and my right hon. Friend's approval was not necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Tayside as to whether he has received substantive complaints or information tending to support threats to Iraqi students at Dundee university from Iraq Ba'athist Party agents.

No. The Government's general position on this matter was made clear in the reply to my hon. Friend from my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Home Office, on 22 April 1980.—[Vol, 983, c. 101.] Any Iraqi student anywhere in this country who has reason to believe himself threatened or anyone who has information to offer should contact the police immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fine defaulters currently are serving prison sentences in Scotland.

In March 1980, there were on average 342 persons in prison in Scotland in default of payment of a fine. In addition, there were on average 84 persons in young offenders institutions for fine default.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money is being made available to hospitals with secure units to deal with mentally subnormal persons in Scotland.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his related questions yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people currently serving custodial sentences need to be released from prison in order to reduce the numbers to an acceptable level in Scotland.

By " acceptable level " I take my hon. Friend to mean the level at which there is no overcrowding.The number of inmate places available in Scottish penal establishments—4,906 male and 219 female—exceeds the total inmate population at present—4,701 male and 159 female as at 29 April 1980—but because of fluctuations in the demand on different establishments, a degree of overcrowding tends to occur particularly in remand accommodation and certain male prisons.The Bail (Scotland) Act 1980, which came into effect earlier this year, has already reduced the number of remand prisoners and there are provisions in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill at present before Parliament which are directed at achieving some reduction in the number of persons in custody.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement setting out the substantive proposals of the Government for the reform of the government of Scotland within the United Kingdom, which will form the basis of the Government's position in the all-party talks.

No. Papers, which canvassed various ways of improving the handling of Scottish parliamentary business, were circulated as a basis for discussion to the parties participating in the talks which began in April. Copies of the papers have been placed in the Library of the House.The Government hope that the talks will result in agreed proposals and I do not propose to comment until the discussions with the other parties have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period a person has been held on remand in custody in Bedford prison; and what is the offence with which he is charged.

The longest period for which any person held on remand in custody in Bedford prison on 31 March 1980 had been so held was 270 days. He had been charged with burglary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period of time that a person currently in Bristol prison has been on remand in custody; and what is the offence with which he is charged.

The longest period for which any person held on remand in custody in Bristol prison on 31 March 1980 had been so held was 287 days. He had been charged with murder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period of time that a prisoner currently in Ashford remand centre has been on remand in custody; and what is the offence with which he is charged.

The longest period for which any person held on remand in custody in Ashford remand centre on 31 March 1980, had been so held was 377 days. He was charged with two counts of robbery and one of burglary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were reported by prison medical officers in 1979 as having some degree of dependence on drugs at the time of their reception into custody.

During 1979, 1,263 inmates were so reported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current annual average cost to the Home Office of subsidising a place in a voluntary after-care hostel for offenders.

£550; but there is considerable variation around this figure according to the type of hostel and the facilities provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a reply will be sent to the letter from the hon. Member for Goole dated 24 February 1980 and addressed to the Minister of State, the hon. and learned Member for Cleveland and Whitby (Mr. Brittan), about prisoner 636186 serving a life sentence at Her Majesty's prison, Parkhurst.

My noble Friend replied on 8 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the last review of staffing took place in the prison service; and when the next review is due.

The overall staffing requirements for the prison service are reviewed annually in the context of the public expenditure survey. Reviews of the number and gradings of particular grades at individual establishments are carried out as the need arises.

Cox asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to establish in England a prison for young offenders.

There are at present four young prisoner centres solely for males under 21 years of age sentenced to imprisonment. A fifth centre is under construction and the current building programme will provide two more by the late 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in the United Kingdom that at present receive young offenders, and the number held on 1 May.

The prisons in England and Wales that receive persons sentenced to imprisonment under 21 years of age are listed below together with details of the numbers held on 31 March 1980. In addition, 586 other males and females under 21 years of age sentenced to borstal training were held in local prisons, remand centres and borstal allocation centres prior to their allocation to training borstals.

Prison	Number of young prisoners held on 31 March 1980
Males
Ashford	52
Aylesbury	314
Bedford	11
Birmingham	141
Bristol	11
Brockhill	1
Canterbury	39
Cardiff	36
Castington	54
Durham	66
Erlestoke	190
Exeter	78
Gloucester	8
Grendon	56
Latchmere House	23
Leeds	91
Leicester	37
Lincoln	64
Liverpool	258
Low Newton	97
Manchester	202
Norwich	43
Onley	351
Oxford	16
Pucklechurch	19
Reading	29
Risley	6
Shrewsbury	32
Swinfen Hall	179
Thorp Arch	2
Winchester	15
Wormwood Scrubs	243

Prison	Number of young prisoners held on 31 March 1980
Females
Askham Grange	9
Drake Hall	24
Holloway	19
Low Newton	4
Moor Court	2
Pucklechurch	8
Risley	17
Styal	48

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former prison governors are at present working in the prison department of his Department.

There are eight former members of governor grades and 50 members of governor grades currently serving in the headquarters of the prison department or at regional offices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in England and Wales have a cell within a cell sometimes known as a strong box; if he is satisfied that such facilities are necessary; and how many prisoners were kept in such strong boxes in 1979.

One or more special cells for the temporary confinement under rule 45 of the prison rules 1964 of refractory or violent prisoners are provided at 46 prisons. We are satisfied that they are necessary. During 1979, use was made of them on 456 occasions: information about the number of prisoners so confined is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the number of arrests that have been made at or near the Iranian Embassy since its seizure by terrorists and the nationalities of the persons concerned.

The Commissioner tells me that 57 arrests were made during the period of the embassy's seizure. The nationalities of those arrested were:

British	19
German	4
Indian	1
Iranian	15
Iraqi	14
Israeli	1
Japanese	2
Swiss	1

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the report of Sir Henry Yellowlees on the subject of medical examinations used in immigration control and X-rays used to assess age.

I have recently received the report and its contents are being studied. I shall inform the House of the conclusions of the review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the number of arrests that were made by the police in and near Hyde Park on 27 April and the nationalities of the persons concerned.

A total of 35 arrests were made in and near Hyde Park on 27 April in connection with a march and meeting by the Muslim solidarity committee and a counter-demonstration. The nationalities of those arrested were:

Bahrainian	1
British	8
Iranian	5
Iraqi	16
Jordanian	4
Kuwaiti	1

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department issues to magistrates any guidance with regard to the exercise of their powers under section 93 (7) of the Road Traffic Act 1972 relating to the retaking of a driving test; if so, what is this guidance; if he will make a copy available to the House; and if he will make a statement.

No such guidance has been issued by the Home Office. However, the relevant case law is reflected in the handbook for newly appointed justices of the peace, which is issued by the Lord Chancellor's Department to magistrates upon appointment and of which a copy has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-Commonwealth persons, by country, have been granted rights for (a) permanent and (b) temporary residence in the United Kingdom over the last five years.

The number of foreign nationals accepted for settlement in each of the last five years by nationality is given in table 18(b) of the annual Command Paper " Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom 1979" (Cmnd 7875), published on 18 April, 1980. Details of those admitted to the United Kingdom for a limited period are published annually in table 1(b) of the same Command Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people currently serving custodial sentences need to be released from prison in order to reduce the numbers to an acceptable level in (a) England and Wales and (b) Greater London in the years 1980–81.

We are not at the present time convinced that any sentenced prisoners should be released from penal establishments in England or Wales for the specific purpose of relieving overcrowding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of women currently serving sentences in Her Majesty's prison, Holloway are prostitutes.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fine defaulters are currently serving prison sentences in (a) England and Wales and (b) Greater London.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought for stealing 3½p of electricity for the most convenient period of time; and what was the cost to public funds of such prosecutions.

The information collected centrally on persons prosecuted for the offence of abstracting electricity does not include the value of the theft. The total number of persons proceeded against in 1978 for this offence is published in " Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1978 " (table 1 (a), offence classification 43, Cmnd. 7670).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon.

PERSONS ARRESTED FOR OR PROSECUTED FOR OFFENCES OF ROBBERY AND THE VALUE OF PROPERTY RECOVERED METROPOLITAN POLICE DISTRICT
			Number of persons*
Year		Arrests†	Proceeded against in magistrates' courts	Found guilty	Value of property recovered £ million
1972	…	··	··	··	0·4
1973	…	··	··	··	0·2
1974	…	··	··	··	0·3
1975	…	1,782	··	814	0·5
1976	…	1,724	1,471	1,067	0·9
1977	…	1,855	1,502	872	0·3
1978	…	1,948	1,829	1,045	0·4
* Those arrested for robbery may be proceeded against for another offence and those proceeded against for robbery may not have been arrested for robbery. Proceedings may be recorded in a year subsequent to that of an arrest and the finding of guilt may be in a year subsequent to that of the proceedings in the magistrates' court.
† Persons proceeded against by means of a charge, referral to a juvenile bureau, a caution or in some other way. Arrests not followed by any action are not included.
··Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all countries, except for the Commonwealth countries, for which visas are required.

A list of the foreign countries whose nationals require visas for the United Kingdom is given in the appendix to the statement of changes in immigration rules (HC 394). Visas will also be required by Iranians from 19 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the findings of the inter-departmental working party set up to consider the position of those patients in mental hospitals who are disenfranchised.

I have been asked to reply.

[pursuant to his reply, 29th April 1980, c. 458]: The only information available is given in the following table:The Government are considering this matter as part of their general review of electoral law and procedures and hope to come to a conclusion before the Summer Recess.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 May.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Northwich (Mr. Goodlad).

asked the Attorney-General what is the present salary of the Master of the Rolls; and what was the amount and date of the last increase.

From 1 April 1980, £34,000 a year, the rate recommended by the Review Body on Top Salaries as appropriate at 1 April 1979. This rate was applicable in full for pension purposes from 1 April 1979; but the salary in payment from April 1979 to March 1980 was £30,261.

asked the Prime Minister if she will set up an investigation into security hazards within the Civil Service.

No.

asked the Attorney-General if he will institute proceedings against the general secretary and members of the general council of the Trades Union Congress to seek an injunction to restrain them from inciting breaches of contract between workers and their employers on 14 May, other than in contemplation or furtherance of genuine trade disputes.

No. There is no ground upon which it would be possible for me to bring proceedings in these circumstances.

asked the Prime Minister what further initiatives are planned by the Western Allies to bring about a reduction of tension in the Middle East, including the safe and speedy return of the American hostages held in Iran.

The two major areas of tension in the Middle East are the Arab/Israel dispute and the repercussions of the Iranian revolution, both on other States in the area and on Iran's relations with the United States. No further initiatives are in immediate prospect about which the House has not already been informed, but we are in constant touch with other Governments, both directly and within the framework of the Western alliance and other organisations, in the search for diplomatic means which might lower tension and secure the early release of the American hostages.

asked the Prime Minister what subjects she intends to place on the agenda at the next meeting of Heads of Government of the European Economic Community.

There is no fixed agenda. I expect to discuss major current international issues, both political and economic, including the Community's contribution to discussions at the Summit meeting of major Western Powers later that month. It is too soon to say what else might be discussed.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to pay an official visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I do not believe it would be useful for me to do so at the present time.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with progress in implementing the policies outlined in the Gracious Speech.

I am never fully satisfied with our rate of progress.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects next to meet the President of the United States of America.

I expect to meet President Carter at the Economic Summil Meeting in Venice on 22 and 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made with the setting up of elected assemblies for Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales.

The Government have no plans for elected Assemblies in Scotland or Wales. With regard to Northern Ireland, where there is over 50 years experience of devolution and a general wish for it to return, the Government are committed to finding a way to transfer powers to locally elected representatives. Following the adjourned political conference the Government will be putting forward further proposals for the fullest discussion and consultation.

asked the Prime Minister when last she met the leaders of the Confederation of British Industry.

I meet representatives of the CBI from time to time at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as neccessary.

asked the Prime Minister if she will instruct all Ministers that they should in future follow the practice of the Secretary of State for Industry in the case of Sir William Barlow as proposed by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, and refuse to sanction golden handshakes for retiring chairmen of nationalised industries who will already be in receipt of index-linked pensions.

It is not the Government's policy to pay compensation to those nationalised industry chairmen and board members who retire normally at the end of an appointment or resign at their own initiative. In cases where an appointment is terminated prematurely by a Minister, the case for compensation must be judged on its merits, having regard to the board member's entitlement under his terms of appointment.

asked the Prime Minister if she will conduct a review into the costs and numbers of civil servants engaged in research and development for central Government.

Research and development will be reviewed along with other functions performed by Government Departments, as part of the process of drawing up plans for achieving the reduction in the size of the Civil Service which I announced earlier today. Reviews of research and development are already in hand in some Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) which local authorities have not yet reached the 1971 guideline figures on places for the education of mentally handicaped children of school age (a) in the community for children with severe mental handicap living in the community, (b) for children coming by day from hospital and (c) in hospitals for day patients;(2) what is the total number of places for the education of mentally handicapped children of school age (a) in the community for children with severe mental handicap living in the community, (b) for children coming by day from hospital and (c) in hospital for (i) in-patients and (ii) day-patients.

My Department does not maintain statistics of school places provided by or available to local education authorities for particular groups of handicapped children, as distinct from the total numbers of such children who have been ascertained as requiring special educational treatment. The planning figures given in table 5 of the 1971 White Paper " Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" do not provide a direct test of the adequacy of the educational provision made in their areas by authorities since this will be affected by variable factors such as the location of hospitals for the mentally handicapped and the pattern of local provision for the residential accommodation of children with mental disability.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what encouragement he is giving to industrial sponsorship in tertiary education; and if he will make a statement.

Provision is made for individual students in higher education to receive £500 from an industrial sponsor without any reduction in their grant. The research councils co-operate with industry in a number of schemes for the support of postgraduate students and in funding some research projects in higher education. The Government join with industry in financing the national engineering scholarships for students on first degree courses in engineering and are continuing to explore other ways of fostering collaboration between higher education and industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which individuals will be involved in the inquiry into the future of educational arrangements in inner London; whether oral as well as written evidence will be taken; and when he expects the inquiry to be completed.

This is an internal Government inquiry and will be conducted so as to involve all the Ministers concerned and their Departments. All relevant written representations from outside will be taken into account. The inquiry will be completed as quickly as is consistent with a thorough examination of all the issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will

			1976–77 actual	1977–78 actual	1978–79 actual	1979–80*	1979 Survey prices 1980–81 planned
Current	…	…	75	75	77	77	77·5
Capital	…	…	9	6	8	6	4
* As planned at the time of the RSG settlement. Information on actual spending in 1979–80 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that he is in possession of accurate numbers of overseas persons studying in the United Kingdom at Government and non-governmental places of instruction.

For the purposes of the statistics required by my Department, the definition of an overseas student is the same as that concerning the requirement to pay fees at the overseas rate. Separate statistics are collected for universities by the University Grants Committee and for maintained, assisted and grant-aided establishments of further education by my Department. In both cases the classification of individual students as " overseas" is determined by the individual establishment concerned. I am satisfied with the statistics collected on this basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the acreage of productive woodland owned (a) by the Forestry Commission and seek to maintain a ratio between the provisions of finance to local authority youth and community projects and support of voluntary organisations; and if he will publish the expenditure on local authority youth work in each of the last four years, together with projected figures for 1980–81.

The Government's expenditure plans assume that current expenditure on youth and community projects will be held at about the present level both in the case of spending by local authorities and of central support for voluntary organisations. Capital expenditure is planned to fall in both cases. The following table gives the information available on local authority spending on the youth service and related areas:(b) by private landlords at five-yearly intervals since 1945.

Figures are available only for the years shown:

Year	Forestry Commission	Private Woodlands
1947	534,000	1,717,000
1957	1,121,000	1,643,000
1960	1,283,000	1,689,000
1965	1,550,000	1,814,000
1970	1,744,000	1,919,000
1975	1,999,000	2,071,000
1979	2,145,000	2,120,000

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a list of the subsidies, direct and indirect, given to (a) the fish catching industry, (b) fish docks and (c) the fish processing industry in each EEC country together with the size of their respective fishing fleets.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 6 May about subsidies in other EEC countries. Following is the most recent published information about the size of the fishing fleets of other EEC countries:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who has made a holding objection, and which local authority has submitted informal comments, in respect of the application to him by the Yorkshire water authority for a variation of its main river map in relation to the River Went.

The holding objection was lodged by the North Yorkshire county council but it has now been withdrawn. The informal comments were submitted by the city of Wakefield metropolitan district council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether (1) in the light of last week's trawler lay-ups in Grimsby, he will take steps to impose an emergency levy on fish imports;(2) whether, in the light of last week's laying up of six trawlers by Lindsey Trawlers with a loss of 60 fishermen's jobs, he will urgently increase the temporary aid given to the industry in order to prevent further lay-ups;(3) whether, in the light of the 60 million deutschemark subsidy to the German fishing industry for 1980, he will take steps to increase subsidies to the British industry proportionately.