asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will name the members of the committee to inquire into the powers of the Inland Revenue for search and entry and its terms of reference.

My hon. Friend no doubt has in mind the committee to review the enforcement powers of Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, which I announced in reply to my hon. Friend

(£ million)
		1979–80		1980–81
		Petrol	Derv	Petrol	Derv
(a) value added tax	…	425	*	520	*
(b) excise duty	…	1,975	655	2,535	750
* Not available, but likely to be small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated revenue from value added tax on motor vehicles in 1979–80 and 1980–81.

About £800 million in 1979–80 and £1,100 million in 1980–81.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the first construction work to start in the first enterprise zone.

The fiscal and other proposed concessions for each zone will not come into effect until the date specified in the designation order. I expect the first enterprise zones to be designated in the new year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last received written advice from the Advisory Panel—(section 482, Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1980); and what action he has taken as a result.

My right hon. and learned Friend received confidential advice from the Advisory Panel on 10 the Member for Rochester and Chatham (Mrs. Fenner on 28 February—[Vol. 979, c. 700–1]. The selection of members of the committee is not yet complete. A further announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated revenue from (a) value added tax and (b) excise duty on motor spirit and derv, respectively, in 1979–80 and 1980–81.

The estimates are:April 1980 concerning an application for Treasury consent under section 482. He subsequently reached a decision in this case in the light of the advice, including that of the advisory panel, submitted to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact on the Government's economic policy he would envisage in removing limitations on the nationalised industries from embarking on major investment programmes financed by sources other than Her Majesty's Government.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last received written advice from the Review Board for Government Contracts; and what action he has taken as a result.

The Review Board for Government Contracts undertakes periodic reviews—normally at three-yearly intervals—of the profit formula arrangements, and customarily makes recommendations when reporting on them. Reports are submitted to the Treasury and the Confederation of British Industry, and form the basis of discussion between them. The board last reported in July 1977. The recommendations then made were accepted by both sides, and were acted upon. The 1977 report was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office under the title " Report on the Second General Review of the Profit Formula for Non-Competitive Government Contracts ".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last received written advice from the Royal Mint Advisory Committee; and what action he has taken as a result.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he last received written advice from the Advisory Panel on Treasure Trove in Scotland; and what action he has taken as a result; (2) when he last received written advice from the Treasure Trove Reviewing Committee; and what action he has taken as a result.

Both the advisory panel in Scotland and the reviewing committee have been able to carry out their tasks without reference to me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will take steps to enable the British Railways Board to borrow sterling in the United Kingdom in the same way as it can borrow in terms of foreign currency;(2) if the British Railways Board, in the light of the Government's regulation of exchange control, is now able to borrow money abroad without limit; and if not, if he has any proposals to remove the restriction on the amount it may borrow.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of investigations into illegal trade practices, involving false declaration of product particulars including country of origin, among textiles and clothing goods, which have been undertaken by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise since 1 January 1973; and if he will make a statement regarding the Government's policy on enforcement of import regulations by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of domestic ratepayers; how many income taxpayers are not also ratepayers; and how many ratepayers pay no income tax.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 May 1980, c. 280]: The estimated number of domestic ratepayers at April 1979, the latest information available, is about 21·4 million.I regret that the further information required is not available from administrative sources.The number of taxpayers—counting married couples as one—in both 1979–80 and 1980–81 is about 21·3 million. Inland Revenue records do not distinguish taxpayers who are or are not ratepayers.The family expenditure survey results for 1977 indicate that at that time about a quarter of ratepayers were not taxpayers, and about a quarter of taxpaying units—counting married couples as one—were not ratepayers, though the survey information does not give a precise determination of a person's tax position.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the size of the economically active population in (a) Great Britain, (b) the North-West, (c) Merseyside and (d) Birkenhead for each year since 1945; and if he will subdivide the data accordingly to whether they were male or female and according to whether they were aged (i) under 25 years, (ii) 25 to 55 years, (iii) 55 to 60 years, (iv) over 60 years, or according to other convenient age bands.

Following are the numbers economically active in 1971. The data are taken from the results of the 1971 census of population and relate to areas as constituted in that year. Comparable

ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION 1971
Thousands
						Age
				15–24 years	25–54 years	55–59 years	60 years and over	All ages
Birkenhead County Borough
Males	…	…	…	8·6	23·7	3·8	4·1	40·3
Females	…	…	…	6·3	12·5	2·2	1·8	22·8
Merseyside Conurbation
Males	…	…	…	75·7	211·3	34·3	39·9	361·3
Females	…	…	…	58·1	120·5	22·0	17·9	218·4
North West Region
Males	…	…	…	379·7	1,177·5	185·3	214·9	1,957·3
Females	…	…	…	280·9	692·6	119·6	94·3	1,187·3
Great Britain
Males	…	…	…	3,018·7	9,597·8	1,502·5	1,797·8	15,916·9
Females	…	…	…	2,242·7	5,320·9	871·4	751·0	9,186·1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate his Department has made of the number of job losses in United Kingdom manufacturing industry as a result of import penetration in the 1970s; and if he will make a statement.

No estimate has been made of job losses in manufacturing industry as a result of import penetration. Import penetration reflects the growth in world trade, which has lead to increased exports as well as increased imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of employees claiming unfair dismissal in Scotland were successful in being reinstated in their employment by appealing to an industrial tribunal during 1979.

Information on the outcome of unfair dismissal cases is available only for Great Britain as a whole, and not the regions. The figures for 1979 are not yet available. In 1978, however, of the employees whose claims of unfair dismissal were upheld by an industrial tribunal, 2 per cent.—or 70—obtained orders for reinstatement and 1 per cent.—or 36—obtained orders for re-engagement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why the Advisory

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people were employed in the following industries in the Macclesfield constituency as an average in 1979 (a) man-made fibres production, spinning, doubling and weaving and filament yarn processing, (b) woollen and worsted, knitting, (c) carpets, (d) finishing, (e) clothing and (f) other textile sectors;(2) How many people were employed in the paper and board industry in the Macclesfield constituency as an average in 1979.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why the Race Relations Advisory Board is being continued; and to what extent its functions duplicate the work of the Commission for Racial Equality.

If the reference is to the Race Relations Employment Advisory Group chaired by my noble Friend the Minister of State for Employment, the group is being continued because it provides Ministers with useful practical advice on matters relating to the employment of the ethnic minorities at negligible cost. The functions of the group, which includes the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality among its membership, do not duplicate the work of the CRE, which has itself sought views from the group on a number of issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many

				Fatal (a) accidents	Incidence rates per 100,000 at risk
Year
				Industry
				Fishing		Coal mining	Construction
1961	…	…	…	30	114·5	39·8	22·1
1962	…	…	…	44	168·6	45·1	22·0
1963	…	…	…	24	96·4	46·9	19·7
1964	…	…	…	30	123·5	38·4	20·6
1965	…	…	…	47	196·7	44·6	17·0
1966	…	…	…	33	143·5	36·0	21·1
1967	…	…	…	20	88·1	36·1	15·8
1968	…	…	…	84	385·3	31·4	19·1
1969	…	…	…	30	140·9	30·6	22·4
1970	…	…	…	23	111·7	29·9	18·5
1971	…	…	…	26	122·6	24·2	19·6
1972	…	…	…	23	104·1	22·1	18·7
1973	…	…	…	28	123·9	29·6	21·6
1974	…	…	…	73	320·2	18·7	16·0
1975	…	…	…	29	135·5	24·7	17·7
1976	…	…	…	30	143·5	19·6	15·3
1977	…	…	…	28	153·8	15·8	13·1(b)
1978	…	…	…	45	247·3	25·4	12·1(b)
(a) Includes missing at sea.
(b) Provisional.
Source:
Fishing: Department of Trade.
Others: Health and Safety Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he last received written advice from the Special Programmes Board; and what action he has taken as a result.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1980, c. 424]: The Special Programmes Board reports to the Manpower Services Commission on the progress and development of the youth opportunities programme and special temporary employment programme.My right hon. Friend last received written advice from the Manpower Services Commission about special programmes in a letter of 3 December 1979 from its chairman, Sir Richard O'Brien, concerning the commission's recommendations about provision in 1980–81. My right hon. Friend announced the Government's

Following is the information. It is customary for accident incidence rates to be stated per 100,000 at risk.decision on provision in 1980–81 in a statement to the House on 14 February.—[Vol. 978, c. 1755–56.]

asked the Secretary of State for employment when he last received written advice from the Advisory Committee on the Resettlement of Ex-Regular Members of Her Majesty's Forces; and what action he has since taken as a result.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1980, c. 424]: The Advisory Committee on the Resettlement of Ex-Regulars advises the Manpower Services Commission on arrangements for the resettlement in civilian life of ex-Regular Service personnel. The most recent meeting of the committee was on 15 January 1980. Advice given by the committee is being taken into account in reviewing MSC services for ex-Regulars in the light of expenditure and staffing reductions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will tabulate all the Clegg awards as a percentage of the original wage; what were the dates on which they were awarded; how many employees were affected; what was the total annual cost; what percentage of the award was a comparability award as opposed to a normal annual increase; and what was the total annual cost of the award and the total of these last totals.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1980, c. 303]: The following

Group		Number in group	Estimated percentage increase in earnings	Implementation dates	Estimated cost in a full year £ million
Local Authority Manuals	…	1,100,000	10·9	1 August 1979 1 April 1980	236·50
University Manuals	…	31,000	6·3		1·90
NHS Ancillaries	…	270,000	11·7		83·20
Ambulancemen	…	17,000	23·0		18·60
Nurses and Midwives	…	491,000	19·6		311·00
Professions Supplementary to Medicine	…	37,000	14·2		19·60
British Waterways Board Salaried Staffs	…	830	6·1	3 September 1979	0·27
				1 September 1980
Teachers	…	600,000	18·2	1 January 1980 1 September 1980	640·00
1,311·07

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has now completed the process of consultation on the final report of the Advisory Committee on Asbestos and when he expects to make regulations to implement the recommendation of the report.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1980]: Since my answer to the hon. Member on 20 March—[Vol. 981, c. 265]—further comments on the advisory committee's final report have been received by the Health and Safety Executive, and I understand that the outstanding observations are expected to arrive before the end of May. When all the submissions have been collated the Government will decide as soon as possible on their response to the report's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many receptions into prison there were in 1979 of persons convicted of drunkenness offences.

The number of receptions into prison department establishments in England and Wales of persons convicted of offences of drunkenness is published annually in " Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (tables 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1 of the issue for 1978, (Cmnd. 7626). Figures for 1979 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money currently is contained in the licensing compensation funds.

The latest available returns from the 58 compensation authorities show that on 31 December 1978 the total amount held in the funds was £4,200,895.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of people admitted from abroad into the United Kingdom for (a) permanent residence and (b) on a temporary basis during 1979; and what proportion came from the New Commonwealth and the Indian Subcontinent.

The numbers accepted for settlement on arrival in the United Kingdom and the numbers admitted for a limited period are published annually by nationality/citizenship in the Command Paper " Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom "—tables 1 (a) and 1(b) of the issue for 1979, Cmnd. 7875 published on 18 April 1980. Of those accepted for settlement on arrival in 1979, 65 per cent. were citizens of New Commonwealth countries and Pakistan and 45 per cent. were citizens of countries of the Indian Sub-continent. For those admitted for a limited period the corresponding percentages were respectively 7 per cent. and 2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's estimate of the number of people currently using cannabis in England and Wales.

There is no official estimate of the number of people using cannabis. The only information readily available on such users relates to the number of persons found guilty in the United Kingdom of offences involving cannabis, published in table 5 of Home Office statistical bulletin 6/79, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be in a position to publish the report of the Royal Commission on criminal procedure.

I understand that the Royal Commission hopes to complete its work by about the end of this year and expects to publish its report as soon as practicable thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he holds his proposed discussions with the various authorities concerning the stopping of vandalism and disturbances on trains and buses, whether he will consider advising the introduction of the two-way radio contact system between the police being extended to include direct contact with the crews and staffs of public transport and the like.

Various proposals on these lines were considered at the conference on violence on public transport held on 6 May. The British Railways Board and London Transport Executive informed the conference that they are giving considerable thought to ways of extending and improving the present radio communication system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why food was sent in to the Iranian terrorists on Friday 3 May; why special food was purchased from a Persian restaurant; what was the cost of the food and drink, and so on, supplied; and whether he will make a statement.

This was an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police. I understand that the cost was £94.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of (a) drunks and (b) mentally subnormal persons who are currently being detained in Her Majesty's prisons in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Greater London.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the past, present and possible future terrorist and murder attacks made in Great Britain by persons from Arabian States, he will instruct the immigration officers at the various ports of entry into Great Britain to keep a more strict watch and control upon entrants from the Arabian States and to make sure of these people giving bona fide reasons for entry and proper addresses of residence on entry.

Immigration officers are well aware that counter-terrorist precautions are to be given high priority. In the light of recent events port and visa staff are aware of the need for extra vigilance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iranian nationals have been deported from the United Kingdom since May 1979; and for what reasons in each case.

The information from 1 May 1979 to 31 March 1980 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the responsibility of the United Kingdom Government for the good government of the Channel Islands is being fulfilled.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which former Prime Ministers have a bodyguard; and whether he will arrange for any who so desire to be allocated such a guard.

It is not the practice to disclose details of protection arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the cost to his Department of the collection and publication of details relating to British companies trading in South Africa.

The only cost incurred by my Department arises from the summary of reports made under the European code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa—see Official Report, 16 April 1980, c. 653–54. No staff in my Department are engaged wholly, or even primarily, on this work, and costs cannot therefore be estimated with precision. Subject to that proviso, total staff and printing costs associated with this work in the past 12 months are estimated at about £7,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce a programme of gradual equalisation of landing charges at airports, in order to alleviate the financial difficulties of certain provincial airports.

No. Charges should reflect the cost of providing airport services and should remain a matter to be determined by the airport authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report the names of the chairman, vice-chairman and the part-time members of the National Consumer Council, stating in each case the fees and expenses paid.

The chairman of the National Consumer Council is Mr. Michael Shanks—salary £6,954 per annum—Mrs. Joan Macintosh, CBE is vice-chairman—salary £6,666 per annum—and the other members—who each receive a salary of £1,690 per annum—are:

• Mrs. Mary Clark.
• Mr. Maurice Chapman, M.B.E.
• Mr. Alexander Crawford.
• Mrs. Nan Douglass.
• Mrs. Kate Foss.
• Mr. Kenneth Glynn.
• Mr. John Hatch.
• The Rev. David Jennings.
• Mrs. Patricia Lambert.
• Professor Naomi McIntosh.
• Mrs. Shelagh Salter.
• Mr. Brendon Sewill, C.B.E.
• Mr. Ramindar Singh, J.P.
• Mrs. Elizabeth Stanton.
• Mrs. Rachel Waterhouse, C.B.E.

Members receive a salary, not fees. They are entitled to claim travelling and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred on the business of the council on a basis similar to that for senior civil servants, but information concerning such expenses is available only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he has had discussions with the British Airline Pilots Association concerning the two-man cockpit layout in the new 757 and 767 airliners which are being offered by Boeing to airlines, including British Airways, as an alternative to a three-seat configuration; and, if so, what has been the result;(2) if he has had discussions with British Airways concerning the two-man cockpit layout in the new 757 and 767 airliners which are being offered by Boeing as an alternative to a three-seat configuration; and, if so, what has been the result.

No. It will be for the Civil Aviation Authority, who is responsible for aviation safety, in granting a certificate of airworthiness, to specify the minimum number of flight deck crew.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's attitude on the recommendations in the report on the employment of non-domiciled seafarers, which had been adopted by the previous Government.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, implementation of the recommendations of the report has been delayed by objections raised by the Governments of the countries in which most of the seamen concerned are domiciled. If either side of the shipping industry has any suggestions for solving the problem the Government would be prepared to discuss them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement concerning the contribution made by Her Majesty's Government in supporting and enhancing the role of the Marine Safety Corps established by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation following an initiative by the previous Government.

Her Majesty's Government continue to support the concept of the Marine Safety Corps and endeavour to provide experts when requested to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's attitude towards proposals by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to phase out flags of convenience.

In the view of the OECD Governments represented at the UNCTAD meeting in January the discussions failed to establish the case for coercive international action to phase out registries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's attitude towards proposals advanced in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development for a bulk liner code.

There are no proposals for an international convention on the bulk trades on the model of the United Nations liner code. At UNCTAD V, all the industrialised countries voted against resolution 120 (v) which supports the principle of cargo-sharing in bulk trades. The Government continue to believe that bulk trades are best served by a freely competitive regime.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what steps he has taken to identify the extent of existing outward processed trade in textiles and clothing goods; and what steps he has taken to suggest amendments to import forms, and production inquiries for the textiles and clothing industries, and importers, prior to the approval of the European Commission's draft regulation on outward processing;(2) if he has considered both the direct and indirect effects of the draft regulation on outward processed trade on the textiles and clothing industry in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the indirect effects of the proposal.

The draft regulation on outward processing will establish an administrative framework for separate quotas for outward processed traffic with the Mediterranean countries. The United Kingdom Government have no current plans to establish any such quotas, so the question of special arrangements to administer them does not at present arise. In the absence of such quotas the regulation will have no direct effect on the United Kingdom industry. I would not expect any significant indirect effect, from new administrative arrangements in other member States, either. Separate statistics for outward processed trade from the United Kingdom are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in the light of his answers to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley on 30 November 1979 and 13 March 1980, what are the reasons for the recent increase in time taken for completion of textile and clothing dumping investigations; and what steps he intends to take to assist industry in the completion of the European Commission's dumping questionnaire, and to place pressure on the European Commission to give priority to textile and clothing dumping investigations.

The single case referred to in my answer given to the hon. Member on 30 November 1979 was of unusual complexity in view of the nature of the products involved. It would be wrong to draw generalised conclusions from one case. I do not believe that it would be right to place pressure on the European Commission to give priority to textile and clothing investigations at the expense of the legitimate interests of other sectors of industry. The Commission is well aware of the importance which my right hon. Friend and I attach to the speedy conclusion of all investigations. To that end my officials are always ready to give what assistance they can to any United Kingdom industry faced with dumping problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last received written advice from the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites; and what action he has taken as a result.

The Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites meets regularly three times each year. At its most recent meeting on 26 March, it made various recommendations to my Department about the designation of a new historic wreck site and about a number of applications for licences to survey and excavate existing designated sites. These recommendations have been accepted and are now being implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last received written advice from the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Household Electrical Equipment; and what action he has taken as a result.

The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Household Electrical Equipment does not submit written advice, but the views of the members, who represent a wide range of interests, are invaluable in helping discharge my Department's responsibilities for the safety of electrical equipment, including the administration of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations (1975).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last received written advice from the British Overseas Trade Advisory Council, and what action he has taken as a result.

The British Overseas Trade Advisory Council meets two or three times a year and these meetings constitute the principal channel by which the council tenders advice. The last meeting of the council, at which my right hon. Friend presided, was on 23 April, when the council advised on changes in the Government's export promotion services and on some current problems in international trade. While the council does not normally submit collective written advice, individual members do write to my Department about matters arising at the council's meetings. The council's advice, whatever the form in which it is given, is taken into account in formulating policy on the matters in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last received written advice from the Cinematograph Films Council; and what action he has taken as a result.

Last month. It concerned a request from a trade body to amend a recent statutory instrument on the Eady levy. The council advised that it was too soon to review the amendment and I agreed. The trade body concerned has been informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last received written advice from the Distribution Statistics Advisory Committee; and what action he has taken as a result.

The committee's function is to advise the Department of Trade on matters concerning distribution statistics. It does not normally give advice direct to Ministers, but its recommendations are incorporated in official submissions to Ministers whenever proposals are made for new statistical inquiries into the distributive trades or for changes to existing inquiries. The most recent occasion was in November 1979 when proposals for the 1980 retailing inquiry which had previously been agreed with the committee were submitted for the approval of departmental Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last received written advice from the Export Guarantees Advisory Council; and what action he has taken as a result.

It is not the function of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council to provide myself or my right hon. Friend with written advice. The council is a body of senior business men and City representatives who give their time free of charge and who meet regularly, usually monthly, to discuss the provision of guarantees under section 1 of the Export Guarantees and Overseas Investment Act 1978 and to set limits for individual markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last received written advice from the Insurance Advisory Panel; and what action he has taken as a result.

The Insurance Advisory Panel does not provide me with collective written advice. The insurance advisers are usually consulted individually about matters within their own particular expertise and experience and their advice is taken into consideration in relation to the exercise of my responsibilities under the Insurance Companies Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last received written advice from the Overseas Projects Board; and what action he has taken as a result.

On 31 January 1980 the Overseas Projects Board advised that the powers of the British Airports Authority be extended by legislation to enable it to play an enhanced role in exports. This advice has been accepted by the Government and an amendment will be brought forward to the Civil Aviation Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) when he last received written advice from the Standing Advisory Committee on Patents; and what action he has taken as a result;(2) when he last received written advice from the Standing Advisory Committee on Trade Marks; and what action he has taken as a result.

The practice in respect of both committees is for meetings to be held to discuss matters on which advice is desired, but on individual topics the Department often consults the committee members by correspondence. The last round of correspondence was in February for patents and April for trade marks. The advice received assisted the Department in formulating amendments to the Patent Rules 1978 and in deciding whether Her Majesty's Government should intervene in a case before the European Court of Justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last received written advice from the Standing Advisory Committee on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods in Ships; and what action he has taken as a result.

The Standing Advisory Committee on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods in Ships meets at roughly monthly intervals to consider and advise my Department on technical, shipping and environmental matters concerned with the safe transport of dangerous goods in ships. The committee's recommendations are reflected in the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Rules 1978 (as amended), my Department's Blue Book and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. The committee's recent recommendations concerning durable labelling and also the transport of explosives on passenger ships are expected to be implemented shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the operational controls on the movement of air traffic, civilian and military, at the following points of deployment of British forces: Cyprus, Gibraltar, Belize, the Falkland Islands, Hong Kong and Diego Garcia.

RAF Akrotiri and RAF Gibraltar are MOD owned and operated airfields and all air traffic movements there are under the direct control of the responsible RAF commanders. The airfields at Belize, the Falkland Islands and Hong Kong are civil airports and operations there are a matter for the local administration. However at all these five locations landings by foreign military aircraft are subject to prior diplomatic approval by the British Government. The arrangements for the control of flights at Diego Garcia are as set out in the 1976 exchange of notes between the United Kingdom and United States Governments concerning the United States Navy support facility on the island.—Cmnd. 6413.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what current study he is making of the use of modern electric scanners to ensure that diplomatic bags are not abused by the carriage of weapons.

Diplomatic missions have been left in no doubt that a very serious view would be taken if evidence emerged that any mission was abusing the diplomatic bag to import weapons into this country covertly. They have also been reminded of our regulations on the import, possession and carrying of firearms and explosives. We keep ourselves up to date on the techniques mentioned by the hon. Member, but it would not be in the public interest to be more specific about the steps we take to enforce the regulations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has yet taken a decision on the economic areas in which the United Kingdom will support United States sanctions on Iran.

The Iran (Temporary Powers) Bill enabling the Government to bring into force certain sanctions on Iran is now before Parliament. The Bill provides for entry into force on 17 May. However, no decisions on specific measures to be introduced against Iran under this and other legislation will be made until after the European Community Foreign Ministers meeting on 17 May which is to agree a common approach amongst European Community member States.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what assessment he has made on the extent to which the imposition of sanctions on Iran would accelerate the release of the United States hostages.

If it is decided to impose economic sanctions in the absence of decisive progress towards the release of the hostages, they will be designed to indicate to all concerned in Iran that they cannot expect to enjoy prosperity in cooperation with the West if they persist in this breach of international law.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what recent consultations have taken place with the United States authorities over Iran.

My right hon. and noble Friend visited the United States on 3–6 May. Iran was one of the main issues which he discussed with the American authorities.My hon. and noble Friend assured the President of the Government's full support for further peaceful steps which seem likely to assist in securing the release of the hostages. He made it clear that we would not be prepared to support military action in Iran. The President expressed appreciation for our support on the issue of sanctions.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the latest situation in Iran.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the latest situation in Iran.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Mr. Temple-Morris).

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the latest position with regard to the United Kingdom's diplomatic relations with Iran.

The Nine decided in Luxembourg on 22 April to reduce the size of their embassies in Tehran and to call for a reduction in the size of the Iranian embassies in their countries. In the light of this, and other circumstances, our Embassy was reduced on 23 April. Its size is being kept constantly under review.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what reply he has received to the representations he has made to the South African Government following the confiscation of the passport of Bishop Tutu.

We have not received any formal reply. I am, however, satisfied that the South African Government are fully aware of the extent of the concern in this country over the withdrawal of Bishop Tutu's passport.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects to meet his United States counterpart to discuss communications between Governments.

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for a meeting. Communication and consultation between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Administration are close and constant. The hon. Member will have noted the successful visit which my right hon. and noble Friend paid to Washington last week.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to consultations with Commonwealth Governments on important issues of foreign policy.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to consult Commonwealth Governments, both collectively and individually, on such issues as are deemed appropriate.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose the calling of a summit conference of world leaders to discuss the deteriorating world situation.

We are in close and continuous consultation with our partners and allies. My right hon. and noble Friend, for example, paid a very useful visit to the United States last week. A meeting of Allied Foreign and Defence Ministers is taking place in Brussels today. Several Western leaders will be meeting in Venice on 22/23 June. It is not clear, however, that a specially convened summit conference of world leaders would help to reduce international tension at this stage.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further steps he proposes to take in conjunction with his European Economic Community colleagues to assist the role of the United Nations forces in Southern Lebanon and to restore the authority of the Lebanese Government in that area.

We and our partners in the Nine have both publicly and privately expressed our concern about the situation in Southern Lebanon. We still continue to support efforts to enable UNIFIL to fulfil its mandate and we welcome the initiatives being undertaken by the UNIFIL contributor countries to improve the effectiveness of the force.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a further statement on the Government's intentions following the invasion of Afghanistan by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The Government continue to condemn the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Only the complete withdrawal of Soviet troops will resolve the problem.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the most recent representations he has made to the United States of America regarding the strategic arms limitation treaty.

The future of the SALT 2 treaty is often discussed at all levels between ourselves and the Americans, most recently on 5 May when my right hon. and noble Friend was in Washington. The Americans are well aware of the Government's hope that the treaty will be ratified in due course.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the Middle East initiative being considered by the EEC Foreign Ministers.

The European Council repeated at its meeting on 28 April its belief that only a comprehensive settlement can bring peace to the Middle East. Foreign Ministers of the Nine are to report on the problem at the Council's next meeting in June. We have no wish to undermine current peace efforts but, with our partners in the Nine, are looking for ways in which we might be able to contribute helpfully to the search for a settlement.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the Diego Garcia base.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the House on 29 April — [Vol. 983, c. 1144.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further initiatives the United Kingdom now intends to make following the recent report of Dr. Waldheim to the United Nations about the prospects for a settlement in Cyprus.

The Government continue to regard intercommunal negotiations under Dr. Waldheim's auspices as offering the best hope for progress towards a settlement. We continue to give full support to United Nations efforts to reconvene the talks, and do not think it appropriate to take any initiative that would risk cutting across those efforts.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he has any plans to visit Israel.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in relation to the West Bank of the River Jordan.

We regard the West Bank as occupied territory from which, as part of a peace settlement and subject to any minor border rectifications negotiated between the parties, Israel will have to withdraw in accordance with Security Council resolution 242. The future of the West Bank after Israeli withdrawal is a matter for negotiation between the parties directly concerned.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is satisfied with the present way in which the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other East European countries are carrying out their obligations under the Helsinki agreement.

No. We expect to report fully within the next few weeks when a further six-monthly assessment of the implementation of the Helsinki Final Act will be made to the House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of Colonel Gaddafi's recent threat to the lives of Libyan nationals living in Great Britain and the recent killing of two Libyan exiles, in the United Kingdom, his right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will order the immediate expulsion of Libyan Embassy staff from the United Kingdom.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made to the House on 12 May.—[Vol. 984, c. 846–47.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations are being made to try and secure the early release of Danny de Souza, a British subject, sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment in Turkey on 7 May 1973.

Mr. de Souza was convicted and sentenced on 29 December 1975 in accordance with Turkish law for a drugs offence. There are currently no grounds upon which we can base representations. I understand that there is provision in Turkish law for remission of sentence subject to good behaviour which could substantially reduce the length of Mr. de Souza's term of imprisonment.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will raise the case of Raoul Wallenberg at the forthcoming Madrid conference for review of the Helsinki Agreement.

We are considering the most appropriate way to demonstrate at the Madrid meeting our concern about abuses of human rights in the Soviet Union. Meanwhile we shall continue to do all we can to help the Swedish Government in their inquiries about Mr. Wallenberg.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the total amount of funds of British residents now blocked in Zimbabwe; and what steps he is taking to get these funds released.

No figure is available for the total amount of funds of British residents now blocked in Zimbabwe. This issue has been raised with the Zimbabwean officials who are at present in London to discuss debt questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, further to his reply of 8 May, either his Department or the British Steel Corporation will insure Mr. Ian MacGregor; if so, at what cost; what the benefits will be; and who will be the beneficiary or beneficiaries.

My Department has not insured Mr. MacGregor and does not intend to do so. What BSC does is a matter for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if any other persons were offered the post of chairman of the British Steel Corporation prior to the present chairman-designate's appointment; and, if so, whether the post was offered to them on similar terms and conditions.

No formal offer was made to any other person for the post of chairman of the British Steel Corporation. Serious discussions were held with several people considered suitable, but no one of them was then prepared to take on the task in principle. So the question of terms and conditions did not arise, although we had indicated that we were prepared to be flexible if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many letters, postcards and parcels have been (a) mislaid and (b) lost in the United Kingdom on average for each of the past 10 years.

This is a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in which way the European Commission's draft proposals for the establishment of the industrial restructuring and conversion fund for the shipbuilding and textiles industries was considered to be unsatisfactory, and the Government could not therefore give the proposals their support; and if he will make a statement on the present position of the proposal and the progress which is expected by the European Commission during the remainder of 1979.

The European Commission put forward in 1978 a draft regulation for financial aid towards restructuring or conversion of a number of industrial sectors which would have included shipbuilding and textiles. No member State supported the Commission.The United Kingdom opposed the measure because it placed insufficient emphasis on conversion, and as drafted would not necessarily have directed aids to those sectors and areas most in need. More generally we considered that it would have been preferable to allocate any available money to existing Community instruments.It is now for the Commission to make fresh proposals during the course of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industy if he has yet received any representations, assessments, or studies from any textile or clothing trade association, economic development council, or trade union, on the effect on United Kingdom industry of accession of Greece, Spain and Portugal to the European Community; if the Government have instituted a deadline for the submission of any such representations, assessments or studies; and if he will make a statement on the present state of negotiations and discussions in relation to these industries.

On assessments and studies, I refer the hon. Member to my answers on 12 February—[Vol. 978, c. 579–80]—and 17 March—[Vol. 981, c. 52–53]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will urge the European Commission to make immediate and sufficient financial resources available to enable the establishment of a European textile and clothing information system.

Financial provision for a textile information system was sought by the EEC Commission in its 1980 budget proposals. However, since the budget as a whole has been rejected by the European Parliament, the final content of the budget cannot yet be decided. Also, no formal proposals for a policy decision on the textile information system have yet been put by the Commission to the Council. Any such proposals would be considered carefully by Her Majesty's Government on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is his policy to encourage the nationalised industries for which he is responsible to raise funds from sources other than Her Majesty's Government with which to finance their investment programme; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures, on the basis of the latest family expenditure survey figures available, showing the estimated number of households with head below retirement

TENURE DISTRIBUTION FOR SELECTED INCOME RANGES: ENGLAND AND WALES HOUSEHOLDS WITH ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE HEADS —1978
						Percentages of totals
Gross weekly household income		Owner occupiers	Local Authority tenants	Private sector tenants (unfurnished)	Other tenures (including furnished)	All tenures	Sample base (No. of households)
Under 40	…	25	40	16	19	100	212
40–59	…	34	41	9	16	100	352
60–79	…	46	34	9	11	100	569
80–119	…	58	28	7	7	100	1,335
120–159	…	69	21	4	6	100	1,001
160 and over	…	76	17	2	5	100	904
All incomes	…	59	26	6	8	100	4,373

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give consideration to the application of the London borough of Brent's call for an increase in the housing investment programme strategy allocation, with particular regard to the sums the ratepayers have to pay for bed and breakfast accommodation and the enormous waiting list for homes by families needing accommodation.

I cannot hold out any prospect of additions to the housing investment programme allocations which have been announced for 1980–81. Authorities will, however, be able to benefit next year from housing capital receipts that are unspent as at 1 April 1981 in the way set out in my speech to the Institute of Housing on 24 April, a copy of which is in the Library.

Information on the tenure distribution of householders whose head is under retirement age is not readily available. The following table gives information for households with economically active heads:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the latest cessation of work on the aircraft anti-blast shelters at the RAF bases leased to the United States Air Force in East Anglia.

I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the district auditor's report for the London Borough of Lambeth 1978–79; and if he will make a statement on the findings of the district auditor.

I have placed a copy of the report in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has concluded his review of the legal position of Crown Estate tenants.

The Government have tabled a new clause and schedule to the Housing Bill which will enable tenants of the Crown Estate Commissioners and the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall to benefit from formal Rent Act protection.It has been the practice of the Crown Estate Commissioners to apply the Rent Acts administratively. Nevertheless, in the light of recent representations and a review of their arrangements in which tenants' associations were consulted, the Commissioners have concluded that their tenancies should be formally included within the Rent Acts and associated legislation in order that their tenants should have no doubts about their rights and status. The Duchies have decided that they wish to do likewise. The Government agree with these conclusions. As well as applying the Rent Act 1977, the new clause and schedule also apply the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 and part I of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has no plans to abolish the Social Science Research Council.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to his question on 7 May concerning the functions of the Social Science Research Council.—[Vol. 984, c. 124.]The Social Science Research Council was created under the provision of the Science and Technology Act 1965 and was granted a Royal Charter later that year. There are no legislative plans for the abolition of this council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in the light of his policy that public expenditure on students' unions should become fully accountable, and in view of the distribution of a poster supporting the Trade Union Congress's day of action by the National Union of Students, if he will take steps in future years to prevent students' unions from using public funds for political purposes.

No. Within the requirements of the new arrangements for student union financing, the students should be free within legal limits to spend their money as they themselves choose.

asked the Minister of Transport, having regard to the laxity of some garages in the provision of MoT certificates, what safeguards he will require before disposing of heavy goods vehicle testing centres to the private sector.

The Government are considering various options for involving the private sector in the testing of heavy goods vehicles. We shall attach particular importance to the need for effective safeguards to ensure that current testing standards are maintained and remain impartial. Under any new arrangements the Department will need to retain a supervisory role.In the MoT testing scheme for cars, our control is as strict as our resources allow. If my hon. Friend knows of any instance of the improper issue of a test certificate, I shall arrange for the matter to be investigated. The scale and nature of the MoT testing scheme for cars makes its supervision a quite different problem from that which will be involved in heavy goods vehicle testing, however.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the total of 20,000 heavy goods vehicles, particularly as regards the 4,000 vehicles which are statistically dangerous, which are operating under exemption certificates due to delays at testing centres; and when he expects these figures to be appreciably reduced.

20,000 exemptions at any one time is far too many. The cause goes back to industrial action and recruitment problems in 1979. The number was much higher in November last year, when about 29,000 were outstanding. By March this year the number had been reduced to 17,000 but increased calls on our testing capacity, which always arise in the spring and which have produced 2,000 more test applications a week than last autumn, have temporarily reversed the downward trend. We expect a steady improvement in the position from June onwards.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider expanding the experimental scheme to provide more sleeping policemen on roads; and what have been the results so far.

The experiments so far conducted have established that properly sited and constructed road humps—sleeping policemen—can improve road safety. No further experiments, therefore, are proposed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any noticeable difference has occurred in the number of accidents following the introduction of sleeping policemen bumps in the road on council housing estates.

Five experiments undertaken with road humps—sleeping policemen—on residential roads showed that humps can contribute to reducing casualties, and three of these were on roads on or adjacent to local authority housing estates. The findings of these experiments were published in the Transport and Road Research Laboratory's Report No. 878, available in the Library.