asked the Prime Minister when she will publish the report of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body; and whether she will make a statement concerning the Government's response.

The Tenth Report (1980) of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration is published today as Cmnd. 7903.

I am grateful to the Review Body, under its new chairman, Sir Robert Clark, for completing the task begun in 1978 of bringing doctors' and dentists' pay fully up to date by 1980. Our predecessors were committed to that objective and we undertook to honour that commitment.

The review body's recommendations this year comprise two elements (i) the increase necessary to bring the remuneration of doctors and dentists into the proper relationship with those of other professions and comparable groups at 1 April 1979, and (ii) the further increase necessary to take account of developments since then. A considerable part of the total increase this year is therefore a deferred payment.

The Government are ready to accept the Review Body's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the aggregate cost to public funds of the inquiry he is to commission into smoking habits.

I am advised by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys that a number of decisions affecting the cost of the new survey on attitudes to smoking have still to be taken and a precise figure cannot yet be given. It is, however, expected that the total cost of the survey will be in the region of £200,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of sufferers from multiple sclerosis and other fluctuating illnesses who work intermittently between relapses; and for what proportion of these the changed definition of a period of interruption of employment is likely to lead to a loss of income.

The information is not available in the form requested. There are about 50,000 sufferers from multiple sclerosis but many of these will be totally incapable of work and therefore unaffected by the change in the rule for linking periods of interruption of employment. In general, the change is expected to affect 5 per cent. of incapacity spells.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on which date pension increases have been paid during the last 20 years.

During the last 20 years, retirement pensions have been increased from the following dates:

3 April 1961

27 May 1963

29 March 1965

30 October 1967

3 November 1969

20 September 1971

2 October 1972

1 October 1973

22 July 1974

7 April 1975

17 November 1975

15 November 1976

14 November 1977

13 November 1978

12 November 1979 MID-1973 TO MID-1978, GREAT BRITAIN ( Thousand ) Persons of NCWP ethnic origin * Persons not of NCWP ethnic origin ‡ All persons Births … … … … … … 230† 3,118 3,348 Net migration … … … … … 169 —330 —161 Total … … … … … 399 2,788 3,187 * Including those of mixed origin. † Excluding some births to mothers who were themselves born in Great Britain. ‡ This will include persons who are neither of NCWP ethnic origin nor of indigenous origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of the Avon chair and of the orthokinetic chair as issued to seriously disabled children; and why he did not issue the orthokinetic chair when specifically requested for a patient by a consultant paediatrician.

The orthokinetic chair retails in this country at about £400 depending on the accessories required. The contract price for Avon wheelchairs is confidential but is considerably less. It has not been possible to include the orthokinetic chair in the range of wheelchairs supplied by the Department because of financial limitations. If accepted for supply by the Department, the orthokinetic chair would probably also supplant chairs other than the Avon and which are considerably cheaper.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report figures for the following categories over the last five years ( a ) births to mothers of New Commonwealth and Pakistani ethnic origin, ( b ) net migration of New Commonwealth and Pakistani population, ( c ) the total of ( a ) and ( b ), ( d ) births to mothers of United Kingdom origin, ( e ) the net migration of United Kingdom origin population, ( f ) the total of ( d ) and ( e ) and ( g ) ( c ) as a percentage of New Commonwealth and Pakistani population to include the estimated quality of all those of New Commonwealth and Pakistani ethnic origin.

[ pursuant to his reply , 15 May 1980, c. 557 ]: The following information is taken from the published mid-year estimates of the home population:

The total number of births and net migration for the population of NCWP origin over the period (399,000) was equivalent to 26 per cent. of the estimated size of that population at mid-1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stockport, North, Official Report , 25 April, column 304, how many women in each of the last five years who also have dependent children have received an earnings-related addition to widow's allowance.

It is regretted that statistics are not kept in the form requested. On the assumption that the proportion of widows with children getting earnings-related addition was the same as the proportion of all widow's allowance beneficiaries getting earnings-related addition, the numbers are as follows to the nearest thousand:

1974 13,000 1975 12,000 1976 12,000 1977 12,000 1978 12,000

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether purchases of derv and petrol by business men will eventually have the same effect on the cost of living as purchases by private consumers.

Changes in prices of petrol and derv affect the retail prices index both directly, through purchases by private consumers and indirectly through purchase by business men. The size of the latter effect will depend on the extent to which changes in business costs are passed on to consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what consideration is being given to the future of wages councils; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what consultations he has had or intends to have about the future of wages councils.

My right hon. Friend is concerned to ensure that the general operation of wages councils responds efficiently and effectively to current needs and to that end he will be seeking consultation with the councils themselves.

The need for wages councils in particular trades and industries is kept under constant review. Consultations are in progress with seven wages councils for the clothing industries and two wages councils for aerated waters manufacture on the question of amalgamating the councils in each of these groups of industries; and also with representatives of the pin, hook and eye and snap fastener industry with a view of abolition of the council concerned.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has recently published reports on the Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant Wages Council and The Fur Wages Council. A third report on the Laundry Wages Council has been submitted. My right hon. Friend is studying these reports and will consult interested parties before taking any action.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what research has been done on persons who have completed eight-week courses in employment rehabilitation centres; what percentage have remained in their new jobs for over two years; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that employment rehabilitation centre (ERC) courses do not have a pre-determined length; they generally last for between six and eight weeks. Separate statistics of resettlement by course length are not prepared, but the commission's regular statistics show that about 52 per cent. of those who completed ERC courses in the six months ending March 1979 were in employment or in training six months after completion. A further 10 per cent. had had some employment since completing their course.

No study has been undertaken of subsequent job retention, but research is being done on the experience of a representative sample of ERC clients both during rehabilitation and for a period of 12 months after it. It is hoped to publish some of the results from this research towards the end of 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in finding a suitable site for a jobcentre in Woolwich; and what difficulties have been experienced in negotiating with property owners in the area.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that despite a long search there has so far been no progress in acquiring a suitable site for a jobcentre in Woolwich. The MSC in recent negotiations has experienced difficulties partly because of the reluctance of some property owners to allow their premises to be used as a job-centre. Nevertheless, the search will continue and the MSC hopes that a suitable site will eventually be found.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies he has been notified of under section 100 of the Employment Protection Act in Dundee in each month since May 1979; and how many establishments were involved.

The number of proposed redundancies in Dundee which have been notified to my Department under the redundancy handling provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975, for each month since 1 May 1979 is as follows:

Employees Establishments 1979— May — — June 37 1 July 173 4 August 138 4 September 137 4 October 840 6 November 268 8 December 424 5 1980— January 182 5 February 274 8 March 62 3 April 322 6 Total 2,857 54

During the same period 428 redundancies at 11 establishments were formally withdrawn. There is however no legal requirement for employers to notify the Secretary of State when proposed redundancies do not take place.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of redundancies notified to it as likely to have occurred since 1 May 1979 is as follows:

Employees 1979— May 29 June 63 July 59 August 77 September 127 October 38 November 43 December 87 1980— January 230 February 109 March 346* April 164* Total 1,372 * Provisional figures.

Thirty separate establishments were involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what redundancies have been notified to him by the Delta Capillary Ltd. factory in Dundee.

Information given to the Department under the redundancy handling provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975 is given in confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his current estimate of the number of apprentices in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with the position five to 10 years ago, respectively.

It is estimated that there were about 155,000 apprentices employed in manufacturing industries in Great Britain in May 1979. The equivalent figures for May 1974 and May 1969 were about 140,000 and about 230,000 respectively. The figures for 1969 and 1974 relate to establishments with 11 or more employees; those for 1979 have been grossed up to relate to establishments of all sizes. This difference will have had only a marginal effect on the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why the Advisory Committee on Women's Employment is being continued and to what extent it duplicates advice available from the Equal Opportunities Commission.

[ pursuant to his reply , 15 May 1980, c. 481–2]: The committee is being continued because it provides, at a negligible cost, useful, practical, independent advice for Ministers on all matters relating to women in employment. The chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission and two other members of the commission are also members of the advisory committee on a personal basis. The expertise and views of the committee are therefore, available to the Equal Opportunities Commission when it is considering the employment aspects of its statutory duties to EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT ( Thousands ) England Scotland Wales Great Britain Great Britain Industry June 1977 June 1979† Minimum List Headings (MLHs) of the Standard Industrial Classification Production of man-made fibres (MLH411) … … … 31.7 29.7 Spinning and doubling of the cotton and flax systems (MLH 412) … … … … 68.5* 6.0* 6.5* 49.3 42.1 Weaving of cotton, linen and man-made fibres (MLH 413) … 36.3 2.7 — 39.0 36.1 Woollen and worsted (MLH 414) 69.8 11.6 1.1 82.4 76.3 Hosiery and other knitted goods (MLH 417) … … … 98.4 14.7 1.8 114.9 1091 Carpets (MLH 419) … … 28.4 6.4 0.3 35.2 32.6 Textile finishing (MLH 423) … 40.7 5.8 0.8 47.3 45.1 Clothing and footwear (MLHs 441.450) … … … … 321.6 32.6 15.7 369.8 362.2 Rest of textiles (MLHs 415, 416, 418, 421, 422 and 429) … … 66.3 11.9 2.2 80.4 78.1 * To avoid disclosure, directly or indirectly, of information concerning an individual firm, the separate figures for England, Scotland and Wales for MLHs 411 and 412 have been combined. † Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the proportion of part-time workers excluded from the coverage of the new earnings survey because their income is below the

work towards the elimination of discrimination, to promote equality of opportunity generally, and to keep the relevant legislation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in the following industries in England, Scotland and Wales in 1979 as an average: man-made fibres production, spinning, doubling and weaving and filament yarn processing, woollen and worsted, knitting, carpets, finishing, clothing and other textile sectors.

[ pursuant to his reply , 15 May 1980, c. 441–2 ]: The latest employment estimates which provide information for single industries for England, Scotland and Wales separately are for June 1977. Estimates giving this amount of detail are provided monthly but only for the whole of Great Britain. The available information for 1977 and 1979 is given in the following table.

pay-as-you-earn threshold, showing this information separately for ( a ) young males, ( b ) young females, ( c ) adult males and ( d ) adult females;

(2) what are the numbers and proportions of employees in wages council industries working less than 30 hours a week.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the numbers of employees working fewer than 30 hours per week, giving this information separately for males and females and for each year since 1977.

The census of employment indicates that in June 1977 there were 681,000 males and 3,617,000 females normally employed for 30 hours or fewer per week. I regret that later information is not at present available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total numbers unemployed and the number of young persons unemployed in the Maltby employment area and in the Dinnington part of the Sheffield travel-to-work area; and what steps he is taking to meet the needs of these areas.

[ pursuant to his reply , 15 May 1980, c. 668 ]: At 10 April, the numbers of people registered as unemployed in the areas covered by the Maltby and Dinnington employment offices were 901 and 961 respectively, of which the Numbers registered as unemployed under 20 years of age Notified unfilled vacancies At Employment office At Careers office South Yorkshire April 1979 April 1980 * April 1979 April 1980 April 1979 April 1980 Barnsley … … 689 1,193 436 133 60 25 Chapeltown … 41 49 45 † — — Dinnington … 75 89 43 37 — — Doncaster … … 1,367 1,887 760 475 46 60 Firth Park … … 77 78 301 † — — Goldthorpe … 90 104 31 26 — — Hoyland … … 36 42 61 31 — — Maltby … … 55 95 39 39 — — Mexborough … 193 261 114 40 — — Rotherham … 967 1,494 201 122 270 26 Sheffield … … 1,684 2,531 1,342 750† 471 336 Thorne … … 191 162 52 36 — — Wombwell … … 75 92 78 34 — — Woodhouse … 70 77 91 † — — Total … … 5,610 8,154 3,594 1,723 847 447 The vacancy statistics relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the two series should not be added together. * The April 1980 unemployment figures are not strictly comparable with those prior to October 1979 because of the introduction of fortnightly attendance and payment of benefit. This had the effect of raising the monthly figures for all unemployed in Great Britain by about 20,000 or 1½ per cent. Estimates of this effect by age or by local area are not available. † From July 1979 there are no separate vacancy figures available for Chapeltown, Firth Park and Woodhouse; the figures are included in Sheffield.

numbers under 20 years of age were 95 and 89.

To help meet the immediate needs of the young people seeking employment, my right hon. Friend has agreed to the Manpower Services Commission's proposal to expand the youth opportunities programme by 25 per cent. in 1980–81.

In the longer term, the measures we are taking to curb inflation and create the conditions in which United Kingdom firms can compete successfully in world markets offer the only hope for improving employment prospects generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of young people registered as employed and as unemployed and the number of unfilled vacancies existing in each employment area in the county of South Yorkshire at the latest date for which figures are available and one year earlier.

[ pursuant to his reply , 15 May 1980, c. 668 ]: The following table gives, for the areas specified, the numbers of young people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed and the numbers of notified unfilled vacancies at employment offices and careers offices at April 1979 and April 1980. There are no corresponding estimates of employees by age group for individual areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to extend special employment and training measures, or to encourage unemployed young people or those about to leave school with no firm prospect of employment within the county of South Yorkshire, to remain at school or to enter full-time further or higher education.

[ pursuant to his reply, Official Report , 15 May 1980, c. 668 ]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 14 February 1980 on the special employment measures for 1980–81.—[Vol. 978, c. 1755.]

Wherever it is appropriate, careers officers encourage young people of school-leaving age to consider remaining at school for further studies or entering a suitable course in an establishment of further or higher education. Their decision often depends on whether they see it as improving their chance of obtaining employment, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is currently reviewing the provision that is made for young people in schools and colleges with this very much in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, when he last received written advice from the Race Relations Employment Advisory Group; and what action he has taken as a result.

[ pursuant to his reply , 29 April 1980, c. 422–3]: Advice is provided orally at meetings chaired by my noble Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment. The group, which last met on 3 April 1980, provides Ministers with practical advice on matters relating to the employment of the ethnic minorities at negligible cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently involved in schemes under the special employment and training measures in England and Wales, in Yorkshire and Humberside and in the county of South Yorkshire.

[ pursuant to his reply , 15 May 1980, c. 668 ]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that at the end of April 1980, there were some 60,000 young people participating in the youth opportunities programme in England and Wales. About 8,000 young people were on the programme in the MSC region of Yorkshire and Humberside.

Figures for South Yorkshire are not available. However, the area does account for about a third of the entrants to the programme in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give the value of fish imported into the United Kingdom from France in each of the last 18 months.

The information for fresh—live or dead—and chilled or frozen fish—excluding fillets—is as follows:

£thousand cif September 1978 62 October 1978 79 November 1978 121 December 1978 128 January 1979 68 February 1979 55 March 1979 486 April 1979 646 May 1979 190 June 1979 141 July 1979 70 August 1979 19 September 1979 80 October 1979 60 November 1979 198 December 1979 70 January 1980 92 February 1980 197

Source: UK Overseas Trade Statistics (SITC(Rev 2) Sub-groups 034.1 and .2).

Note: the effects of industrial disputes may have distorted the figures for individual months in the period January-July 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report the figures for imported wet fish and frozen fish of the different edible species for the first three months of the current year, compared with 1979.

Details of imports of fresh, chilled and frozen fish—excluding fillets—are published in table IV of the March issues of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom for 1979 and 1980 under SITC(R2) sub-groups 034.1 and 034.2. The genus or species to which the individual eight-digit code numbers under these sub-groups relate is set out on pages 20–22 of the guide to the classification for Overseas Trade Statistics 1980. Copies of these publications are in the Library. Figures for the early months of 1979 may have been distorted by the effects of industrial disputes and must be interpreted with caution.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the value of the export market during each of the last five years for radar equipment, both civil and military, made in the United Kingdom.

Because of changes in the method of classification, details of United Kingdom exports are not available from the overseas trade statistics on a comparable basis for the last five years. However, results of quarterly inquiries to establishments employing 25 or more persons yield the following information on export sales of radar equipment by United Kingdom manufacturers:

(£m) 1975 41.3 1976 64.0 1977 89.3 1978 105.0 1979 113.9* *Provisional

Source: Business Monitor PQ 367

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied with the present system for the investigation of companies.

The present system of investigations under the Companies Acts is of long standing. It has given rise to much useful information which in many cases has been the basis for action against crime or misconduct and has led to useful reforms in company law. I am, however, concerned that the system should maintain public confidence. I am aware of criticisms which have been voiced in respect of speed and fairness. On taking office, I therefore put in hand a departmental review of the present practice. I have considered with care the recommendations and conclusions of the Council for the Securities Industry, which has recently given me a report on the system of inspections and prosecutions, and I have also taken into consideration the observations of other organisations including the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies, the Senate of the Inns of Court and the Bar and the Law Society, and comments made in the light of their experience by various inspectors appointed to inquire into company affairs.

My powers to appoint inspectors and the powers exerciseable by such inspectors, for example to examine witnesses on oath, are contained in sections 164 to 172 and 175 of the Companies Act 1948, as amended, and in section 32 of the Companies Act 1967. In addition, officials of my Department may be appointed to examine company books and papers under section 109 of the Companies Act 1967; such reports are not published, but serve to establish whether there are grounds for further action by my Department or other authorities. These various powers are of great assistance in the deterrence, investigation and prosecution of company fraud, and I have no intention of relaxing my Department's efforts in this regard.

I am satisfied that in general the present legal powers provide a framework within which matters of public concern may be explored and where appropriate exposed.

I endorse many of the observations made to me by the Council for the Securities Industry about the two aspects of the present system to which I have referred. It is desirable that inspections should be completed quickly, and it is imperative that inspectors should treat witnesses fairly. Fairness should be ensured by strict compliance with the principles established by the Court of Appeal in re Pergamon Press Ltd and Maxwell v Department of Trade and Industry and Others. It is the established practice that these principles are brought to the attention of all inspectors on appointment by my Department, together with guidance on the handling of the investigation and the proper tone of the report.

I propose to publish these guidance notes, as a contribution towards public understanding of the inspections system.

My Department's notes for guidance remind inspectors that the decisions of the Court of Appeal require that inspectors, if disposed to condemn or criticise anyone in a report, must first give him a fair opportunity to correct or contradict the allegations against him.

An inspection under the Companies Acts is therefore likely to be time-consuming and is costly to both sides; I want it to be cost-effective. I consider it desirable for the future that the appointment of inspectors should be confined to cases in which the information necessary for decisions on such matters as prosecutions or petitions to wind up cannot be achieved by examination of books and papers under section 109 of the 1967 Act, or in which for other reasons it is likely to be in the public interest that the inspectors' eventual report should be made public. I intend to lay down a general time scale to which inspections must conform. I believe that 12 months should be sufficient. My Department will in future indicate to inspectors on appointment the particular matters with reference to which a report is desired. If it can be shown that an inspection cannot be finally completed within the time limit I shall require the inspectors to let me have an interim report. Inspectors are already encouraged to make the fullest use of the power under section 41 of the Companies Act 1967 to report to me on matters which suggest that an offence has been committed and this power is well used. When faced with unreasonable delays on the part of witnesses, I hope that inspectors will not hesitate to report the matter to the court, or to deal with it in their report.

Inspectors must themselves be in a position to give priority to the need for speed in completing their investigations, and I have this factor in mind in making UNITED KINGDOM TRADE VOLUMES Percentage of 1975 levels Imports Manufactures Exports Manufactures Semi * Finished † Semi * Finished † 1949 … … … … N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 1959 … … … … 33 14 52 45 1969 … … … … 71 51 81 74 1979 … … … … 147 164 138 108 N.A.=Not available. * S.I.T.C. (R2) sections 5 and 6. † S.I.T.C. (R2) sections 7 and 8.

appointments. In general, I believe that the guidelines laid down following the Pergamon case make it desirable that a member of the legal profession is appointed as the inspector. I am aware of the demands which an inspection imposes. I shall not look for inspectors so frequently among the most senior members of the Bar, whose commitments are heavy.

In addition, I have in mind to make certain minor changes to the legal framework within which inspectors are appointed and carry out their functions.

Provision will be included in legislation at the next convenient opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade through which port or ports the imports of sperm whale oil referred to in his reply to questions from the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds are recorded by his Department to have taken place in the years 1978 and 1979, respectively.

I take it my hon. Friend is referring to imports of sperm whale oil. The information requested is not available for publication as it would disclose the commercial operations of individual companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the volume of imports and exports of semi-manufactures and finished manufactures in 1949, 1959, 1969 and 1979 as a percentage of 1975.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the value of 2,4,5-T re-exports to the British balance of payments for the past three years.

This information is not available. Re-exports are not separately identified and, as I explained in my replies dated 22 January and 18 March— Official Report , c. 201 and 100 respectively—neither is trade in the particular substance in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the volume of United Kingdom imports of, respectively, consumer goods, intermediate goods and capital goods in 1959, 1969 and 1979 as a percentage of 1975.

The available information is as follows:

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF FINISHED MANUFACTURES* BY BROAD ECONOMIC CATEGORY Percentage of 1975 values Consumer Intermediate Capital 1959 N.A. N.A. N.A. 1969 21 31 27 1979 307 239 238 N.A.-Not available. * Excluding ships, North Sea installations and aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will arrange for the United Kingdom to join the World Tourism Organisation.

A number of United Kingdom enterprises are already affiliate members of the World Tourism Organisation, but I am not convinced of the need for the United Kingdom Government to take up full membership of this organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will introduce regulations to make compulsory on United Kingdom registered ships and foreign ships visiting United Kingdom ports the use of safety nets whenever gangways, accommodation ladders and portable access ladders are in use; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will take action to ensure that all United Kingdom registered ships and foreign ships visiting United Kingdom ports have suitable access equipment;

(3) how many United Kingdom registered ships were inspected and detained by his Department's surveyors for failing to carry access equipment required under current regulations in each of the years 1976 to 1979 and up to the present time in the current year.

My Department is consulting shipowners and seafarers' trade unions on proposed regulations requiring the carriage of gangways and the carriage and use of safety nets on all United Kingdom registered merchant ships over 30 metres in length. As regards foreign ships visiting United Kingdom ports, it is proposed to take powers to: i. prohibit the continued use of any access equipment or to prohibit access without equipment where there is a clear hazard to safety; or ii. detain the ship pending the replacement or repair of any ship-borne access equipment the use of which would be clearly hazardous to safety.

Until these regulations are made, marine surveyors have no powers to inspect or detain a ship for failing to carry access equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the number of accidents, and the number of persons killed or injured in consequence, which occurred in United Kingdom registered ships and foreign ships visiting United Kingdom ports, respectively, which were due to defects in access equipment in each of the years 1976 to 1979 and up to the present time in the current year; and if he will specify the principal defects observed.

I regret that the information is not available. However, my Department has published detailed proposals for a new statutory comprehensive accident reporting system which, if implemented, would reveal as regards United Kingdom registered ships the number of deaths and injuries where defective access equipment was a contributory cause. These proposals are being considered jointly by the shipowners and the seafarers' trade unions and we await their comments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list those marine notices which he proposes should be given statutory effect; and if he will make a statement indicating when he proposes to introduce the necessary regulations.

The following marine notice has been given statutory effect under the provisions of section 214( a ) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979:

Admiralty notice to mariners Nos 17 and 724 of 1979, specifying IMCO traffic separation schemes provided for in the Safety (Collision Regulations and Distress Signals) Regulations 1979.

It is also proposed to give statutory effect to the following notices with effect from 25 May 1980: Merchant shipping notice M898 on pilots ladders and mechanical pilot hoists provided for in the Merchant Shipping (Pilot Ladders and Hoists) Regulations 1980. Merchant Shipping notice M931 specifying electrical equipment and installation requirements provided for in the Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1980. Merchant Shipping Notice M616 specifying the safe distance between navigational equipment installations and a magnetic compass provided for in the Merchant Shipping (Navigational Equipment) Regulations 1980.

Further regulations giving a statutory effect to marine notices will be introduced as and when necessary in the interests of safety at sea.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the conclusions reached following consultations carried out by his Department in respect of the European Economic Community directive on liability for defective products.

My Department is still considering the views of the interested parties whom it consulted about the draft directive.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress is being made with the implementation of the air services agreement between the United Kingdom and China; and if he will make a statement.

Progress has been disappointing. Discussions between the two airlines in Peking over the past several weeks have failed so far to produce agreement on the operating and commercial arrangements attaching to BA's proposed services. But I hope that the discussions will be resumed shortly and will lead to an early start to services.

Cathay Pacific Airways hopes very shortly to reach an understanding with CAAC about the commencement of scheduled air services between Hong Kong and Shanghai.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade which nationalised industries for which his Department is responsible increase the pensions of their employees by the following methods ( a ) under the statutory obligations of section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975, ( b ) under their respective trust deeds as if under the 1975 Act, ( c ) by fully increasing pensions in other forms, and ( d ) by awarding discretionary increases.

The information requested is as followsBritish Airports Authority—(c), in relation to changes in the retail price index; British Airways Board—(b).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he now expects the United Kingdom to be a net exporter of oil.

A rate of oil production roughly equivalent to net self-sufficiency should be attained towards the end of the year. The United Kingdom may then become a potential net exporter of oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what surplus of crude oil over United Kingdom requirements is expected from 1980–89 from the North Sea; and for what additional period self-sufficiency could be maintained in the United Kingdom if surpluses were curtailed through depletion.

We are reviewing depletion policy and my right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will evaluate, in respect of its applicability to licensing policy in the United Kingdom, the system of industrial developments which the Norwegian Government have incorporated into their licensing arrangements for offshore oil exploration.

No. To introduce such provisions into our offshore licensing arrangements would involve an unacceptable degree of discrimination.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the latest estimate of United Kingdom North Sea oil reserves.

Our current estimates, published in the 1979 Brown Book, of total recoverable reserves originally in place on the United Kingdom continental shelf are within the range 2,400–4,400 million tonnes. Updated estimates will be contained in the 1980 Brown Book which I expect to publish shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the extent and nature of consultation he has had with interested parties, particularly trade unions, on the recommendations of the Burgoyne report on offshore safety.

My officials are already consulting interested parties on particular technical recommendations made by Dr. Burgoyne's committee, and I anticipate that my Department may receive representations from a number of organisations on the recommendations to supplement those already made to the committee itself and which are contained in its report. The matter has recently been discussed at one of my regular meetings with the Inter Union Offshore Oil Committee. In considering the action to be taken on the various recommendations the Government will take any further views expressed on these matters fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the safety of North Sea oil rigs.

I believe that every reasonable step is being taken in the light of current knowledge to ensure the safety of offshore oil installations operating on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

Installations are subject to stringent regulations in respect of their strength and stability and must have a certificate of fitness from one of six certifying authorities before they may operate.

The industry now has 15 years' experience in the hostile North Sea environment and no lives have been lost due to collapse or sinking of an installation on the United Kingdom shelf since 13 men died in the " Sea Gem " accident in 1965. Nevertheless, events such as the recent tragic loss of the " Alexander Keilland " continually remind us that there is no room for complacency and every attempt will be made to incorporate the lessons learned from this incident into future United Kingdom policies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest estimates made of the output of North Sea oil for each of the next five years.

My right hon. Friend expects to publish these estimates shortly in his annual report to Parliament, the Brown Book.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the increase in the total output of the coal industry in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

I am glad to say that the NCB's output in 1979–80 was 3.4 mt—or about 2.8 per cent.—higher than in 1978–79. 1979–80 was the first year for several years in which output increased over the previous year and the Government congratulate all those involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what the level of expenditure will be on alternative energy sources in 1980–81.

My Department's research and development expenditure in 1980–81 on wave, wind, solar, tidal and geothermal energy is expected to total about £11 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when it is expected that the two advanced gas-cooled reactor nuclear power stations, approved by the previous Government, will be started; and what is the related statutory date anticipated for starting work on the pressurised water reactor nuclear station approved by him.

Work on the design phase of the two new AGRs at Heysham II and Torness started in March 1979 and is at an advanced stage. Site construction work is expected to start in August and preliminary works have already been carried out. The CEGB has not yet applied for consent to construct a PWR station, but design work is in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to launch a new campaign on energy conservation.

The Government's energy conservation campaign provides consumers with information and advice to help them make the most of energy. As it is a continuing campaign which reflects the key position of conservation in energy policy, the question of launching a new campaign does not arise. Advertising spending will be boosted in the Autumn and spending in the current year will be £3.2 million—a 30 per cent. increase over last year's expenditure. Additionally, the nationalised and private sector fuel industries emphasise energy conservation in much of their publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take further steps to encourage energy conservation.

The Government's conservation policy is based on economic energy prices, backed up by a campaign of information and advice to consumers in which nationalised and private sector industries also play a part. I am encouraged by the falling trend in consumption towards the end of last year, which is continuing into 1980, and see no need for further steps at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many members of the staff of his Department are engaged on work covering energy conservation; and what proportion of the total this number represents.

47 members of the staff of my Department are directly engaged on energy conservation work. This represents just under 4 per cent. of the total. In addition, my Department meets the cost of maintaining 10 regional energy conservation officers employed in the regional offices of the Department of Industry and in the Welsh Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there are enough supplies of uranium to service the British nuclear programme; whether there will be reserves of uranium before oil resources are exhausted; and whether he will make a statement.

I am advised that potential world uranium supplies, from countries outside those with centrally-planned economies, are expected to be sufficient to meet the requirements of currently planned power programmes. Currently available information on the size and quality of the United Kingdom's indigenous resources of uranium is inadequate to determine whether and when these could be economically produced. I am satisfied that the British civil uranium procurement organisations procurement policies are appropriate and should ensure the continued availability of uranium for the United Kingdom nuclear power programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which nationalised industries for which his Department is responsible increase the pensions of their employees by the following methods ( a ) under the statutory obligations of section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975, ( b ) under their respective trust deeds as if under the 1975 Act, ( c ) by fully increasing pensions in other forms and ( d ) by awarding discretionary increases.

That is a matter for the industries themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he intends to make any improvements in the benefits payable under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme.

Yes. I have today laid an order seeking parliamentary approval to improvements in the lump sums paid to mineworkers made redundant under the age of 55. These sums have remained unchanged since 1973 and I now propose that men redundant between ages 20 and 34 should receive half a week's pay for each year of service, those between ages 35 and 44 a whole week's pay for each year of service and those between ages 45 and 54 one and a half week's pay for each year of service, subject to some graduation between the age groups. The cost of these improvements which are paid by the Government direct to the men concerned, will be about £9 million a year at 1980 survey prices. The cost will be met by an equivalent reduction in the National Coal Board's net borrowing from the Government and hence in its total figures for external finance.

In the Coal Industry Bill which received its First Reading on 18 April I shall be seeking approval for the improved transfer allowances, which are to be paid by the board to help men transferring from a closing pit to a long life pit, to be classed as relevant expenditure under the Coal Industry Act 1977 so that the Government can contribute half the cost.

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 methods of police supervision of common and open spaces in the Metropolitan area.

No. If my hon. Friend will let me know which particular points he has in mind we will gladly pursue them with the Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not publish in the Official Report the letter which he has sent to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, pursuant to his reply to him on Wednesday 30 April, regarding the democratic representation of the various ethnic groups on the Commission for Racial Equality.

In the interest of economy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has of the frequency of the use by magistrates, in the exercise of their powers under section 93(7) of the Road Traffic Act 1972, to require motorists over the age of 60 years to retake a driving test when convicted;

(2) if he will give details of the number and ages, of those required in 1977, 1978 and 1979 to retake a driving test under the provisions of section 93(7) of the Road Traffic Act 1972.

The numbers of motoring offences for which disqualification is imposed with a requirement for a driving test under section 93(7) of the Road Traffic Act 1972 are published annually in " Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales" (tables 11 and 12) of the volumes for 1977 (Cmnd 7349) and 1978 (Cmnd 7687). An age breakdown for all such offences dealt with in. the magistrates' courts is given in the FINDINGS OF GUILT IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS FOR MOTORING OFFENCES IN WHICH DISQUALIFICATION WAS IMPOSED, BY AGE OF OFFENDER AND WHETHER A REQUIREMENT WAS MADE FOR A DRIVING TEST ENGLAND AND WALES Number of offences Age of offender Total 1977 test required Test not required Total 1978 test required Test not required Under 21 … … 23,689 70 23,619 26,056 74 25,982 21 and over … 65,588 912 64,676 66,954 933 66,021 Total … … 89,277 982 88,295 93,010 1,007 92,003

The numbers of offenders aged over 60 is collected only for offences of causing death or bodily harm, of drinking and driving, and of unauthorised taking or theft of a motor vehicle, and for all cases which are committed to the Crown court. Of the 1,198 such offences dealt with at magistrates' courts in 1977 involving offenders over the age of 60 which resulted in disqualification, in 68 (6 per cent.) a requirement for a driving test was imposed; the corresponding figures for 1978 were 1,338 and 75 (6 per cent.).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there is any recent research indicating the proportion of cases in which courts consider a social inquiry report before imposing custodial sentences on offenders who have not previously received custodial sentences.

There is no recent research which provides information on the proportion of cases where a social inquiry report was considered by the courts before passing a first custodial sentence. We are aware that practice varies from area to area, but we are sure that the magistrates' courts have taken note of the recommendation, included in " The Sentence of the Court " that they should consider a social inquiry report before imposing a custodial sentence on an offender who has not previously served a custodial sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the status of Miss Pik Kwam Lam, of 80 Langdale Road,

following table for 1977 and 1978; figures for 1979 are not yet available.

Edge Hill, Liverpool 15; what representations he has received about her; whether his Department has her passport in its possession; and whether he intends to allow her to stay in the United Kingdom.

We have received letters dated 12 April and 13 May from the hon. Member and shall be writing to him shortly. Miss Lam's passport is not in the possession of the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to the question of the hon. Member for Oldham, West on 15 January regarding the number of police officers convicted of assault from 1970 to 1979 and the penalties imposed, he will publish in the Official Report his letter to the hon. Member of 24 April.

Following is a copy of the relevant letter and enclosuresAs you know, in answer to your Question on 15th January I said that I had asked chief officers of police for such information as may be available about the number of police officers convicted of assault, and the penalties imposed, in the ten-year period 1970–1979. The information given in the reports which I have received from chief officers is summarised in the attached three tables. I should explain that the information for the years before 1975 may not be comprehensive, since not all forces whose boundaries changed on 1st April 1974 as a result of local government reorganisation now hold records which fully cover that earlier period. You might also be interested to know that eleven of the officers resigned voluntarily either while awaiting trial or on conviction. With one exception, the remaining officers were found guilty of disciplinary offences of criminal conduct; of these officers four were dismissed from the force and four were required to resign.

TABLE 1 POLICE OFFICERS(1) FOUND GUILTY OF ASSAULT WHILST ON DUTY BY SENTENCE OR ORDER IMPOSED ENGLAND AND WALES Number of police officers Year Total found guilty and sentenced Absolute discharge Recognisances (bound over) Conditional discharge Fine Suspended sentence Immediate imprisonment 1970 … … … … … … … 2 — — — 2 — — 1971 … … … … … … … 3 — — — 2 — 1 1972 … … … … … … … 2 — — — 2 — — 1973 … … … … … … … 3 — — 1 1 1 — 1974 … … … … … … … 5 1 — 1 3 — — 1975 … … … … … … … 4 — — — 3 — 1 1976 … … … … … … … 4 — — 1 2 — 1 1977 … … … … … … … 11 1 1 1 5 2 1 1978 … … … … … … … 6 1 — — 5 — — 1979 … … … … … … … 10 1 — 1 5 1 2 1979–80 … … … … … … … 50 4 1 5 30 4 6 of which: Grievous bodily harm(2) … … … … 2 — — — 1 — 1 Actual bodily harm(3) … … … … 37 3 1 2 22(7) 4(8) 5 Common Law assault … … … … 1 — — 1 — — — Common assault (indictable)(4) … … … 5 1 — 1 3 — — Common assault(5) … … … … 4 — — — 4 — — Aggravated assault on women and children(6) … 1 — — 1 — — (1) Includes those who resigned voluntarily before trial or on conviction. (2) Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. (3) Section 47 ibid. (4) Section 47(2) ibid. (5) Section 42 ibid. (6) Section 43 ibid. (7) Of whom 2 also fined for common assault. (8) Of whom 2 (in 1977) also fined for actual bodily harm. TABLE 2 FINES IMPOSED ON POLICE OFFICERS FOR EACH ASSAULT COMMITTED WHILST ON DUTY ENGLAND AND WALES 1970–79 Number of offences Offence Number of police officers fined Number of offences of assault involved Amount of fine (£)(1) 5 10 15 20 25 30 50 75 100 200 250 300 500 Grievous bodily harm … … … 1 2 — — — — — — 2 — — — — — — Actual bodily harm … … … … 22 29(2) 1 5 1 — 7 2 5 — 1 3 2 1 1 Common assault (indictable) … … 3 5 1 2 — 1 — — — 1 — — — — — Common assault … … … … 4 6(3) — — — — 3 — 2 — 1 — — — — Total … … … … … 30 42 2 7 1 1 10 2 9 1 2 3 2 1 1 (1) Amount of fine imposed for each individual offence. (2) Includes the 2 offences mentioned at note 8 to table 1. (3) Includes the 2 offences mentioned at note 7 to table 1. TABLE 3 SENTENCES OF IMMEDIATE IMPRISONMENT IMPOSED ON POLICE OFFICERS FOR EACH ASSAULT COMMITTED WHILST ON DUTY BY LENGTH OF SENTENCE ENGLAND AND WALES 1970–79 Number of offences Offence Number of police officers sentenced to immediate imprisonment Number of offences of assault involved Length of imprisonment (months)(1) one Three Six Nine Twelve Twenty-four Grievous bodily harm … … 1 1 — — — — — 1 Actual bodily harm … … … 5 8 1 — 1 3 3 — Total … … … … 6 9 1 — 1 3 3 1 (1) Length of imprisonment imposed for each individual offence.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he now expects any work to commence on the restoration or repair of the exterior of the Houses of Parliament.

A survey of the stonework has recently been carried out by consultants and a report of their findings is expected to be completed in early June. The matter will then be considered further by the Services Committee in the light of the report's recommendations.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in the inter-party talks on devolution.

A useful and constructive meeting took place last month between the representatives of the Government and the Labour and Liberal Parties. It is hoped to arrange a further meeting later this month.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make arrangements for parliamentary questions for written answer to be tabled for answer during recesses.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion. Any such arrangements would, however, be administratively expensive. Moreover, I believe it would be generally undesirable to blur the present clear-cut distinction between times when the House is in session and when in recess.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, for the longest and most convenient period of time, how many fire drills have taken place in the House and its precincts; when the last one was held; how frequently they are held; when the next one is due to take place; and whether he will make a statement.

Since 1973, 17 fire drills have been held in the precincts of the House of Commons; the last fire drill was held in October 1979; these exercises are held whenever possible; the next fire drill is due to take place in September. The hon. Member will be pleased to know that arrangements are being made for the appointment of a Fire Officer for the Palace of Westminster and I hope that this post will soon be filled.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many European Economic Community legislative instruments have been recommended by the Select Committee on European Economic Community legislation for debate in the House but have not yet been debated.

Thirty-eight, of which about half are outstanding from the previous Parliament and a number of which are subject to the possibility of revision.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire East, Official Report, 6 May, columns 27–8, whether he will explain how the present limited telex facilities operate; and whether he will set out the proposals for a fuller service that were examined by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee, giving the reasons why each proposal was not accepted.

I have asked the chairman of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, with reference to his written answer to the hon. Member for Warley East, Official Report , 19 December 1979, expressing the hope that the 25th Report of the Reviewing Committee on the export of works of art covering the year ended 30 June 1979 would be published early in the current year, he can now give an approximate date for its publication; and whether, as previously suggested by written answer, Official Report , 26 July 1979, columns 353–4, he will request the committee to arrange for its annual reports covering periods ended 30 June to be sent to the printers by the end of the calendar year in question, thus allowing six months for its preparation.

I have received the report for 1978–9 of the Reviewing Committee on the export of works of art and am considering it. In general, I hope that the Reviewing Committee's reports will be published as soon as possible after the end of the year under review, but it would be impracticable for me to make a commitment to a particular date.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when decisions will be taken on the successor to the Franco-British Jaguar, the F-4F Phantom of the Members of bomb disposal teams: Devices defused Amount involved ( lbs .) Killed Injured 1970 … … 17 59 — — 1971 … … 493 3,001 2 — 1972 … … 471 19,978 5 4 1973 … … 542 32,450 2 4 1974 … … 428 27,094 2 1 1975 … … 236 11,159 2 — 1976 … … 426 16,252 2 — 1977 … … 169 2,188 2 — 1978 … … 178 5,860 — — 1979 … … 142 4,530 2 —

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out details of recruitment to the Armed Forces in the year ended 31 March and during the previous four years.

50,652 United Kingdom Service personnel were recruited in the year ended 31 March 1980. This compares with 46,906 in 1975–76, 40,244 in 1976–77, 38,237 in 1977–78 and 43,366 in 1978–79. With only one exception, last year's performance was the best for 17 years. Detailed information is contained in the quarterly Ministry of Defence press release on the manpower situation (TSM4) issued on 15 May; a copy is available in the Library of the House. Details of

Federal German air force, and the further development of the British Harrier.

I have at present nothing to add to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) and Haltem-price (Mr. Wall) on 28 April and 13 May respectively.—[Vol. 983, c. 385.]

The decision on a replacement for the F-4F in the Federal German air force is, of course, a matter for the Government of the Federal German Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many bombs and other devices have been defused by the Army in each of the past 10 years; what bas been the total amount of explosives involved in each year; and how many bomb disposal officers have been killed or injured in the course of duty.

The information requested on Army bomb disposal activities in Northern Ireland is shown in the following table:

recruiting in the previous four years are given in table 4.6 of Volume II of the Statement on the Defence Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any change in the use of RAF Greenham Common is implied by recent aircraft movements; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend may be referring to a forthcoming series of landing trials, involving one RAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, to be held at RAF Greenham Common this summer. These are designed to test runway repair techniques and have no implication for any change in the use of RAF Greenham Common.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his intention to make foster care allowances reckonable for tax.

Payments by local authorities to foster parents are taxable under the present law, but in practice tax is charged only on payments above the basic boarding-out allowance which exceed the expenses of looking after the child.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what process the exchange rate of the £ sterling as against the Russian rouble is determined for purposes of estimating the value of the United Kingdom's trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

TAX THRESHOLDS IN £ STERLING Single Married couple Married couple with 2 children Belgium … … … … … … 2,010 2,170 2,495 Denmark … … … … … … 1,310 2,470 2,470 France … … … … … … 2,400 3,170 4,620 Germany … … … … … … 1,740 3,060 3,060 Ireland … … … … … … 1,380 2,390 2,750 Italy … … … … … … 860 1,230 1,400 Luxembourg … … … … … 2,275 3,770 5,870 Netherlands … … … … … 2,340 2,940 2,940 United Kingdom … … … … … 1,376 2,146 2,146

Notes:

1. Figures are for the tax year 1980 or 1980–81, except for France (1979), which fixes its tax scale in arrear at the end of the tax year. The 1980 figures for Belgium and Italy are provisional and are likely to be subject to further changes. The United Kingdom and Irish 1980–81 figures take into account increased reliefs introduced in their respective 1980 Finance Bills.

2. The figures relate to employment income only. In the case of married couples all income is assumed to be that of the husband.

3. Personal reliefs, universal minimum expenses deductions, employment income reliefs and other flat rate reliefs have been taken into account, as have deductible social security contributions.

4. Child benefits have been left out of account.

5. Conversions to sterling were made at the exchange rates prevailing in London on 12 May 1980. Such conversions may not reflect differences in domestic purchasing power between the United Kingdom and individual foreign countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing the amount of public sector debt owing to overseas creditors which falls to be repaid in each of the next 10 years.

The information requested is published in the Bank of England

Estimates of the value of the United Kingdom's trade with the Soviet Union are based on declarations made in sterling by United Kingdom importers and exporters. The rate of exchange which is permitted to be used is that published in the Financial Times for the day of importation, or the previous day's rate if this has not varied by more than 10 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table comparing minimum tax thresholds in £ sterling equivalents for each of a single person, a married couple and a couple with two children, in each member State of the European Economic Community.

Quarterly Bulletin (volume 20, No. 1, March 1980. table 17.2).

Quarterly Bulletin (volume 20, No. 1, March 1980, table 17.2).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what authority is required to carry on a business as a bank in the United Kingdom; whether a licence is required; and what are the conditions attached to any such licence.

The Banking Act 1979 provides that it is an offence for a deposit-taking business to accept deposits unless authorised to do so by the Bank of England or exempt from the provisions of the Act. The Act establishes a two-tier system of authorisation—one tier comprises "recognised banks" and the other "licensed institutions". The criteria for recognition as a bank or for being licensed as a deposit-taking institution are set out in schedule 2 to the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the loss in tax revenue would be if all live public performances of music, drama and ballet staged by non-profit making organisations were to be zero-rated for value added tax.

I regret that information is not available from which to make an estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the loss in tax revenue would be if the maintenance cost of all listed buildings were to be zero-rated for value added tax.

I regret that it is not possible to make an estimate and I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 19 March.—[Vol. 981, c. 229 .]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to exempt from value added tax payments made by or on behalf of pupils below the compulsory school leaving age made for goods and services in connection with youth hostelling.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the complexity of the present regulations and the confusion that exists among those directly concerned, he will hold urgent discussions with a view to introducing a general exemption on value added tax on the purchase of any item which enables a registered handicapped person to lead a normal life.

[ pursuant to his reply , 16 May 1980]: No. The existing reliefs zero-rate for VAT a wide range of medical, surgical and other appliances designed for the disabled. Further reliefs on the lines suggested would not be justified in the context of a broadly based tax and would be very difficult to define.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons were entitled to relief under the provisions for tax relief for blind persons in 1979–80; how many of them derived benefit from the concession because their income or their spouse's income was high enough to qualify in practice; and by how much the net income of those who derived benefit from the relief was increased in the average case.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations took place between his Department and S. and W. Birsford Ltd. concerning that company's bid to acquire the share capital of the British Sugar Corporation Ltd.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of the recent visit to Shetland by Mr. Fraser of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, and for what reason the visit was made.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which nationalised industries for which his Department is responsible increase the pensions of their employees by the following methods ( a ) under the statutory obligations of section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975, ( b ) under their respective trust deeds as if under the 1975 Act, ( c ) by fully increasing pensions in other forms, and ( d ) by awarding discretionary increases.

There are no industries for which my Department has primary responsibility. I refer the hon. Member to the individual sponsor Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the acquisition by the National Trust of Baddesley Clinton was facilitated financially by the National Land Fund; and whether he will specify the procedure whereby this assistance was proffered, the form which it took, and the sum which was involved.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate for 1980–81 of the 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.

[ pursuant to his reply , 13 May 1980, c. 407 ]: The estimated information for taxpayers, taking account of the Budget proposals, is as follows:

Group of taxpayers ( counting married couples as one unit ) Estimated proportion of tax yield at 1980–81 income levels Per cent . Top 1 per cent. 10.4 Top 10 percent. 32.7 Top 40 per cent. 69.5 Bottom 30 per cent. 8.9 Bottom 10 per cent. 1.3

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the likely changes in the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief on qualifying interest on loans for purchase or improvement of owner-occupied etc. property at 1979 survey prices for the years 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84; and whether he will indicate the reasons for anticipated changes.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue is raised by every extra 1 per cent. in excise duty on ( a ) beer, ( b ) wine, ( c ) spirits and ( d ) tobacco; and what is the effect on the retail price index in each case.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the average growth rates of all Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries in 1979.

It is estimated that the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom rose by about 1½ per cent. in volume terms between the years 1978 and 1979. Latest estimates for other countries, prepared by the OECD secretariat, are given on page 168 of OECD Main Economic Indicators , April 1980.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the actual or estimated loss of revenue on an annual basis if smoking were banned; and to what extent value added tax or income tax would have to be increased to recoup the lost revenue from tobacco duty and the value added tax levied on the sale of tobacco and tobacco products.

[ pursuant to his reply , 12 May 1980, c. 381 ]: It is estimated that in 1980–81 the yield from tobacco duty and VAT on tobacco and tobacco products will be about £3,350 million. However, it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the total loss of revenue if smoking were banned, nor of the increase in VAT or income tax rates required to recoup this loss of revenue. This is because the banning of smoking would have considerable but unquantifiable effects on the yields of other indirect taxes through changes in the pattern of expenditures, on the yield of income tax paid by those previously employed in the tobacco industry, on public expenditure, especially transfer payments, and on the yield of taxes paid by the tobacco industry and its suppliers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the amount of taxes paid in total by the tobacco industry, for the latest and most convenient date, on an annual basis.

[ pursuant to his reply , 12 May 1980, c. 381 ]: I regret that data on the revenue derived from the various taxes, broken down into payments made by individual industries, are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the answer given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher), Official Report , 18 December 1979, column 133, before giving any further consideration to the question of Great Britain joining the European monetary system, in view of the high level of unemployment and the deteriorating economic situation in the North-East of England, if he will undertake to make a detailed investigation into the likely economic effects that the European monetary system would have on the North-East and other assisted areas of the United Kingdom.