asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will mount a campaign to draw the attention of the public to the need for better hygiene standards; and if he will make a statement.

Viewed nationally, this is a matter for continuous effort in educating and informing the public. At this national level standards of hygiene are among the subjects with which the work of the Health Education Council is concerned. Leaflets and posters are available from the council for the use of health education officers in encouraging high standards of personal hygiene and of local authorities' environmental health officers in exercising their responsibilities in relation to standards of hygiene in handling food.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the major producers of coal moving into the international market.

In 1978, the latest year for which complete figures are available, the major exporters of coal were as follows: HARD COAL EXPORTS (million tonnes) Poland 40 Australia 39 USA 37 USSR 26 West Germany 19 South Africa 15 Canada 14

The United States coal industry was seriously affected by a national strike during 1978. In 1977 the USA exported 49 million tonnes of hard coal.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Scottish share of the current offshore oil equipment market.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Grinstead (Mr. Johnson Smith) on 13 May, columns 408-10. It is not possible to extract separate figures for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will stipulate a minimum distance at which opencast coal seams can be worked by the National Coal Board when the Glyn Tai opencast site in South-West Wales becomes operational.

The excavation area which will be authorised at Glyn Tai does not approach less than 82 yds from the nearest occupied dwelling.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek to prohibit large lorries from being used to carry coal from the Glyn Tai opencast site to the disposal plant at Cwmmawr at the times when children are being taken to and from the primary schools that lie along the routes.

The inspector's report of the public inquiry on the Glyn Tai site, a copy of which was sent to the hon. Member, indicated that the coal would be transported along routes agreed by the county council and that, if necessary, coal traffic would be restricted to specified times so as to ease possible congestion. The inspector took the view that these routes had been used without untoward recorded difficulties and he placed no reservations on the matter. I do not, therefore, consider that any further restrictions on lorry traffic are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were his reasons for overruling the final recommendations of the independent inspector who carried out the public inquiry into the proposed Glyn Tai opencast site in South-West Wales that authorisation for National Coal Board working of the site should not be granted.

The reasons for authorising this site were fully set out in a letter dated 23 April 1980 addressed to the secretary of the opencast executive of the National Coal Board, which was copied to the hon. Member. It was clear from the inspector's report that he recommended against authorisation because of his belief that the Glyn Tai site should not be worked pending the completion of the civil engineering operations at the Rhos colliery site. The decision to grant authorisation in fact was made only on condition that operations should not begin until civil engineering work at Rhos colliery site was complete and the site was ready for restoration to agricultural use.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the appointment of a new chairman of the British National Oil Corporation.

[ pursuant to his reply, 20 May 1980, c. 140 ]: I have today appointed Mr. Philip Shelbourne as chairman of the British National Oil Corporation in succession to Mr. Ronald Utiger. Mr. Shelbourne is joining the corporation immediately as a part-time member and will take up the chairmanship on a full-time basis on 1 July. His appointment is for a period of five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in the development of training for young people entering the horse racing industry; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the report of the Joint Racing Board's working party on apprentice training has now been approved by the Jockey Club and the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

A recommendation that a new training school, with facilities for 100 stable employees per year, should be established has been approved, and suitable premises are being sought.

The Horserace Betting Levy Board has agreed to contribute £250,000 towards the initial cost, and a charitable trust will be established to raise the remaining initial financial requirements, and to provide funds to meet ongoing expenses. A committee of management will be set up and this will control future apprentice training.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers on Merseyside, in Kirkby and in Ormskirk covered by the undertaking to 1979 school leavers, had not been made an offer of a place on the youth opportunities programme by the date of the last count; and when they are likely to receive an offer.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that on 10 April 1980, the day of the concluding count of progress towards the undertaking, the numbers of unemployed 1979 school leavers in the listed areas for whom provision had still to be made were as follows: Merseyside 33 Kirkby 2 Ormskirk —

The majority of these young people have since been made an offer and it is expected that the few remaining cases will be cleared in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people on Merseyside in Kirkby and in Ormskirk covered by the undertaking to long-term unemployed young people had not been made an offer of a place on a youth employment programme on 10 April; and what he intends to do to remedy the situation.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that on 10 April 1980 in Merseyside there remained without the offer of a suitable place on the programme 134 of the 960 young people who, on 10 January 1980, had been registered as unemployed for over 12 months. The equivalent figures for Kirkby were: Numbers of young people who, on 10 January 1980 had been unemployed for over 12 months 80 Numbers from previous total who remained on 10 April without the offer of a suitable place on the programme 17

In Ormskirk there were no young people remaining without the offer of a suitable place on the programme.

Despite the concerted efforts of MSC staff and the careers service, many of the young people remaining without an offer have resisted invitations to discuss opportunities in the youth opportunities programme. This lack of contact blurs the position and it is difficult to estimate the true number of young people for whom provision has still to be made. Efforts to establish contact will, of course, continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in the light of current and forthcoming redundancies in the fishing industry, what proposals he has for decasualisation of the industry and for redundancy payments to those currently losing their jobs.

The conditions of employment in the trawler fishing industry are a matter for negotiation within the industry. Trawler fishermen are covered by the redundancy payments provisions of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in the talks between the two sides of the fishing industry to secure agreement on decasualisation which were initiated by his predecessor.

I understand that agreement on the framework of a scheme was reached in 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of people attending employment rehabilitation centres were drawing invalidity benefit immediately before commencing the course at the last date for which figures are available.

[ pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1980, c. 119 ]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that research recently undertaken by it indicates that about 17 per cent. of those attending courses at employment rehabilitation centres (ERCs) had been drawing invalidity benefit prior to the course.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, of people completing courses at employment rehabilitation centres in the last period for which figures are available, what proportion ( a ) immediately entered full-time employment, ( b ) reverted to drawing sickness benefit, ( c ) reverted to drawing invalidity benefit, ( d ) reverted to drawing unemployment benefit, and ( e ) reverted to drawing supplementary benefit only.

[ pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1980, c. 118 ]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in the six months ending March 1979 12 per cent. of those completing courses at employment rehabilitation centres immediately entered full-time employment. Statistics are not available as to which benefits, if any, were claimed by the remainder of clients on completion.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if it is proposed to recruit any inspectors of factories in the current year and 1981; how many inspectors at present specialising in training will be required for ordinary duties in the same period; and how many inspectors resigned or retired in 1979 and in the current year to the most recent practicable date.

[ pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1980, c. 201 ]: The Health and Safety Commission and its executive have been reviewing the allocation of their resources to future programmes of work, including Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate's programme, in the light of Civil Service manpower economies. Final decisions have not yet been taken, but it seems unlikely that there will be any recruitment of inspectors of factories in the current year. It is not known at this stage whether or not recruitment will take place in 1981.

The number of inspectors at present specialising in training who will be required for ordinary duties in the same period also depends on the outcome of the review.

34 inspectors of factories left the Health and Safety Executive during 1979 and 18 between 1.1.80 and 16.5.80.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his assessment of the reasons why the unit value of imported motor vehicles has risen twice as fast as the unit value of imported machinery since 1975; and to what extent this was due to imports of more expensive and larger vehicles since 1975.

The faster growth in the import unit value index for motor vehicles compared with machinery reflects both the differences between the product groups and the way in which the index numbers are compiled.

First, machinery covers a wide range of goods such as office and ADP machinery, electronic calculators and telecommunications equipment, where, as a result of technological improvements, prices have risen less rapidly than elsewhere.

Secondly, in the context of the method of compilation, the series are derived as the ratio of value to quantity for a sample of detailed product groups, and are not, therefore, strict price indices. Hence, as well as reflecting genuine price movements, the indices will also reflect changes in the composition of the product groups, including those which result from the need to modify the sample of products in the light of periodic changes to the classification. This has been an important factor in the series for motor vehicles, where, as the hon. Member suggests, the proportion of larger and more expensive vehicles imported has increased since 1975. Work is currently in hand to try to assess the impact of this change on the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, pursuant to the answer by the Prime Minister to a supplementary question on Thursday 15 May, he will refer the Southern water authority to the Monopolies Commission.

My right hon. Friend has no current plans to refer the Southern water authority to the commission, but will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind in considering the future programme of references under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980. It is certainly the Government's intention that other water authorities should be referred to the commission for investigation in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is now in a position to announce the findings of the review carried out by the Director General, who has powers under the Fair Trading Act, into the petrol distribution and the activities of the major oil companies, in particular the activities in rural areas of Shell and Esso.

The Director General is continuing his review of levels of company ownership and seller concentration in petrol distribution. With my full agreement he is also examining whether there are other matters which would justify the use of his statutory powers. His conclusions will be made known as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will monitor the extent of the United Kingdom's textile and clothing trade with China, in order to assess the implications of further expansion of that trade on the United Kingdom industries; and whether he will arrange for the findings to be published at regular intervals.

Yes. As with all countries with which the European Community has a bilateral textile agreement, my Department and the Department of Industry are continually monitoring these imports. Details are published monthly in the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in view of his undertaking to monitor the extent of importation of tufted carpets and its effect on the United Kingdom industry, he will arrange for the findings to be published at regular intervals.

Figures for imports are published monthly in the Overseas Trade Statistics. As regards the effect on the United Kingdom industry, we are maintaining close contact with the British Carpet Manufacturers Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will bring forward the draft Bill to implement the proposals of the Law Commission's report No. 88 on interest, Cmnd. 7229, to require that unpaid accounts should carry interest at bank rate after the expiry of any specified term of credit.

I am consulting a number of representative bodies about the main recommendation in the Law Commission report No. 88. A decision about the report will be made when these are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the level of trade with member countries of the European Economic Community as a percentage of total trade by the United Kingdom for the period 1973 to 1979 for imports and exports.

This information, on a balance of payments basis, may be derived from the figures contained in tables A2 and A9 of the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will withhold any permit for the export of the partially completed jack-up flare tower and link bridge being constructed for Shell Company Limited at the Weldit yard in Barrow-in-Furness, pending inquiries to ascertain whether arrangements can be made with the receiver for the completion of the work in the yard.

Jack-up flare towers or link bridges are not subject to export control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1978. The question of my withholding an export licence does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will refer the sale of Fairey Holdings by the National Enterprise Board to S. Pearson and Sons Ltd. to the Monopolies Commission.

My right hon. Friend announced on 16 May that he had decided, on the evidence before him and in accordance with the recommendation of the Director General of Fair Trading, not to refer this merger to the commission for investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what applications he has received from Eastman Kodak Ltd. since May 1979 to arrange a reduction in the import duty currently applied to its products from the United States of America; what response he has given; and if he will make a statement.

[ pursuant to the reply, 21 May 1980, c. 206 ]: As far as can be ascertained, no such applications have been received from Eastman Kodak Ltd. since May 1979. If the hon. Member could furnish further details of what may be concerning her, I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a Statement on the ratification of IMCO conventions.

We have today ratified the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 and the 1978 protocol thereto; the Torremo-linos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels 1977; and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue 1979.

This marks a further step forward in the Government's continuing endeavour to improve maritime safety and prevent pollution at sea.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, of imports of textiles and clothing into the United Kingdom in 1978, what amount in dollars per thousands dollars of gross domestic product the United Kingdom imported from developing countries; and what was the amount for 1979.

[ pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1980, c. 407 ]: Imports of textiles and clothing from developing countries expressed as a percentage of the gross domestic product at market prices in the years in question are shown below. 1977 Imports (cif) £ million Exports (fob) Man-made fibres suitable for spinning and waste of man-made fibres … 99.1 179.8 Yarn of continuous man-made fibres … … … … … … 209.8 222.6 Wool or other animal hair, carded or combed (including tops) … … 12.3 53.6 Cotton yarn … … … … … … … … … 68.4 26.8 Yarn of discontinuous man-made fibres … … … … … 64.9 45.4 Yarn of wool or animal hair (excluding tops) … … … … … 26.9 77.0 Woven cotton fabrics (excluding narrow or special fabrics) … … … 315.9 120.9 Fabrics woven of man-made fibres (excluding narrow or special fabrics) … 409.6 127.7 Fabrics woven of wool or fine animal hair … … … … … 53.8 166.1 Knitted or crocheted fabrics (including tubular knit fabrics, pile fabrics and open-work fabrics) … … … … … … … 51.3 67.8 Carpets, carpeting, rugs, mats and matting … … … … … 139.3 159.5 Other textiles … … … … … … … … … 342.8 298.8

The three principal countries (by value) from which, overall, these textile products were consigned to the United Kingdom were: Italy, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States of America.

is also included for the purpose of comparison. The proportion in parenthesis are per mille. 1977 0.42 (4.2) 1978 0.42 (4.2) 1979 0.47 (4.7)

Note: textiles and clothing as defined by SITC(R2) Divisions 65 and 84.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what the value of the imports of the following textile products into the United Kingdom was in 1979: man-made staple, man-made filament yarn, wool, corded or combed spun yarn cotton, man-made fibre, wool, woven fabrics, cotton, man-made fibre wool, carpets knitted fabrics and other textiles; and which three countries, in order, exported on average the most textile products to the United Kingdom;

(2) what the value of the exports of the following textile products was in 1979: man-made staple, man-made filament yarn, wool, corded or combed, spun yarn; cotton, man-made fibre wool, woven fabrics, cotton, man-made fibre, wool, knitted fabrics, carpets and other textiles.

[ pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1980, c. 407 ]: I assume that the information that my hon. Friend requires is the following:

Source: UK Overseas Trade Statistics (SITC (Rev 2) Division 65, Groups 266 and 267 and Item 268.7).

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

Q20. Mr. asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prim" Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher).

asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Mintlaw.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the coordination between the Departments of Trade and Industry on future development of the Concorde.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her discussions with representatives of other Governments during her visit to Belgrade.

I had useful talks with the Presidents of Pakistan, Romania and Zambia, the Prime Ministers of India, Italy and Spain, the Federal German Chancellor and the Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to make a visit to the North-West.

I hope to visit the North-West next month.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit the Centre for Information and Advice on Educational Disadvantage.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to meet the Confederation of British Industry.

I meet representatives of the CBI at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take the chair at the next meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

I hope to take the chair of the NEDC at a future meeting, but no dates have yet been arranged.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to arrange for the main Western Powers, including the United States of America, to hold an early meeting at Heads of Government level to discuss the co-ordination of the Western response to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and to the continuing detention of the American hostages in Iran.

Several Western Heads of Government will meet at Venice on 22 and 23 June. While the meeting will be primarily economic, it is probable that we will take the opportunity to discuss the international political situation.

asked the Prime Minister what major international issues she will seek to raise at the next meeting of the European Economic Community Heads of Government.

I expect to discuss major current international issues, both political and economic, including the Community's contribution to discussions at the summit meeting of major Western Powers later that month. It is too soon to say what else might be discussed.

asked the Prime Minister, in the light of the claim by Professor Clegg that his commission was given wrong information concerning teacher salary increases which has cost the taxpayers some £130 million, if she will take steps to ensure that the Department concerned does not supply wrong information again to any such commission; and if she will make a statement.

I have asked the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Employment to inquire into the matter and establish the facts.

Sir Alan Marre, formerly Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, has agreed to undertake the inquiry on their behalf and to report to them.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied that the value of index-linked pensions for public sector employees is adequately taken into account in contributions and levels of pay.

Arrangements in different parts of the public sector vary widely and I am not satisfied that the difficult problem of the value of index-linked pensions has been adequately considered in all of them.

I am therefore setting up an independent inquiry to consider and advise on how such pensions might be valued. Sir Bernard Scott has agreed to be chairman. Other members will be Sir Alex Jarratt, Professor Harold Rose, Mr. Robert E. Macdonald and Mr. Gavin Laird.

It is my hope that the inquiry can be completed within three or four months. I am sure it will want to consider representations both from those directly concerned and from others. It would then be for the Government and other public sector authorities to decide, in the light of the advice given, whether and what changes in present arrangements would be desirable. Any such changes would of course have to be considered by the managements and unions and staff associations concerned.

The full terms of reference will be as follows: Having regard to the need to ensure that full account is taken in all areas of the public sector, whether by contributions or salary abatement, of the value of inflation-proofing of occupational pensions, and of relative job security; taking due account of arrangements in the private sector: (a) to consider the assumptions and methods used by the Government Actuary where he assesses the value of differences in inflation-proofing of occupational pensions; (b) to consider the relative degree of security in the full inflation-proofing enjoyed by public sector employees compared with those in the private sector, and the additional value to be placed upon it; (c) to consider how to assess the relative job security enjoyed by employees in the private and public sectors; (d) to report their findings and suggest what valuations or methods of valuation would be appropriate to take account of these factors in determining pay and other conditions of service. "

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the current level of pay settlements in the public sector, particularly those which arise from review bodies or from the Clegg Commission; whether she will give an assurance that all such settlements will be financed within cash limits, involving compulsory redundancies if necessary; if she will take steps to achieve a more modest level of public sector settlements in the next wage round; and whether she will make a statement.

The present level of pay settlements across the whole economy is too high. The settlements in the public services which followed the previous Government's references to the Clegg Commission have reduced the level of public services the country can afford. The Government's response to the review body reports for the Armed Forces and doctors and dentists has already been made clear. So far as the treatment of the Armed Forces for cash limit purposes is concerned, I made it clear in my answer to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) on 29 April that we were considering the consequences of the review body's recommendations for cash limits and that an announcement would be made in due course. Otherwise it is our policy that all public sector pay settlements should be contained within cash limits.

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on 20 May in his speech to the Confederation of British Industry, inflation will be falling over the coming year and pay settlements must reflect this trend. This applies as much in the public as in the private sector. Public sector employees must recognise that lower increases are essential if we are to reduce inflation and avoid higher unemployment.

asked the Prime Minister whether the talks between President Giscard D'Estaing and President Brezhnev are consistent with foreign policy initiatives agreed between European Heads of Government.

France did not take a decision, as we did, to avoid high level and ministerial contacts with the Soviet Union for the time being.

asked the Prime Minister, in the. absence of final agreement on the United Kingdom budget contribution to the EEC by 1 July 1980, if Her Majesty's Government will operate an annual ceiling of £325 million from that date and at the same time recover any overpayment made between 1 January and 30 June 1980.

Complex negotiations are taking place. A commitment of the kind suggested would not help at present.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, further to the information given to the House on 8 February, he will report on the agreement to replenish the resources of the International Development Association.

The texts of the report of the executive directors to the board of governors of the association, dated 15 January 1980 and of the resolution giving effect to the agreement which was adopted on 26 March, were published on 20 May as a Command Paper—Cmnd. 7900. A draft order under the Overseas Aid Act 1968, authorising the United Kingdom's contribution, has been made for the approval of the House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the cost of travel by officials in each development division, in the course of supervising and advising on the British aid programme for the year to the latest convenient date.

[ pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 688 ]: The information requested is as follows: £ South East Asia Development Division £ 32,700 British Development Division in the Caribbean 32,675 British Development Division in Southern Africa 31,300 Middle East Development Division 36,000 East Africa Development Division 36,000

These figures are in respect of the calender year 1979 and include subsistence allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all those penal establishments in which a disturbance has occurred in the last 12 months, giving in each case the date, the nature of the disturbance, the number of prisoners involved and the stated reasons for the disturbance and whether the minimum use of force tactical intervention squad was used.

The information requested is not readily available in this form and I shall be writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong have arrived in the United Kingdom since 31 December 1979.

I understand from the joint committee for refugees from Vietnam that, during the period 1 January to 30 April 1980, the number of refugees received into this country from Hong Kong was 2,377.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the 24,000 Iranians who returned to the United Kingdom in 1979 from temporary absence abroad had originally been allowed to enter the United Kingdom.

Statistics about the purpose from which these people were originally admitted are not available, but the total will include a good proportion of students in the middle of courses, as well as people who have been accepted for settlement after four years' residence—for example as business men, self-employed persons or persons of independent means—or as a result of marriage. The figure of 24,000 relates to the number of journeys made and therefore includes some people who returned more than once during the course of 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the Iranians given leave to enter the United Kingdom in 1978 for a period of less than 12 months are still in the United Kingdom and on what basis they remain; how many of the 117,700 Iranians given leave to enter the United Kingdom in 1979 for a period of less than 12 months have failed to leave on time; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 15 May to reply to the letters dated 31 March and 4 April and the complaint concerning the continual and regular delays in his Department in replying to correspondence; and what was contained in this letter of 15 May which could and should have been sent earlier.

I am satisfied that the hon. Member's correspondence is given the appropriate priority, having regard to the pressure of work in the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will abolish the Voluntary Services Unit.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grant has been paid to the student community action resources programme by the Voluntary Services Unit so far in the current year; how much was paid in 1978; how much more will be given in the current year; and what figure, if any, has been decided upon for the grant for 1981.

The grant paid to the student community action resources programme in the financial year 1978–79 was £14,898, and in 1979–80 was £14,000. In 1980–81 a payment of £3,838 has so far been made. The total grant for the year is under consideration. No decision has been made about a grant for 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise metropolitan and non-metropolitan county councils which currently are considering the re-warding of their electoral divisions; and what time he expects such a process to have been completed in order, in each case, for the 1981 county elections to be contested under revised, rather than existing, boundaries.

This matter is the subject of consultations between my Department and the local authority associations cerned, with a view to providing firm advice to county councils before the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report all those metropolitan and non-metropolitan county councils where electoral boundaries currently are under review, those in which any such changes have already been agreed and those where no review is being conducted.

The information requested is as follows:

A Counties for which electoral arrangements are currently under review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Metropolitan County

South Yorkshire

Non-metropolitan County Avon Bedfordshire Cheshire Cleveland Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Durham East Sussex Essex Hampshire Hereford and Worcester Hertfordshire Humberside Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Lincolnshire Norfolk Northamptonshire North Yorkshire Somerset Staffordshire Surrey Warwickshire Wiltshire B Counties for which final proposals have been submitted to me by the Local Government Boundary Commission

Non-metropolitan County Northumberland Nottinghamshire 292 Shropshire

C Counties for which a review of electoral arrangements has not yet begun

Metropolitan County Greater Manchester Merseyside Tyne and Wear West Midlands West Yorkshire Non-metropolitan County Berkshire Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Dorset Gloucestershire Leicestershire Oxfordshire Suffolk West Sussex

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the offences of those 18 mentally disordered prisoners released into the community in 1979 because no hospital places could be found for them, referred to in his previous answer to the hon. Member for Ormskirk.

The offences were as follows:— 1. Criminal Damage 2. Burglary 2 (offences) 3. (i) Burglary (ii) Criminal damage (2 offences) (iii) Attempted taking and driving away (iv) Attempted deception (v) Theft 4. (i) Arson (ii) Attempted burglary 5. Destruction by fire 6. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (2 offences) 7. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm 8. (i) Criminal damage (ii) Burglary (iii) Attempting to obtain services by deception 9. (i) Grievous bodily harm (ii) Criminal damage 10. Grievous bodily harm (2 offences) 11. Theft 12. Obtaining by deception 13. (i) Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ii) Assault on police officers (iii) Possessing offensive weapon (2 offences) 14. Burglary (2 offences) 15. Child theft 16. Wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm 17. Criminal damage 18. (i) Attempting to rob (ii) Blackmail

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patients were received into police custody from mental hospitals in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, further to his reply of 15 May to the hon. Member for Rugby, what Her Majesty's Government's computer policy will be at the end of the current year's programme; and if International Computers Limited will continue to supply computers on the basis of single tender subject only to price, performance and delivery date.

The GATT and EEC regulations with which Government computer procurement will have to comply from January 1981 provide little scope for single tender procurements. The circumstances in which single tender is allowed under the GATT rules are set out in article V, paragraph 15 Cmnd. 7662, published in October 1979. There are similar provisions under the EEC rules. The Government are reviewing computer procurement policy to establish what form their support should take in future consistently with these international rules, to help the United Kingdom computer industry to compete effectively. I shall report our conclusions to the House. Financial Years Total receipts Total payments Number of staff (in September) Cost to CET of members' salaries Cost to CET of members' travelling and subsistence expenses* Cost to CET of members' secretarial salaries and expenses £ £ £ £ £ 1978–79 … … 637,249 631,056 31 0 8,521 0 1977–78 … … 492,335 492,249 26 0 6,500 0 1976–77 … … 449,995 449,244 24 0 6,094 0 1975–76 … … 438,930 438,151 25 0 5,313 0 1974–75 … … 301,887 286,240 25 0 5,818 0 * Included in annual report under " Travelling and Subsistence Non Staff ".

Note: Accounts for the financial year 1979–80 are currently under audit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were, for the latest available 12-month period, the total financial costs, including administration, of the Council for National Academic Awards, the amount disbursed by that body, the number of persons, including secretaries, involved with the body, the amount of payment for, respectively, members of the body by way of salary or equivalent, expenses of members and secretarial salaries and expenses; and what were the figures in all the above categories in each of the past five years, respectively.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were, for the latest available 12-month period, the total financial costs, including administration, of the Council of Educational Technology for the United Kingdom, the amount disbursed by that body, the number of persons, including secretaries, involved with the body, the amount of payment for, respectively, members of the body by way of salary or equivalent, expenses of members and secretarial salaries and expenses; and what were the figures in all the above categories in each of the past five years, respectively.

The following information is given in the Council for Educational Technology's annual reports, copies of which may be obtained free of charge from the council:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Government have received any comments from Luton sixth form college on recognising the certificate of extended education; and if so, what was its response.

Two letters from the college have been received on this subject. The Department's replies have indicated that they will be taken into account with comments from other interested bodies on the recommendations of the Keohane report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations the Government have received from employers and trades unions in regard to national recognition for the certificate of extended education.

The CBI and the TUC have commented with approval on a number of the recommendations in the Keohane report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Government intend to approve the continuation of the existing schemes involving the certificate of extended education beyond 1980–81.

My right hon. and learned Friend is examining the comments he has received on the recommendations of the Keohane report, in the light of other proposals concerning school examinations taken after the age of 16. Until he has reached a decision on these complex issues the future of the pilot examinations for the certificate of extended education cannot be settled.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what bodies have commented on the recommendation of the Keohane committee that the certificate of extended education be nationally recognised; and when the Government expect to announce their decision.

The Schools Council, the local authority associations, teacher associations, the school examination boards and further education examining bodies, the CBI and the TUC have all commented on the recommendations in this report. It will be some time before my right hon. and learned Friend can announce his decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will tabulate the following detail for primary and secondary teachers' pay between 1 January 1979 and 31 December 1981 ( a ) date, ( b ) percentage pay increase, (c) cumulative percentage pay increase from 1 January 1978, ( d ) the annual cost of the increase, (e) the cumulative annual cost of increases, (f) the cumulative average individual pay increase in £ sterling and ( g ) the percentage increase in the cost of living including both Clegg awards and assuming an additional 13 per cent. increase from 1 April 1980.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the annual increases or decreases in output per model of the BL car range for 1977, 1978 and 1979.

No. Details of output by individual model are commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to secure the independence of small and medium-sized businesses in the break-up of the National Enterprise Board; and if he will make a statement.

As the board's draft guidelines indicate, it is my right hon. Friend's intention that the board should dispose of all of its shareholdings, as soon as commercially practicable, for the highest available consideration, subject to the interests of the taxpayer and the company and such other factors as my right hon. Friend may draw to the board's attention. In general, the independance of the company would be a factor of special importance in those cases where the board had acquired shares subject to an agreement to return them to the existing shareholders on appropriate terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to amend the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977, in order to offer those companies that were nationalised an alternative basis of compensation, based on net maintainable revenue, in addition to the formula laid down in the Act; and if he will make a statement.

The present Administration are not responsible for the 1977 Act, and strongly criticised its proposed provisions when in opposition. Nonetheless the ownership of the nationalised companies was effectively transferred to the Government from 17 March 1975, the date of the previous Administration's safeguarding statement, and the Act related compensation to Stock Exchange prices in a six-month reference period ended 28 February 1974. The Government recognise that in the light of the subsequent events the compensation terms may be considered to operate unfairly for certain companies and have great sympathy with stockholders who believe that they are treated harshly on this account. However, any retroactive amendment of these terms would raise very difficult issues, produce a host of new unfairnesses and further delay the final settlement of compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he has yet sanctioned the sale of Fairey Holdings Limited by the National Enterprise Board to S. Pearson and Sons Ltd.; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what factors he will take into account in deciding whether to sanction the sale of Fairey Holdings Limited; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend gave his consent on 15 May to the board selling its shareholding in Fairey Holdings Ltd. to S. Pearson & Son Ltd. for £24 million. I understand that the board was satisfied that, in accordance with its draft guidelines, this course would secure the highest available consideration, subject to the interests of the taxpayer and of the company, and to the United Kingdom defence interests which my right hon. Friend drew to its attention

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what use is made of the views on planning offered by Dr. D. Green to his Department.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will list regional development grants paid towards the construction of oil reception facilities at Sullom Voe in Shetland, Flotta in Orkney and Hounds Point on the Firth of Forth;

(2) if he will list regional development grants paid to each company engaged in the construction of oil production platforms in Scotland.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the existing control of quality standards in batteries in the light of complaints of substandard battery performance measured by voltmeters.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how the British Steel Corporation will be financed within the new £5,500 million borrowing limit approved by the House on 15 May.

BSC's external finance requirements, other than short term, will continue to be met by subscriptions of capital under section 18(1) of the Iron and Steel Act 1975, as explained in paragraph 29 of the previous Government's White Paper of March 1978 " BSC: The Road to Viability" (Cmnd 7149).

However, circumstances have changed since then, in particular because later developments in the market have required further reductions in capacity to bring capacity more into line with demand. The capital reconstruction envisaged in Cmnd 7149, which we now plan to provide for in legislation during the next Session, will need to be related to the future size of the industry. In these circumstances, it will no longer be possible to require that all the new capital subscribed by the Secretary of State since April 1978 should be remunerated by dividends after that capital reconstruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in furtherance of its duty under section 2(2)( a ) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 to promote and secure the promotion by its wholly-owned subsidiaries of the efficient and economical design, development, production, sale and maintenance of slow speed diesel engines, he will give a general direction, under section 2(5)( a ) of the Act, to British Shipbuilders not to close the Doxford marine engine works, Sunderland.

The future of Doxford marine engine works is a matter for the commercial judgment of BS, and I have no power to intervene.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to abolish the guarantee deficiency payments scheme for lamb during the current year; and if he will make a statement.

The Fat Sheep Guarantee Scheme will continue in the absence of agreement on a Community regime for mutton and lamb. In current discussions in the Council of Ministers my right hon. Friend has made it clear that any regime must provide adequate alternative safeguards for United Kingdom producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated household consumption of the following types of bread, ounces per person per week, in 1979: brown, wholewheat and wholemeal, white large unwrapped, white large wrapped, white small unwrapped, white small wrapped, malt bread, French bread, slimming bread and white and brown bread rolls.

Figures estimated from the national food survey of household consumption of various types of bread for the year ended 30 September 1979 are as follows: Ounces per person per week Brown 3.53 Whole wheat and wholemeal 1.02 White Large unwrapped (unsliced) 6.09 White Large wrapped (sliced) 14.99 White Small unwrapped (unsliced) 1.95 White Small wrapped (sliced) 0.51 Malt bread, French bread, slimming bread and white and brown rolls 3.32

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated household consumption of bread by region, in ounces per person per week, in 1979.

Figures estimated from the national food survey of household consumption of bread by region for the year ended 30 September 1979 are as follows: Ounces person per week Northern 34.10 Yorkshire and Humberside 30.08 East Midlands 30.82 South East/East Anglia/ Greater London 27.41 South West 28.25 West Midlands 33.32 North West 33.79 Wales 37.77 Scotland 38.90

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has plans to increase dog licence fees during the coming year; and if he will make a statement.

This and other matters relating to dog control are unlikely to be resolved at an early date, for the reasons given by my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment during the Adjournment debate on 14 November last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list for the last four years (a) the United Kingdom landed price after monetary compensation amounts and levy of all European Economic Community food and feedstuff's imported into the United Kingdom, (b) their value at world market prices, (c) the difference between (a) and (b) above and (d) the figures shown at (c) above divided by the United Kingdom population at that time.

The United Kingdom landed price of agricultural imports from the European Community is set out in the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom. Estimates of world prices are UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF POULTRY EGGS IN SHELL, FRESH OR PRESERVED, OTHER THAN FOR HATCHING (COUNTRY OF ORIGIN) Qty=tonnes 1977 1978 1979 1980 Jan 1980 Feb 1980 March France … … 1,320 2,578 7,429 822 601 1,192 Bel/Lux … … 65 71 280 — 16 18 Netherlands … 587 529 7,024 715 647 749 West Germany … 9 6 47 29 12 — Italy … … 36 — — — — — Irish Republic … 59 9 69 — — 1 Denmark … … 9 — 767 33 54 89 Finland … … 755 — 443 — — — Spain … … 16 — — — — 9 Canada … … 33 — — — — — China … … 18 9 21 7 1 — Taiwan … … 9 2 — 1 — — Hongkong … … 27 16 37 1 — — Switzerland … — 1 1 — — — Sweden … … — 48 — — — — Austria … … — … — — — — Israel … … — 215 — — — — U.S.A. … … — … — — — — Guatemala … … — 2 — — — — Thailand … … — — 4 1 — — Total Imports … 2,944 3,486 16,122 1,608 1,331 2,058 Imports as % of UK Consumption … 0.38% 0.45% 2.07% N.A. N.A. N.A.

Notes: (1)… = quantity less than a half a tonne. (2) Totals may not always be the sum of country totals because of rounding up. (3) United Kingdom consumption relates to whole fresh eggs only. No account is taken of consumption of egg products from imports or home production. (4) Consumption figures are available only on a six-monthly basis.