asked the Secretary of State for Trade what improvements would be needed to the multi-fibre arrangement to ensure better protection for the British tufted carpet industry, and man made fibres.

Most United Kingdom imports of these products come from developed countries and the action taken on man-made fibres and considered on tufted carpets was in relation to article XIX of the GATT rather than the multifibre arrangement. While we would like to see—and the European Community is seeking—certain improvements in the provisions of that article, the essential problem is not the provisions themselves, but the general international understanding of when protective action is acceptable in particular cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what his estimate is of the effect on the garment making industry of a temporary ban on all clothing and knitwear imports.

I see no point in making such an estimate. A ban would damage our wider trading interests and be inconsistent with our international obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the European Economic Community countries and for the rest of the world, the visible balance of trade for (a) total trade less crude oil and precious stones and (b) manufactures less precious stones, for the first four months of the current year.

In the period January to April 1980, for total trade less crude oil and precious stones, the United Kingdom had crude deficits of £1·4 billion with the European Community and £0·5 billion with the rest of the world ; for trade in manufactures less precious stones, there was a crude deficit of £1·2 billion with the Community and a crude surplus of £1·4 billion with the rest of the world.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if the latest report submitted by Lonrho under the EEC code of conduct regarding payment of black African workers employed by British companies in South Africa was completed in standard form and fully comprehensive ; and whether, as previously published, all 1,781 workers previously paid by Lonrho below the poverty datum line are now paid above this standard.

The report to which the hon. Member refers is available for inspection in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many officers of the rank of assistant secretary and below are entitled to a personal secretary ; and how many do not have a secretary because of staff shortages or for other reasons.

Allocation of personal secretaries—or secretarial assistance—is made according to need. No central records are kept of the numbers of officers of the rank of assistant secretary and below who have need of such assistance.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department, after 13 months of the present Government, in achieving the policy programme which he set it on assuming office.

When we took office, my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord President and I had as our main objective to achieve a smaller, more efficient Civil Service embodying the best in modern management practice. Considerable progress has already been made towards that aim and more can be expected from work still in hand. Staff in post in Government Departments on 1 April 1980 stood at 705,100 as against 732,300 on 1 April 1979. This is the biggest drop in any year for over 20 years. Recent CSD initiatives on postage and telecommunications, on the formulae used to determine staffing levels in a number of Departments, on typing and messengerial services and on transport have already identified annual savings of £4½ million. Much more can be expected to follow from these and other studies by CSD of activities common to Departments. In addition, savings as high as £40 million are expected through extending the life of computer equipment. The Civil Service Department will ensure that the lessons to be learnt from Sir Derek Rayner's programme of departmental scrutinies receive the widest possible application. The drive for greater efficiency, which is carried out in close co-operation with other Departments, will continue throughout the duration of this Parliament. It will be a major factor in the Government's plans, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 13 May 1980—[Vol. 984, c. 1050–1]—to reduce the size of the Civil Service to about 630,000 over the next four years.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for Thursday 19 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 June.

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

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

I shall meet President Carter in Venice at the economic summit meeting next Sunday and Monday.

asked the Prime Minister what plans she has to visit Northern Ireland.

Such visits are not announced in advance.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of scientific concern that the incidence of ultra-violet radiation penetrating the ozone layer and reaching the earth's surface may be increasing due to the increase in fluorochlorocarbons through human agencies, if she will institute a programme of research into the effect of fluorochlorocarbons on the ozone layer.

The Department of the Environment continues to fund research into the effects of chlorofluorocarbons on stratospheric ozone. It first did so in 1976.

asked the Prime Minister what subjects she intends to raise at the forthcoming meeting of Heads of Government of major Powers, including the United States of America, in Venice on 22–23 June.

I shall wish to discuss all the major economic problems confronting the international community, particularly our respective economic policies and the many pressing issues in the energy field.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Albania.

We have proposed to the Albanian Government that diplomatic relations should be restored without waiting for a resolution of the financial problems that have stood in the way. Regrettably the Albanians have not agreed but the offer remains open. Meanwhile we are continuing to pursue a resolution of the financial questions.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to prevent implementing the fourteenth report of Lord Boyle's Top Salaries Review Board ; and if she will make a statement.

I have now received the fourteenth report of the Top Salaries Review Body. A statement will be made in due course when the Government have fully considered the recommendations.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what is the practice of her Administration with regard to actions by Ministers in their official capacity to assist in the promotion of the sales of private facilities which are within their departmental responsibilities when such facilities are also provided by the public services.

There are no rules which cover the circumstances described by the hon. Member. Any cases would be for consideration on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in assessing the impact of rising electricity prices on domestic consumers, he will in future use the average domestic user's average price per unit of electricity.

Figures for the average price per unit of electricity consumed by the average domestic consumer are derived from the total revenue in a full year from all domestic consumers divided by the total electricity consumption of domestic consumers in a full year. The size of an increase for the average domestic consumer would be calculated on this basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, at the end of each of the last 12 years, what has been the estimated level of (a) discovery, (b) depletion and (c) outstanding reserves of oil in the British sector of the North Sea.

As regards discoveries and outstanding reserves estimates for oil on the United Kingdom continental shelf over the last 12 years, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 10 June.—[Vol. 986, c. 43–44.]Production of oil from the United Kingdom continental shelf since 1975 has been as follows :

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans the Government have for a gas gathering system in the northern North Sea.

At today's high energy prices, and with growing industrial demand for natural gas, our offshore gas reserves represent an increasingly precious national resource. The Government are determined to make the most of that asset and to eliminate uneconomic waste of gas by flaring. I particularly welcome therefore the report from the study team from the British Gas Corporation and Mobil, which is published today as energy paper No. 44. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.The report recommends that a new offshore gas pipeline system should be built consisting of a 36 in. diameter trunk line from the Statfjord area via quadrant 16 to St. Fergus, with a northern spur from Magnus and a larger southern spur from Fulmar. Fields along the route would be connected by lateral lines, and provision made to link in later fields. The system would be designed to take a high proportion of natural gas liquids, to minimise offshore processing costs.At a terminal at St. Fergus gas to British Gas specifications would be separated from the natural gas liquids. The report has concentrated on piping those liquids for fractionation at Nigg Bay, but also considers other possibilities. The total cost of the project is estimated at about £1·1 billion.The Government have given careful consideration to the study team's report and the implications for the nation of the general recommendations. Applications for pipeline authorisations and planning permissions will need to be made in due course. We consider, however, that a pipeline system along the general lines recommended would be in the national interest. The integrated gas gathering concept would, through its economies of scale, both allow the development of smaller gas accumulations and facilitate the most economic collection of larger gas deposits. It should also reduce wasteful offshore flaring, and encourage further exploration within its catchment area. On land, it should help maintain supplies of gas and an integrated approach to disposal of the liquids should provide valuable opportunities for petrochemical development. Once flows have built up the pipeline would each year land gas and liquids worth some £1½ billion.Various schemes have been proposed for the possible use of the gas liquids and these will require careful consideration. Where there are alternatives it will be necessary to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages in terms of maximising the value obtained by the nation from the natural gas liquids and of strengthening the United Kingdom's position in petrochemicals.The Government consider it important that a gas gathering system should be constructed as quickly as possible, with the aim of bringing gas ashore from 1984–85. I have therefore invited British Gas, Mobil and BP to form, together with a financial adviser, an organising group. This will develop proposals for how a pipeline organisation could best be structured and financed as a private utility transmission company outside the public sector. I envisage British Gas taking up 30 per cent. of the equity of such a company, with the remainder of the equity being offered in appropriate proportions to financial institutions, licences and customers for the NGL and, if Norwegian gas should be committed for transmission through the system, Norwegian concerns. I also envisage that the company would be financed substantially by loan finance raised from the markets, and without Government guarantee. The impact of BGC's participation in the pipeline company will be minimal in terms of public expenditure. The organising group intends to progress its work so that a pipeline company can be formed in the autumn.The detailed design of the facilities will require active assistance from the licensees of the fields from which the gas will be transmitted. I hope that all those licensees will give every assistance to the project.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will provide development assistance to Nicaragua ; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 18 March.—[Vol. 981, c. 365–66.] Britain is providing major help to Nicaragua through multilateral organisations, principally the European Community, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Inter-American Development Bank. The shares met from the British aid programme since mid-1979 have now risen to over £3 million of which European Community aid accounts for just over £2 million. There is every likelihood that these and other multilateral organisations in which Britain participates will contribute also to Nicaragua's development once the rehabilitation stage has been completed.At a time when we are having to cut public expenditure we cannot afford to start a continuing programme of bilateral aid as well ; but we expect to spend a little more than £100,000 in the current financial year on various short-term projects for Nicaragua.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will publish in the Official Report a list showing which of 10 board members of the Commonwealth Development Corporation received £5,000 or more per annum, which of those were part-time, the number of hours or days per week they give to this employment and which member received a salary of between £30,000 to £30,500 per annum ; what was the actual amount ; whether this employee is full or part-time ; and, in view of the Government's policy of cutting public expenditure, which action has been taken or will be taken to reduce these payments.

With the exception of the chairman of the corporation, who is shown in the accounts as having recived £15,000, no member of the board received £5,000 or more in 1979. The accounts show that in 1979 there were altogether 10 board members in addition to the chairman, and that their joint emoluments totalled £14,000. All CDC board members are part-time and, with the exception of the chairman, are paid on the basis of one day a fortnight. During 1979 the chairman worked three-and-half days a week on CDC business, and was paid accordingly. Payment of CDC board members is covered by the recommendations of the Top Salaries Review Board. No action will be taken to reduce these figures. No member of the board received emoluments of between £30,000 and £35,000 ; these figures in the accounts refer to the salary of one full-time corporation employee. Under schedule 1 to the Commonwealth Development Act 1978 the corporation is free to determine the salaries of its employees.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what British proposals have been put forward to the Development Council of the European Economic Community concerning aid to non-associates.

[pursuant to his reply, to a supplementary question by the hon. Member, 16 June 1980, c. 1122–23]: The list is as follows :

asked the Lord Privy Seal what study the Overseas Development Administration has made of the extent of drought in East Africa ; whether Her Majesty's Government have received any appeals for assistance ; and what response was made.

We have not made such a study, but the problem has been well documented and widely reported : it is also well established that the natural disaster has been exacerbated by the very large refugee population in the area. There have been a number of appeals for assistance by national and international agencies, such as the British Disasters Emergency Committee and the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees. The Government have pledged £850,000 to the UNHCR to help with the situation in Somalia and has spent or committed over £110,000 to assist relief work in Northern Uganda. We are urgently considering what more could be done in Uganda. I am attending the Sudan Government's conference on refugee problems in Khartoum on 20–22 June and hope to indicate there out proposals for poviding help in Sudan.Since March this year the European Community has committed some 9 million European units of account in response to appeals for assistance in East Africa, of which the United Kingdom share is about £1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken and proposes to take to protect the early potato market in Wales from the dumping of the commodity by other European Economic Community countries.

I have no evidence of subsidisation of exports of potatoes by other EEC countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the normal period allowed between the publication of application forms and circulars and the receipt of applications for funding under the urban programme ; and whether he regards this period as adequate.

Three months on average. I regard this as reasonable.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an estimate of the number of homes in Wales owned by single persons living alone and aged (a) above the retirement age and (b) above 75 years ; and how many of these homes are classified as being (i) in good structural condition and (ii) unfit.

It is estimated that 57,000 persons above retirement age live alone in owner-occupied dwellings in Wales ; of these 22,000 are estimated to be over 75 years old. Information on the structural condition of these dwellings is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an estimate of the number of homes in Wales owned by couples living by themselves where the husband is aged (a) 65 years and over and (b) 75 years and over ; and whether these homes are in good structural condition or unfit.

It is estimated that 49,000 couples in which the husband is aged over 65 live in owner-occupied dwellings in Wales; in 12,000 of these households the husband is aged over 75. Information on the structural condition of these dwellings is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up a working party to investigate political and moral education in schools, and the need for balance in all areas of the curriculum ; and if he will make a statement.

No. My Department is currently supporting a research project by the University of London Institute of Education, in conjunction with the Hansard Society and the Politics Association, into the provision of political education in schools. A political education working party has also been set up within Her Majesty's Inspectorate. Much work relating to moral education has been undertaken by the Schools Council ; and the Social Morality Council, which published a national plan for moral education in 1978, has established a resource and information centre with support from my Department. It remains the responsibility of individual local education authorities and schools to consider the balance of emphasis within these subject areas and across the curriculum generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of further education college lecturers paid under the present Burnham further education arrangements ; and how many are appointed to each of the following lecturer grades (a) lecturer grade I, (b) lecturer grade II, (c) senior lecturer and (d) principal lecturer.

The provisional totals of full-time teachers in maintained and assisted establishments of further education in England and Wales who are paid under the Burnham arrangements are, for 31 March 1979 (the latest date available), as follows :

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the present number of student contact hours per lecturer class contact hour in further education colleges.

In establishments of further education other than polytechnics and specialised institutions, the average number of student contact hours per lecturer class contact hour was 13·9 in the academic year 1978–79. This represents the average class size.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools in the county of Derbyshire provide instruction in computer programming.

My Department does not collect this information. I understand, however, that about half the county's 84 secondary schools have introduced work involving computers into the curriculum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he now intends to provide additional funding for computer instruction in primary and secondary schools ; and if he will make a statement.

It is intended that projects to stimulate and improve the use of computers in primary and secondary school teaching will be supported under the microelectronics development programme for schools and colleges announced on 4 March.—[Vol. 980, c. 226.)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the establishments registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 for which he is ministerially responsible.

I shall write to my hon Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a teacher employed by a local authority, placed on the maximum incremental point for a graduate on scale I of the Burnham scale who subsequently gains the Open University diploma in reading development, qualifies for placing on incremental point 14 on the Burnham scale, assuming that the graduate does not hold an honours degree.

Under the provisions of the Burnham salaries document for teachers in primary and secondary schools, only teachers who are classed as good honours graduates for salary purposes and those who hold specified qualifications for teaching blind, partially sighted, deaf and partially hearing pupils and who are engaged in such teaching, are entitled to proceed beyond point 13 of scale I.Any change in the provisions of the Burnham document would be a matter for the Burnham committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has had representations from the local authority associations regarding the cost of implementing in full the draft regulations on information to parents.

There are as yet no draft regulations. Mv right hon. and learned Friend hopes shortly to embark on formal consultations with the local authority associations, voluntary school bodies, teacher unions and other interested bodies on his proposals for the content of regulations to be made under sections 8(5) and (7) of the Education Act 1980 and will of course take account of any representations received when preparing draft regulations following these consultations

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ensure that any overspending by the University Grants Committee during the current financial year does not lead to extra public expenditure.

Yes. The payment of funds which are distributed to universities by the University Grants Committee, as well as the staffing and administrative costs of the Committee, are controlled by my Department

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has not yet approved the joint salary

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not publish the information and documentary evidence in the possession of his Department on which he bases his continuing ban on the entry of Scientologists.

The reasons for the policy of refusing admission to people subject to immigration control who wish to come here to study, work for or promote the

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Havering, Upminster (Mr. Loveridge) on 11 June.—[Vol. 986, c. 198–99.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the titles of the departmental working parties currently in progress, the date when their reports are likely to be completed and which of them will be published.

The information is as follows :interests of Scientology were set out in the statement made on 25 July 1968 by the then Minister of Health. The matter is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the 80,000 people tried in England and Wales for shoplifting in 1978 of whom 5,000 were not convicted, how many and what percentage pleaded not guilty ; how many and what percentage who pleaded not guilty were acquitted ; and of those who pleaded not guilty and were acquitted, how many and what percentage were men and women, respectively.

Of the 80,000 defendants of all ages tried for offences of shoplifting in all courts in England and Wales in 1978, about 1,000 were not convicted because the charge was withdrawn before full evidence was heard. Of the remaining 79,000 persons, our records show that about 8,800—11 per cent.—pleaded not guilty of whom 4,100—47 per cent.—were acquitted. 1,800—44 per cent.—of those acquitted were males and 2,300—56 per cent. were females. Corresponding information on persons aged 17 and over is published in table 4·9 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1978" (Cmnd. 7670).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the present law on Sunday trading ; what representations he has received for changes in the law ; and if he will make a statement.

A number of hon. Members and others have drawn my attention to the anomalies in the present law on Sunday trading, and we are examining the restraints which the Shops Act 1950 places on shopping hours and trading on Sunday. But we do not expect there to be an early opportunity for Government legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prisoner held on remand in custody in Pentonville prison for 561 days on 1 May is still on remand in custody ; and if not, what was his sentence.

The prisoner in question is no longer on remand in custody ; he was sentenced on 6 June to eight years' imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prisoner held on remand in custody in Ashford remand centre for 377 days on 31 March is still on remand in custody ; if not, what was his sentence ; and what is his age.

The prisoner in question is no longer on remand in custody ; he was sentenced on 2 April 1980 to three years' imprisonment. He is 20 years old.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prisoner held on remand in custody in Winson Green prison for 325 days on 29 February is still on remand in custody ; and if not, what was his sentence.

The prisoner in question is no longer on remand in custody ; he was sentenced on 12 March 1980 to 10 years' imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prisoner held on remand in custody in Bristol prison for 287 days on 31 March is still remanded in custody ; and if not, what was his sentence.

The prisoner in question is no longer on remand in custody ; he was sentenced on 23 May 1980 to life imprisonment.

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

Liverpool prison does not serve as a remand establishment and there are no prisoners currently on remand in custody there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) boys and (b) girls were in celled confinment in borstals at the latest available date.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on Thursday 12 June.—[Vol. 986, c. 279–80.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has made of the number of persons born (a) in EEC countries other than the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, (b) in other foreign countries and (c) in Commonwealth countries, who enter the United Kingdom on Republic of Ireland passports or obtain Republic of Ireland passports after entry ; and if he will monitor such numbers by appropriate sampling.

No such estimates are available : We have no plans to monitor such numbers, which could be done only at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the growing practice of persons engaged in drug smuggling entering Great Britain from Asia and the European Economic Community countries, whether he will take whatever action may prove necessary to tighten up the rules, regulations and methods of entry of people into Great Britain.

Full use is made of the powers in the Immigration Act to deal with people subject to immigration control who are discovered smuggling drugs, and to assist Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in preventing such activity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long each of the five life sentence prisoners currently segregated for good order and discipline at Wakefield prison has been so segregated.

There are four prisoners serving sentences of life imprisonment at Wakefield prison who are currently segregated from other prisoners under the provisions of rule 43 of The Prison Rules 1964 for good order or discipline and they have been so segregated for 98 weeks, 44 weeks, 36 weeks and 14 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the decision in Regina v Cuthbertson, Todd and McCoy, if he will introduce legislation to ensure that those convicted of conspiracy, rather than under a specific provision of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971, will not be able to benefit from the proceeds of their crime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the law so that a man who has profited from illicit drug manufacture and distribution and later been convicted may have the profits of his crime and relevant assets forfeited to the Crown.

I am considering what changes in the law may be required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the salary paid to the chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board at the latest stated date ; how many hours are given to this part-time employment ; and what other perquisites such as expenses, travel and entertainment, are claimable in addition to the salary.

The chairman's salary of £11,046 with effect from 1 April 1980 is calculated on the basis of a three days a week commitment. The expenses paid to him in 1979–80 amounted to £3,158.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what system the Government would use to warn every person in the United Kingdom of a nuclear attack ; and if he is satisfied that arrangements in this regard are adequate, efficient and not totally dependent on computers.

The public warning system operated by the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation does not involve computerised procedures. I am considering, as part of my present review of home defence arrangements, what improvements in the system may be called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the use by members of the public of radar detectors ;(2) if he proposes to license a police radar detector marketed as "Super-Snooper" ; and if he will make a statement.

It is already an offence under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 to use such radio equipment except under authority of a licence issued by the Secretary of State ; and it is not our policy to issue licences to members of the public authorising the use of radio devices intended to detect the presence of police radar transmissions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in granting British nationality to Mr M. L. Kofi of 52 Portelet Road, Stoneycroft, Liverpool L13, whose application was submitted to his Department on 5 May 1978 ; and what further information is required to come to a decision in view of the request for further information from his Department on 12 December 1978 and the reply by Mr Kofi on 20 December 1978 containing the information requested.

This application, along with others made at the same time, has now been considered and we shall be writing to Mr. Kofi very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been out of work in Bradford for at least 12 months.

At 10 April, the latest date for which the analysis by duration of unemployment is available, the number of people who had been registered as unemployed in the Bradford employment office area for over 52 weeks was 2,801.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies were notified in Scotland under section 100 of the Employment Protection Act in each of the last 12 months.

The number of proposed redundancies notified to my Department under the redundancy handling provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975 for Scotland, from 1 June 1979 to 31 May 1980, is as follows :

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage of the working population unemployed as an average for each year since 1960 up to the latest year for which figures are available ; and what was the size of the working population in each year of the same period.

It is my Department's normal practice to calculate unemployment rates as a percentage of the latest available mid-year estimate of employees—employed and unemployed—which differs from the working population in that it excludes self-employed people and members of Her Majesty's Forces.The following table gives average percentage rates of unemployment on this basis for each year from 1960 to 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of unemployed people in the United Kingdom ; and how many of them are under 25 years of age.

At 10 April, the latest date for which the quarterly age analysis is available, the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 1,522,927, of whom 551,105 were under 25 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he proposes to seek to remove from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service the duty to encourage the extension of collective bargaining.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of full-time males aged 18 years and over in each of the counties of Wales and for each of the standard economic regions of the United Kingdom in the following bands (a) under £40, (b) £41 to £50, (c) £51 to £60, (d) £61 to £70, (e) £71 to £80, (f) £81 to £90, (g) £91 to £100, (h) £101 to £110, (i) £111 to £120, (j) £121 to £130, (k) £131 to £140, (l) £141 to £150 and (m) over £150.

The table below gives the latest estimates of the percentage distribution of gross weekly earnings from the new earnings survey. I regret that this analysis is not available for men aged 18 and over and I have therefore quoted figures on the usual basis for the new earnings survey results, males aged 21 and over.The survey is based on a 1 per cent. sample of employees. Only a very small number of employees will appear in some cells of the table and because of response and sampling variation the total number of employees in particular earnings bands cannot be confidently inferred from the number in the sample.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many representatives of small businesses there are on the existing industrial training boards ; and how they are distributed amongst them.

Employer members of industrial training boards represent sectors of industry rather than businesses of any given size and many sectors contain a variety of different sized businesses. There is no generally applicable definition of a small firm for training purposes. However, the assessment of the training boards themselves is that some 50 employer members represent sectors of industry containing a significant number of small businesses. They are distributed amongst boards as listed :

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what representations he has received from small businesses on the working of the industrial training boards ; and what response he has made;(2) what proposals he has received from the Manpower Services Commission for reducing the burden imposed by industrial training boards on the operations of small businesses.

Since taking office my right hon. Friend and I have received a considerable number of representations —both written and verbal—from small businesses about the working of industrial training boards. In each case these have been drawn to the attention of the Manpower Services Commission, to which boards are responsible in the first instance. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that all industrial training boards which impose levies have arrangements for excluding small firms from levy, though the definition of a small firm for this purpose varies from board to board. The Manpower Services Commission is currently reviewing the operation of the industrial training boards, and expects to consider a report on this next month. The Government will then decide what action needs to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disablement resettlement officers have lost their jobs since May 1979.

There was no significant change in the staffing of disablement resettlement officer (DRO) work between May 1979 and 1 April 1980 when a revised system for determining staffing was introduced.Before 1 April there was a national total of 512 DRO posts.The implementation of the new system was expected to result in little change in the total number of DRO posts. It now appears that the number may be affected somewhat more than expected and this is being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing the starting pay for an executive officer of the Civil Service and a journalist based in London in 1950, 1960, 1970 and the years 1972 to date.

Relevant information about the salaries of Civil Service executive officers is given in the following table. I regret that no comparable information is available for journalists.