asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements his Department has for the monitoring of local authority housing waiting lists; and on the basis of the best available information, what is his estimate of the number of persons currently in housing need.

Waiting lists are not an accurate guide to housing need; for example, the national dwelling and housing survey in December 1977 indicated that, of the 952,000 households (or people wishing to set up as a household) who said their names were on waiting lists, only a little over one-fifth were in conventionally recognised categories of need.Moreover, the composition of the housing waiting list is a matter for individual local authorities, and arrangements for review and criteria for including names vary widely. For these reasons, waiting lists are not regularly monitored by the Department.As to an estimate of housing need, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mr. Douglas-Mann) on 17 June.—[Vol. 986, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his replies of 17 June to the hon. Member for Rugby, whether, in light of the expiry on 30 November 1977 of the period for objecting to the draft revised map of public rights of way in Warwickshire, he is satisfied that untoward delay has not occurred in announcing the date of a public inquiry; and whether he will make representations to the county council in order that it should expedite its part in the resolution of the issue.

With the large number of objections received in relation to the draft revised map of public rights of way for Warwickshire, some delay in making arrangements for any necessary public local inquiries is inevitable. My officials are in contact with the county council, which is considering the objections received, but it is for it to determine the relative priority to attach to this work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take, in view of the fact that local authorities in England and Wales appear to be planning to exceed the Government's expenditure guidelines for the volume of current expenditure by 5·6 per cent.

Last week a circular was sent to the local authorities seeking revised budgets. Yesterday I made a statement on the publication of the latest joint manpower watch figures. Copies of both of these have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice has his Department or the Housing Corporation offered to housing associations as to their model rules and provision to safeguard the rights of individual tenants or members.

In consultation with the National Federation of Housing Associations and the Registrar of Friendly Societies, the Housing Corporation has prepared and published model rules for various types of housing associations. These cover the rights of tenants as well as the objects and powers of associations. In the case of co-ownership societies, the corporation has also published a recommended form of tenancy agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of money owed by housing associations which is guaranteed by the Housing Corporation; and how this amount compares with comparable debts 12 and 24 months ago.

Guarantees issued by the Housing Corporation in respect of borrowing by housing associations stood at £106,045,000 at 31 May 1980, against a statutory limit of £300,000,000. The comparable figures for 31 May 1979 and 31 May 1978 were £100,148,000 and £80,400,500 respectively. The total includes guarantees by the corporation (for £50 million in 1980 and 1979, and £35 million in 1978) in respect of borrowing by its subsidiary company, Housing Corporation Finance Co. Ltd. on behalf of associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the average gross unit costs to local authorities and housing associations in Greater London of providing (a) flats, and (b) sheltered housing accommodation for the elderly and disabled of the following sizes (i) one person, two rooms, kitchen and bathroom, (ii) two persons, two rooms, kitchen and bathroom, (iii) three persons, three rooms, kitchen and bathroom, and (iv) five persons, four rooms, kitchen and bathroom.

I will answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why there has been a delay in publishing the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys' survey of empty properties;(2) when he will publish the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys' survey of empty properties.

The production of the report for publication is a matter for OPCS and HMSO. This has taken longer than anticipated because of printing difficulties. It is hoped that the report will be available for publication towards the end of July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any further items have been accepted by the Government in satisfaction of estate duty or capital transfer tax.

Yes. Some 167 acres of scenic woodland flanking the famous Sissinghurst castle and gardens in Kent have been accepted in lieu of capital transfer tax. The woodland has been transferred to the National Trust, which also owns the castle and gardens.The net cost was£27,600 and this was borne equally on the Vote of my Department and that of the Office of Arts and Libraries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposed target dates for winding-up the new town development corporations.

The winding-up of the Harlow and Stevenage development corporations will take place as planned this year, with their assets being transferred to the Commission for the New Towns on 1 October and 1 July respectively.The previously announced target dates for the winding-up of the following four new town development corporations have been confirmed: Runcorn (31 March 1982), Bracknell (30 June 1982), Redditch (30 September 1982) and Basildon (31 December 1983).The target date for the winding-up of Skelmersdale development corporation has been postponed by one year to 31 March 1985.The target date for the wind-up of Aycliffe and Peterlee development corporations has been set at 31 December 1985.The announced target date for the winding-up of Washington development corporation will be postponed to 31 December 1985 to coincide with that of the two other new towns in the North-East.We are still considering target dates for the winding-up of third-generation new town development corporations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to require all counties to include in the structure plan context, where relevant, clear evidence of a policy to prevent actions or omissions contrary to the ultimate restoration of canals for navigation.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1980, c. 663]: No. Policies on canals in structure plans must be determined in the light of all relevant factors and cannot reasonably be subjected to a prior requirement of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is satisfied with the workings of the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978, and that it is benefiting disabled people;(2) if he has any plans to seek to amend the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978 in order to allow local authorities to grant extra rate relief to disabled people in order to compensate for the imposition of higher water charges.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1980, c. 667]: The Act has been in operation for just over a year and I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of both the rating authorities and the valuation office in effecting the smooth introduction of the new form of rate relief it provides.I have no plans to amend the Act so soon after its introduction. So far as the domestic sector is concerned, the level of relief provided by the Act was set a little higher than the average amounts that were available under the old provisions and the scope of the relief was also widened.In the case of most qualifying disabled people this will largely offset the liability for water charges that has arisen because of the change in the method of granting relief. For this reason I am not at present convinced that there is a case for any amendment of the Act, but I will certainly keep it under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales on noise insulation schemes in each of the past three years for which figures are available; and what estimates he has made of expenditure on such schemes in each of the next three years.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Prime Minister whether any discussions have taken place between the Davey International Company and Her Majesty's Government concerning the construction of the two large methanol plants in the Soviet Union.

The company has kept the Departments concerned in touch with the progress of this contract.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the breakdown of the Scottish teachers' salaries negotiations and the fact that inflation is now running at 21·9 per cent., whereas the rate support grant order allowed for only 13 per cent. inflation, she will now seek to provide the Scottish local authorities with more financial assistance to make an improved offer to teachers.

No. The Government have no intention of increasing the cash limit on rate support grant in 1980–81.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report, the letter she has received from the Group of Eight concerning the possibility of a moratorium on council house building, together with her reply.

I received the letter on 17 June and a reply will be sent shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he now expects to receive the reports from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate on the safety of the pressurised water reactor.

The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has already completed a generic safety review of the pressurised water reactor system and a substantial summary report was published last year.As my right hon. Friend indicated in his statement on 18 December, the National Nuclear Corporation, in consultation with the CEGB, is now preparing a detailed safety case for the board to consider and submit to the NII. I cannot comment further on timing at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions have taken place with the chairman of the National Coal Board regarding the premature closure of a number of Welsh coal mines and proposed investment in the Phurnacite plant in Aberaman.

I meet the chairman of the National Coal Board at regular intervals and have had discussions with him on all major aspects of the Welsh coal industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will issue a White Paper giving the savings in energy use achieved over the last 12 months in all Government Departments; and if he will see that the figure for each Department is absolute and that percentage terms are given separately.

No. The greater part of central Government energy consumption is incurred by the Property Services Agency, through its responsibility for the central Government civil estate, and by the Ministry of Defence. The PSA estimate energy saving in the Government civil estate over the 12 months ending March 1980 to have been about 3 per cent., taking account of climatic changes and other factors. Energy consumed by the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom over the same period was 3·1 per cent. lower than in 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the electricity supply in the United Kingdom was coal-generated in each of the past three years.

It is estimated that the proportions of electricity supplied by the public supply system in the United Kingdom generated by coal in 1977, 1978 and 1979 were about 67½ per cent., 68½ per cent. and 71 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has had about the landing point of the proposed North Sea gas-gathering pipeline.

As I mentioned in my reply of 19 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam), the BGC/ Mobil gas-gathering report envisages that the pipeline landfall would be at St. Fergus.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the level of supply of equipment by British industry to offshore operators.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he hopes to make a statement on his proposals for oil rig safety, in the light of the Burgoyne committee proposals.

I am consulting my colleagues about the committee's proposals. I hope shortly to be in touch with outside interests, and I shall make a statement to the House as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current estimate of the cost of generating electricity by wave power.

Wave energy technology is not yet sufficiently developed to permit reliable cost estimates to be made. Rough estimates, based on present outline designs indicate costs in the region of 5–15p/Kw hr.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will increase his allocation of expenditure on research and development into alternative methods of energy generation.

My Department's expenditure on research and development into the alternative sources of energy is being increased substantially this financial year. In 1979–80 expenditure by any Department on alternative source programmes approached £7 million; expenditure in this financial year is expected to be about £11 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what indications he has that exploration for gas in the United Kingdom continental shelf is increasing.

At the present time there are no exploration wells being specifically drilled for gas, although Total did announce last week a small find of gas in Northern waters.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress can be reported on the establishment of a cross-Channel electricity link with France.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the negotiations between the British and French electricity authorities for an improved cross-Channel electricity link between the two national grids to be completed; and when he expects to be able to give his subsequent authorisation.

Approval in principle was given to the cross-Channel link by the previous Administration in August 1978. The CEGB has now asked for final investment approval and its request is being considered by the Government.In addition, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Energy and the Environment are jointly considering the report of the inspectors following the public inquiry into the board's proposals to construct a convertor station for the link at Sellindge, Kent. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will withhold consent for the building of the Sizewell B power station until he is satisfied that the Central Electricity Generating Board intends to make adequate recompense to the Suffolk county council and the Suffolk coastal district council for any additional, if temporary, costs for education and housing incurred by them.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the possibility that the CEGB may, in due course, apply for my consent to construct a PWR power station at Sizewell. No application has been made to me but when, or if, the board applies all relevant matters will be considered. I have already announced that a public inquiry will be held into the siting of the first PWR.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many companies, including groups of companies in the case of consortia, he expects to apply for blocks in the seventh round of North Sea oil licences; and what proportion he expects to be British.

I am confident that there will be a good response to the round from British and foreign companies alike. It would, however, be premature to guess how many applicants there will be, or how many will be British.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the proposal to build a commercial demonstration fast reactor.

The Government are giving careful consideration to a fast reactor policy and a statement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what estimate he has made of the saving of energy which would result from an increase in the use of cold water detergents by domestic and industrial consumers;(2) if he will discuss with the major detergent manufacturers the supply of liquid cold water detergents to the United Kingdom market.

My Department has not made any estimate of the energy savings which would result from an increased use of cold water detergents. My officials will hold discussions shortly about cold water detergents with representatives of the detergent industry and other interested parties. The supply of liquid cold water detergents to the United Kingdom market will be included in these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with diving contractors and the oil industry regarding the funding of the underwater training centre at Fort William; and what has been the outcome.

I am in close co-operation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, and have had several meetings with representatives of UKOOA and AODC. I expect to receive representatives of the oil industry during this week on the future management and funding of the underwater traing centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent consultations he has held in the context of energy supplies to glasshouse producers about energy prices and supplies; and if he is prepared to meet representatives of the National Farmers Union to discuss the results of such consultations.

I discussed the question of energy prices to glasshouse producers in different EEC member States with the British growers at their conference earlier this year. As the hon. Member will be aware, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is at present actively pursuing the question of fair terms of competition within the EEC Council of Agriculture Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the present level of subsidy, grants and other payments from public funds to the National Coal Board.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 December 1979, c. 743]: I had made provision in my Department's Estimate for the cost of an additional contribution by the Government to the pneumoconiosis compensation scheme. Since this payment is subject to the passage of the Coal Industry Bill which is now unlikely to receive Royal Assent before the House votes on the Estimate and the Consolidated Fund Bill, I have withdrawn this provision by a Revised Estimate to be published shortly and will seek Parliament's authority for this expenditure in a Supplementary Estimate later in the year.Meanwhile, my Department's cash limit on Class IV, Vote 9 is being reduced to £226,921,000. The remaining reduction of £4,407,000 results from the re-phasing of the Government's payments of deficit grant to the NCB.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has any plans for the protection of the British garment manufacturing industry from the competition of subcontracting of garment making by European Economic Community-located firms to low-cost countries.

Goods which have been processed in third countries and subsequently exported directly to the United Kingdom are subject to any United Kingdom quotas or restraints that may apply. Goods imported by other member States under outward processing arrangements are subject to the usual Community provisions governing free circulation. The Government will continue to make the maximum possible use of article 115 of the Treaty of Rome to prevent these goods disrupting the United Kingdom market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in view of the outcome of the recent extraordinary general meeting of Assam Investments, he will introduce legislation to prevent shareholders connected with directors of companies, from voting on issues on which the directors are disqualified from voting but from which the connected shareholders might be expected to benefit.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give the annual figures for the period 1968 to 1980 for the annual growth of output and the growth of exports, by volume, for the United Kingdom, the United States of America, West Germany and France.

Figures for 1980 are not yet available. The remaining information is given in the tables below.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many tons of coal were imported and exported, respectively, in 1979 and so far in 1980.

In 1979, 4·4 million metric tonnes of coal were imported and 2·3 million were exported. In the first five months of this year, 2·7 million metric tonnes were imported and 1·1 million were exported.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Trade what progress is being made to establish a statutory measure for the dispensing of wine by the glass in public houses.

My Department has been exploring with the interests concerned whether such controls are feasible without imposing unacceptable burdens on the trade and on the enforcement authorities. Some progress has been made but there are serious problems. Further consultations are needed before I can consider whether legislation would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many bankruptcies of businesses have been notified to him since 3 May 1979; and how much of an increase this represents over the comparable figure for the years 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979, respectively.

Figures of bankruptcies are analysed only on a quarterly basis, and the latest figures available relate to the first quarter of 1980. For the period 1 April 1979 to 31 March 1980 the number of bankruptcies (plus deeds of arrangement) of the self-employed (sole traders and partnerships) in England and Wales was 2,487. Comparable figures for earlier years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade further to his reply, Official Report, 23 May, c. 401, to the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) what posts he deems to be of political significance.

Posts from which advice may be tendered to Ministers on subjects which are or could become politically controversial.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether, in view of the fact that imports into the United Kingdom of leather footwear from Brazil

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made to the Government of Brazil about its 170 per cent. tariff on imports of footwear; and what reply he has received.

The Secretary of State most recently raised the question of the liberalisation of footwear imports with Brazilian Ministers during a visit he made to Brazil in May this year. The Brazilian Government are currently considering these, and other representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made to the Government of Brazil regarding its export tax on leather, and have risen from 732,000 pairs in 1977 to 3·2 million in 1979, he will take action forthwith through the European Economic Community to raise the countervailing duty from its present 8 per cent. to 12 per cent., or else impose a quota based on the average of the last three years' imports;(2) what response he has made to the request of the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation to impose quotas on all footwear imports from Poland and Czechoslovakia; what action he intends to take; and whether he will make a statement;(3) what response he has made to the request of the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation to initiate action forthwith under article 19 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade against Brazil; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him of 16 June. [Vol. 986. c. 365–66.]By inadvertence, the following information, listing the restrictions which at present apply to imports of footwear into the United Kingdom, was omitted from that answer. Kingdom, information is as follows:the discriminatory advantage this tax gives to Brazil's footwear manufacturers; what reply he has received; and what action he proposes to take.

At my request, the Commission has joined the United States in pressing the Brazilian Government for complete liberalisation of exports of hides and skins from Brazil. The Brazilians have stressed that their present regime is an interim one. I shall maintain the pressure for further liberalisation as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the approved airports in the world where British aircraft visit on commercial flights and where there is no local radar.

Aerodromes available for international air transport are listed in the regional plans of the International Civil Aviation Organisation which cover the whole world. Details of a particular State's own international aerodromes are published in that State's aeronautical information publication, which lists the various facilities, including radar services, available at each aerodrome.United Kingdom registered aircraft on public transport flights could operate into any of these aerodromes provided that the operators comply with the requirements of the United Kingdom civil aviation legislation; among other things they are required to ensure that the minimum navigation and other facilities are available at the aerodromes to be used and that the aerodromes are otherwise suitable for use, with adequate safety margins.The number of international aerodromes listed world-wide runs into many hundreds and the specific details requested could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will refer to the Monopolies Commission the restriction on the distribution in the United Kingdom of liquid cold water detergents by the two major producers.

Monopoly references are normally a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. I understand that he will be looking into reports that the major manufacturers have resisted the introduction of these products.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the total value of exports from and imports into the United Kingdom of liquid cold water detergents.

This information is not separately identified in the overseas trade statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the total volume of cold water detergent produced in the United Kingdom; what percentage of this is exported; and what percentage is available for the domestic market.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in his consideration of origin marking, a reply has been sent to the president of the Federation of British Cutlery Manufacturers following his complaints of 2 June about South Korean spoons and forks being plated by Viners of Sheffield and offered to the public as English craftsmanship.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what quantity of glass fibre is being imported from Spain for blowing into lofts; and if he is satisfied that the method of manufacture and shipping is not leading to contamination which can be dangerous for installers and householders.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much investment has been made in hydro-electric power in the last 10 years.

In the period from 1970–71 to 1979–80, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board invested £21·3 million in hydro-electric development.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he plans to phase out the Scottish Sports Council on the lines of the recent decision to phase out the Sports Council of Northern Ireland; and what would be the savings in money and staff if the Scottish Sports Council were now to be ended in the same way as it is proposed to end the Sports Council of Northern Ireland.

I have no plans to discontinue or phase out the Scottish Sports Council. If I were to do so the savings would depend on the alternative arrangements made for the discharge of the council's responsibilities and functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will define his strategic objectives for employment creation in the petrochemical industries in Scotland in the event of the spinal gas-gathering pipeline going ahead; what suitable green field sites are being surveyed; and what will be the role of the Scottish Development Agency and his Department in steering these feedstock developments to Scotland.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy announced on 19 June—[Vol. 986, c. 596–98]—the next steps being taken towards the construction of a new gas-gathering line and the situation will be reassessed once Ministers have the report of the organising committee. In the meantime the various proposals which are being made for utilising the natural gas liquids will be studied in the context of the Government's aim of securing maximum national benefit from North Sea resources. At this stage in the development of possibilities it is too early to speculate on specific implications such as any involvement of the Scottish Development Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sentence was imposed on the prisoner who had been held on remand in custody in Brixton prison for 566 days on 31 January; and what was the total period he spent on remand in custody.

The prisoner in question was first remanded to prison custody on 15 July 1978 and was committed for trial on 11 September. Applications for bail were made on 1 December 1978 and 19 April 1979; both were refused. He appeared before a judge to plead on 26 June 1979 and came to trial on 5 December. The jury was discharged on 10 January 1980 when it was unable to agree a verdict. The prisoner was released on bail on 13 February 1980 pending a retrial, which started on 6 May. He returned to prison on that day, but was released on bail the following day until 21 May. He then remained in custody until 10 June when the jury was again unable to agree a verdict.Thereupon the prosecution formally offered no evidence and he was discharged, a verdict of not guilty being entered by the court. He spent a total of 600 days on remand in custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the three Malaysian citizens who landed at Harwich with a car load of heroin were allowed to enter Great Britain; and whether, on completion of, or before their sentence is concluded, he will arrange for these persons to be deported to their native land, thus saving the British taxpayers the estimated costs of £185 per week to keep them in prison.

The case which I think the hon. Member has in mind concerns three citizens of Malaysia who arrived at London Airport on 10 September 1978 and were given leave to enter the United Kingdom as visitors. The men were later arrested after two vehicles in which heroin had been concealed had been collected from the Royal Albert docks in London. In sentencing them to long terms of imprisonment, the court made no recommendations for their deportation. The question whether they should nevertheless be deported when they are released will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies were awaiting a decision at the most recent convenient date; and how many of these were from residents of the Greater London area.

At the end of April 1980 some 37,000 applications for registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies were awaiting decision. Information about how many of these were from residents of the Greater London area could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current estimated waiting period for decisions on applications from residents of the Greater London area for registration as citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

Applications for registration are of various types, some requiring more inquiries and consideration that others, and consequently waiting periods vary considerably. The most straightforward types of application currently take between four to six months, while others take about 26 months. These waiting periods apply to the whole country and there is no reason to believe that the periods for the Greater London area are any different.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implication for public security of the publication of the book "Towards a Citizen's Militia".

It is for the police, in consultation as necessary with the Director of Public Prosecutions, to decide whether any action should be taken over any particular publication. I am sure they will examine this publication carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present average scale of awards for victims of wrongful conviction, based on one year's imprisonment.

There is no scale for ex gratia payments. The amounts are recommended by an independent assessor, who takes account of many factors, which vary from case to case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances and according to what principles he awards compensation to persons who have been wrongly convicted of criminal offences.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker), on 15 November 1979.—[Vol. 973, c. 710–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases compensation was paid to victims of wrongful conviction for criminal offences in 1977, 1978 and 1979.

Two, four and 11 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a review of the Parole Board system in order to give detainees the right to access to evidence concerning him or her put before the Parole Board review, and in order to give the detainee the right of legal representation before the Parole Board.

A review of the system is in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 12 June regarding the police raid on the Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May, how many of those taken to Kilburn police station were patrials and how many non-patrials whose immigration status was fully lawful; whether search warrants for the co-ordinated visits to Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May were obtained under the Immigration Act 1971 which restricts the police to searching for specific named persons, and, if not, under what other legislative powers they were obtained; whether prior notice of the co-ordinated visits to the Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May was given to the commanders and community liaison officers of the divisions in which the operation took place; how many police officers and how many members of the immigration service took part in the co-ordinated visits to Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May, and what were the ranks of the most senior police and immigration officers present; whether police dogs were present at the co-ordinated visits to the Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May, and if so why this was felt appropriate; and whether employees of Securicor Limited were involved in the co-ordinated visits to the Bestway Cash and Carry and other premises on 13 May, and so, in what numbers and for what purpose.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the date on which the Boundary Commission is likely to announce its proposals regarding parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall.

This is a matter entirely for the Parliamentary Boundary Commission, but I understand that the commission is unlikely to publish its provisional recommendations for parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall before the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of crimes for the latest convenient date were committed by unemployed persons; and if he will break the figures down into age groups.

Information is not collected centrally on the employment status of persons found guilty of or cautioned for offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies, if any, are taking place into the possible connection between unemployment and the crime rate; and, if none, if he will start an investigation into this possibility.

Some relevant results are to be found in Home Office research study No. 58, "Race, Crime and Arrests" (pages 21–28), a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. The Department has no specific research project on this topic in progress or planned because of the inherent difficulty of drawing conclusions from correlations where a wide variety of variables is involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will provide his estimate of the increase in public expenditure on research and development in the field of alternative energy in the current financial year compared with 1979–80.

Research and development in the field of alternative energy is largely a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy. Expenditure by the Department in this field was £167,000 in 1979–80 and is expected to continue at about this level in 1980–81.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the prices of one pound of butter, one pound of beef, one pound of cheese and one pint of milk on 1 January 1973; and what are the latest prices.

The prices of one pound of Danish butter, one pound of chuck beef, one pound of Cheddar type cheese and one pint of ordinary milk as recorded by the Department of Employment for the January 1973 retail prices index were 25·1p, 54·4p. 31·9p and 5·5p respectively. Comparable prices for May 1980, the latest available month, were 84·1p, 125·8p, 93·8p and 16·5p. During the same period the food price index increased by 207 per cent. and the prices apart from food by 190 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the meeting of the European Economic Community Ministers of Fisheries.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement which my right hon. Friend made to the House on 18 June.—[Vol. 986, c. 1569–82.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the numbers and respective grades of members of Her Majesty's Embassy Jeddah who currently engage in (a) political, (b) economic-commercial and (c) consular duties.

I set out below the numbers and respective grades of our current representation in Saudi Arabia.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether it is proposed to make any changes in the staffing arrangements of Her Majesty's Embassy, Jeddah.

There are no plans to change the establishment of our representation in Saudi Arabia. Staff levels have been increased as a result of a visit by the Diplomatic Service inspectors in January of this year and an additional third secretary in Chancery will be joining the embassy later this year.One reason for this increase has been our wish to give improved consular facilities to the growing number of United Kingdom citizens now living Saudi Arabia.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) when he expects Her Majesty's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia to return to his post;(2) what steps he intends to take to secure an improvement in the United Kingdom's relations with Saudi Arabia;(3) whether his right hon. and noble Friend has any plans to invite the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister to London;(4) what plans he has to meet members of the Saudi Arabian Government.

Current contacts at official level are aimed at restoring full relations with Saudi Arabia and the return of our ambassador in the near future. We cannot say at present how soon or whether visits or meetings between Ministers will be involved, but we are ready to consider these if they would contribute to the restoration of full and friendly relations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the recent Anglo-Spanish statement on Gibraltar, he will explain in more detail what is meant by the statement that both Governments have agreed that future co-operation should be on the basis of reciprocity and full equality of rights.

This part of the statement must be read in context. It was agreed that negotiations would start and direct communications be re-established. The detailed application of reciprocity and full equality of rights, on which future co-operation will be based, will be determined in the negotiations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the Spanish Government's decision to allow the reestablishment of direct communications between Gibraltar and Spain, he will take further steps to allow the implementation of the recent proposals set out in the Anglo-Spanish statement on Gibraltar.

The steps for implementing the proposals set out in the Anglo-Spanish statement on Gibraltar will be worked out in negotiations with the Spanish authorities once the agreement to open negotiations and restore direct communications between Spain and Gibraltar is implemented.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he considers that it is contrary to the Helsinki agreement, whose signatories include both the British and Polish Governments, that Professor Wladislaw Bartoszewski was refused permission by the Polish authorities to travel to the United Kingdom to deliver a lecture last month; whether he will make representations that Professor Bartoszewski be allowed to travel to the United Kingdom in the autumn of the current year and if he will make a statement.

Under the Helsinki Final Act, the signatory Governments undertook to facilitate and intensify academic exchanges. Our policy is to raise cases of this kind when we judge that this is appropriate and might be effective. We shall treat this case accordingly, but we do not normally reveal details of our representations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, for varying periods, according to the severity of the offence, he will withdraw the passports of those convicted of violence in connection with football matches abroad.

No. It would be inappropriate to single out this category of offender for such a serious measure, deplorable though its activities are.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will halt arms sales to the following countries, in view of the infringement of human rights by their Governments: Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroons, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Republic of Korea, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zaire.

No. Her Majesty's Government at present ban exports of defence equipment to Iran. Arms sales to the other countries mentioned are considered case by case on their merits. Human rights factors are taken into account.

asked the Attorney-General whether it is his intention to make any staff economies in the Land Registry.

It is expected that there will be further reductions in staff resources.

asked the Attorney-General what progress is currently being made with the computerisation of land registration procedures at the Land Registry in line with the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Legal Services.

Practical experiments have confirmed the feasibility of proposals to extend computerisation into land registration procedures. It is planned during 1980–81 to bring into operation in the Plymouth district land registry, initially on a trial basis, certain parts of the eventual computerised system.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in the light of the fact that many hon. Members take their allocation of Gallery tickets under the present system but do not use them, he will recommend a trial period of one month in which hon. Members may apply for not more than two tickets for days on which they need them.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the number of debates held since May 1979 relating to documents, other than budgetary proposals, due for discussion at European Economic Community Council of Ministers' meetings.

13, covering 54 European Community documents and we are to have another debate today.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will review the present procedure on the allocation of Gallery tickets specially requested some weeks in advance for Tuesdays' and Thursdays' Question Time; what proportion is requested by and granted to Members' secretaries; and how many are allocated at the Admission Order Office on the personal request of Members.

No record is kept, as a request from a Member's private secretary for Gallery tickets is treated as a request from a Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consider substantially increasing the additional costs allowance for staying away from home for hon. Members, especially to meet the rising costs of meals prices in the Palace of Westminister

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by titles and number the provincial newspapers supplied to the House (a) while Parliament is sitting and (b) during the recess periods, and further state the annual cost of such provision.

A very wide variety of national and provincial newspapers are supplied to the House both when Parliament is sitting and during periods of recess. The vast majority of these are supplied free of charge.A very limited number are, however, purchased and the total cost of these is £12·00 each week when the House is sitting.I have written to my hon. Friend giving details of the provincial newspapers, both purchased and supplied free of charge to the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will bring forward proposals to timetable all debates with a view to changing the hours of the sittings.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present number of registered disabled people unemployed in the travel-to-work areas of the North-West.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information requested is set out below: Figures are for 8 May 1980, the latest date for which information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the number of redundancies of disabled people notified to his Department in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area in the 12 months following May 1979;(2) what are the numbers and percentages of unemployed male and female registered disabled persons in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area at the latest convenient date.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 6 March, if he will list in the Official Report the occupational groups of those registered for employment in the Wolverhampton area in September 1979, December 1979 and at the latest convenient date; if he will break

[pursuant to his reply, 18 June 1980, c. 508–509]: As stated in my reply of 6 March, there is no cross-analysis by both occupation and age.