asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) if he is satisfied that there are sufficient incentives through promotion in the Civil Service to encourage civil servants to save public money.(2) if he is satisfied with the present system of promotion in the Civil Service.

The Government are at present reviewing the whole question of promotion within the Civil Service. I wrote to the Council of Civil Service Unions about this on 10 June and discussed it with it at a meeting on 3 July. We need to encourage all civil servants to carry out their tasks effectively, efficiently and economically, whether or not they are likely to achieve promotion. If my hon. Friend has any suggestions that may help I shall be glad to hear from him.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish details of the voluntary early retirement scheme for civil servants; when he expects to implement the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The Civil Service scheme of voluntary early retirement in the public interest was introduced on 5 June. I shall arrange for a copy of the relevant circular (general notice GEN 80/45) to be placed in the Library.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish details of the scheme for giving personal incentives to individual civil servants outside the grading and incremental structure at present in existence; when he expects to implement the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The pay research unit has been asked to undertake a study of the practice in outside organisations on relating pay to performance. This is for levels below those equivalent to the most senior civil servants. Its report is expected at the end of this year.Ways of rewarding merit for the most senior civil servants are also under consideration but no decisions have been taken. I have written to the Council of Civil Service Unions on these topics and held a preliminary meeting with it last week.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why it took 16 days for his Department to notify the hon. Member for Newham, North-West that his letter of 11 June was a matter which was within the purview of another Department and that it had been referred; and whether he will expedite his replies to correspondence in future.

I regret that in this particular instance it took longer than usual to resolve the question of departmental responsibility. I understand that my right hon. Friend has now written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set up an inquiry into the extent to which a knowledge of Esperanto would facilitate overseas trade; and if he will examine means by which his Department could assist exporters in obtaining a knowledge of the language.

No. A report, "Foreign Languages for Overseas Trade", by the British Overseas Trade Board in 1979, found that exporters should give priority to learning the customer's own language. As the greater part of Britain's trade is now with European markets, the ability to speak at least one other major European language has been emphasised in the report. It is, however, for exporters themselves to obtain whatever knowledge of these languages, or of Esperanto they decide upon. My Department cannot offer them assistance in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received concerning restrictions placed by other European Economic Community countries on the import of cooking appliances manufactured in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received concerning restrictions placed on other European Economic Community countries on the import of cooking appliances manufactured in the United Kingdom.

I have received no representations as such but I am aware that there is some concern among United Kingdom manufacturers about other member States' testing and approval requirements. A European Community working group under United Kingdom chairmanship has recently reported on certification and approval problems generally, and I hope that this work will lead to a more widespread mutual recognition of testing authorities, with consequent benefits to British exporters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied that all cooking appliances imported into the United Kingdom from other European Economic Community countries comply with British Standards.

There are at present no United Kingdom regulations relating to cooking appliances that require them to conform with British Standards. However, it is generally accepted that compliance with the relevant British Standards would satisfy the requirements for household electrical cooking appliances of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulation 1975 as amended. I intend eventually to introduce new regulations which could provide increased reference to standards and I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy also intends to introduce legislation that would enable him to prescribe standards for gas appliances on the grounds of safety, efficiency or economy of operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many pairs of shoes were imported into the United Kingdom in the first six months of the current year; from which countries they came; and how many more were imported from each country than were imported in the last six months of 1979.

Shoes are not separately distinguished in the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, but are included with footwear in general under SITC(R2) Items 851.01–04 inclusive, according to the materials of which the outer soles and uppers are made. Details of trade in June 1980 are not yet available: information on imports of footwear in the first five months of 1980 and in 1979 can be derived from the relevant issues of the above publications, copies of which are in the Library.

of State for Trade if he has decided the level of quota of British films to be shown by exhibitors during the year beginning 1 January 1981.

The Cinematograph Films Council has advised me that there should be no change in the level of exhibitors' quota of 30 per cent. for first feature films and 25 per cent. for supporting programmes for the year beginning 1 January 1981. I have accepted this recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about the disposal of the assets of the South Pacific Air Transport Council.

The South Pacific Air Transport Council was formed in 1946 to promote Commonwealth civil aviation in the south-west Pacific. The four members are Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The council was responsible for operating Nadi international airport, Fiji, and the Nadi flight information centre and certain navigation and meteorological installations elsewhere in Fiji, Kiribati, Soloman Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. At its 22nd meeting in Suva in December 1978 the council agreed to a suggestion by the Government of Fiji that responsibility for operating council-owned installations in Fiji be taken over by Fiji as from 1 April 1979 and that the operation of installations in other countries be continued under arrangements agreed by States in the region; also that the council's assets be handed over to the Governments of the countries in which they are located. These proposals have been approved by the council member Governments and arrangements are now in hand for the transfer to the Governments of the countries concerned of the ownership of fixed and moveable assets to a total value as at 31 March 1979 of $F11,187,628 (£6,468,707).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about removing the hazardous chemicals and oil from the "Aeolian Sky".

Trinity House has accepted a tender for the partial demolition of the "Aeolian Sky" to increase the clearance over the wreck. As part of the work, the cargo in the two foremost holds—where hazardous chemicals were stowed amongst the cargo—will be cleared and the bunker oil and the oil for auxiliaries will be removed.Work will start very shortly and given reasonable weather there is some prospect of the whole operation being completed by November of this year.My Department will monitor the counter pollution arrangements and will be in touch with the local authorities concerned to explain the operation in greater detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study has been made by his Department of the national demand for computer staff; and what surplus or shortfall has emerged.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that a study of the shortage of computer skills was carried out by the Training Services Division in 1978–79. The study showed that there was a shortfall in current stock of software occupations varying between 7 per cent. and 15 per cent. among sectors of employers; future growth was expected at sector rates between 11 per cent. and 25 per cent. The study also showed that training was insufficient to meet present needs and was making no contribution whatever to future growth.A working party drew on the findings of the study to devise training arrangements to help to ease the shortage of computer operators, programmers and systems analysts and these are now being applied under the MSC's current training for skills programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study has been made by his Department of the national demand for professional electronic engineers; and what surplus or shortage has been identified.

The Department has made no studies of the national demand for professional electronic engineers. There is evidence that some employers have difficulty in meeting their requirements for professional electronic engineers.My Department's unit of Manpower Studies is carrying out for the Department of Education and Science a study of available information to see what indications this might provide for the direction in which higher education ought to be steered over the next 10–15 years. An initial report will be made later this year. This work is trying to identify any adjustments which might be required to the broad subject balance in universities, the public sector and higher education. Graduates in all engineering and technological subjects have therefore been looked at as a group, and electronic engineers have not been separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what special efforts are being made to train boys and girls in the 16 to 18 years age groups in computer skills.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many jobs have been lost in the confectionery industry in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and what increase has taken place in short-time working over the same period;(2) how many jobs have been lost in the confectionery industry in Halifax in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and what increase in short-time working has taken place over the same period.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been declared in the confectionery industry in the Halifax area since the beginning of the year.

My Department has received no advance notifications, in accordance with section 100 of the Employment Protection Act 1975, of proposed redundancies in the confectionery industry in the Halifax travel-to-work area since the beginning of the year. Furthermore, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that over the same period they, too, have no record of any redundancies notified to them as likely to occur in the confectionery industry in this area. Employers are not required by law, however, to notify my Department of prospective redundancies involving less than 10 employees and, similarly, the MSC records do not cover redundancies of less than 10.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of priority written questions to his Department are answered within the time requested; and what proportion are delayed by up to seven days.

The delay in my Department answering priority written questions during the period 1 January to date is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to expedite the redundancy payments to the workers previously employed by Allart Jewellery, Glenrothes, Fife, in view of the fact that the firm, now in liquidation, owed its employees approximately £40,000 in unpaid wages and holiday pay.

Arrangements are in hand for payments to be made within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will state the number and percentage of unemployed school leavers in the travel-to-work areas covering (a) Greater Manchester and (b) the city of Manchester for the latest available month, together with comparable statistics for the same month in each year from 1970 to 1979 inclusive;(2) how many redundancies have taken place or been announced in (

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were made redundant in the last 12 months in Gwynedd.

I have been asked to reply.Precise information on the total number of workers made redundant is not available. Information derived from statutory notifications under the Employment Protection Act between July 1979—June 1980 indicates some 3,566 proposed redundancies, but not all of these have occurred or will necessarily take place in the future.

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many employees of the House failed to turn up for work on 14 May; and what saving, if any, there has been to public funds through wages and salaries not paid as a consequence.

Three. As a consequence, the saving to public funds was £59·57.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how much Her Majesty's Government are giving to support research into raising food production; in which countries the money is being given; how much was given in these countries over each of the last five years; and whether any countries supported during these years no longer receives support.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The hon. Member may find it helpful to refer to the Overseas Development Administration's annual reports on research and development from 1974 to 1979, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what aid-in-kind Her Majesty's Government have given to refugees from Cambodia in camps in Thailand since January 1979;(2) how much aid Her Majesty's Government have given refugees from Cambodia in camps in Thailand since January 1979.

On our behalf the World Food Programme bought and delivered 2,700 tonnes of rice for Cambodians living in refugee camps along the Thai/Cambodia border. We have also contributed or pledged £2·93 million to the United Nations international child- ren's emergency fund and the International Committee for the Red Cross in response to the international appeals for Cambodian relief and about £480,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee. Our share of the European Community response to the international appeals amounts to about £6·5 million.The proceeds of the international appeals are devoted to relief within Cambodia as well as to refugees in camps in Thailand and the British share cannot be attributed to any particular part of the operation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if the Overseas Development Administration employs building consultants to advise developing countries; if advice concerning the need for adequate access for the elderly and disabled people in buildings is given; and if he will make a statement.

We engage consultants, under our technical co-operation programme, in response to formal requests from overseas Governments. The design of access to buildings would be for the consultants to consider, in the light of the terms of reference for the assignment. A building project submitted for aid finance would be examined by my professional advisers who would take account of such special needs where appropriate in the advice they offered.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official duties for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 July.

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

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her talks with Mr. Harold Brown, United States Defence Secretary, on the financing of British purchases of United States arms over the next decade; and if she will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 24 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to pay an official visit to Cyprus.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will invite the Management Consultants P.A. Inter- national who recently carried out an investigation into all aspect of the running of London Transport to do a similar survey of the Civil Service.

Where appropriate, use is made of outside consultants to examine the management of the Civil Service. But, in view of the scale of central Government, a single wide-ranging review on the lines of the study of London Transport would not be a suitable project for handling in this way.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will pay an official visit to Chapelhall.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will ensure that Her Majesty's Government's commitment to a new nuclear deterrent will not in any way inhibit the continued development of the United Kingdom's conventional forces.

The question of a successor to the Polaris force does not affect the Government's determination to maintain and strengthen the United Kingdom's conventional defence effort in accordance with undertakings already given to the Alliance.

asked the Prime Minister if she plans to seek to pay an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.

I expect to visit the Federal Republic of Germany for the next meeting in our regular series of consultations with the Government of the Federal Republic, which is likely to take place in Bonn towards the end of the year.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will dismiss those of her Ministers who were not present in the House on Friday 27 June and Friday 4 July to support the Government in the Divisions on Government business.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the conditions under which she will initiate a nuclear strike or retaliation.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the future of Chevening House.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was nominated as the resident of Chevening House in May 1974. He has informed me that he does not wish to continue his occupancy, and I have accordingly, at his request, revoked his nomination.I will consider the future of the house and estate within the terms of the Chevening, Estate Act 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the provision of consumable or semi-consumable educational aids and equipment in primary and secondary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the availability of resources for basic books and equipment in secondary and high schools following recent spending cuts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the provision of books and equipment to schoolchildren.

My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied that the Government's expenditure plans allow for some increase in expenditure per pupil in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the workings of the Schools Council.

My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied that the council is making progress in its efforts to relate its work more directly to the needs of schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when last he had talks with the Publishers' Association on school books.

My right hon. and learned Friend met representatives of publishing interests, including the Publishers' Association, on 13 May and discussed with them a number of issues relating to the provision of books in schools. The matter was also raised when I met representatives of the National Book League on 2 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the present conditions regarding the taking of the certificate of secondary education examination by secondary schoolchildren aged 16 years or in their sixteenth year.

The conditions of recognition for the administration of CSE examinations by regional examining boards are broadly satisfactory. However, they will need to be reviewed following the decision to replace CSE and GEC O-level by a single system of examinations for pupils of 16-plus.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take measures to encourage teachers to become a self-governing profession analogous to doctors or lawyers.

My right hon. and learned Friend would like to see teaching as a self-governing profession: if the parties concerned could agree on the basis on which a teachers' professional council might be established, he would readily play his part in taking the matter forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will meet Secretaries of State for Education from European Economic Community countries to discuss co-ordination of European Economic Community policies on overseas students; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is always ready to attend meetings of European Community Education Ministers to discuss issues of common concern and attended such a meeting on 27 June. He sees no opportunity at the moment of raising with them the co-ordination of European Economic Community policies on overseas students, but he will keep the matter in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in his consideration of a core curriculum, he will study the need for education in social and race relations.

The consultative document "A Framework for the School Curriculum" drew attention to these and other educational aims. They are also likely to feature in the further guidance which we shall be offering to local education authorities and schools in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to the present standards of secondary school science teaching in England and Wales in his study of a core corriculum.

The consultative paper "A Framework for the School Curriculum" issued in January and the recent report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate "Aspects of Secondary Education in England" have both drawn attention to the particular needs of secondary school science. Further guidance on the curriculum, including the place of science, will be issued later this year, in the light of consultations now taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what percentage the school population has decreased since 1975.

On the latest projection for January 1980, the total population of pupils in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England is expected to have fallen by 3·3 per cent. between 1975 and 1980. The nursery and primary school population is expected to have fallen by 11·3 per cent., whereas the secondary school population is expected to have risen by 7·5 per cent. Information relating to Wales on this matter is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what have been the total numbers of teaching and ancillary staffs in the Leicester education authority area in each of the last five years; and what is the anticipated figure for this year.

Information on the number of non-teaching staff is not identified for individual local education authorities in the returns made by authorities to central Departments.Figures of teaching staffs in January of each of the last five years and for this year (figures in thousands) are:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that sufficient encouragement is given to students to take up degree courses in the applied sciences, notably polymer and fibre sciences.

I am sure that with the help of the careers guidance services and other information at their disposal, students in general are aware of the opportunities and career prospects open to them in pursuing any particular degree course, including those in the applied sciences.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current position with regard to the implementation of the university teachers' pay award.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Ancram) and for Bromsgrove and Redditch (Mr. Miller) and the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the university authorities and the Association of University Teachers about university teachers' pay; what replies he has sent; and when he proposes to announce a settlement of the pay issue outwith the jurisdiction of the Clegg Commission.

The Association of University Teachers asked for a meeting with my right hon. and learned Friend. He met the association on 10 June and assured it that there would be no unnecessary delays. He will make an announcement when an agreement is reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost per pupil of secondary education in inner London; and how this compares with the cost in outer London boroughs.

The net institutional recurrent cost of a secondary pupil in inner London in the financial year 1978–79 was £880 at 1980 survey prices; the comparative figure for the outer London boroughs was £667.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will allow State schools a greater degree of flexibility in deciding school opening hours.

My right hon. and learned Friend believes that the schools regulations 1959 already allow sufficient flexibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects the working party on the future of educational arrangements in inner London to complete its work.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Barnett) on 20 May.—[Vol. 985 c. 138–39].

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is considering tests for pupils in primary schools for literacy and numeracy.

Many local education authorities conduct extensive programmes of testing in these subjects in primary schools, of a general assessment or diagnostic nature. In addition, my Department's assessment of performance unit has recently established national monitoring programmes to assess the performance of 11-year-old pupils in language and mathematics.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the working of the Education Act 1980 in respect of the extent to which local authorities are making use of the powers given to them by section 22 of that Act.

Our objective under this section has been to enable local authorities to reduce expenditure on school meals and milk so that, within the Government's spending plans as a whole, they can maintain and improve the quality of education. Local authorities have not budgeted to achieve the necessary savings this year; and to the extent that this leads either to a reduction in the quality of education or to the Government's spending plans being exceeded, I shall not be satisfied. We have asked local authorities to review their budgets for 1980–81; and I hope they will reexamine the scope for greater savings in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to take any steps to monitor the numbers of children who have continued to eat school dinners since the passing of the Education Act 1980.

I have decided that there should be an October census.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will review his requirements under regulations for nursery provision in such matters as lavatories and washing facilities in order to make such provision simpler and cheaper.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cornwall North (Mr. Neale), on 3 July.—[Vol. 987, c. 717.] One of the changes proposed to the school premises standards is a reduction in the present requirements for washbasins and lavatories in nursery, primary and secondary schools. Adoption of this proposal would lead to savings in capital expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science for what subject teachers are particularly in short supply; and in which subjects there appears to be a surplus of teachers.

There is a serious and persistent shortage of teachers of mathematics, the physical sciences and craft, design and technology. Teachers of business studies, modern languages, music and religious education are also in short supply. There is no clear-cut evidence of the subjects in which there is an overall surplus; apparent national surpluses are often offset by local shortages.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of newly qualified teachers have obtained employment as teachers in each of the last three years; and in which subjects there is the greatest difficulty in finding teacher employment.

Surveys carried out by my Department and the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers indicate that the percentages were 60 (for 1977 qualifiers), 69 (for 1978 qualifiers) and 75 (for 1979 qualifiers). These percentages are of those newly qualified teachers—the vast majority—in respect of whom further information about destination became available to the teacher training institutions after their departure. There is no clear cut evidence about the subjects in which there is the greatest difficulty in finding teacher employment; appearent national surpluses are often offset by local shortages.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers he expects will lose their jobs by the end of the current year.

This will depend upon decisions taken by individual local authorities, in the light of the rates of wastage from teaching in their areas. The Government believe that the planned reduction of 15,000 teachers in the current year can be achieved without significant redundancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in his consideration of the application under section 13 of the Education Act 1944 for the establishment of a Church of England secondary school in Ealing; and if he will be able to make known his decision on this application well before the end of the present school term.

I received further comments on these proposals from the London borough of Ealing and the London diocesan board of education on Friday 4 July. A decision will now be reached as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest figure he has as to the number of voluntary schools; and whether the trend is towards an increasing or decreasing number.

In January 1979, the latest date for which the information is available, there were 8,372 voluntary primary and secondary schools maintained by local education authorities in Englandf. Since January 1970 there has been a decrease of 585 in the total number of voluntary schools.

asked the Secretary of State or Education and Science what plans he has for expanding adult education provision.

My right hon. and learned Friend fully recognises the value of continuing education for adults, particularly that designed to help the disadvantaged and those lacking sufficient command of the most basic skills. This underlies our support for the adult literacy and basic skills unit and our invitation to the Advisory Council for Adult and Continuing Education to produce proposals later this year for the development of adult education. It is, however, for local education authorities and other providers to determine, in the light of needs, demands and available resources, the actual pattern and scale of provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up a working party to investigate ways of making the last years of schooling more relevant to the world of work, especially for the less academic pupil.

This matter is being looked at in the context of consultations on the Education Departments' proposals for a "Framework for the School Curriculum". It is also currently the subject of interdepartmental discussions, curriculum development work by the Schools Council and various initiatives by national and local agencies. My right hon. and learned Friend does not consider that a working, party at this stage would be the best way forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many vacancies existed for qualified teachers of mathematics and science at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

In January 1980 local authorities reported unfilled vacancies for 599 mathematics teachers and 597 teachers for the physical sciences.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take action to prevent the erosion of choice of subject in secondary schools in which numbers of staff are reduced as the result of falling rolls.

This is a matter for education authorities and schools themselves to consider in the light of local circumstances. Our current consultations on a framework for the school curriculum are intended to emphasise the importance of developing local curricular policies, including the identification of priorities, which take account of the staffing and other implications of falling, rolls.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current pupil-teacher ratio in Staffordshire; and how this compares with the pupil-teacher ratio in England and Wales.

In January 1979, the latest date for which ratios are available in respect of individual local authorities, the overall pupil-teacher ratio for maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in Staffordshire was 19·2:1; the comparable ratio for England was 18·9:1. For England the estimated ratio for January 1980 was 18·7:1.Statistical information about schools in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will establish a fund to aid refugee students studying at United Kingdom universities.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering with colleagues how best to assist refugees students undertaking higher education in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to give the Government response to the Warnock report; and if he will make a statement.

The Warnock report is essentially developmental in character with over 200 recommendations addressed variously to local and national government and to professional bodies and other agencies.In my statement to the House on 3 March I indicated that the Government accepted the arguments in the report for changes in the statutory provision relating to special educational treatment. A White Paper is in preparation which will

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the London borough of Bromley local education authority regarding reorganisation of secondary education within the borough.

My noble Friend the Minister of State received a deputation in support of the authority's proposals from the council of the London borough of Bromley on 25 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the outline the Government's legislative proposals for England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the level of total expenditure on scientific research and development in the current year; how much of this is from private as against public funds; how much of this is defence as against civil research and development; and what this represents as a percentage of gross national product, indicating any change from 5 and 10 years ago, respectively.

The latest year for which estimates of total expenditure on research and development are available is 1978. The information requested is as follows:level of provision of primary and secondary education in Cumbria.

It is for Cumbria county council as the local authority to ensure that the level of provision of primary and secondary education in Cumbria is adequate for the children of their area. I have no reason to doubt that the authority is fulfilling its duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the participation rates of the 16 to 19-year age group in post-school full-time education.

13 per cent. of the 16 to 19 age group in England and Wales were in full-time education other than at school during the academic year 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a pupil at present at a maintained school who wishes to follow a course leading to general certificate of education A-level in a minority subject, such as Latin or Greek, will be able to transfer to an independent school offering assisted places, if such courses are not available in the local maintained schools.

The draft regulations which my right hon. and learned Friend hopes to lay before Parliament before the Summer Recess will include provisions which will allow transfers from maintained schools to assisted places at sixth form level where sixth form admissions are provided for in the school's participation agreement, the school is prepared to offer the pupil an assisted place and the local education authority maintaining the school the pupil is currently attending gives its agreement either generally or in a particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received a copy of "The Strategy for Corby", a community plan produced by the Corby joint industrial committee; and what is his policy on the proposals for the funding of the capital costs for training and retraining and education services contained therein.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of the document to which the hon. Member refers, although it has not been formally referred to the Department. Training and retraining are primarily the responsibility of the Northamptonshire local education authority and the Manpower Services Commission and my right hon. and learned Friend understands there is close liaison between them and other bodies concerned locally. The proposals made in respect of other education services are also matters for consideration by the local education authority in the first instance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what extent the internal purchasing value of the £sterling or the cost of living has risen since the date when capital gains tax on shares was introduced; and if he will seek to amend the datum line to account for this fall in the purchasing value of the £ sterling so far as capital gains tax is concerned.

The internal purchasing value of the pound has fallen by 78 per cent. between April 1965, when capital gains tax was introduced, and May 1980, the latest month for which information is available. As my right hon. and learned Friend said in his Budget Statement, indexing capital gains tax would result in an unwelcome increase in the cost of administration while reducing the yield of the tax to negligible proportions. However, we are continuing our review of the capital taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to bring schedule D taxpayers on to a current year basis of assessment.

We have at present no such plans.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a system of tax relief for those people who take out private health insurance.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the differential between tax on petrol and tax on diesel to encourage energy conservation.

My right hon. and learned Friend took action in his March Budget to remove the existing duty differential in favour of petrol. Since 26 March petrol and diesel road fuel have been charged at a common duty rate of 10p per litre (equivalent to about 45½p per gallon). I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the relative value

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to extend zero rating for value added tax to cover basic items of equipment for babies and toddlers.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if value added tax is charged on the following items of baby equipment: drop-side cot, high chair, baby bath, changing mat, pack of 12 terry towelling nappies, carry cot, pram, buggy pushchair, car-seat, stair-gate, sterilising unit, feeding bottle and teat, teacher-beaker, cot blanket, bottle brush, zinc and castor oil, nappy liners, cotton wool and mother's nursing bra.

Towelling nappies and nappy liners are covered by the zero-rating relief for young children's clothing and footwear (under group 17 of schedule 4 to the Finance Act 1972). The other items listed are liable to VAT at the standard rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue he estimates would be produced by an increase of 1 per cent. in the rate of value added tax.

I refer the hon. Member to the supplement to the May edition (No. 121) of the Economic Pro-

The following is the latest available information:gress Report, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a system of tax relief for those parents who pay for private education for their children.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the net income after 1 April 1979 and 1 April of the current year, separately, of a married couple with two children under 11 years of age, where the husband is earning £30, £60 and £100 gross, respectively, after taking account of tax deductions, but not national insurance, child benefit and family income supplement where appropriate;(2) what was the net income after 1 April 1979 and 1 April of the current year, separately, of a married couple with two children under 11 years of age and two children between 11 and 16 years of age where the husband is earning £30, £60 and £100 gross, respectively, after taking account of tax deductions, but not national insurance, child benefit and family income supplement where appropriate;