Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 10 July 1980

Public Records Office

asked the Attorney-General if, in view of the fact that the Public Records Office is already understaffed, he will postpone any decision on further staffing cuts until the report of the Wilson committee on public records has been published and its views on staffing needs have been taken into account.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) on 25 April 1980—[Vol. 984, c. 275.]

Trade

Aircraft Accidents (Investigation Procedure)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, further to his letter to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 19 June, he will seek to place on the agenda of the International Civil Aviation Organisation for an early discussion the possibility of investigating major aircraft accidents through an international agency; and if he will make a statement.

Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation contains procedures for the investigation of international aircraft accidents. These procedures have, over the years, been refined and are now working well throughout the world. It is considered that such problems that have arisen in the past would not have been resolved by the intervention of an international investigative body.I can, therefore, see no justification for pressing the International Civil Aviation Organisation to explore the feasibility of having an international body for the investigation of major aircraft accidents.

Golf Balls (Imports)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will agree to meet a deputation of Liverpool hon. Members to discuss the introduction of a 60 per cent. tariff on imports of golf balls.

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

Registry Of Business Names

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many representations he has received concerning the Government's proposal to close the Registry of Business Names; and how many of these representations supported and how many opposed the proposal.

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

Paper And Board Products

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ensure that paper and board products are placed on a list of sensitive or semi-sensitive products during discussions of the generalised system of tariff preferences for Brazilian exports to the European Economic Community.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 July 1980, c. 638]: We are in touch with the British Paper and Board Industry Federation about this, and I shall let my hon. Friend know the outcome as soon as possible.

Sir Freddie Laker

asked the Secretary of State for Trade on how many occasions since taking office he has had official meetings with Sir Freddie Laker.

The Secretary of State and I had an official meeting with him on 12 December 1979. I also had a meeting with him on 15 June 1979.

Japanese Cars (Imports)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the growing trade in secondhand Japanese cars imported straight from reconditioning plants in Japan, if he is satisfied with this trade in pre-1977 models; and if he will consider imposing restrictions to make such trade conform to present practice.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 July 1980 c. 9]: Imports of secondhand Japanese motor cars are very small. A careful watch is, however, being kept on the situation. Such cars must of course comply with the relevant provisions of the Construction and Use and Lighting Regulations.

Northern Ireland

Sports Council

10.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends increasing the staff of the Department of Education in Northern Ireland as a consequence of taking over the executive work and grant-aiding functions of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.

No.

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why he has changed the status, staffing and role of the Northern Ireland Sports Council.

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement setting out the details of his proposals that the Sports Council for Northern Ireland should lose its executive functions.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Petersfield (Mr. Mates) on 16 June.—[Vol. 986, c. 349.]

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional statutory powers he intends giving to district councils of Northern Ireland to enable them to undertake some of the work carried out currently by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.

None. The existing powers, contained in article 9 of the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1973, are adequate.

Constitution

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about his constitutional talks and resulting developments.

I refer to my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House on 2 July, when the Government's "Proposals for Further Discussion" (Cmnd. 7950) were published, and to what I said in the debate on the proposals held yesterday.

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the Government's attitude towards holding a referendum on its constitional proposals for Northern Ireland.

There are difficulties associated with the holding of a referendum, but I do not rule out the possibility at the appropriate time.

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there have been further consultations on the Government's proposals for the devolution of power to Northern Ireland.

The Government published on 2 July its "Proposals for Further Discussion" on the government of Northern Ireland (Cmnd. 7950). The proposals were debated in this House yesterday, and I now plan to have bilateral talks with the main Northern Ireland parties, as well as consultations on a wider basis.

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now make a statement on his proposals for the government of Northern Ireland.

I refer my hon. Friend to what I said in the House yesterday when the Government's "Proposals for Further Discussion" (Cmnd. 7950) were debated.

Border Security

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on frontier security.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Northwich (Mr. Goodlad).

De Lorean Car Company

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the De Lorean car to commence production.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson).

Harland And Wolff (Subsidies)

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what subsidy has been granted to Harland and Wolff in respect of two 109,000-ton tankers for British Petroleum Ltd.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 8 July 1980.—[Vol. 988, c. 144.]

Terrorism

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the Government of the Republic of Ireland about the continuing assassinations of Ulster people opposed to the unification of Ireland.

The Government of the Republic of Ireland share the concern of Her Majesty's Government at all terrorist violence in any part of Ireland and there is regular contact between us on the subject. In those cases where it appears that terrorists have operated across the border, the authorities on either side co-operate fully with each other in the investigations.

Sport And Recreation

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants in his Department were employed in the administration of sports and recreation in Northern Ireland in each year from 1972 to the current year.

The information for 1 March in each year, except as otherwise indicated, is as follows:

1972	20^*
1973	21^*
1974 (1 January)	21^*
1974 (1 May)	11
1975	11
1976	14
1977	22†
1978	23†
1979	34†
1980	34†
^* includes administration of the Youth Service.
† includes administration of Community facilities.

Exports And Imports

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total value of all exports from Northern Ireland to the rest of the United Kingdom, to the Republic of Ireland, to other EEC countries and to all other countries outside the EEC for each of the past five years; if he will give these figures as a percentage of the whole; and if he will list the principal exports to each country;(2) what was the total value of all imports into Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, other EEC countries and all countries outside the EEC, in each of the past five years; if he will give these figures as a percentage of the total; and if he will identify the principal imports from each country over the same period.

Statistics do not exist on the distribution of imports to and exports from different regions of the United Kingdom. The information sought by the hon. Member is therefore not available. There is information, however, about trade across the land frontier between Northern Ireland and the Republic. The latest figures available are as follows:

Year	Value of goods passing from Northern Ireland to the Republic	Value of goods passing into Northern Ireland from the Republic
	(£ million)	(£ million)
1974	181·3	203·5
1975	207·4	252·8
1976	291·0	313·3
1977	471·9	409·7
1978	642·7	522·5

However, a considerable proportion of this trade, in both directions, comprises goods in transit between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. I shall send to the hon. Member some material from the annual census of production which, while by no means comprehensive or up-to-date, provides a broad indication of the pattern of exports by Northern Ireland firms.

Gaelic Athletic Association

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what representations he has received from the Gaelic Athletic Association concerning occupation by Her Majesty's Forces of its ground at Crossmaglen; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish in the

Official Report a list of those persons or organisations who have written to him concerning the British Army occupation of Gaelic Athletic Association land at Crossmaglen; and what was the substance of these communications.

I have recently received approaches on this subject from the hon. Members for West, Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan), for Ince (Mr. McGuire), and for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery); and from Mr. Thomas Walsh on behalf of the Gaelic Athletic Association, as well as from the hon. Member himself. These have been concerned principally with the security forces' use of part of the Gaelic Athletic Association's land in Crossmaglen and the alleged disturbance and inconvenience which this causes to the Gaelic Athletic Association. The hon. Member will now have received a letter from me in which I said that my hon. Friend the Minister of State would be happy to meet him and other interested parties to discuss these matters.

Retraining

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied that the retraining facilities in Northern Ireland are adequate to cope with the demands being made upon them.

Yes. These facilities are regarded by the Government as most important both to enable job-seekers to equip themselves for employment and as a necessary corollary of the current drive to expand and promote industrial development in Northern Ireland.

European Economic Community

asked the Paymaster General what will be the cost to the taxpayer of his scheme to advertise and promote the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

There is no such scheme. We shall continue to give expression to our belief in Community membership and to explain specific policies to public opinion. No additional Departmental allocation are needed for this purpose.

National Finance

Attendance Allowances (Taxation Policy)

33.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the tax position of any person who is offered employment in a business on the basis that he receives no salary or wage, is given free membership of the works club and is paid an attendance allowance of £36 a day.

Provided the attendance allowance represented no more than the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his duties up to a prescribed maximum, there would be no liability to tax on his part.

Export Prices

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table for each quarter since January 1979, including the current quarter, an estimate of United Kingdom relative export prices on the same basis as that provided by his predecessor in reply to a question from the then hon. Member for Southampton, Test, on 27 July 1977.

All three series provided in answer to the question from the hon. Member for Southampton, Test, on 27 July 1977—[Vol. 936, c. 267–68]—are now available in Economic Trends, published by the Central Statistical Office.

Capital Investment

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the value of capital investment for each of the last 10 years at constant prices in private manufacturing industry, all private industry and commerce, nationalised industry, local government, central Government and other categories.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1980, c. 220]: The data requested are shown in the following table:

GROSS DOMESTIC FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
£ million at 1975 constant prices
	Private Sector
	Manufacturing^*	Other industrial and commercial	Private dwellings	Public corporations†	Local government	Central government	Total‡
1970	3,944	4,713	2,047	3,281	4,179	1,258	19,425
1971	3,530	5,180	2,440	3,299	4,057	1,204	19,735
1972	3,002	6,035	2,745	2,904	3,890	1,152	19,767
1973	3,141	6,636	2,449	3,128	4,543	1,214	21,111
1974	3,424	6,287	2,004	3,556	4,188	1,177	20,636
1975	3,103	6,260	2,182	4,026	3,755	1,219	20,545
1976	2,833	6,821	2,180	4,008	3,600	1,195	20,637
1977	3,229	7,331	2,033	3,651	2,959	1,010	20,213
1978	3,567	7,756	2,313	3,486	2,553	919	20,594
1979	3,646	7,790	1,994	3,380	2,434	955	20,199
^* These estimates relate to direct investment by private manufacturing industry only. Assets acquired by manufacturers on lease are included, on the basis of ownership, in estimates for other industries and services. They amounted to over £450 millions (at 1975 prices) in 1979, compared with only £190 millions in 1975.
† There have been variations over time in the coverage of the public corporations: a list of corporations in existence during the whole or part of the period up to 1978 is given on page 121 of "National Income and Expenditure, 1979 Edition".
‡ For the reasons explained on page 111 of "National Income and Expenditure, 1979 Edition", total GDFCF at 1975 constant prices may not equal the sum of its components before 1973.

Tax Thresholds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell), Official Report, 27 July 1979, columns 557–58, on tax thresholds;(2) if he will update for the year 1980–81 the answer given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead,

Official Report, 21 December 1979, column 451, on tax thresholds.

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

European Economic Community (Trade Balance)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs could be created if policies were adopted to halve the balance of trade deficit in manufactured items with the rest of the European Economic Community.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1980, c. 220]: I regret that it is not possible to answer this question without indicating which specific policies are adopted to have the desired effect. Even if appropriate policies could be defined, it would only be possible to make a quantitative estimate using a macroeconomic model. We are not able to carry out such work on the Treasury model for the reason explained on 14 November 1979 in the reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Leighton).—[Vol. 973, c. 622–23.]

Employment

Greater London Council Area (Job Losses)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the number of job losses in the Greater London Council area in the last 12 months.

The information is not available. The latest employment estimates for Greater London are for June 1977.

Tandy Organisation

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a state ment on discussions which have taken place between the Transport and General Workers Union and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service concerning trade union recognition by the Tandy Organisation.

In the interests of good industrial relations, ACAS regards discussions which take place with those who make use of its services as strictly confidential—a view with which the Government concur and which those who use the service of ACAS appreciate.

Textile Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been lost in textiles since the end of June 1979; and how many further jobs he expects to disappear in the coming year.

Precise information about job gains and losses is not available but an indication of the net change can be seen by comparing the levels of the estimates of employees in employment at different dates.Between June 1979 and April 1980, the latest date for which information is available, the number of employees in employment in the textiles industry in Great Britain fell by 42,500. The figure is provisional.Future levels of employment in the textile industry depend upon a number of factors, including the level of world trade, which cannot be forecast with any degree of certainty. It is, therefore, not possible to say what the employment situation in the industry will be during the coming year.

Retraining And Training

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many retraining places were available in 1978–79 and 1979–80; and what percentage was taken up;(2) how many training places were available in 1978–79 and 1979–80; and what percentage was taken up.

The main responsibility for the provision of training and re-training rests with employers. Information on the number of training and retraining places provided by employers is not available.

The Manpower Services Commission operates three programmes which directly provide training or re-training opportunities.

Firstly, the training opportunities scheme (TOPS) provides training or retraining for adults aged 19 and over. Some of the training opportunities are provided in the MSC's Skillcentres. The following table gives average figures for

	1	2
	Commissioned places	Operational places	TOPS trainees	Sponsored trainees	Young people	Percentage of 2 used by those completing training
1978–79	18,200^*	16,500	11,350	850	150	75
1979–80	18,300	16,500	10,800	800	100	71
^* Estimate

Since the beginning of 1980 there has been a very marked improvement in the skillcentre occupancy rate which now stands at approximately 77 per cent. nationally.

TOPS courses are also provided in colleges of further education, private colleges and employer establishments. The facilities available at these establish

1978–79
	Planned completions	Achieved completions	Percentage
College of Further Education^*	45,044	37,130	82
Employer Establishments	11,009	10,322	94
Total	56,053	47,452	85
1979–80 (Revised)†
	Planned completions	Achieved completions	Percentage
College of Further Education^*	40,673	41,410	102
Employer Establishments	11,577	10,394	90
Total	52,250	51,804	99
^* Includes private colleges.
† Planned completions in 1979–80 were revised downwards as a consequence of Government expenditure cuts, so creating the potential for over achievement.

Secondly the Manpower Services Commission provides direct training services to employers for training or re-training their employees in-plant or in the MSC's own establishments with resources made available according to demand. During 1978–79 some 45,786 people were trained

	1978–79			1979–80
	Places available	Number taken up	Percentage taken up	Places available	Number taken up	Percentage taken up
Training Courses	24,170	19,786	82	31,541	27,536	87
Work Experience Programmes	120,000	162,200^*	—	200,000	216,400^*	—
^* For work experience courses there is no set length and the figures given in the above table for "number taken up" relate to throughput.

1978–79 and 1979–80 of the number of skillcentre place commissioned for training (that is fully equipped), the number of operational places (that is, those commissioned and with an instructor in post) and the use of operational places (in terms of trainee-weeks used) by those who completed their training. (About 8 per cent. of capacity is used by trainees who fail to complete their course.)

ments are not exclusively used by TOPS. One means of assessing the use made by training available under TOPS, is to determine the extent to which the plans for TOPS training at these institutions were achieved. The planning targets were given in terms of completions and the information for 1979–80 is set out in the following table:

through these services and for 1979–80 the total was 41,441.

Thirdly, there is the youth opportunities programme under which training courses and work experience programmes have been offered to young people. The provision and take up in 1978–79 and 1979–80 is as follows:

Fort William Underwater Training Centre

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what publicly-owned assets are in use at the Fort William underwater training centre; and what is their value.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that all the initial fixed assets of the underwater training centre have been financed entirely by MSC at a cost of £1·5 million, and are legally charged in favour of the Commission. These assets consist of classrooms and administrative buildings, and the full range of equipment needed to run both basic air and mixed gas diving courses. The disposable value of the assets cannot be estimated with any precision due to the unique nature of the enterprise; but the book value in the centre's commercial accounts was £867,000 at 31 March 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what public grants have been given to the Fort William underwater training centre for each of the years since its establishment.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the following MSC grants have been made available to the underwater training centre since its establishment:

Financial Year	Amount £
1975–76	979,305
1976–77	333,804
1977–78	85,057
1978–79	65,000
1979–80	104,000
1980–81 (to date)	11,543

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what role his Department has in the awarding of contracts for the Fort William underwater training centre; when they were issued; and if he will make a statement about its future use.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, after consulting my Department and the Treasury, the MSC decided in 1975 to award the project management contract to Shenley Trust Limited. This was a five-year contract which expired in 1979 and was then placed with Shenley Trust Services Limited. Subsequent decisions concerning the commissioning of the deep diving system, and the leases and service agreement, were made by the project manager in 1975 with MSC agreement. The day-to-day running of the centre and any contractual arrangements this entails are decided by the project management whose operational plans and budgets are controlled by the MSC through its representation on the centre's board of control. Discussions with the industry on the future of the centre are continuing and I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment with which organisations he has had discussions about the future of the underwater training centre at Fort William.

Both my Department and the Department of Energy have held discussions with the offshore industry about the future of the underwater training centre. These discussions have involved representatives of the Association of Offshore Diving Contractors, the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association and other interested parties. In addition, the Manpower Services Commission has consulted a wide range of interests about the future of the centre.

Birmingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are registered as unemployed at the various Birmingham employment offices; and what percentage of that figure is constituted by ethnic minorities.

At 8 May, the latest date for which unemployment figures for ethnic minority group workers are available, the number of people registered as unemployed in the city of Birmingham was 40,692 of which 17·1 per cent. were of ethnic minority origin. The city of Birmingham has been taken as the area covered by the Aston, Birmingham, Erdington, Handsworth, Northfield, Selly Oak, Small Heath, Sparkhill, Sutton Cold-field and Washwood Heath employment offices.

Temporary Short-Time Working Compensation Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are his estimates of the net Exchequer cost or benefit of every £100 million gross per annum spent on the temporary short-time working compensation scheme, on a range of assumptions about benefit flow back; and if he will also state those assumptions.

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

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN GREATER LONDON AT JUNE 1977
SIC 1968	Order of SIC	Thousand
All industries and services^*	I—XXVII	3,652·6
Index of production industries	II—XXI	1,003·0
Manufacturing industries	III—XIX	775·8
Service industries^*	XXII—XXVII	2,647·6
Agriculture, forestry, fishing †	I	2·0
Mining and quarrying	II	3·9
Food, drink and tobacco	III	85·1
Coal and petroleum products	IV	2·6
Chemicals and allied industries	V	49·4
Metal manufacture	VI	14·5
Mechanical engineering	VII	77·8
Instrument engineering	VIII	27·6
Electrical engineering	IX	126·3
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	X	3·9
Vehicles	XI	57·2
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	XII	57·9
Textiles	XIII	10·1
Leather, leather goods and fur	XIV	6·3
Clothing and footwear	XV	48·7
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	XVI	12·3
Timber, furniture, etc.	XVII	37·9
Paper, printing and publishing	XVIII	118·6
Other manufacturing industries	XIX	39·3
Construction	XX	176·2
Gas, electricity and water	XXI	47·0
Transport and communication	XXII	392·5
Distributive trades	XXIII	489·8
Insurance, banking, finance and business services	XXIV	425·9
Professional and scientific services	XXV	577·5
Miscellaneous services^*	XXVI	420·2
Public administration and defence ‡	XXVII	341·9
^* Excludes private domestic service.
† Estimates for agriculture are taken from the June censuses of agriculture and exclude a small number of employees of agricultural machinery contractors. In addition there are minor differences in analysis and consequently the full-time and part-time categories for agriculture are not strictly comparable with those for other industries. It should also be noted that changes in information collected in 1977 will have disturbed the year by year comparison of the figures for agriculture.
‡ These figures cover only a proportion of national and local government employees. They exclude those engaged in, for example, building, education and health, which are activities separately identified elsewhere in the classification. They include employees in police forces, fire brigades and other national and local government service which are not activities identified elsewhere. Members of HM Forces are excluded.

Unemployment Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what statistics or other information he has about the duration of unemployment among young people from the ethnic minorities.

Standard Industrial Classification 1968

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the most convenient form and grouped in accordance with the Standard Industrial Classification 1968 the number of employees in employment within the Greater London area for the latest date for which figures are available.

Following is the information:

[pursuant to his reply, 20 June 1980, c. 704]: There are no official statistics which provide information about duration of unemployment among young people from the ethnic minorities. It is hoped that present plans for computerisation will enable information of this kind to be available in future.

Some information is available from a sample survey, carried out by the Policy Studies Institute for the Department and the MSC, of the unemployed from ethnic minority groups who were registered in March and April 1979.

Those interviewed in the survey were all asked when they had registered as unemployed and from their replies the Institute has prepared estimates of the periods for which they had been unemployed. These show that the average periods of unemployment of the ethnic minority groups and of other unemployed people registered in the same areas were not different among people aged under 25.

One-Parent Families

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department has taken since 3 May 1979 on any recommendation of the Finer committee for which it is wholly or partly responsible.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1980, c. 92]: The action taken by my Department reflects the fact that while the employment recommendations for which it has a direct responsibility were implemented prior to 3 May 1979, action on some of them is of a continuing nature. For example, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that over the past year special efforts have been made through marketing and counselling activities to make women more aware of the full range of opportunities for training available under the training opportunities scheme.

Doctors

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many doctors have been registered as unemployed for each month for the last two years; and what records are kept of medical unemployment.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 June 1980, c. 380]: I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of unemployed people registered with local offices of the MSC for employment as medical practitioners is known from quarterly occupational analyses.The figures for Great Britain for the last 2 years are as follows:

1978
March	…	…	…	…	309
June	…	…	…	…	314
September	…	…	…	…	387
December	…	…	…	…	395
1979
March	…	…	…	…	381
June	…	…	…	…	351
September	…	…	…	…	419
December	…	…	…	…	406
1980
March	…	…	…	…	388

These figures do not include the number of unemployed doctors who are registered for employment in other occupations.

Confectionery Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many jobs have been lost in the confectionery industry in the most recent 12-months 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 July 1980, c. 93]: Precise information about job gains and losses is not available but an indication of the net change can be seen by comparing the levels of the estimates of employees in employment at different dates.Between April 1979 and April 1980, the latest date for which information is available, the number of employees in the cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery industry (Minimum List Heading 217 of the Standard Industrial Classification) in Great Britain fell by 3,400. The figure is provisional.Statistics on short-time working are collected for one selected week in each month and relate to time lost by operatives. The estimated number of hours lost in the cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery industry in the week ended 19 April 1980 was 37,000. In the week ended 7 April 1979 it is estimated that there were no operatives on short-time working in the industry.Corresponding information for local areas is not available.

Electronic Engineers

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 July 1980, c. 92]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that its computer occupations training programme provides training opportunities for young people by means of grants and training awards.An increased number of grants will be available in 1980–81 (1,600 as compared with 900 in 1979–80) for employers who are prepared to train staff on certain courses sponsored by the MSC under a programme of grant support begun in September 1979. Age limits are not applied to the grant support scheme but the majority of grants are likely to be taken up in respect of young people.Under the threshold scheme, funded by the MSC and administered on its behalf by the National Computing Centre to provide training for unemployed school leavers an increased number of places has been made available in 1979–80 (1,200 compared with 552 in 1978–79). 1,200 places will be available for 1980–81.I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science on 4 March 1980 to a question from the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell).

School Leavers (Ince)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers are without employment in the Ince constituency; and what steps the Government have taken or intend to take to reduce the numbers.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1980, c 169]: The number of school leavers registered as unemployed in the Ince constituency, which covers the Skelmersdale, Ashton in Makerfield and Hindley employment office areas, on 12 June was 346.

The job prospects for school-leavers, as for all other age groups, depend on the success of the Government's policies designed to reduce inflation and encourage investment and enterprise which in turn will lead to increased economic activity and lower unemployment.

In the meantime, the youth opportunities programme continues to help unemployed young people improve their chances of finding a job.

Tuc

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister what plans she has to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

Q40.

asked the Prime Minister, when she expects to meet the Trades Union Congress.

I meet representatives of the TUC at NEDC and on other occasions. No special meetings with the TUC have been arranged.

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for. 10 July.

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 10 July.

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q29.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q31.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q36.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q37.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q38.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q39.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 July.

Q41.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q43.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q44.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

Q45.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 July.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton).

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will place in the Library a list of her official engagements for the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays when the House of Commons is sitting.

While I appreciate the reasoning which lies behind my hon. Friend's suggestion, I told the House on 12 July last year that I was prepared to answer any oral question, whether open or substantive, which could reasonably and appropriately be directed to me. That remains the position, and since last July I have not transferred a single oral question. In these circumstances, it is for hon. Members themselves to decide whether to table open or substantive questions, and I do not think that I should seek to block the most popular form of open question.

The Taoiseach

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects next to meet the Taoiseach.

I have no immediate plans to do so. The date for the next bilateral meeting has not yet been fixed.

Anglesey

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister when she intends next to visit Anglesey.

I shall be visiting Anglesey on Friday 18 July.

Yorkshire And Humberside

Q34.

asked the Prime Minister when next she expects to visit Yorkshire and Humberside.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

Child Benefit

Q35.

asked the Prime Minister whether she intends to introduce proposals to make alterations in the relationship between child benefit for parents in and out of employment.

No, but the relationship between social security benefits for children of families in and out of work is one of the factors taken into account during the annual review of the rates of child benefit.

Devolution

Q42.

asked the Prime Minister what is the timetable of the Government concerning changes in the constitutional relationships between various parts of the United Kingdom.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 2 July 1980.

Employment Bill

Q46.

asked the Prime Minister what action she has taken or intends taking on the communications sent to her by Mr. Peter Taylor, Q.C., chairman of the Senate of the Inns of Court and the Bar, and Sir John Stebbings, president of the Law Society regarding the drafting of the Employment Bill; and whether she will make a statement on the subject matters of these letters.

Both the Attorney-General and I have replied to the letters from Mr. Peter Taylor, Q.C., and Sir John Stebbings. The matters to which the letters referred were debated in the House of Lords on 8 July.

Gaelic Athletic Association

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received from the Gaelic Athletic Association concerning the occupation of its land by the Army in Crossmaglen; what reply she has sent; and if she will make a statement.

I recently received a letter from Mr. Thomas Walsh of the Gaelic Athletic Association concerning the occupation by the security forces of part of the Association's land in Crossmaglen. A reply has been sent to Mr. Walsh on my behalf from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I understand that the hon. Member has also written to my right hon. Friend proposing a meeting to discuss this matter, and that this proposal has been accepted.

Act Of Settlement

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish the letter which she has received from the leaders of the Orange Institution in the United Kingdom regarding the operation of the Act of Settlement; and what reply she has sent.

The Rev. Martin Smyth wrote to me on 7 May and my office replied on my behalf on 28 May. It is not my normal practice to publish exchanges of correspondence, but the Rev. Martin Smyth is at liberty to do so if he wishes.

asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government propose to take steps to seek to alter the provisions of the Act of Settlement which prohibits the Monarch from becoming a Roman Catholic or marrying a Roman Catholic.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any proposals for introducing legislation at any stage during the lifetime of the present Parliament to amend the Act of Settlement.

As I told the House on 8 July, the Act of Settlement remains in force and the Government have no plans to change it.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received relating to the amendment of the Act of Settlement; and what replies she has sent.

The Rev. Martin Smyth wrote to me on 7 May, and my office replied on my behalf on 28 May. In addition, I have received a few letters on this subject this week.

British Academy

asked the Prime Minister if she will review the procedure by which the British Academy is used as the vehicle by which public funds are distributed to other bodies, in the light of the academy's failure to remove from its list of fellows a self-confessed Soviet agent, Professor Anthony Blunt.

I have full confidence in the way the British Academy administers its grant and do not therefore propose any changes. The question of Professor Blunt's fellowship is for the academy.

Brandt Commission

asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government have yet reached a conclusion as to which of the Brandt Commission proposals they intend to endorse.

The Government will shortly submit a memorandum on this subject to the Overseas Development Sub-Committee of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Yalta Memorial

asked the Prime Minister on what grounds permission was given for a memorial to the "victims of Yalta" to be erected on Crown land; and if she will make a statement.

The purpose of the memorial is to commemorate those who died. The Government agreed to the memorial being erected on Crown land on condition that this purpose was strictly observed. The planned inscription does so. It passes no judgment either on the policies of Governments in the relevant period or on the actions of those who made and carried out those policies.

House Of Commons

Official Paid Envelopes

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in view of the Government's decision to cease using official paid envelopes in the Civil Service, he intends to dispense with their use in the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will ensure that whatever changes are made in the use of prepaid envelopes in Government Departments, they will continue to be available for use by Members of Parliament on parliamentary duties.

I have no present plans to do so, but I shall consider this matter with the Post Office and Her Majesty's Stationery Office and report to the House.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Hong Kong

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will arrange to meet the Governor of Hong Kong to discuss the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Inspector John MacLennan of the Royal Hong Kong police force.

I shall be seeing the Governor on 14 July, as I usually do when he is in this country. I expect to discuss this topic with him. It was announced in Hong Kong on 9 July that a judicial inquiry is being set up to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Inspector MacLennan.

Wales

Welsh Language

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources have been made available to local education authorities in Wales to enable them to implement the recommendation of the Council for the Welsh Language on nursery education as set out in paragraph 24 of that report; and how many local education authorities have taken advantage of any such provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources have been made available by his Department to increase teaching aids for the under-fives in the form of cassettes, tapes, films and picture books, in line with the recommendation in paragraph 23 of the report on nursery education by the Council for the Welsh Language.

Section 21 of the Education Act 1980 makes provision for payments of specific grants in support of Welsh language teaching. About £0.5 million will be available in this financial year. Regulations will be laid before Parliament shortly and a circular to education authorities and other bodies will be issued inviting applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to enable local education authorities to implement the recommendation in paragraph 25 of the report of the Council for the Welsh Language on nursery education, that the State education system should take the initiative in providing Welsh-medium education for all children between the ages of three to five years whose parents wish them to have it.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 July with respect to Welsh medium nursery provision.—[Vol. 988, c. 129.]

European Community

Budget Payments

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the titles and chapter numbers of the European Economic Community budget from which payments will be made under the terms of draft regulation 7944/80, if agreed; and if such payments and those in respect of regulation 7943/80, respectively, are part of the obligatory or non-obligatory section of the budget.

Payments under draft regulations 7944/80 will be made under chapter 41 of the budget. Such payments and those in respect of draft regulation 7943/80 are classified as obligatory expenditure.

Home Department

Licensing Compensation Funds

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the use to which the compensation fund should be put; and how soon he will be making a decision on the matter.

Good progress has been made in discussions on the disposal of the licensing compensation funds, including suggestions that they should be applied to research into alcohol misuse, education about its dangers, and the problems of drunken offenders. We hope to announce the Government's proposals before the Summer Recess.

Discharged Restricted Patients (Offences)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the statistics for the years 1970 to 1980 of any offender who committed an act of violence after he or she had been released from a special hospital;(2) what are the statistics for the years 1970 to 1980 of the numbers of psychiatric patients who have committed an offence during or after receiving psychiatric treatment.

The information currently available relates to persons detained in all hospitals in England and Wales under part V of the Mental Health Act 1959 subject to restrictions on discharge, who were conditionally discharged in 1971, 1972 or 1973. Of the 382 such persons, 12 are known to have been convicted of a crime of violence against the person by the end of 1977. No information is available about offences committed by patients whose discharge was not subject to restrictions.

Cambodian Refugees

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many refugees from Cambodia he expects will take up residence in Great Britain in the next year;(2) how many refugees from Cambodia have been given permanent residence in Great Britain since January 1979;(3) how many of the refugees from Cambodia who have been given permanent residence in Great Britain since January 1979 already had close relatives in Great Britain.

Since 1 January 1979, entry clearance has been granted to 168 Cambodian refugees, most of whom have close relatives in Great Britain. This figure is the only available guide to the numbers likely to be accepted next year.

Citizens Band Radio

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon he will be making a statement on the wavelength to be allocated for citizens band radio.

The question of the appropriate frequency band for open channel will be covered in our forthcoming discussion document which should be available before too long.

Police Custody (Deaths)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan Police use a code to identify the ethnic appearances of persons to establish the ethnic origin of persons who have died in police custody.

No. The Metropolitan Police identity code is concerned only with ethnic appearance. Information about the ethnic origin of those who have died in police custody is not available.

Scientologists

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he expects that his announcement of the result of his review on the ban on foreign Scientologists entering the United Kingdom will be made before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

I hope that it will be.

Scotland

Scottish Development Agency

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual salary of the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency, and how many days a week he works; how this salary was arrived at; what was the annual salary of the previous chairman of the agency for each year or part of a year, respectively, of his tenure of the post; and how many days a week he worked at the agency.

Up to the present time the salary of the chairman of the SDA has been based upon the recommendations of the Review Body on Top Salaries. As announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 7 July, however, the increases recommended by the Review Body in its most recent reports are to be reduced. The salary of the chairman of the agency, who is appointed on a two-days-per-week basis, will therefore be £13,600 per annum as from 1 April 1980.The previous chairman was appointed on 15 December 1975 on a half time basis. His full-time salary was as follows:

	£
15 Demember 1975–30 June 1977	19,000
1 July 1977–31 December 1977	19,208
1 January 1978–31 March 1979	21,130
1 April 1979–14 December 1979	27,565

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take action following the attack on Government economic policy by the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency.

I saw Mr. Duthie on 4 July to discuss with him his views on matters of concern to the agency, including those he referred to in his speech to the Glasgow chamber of commerce on 30 June. I should, however, make plain that I do not expect those I appoint to public boards necessarily to give unqualified support to all our policies, and I am sure my hon. Friend will have noted the vigorous support for Government policies generally which Mr. Duthie has given on both this and other occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is still his intention to allow the Scottish Development Agency to increase during 1980–81 the number of persons employed at the agency; whether this projected increase is in accordance with the Government's policy to reduce the number of bureaucrats and reduce public expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

The published estimates for the agency for 1980–81 provide for a staff complement restricted to the present limit of 750. I have already made it clear that the agency cannot be exempt from the Government's general policy of curbing the growth of public service manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when last he met the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency; when next he plans to meet the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

I met the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency on 4 July.In view of the important role which the agency has to play in promoting economic development in Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for industry and education and I will continue to have frequent contact with Mr. Duthie in the normal course.

Members Of Public Boards (Public Comments)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines are generally issued by the Government to persons appointed by them to non-departmental public bodies on public comments in relation to Government policy.

None beyond the normal rules governing political activities which are brought to the attention of members of public boards when being invited to accept appointment.

Local Authority Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received the reply from the Border regional council to the Scottish Office finance division circular No. 10/80, 16 May; and what is his response.

I have received a letter setting out the views of the council's policy and resources committee. I have not yet received notice of the conclusions reached by the council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that he took into account all relevant factors bearing on increased costs in making an allowance of approximately 17 per cent. for inflation and comparability awards when he determined Government cash limits for local authority expenditure for 1980–81; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the cash limit of £194 million on additional rate support grant for 1980–81 takes into account all the relevant factors bearing on increases in local authority costs.

Population Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the annual percentage increase or decrease in live births per 1,000 in Scotland for each of the years 1976

Percentage change, birth rate per 1,000 Population, Scotland & United Kingdom 1975–1979
	Birth rate per 1,000 population		Percentage increase or decrease
	Scotland	United Kingdom	Scotland	United Kingdom
1975	13·1	12·5	—	—
1976	12·5	12·1	-4·6	-3·2
1977	12·0	11·8	-4·0	-2·5
1978	12·4	12·3	+3·3	+4·2
1979^*	13·2	13·1	+6·5	+6·5
^Provisional*

Population change, Scotland and United Kingdom, mid 1975 to mid 1979
[thousands]
	Scotland				United Kingdom
	Est. Popn.	Births	Deaths & Other changes	Net changes	Est. Popn.	Births	Deaths & Other changes	Net changes
1975	5,206·2				55,900·5
		+67	-68·7	-1·1		+688·6	-703·5	-14·9
1976	5,205·1				55,885·6
		+62·1	-71·6	-9·5		+655·3	-688·5	-33·2
1977	5,195·6				55,852·4
		+63·1	-79·3	-16·2		+664·5	-681·4	-16·9
1978	5,179·4				55,835·5
		+66·8	-79·2	-12·4		+720·0	-672·4	+47·6
1979	5,167·0				55,883·1^*
^*Provisional

Education And Science

School Meals

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to introduce a system of cash payments to parents of children entitled to free school meals in schools where the unit cost of meals reaches unacceptable levels.

No. Section 22 of the Education Act 1980 requires local education authorities to make free provision as they consider requisite for pupils whose parents receive supplementary benefit or family income supplement; and, in other cases, to remit the whole or part of the charge if they consider it appropriate to do so. Additional arrangements involving cash payments should not be necessary.

British Youth Council

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funds were given by his Department in 1979 to the British Youth Council; and what to 1979; what effect this has had on the growth of the Scottish population as a whole over that period; and how this compares with the total figures for the United Kingdom in the same period.

The information is given in the tables below.funds have been given, or it is proposed to give, in the current year.

Grant paid during the financial year 1979–80 totalled £52,234. Our current estimate of grant to be paid in 1980–81 is about £62,500.

Radiobiology (Research)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what research is currently being carried on in radiobiology in England and Wales; how many staff are involved; what are the locations of such research; and, if any changes are intended, what impact they will have on the level of research;(2) what research is being carried on in radiobiology in Scotland; how many staff are involved; what are the locations of such research; and, if any changes are intended, what impact they will have on the level of research.

The Medical Research Council supports a wide range of studies on the effects of ionising radiation on biological tissues and organisms. These studies relate to radiation protection and also to radiotherapy and diagnosis. The Science Research Council also supports some research in radio-biology. Research in this subject is also undertaken in universities using funds provided by the Department through the

Supporting body	Location	Scope/title of project	Funds allocated £ million per annum	Staff involved
Medical Research Council	MRC Radiology Unit, Harwell	^*	2·1	140
Medical Research Council	MRC Cyclotron Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, London
Medical Research Council	MRC Cell Mutation Unit, Sussex University
Medical Research Council	MRC's National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill
Medical Research Council	Hospitals and University Departments in England and Wales	^*	0·3	41
^* Studies as outlined above.

Grammar Schools (Assisted Places Scheme)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guaranteed or likely annual income, via the assisted places scheme, he can promise a maintained grammar school intending to apply for independent status.

Any maintained school which becomes an independent school is selected for inclusion in the assisted places scheme and enters into a participation agreement will be reimbursed fees in respect of assisted place pupils which are remitted in accordance with the arrangements prescribed in the regulations to be made under section 17 of the Education Act 1980. The scale of parental income which will apply on the introduction of the scheme in the school year 1981–82 was announced by my right hon. and learned Friend in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Thornton) on 3 June.—[Vol. 985, c. 689–92].

University Teachers (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pending his decision on the pay settlement for university teachers, he will give an assurance that the settlement will not be delayed to such an extent that this category of worker is left behind the pay settlements of analogous categories.

I can assure the hon. Member that there will be no unnecessary delay in arriving at a settlement.

University Grants Committee but the Department does not collect comprehensive information on such research.

Details of the major research projects currently being carried out are given in the following table:

Secondary Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the secondary schools in England and Wales that have transferred to the private sector in each of the last three years.

The information for England is as follows:

School Year	School
1977–78
	Emanuel School, London SW11.
	Royal Grammar School, Guildford
	Godolphin and Latymer School, London W6
	Colfe's Grammar School, London SE12
1978–79
	Batley Grammar School
	Sir William Perkins's School, Chertsey
1979–80
	Wolverhampton Grammar School
	Kirkham Grammar School, Preston
	King Edward VI Grammar School, Southampton

I understand that no maintained secondary schools in Wales have become independent schools in this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, for each education authority in England (a) the actual number of pupils at schools in the maintained sector, for each of the past five years and (b) the percentage increase or decrease of pupils between 1975 and currently.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 July 1980, c. 547]: Following is the information:

FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME PUPILS IN MAINTAINED NURSERY, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
January of each year				1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	Percentage increase or decrease 1975–1979
Greater London
Barking	…	…	…	29,232	29,181	29,237	28,576	27,987	-4·3
Barnet	…	…	…	47,477	47,811	47,668	46,845	46,052	-3·0
Bexley	…	…	…	40,071	40,190	40,304	39,750	39,235	-2·1
Brent	…	…	…	44,457	44,480	44,169	42,910	41,831	-5·9
Bromley	…	…	…	48,411	48,623	48,612	48,050	46,876	-3·2
Croydon	…	…	…	58,189	57,926	57,624	56,476	55,178	-5·2
Ealing	…	…	…	48,114	48,426	48,189	47,255	45,932	-4·5
Enfield	…	…	…	46,411	46,786	47,048	46,779	46,050	-0·8
Haringey	…	…	…	40,577	39,768	38,953	37,466	35,863	-11·6
Harrow	…	…	…	32,155	32,409	32,319	31,773	31,254	-2·8
Havering	…	…	…	47,545	47,427	47,114	46,849	46,005	-3·2
Hillingdon	…	…	…	41,380	41,697	41,876	41,460	40,675	-1·7
Hounslow	…	…	…	35,748	36,245	36,327	36,037	35,653	-0·3
Kingston-upon-Thames	…	…	…	21,121	21,265	21,252	21,171	20,835	-1·4
Merton	…	…	…	27,648	27,663	27,744	27,305	26,767	-3·2
Newham	…	…	…	43,729	44,141	43,912	43,047	42,003	-3·9
Redbridge	…	…	…	36,098	36,491	36,460	35,948	35,394	-2·0
Richmond-upon-Thames	…	…	…	21,718	20,993	20,578	19,490	18,737	-13·7
Sutton	…	…	…	26,507	26,567	26,639	26,963	26,352	-0·6
Waltham Forest	…	…	…	38,193	38,825	38,984	38,746	38,699	+1·3
Inner London	…	…	…	411,203	402,385	391,283	373,870	358,804	-12·7

FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME PUPILS IN MAINTAINED NURSERY, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
January of each year						1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	Percentage increase or decrease 1975–1979
Metropolitan Districts
West Midlands
Birmingham	…	…	…	…	…	216,573	215,901	211,870	207,171	204,772	-5·4
Coventry	…	…	…	…	…	68,068	67,821	67,369	65,686	63,994	-6·0
Dudley	…	…	…	…	…	55,962	57,628	57,501	56,992	56,463	+0·9
Sandwell	…	…	…	…	…	64,761	65,724	65,820	64,789	63,281	-2·3
Solihull	…	…	…	…	…	42,615	44,123	44,825	44,546	43,470	+2·0
Walsall	…	…	…	…	…	60,017	61,379	62,300	61,633	60,120	+0·2
Wolverhampton		…	…	…	…	55,554	56,971	57,335	56,396	54,786	-1·4
Merseyside
Knowsley	…	…	…	…	…	47,308	46,562	45,577	43,065	40,948	-13·4
Liverpool	…	…	…	…	…	115,163	113,170	110,336	106,743	102,344	-11·1
St. Helens	…	…	…	…	…	36,779	37,560	37,856	40,428	39,733	+8·0
Sefton	…	…	…	…	…	62,518	62,526	62,248	61,518	59,938	-4·1
Wirral	…	…	…	…	…	65,910	67,012	67,401	66,372	64,569	-2·0
Greater Manchester
Bolton	…	…	…	…	…	51,047	51,776	52,514	52,177	52,255	+2·4
Bury	…	…	…	…	…	31,529	31,936	32,361	32,798	32,250	+2·3
Manchester	…	…	…	…	…	100,332	99,141	96,955	95,350	91,501	-8·8
Oldham	…	…	…	…	…	42,972	43,034	43,831	43,370	42,856	-0·3
Rochdale	…	…	…	…	…	43,208	43,620	43,874	43,554	42,655	-1·3
Salford	…	…	…	…	…	53,021	52,600	51,685	51,764	50,046	-5·6
Stockport	…	…	…	…	…	56,120	56,651	56,663	56,540	55,610	-0·9
Tameside	…	…	…	…	…	43,319	43,993	44,306	43,843	43,231	-0·2
Trafford	…	…	…	…	…	43,266	42,486	41,645	40,999	39,697	-8·2
Wigan	…	…	…	…	…	63,603	64,882	65,978	65,789	65,144	+2·4
South Yorkshire
Barnsley	…	…	…	…	…	46,123	46,848	47,340	47,019	46,126	NIL
Doncaster	…	…	…	…	…	62,724	63,091	63,237	62,510	61,195	-2·4
Rotherham	…	…	…	…	…	52,600	53,286	54,026	53,822	53,424	+1·6
Sheffield	…	…	…	…	…	104,811	106,004	107,185	105,577	102,431	-2·3

January of each year						1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	Percentage increase or decrease 1975–1979
West Yorkshire
Bradford	…	…	…	…	…	89,578	90,020	90,335	90,657	89,531	-0·1
Calderdale	…	…	…	…	…	36,977	37,970	38,358	38,339	37,951	+2·6
Kirklees	…	…	…	…	…	72,096	73,236	74,081	74,739	73,982	+2·6
Leeds	…	…	…	…	…	136,703	137,830	137,847	136,204	135,102	-1·2
Wakefield	…	…	…	…	…	62,412	63,076	63,745	63,713	63,513	+1·8
Tyne and Wear
Gateshead	…	…	…	…	…	42,559	42,360	41,960	41,100	40,088	-5·8
Newcastle upon Tyne			…	…	…	51,607	50,942	49,819	50,355	48,838	-5·4
North Tyneside		…	…	…	…	38,390	38,674	38,908	37,923	37,293	-2·9
South Tyneside		…	…	…	…	34,560	34,193	33,548	32,620	31,725	-8·2
Sunderland	…	…	…	…	…	61,691	62,105	63,648	62,915	61,637	-0·1
Non-metropolitan Counties
Isles of Scilly		…	…	…	…	344	345	342	335	321	-6·7
Avon	…	…	…	…	…	159,860	160,848	161,075	156,462	153,895	-3·7
Bedfordshire		…	…	…	…	94,406	95,913	97,483	98,560	97,937	+3·7
Berkshire	…	…	…	…	…	122,448	123,692	124,398	125,100	123,487	+0·8
Buckinghamshire		…	…	…	…	95,050	97,629	99,190	100,203	101,763	+7·1
Cambridgeshire		…	…	…	…	97,771	100,163	101,885	102,520	103,082	+5·4
Cheshire	…	…	…	…	…	174,741	178,510	180,924	180,655	179,134	+2·5
Cleveland	…	…	…	…	…	129,362	129,521	129,379	127,457	124,823	-3·5
Cornwall	…	…	…	…	…	68,510	70,453	72,135	73,520	73,785	±7·7
Cumbria	…	…	…	…	…	91,598	92,421	92,572	91,826	90,550	-1·1
Derbyshire	…	…	…	…	…	166,716	168,708	170,505	169,872	167,921	+0·7
Devon	…	…	…	…	…	145,078	146,986	148,482	148,704	148,472	+2·3
Dorset	…	…	…	…	…	86,537	87,815	88,532	88,406	87,466	+1·1
Durham	…	…	…	…	…	120,057	120,678	121,165	120,505	117,869	-1·8
East Sussex	…	…	…	…	…	91,011	92,528	93,123	93,029	92,737	+1·9
Essex	…	…	…	…	…	258,982	263,019	265,416	265,672	264,561	+2·2
Gloucestershire		…	…	…	…	90,731	91,337	90,919	90,344	89,335	-1·5
Hampshire	…	…	…	…	…	256,982	260,439	262,124	260,983	262,002	+2·0

FULLTIME AND PART-TIME PUPILS IN MAINTAINED NURSERY, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS—Continued
January of each year	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	Percentage increase or decrease 1975–1979
Non-metropolitan Counties—countinued
Hereford and Worcester	104,342	107,124	109,033	107,416	107,983	+3·5
Hertfordshire	184,399	186,096	186,962	184,952	182,888	-0·8
Humberside	171,452	173,046	174,031	173,645	171,277	-0·1
Isle of Wight	18,167	18,451	18,713	18,902	19,141	+5·4
Kent	255,888	258,650	216,379	261,520	260,280	+1·7
Lancashire	249,415	251,668	253,387	249,245	254,617	+2·1
Leicestershire	159,880	162,082	163,139	162,058	160,247	+0·2
Lincolnshire	96,169	98,649	99,534	96,971	96,780	+0·6
Norfolk	113,438	115,939	116,842	116,860	117,128	+3·3
North Yorkshire	113,096	114,493	115,968	115,867	115,444	+2·1
Northamptonshire	96,487	99,257	100,946	101,545	101,542	+5·2
Northumberland	52,421	53,067	53,478	53,409	53,054	+1·2
Nottinghamshire	192,370	193,569	195,769	195,825	193,508	+0·6
Oxfordshire	94,808	95,523	93,832	91,934	90,671	-4·4
Salop	67,020	68,524	69,980	70,694	71,171	+6·2
Somerset	66,910	67,827	68,735	68,963	69,071	+3·2
Staffordshire	191,634	193,919	195,998	195,589	194,488	+1·5
Suffolk	97,197	99,450	100,817	101,638	102,074	+5·0
Surrey	158,825	160,944	159,249	157,340	154,329	-2·8
Warwickshire	89,759	91,202	91,839	91,151	90,041	+0·3
West Sussex	99,216	99,928	100,337	100,694	100,614	+1·4
Wiltshire	96,306	96,908	96,892	95,707	94,751	-1·6
England	8,517,843	8,592,751	8,617,088	8,541,860	8,438,920	-0·9

Social Services

Secure Accommodation

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications the North-West children's regional planning committee has received from local authorities requiring assistance in placing young offenders in secure accommodation.

This information is not held by the Department. I suggest that my hon. Friend approaches the North-West children's regional planning committee. The address is:

Danlee Buildings
(3rd Floor)
53 Spring Gardens
Manchester
M2 2BY

Children's Homes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what form of registration, regulation and inspection is carried out on private children's homes which accommodate children in the care of local authorities.

Private children's homes which accommodate children in the care of local authorities are not required either to register or to comply with regulations. However, through local knowledge and contacts, the Department knows most of these homes. Officers of the Department inspect the homes from time to time under section 58(1)(c) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.

Psychiatric Teaching

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve the teaching of psychiatric expertise to doctors undergoing vocational training.

The content of particular programmes of vocational training is a matter for individual doctors or for local organisers of general practice training. However, psychiatry is prescribed as one of the specialties in which experience qualifies a general practitioner to draw the vocational training allowance and is one of the specialties prescribed in the National Health Service (Vocational Training) Regulations 1979.

Ethnic Minorities (Ante-Natal Care)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement as to the availability of the provision of special facilities to improve the ante-natal care being provided and taken up by ethnic minorities.

It is very important that services for ante-natal care are improved, and that all women—including those in ethnic minorities—are encouraged to make use of them early and regularly during their pregnancy. The needs of particular ethnic minorities are however not the same everywhere, and it is for health authorities to decide what measures are needed locally. They were reminded of this in the Department's planning guidelines for 1978–79.

Insurance Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much in total his Department will pay in insurance during the current financial year; and if he will publish a functional breakdown of the total amount.

It is long-established Government policy not to pay a commercial insurance premium unless there is a statutory or contractual obligation or a particular advantage—such as specialist services—over and above the possible receipt of compensation for loss. In the latter connection, this Department will pay insurance premiums estimated to total £940,000 in the current financial year relating to invalid vehicles and cars for the disabled, of which £139,000 is estimated to be recoverable from other Government Departments.

New Commonwealth And Pakistani Children

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of children born to women born in the United Kingdom of New Commonwealth and Pakistan ethnic origin, excluding those of mixed descent, in the childbearing age group 15 to 44 years in the years 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1991.

There is little evidence on the fertility of women of NCWP origin born in this country. However, assumptions about their rates of fertility and rates of intermarriage with the indigenous population were made in an article entitled "Population of New Commonwealth and Pakistani ethnic origin: new projections", published in Population Trends No. 16. Within the total numbers in those projections the numbers of children of wholly NCWP origin born to mothers who themselves had been born in Great Britain were, in broad terms, 10,000 by 1976, 40,000 by 1981, 110,000 by 1986 and 220,000 by 1991.

Rampton Hospital Patients (Police Inquiries)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients at Rampton hospital from the villa wards have given evidence to the police; and how many of these have subsequently been transferred back to block wards.

Neither the Department nor Rampton hospital has kept records of the patients who have given evidence to the police.

Surgical Waiting Lists (Ince)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for operations in the various specialties at the hospitals which cater for the Ince constituency, giving in each case (a) the name of the hospital; and (b) how the average waiting time compares with the regional and national average for each specialty.

The information requested is not available centrally.

Skelmersdale Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the fact that the proposed new Skelmersdale hospital has again been put back from 1981–82 until 1989, despite the urgent need for a hospital in the area, he will now make available the necessary funds to build the hospital.

No. It is for the North-Western regional health authority to determine their priorities for capital developments, within the resources available.

Supplementary Benefit Recipients (Home Help Service)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities impose a charge for the home help service on clients receiving supplementary benefits.

Detailed information about the policies of individual local authorities on charges for the home help service is not available centrally.

Depo Provera

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, having regard to the findings printed in the Lancet on 5 November 1977 by Dr. Parveen et al concerning the use of medroxyprogesterone acetate, Depo Provera, in Bangladesh, and in view of the fact that any irregularities in the menstrual cycles of women of both Muslim and Hindu faiths can have serious effects on both their social and religious activities, he will ask the Committee on Safety of Medicines to review the advice which it gives to doctors explaining the possible adverse side effects when prescribing the drug to women of these religions.

Menstrual irregularities are a recognised side effect of treatment with Depo Provera and are identified as such in the product data sheet. I would normally expect a doctor to discuss the possible side effects of treatment with his patient, but this is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctors concerned, bearing in mind all the circumstances of each patient.

Pensioners

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list (a) the number of pensioners claiming additional pensions under the 1975 Act, (b) what percentage this figure is of all pensioners and (c) the average value of an additional pension.

In November 1979, the latest date for which figures are available, about 90,000 retirement pensioners were entitled to an earnings-related additional component under the provisions of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975. This figure represents about one per cent. of all contributory retirement pensioners, excluding those who were only entitled to a graduated retirement pension.The average entitlement to an additional component was about 70p a week but the average amount in payment was less than this. This is because some 50,500 of the pensioners referred to above were previously in contracted-out employment and entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension payable by an occupational pension scheme which reduced the amount of additional component in payment. In about 9,000 of these cases, no additional component was payable because the guaranteed minimum pension equalled or exceeded it.At the same date, about 3,500 recipients of widow's benefit (including widowed mother's allowance) were entitled to an additional component. This represents about 0·75 per cent. of all recipients of widow's benefit.The average entitlement to an additional component was about 82p a week but the average amount of additional component in payment was less than this because some 2,300 of these widows were entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension which reduced the amount of the additional component actually in payment.The number of invalidity pensioners entitled to an additional component is not available.

Ethnic Population

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out in detail the evidence that he has that the rate of increase of the non-United Kingdom ethnic population is likely to decrease.

The evidence is set out in articles in Population Trends.

1. "Population of New Commonwealth and Pakistani ethnic origin—new projections" (Population Trends 16) gave details of the assumptions in the projections and the reasons for them.

2. "Marriage and birth patterns among the population of New Commonwealth and Pakistani ethnic origin" (Population Trends 11) gave further details of patterns in fertility.

3. "New Commonwealth and Pakistani population estimates" (Population Trends 9) gave details of the age structure of the NCWP population. This is an important factor affecting the future size of the population.

Copies of Population Trends are available in the Library.

Family Income

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the peak value of child support, child tax allowances, family allowances and child benefit in the post-war period, and the year in which this occurred, together with the comparable data for each year since 1974.

I refer the hon. Member to table 5·9 of the Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions dated May 1980, which is available in the Library. The table gives values of child support to a basic rate taxpayer. The corresponding figures for April 1980 are: cash values—(a) one-child family £4, (b) three-child family £12; and November 1979 equivalent values £365 and £10.94 respectively.

Fluoride

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the measures which are taken to protect the public against taking too high a percentage of fluoride into the body as a result of fluoride-treated toothpaste being sold and used in areas where artificially fluoridated treated public water supplies already exist.

No ill-effects on health have been reported from this cause and I am not aware that any are likely to arise. The fluoride content of toothpaste in controlled under part II of schedule 2 to the Cosmetic Products Regulations 1978 (S.I. 1978 No. 1354) and I understand that toothpaste manufacturers in this country produce toothpaste with considerably lower levels of fluoride than these regulations permit.

Adult Attendance Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the 1978–79 figures for adult attendance allowance at the higher and the lower rate for all regions of England, Wales and Scotland, expressing these as a rate per thousand population for the following: (a) numbers claiming attendance allowance, (b) numbers receiving attendance allowance, (c) numbers of appeals and (d) number of successful appeals.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1980, c. 230]: Since claims are made for the allowance and not for a particular rate, it is not possible to split the figures between lower and higher rates

NEW CLAIMS IN 1979
ADULTS
Region	Number of claims	Rate per thousand population^*
Northern	7,943	3·36
Yorkshire and Humberside	11,720	3·15
North-West	17,464	3·54
East Midlands and East Anglia	12,086	2·83
West Midlands	11,484	2·95
South-East	31,717	2·43
South-West	12,015	3·60
England	104,429	2·94
Scotland	10,773	2·76
Wales	12,345	5·81
Great Britain	127,547	3·07
^* Population—Mid 1978 Estimates.

ADULTS RECEIVING ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 1979^*
	Higher rate		Lower rate		Total
Region	Number in receipt	Rate per thousand population†	Number in receipt	Rate per thousand population†	Number in receipt	Rate per thousand population†
Northern	6,124	2·59	8,542	3·61	14,666	6·20
Yorkshire and Humberside	8,071	2·17	12,272	3·30	20,343	5·48
North-West	14,323	2·90	19,412	3·94	33,735	6·84
East Midlands and East Anglia	11,133	2·61	12,415	2·91	23,548	5·52
West Midlands	9,724	2·49	12,650	3·25	22,374	5·74
South-East	32,837	2·52	42,174	3·23	75,011	5·75
South-West	10,275	3·08	13,244	3·96	23,519	7·04
England	92,487	2·60	120,709	3·40	213,196	6·00
Scotland	8,809	2·26	12,227	3·13	21,036	5·39
Wales	10,273	4·84	10,821	5·09	21,094	9·93
Great Britain	111,569	2·68	143,757	3·46	255,326	6·14
^* Estimates, based on sample exercise.
† Population—Mid 1978 estimates.

APPLICATIONS FOR REVIEW AND NUMBER SUCCESSFUL IN 1979
Region	Applications for review	Rate per thousand population^*	Successful reviews	Rate per thousand population^*
Northern	1,256	0·41	893	0·29
Yorkshire and Humberside	1,514	0·31	1,104	0·23
North-West	2,458	0·38	1,832	0·28
East Midlands and East Anglia	1,363	0·24	1,004	0·18
West Midlands	1,393	0·27	998	0·19
South-East	3,786	0·22	2,979	0·18
South-West	1,511	0·35	1,143	0·27
England	13,281	0·29	9,953	0·21
Scotland	1,552	0·30	1,144	0·22
Wales	1,978	0·71	1,439	0·52
Great Britain	16,811	0·31	12,536	0·23
^* Population—Mid 1978 estimates.

Environment

One-Parent Families (Inner London)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the number of one-parent families in inner London boroughs in general and in Islington in particular is

except for those receiving the allowance. Reference is made to reviews rather than appeals because further consideration of the medical questions, following their initial determination, is by way of review.

taken into account in deciding the allocation of resources for which his Department is responsible.

The proportion of the needs element grant which in 1980–81 is distributed by reference to this factor is 9·9 per cent. for Islington and 11·5 per cent. for the whole of inner London.

Rent Arrears

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report those councils using distress or distraint as a method of securing rent arrears.

In the year ending 31 March 1978, the latest for which information is available, the following local authorities issued five or more notices of distress per 1,000 dwellings:

DISTRICT COUNCILS

^*Aylesbury Vale
^*Babergh
^*Basildon
^*Beaconsfield
Berwick on Tweed
^*Blyth Valley
^*Braintree
^*Breckland
^*Brentwood
^*Burnley
^*Cambridge
^*Carmarthen
^*Carrick
^*Castle Point
^*Ceredigion
Charnwood
^*Chichester
Christchurch
^*Cleethorpes
^*Copeland
^*Craven
^*Darlington
Daventry
^*East Hants
^*East Herts
^*Easington
East Northants
East Staffs
^*Fareham
^*Gillingham
^*Great Yarmouth
^*Guildford
^*Harlow
^*Harrogate
^*Hastings
^*Horsham
Kettering
Lewes
^*Luton
^*Macclesfield
Malvern
^*Mid Sussex
Milton Keynes
^*Monmouth
^*Montgomery
New Forest
^*North Beds
North Cornwall
^*North Dorset
^*N.W. Leics
Nottingham
^*Pendle
^*Penwith
^*Portsmouth
^*Preseli
Richmondshire

Rochford
St. Albans
^*Slough
^*Southampton
South Beds
^*Southend-on-Sea
^*South Hams
^*South Cambs
^*Shepway
^*South Northants
^*South Herefordshire
^*South Lakeland
^*South Wight
^*Stratford-on-Avon
^*Suffolk Coastal
^*Tandridge
^*Test Valley
Thamesdown
^*Tunbridge Wells
^*Vale of Glamorgan
^*Warwick
^*Wear Valley
^*Welwyn-Hatfield
West Wilts
^*West Norfolk
^*Winchester
^*Windsor & Maidenhead
Worthing
^*Wychavon
^*Wycombe

LONDON BOROUGHS

^*Barking
^*Bromley
Croydon
Ealing
^*Harrow
^*Lewisham
^*Merton
^*Redbridge

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCILS

Bradford
^*Calderdale
^*Doncaster
^*Dudley
^*Gateshead
^*Newcastle-upon-Tyne
^*North Tyneside
^*Rotherham
^*Sunderland

Authorities marked with an asterisk are those which distrained goods on any occasion during that year.

Local Government Manpower

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the saving in public expenditure if local government staffs were cut by 100,000, taking into account accommodation, administrative and other costs as well as salaries and pensions.

Depending on the terms under which the local government work force were to be reduced, the type of staff involved and their length of service, I would expect a reduction of this order to lead to savings in England and Wales in the range £650 million to £750 million—1980 survey prices—in a full year. This calculation takes no account of any redundancy costs which might arise in achieving such a reduction in manpower.

Lead Concentrations

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are being taken to supplement and implement the report of the Lawther working party to identify and deal with locations and areas where high concentrations of the metal lead are suspected; and what financial support the Government intend to make available to implement the working party's recommendations such as the replacement of lead in water pipes and storage facilities.

The Government are considering all the recommendations of the working party on lead in the environment, and will announce their conclusions as soon as possible.

Gipsy Children

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish the results of his Department's surveys of gipsy children referred to in his written answer on 24 July 1979.

Summaries of the biannual count of gipsies are placed in the Library. However, no overall summary of gipsy children is produced as these figures are always incomplete. I am ready to provide whatever specific information we have.

Rate Support Grant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the total rate support grant, both district and county added together, compare per head of the population in: Lambeth, Manchester, Liverpool, Winchester, Northampton and Ludlow.

The estimated final allocations of rate support grant per head of population payable in respect of these authorities for 1980–81, including in the case of each non-metropolitan district the needs element per head payable to the council of the county in which it is situated, are:

	£/head
Lambeth	232
Manchester	269
Liverpool	268
Winchester	155
Northampton	133
South Shropshire	214

Ludlow is located within the area of the district of South Shropshire.The needs element grant paid to the London boroughs takes account of the services provided by the GLC, including ILEA, and the Metropolitan Police; and the needs element paid to metropolitan districts takes account of services provided by the county.

Bricks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many bricks were manufactured in the United Kingdom in each month of the current year up to the latest date for which figures are available.

The number of bricks produced in Great Britain in 1980 is given below. Figures for Northern Ireland are not available.

Month	No. of Bricks millions
January	414
February	409
March	427
April	393
May (P)	400
(P) Provisional

Construction Industry

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, in percentage terms of the total number of employees, the number of apprentices employed in direct labour departments and in the private building sector.

In October 1978, 7·6 per cent. of private contractor's operatives in Great Britain and 5·5 per cent. of local authorities' direct labour operatives were trainees.

Timber-Framed Houses

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of houses were constructed in England and Wales in 1979 with timber frames; and how he estimates this proportion to vary in the current year and in 1981.

Comprehensive information about the construction of timber frame dwellings is not available to this Department. However, 3,571 industrialised timber frame dwellings are known to have been completed by local authorities and new towns in England and Wales during 1979, representing around 5 per cent. of total activity by these authorities.

Fluoridation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any local authorities have been indemnified by the Government as a result of legal actions on the grounds of ill health caused by the artificial fluoridation of the public water supplies; and if so, how many.

All water authorities that undertake fluoridation agreements with an area health authority are indemnified by the Department of Health and Social Security. I know of no legal action against a water authority on grounds of ill health caused by fluoridation.

House Building

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses and flats were started in each month since May 1979; what is his Department's estimate for the levels of building for each month for the rest of the current year; and if he will make a statement.

Starts each month between May 1979 and May this year were as follows:

1979
May	…	…	…	…	16,683
June	…	…	…	…	21,985
July	…	…	…	…	19,659
August	…	…	…	…	15,497
September		…	…	…	17,472
October	…	…	…	…	18,117
November		…	…	…	17,009
December		…	…	…	12,434
1980
January	…	…	…	…	10,990
February		…	…	…	8,992
March	…	…	…	…	9,923
April	…	…	…	…	12,773
May	…	…	…	…	14,279

On the second part of the question I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) on 4 June 1980.—[Vol. 985. c. 748.]

Public Houses (Rents)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to restrain brewery companies from arbitrarily increasing the rents of tenants of public houses or increasing the proportion they take of the profits of fruit machines; or if, alternatively, he will seek to establish arrangements whereby aggrieved tenants can seek redress.

No. These matters are best resolved by voluntary arrangements between the interests involved.

Radioactive Emissions

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department has made to international discussions of the need to review the level of permissible discharges into the environment from nuclear power stations.

Authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 for the discharge of radioactive waste are based on the International Commission on Radiation Protection's recommended system of dose limitation. The conditions and limitations contained in the authorisations are designed to ensure that man is not exposed to harmful levels of radioactivity. The United Kingdom plays a full part in all international discussions under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the OECD's Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) relating to radioactive waste.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies are being undertaken by his Department of emissions of radiation which escape from plant containment into the atmosphere.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has a comprehensive programme of research on the behaviour of various radionuclides in the marine and terrestrial environments. This Department's complementary research programme includes support for studies aimed at improving our understanding of biological, chemical and physical transfer processes to man.Regular studies of the distribution of radionuclides resulting from routine emissions are undertaken by the regulatory authorities, including this Department, and by the operators. In the rare event of an unplanned release of radioactivity, the effect on the environment would be closely monitored and studied by the operator and the appropriate regulatory authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the permitted levels of radiation being discharged from nuclear power stations into the environment.

All discharges of radioactive waste from nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom must be authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Discharges are kept under continuous review to ensure that they remain well within authorised limits.Authorisations for discharges to the atmosphere are currently being revised to specify individual limits for significant radionuclides.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that emissions of low-level radiation from nuclear power stations are adequately monitored by his Department.

Yes, Authorisations for the disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear power stations granted under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 include conditions which enable the appropriate Minister to require the operator of the nuclear installation to carry out monitoring and to take samples. The results are reported to this Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which also carries out independent check monitoring. The Department publishes an "Annual Survey of Radioactive Discharges in Great Britain" and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publishes annual reports on the levels of radioactivity in the surface and coastal waters of the British Isles.

Boundary Changes(North Wiltshire)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to lay an order to give effect to the Local Government Boundary Commission's recommendations relating to boundary changes between North Wiltshire district and Thamesdown borough.

I hope to do so shortly.

Housing Subsidies

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue a further consultation paper on the new housing subsidy system.

I am issuing a further consultation paper today to the local authority associations, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House. The paper covers the following aspects of the new subsidy system:

1. Reduction of subsidy on disposal;

2. Treatment for subsidy purposes of undeveloped land;

3. Calculation of number of dwellings: treatment of vacant dwellings ("voids");

4. Recovery of past payments of subsidy in certain circumstances;

5. Shared ownership;

6. Acquisition of dwellings from defaulting mortgagors.

Transport

Vehicle Licensing Offices

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now reached decisions on the future network of local vehicle licensing offices.

Over the next two years virtually all relicensing work will be transferred to an increased number of post offices. This means that I will not need as many local licensing offices. By early 1982 I plan to reduce the present network from 81 to 53 and to make worthwhile staff savings in the remaining offices. About 1,000 Civil Service posts will no longer be needed. Local offices will continue to play an important role in my attack on evasion, and will retain responsibility for first registration and licensing and for licensing heavy goods vehicles. The offices which are to close

LIST OF LVLOs BY AREA
Area					LVLOs to be retained	LVLOs to be closed
Eastern England	…	…	…	…	Chelmsford	Cambridge
					Ipswich
					Luton
					Northampton
					Norwich
					Peterborough
South-West England	…	…	…	…	Bristol	Barnstaple
					Exeter	Plymouth
					Gloucester
					Swindon
					Taunton
					Truro
Southern England	…	…	…	…	Bournemouth	Newport I.O.W.
					Bcenteron	Salisbury
					Guildford
					Oxford
					Portsmouth
					Reading
South-East England	…	…	…	…	London Central	Canterbury
					London North-East	Hastings
					London North-West
					London South-East
					London South-West
					Maidstone
North-West England	…	…	…	…	Carlisle	Barrow-in-Furness
					Liverpool	Bolton
					Manchester	Kendal
					Preston	Warrington
North-East England	…	…	…	…	Huddersfield	Durham
					Kingston upon Hull	York
					Leeds
					Middlesbrough
					Newcastle upon Tyne
					Sheffield
Midlands	…	…	…	…	Birmingham	Boston
					Coventry	Grimsby
					Dudley
					Leicester
					Lincoln
					Nottingham
					Stoke-on-Trent
Scotland	…	…	…	…	Aberdeen	Ayr
					Dundee	Dumfries
					Edinburgh	Keith
					Glasgow	Kirkwall
					Inverness	Lerwick
						Oban
						Selkirk
						Stirling
						Stornoway
						Stranraer
						Wick
Wales and Borders	…	…	…	…	Bangor	Aberystwyth
					Cardiff	Hereford
					Chester
					Haverfordwest
					Shrewsbury
					Swansea
					Worcester

British Railways Board

asked the Minister of Transport if he will appoint a board member to the British Railways Board with specific responsibility for re-

and those to remain open are in the attached list.

viewing and selling land and property surplus to the board's immediate requirements.

It is primarily for the chairman to determine the particular functions of members of the British Railways Board, but one already has responsibility for land and property.

Insurance Costs

asked the Minister of Transport how much in total his Department will pay in insurance during the current financial year; and if he will publish a functional breakdown of the total amount.

It is long-established Government policy not to pay a commercial insurance premium unless there is a statutory or contractual obligation or a particular advantage—such as specialist services—over and above the possible receipt of compensation for loss. For this reason, my Department's expenditure under this head is negligible—amounting to only £60 for the current financial year. This is in connection with the vehicle and component type approval scheme.

British Transport Hotels

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the event of a decision to sell all or some of the British Transport hotels, he will give the trustees of British Railways' pension funds the opportunity of purchasing all or part of these for leasing back to British Railways.

I have no plans to do so.

Transport Systems(Fuel Efficiency)

asked the Minister of Transport if the investment in the publicly-owned rail, road haulage and bus systems is correlated to their fuel efficiency, as planned at the Venice summit.

There is no necessary connection between the fuel efficiency of the various transport modes and their general level of performance or the contribution they make towards meeting transport needs. A correlation of the kind suggested in the hon. Member's question would not be an appropriate way of determining investment levels; nor is the need for such a correlation implied in the declaration of the Venice Summit.

M54 Motorway (Compulsorypurchase Orders Inquiry)

asked the Minister of Transport when he will be able to announce the result of the public inquiry held into the side roads orders and compulsory purchase orders on the route of the M54 motorway nearly a year ago.

I hope that it will be possible to announce a decision shortly.

Defence

Offshore Patrol Vessels

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the contract for the two offshore patrol vessels to be built at Hall Russell shipyard in Aberdeen.

As announced on 5 March, contract negotiations have proceeded and we hope to place an order with Hall Russell of Aberdeen shortly.

Propellants, Explosives Androcket Motor Establishment

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce a decision on the future of the Propellants, Explosives and Rocket Motor Establishment at Westcott.

The Propellants, Explosives and Rocket Motor Establishment was included in the major review of the functions of the R & D establishments described in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates" (Cmnd. 7826, para 748). The report of the review is now being considered, and consultation with staff interests and others concerned will follow as soon as possible. I am not yet, therefore, in a position to make a statement.

Parachute Assault Capability

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he is currently considering for the restoration of a parachute assault capability to enable United Kingdom Forces to operate outside the NATO area; what is the approximate cost involved; and when a decision is likely to be announced.

The restoration of a limited assault parachute capability is one of a number of possible enhancements, attainable at modest cost, to the ability of existing United Kingdom forces to operate world-wide which is currently under consideration. No decision has yet been reached on the implementation of these measures.

Naval Contracts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many orders were placed in British shipyards for naval contracts over the past three years to the latest available date; which shipyards have received the orders; and what prices have been paid.

Since July 1977 the following major naval orders have been placed with British shipyards:

1 ASW Carrier	Swans
3 Trafalgar Class Nuclear Submarines	Vickers
3 Type 22 Frigates	Yarrows
1 Type 42 Destroyer	Vickers
1 Type 42 Destroyer	Vospers
1 Type 42 Destroyer	Cammells
1 Type 42 Destroyer	Swans
5 Mine Counter-Measures Vessels	Vospers
2 Mine Counter-Measures Vessels	Yarrows
2 Offshore Patrol Vessels	Hall Russell
1 Seabed Operations Vessel	Scotts
1 Naval Armament Coaster	Appledore

It is not our practice to give individual contract prices. However totals for the financial years up to 1979–80 at prevailing prices are as follows: July 1977–March 1978: £110 million. Financial year 1978–79: £291 million. Financial year 1979–80: £355 million.

Territorial Army (Scotland)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army members there were in Scotland for the year 1978–79 and the first six months of the current year.

On 31 March 1978 there were 7,602 TA volunteers in Scotland. This number decreased to 7,358 by 31 March 1979, but by 31 March 1980—the latest figure available—had risen to 7,756. Since 31 July last year there has been a net increase in strength of around 600.

Civil Service

Parliamentary Boundary Commissions

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how the programmes of work of the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England and Wales differ in 1980–81 compared with 1979–80 sufficiently to justify an increase of 20 per cent. in the complement of staff and an increase of 90 per cent. in terms of financial expenditure.

I have been asked to reply.The Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Wales did not meet or incur expenditure in the financial year 1979–80, but is expected to begin its general review of parliamentary constituencies in 1980–81.The Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England expects to hold about twice as many local inquiries in 1980–81 as it did in 1979–80. In addition, the cost of each inquiry has increased, mainly because of increases in the level of fees payable to assistant commissioners.

Agriculture, Fisheriesand Food

Tomatoes

31.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current costs of production of tomatoes in each European Economic Community country; and how these relate to the market price in each case.

Information on current production costs for tomatoes in other member States is not available.

White Fish Authority And Herring Industry Board

32.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to issue his promised consultative document concerning the setting up of a new statutory body to replace the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board.

The document was issued on 16 June. I shall send the hon. Member a copy.

Licensed Premises(Tenancy Agreements)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received that the arrangements for voluntary arbitration to regulate tenancy agreements in the licensed trade are ineffective and that brewery companies are imposing unilateral revisions of agreements without redress for the tenants thus affected; and if he will make a statement.

The only representations that have been received on the voluntary arbitration arrangements have come from the center hon. Member himself. The code of practice on tenants' security drawn up by the Brewers' Society should operate satisfactorily, and I will take up with it the case which has concerned the center hon. Member.

British Lions Tour

asked the Prime Minister how many appeals she has sent to the British Lions to abandon their tour of South Africa.

The requests were made before the Lions left Britain, when the Government asked them not to go ahead with their tour. No appeals have been made since the tour began.

Energy

Oil-Saving Investment

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has for encouraging oil-saving investment in residential and commercial buildings.

I am satisfied that the Government's approach to energy conservation—realistic energy prices reinforced by a strong information and advice campaign—will result in consumers taking the necessary steps, including investment where appropriate, to ensure that all forms of energy, including oil, are used as efficiently as possible. This approach is already having an effect: oil consumption in the first quarter of 1980 was, after allowing for warmer weather, 10 per cent. down on the corresponding period in 1979. The Government's policy is also consistent with the declaration with the Venice Summit.

British Gas Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the details of his proposed excess profits levy on the British Gas Corporation.

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

European Community (Energy Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 27 June, c. 365, he will seek to obtain more up-to-date information on comparative fuel prices within the European Economic Community than that published by him in the Official Report; and if he will publish any more recent figures for individual countries of the European Economic Community which he has available.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 July 1980, c. 45]: The figures given in my previous reply—[Vol. 987, c. 365]—are the most up-to-date published information on all fuels in each European Economic Community country.A recent unpublished report from the Commission gives fuel prices for typical domestic and industrial consumers at 1 January 1979 and 1 January 1980. The following table shows figures for the later date except in the case of electricity, where only those for the earlier date are provided.The difficulties encountered in international price comparisons noted in my previous reply apply equally to the figures presented here. In addition, in the following table it is unlikely that the same method of estimating prices has been used in each country—for example, some prices are based upon tariffs while others result from surveys of actual prices paid by consumers. We are considering whether any steps can be taken to provide soundly based, more up-to-date information.

CONSUMER FUEL PRICES IN EEC COUNTRIES
(After Tax, 1 January 1980)^*
EUA
		Domestic				Industrial
Country	Premium Gasoline	Domestic Heating Oil	Coal pithead	Natural Gas	Electricity^*	Heavy Fuel Oil	Industrial Industrial Steam Coal	Electricity
	(per 1,000 litres)	(per 1,000 litres)	(per ton)	(per Gigajoule)	(per 100 Kwh)	(per tonne)	(per tonne)†	(per 100 Kwh)
Belgium	531	230	129	4·95	7·97	119	80	5·06
Denmark	509	285	N.A.	11·42	5·35	172	28	4·09
Germany	431	255	125	N.A.	8·09	136	83	4·96
France	565	244	136	5·95	6·36	139	80	4·34
Ireland	400	201	N.A.	N.A.	3·51	156	N.A.	3·10
Italy	566	245	N.A.	N.A.	5·99	134	29	3·71
Netherlands	492	231	N.A.	3·80	6·80	120	38	4·92
United Kingdom	408	201	79	2·69	4·30	136	53	3·10
^* Prices for Electricity are as at 1 January 1979.
† At pithead or cif at port of entry.

Research (International Comparisons)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a table showing the total amount spent on research into all forms of energy by the Government in the United Kingdom, giving in each case the amount spent on each source, and sums spent on similar research, together with comparative figures, for the United States of America, Germany, France and Japan.

A table of estimated expenditure by Governments in 1979 on energy R and D for all member States of the International Energy Agency has already been published in a recent OECD document "Energy Research, Development and Demonstration in the IEA Countries—1979 Review of National Programmes". Included in this document are details of the expenditure in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Germany and Japan and the amount spent on individual sources is given in each case. This document has been placed in the Library of the House.The equivalent information for 1979 is not available for France, but similar figures for France for 1978 are available in the European Communities Publication "Inventory of 1976–1978 energy research, development and demonstration programmes and expenditures of the Member States and the European Communities" (Doc. No. XII/ 1000/79-EN) This document is also in the Library of the House.

Trawsfynydd Power Station (Nuclear Incident)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the Central Electricity Generating Board informed his Department of a nuclear incident at Trawsfynydd power station during the last 10 days; if he will undertake a full departmental inquiry into all circumstances surrounding this incident; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed that moisture was discovered in the coolant circuit of reactor 1 of the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station on 25 June, when the reactor was being brought back to power after a grid disturbance had caused an automatic shutdown the previous day. The reactor was again shut down, and the moisture traced to a leaking boiler tube. The boiler affected has been isolated, and the moisture is being removed from the coolant circuit by circulating dry gas.I understand that the Nuclear installations Inspectorate considers that there is no hazard to safety or health from the leak or the remedial action, and that there has been no incident of a nature which is required to be reported under the arrangements relating to nuclear installations.

Nuclear Incidents

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many incidents at nuclear power stations and other nuclear installations have been reported to his Department in each year since 1974; and if he will indicate in the Official Report the names of the stations with a brief summary of the nature of each incident;(2) what is his Department's definition of an incident at a nuclear power station which, under guidelines produced by his Department, should be reported to him.

Arrangements exist under which the Secretary of State is notified by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate (NII) of incidents at nuclear power stations in England and Wales reported to the Inspectorate in accordance with the following arrangements.Three kinds of occurrence are reportable to the NII:

(a) serious incidents as defined in the Nuclear Installations (Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations Act 1965 namely:

any release of radioactivity or toxic substances causing or likely to cause death or serious injury;
any uncontrolled criticality excursion;
any explosion or fire likely to affect safety;
any occurrence during the transport of nuclear matter which is likely to cause death or injury from radioactivity, or the breaking open of a container of nuclear matter.

(b) under site licence conditions, occurrences involving exposure to radiation above prescribed limits and wherever inspection or testing reveals that the safe operation and condition of plant may be affected.

These categories of occurrences cover all incidents likely to be significant for safety.

In addition, from 1977, operators have been asked to report minor incidents of lesser significance, involving unusual occurrences with possible implications for radiation control not already covered by the arrangements described in paragraph 2.

Two occurrences have been reported since 1974 under the Dangerous Occurrences Regulations Act 1965. Both involved the release of carbon choxide, the reactor coolant gas, which is a toxic substance. The first was at Wylfa power station on 8 June 1976, the second at Dungeness power station on 19 October 1976. In neither case did the occurrence result in injury to anybody on, or off, the site.

All incidents at nuclear power stations and other nuclear installations reported from 1977 are described in the Quarterly Summaries of Incidents at Nuclear Installations published by the HSE. Copies of these summaries are available in the Library of the House.

I am arranging to put in the Library a note setting out incidents reported between 1974 and 1977.

Nuclear Power Stations(Radioactive Exposure)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his Department's view of the present level of permissible exposure for employees at nuclear power stations to low-level radioactivity; and whether he will review these limits.

Annual levels of permissible exposure to radiation in the United Kingdom are set by reference to the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. These levels are endorsed in this country by the National Radiological Protection Board, and are reflected in the conditions attached to nuclear site licences issued by the Health and Safety Executive. I am advised that radiological protection standards are kept under continuing review. I am satisfied with these arrangements.

Northern Ireland

Insurance Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much in total his Department will pay in insurance during the current financial year; and if he will publish a functional breakdown of the total amount.

The Northern Ireland Office itself does not effect commercial insurance. However on the assumption of direct rule it was agreed by Her Majesty's Treasury that in the special circumstances in Northern Ireland there was an advantage in continuing the previous practice whereby Northern Ireland Departments took out commerical insurance against certain risks.The net charge to public funds during the current financial year will amount to approximately £1,865,000.A functional breakdown is as follows:

	£
	(thousands)
(1) Employment and Public Liability Premiums	983
(2) Motor Insurance, Third Party	589
(3) Engineering Insurance	189
(4) Department of Commerce Factories (Fire and Special Perils)	776
(5) Miscellaneous	28
	2,565
Less recoveries of premiums from DOC factory tenants	700
	1,865

Act Of Settlement

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his meeting with Mr. Thomas Orr, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, on 7 May, with direct reference to discussions of that meeting concerning the Act of Settlement.

I met representatives of the Imperial Grand Orange Council, including Mr. Orr, at Stormont Castle on 7 May 1980. We discussed a range of topics. In response to a question about the Act of Settlement, I said that I knew of no constitutional changes in the offing.

Industry

Merseyside

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what assistance he is giving to the shipbuilding and ship reparing facilities on Merseyside; and if he envisages any expansion or contraction of these facilities.

The measures which the Government are taking to help the shipbuilding and ship repair industries were set out in the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 23 July 1979. The future of individual yards depends on their success in winning new orders on acceptable financial terms. The Ministry of Defence has announced that it will be chartering a new fleet oiler to be built at Cammell Laird subject to the negotiation of satisfactory terms.

Motor Industry (Output)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, further to his reply dated 15 November 1979 concerning production and exports of cars, he will publish in the Official Report a table showing output per man-year for

	Merchant ^ Registered*	Naval
Ailsa	5	—
Appledore	11	—
Austin and Pickersgill	8	—
Brooke Marine	—	12
Cammell Laird	—	1
Clelands	14	—
Fergusons	4	1
Goole	4	—
Govan (inc Scotstoun Marine)	17	—
Hall Russell	—	6
Lithgows	2	—
Robb-Caledon (Dundee)	4	—
(Leith)	6	—
Scott and Sons (Bowling)	5	—
Scott S/B Co	3	1
Smiths Dock	5	—
Sunderland S/B	12	—
Swan Hunter	9	2
Vickers	—	4
Vosper Thornycroft	—	10
Yarrow	—	9
Total	109	46
^* including Royal Fleet auxiliary vessels registered as merchant vessels.

Source:

British Shipbuilders

Offers of intervention fund assistance to British Shipbuilders amount to £114 million in the same period. Apart from the intervention fund, British Shipbuilders also benefits from other measures or support for shipbuilding such as the home credit scheme and the general financing of the corporation through unremunerated public dividend capital.

each of the countries listed for each year of the nearest available year.

This information is not available.

Hexachlorophene

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list, for each year since 1975, the total amount in tonnes of hexachlorophene manufactured in the United Kingdom.

The information requested is not available.

British Shipbuilders

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the number of orders placed by British Shipbuilders in shipyards to the latest available date; which shipyards have received the orders; and what was the cost.

In the period July 1977 to May 1980 British Shipbuilders received orders for 109 merchant vessels and 46 naval vessels. The distribution of these orders between shipyards was entirely a matter for British Shipbuilders. The orders were placed as follows:

National Finance

Oil Savings

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal and monetary measures are planned to encourage oil saving investment in existing and new, respectively, residential and commercial buildings, as stated in the communiqué following the Venice summit.

I have been asked to reply:I am satisfied that the Government's approach to energy conservation—realistic energy prices reinforced by a strong information and advice campaign—will result in consumers taking the necessary steps, including investment where appropriate, to ensure that all form of energy, including oil, are used as efficiently as possible. This approach is already having an effect: oil consumption in the first quarter of 1980 was, after allowing for warmer weather, 10 per cent. down on the corresponding period in 1979. The Government's policy is also consistent with the declaration with the Venice summit.

Trade

Energy Consumption (Appliance Labelling)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will instruct his Department to carry out a study on the feasibility of labelling appliances as to their energy consumption.

I have been asked to reply.My Department issued a consultative document in March 1980 entitled "Energy Consumption Labelling of Domestic Household Appliances" which invited comments on the conclusions, so far, of its study of energy consumption labelling. Replies are now being analysed Copies of the consultative document are available in the Library.

Volume 988: debated on Thursday 10 July 1980

Written Answers To Questions

Public Records Office

Trade

Aircraft Accidents (Investigation Procedure)

Golf Balls (Imports)

Registry Of Business Names

Paper And Board Products

Sir Freddie Laker

Japanese Cars (Imports)

Northern Ireland

Sports Council

Constitution

Border Security

De Lorean Car Company

Harland And Wolff (Subsidies)

Terrorism

Sport And Recreation

Exports And Imports

Gaelic Athletic Association

Retraining

European Economic Community

National Finance

Attendance Allowances (Taxation Policy)

Export Prices

Capital Investment

Tax Thresholds

European Economic Community (Trade Balance)

Employment

Greater London Council Area (Job Losses)

Tandy Organisation

Textile Industry

Retraining And Training

Fort William Underwater Training Centre

Birmingham

Temporary Short-Time Working Compensation Scheme

Unemployment Statistics

Standard Industrial Classification 1968

One-Parent Families

Doctors

Confectionery Industry

Electronic Engineers

School Leavers (Ince)

Tuc

Prime Minister (Engagements)

The Taoiseach

Anglesey

Yorkshire And Humberside

Child Benefit

Devolution

Employment Bill

Gaelic Athletic Association

Act Of Settlement

British Academy

Brandt Commission

Yalta Memorial

House Of Commons

Official Paid Envelopes

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Hong Kong

Wales

Welsh Language

European Community

Budget Payments

Home Department

Licensing Compensation Funds

Discharged Restricted Patients (Offences)

Cambodian Refugees

Citizens Band Radio

Police Custody (Deaths)

Scientologists

Scotland

Scottish Development Agency

Members Of Public Boards (Public Comments)

Local Authority Expenditure

Population Statistics

Education And Science

School Meals

British Youth Council