asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people under the age of 18 years are currently registered as unemployed in the South Kirklees area; and how does this compare with the numbers for the same period in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

Following is the information for the Huddersfield employment office area, which covers the southern part of the Kirklees metropolitan district:

July 1976	1,030
July 1977	1,108
July 1978	1,079
July 1979	1,158
July 1980	1,827
(provisional)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether representations have been made by the British Gas Corporation to the Health and Safety Executive to reactivate the liquid petroleum gas pipeline from Canvey Island, which was closed down for safety reasons at the time of the Canvey investigation; what reasons have been given for recommissioning the pipeline; and whether he will give an assurance that no approval will be given by the Health and Safety Executive until the local authorities concerned have been consulted and the report of the inspector at the recent public inquiry has been received and studied by the Government.

The British Gas Corporation has approached the Health and Safety Executive about a scheme to supply a peak load liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) /air plant at Beckton from the methane terminal at Canvey. Plants such as this are desigued to augment natural gas with a suitable mixture of LPG and air in such a way that customers' appliances can still operate safely. Natural gas and LPG would be mixed together at Canvey, and the mixture, which would be lighter than air, would be transmitted to Beckton via a gas main.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the figure to which the maximum payment of £3,600 under the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 would have to be increased to maintain its purchasing power at present day prices.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the maximum redundancy payment payable under schedule 14 paragraph 8 (1) (c), of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978, as amended by the Employment Protection (Variation of Limits) Orders 1978 and 1979. This payment is calculated on a weekly earnings limit which is subject to annual review and which was last increased on 1 February 1980 from £110 to £120. Under schedule 4, paragraph 3, of the Act the maximum redundancy payment is for 20 years' service at 1½ weeks' pay subject to the limit of £120, that is £3,600. If the maximum were now to be increased in line with the increase in the retail prices index from February to June 1980 it would rise by 7 per cent. to £3,850. The Government will be reviewing the limits again in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the percentage rate of unemployment in the Leigh travel-to-work area to the latest available date; and what were the figures for May 1979 and August 1979 respectively;(2) what is the percentage rate of unemployment in the St. Helens travel-to-work area to the latest available date; and what were the figures for May 1979 and August 1979, respectively;(3) what is the percentage rate of unemployment in the Irlam employment office area to the latest available date; and what were the figures for May 1979 and August 1979, respectively;(4) what is the percentage rate of unemployment in the Warrington travel-

		May 1979 Per cent	August 1979 Per cent	July 1980* Per cent
Leigh travel-to-work area	…	5·7	6·4	101
St. Helens employment office area	…	7·8	8·9	11·4
Manchester travel-to-work area (which includes the Irlam employment office area)	…	5·2	5·9	7·9
Warrington travel-to-work area (which includes the Newton-le-Willows employment office area	…	5·0	6·7	8·6
* Provisional

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show the total number of Government industrial retraining centre places in each planning region of Great Britain; and if

Region				Number of Skillcentre places	%of workforce	%of unemployed
Scotland	…	…	…	1799	0·09	1·00
Wales	…	…	…	1449	0·14	1·70
Northern	…	…	…	1936	0·15	1·64
North West	…	…	…	2123	0·08	1·07
Yorks and Humbs	…	…	…	1408	0·07	1·20
Midlands	…	…	…	2761	0·07	1·38
South West	…	…	…	1186	0·08	1·27
London and South East (incl. E. Anglia)	…	…	…	5140	0·06	1·72

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost in a full financial year of the Government's "Fit for Work" campaign; how many people have been found work by the campaign; and what is the estimated saving in unemployment and other benefits brought about by their employment.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that during the financial year 1979–80, which included the launch of the campaign, expenditure was £491,214. Expenditure in to-work area and the Newton-le-Willows employment office area to the latest available date; and what were the figures in May 1979 and August 1979, respectively.

The following table gives the available information.Unemployment rates are calculated only for complete travel-to-work areas and employment office areas outside travel-to-work areas. They are not available separately, therefore, for Irlam and Newton-le-Willows which are parts of the Manchester and Warrington travel-to-work areas, respectively.he will express the number of training places as a percentage of both the total insured work force and the total unemployed in each planning region.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as set out below:the current financial year is expected to be in the region of some £170,000.It is not possible to say how many disabled people have been found work as a direct result of the campaign, although the right hon. Member may like to know that the proportion of disabled people among the unemployed population is now somewhat lower than it was when the campaign started in September last year.The campaign is aimed at influencing attitudes towards all aspects of employing disabled people, whether they are seeking work or already in work but whose potential may not be used to the full.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many adults and young people have been unemployed for (a) one year and (b) two years in: (i) Gosport and (ii) the United Kingdom as a whole, giving the figures in numbers and percentages.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled

(i) REGISTERED DISABLED PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED IN GOSPORT
								Total unemployed	Unemployed for more than one year	Unemployed for more than two years
Adults	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	46	10 (21·7%)	6 (13·0%)
Young people	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	—	—
Total	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	46	10 (21·7%)	6 (13·0%)

(ii) REGISTERED DISABLED PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED IN GREAT BRITAIN
							Total unemployed	Unemployed for more than one year	Unemployed for more than two two years
Adults	…	…	…	…	…	…	58971	33701 (57·1%)	23778 (40·3%)
Young people	…	…	…	…	…	…	1049	130 (12·4%)	24 (2·3%)
Total	…	…	…	…	…	…	60020	33831 (56·4%)	23802 (39·6%)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the total unemployed on the basis of the most recent available monthly figures were (a) textile workers, (b) construction industry workers and (c) construction industry craftsmen; and what were the numbers in each group.

At 8 May, the latest date for which an industrial analysis is available the number of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain whose last employment was in the textiles industries was 34,985, representing 2–4 per cent. of the total unemployed.The corresponding figure for construction comprised 47,122 craftsmen and 142,432 other construction workers. These represented 3–3 and 9–9 per cent. respectively of the total unemployed.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is not available in precisely the form requested. Statistics relating to duration of unemployment amongst disabled people are currenly available only for adults and young people who are registered as disabled in Great Britain. This information is set out below. Figures are for January 1980, the latest date available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many scaffolders have been recruited so far to the scaffolders record scheme operated by the Construction Industry Training Board; and what was the cost to public funds of enrolling each scaffolder.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to visit the Liverpool inner employment office.

At present my right hon. Friend has no plans to visit either the employment office at Leece Street or the jobcentre at Williamson Square.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent unemployment figures for Merseyside and how these compare with May 1979.

At 10 July 1980 the provisional number registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area was 107,534 compared with 83,371 at 10 May 1979. Both figures include school leavers and are not adjusted for seasonal variation. The July 1980 figure includes a higher proportion of school leavers than the May 1979 total.I am naturally concerned about serious unemployment on Merseyside. Until inflation is brought down increases in unemployment levels are inevitable. In the meantime, Merseyside is retaining its special development area status so that employers setting up there and creating new jobs will be entitled to the highest level of assistance available under the Industry Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the last number of unemployed school leavers in the Liverpool travel-to-work area; and what are the figures as a percentage.

								July 1980 (provisional)	May 1979
Liverpool travel-to-work area
At employment offices	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,214	2,406
At careers offices	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	6	71
Merseyside Special Development Area
At employment offices	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,994	4,019
At careers offices	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	44	152

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of unemployed young people on Merseyside at the latest date; and what these figures are as a percentage of the total.

At 10 July the provisional number of young people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area was 30,549. This figure represented 28–4 per cent. of the total unemployed in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many construction workers are registered as unemployed.

At 10 July the provisional number of school leavers under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in the Liverpool travel-to-work area was 8,954, representing 12–7 per cent. of the total unemployed in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what are the numbers of job vacancies for unemployed school leavers in (a) the Liverpool travel-to-work area and (b) Merseyside at the latest date;(2) what are the total numbers of job vacancies on (a) Merseyside and (

The following table gives the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at employment offices and careers offices in the Liverpool travel-to-work area and in the Merseyside special development area at 4 July 1980 and 4 May 1979. The statistics do not distinguish vacancies which are specifically for school leavers. Vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.employed on Merseyside at the latest available date; and how these compare with May 1979.

At 8 May 1980, the latest date for which an industrial analysis of the unemployed is available, the number of people registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area who last worked in the construction industry was 12,440. The corresponding figure at 10 May 1979 was 10,781.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have taken place on Merseyside since May 1979; and if he will list them in the industries concerned.

The information in the form requested is not available. However, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 325 separate instances of redundancies involving 10 or more workers were notified as due to occur in Merseyside between June 1979 and June 1980. The total number of workers affected was 16,987. To analyse the information by industry could be done only at disproportionate public expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans the Government have to seek to reduce unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

In the longer term the measures we are taking to stimulate the economy offer the best hope for improving employment prospects in construction, as in other industries.More immediately, prospects will depend on the industry's response to the various measures the Government is taking to facilitate development. These include:plans to regulate local authority direct labour organisations to restrict unfair competition from the public sector;increased land availability;streamlining of planning and building control procedures;measures to promote home ownership.

	Special Development Area					Numbers unemployed in construction	Percentage of total unemployed
Falmouth and Redruth	…	…	…	…	…	444	10·9
Merseyside	…	…	…	…	…	12,440	13·6
North-East	…	…	…	…	…	15,261	18·0
West Cumberland	…	…	…	…	…	634	12·9
North-East Wales	…	…	…	…	…	1,249	10·1
North-West Wales	…	…	…	…	…	1,142	20·9
South Wales	…	…	…	…	…	3,942	16·2

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish estimates of the percentage unemployment rate among disabled people by adding together his Department's figures for the number of unemployed disabled people both registered and unregistered and expressing this figure as a percentage of his Department's estimates of the number of disabled people in the labour force who

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans the Government have to seek to reduce unemployment among school leavers on Merseyside.

The Government's economic policies are designed to bring down inflation and create an economic climate in which investment and growth will create more jobs. In the meantime, the Government have agreed to expand the youth opportunities programme on Merseyside by 25 per cent. in 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many construction workers are unemployed in the special development areas in England and Wales at the latest date; and if he will give a percentage in each area.

The following table gives for 8 May, the latest date for which an industrial analysis of the unemployed is available, the numbers of people registered as unemployed in the areas specified who last worked in the construction industry and expresses the numbers as percentages of the total unemployed in these areas.have a handicap measurable in financial terms.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many small businesses have notified his Department of closure since May 1979; and how many workers were involved.

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many school leavers are registered as unemployed in the Bolton area; and what was the figure in mid-July 1979;(2) how many registered vacancies for jobs suitable for school leavers there are in the Bolton area; and what was the figure in mid-July 1979.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of the tribunal finding in favour of the test case regarding the 290 employees dismissed from their jobs at St. Fergus gas terminal, he will ensure that they are paid benefit without delay.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for the last three years, the average annual wage for graduates in their first-time employment (a) in all occupations, (b) in the legal profession and (c) in the accountancy profession.

There are no official statistics on the wages either of all graduates in their first-time employment or of graduates in the legal or accountancy professions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate how many people currently in full-time employment receive gross wages of £3–60 per day or less; and if he will state that figure as a percentage of the total number of people in full-time employment.

The evidence from official surveys suggests that there are no full-time employees with gross earnings at a daily rate of £3.60—equivalent to a weekly rate of £18 for a five day week—or less.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the evidence for the statement contained in his answer to an oral question, Official Report, 22 July, column 253, that the ethnic minorities for Birmingham, Handsworth, represent about 50 per cent. of the population.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of total United Kingdom employment was represented by State (public) enterprise including the National Enterprise Board and its subsidiaries in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

Following is the information readily available:

EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC CORPORATIONS AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL EMPLOYED LABOUR FORCE, UNITED KINGDOM AT EACH MID-YEAR
1976	80
1977	8·4
1978	8·3
1979	8·3

Most of the aerospace and shipbuilding industries were nationalised in 1977, resulting in the transfer of about 150,000 employees (0 6 per cent. of the employed labour force) to the public corporations sector from the private sector.The figures include employees of the National Enterprise Board but not its subsidiary companies, which are treated as part of the companies sector in the national accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what detailed steps he is taking to provide alternative employment for those in the Manchester area who lost their jobs between the publication of the last two sets of monthly unemployment figures.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, as derv affects the cost of living, as indicated, if he will include it as a factor for calculating the retail price index.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 July 1980, c. 636]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 22 July.—[Vol. 989, c. 152–53.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to announce the findings of the Manpower Services Commission inquiry into the job creation programme activity in Maryport.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 July 1980, c. 306]: I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secreretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the number of people on short-time working.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 July 1980, c. 409]: During the week ended 19 April 1980, the latest period for which information is available, 156,400 operatives in manufacturing industries in Great Britain were on short-time working, either for the whole or for part of the week.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what tonnage of fish was exported from St. Helena in each of the last 10 years; and what help has been given to improve the fishing industries of the colony.

Prior to 1979, when 64 tonnes were exported, there were no significant exports of fish from St. Helena. Sixty eight tonnes have been exported so far this year. It is anticipated that a further 10 tonnes will be exported by the end of the year. In addition to the help described by my hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) in his reply of 11 Dec- ember 1979—[Vol. 975, c. 561]—the island has also received vehicles to enable it to establish an island-wide fish retail delivery system.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the total value of the aid given by the United Kingdom to Zambia during each of the financial years 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80.

Total gross expenditure on United Kingdom aid to Zambia was:

		£ million
1977–78	1978–79	1979–80 (provisional)
14·414	34·562	34·442

The figure for 1978–79 includes the £20 million payment made from the aid programme in respect of the United Kingdom/Zambia 1978 copper purchase arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the changed circumstances resulting from the 23 per cent. increase in Post Office wages settled within two days of the House setting an example of wage and salary restraint by reducing the proposed independent award to hon. Members to 9.6 per cent., she will now review the situation on Members of Parliament's salaries.

No. Members of this House expressed their views on this subject when they voted on Monday 21 July to increase their pay by 9.6 per cent.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will set up an investigation into the extent of official travel abroad by Ministers and their officials, to ascertain whether, in accordance with the Government's policy of reducing public expenditure, such travel costs can be reduced to the level which obtained in May 1979.

The existing arrangements ensure that official travel abroad by Ministers and their officials is justified.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied that when Welsh people move in search of work there will be adequate housing available for them in the new areas.

We are helping those who need to move for employment reasons through a range of measures in the Housing Bill, including: the introduction of shorthold; the right for public sector tenants to sublet and to take in lodgers; measures to make it easier for owner-occupiers to let part of their homes; a provision to ensure that local authorities can make short-term accommodation available for up to a year to those moving into their areas for employment reasons; a new power for the Government to make a financial contribution to mobility schemes; the right for public sector tenants to buy their homes; measures which will help other first-time buyers, such as shared ownership, improvement for sale, and powers for local authorities to guarantee building society mortgages for the purchase of cheaper properties.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the state of the jute industry in Dundee; and if she will introduce a policy of selective import controls to assist it.

The Dundee jute industry is going through a very difficult phase, and there has been a sharp fall in employment. However, I am well aware of the importance of the industry to the area. Our imports of the most sensitive jute products from India and Bangladesh, the major supplying countries, are already subject to import controls, or to potential controls, under agreements with the European Community.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement regarding discussions on overseas student fees which she recently had with the Foreign Minister of Nigeria.

Professor Audu told me of Nigeria's need for technical education and of the expertise which the United Kingdom could offer. He also made a general reference to the education of Nigerians in Britain, and hoped that the present difficulties in this field would prove temporary.

asked the Prime Minister what reply she has sent to the letter to her dated 22 July with regard to the pay-as-you-earn computer project from Mr. A. M. Quayle, of 8 Kirk Road, Lever-hulme, Manchester M19 2RF.

I have not yet received Mr. Quayle's letter.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make representations to those organisations whose representatives enjoy immunity in the United Kingdom that they should none the less obey the laws of the United Kingdom.

I am always prepared, if necessary, to take up specific allegations of misuse of immunity, but I am not currently aware of any allegations relating to international organisations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will seek to change the titles to statutory instruments which grant diplomatic immunity from "international immunities and privileges" to their previous title of "diplomatic and international immunities and privileges".

No. Virtually all instruments made under this heading relate to international organisations and confer immunities which are very much more limited than those accorded to diplomatic missions. I agree, therefore, with the view of the editor of the Index to Government Orders that the heading should begin with the word "international" rather than "diplomatic" as that is the word the majority of users would be likely to turn to when seeking information on these organisations from the index.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will list those international European or other organisations any or all of whose repressentatives in the United Kingdom are accorded immunity; how many representatives of each such organisation, how many persons employed by such organisations, and how many members of the families of such persons enjoy such immunity; and what is the extent of such immunity in each such case.

Listed below are the organisations to which the representatives of member States have limited immunity when they are in the United Kingdom on official business related to the work of the organisations. Only a few such representatives come here from time to time, since much of the work in connection with these organisations is handled by diplomatic missions in London.Those organisations marked with an asterisk in the list employ a total of 1,129 persons in the United Kingdom, who have immunity only in repect of their official acts. The head officers of 11 of those organisations have additional immunity comparable to that of diplomatic agents. Members of the families of all such staff—including the head officers—have no immunity.Those organisations without an asterisk employ no staff in the United Kingdom, but staff who may occasionally visit the United Kingdom on official business would have immunity only in respect of their official acts. * Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO)

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further plans he has to safeguard Gibraltar and its independence now that Spain has refused to agree to the recent proposals over Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

There is no change in the Government's commitment to the people of Gibraltar, which was reaffirmed in the Lisbon agreement of 10 April. Despite the delay over the re-establishment of direct communications between Gibraltar and Spain, I have been assured that the Spanish Government's commitment to the agreement remains.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, on the basis of the outcome of the Organisation of African Unity meeting that the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic gained the 22 votes necessary for the admission of a country to the Organisation of African Unity, if her Majesty's Government will now recognise the Polisario Front.

No. Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Western Sahara dispute is one of neutrality. While we hope for a peaceful solution, we consider that it is a regional matter which may be best settled regionally. We understand that the Organishation of African Unity is still considering the issue.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the proclaimed solidarity of the Nine EEC Governments in calling upon Iran to free the American diplomats held hostage has been followed up by joint action to bring pressure to bear which is likely to be effective.

The Nine, together with other Western countries, have taken a series of political and economic measures, the details of which are already well known to the House. These measures are designed to show the Iranian authorities that there are real penalties for continuing to hold the hostages. It is impossible to guage the exact effect of such action, but we intend to maintain the pressure.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many people are at present on the staff of the Libyan People's Bureau and resident in London; what are their names; and what duties they carry out in the United Kingdom.

The 18 persons listed below on the staff of the People's Bureau of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya have been notified, with the designations shown, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in accordance with the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations as members of the diplomatic or of the administrative and technical staff. No other persons working at the People's Bureau have yet been similarly notified.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will now announce the final balance of the aid package for the New Hebrides which has been agreed between himself and the French Government.

Unlike us, the French Government do not enter into aid agreements until after independence has taken place. We nevertheless have a general understanding of the areas which we are each prepared to support. The New Hebrides Government have not yet signified their agreement to our own aid package.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what agreement has now been made with the Government of Papua New Guinea for the replacement of the British Marines by Papua-New Guinea troops in the New Hebrides.

Her Majesty's Government have not entered into any agreement with the Government of Papua New Guinea on this subject.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government subscribe to Council of Europe recommendation 861 of 1979, which proposes that the Council of Europe's programme of inter-governmental activities be adapted so as to make a better response to the requirement of more balanced European development

The recommendation was discussed at the 66th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe held in Lisbon on 10th April. The final communiqué contained the following relevant passage:

"With regard to balanced development in Europe the Ministers decided that the Council should henceforth play a more active role as an instrument of European democratic solidarity in order to reduce the economic and social imbalances between member states.

To this end the Ministers were in favour of making greater use of the medium-erm plan of inter-governmental activities of the Council of Europe and reinforcing the Resettlement Fund, while not excluding examination of other means".

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government will seek to strengthen the resettlement fund for national refugees and overpopulation and to gear its activity to the social development of Southern European countries, as suggested in Council of Europe recommendation 861.

The United Kingdom does not contribute to the resettlement fund and is therefore not in a position to influence its activities.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will review alternatives to the Civil Service Pay Research Unit; and if he will make a statement.

There are no present plans for such a review. But the Government are concerned that the pay research system should operate as tightly and impartially as possible, and we are pursuing a number of possible improvements.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will give for her Department, and so far as possible for each of its associated public bodies, the cost of foreign travel, including accommodation and subsistence and entertainment by Ministers and civil servants, the cost of shorthand typists and the cost of non-employee advisers, on a similar basis to the categories of Select Committee expenditure included in the Estimates of the House of Commons, Class XIII-A and itemised in the reply of the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bottomley) to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat), Official Report, 9 July, c. 212.

The estimated expenditure in the financial year 1980–81 by the Civil Service Department, including the Civil Service Pay Research Unit, on the lines of the categories itemised in the reply from the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, is as follows:

	£
(1) Foreign travel by Ministers	170,000
(2) Foreign travel by civil servants	100,000
(3) United Kingdom travel by Ministers	30,000
(4) United Kingdom travel by civil servants	862,000
(5) Entertainment by Ministers	7,500
(6) Entertainment by civil servants	14,000
(7) Salaries and wages of secretaries and typists	1,665,000
(8) Cost of non-employee advisers	18,000
(a) Including accommodation and subsistence.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if, in view of the uncertainty expressed by some civil servants over their future, and the necessity for reductions in public expenditure, he will consider commissioning an independent inquiry into the number of civil servants required to ensure the efficient running of Departments.

Ministers are already examining the numbers of civil servants required for the efficient running of their Departments in accordance with the statement on the efficiency and size of the Civil Service which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made to the House on 13 May. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his valuable suggestion, but do not think that an independent inquiry would be the best way of looking at this problem.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider increasing tax payable on the following fringe benefits: private health insurance, payment of public school fees, free holidays, low interest loans and company flats.

These benefits are already taxable in full—subject to a de minimis limit for low interest loans—in the hands of directors and higher-paid employees, and, in the case of private medical insurance, company flats and—if provided by means of vouchers—free holidays, lower-paid employees as well.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table

THRESHOLD AT WHICH INCOME TAX ON EARNED INCOMES BECOMES PAYABLE AT 50 PER CENT.
					Single £	Married couple single-wage £	Married couple with two children single-wage £
United Kingdom	…	…	…	…	18,126	18,896	18,896
USA (Note 2)	…	…	…	…	17,860	26,050	26,890
					(10,290)	(15,570)	(15,570)
France (Note 3)	…	…	…	…	43,890	43,890	43,890
Germany	…	…	…	…	15,060	29,720	30,010
Japan (Note 2)	…	…	…	…	46,750	47,370	48,630
					(25,180)	(25,800)	(27,360)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor), Official Report, 24 July 1978, c. 502. showing the percentage of earnings absorbed by income tax and employees'

PERCENTAGE OF EARNINGS ABSORBED BY INCOME TAX AND EMPLOYEE'S SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS
			Average United Kingdom earnings (£6,245)	2 X average United Kingdom earnings (£12,490)	3 X average United Kingdom earnings (£18,735)
			Per annum	Per annum	Per annum
United Kingdom	…	…	26·5	28·7	33·4
France	…	…	12·4	15·4	19·2
Germany	…	…	25·4	25·2	29·2
United States of America	…	…	14·3 (15·6)	21·7 (25·5)	27·0 (32·9)
Japan	…	…	10·1 (11·9)	12·9 (18·1)	16·1 (23·5)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the social service costs directly showing gross income in £ sterling equivalent at which income tax on earned incomes becomes payable at 50 per cent. in each of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, Germany and Japan, and for each of a single person, a single-wage married couple, and a single-wage couple with two children.

The information requested is given in the table below:social security contributions at different levels of earnings, in each of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the United States of America and Japan.

The information requested is as follows:borne by central Government in 1979 as a result of unemployment; and what is his estimate of the effect of these costs, together with the loss of national insurance and tax revenue on the public sector borrowing requirement for the period in question.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) on 24 July 1980.—[Vol. 989, c. 758.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what effect the increase in the price and volume of North Sea oil has had on the terms of trade since 1976 in the case of (a) manufacturers, (b) foodstuffs and (c) all goods and services;(2) what is his estimate of the likely improvement in terms of trade for (

It is not possible to distinguish the influence of North Sea oil from the various other influences on the terms of trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost in a full financial year of the assistance given to charities directly concerned with help for disabled people announced in the Budget.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated increase in revenue in a full financial year (a) in total and (b) derived from registered disabled people as a result of raising value added tax from 8 to 15 per cent.

For an estimate of the total increase in revenue in a full financial year as a result of raising value added tax in the June 1979 Budget I refer the hon. Member to the 1979–80 Financial Statement and Budget Report. It is not possible to calculate the additional revenue derived from registered disabled people because their expenditure is not known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of total value added tax receipts on purchase and lease of cars leased by Motability in the 12 months (a) before 18 June 1979 and (b) after 18 June 1979; and what is the net loss to the revenue in the current financial year of charging only 15 per cent. on the lease as opposed to 8 per cent. on both lease and purchase.

Such information as is available is as follows:

£ thousand
	VAT on purchase of vehicles	VAT on rentals
Year to 30 June 1979	400	85
Year to 30 June 1980	—	500

It is estimated that the loss to the revenue of charging only 15 per cent. on the lease as opposed to 8 per cent. on both lease and purchase in the year ended 30 June 1980 was about £425,000. An estimate for the current financial year is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the use of publicly provided cars between home and office by Ministers and civil servants is free of tax while warrants for travel between home and work are taxable.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in what circumstances the Inland Revenue still pays rebates due in respect of a wife's income to her husband; and if he will take action to ensure that such rebates are paid to the wife direct in future;(2) in what circumstances does the Inland Revenue correspond about a married woman's tax affairs by writing to her husband; and if he will take action to ensure that in future all communications concerning a married woman's tax affairs are addressed directly to her.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effective tax paid by the top 25 and top 100 manufacturing companies, respectively, in absolute terms, since 1974.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the effective corporation tax paid by the top 25 and top 100 manufacturing companies since 1974 as a proportion of the nominal tax payable;(2) what was the level of effective corporation tax, namely, the tax actually paid by corporations, as (

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of personal wealth was represented by the top 2 per cent., 5 per cent., 10 per cent. and 20 per cent. of the British population, respectively, since 1951, 1961, 1971, and 1979, respectively.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of the net increase in borrowing from Government and capital transfer was represented by the nine major nationalised industries, British Airways, British Gas, the British Steel Corporation, the electricity industry, the Post Office, the National Bus Company, the National Freight Corporation, British Railways and the National Coal Board in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979; and what proportion of the net increase in other borrowing was represented by these industries in these years;(2) what has been the annual rate of price increase of the United Kingdom nationalised industries and services, including the National Enterprise Board subsidiaries, since 1974 in relation to the annual rate of price increase of private industry and services, respectively;(3) what has been the net contribution of the nationalised industries to the Exchequer and the reduction of the public sector borrowing requirement, respectively, since 1974.(4) what has been the cost of the nationalised industries to the public sector borrowing requirement since 1974.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the proportion of the outflow of investment funds accounted by investment abroad in (a) industry, (b) property, (c) financial services and (d) other investment since the abolition of exchange controls.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the net outflow of investment funds by quarter since the liberalisation of exchange controls.

Capital outflows since the dismantling of exchange controls are estimated to have been running at about £1 billion a quarter, the greater part representing repayment of foreign currency debt by United Kingdom companies. Overseas purchases of sterling assets over the same period have more than offset these outflows.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the correlation between the rate of increase of aggregate prices and the rate of increase of money supply M3 since 1974.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the equity capitalisation of (a) industrial companies, (b) financial sector companies and (c) non-financial sector companies has been provided by trades union pensions funds since 1974.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value added of State (public) enterprise as a proportion of United Kingdom value added in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross capital formation was represented by State (public) enterprise, including new established corporations and the National Enterprise Board and its subsidiaries in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will restructure the existing Standing Commission on museums and galleries to form a new National Museums Council.

I am considering this and other recommendations of the report by the Standing Commission on museums and galleries, but it will, I think, take some time before I shall be able to announce a decision.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much Government assistance is being given to ethnic art.

Within my field of responsibility many libraries, museums and arts bodies have a strong interest in ethnic art. The Arts Council estimates that it spent about £¼ million in this area in 1979–80.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress made towards retaining some of the railway engines at Woodham scrapyard, Barry, for the national heritage.

I understand that the National Railway museum has agreed to set up a working party to examine the locomotives at Barry and to consider which of the remaining ones might warrant preservation or provide valuable spare parts.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the Select Committee recommendation that some change should be made in the administrative mechanism for the interpretation of the statutory requirement of pre-eminence when works of art and museum objects are accepted in satisfaction of capital transfer tax, he now has any statement to make regarding his policy on this matter.

I have almost completed the consultations that I have been holding on this important matter. I hope to make a statement before the House rises.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why he will not seek powers to control large expenditures of public funds by galleries in the United Kingdom which receive public support so as to prevent public funds being spent to the extent of £2½ million on a Rubens painting, as recently happened with the National Gallery.

The purchase grants made available to national museums and galleries are already subject to the approval of Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give for his Department, and so far as possible for each of its associated public bodies, the cost of foreign travel, including accommodation and subsistence and entertainment by Ministers and civil servants, the cost of shorthand typists and the cost of non-employee advisers, on a similar basis to the categories of Select Committee expenditure included in the Estimates of the House of Commons, Class XIII-A and itemised in the reply of the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bottomley) to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat), Official Report, 9 July, column 212.

It is not possible to make a separation, in the form requested, for my offices in the Privy Council Office. The estimated salaries and wages for relevant staff amount to £18,550. A sum of £3,000 is estimated to cover all the other items.As regards my responsibility for the arts, the cost of foreign travel will be just under £4,000 and for entertainment, £2,500 in the current year. The items for official shorthand writers and for specialist assistance do not arise in my Departments. I regret that for the museums, galleries and other arts bodies for which I am responsible the information required is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the particular qualifications which caused him to appoint two members of the tobacco industry, Mr. Colin Knowles and Mr. Peter Sanguinette, as members of the arts sponsorship advisory committee.

Mr. Knowles is the chairman of the executive committee of the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts and Mr. Sanguinetti has had considerable executive experience in developing business sponsorship of the arts.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in view of the fact that approximately 45,000 pieces of House of Commons crockery have disappeared, if he will now set up an independent inquiry into the whole organisation of the refreshment facilities for Members and staff of the House and strangers.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, further to his written answers to the hon. Member for Warley, East, Official Report, 26 July 1979, columns 353–54; Official Report, 19 December 1979, columns 205–6; and Official Report, 19 May, columns 36–37; and in view of the fact that the publication of the latest report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art has now been delayed for over a year after the period covered, which ended on 30 June 1979, he will make such changes in the future preparation of these reports as may be necessary to supply Parliament and the public with more up-to-date information on the functioning of this Committee.

Yes. The reviewing committee has already taken steps in recent years to organise its work so as to facilitate the earlier publication of its reports. As the hon. Member knows from my reply on 19 May—[Vol. 985, c. 36–37]—I have received the committee's report for 1978–79, aspects of which I have been considering. Information about the functioning of the committee during the year is provided through the press notices issued by my Department whenever an export licence for a work of art is withheld.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the Government's position in relation to the possible harmonisation within the EEC of laws concerning artists' resale rights.

I have been asked to reply. According to its programme for 1980, the Commission of the European Communities intends making a proposal for a directive aimed at the harmonisation of laws on resale rights to ensure payment to artists of a share in any profit made on sales of their works. In pursuit of this objective, the Commission held a meeting in June with representatives of artists, art auctioneers and galleries, but has not yet involved Governments. The subject of resale rights was considered by the Whitford committee on copyright and designs law, which, in its report (Cmnd. 6732), which was issued in 1977, recommended against the introduction of such rights in the United Kingdom. The Government are now examining the subject further in order to take an active part in discussions on any proposals which the Commission may make and in order to deal with it in the Green Paper on copyright reform which is currently being prepared.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much Her Majesty's Government at present contribute to the Council of Europe for European cultural co-operation; and, in the light of recommendation 850 of the Parliamentary Assembly and the reply of the Committee of Ministers, by what extent they would be prepared to increase their contribution for this purpose.

I have been asked to reply.According to the statute of the cultural fund, the grant-in-aid, payable from the general budget of the Council of Europe, is shared among the member States on the basis of the same percentage as their contribution to the budget. Thus the United Kingdom contributes 16–69 per cent. (869,882–80 FFrs in 1980) of the total cost of the cultural fund. In addition, the United Kingdom offers a number of bursaries under the teachers bursary scheme of the Council for Cultural Cooperation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce an amendment to the Gas (Consumers' Deposits) (Rate of Interest) Order 1978 to raise the interest payable upon deposits taken by the British Gas Corporation from non-domestic consumers seeking a gas supply for the first time from 7 per cent. to an appropriate rate in the present circumstances.

I shall consider the point raised by my hon. Friend and will write to him in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the number of supply vessels, additional to those currently in service, that will be required in relation to development in the Scottish sector of North Sea oil between 1980 and 1990.

It is not possible to forecast over such a time scale the number of supply vessels that will be required on the United Kingdom continental shelf. However, I understand that the current level of demand for these vessels is expected to broadly continue over the next two or three years. This should mean a market for over 100 ships within which the available United Kingdom fleet is likely to remain fully engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board about the use of gas for generating electricity in Orkney and Shetland; and what response he has made.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board receives gas from the Flotta terminal in Orkney for electricity generation. I have received no representations from the board about the use of gas for electricity generation in Orkney or Shetland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he has taken to encourage the use of gas for the generation of electricity in Shetland.

My officials have had discussions with the operators of the pipelines terminating at Sullom Voe about the possible use of gas surplus to the requirements of the terminal when it is fully operational.The operators have provided British Gas with estimates of the possible surplus quantities of gas and the variability of such surpluses. As one possibility, British Gas is discussing with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board the use of the gas for electricity generation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level of United Kingdom coal production in tonnes by 1984–85.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Scunthorpe (Mr. Brown) on 22 July.—[Vol. 989, c. 139.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the seventh round of oil exploration licences will be issued.

As announced earlier, the closing date for the receipt of applications for licences under the seventh round is noon on 11 August 1980. I hope it will be possible to announce the award of licences before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, after the seventh round of oil exploration licences are issued, what safeguards will be taken to protect the Hampshire coastline when oil production commences.

Those engaged in drilling activities on blocks off the Hampshire coast which may be leased in the seventh round will be expected as elsewhere to use best oilfield practice to minimise any risk of oil spillage. They will also be required to have available at the drilling location a capability to treat oil spillages, if any should nevertheless occur, and resources onshore which could rapidly be made available if necessary to supplement that capability. Discussions are in hand with the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association to develop existing contingency plans with particular reference to areas close in shore. Should any of this drilling activity lead to the discovery of oil or gas, and proposals for the production of oil from installations close to shore, I would need to be fully satisfied inter alia on both the prevention and contingency planning aspects of oil spills before I gave my consent to such a proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in securing private sector finance for factory building by the Welsh Development Agency.

The agency is announcing today that the Norwich Union insurance group has agreed in principle to purchase for £5½ million the 240,000 sq. ft. of factory space which is being built in the Bridgend area as part of the special programme for Port Talbot. Together with the agreement recently announced for the Coal Board pension funds to finance some £3 million-worth of small units, and the sale of a number of existing factories, this means that a total of some £10 million of private funds will now be available to the agency over the next two years for additional factory building.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made with access agreements to (a) the Nantlle Ridge and (b) the Arans; and how many other access agreements have been completed in Welsh national parks in the last 12 months.

I understand from the Snowdonia national park authority that negotiations for access agreements to the Nantlle Ridge are expected to be signed in the near future. The National Park Authority is currently undertaking discussions concerning access agreements to the Arans with the interested parties.No access agreements have been completed in the Welsh national parks during the last 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, further to the reply of the Minister of State, Home Department, Official Report, 13 July, column 491 if he will publish details of the provisional recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales in respect of community councils and Ogwr borough.

Draft proposals for new communities in Ogwr were published by the Boundary Commission in 1976. A copy has been sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the neonatal intensive care units in Wales; and how many measure up to the standards recommended in the recently published Select Committee Report on perinatal and neonatal mortality.

There is no designated neonatal intensive care unit in Wales. Facilities for the care of very sick and very small babies are available in hospitals with special care baby units.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many health authorities within Wales fall short of the norms recommended by the Department of Health and Social Security with regard to residential care for persons over the age of 65 years.

Health authorities are not responsible for the provision of residential care.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what revenue Dyfed health authority has received annually over the past five years for caring for patients that reside outside the administrative boundary of the county; and what revenue other health authorities have received from Dyfed health authority for the care of patients using facilities within those authorities annually over the past five years.