asked the Secretary of State for Wales what effect his decision to build the Conway estuary tunnel at a cost of £77 million will have upon the road building programme in the Principality over the next three years; and whether he envisages, in order to accommodate such a major project, there, will be any slippage in the dualling of the A48-A40 in Dyfed west of the termination of the M4 at Pont Abraham.

Construction work on the tunnel will not start until 1984, subject to satisfactory completion of design, statutory and contractual procedures. During the four years that construction will take place some other projects may have to be delayed, but it is not possible yet to say which these might be. Work on the A48 Carmarthen S. bypass will start later this financial year.

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what economies in the administrative cost of the House of Commons have been achieved since May 1979.

None. The House has made a number of decisions, including the setting up of new Select Committees and new arrangements for Members' allowances and so on, which have inevitably led to increases. It remains the Commission's policy to keep any increases in costs necessitated by additional tasks imposed on the House's administration to a minimum.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what economies in the administrative cost of the House of Lords have been achieved since May 1979.

None, but I understand that the authorities in another place make every effort to ensure that administrative expenditure is kept to a minimum, and a staffing review is currently being carried out.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, pursuant to his previous reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton. North-East when he listed all the projects that were being carried out by Sir Derek Rayner, and his future programme, if he will list all those projects that have now been completed and all those that are still in hand.

[pursuant to his reply. 22 July 1980, c. 189]: Decisions have been taken by Ministers on 24 of the first 29 studies listed in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 23 January. Consultations and further work are still being undertaken on the following five:

asked the Lord Privy Seal what investigations have been undertaken in the last 10 years into the possibilities of improving agriculture on St. Helena; and what developments have been undertaken or are contemplated.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 July 1980, c. 402]: There have been numerous investigations undertaken in the past 10 years, mainly under the auspices of the land resources development centre of the Overseas Development Administration. Apart from general land utilisation, the bulk of this research has covered the potential for irrigation, geology and soil surveys.Progress has been made on flax clearance to facilitate pasture improvement and afforestation programmes; and a saw mill and a timber treatment plant have been established. Further work is in hand to extend the afforestation programme to the arid lowlands, where it is hoped that fuel and fodder species can be established and erosion halted.An agricultural development authority has been set up to farm Government land on commercial lines in an endeavour to reduce the island's reliance on imports of meat and other foods. Assistance has also been provided to local farmers in order to stimulate small scale private production. One irrigation storage tank has been completed and another is nearing completion; these will provide water for the irrigation of horticultural gardens cultivated by individual farmers. Further development of small-scale irrigation awaits the outcome of studies which are under way.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consider making a special grant, to be paid through the Arts Council, to meet the Royal Academy's recurring financial problems.

This a matter for the Arts Council to consider, bearing in mind its own priorities and the current financial situation of the Royal Academy. I do not have any additional funds to put at the Arts Council's disposal.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will move to appoint a special Select Committee to investigate and inquire into all aspects of London's public transport services.

I have no such proposal. The question of public transport services in London is already within the terms of reference of the Select Committee on Transport.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what benefits he expects from the series of high level ministerial visits to Latin America given in his reply of 25 July to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens).

The general purpose of these visits is to promote our bilateral relations and to advance British political, commercial and economic interests in this increasingly important area. I am visiting Belize and Guatemala in the context of the current round of negotiations with Guatemala over Belize.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what will be the total cost to public funds, including officials and business men, of the series of ministerial visits to Latin America listed in his answer of 24 July to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens).

The estimated cost to public funds of the series of Ministerial visits to Latin America listed in the reply my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens), on 24 July is £114,460. This sum includes the cost of the visit of my noble Friend Lord Trefgarne. There is no charge to public funds for the cost of travel by business men.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether it is a necessary prior condition to any Palestinian settlement to ensure the right of self-determination for the Palestinians on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, as proposed in recommendation 349 of the Western European Union Assembly.

As the European Council declaration of 13 June makes clear, we and the other members of the Nine believe that a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East must allow the Palestinians to exercise their right to self-determination through an appropriate process defined within the framework of such a settlement. It must also involve recognition of the right to existence and security of all states in the region, including Israel.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will ensure that the series of ministerial visits to Argentina, listed in his answer of 24 July to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens), does not weaken the United Kingdom's commitment to preventing the Falkland Islands from coming under the control of Argentina; and what is the purpose of the visits.

Yes. Her Majesty's Government have no doubt about British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and Dependencies. This has been made clear to the Argentines on many occasions. The purpose of the two forthcoming Ministerial visits to Argentina is to further our bilateral relations; to discuss economic and industrial developments; and to promote Britain as a major trading partner.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the meeting of Foreign Ministers at Brussels which agreed the non-quota section of the EEC regional fund accepted priority for tourist projects not only in Northern Ireland but also in Wales.

The agreement reached at Brussels on the first tranche of aid under the non-quota section of the European regional development fund provides that West Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, Gwent and Clwyd can benefit as zones affected by the restructuring of the steel industry. There is no provision for the funding of tourist projects in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of pupils boarding in the independent sector were being publicly subsidised in each year since 1970.

This information is not available in the form requested.In 1977–78, some 10 per cent of boarding pupils in independent schools were receiving financial assistance from local education authorities in England and Wales. Of these, about half were handicapped pupils Some pupils will also have been assisted through allowances paid to members of the Armed and Diplomatic Services, which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of school boarding places has been accounted for by the State sector for each year since 1970.

Information about the percentage of boarding places which is in maintained schools is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the number of places available in State residential schools are sufficient to meet demand; and if he will set up an inquiry.

Local education authorities are free to supplement their residential provision by the use of non-maintained schools where they consider this appropriate. My right hon. and learned Friend sees no need for an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many residential State boarding schools there are; and how this compares with the numbers for each year since 1970.

The number of maintained schools with boarding provision in England and Wales in January of each year between 1970 and 1978 was as follows:

	Schools for non-handicapped pupils	Special schools for handicapped pupils
1970	136	254
1971	144	270
1972	134	298
1973	135	305
1974	124	302
1975	121	325
1976	127	525
1977	118	328
1978	113	337

Figures for 1979 and 1980 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of places available in residential State boarding schools; and how this compares with the numbers for each year since 1970.

In 1978 there were some 8,900 boarding places available in schools for non-handicapped pupils in England and Wales, compared with some 9,700 places in 1968. In addition, some 1,000 places were available in non-maintained boarding houses attached to maintained day schools but run by voluntary bodies. Figures are not available for other years. Information is not available on the number of boarding places in maintained special schools. In 1978 there were, however, 15,100 boarding pupils in maintained special schools for the handicapped in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received the reports and recommendations resulting from arbitration on teachers' pay; and when he proposes to publish them.

I received the reports on 25 July last. I am publishing them today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence approximately when the construction of the Trident submarines will start and finish.

It is expected that the first equipment will be ordered in about 18 months' time. The submarines will be completed in the mid-1990s.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total additional costs of maintaining British forces in Germany compared with the costs of maintaining the same forces in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell) on 26 June 1980.—[Vol. 987, c. 279.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what different arrangements he is visualising for the deployment of NATO forces on the central front, how far these might lead to a lesser military effort there by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The deployment of NATO forces is a matter for the collective decision of Alliance Ministers, taking into account the threat to Western interests posed by the Warsaw Pact. As far as the central region is concerned the United Kingdom contribution will remain in accordance with our commitments under the Brussels Treaty.

Education and Library Board							All Grammar Schools	Voluntary Grammar Schools	* Voluntary Grammar Schools
									† Teachers	Pupils
Belfast	…	…	…	…	…	…	18	15	899	14,809
Western	…	…	…	…	…	…	13	9	414	7,201
North-Eastern	…	…	…	…	…	…	18	12	531	8,834
South-Eastern	…	…	…	…	…	…	11	8	376	6,446
Southern	…	…	…	…	…	…	18	13	398	6,251
TOTAL	…	…	…	…	…	…	78	57	2,618	43,541
* Includes pupils and teachers in preparatory departments.
† Full time equivalent.

There are no voluntary maintained grammar schools in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for the development of the Government conference centre planned on the Broad Sanctuary site.

The diaphragm wall has been completed. I expect soon to invite tenders for the rest of the substructure, incorporating the extension to the Parliamentary telephone exchange, at a cost of £3.2 million, for which there is provision in present public expenditure plans, and I propose to explore how the conference centre itself could be financed from the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of recognised grammar schools in each education board area; how many in each area are voluntary schools; how many are voluntary maintained schools; and what was tie total number of teachers and pupils in both categories in each board area at the latest convenient date.

The information for January 1979 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the future of the Royal high school in Edinburgh, and whether there are any plans to sell the building.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is considering the Government's offer of a lease of two of the buildings at the former Royal high school as office accommodation. The long-term future of the remaining buildings is under consideration, but the main building is already being used for meetings of Select Committees and other bodies. There are at present no plans to dispose of this accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what purpose the Property Services Agency has entered into a lease of Chantry House, Buckingham Palace road; how many square feet are involved; and what accommodation is being released as a result.

The Property Services Agency has not entered into a lease of Chantry House, Buckingham Palace road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply has been sent to the letter dated 21 July addressed to the Permanent Secretary to his Department by Selby district council concerning allocation of finance for the homes insulation scheme.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the reductions in current revenue spending which he proposed should be made by each local council in his circular of 12 June; and if he will also indicate in the table the amounts by which each council has since indicated that it plans to reduce its spending in response to the circular.

[pursuant to his reply, 31 July 1980]: No. It would not be appropriate to publish this comparison. The data on which the original budget returns were based were subject to various reporting errors which local authorities have been asked to check and correct as part of the call for revised budgets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, for each of the last five years, he will indicate, by added value, which category of goods or services, without separate classification, has earned the largest amount of foreign currency.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 July 1980, c. 717.]: The total value of of goods and services in the last five exports of goods and services in the last fiveyears are shown in the following table (£ million):

	Goods	Services*
1975	19,330	7,680
1976	25,193	9,997
1977	31,734	11,581
1978	35,071	12,326
1979	40,689	13,614
* Including the value of goods and services purchased by foreigners travelling in the United Kingdom.

From the latest available input-output tables, which relate to 1973, it can be estimated that value added in the United Kingdom accounted for about 75 per cent. of the gross value of exports of goods and about 80 per cent. of the gross value of exports of services in that year.Imports of goods and services have increased faster than domestic output since 1973, but there is as yet no indication of the extent to which they have contributed to exports of goods or services in recent years. It is, however, clear that in all years the earnings from value added in the United Kingdom must be larger in total for exports of goods than for exports of services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Ministers in his Department have made journeys abroad; if he will specify the number of separate occasions (a) to EEC countries and (b) to overseas countries outside the EEC within the 12 months to 30 June; how many staff of his Department and others accompanied the individual Minister on each occasion; what was the overall cost on each occasion in respect of travel, subsistence and other expenditure involved; how many days were occupied on each visit; what was the object of each journey; and how many such visits are now planned to be undertaken from 1 July to 31 December.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 July 1980, c. 31–32]: Four Treasury Ministers have made 30 journeys abroad, of which details are given below, in the 12 months to 30 June 1980. Nine visits to EEC countries and three to non-EEC countries are at present planned between 1 July and 31 December 1980.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost to public funds of the costs department of the Treasury Solicitor; what proportion of this cost is made up from salaries; and how many persons of each grade are employed in it.

£125,517 in 1979–80, of which the salary element was £63,658. The costs department comprises the following staff:

• 1 Principal
• 1 Senior executive officer
• 2 Higher executive officers
• 3 Executive officers
• 2 Clerical officers

Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Miss Kate Akele, a Nigerian citizen who entered Great Britain for the declared purpose of committing murder, for which she has now been convicted and sentenced, was allowed to enter; and whether he will tighten up on such entries into Great Britain.

Miss Akele, who had previously visited this country on two occasions leaving within the time allowed, told the immigration officer that she had come on this occasion to collect belongings which she had to leave here on her last visit when called home urgently because of a family bereavement. The officer had no knowledge of her intention and was satisfied on the information before him that she qualified for entry as a visitor and admitted her for one month. Immigration officers can only take decisions on the basis of the facts before them at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take further action to curb the illegal use of citizens band radio, in view of the problems caused to radio controlled aircraft and the possible risk caused thereby.

We are most concerned about the problems which these illicit transmissions cause to authorised users of radio, including the operators of model controlled aircraft. Within the limits of available resources, my Department is already making every effort to curb this illegal activity and will continue to do so. In addition, we are considering the provision of increased powers for the enforcement of the law in respect of these offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average hours worked by police officers in the Metropolitan Police and the police in the rest of England and Wales over the past 20 years.

This information is not held centrally, but surveys undertaken by the Police Council and this year by the police negotiating board established that the average weekly hours worked by uniformed police constables were as follows:

Year	Metropolitan Police	Other forces in England and Wales
1974	47.7	42.9
1976	49.4	42.5
1977	50.4	42.1
1979	46.8	42.7

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 20 May, what recommendations or criticisms he has received from the social work service inspectors on the operation of junior attendance centres during the last period for which information can conveniently be obtained and what action has he taken as a result;(2) in the last period for which information can conveniently be obtained concerning the inspection of junior attendance centres by officers of the social work service (

[pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1980, c. 660]: Sixty-five inspections of junior attendance centres were carried out during 1979. The reports made in all 35 comments which could be construed as criticisms, none serious. The majority concerned the range of activities at the centre and the limitations imposed by the premises. At a few centres, comment was also made about staff, equipment and liaison arrangements with other agencies. 26 recommendations for improvements were made. These have been carefully considered. Where necessary, additional equipment or staff have been authorised, fresh premises sought or problems discussed with the officer in charge.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will impress on the EEC Commission the urgent necessity of ensuring fair competition in the EEC egg production industry, in view of the increase in imports of cheap eggs from France and the deteriorating position of the United Kingdom egg production industry.

The Commission is aware of the concern in the United Kingdom about the egg industry and we are discussing the issues with representatives of the industry. I have at present no evidence of unfair competition on which to base an approach to the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the reasons for the delay in carrying out the tests at Maplin Sands, Essex on the behaviour of liquefied gases following large-scale spillings which were announced earlier in the current year and are to be monitored by the Health and Safety Executive.

The tests which are being carried out by Shell Oil (UK) Ltd. require sophisticated remote instrumentation and computerised data handling facilities. A delay of about one month has occurred because of problems in the installation of this equipment. I under- stand that the tests are now expected to start early in August.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently receiving temporary short-time working compensation payments; and what is the system for the remainder of the year.

As at 30 June 1980, there were some 126,900 workers on short-time under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme. The present scheme, which is due to close for applications on 31 March 1981, will be reviewed together with other special employment measures later in the year, in line with normal practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates he has made of the cost of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme for the coming year.

The Supply Estimates for 1980–81 include £39.9 million for expenditure on the temporary short-time working compensation scheme and it is too early yet to make a realistic estimate of the outturn expenditure for the year. No decision has been taken about continuation of the scheme beyond March 1981 and no estimate has been made of expenditure in 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications are currently being processed, to the nearest convenient date, for payments under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme.

For the month of June 1980, under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme, 1,305 claims were approved for payment, covering some 126,900 workers on short time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total annual cost of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme.

Expenditure under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme for the financial year 1979–80 was £231 million and £20.2 million for the first three months of the financial year 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the annual number of refusals for payments under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme whilst it has been in operation; and what has been the actual percentage granted.

During the first 12 months of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme—1 April 1979 to 31 March 1980–1,886 applications were processed, of these 60 per cent. were rejected and 1,589 (84 per cent.) were approved; the remainder were withdrawn by the employer. From 1 April 80 to 30 June 80—the latest date available—1,408 applications were processed, of which 1,178–84 per cent.—approved; the remainder were cancelled by the employer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many United Kingdom citizens were employed in the other countries of the EEC in 1979; and how many EEC citizens were employed by United Kingdom employers in the same year.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies in the British woodworking industry have been notified to his Department in the first six months of the current year for (a) the whole of the United Kingdom and (b) the North-West region.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish his Department's estimate of how many people in full-time employment receive gross wages of £21.60 per week or less; and if he will state that figure as a percentage of the total number of people in full-time employment;

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people under the age of 18 years are currently registered as unemployed in the Wolverhampton area; how this compares with the numbers for the same period in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979; and what percentage of the total unemployed this represents in each case.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by what date the Health and Safety Executive expects the liquefied gas tankers "Methane Progress" and "Methane Princess" to comply fully with the safety requirements of the International Maritime Consultative Organisation code.

The "Methane Progress" and "Methane Princess" are at present under survey for the issue of certificates of fitness in accordance with the nonstatutory recommendations of the IMCO "Code for Existing Ships carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk". Full compliance with the code is recommended for application with effect from 1 November 1982, and appropriate certificates for the vessels in question will be issued on satisfactory completion of surveys.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what information or assistance was provided to Major David Le Sueur regarding his study trip to Argentina as part of his management studies course at Teesside polytechnic; whether his Department was aware that the purpose of Major Le Sueur's trip was to study the possibility of promoting arms sales; and if he will make a statement.

In response to a request by Major Le Sueur, the Department provided him with standard background information on Argentina which is freely made available to business men or any member of the public seeking assistance. Major Le Sueur did not hide the fact that the subject of his studies was arms procurement in Argentina.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many firms and companies went bankrupt in the first six months of 1979; and what are the figures for the first six months of 1980.

The figures for England and Wales are as follows:

	Bankruptcies*	Company liquidations †
Jan.-June 1979	1828	2206
Jan.-June 1980	1953	3160
* Bankruptcies relate to individuals and partnerships; deeds of arrangement are included as wel as receiving and administration orders.
† Compulsory and creditors' voluntary liquidations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what request has been made by the Trades Union Congress for the introduction of selective import controls on certain goods exported from countries including those within the EEC; and whether he will arrange a meeting with the Trades Union Congress to discuss these proposals.

U.K. IMPORTS
	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
OPEC
Value (£ million cif) 1,458	1,458	3,749	3,124	4,086	3,715	3,340	3,278
% of total imports	9.1	15.9	12.8	12.9	10.0	8.2	6.8
Other developing countries
Value (£ million cif)	2,105	2,738	2,900	3,778	4,448	4,493	5,419
% of total imports	13.1	11.6	11.9	12.0	12.0	11.0	11.2
U.K. EXPORTS
	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
OPEC
Value (£ million fob)	724	1,108	2,071	2,901	3,948	4,397	3,413
% of total exports	5.7	6.6	10.1	11.1	11.8	11.8	8.0
Other developing countries
Value (£ million fob)	1,903	2,589	3,208	3,761	4,685	5,401	5,847
% of total exports	15.0	15.3	15.9	14.4	14.1	14.4	13.7

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what have been the imports, exports and balance of trade both in manufactured goods and overall with

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and I met a delegation from the Trades Union Congress on 24 July to discuss a paper prepared by the TUC, setting out a range of proposals designed to limit import penetration in various sectors of manufacturing industry. My understanding is that relatively few of these proposals involved the use of import controls at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to initiate discussions within the Council of Trade Ministers on the negotiating mandate to the Commission for a new multi-fibre arrangement.

I expect the Council of Ministers to begin to discuss this subject later this year. The current arrangement does not expire until the end of 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the percentage, and what was the value, of British exports in 1979 and in each year since 1973, that went (a) to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and (b) to other developing countries; and, on the same basis, what were the figures for United Kingdom imports from these countries.

The information is as follows:the six most significant newly industrialised countries individually expressed and including South Korea, Hong Kong, Brazil and Taiwan for each of the last five years.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1980, c. 223]: The information for the six newly-industrialising countries from which United Kingdom imports in

I. TOTAL TRADE
(a) United Kingdom imports
					1975	1976	1977	1978	£ million cif 1979
Spain	…	…	…	…	279	361	442	504	711
Hong Kong	…	…	…	…	310	441	457	531	691
Brazil	…	…	…	…	175	242	305	282	400
India	…	…	…	…	235	356	387	322	366
Portugal	…	…	…	…	202	230	232	255	338
South Korea	…	…	…	…	75	136	179	214	270
Taiwan	…	…	…	…	73	97	150	147	218
(b) United Kingdom exports
					1975	1976	1977	1978	£ million fob 1979
Spain	…	…	…	…	298	370	470	472	573
Hong Kong	…	…	…	…	161	208	272	362	442
Brazil	…	…	…	…	161	175	256	221	286
India	…	…	…	…	166	208	278	348	456
Portugal	…	…	…	…	158	226	300	286	308
South Korea	…	…	…	…	52	63	76	129	145
Taiwan	…	…	…	…	36	54	63	93	103
(c) Crude balance (exports valued fob minus imports cif)
					1975	1976	1977	1978	£ million 1979
Spain	…	…	…	…	+ 9	+ 9	+ 28	− 32	− 138
Hong Kong	…	…	…	…	− 149	− 233	− 185	− 170	− 248
Brazil	…	…	…	…	− 14	− 67	− 49	− 61	− 114
India	…	…	…	…	− 70	− 147	− 109	+ 26	+ 90
Portugal	…	…	…	…	− 44	− 4	+ 68	+ 31	− 31
South Korea	…	…	…	…	− 22	− 73	− 103	− 85	− 124
Taiwan	…	…	…	…	− 37	− 43	− 87	− 54	− 115
II. TRADE IN MANUFACTURES
(a) United Kingdom imports
					1975	1976	1977	1978	£ million cif 1979
Spain	…	…	…	…	126	171	223	322	440
Hong Kong	…	…	…	…	300	431	446	518	669
Brazil	…	…	…	…	26	45	58	65	112
India	…	…	…	…	128	201	179	193	220
Portugal	…	…	…	…	152	171	159	193	245
South Korea	…	…	…	…	64	119	151	189	256
Taiwan	…	…	…	…	69	90	141	142	211
(b) United Kingdom exports
					1975	1976	1977	1978	£ million fob 1979
Spain	…	…	…	…	239	294	366	312	363
Hong Kong	…	…	…	…	140	180	241	320	399
Brazil	…	…	…	…	152	162	235	200	271
India	…	…	…	…	157	195	245	314	431
Portugal	…	…	…	…	136	192	260	248	261
South Korea	…	…	…	…	51	61	71	124	140
Taiwan	…	…	…	…	32	52	58	88	96

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the market for styrene and vinyl acetate in the United Kingdom and the percentage supplied by (a) domestic producers, (b) producers in the EEC and (c) producers in the United States of America; and what has been the trend over the past five years.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many doors were imported into the United Kingdom from the following countries in April, May and June of the current year; and what was the value of imported doors from each country in each month: Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Portugal and South Africa.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has any plans to establish strict import controls by way of quotas on the imports of doors into the United Kingdom.

No, but officials of my Department are assisting the industry in the preparation of applications to the European Commission for anti-dumping action.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the future of Biggin Hill airport, in the light of the report of the national air traffic service on the proposals submitted by the London borough of Bromley for the development of the airport.

The London borough of Bromley has decided to abandon its plans for a major increase in business flying at Biggin Hill airport in the light of the advice of the national air traffic service regarding air traffic control requirements. The future use of the airport is for the council to decide, but I can see no practical reason why it should not continue to play a useful role in handling general and business aviation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if exchange risk cover can be made available on loans granted by the European Investment Bank to United Kingdom companies investing in tourism projects.

At present, total funds available annually for the assistance of tourism projects in the United Kingdom amounts to about £10½ million. Present constraints on public expenditure prevent further Government support. I have therefore been examining ways of increasing the flow of funds into tourism, one of our largest and most successful industries.The Government have now decided to extend the existing exchange risk guarantee scheme which covers loans from the European Investment Bank to eligible tourism projects in the assisted areas, thereby enabling the tourist industry to benefit from loans at low interest rates. The guarantee will cover borrowings up to a total of £20 million and will be open to loans arranged before 31 December 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what restraint arrangements exist with Japan on the imports of offset litho printing machinery.(2) whether imports of offset litho printing machinery from Japan are causing material damage to the British manufacturers; and, if so, what is his policy for dealing with this situation.

[pursuant to his reply, 31 July 1980, c. 772]: There is no restraint arrangements on imports of litho printing machinery from Japan. While

1. U.K. IMPORTS OF WOOD OF CONIFEROUS SPECIES (SOFTWOOD)
								Thousand Tonnes	£ Million cif
United States of America	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	56.1	12.42
Canada	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	958.1	11814
Brazil	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	50.4	13.86
Peru	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	—
Bolivia	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	—
Argentina	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	—
Federal Republic of Germany	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	15.4	2.86
Switzerland	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0.3	0.06
2. U.K. IMPORTS OF WOOD OF NON-CONIFEROUS SPECIES (HARDWOOD)
								Thousand Tonnes	£ Million cif
United States of America	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	14.9	4.02
Canada	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	14.3	3.43
Brazil	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	58.5	14.00
Peru	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0.1	0.02
Bolivia	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	0.4	0.11
Argentina	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	*	0.01
Federal Republic of Germany	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	34.0	4.98
Switzerland	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	*	†
Source: U.K. Overseas Trade Statistics (SITC (R2) Groups 247 and 248).
Notes—Indicates no trade.
* Indicates trade less than 50 tonnes.
† Indicates trade less than £5 thousand.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what types of wood were imported into the United Kingdom from each of the following countries in 1979; what was the weight of each type from each country; and what was the value of each type from each country: the United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, West Germany and Switzerland.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 July 1980, c. 516]: United Kingdom imports in 1979 from these countries of wood in the rough or roughly squared and simply-worked wood—including railway sleepers—identified according to whether of coniferous or non-coniferous species were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost to central Government funds of making a £100 annual heating allowance payable to each family in receipt of family income supplement.

In the coming winter, families on family income supplement will be getting help with fuel costs at a weekly level which will be equivalent to over £100 a year. The prescribed amounts and the maximum weekly payments of FIS in force from 25 November next have been specially raised to achieve this. The cost of this help will be in the region of £9 million in a full year.A similar arrangement has been in effect since November 1979. This gives families, which are now on FIS, help with fuel costs at a weekly level equivalent to £52 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the figures for the amount of tokens distributed in England and Wales each year over the last five years to mothers who qualify for free powdered baby milk.

Welfare food milk tokens can be exchanged for liquid milk from the beneficiaries' regular milk supplier or, if the baby is under one year old, for dried milk from maternity and child health clinics or welfare food distribution centres. No information is recorded centrally about the number of milk tokens issued, but the total number of beneficiaries suggests that the following number of milk tokens was issued in England and Wales:

	millions
1975	21.2
1976	21.6
1977	21.2
1978	19.6

Figures for 1979 are not yet available. It would seem a reasonable assumption that between one-fifth and one-sixth of these tokens would be in respect of babies under one year old.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount of powdered baby milk sold via local area health authority clinics in England and Wales each year from 1975 to 1979.

This information is not recorded centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 17 July, col. 611, whether free school meals and free welfare milk would be available to families with children under his proposed scheme for income during initial sickness, whether or not they were in receipt of family income supplement or supplementary benefit.

There are no plans for changing the present rules governing entitlement either to free school meals or to free welfare milk among our proposals for the introduction of employer's statutory sick pay.These rules are that children in families receiving family income supplement or supplementary benefit have a statutory entitlement to free school meals. Beyond that, local authorities are required to remit the whole or part of the charge where they consider it appropriate to do so.Free welfare milk for pregnant and nursing mothers and children under five is available to families on low incomes whatever their source of income; and families in receipt of family income supplement or supplementary benefit have automatic title to free welfare milk for each person in the family who qualifies for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much per 10,000 population was spent by the local authority on providing community care facilities for the city of Coventry for the years 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 14 January. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy has now published the "Personal Social Services Statistics 1978–79 Actuals", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the total extra annual cost at current year prices of statutory sick pay at £30 for single people and two-wage married couples, compared with flat-rate benefit at £18.50;(2) what is his estimate of the total annual savings at current year prices of statutory sick pay at £30 for families with children compared with flat-rate benefit at £29.95 plus child additions at £1.70.

Employees as a whole will be no worse off than under the present arrangements except that sick pay will be taxable. Within this overall picture, some groups will gain from the provisions while others will lose, but, because many employers already have sick-pay schemes which make better provision than the statutory minimum proposed in Cmnd. 7864, it is not possible to identify the size of the groups affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual benefit saving achieved by each supplementary benefit fraud investigator.

This is one of a number of points that we are checking in the course of our current drive against social security fraud and abuse. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown) on 24 July and ask him to await the statement promised at the end of that reply.—[Vol. 989, c. 371.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present level of the Department of Health and Social Services grant to the national perinatal epidemiology unit at Oxford; and, in view of the Social Services Committee recommendations that more research be undertaken in this area, if he will consider increasing the grant.

The Department's support for the national perinatal epidemiology unit for the current financial year is estimated at £76,000. The Department has every intention of continuing to support the unit, subject to regular review of its programme and of the scientific standard of its work.The recommendations of the Social Services Committee will be taken into account when the unit's forward programme and the future level of support are being considered; a full reply to the Committee's report will be presented to Parliament in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in his consideration of the advantages of reverting to smaller hospitals, if he will take note of the views expressed by the chairman of the Central Committee for Hospital Medical Services and the president of the Royal College of Surgeons that such a move could be counter-productive, because of possible dangers through inadequacy of emergency staff, unsuitability for training, and experience that smaller hospitals have a lower patient turnover; and if he will make a statement.

I shall certainly take account of these views and of all other views expressed before reaching final decisions about changes in hospital services. A consultation paper, "The Future Pattern of Hospital Provision in England" was issued from my Department in May this year. Two conferences have recently been held, one in Birmingham and one in London, at which a wide range of interests were able to express their initial reactions to the proposals.The paper has been given a very wide circulation and written comments have been invited by early October. Until I have had a chance to consider all comments received it would be inappropriate to make a statement, but I intend to do so in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has made to the Post Office regarding the provision of public telephones suitable for use by disabled persons.

The Department and the Post Office are in regular contact on a number of matters concerning services for disabled people, including the provision of public telephones suitable for their use. I am glad to say that the Post Office is pursuing a number of initiatives in this area, including the development of a new type of kiosk designed specifically with the needs of disabled people in mind

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his intention with regard to requiring those arriving in the United Kingdom from countries with which no reciprocal agreement exists to show evidence that a personal health insurance policy is held; what administrative arrangements he proposes at ports and airports to check the running of such policies; and if he will make a statement.

I ask my hon. Friend to await an announcement of the Government's proposals, which I hope will be forthcoming shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence exists that the mortality rate increases when unemployment rises; what studies are being conducted into a possible link between unemployment and increases in illness and the mortality rate; where these studies have been carried out; and if he will make a statement.