asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is satisfied with his Department's role in existing disaster relief agencies, in particular the United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation, the European Economic Community emergency relief officer, the United Kingdom Disasters Emergency Committee and the disaster unit in his Department so far as the speed of reaction to disasters overseas is concerned.

I am confident that the disaster unit of the Overseas Development Administration, which cooperates closely with the United Kingdom disasters emergency committee, reacts very speedily to disasters overseas, as soon as the needs are known. We exchange information with the office of the United Nations disaster relief coordinator and with the European Community on action taken by donors in response to disasters. We shall participate in the debate on the recent evaluation of UNDRO, when the relevant document is circulated in the United Nations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is satisfied that Her Majesty's Government have taken sufficient steps to ensure that bureaucratic and political restrictions are overcome in cases of extreme emergency, such as the recent problems in North-East Uganda, in I he organisation of relief aid and the administration of food aid supply where the United Kingdom is involved.

Yes, in so far as this lies within our Power.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report figures bringing up to date the information supplied in his reply to the hon. Member for Grimsby on 19 December 1979 concerning trade in manufactures with the United States of America.

The figures given below update the earlier information and include some revisions for 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the terms of trade and relative volume of United Kingdom trade in manufactures by broad economic category for each year since 1969.

Information for manufactures and for years prior to 1970 is not available. Information as is available in respect of finished manufactures is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether any progress has been made since 3 October in the EEC Commission's attempt to negotiate agreed quotas for Indonesian textile imports to the United Kingdom under the multi-fibre arrangement.

No meetings have been held between the Commission of the European Communities and the Indonesian Government since the discussions on 3 October. However, the next round of consultations is expected to take place in Brussels this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish an estimate in the Official Report of (a) the increase in exports in the past 12 months as a result of the assistance provided by the Government to exports and (b) the loss of exports as a result of the increase in the real exchange rate over the same period.

Given the many influences and uncertainties involved, it is not possible to make reliable estimates of changes in exports resulting either from the many and varied Government measures which assist our exports or from increases in the real exchange rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish the figures for the latest available 12-month period for the trade, both export and import, in manufactured goods, excluding oil, between the United Kingdom and France.

In the period November 1979 to October 1980 United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods—which exclude oil—to France were valued at £2,620 million (fob) and corresponding imports from France at £3,132 million (cif).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many car radios incorporating a tape player were imported into the United Kingdom in each month of 1980; and, as a whole, what is the percentage increase on those imported in 1979.

The monthly information for 1980 is given in the table below. The total for the first 10 months of 1980 represents a decrease of 24 per cent, compared with the corresponding period of 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has yet reached a decision on the rate of the aviation security levy for 1981–82 and on the proposals for a two-part levy and for a reduction in the exemption limit.

I have decided to leave the levy at its present rate of £1·60 for the time being. The rate will be reviewed in May 1981, and if necessary it will be increased on 1 November 1981 by an amount sufficient to ensure that costs for the financial year 1981–82 are recovered during that year. I have decided to reject the proposals for a two-part levy and for a reduction in the exemption limit: a two-part levy extending the levy to all-cargo aircraft from the anti-terrorist measures financed from the aviation security fund; and I am satisfied that the additional burdens imposed by both proposals would have been out of proportion to the additional revenue they could reasonably have been expected to generate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the extent to which glue sniffing has become a problem, particularly amongst the young; and if he will introduce legislation to make the selling of glue to young persons unlawful.

So far as is known, the practice of glue sniffing is not confined to any particular age group, although it mainly affects adolescents. Among young people the pattern seems to be one of limited and scattered outbreaks rather than a continuing or widespread habit. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is considering how to improve the information available on the incidence of sniffing.There are many products which can be and are misused for sniffing but are quite safe when used for their intended purpose. On that ground, I do not consider that it would be justifiable to restrict the sale of glue alone to young persons and it would be impracticable to expect to be able to control the sale of all the products that might be misused by sniffers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the outcome of the European conference on maritime safety held in Paris on 1 and 2 December.

The European conference on maritime safety convened on the initiative of the French Government, was attended by 13 countries, the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO), the International Labour Office (ILO), and by the European Commission.I will place a copy of the English text of the final declaration of the conference in the library of the House as soon as possible.The conference had two main themes: the speedier ratification of maritime safety and pollution prevention conventions, in order to bring them into force as early as possible; and measures to improve port State enforcement of safety standards on visiting foreign ships.Countries taking part in the conference undertook to initiate before 1 July 1981 legal procedures leading to the ratification, acceptance or adoption of the conventions in question, if that had not already been done, and to have them finalised, subject to the constraints of national Parliaments, by the end of 1981. I was able to announce that the United Kingdom had just ratified ILO Convention No. 147 concerning minimum standards on merchant ships and that, as a result, that convention will come into force 12 months hence.I was also able to announce that the United Kingdom had just ratified the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, and thereby became the first country to have ratified every IMCO maritime safety and pollution prevention convention.There was a consensus that it was necessary to increase the effectiveness of port State enforcement. A working group was established, charged to present its conclusions by 1 July 1981.I fully supported this consensus, and announced that we planned, within existing resources, to inspect in 1981 at least twice as many foreign ships visiting our ports as we have inspected this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the information published in the Official Report on 5 December 1979 in response to a written question from the hon. Member for Grimsby concerning wages and import prices.

The percentage increase in import prices, basic hourly wage rates in manufacturing industry and earnings in manufacturing to September 1980 from average 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979 values were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the information published in the Official Report on 13 February in response to a written question from the hon. Member for Grimsby concerning the forecasts and outturns of import and export forecasts.

The information requested is set out in the table below.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the evidence he has showing that the reductions in the higher rate of tax in June 1979 have increased the wealth of the United Kingdom; and what effect on output he expects these reductions to have in 1981 and 1982.

No. While the effects have undoubtedly been beneficial, it is not possible to quantify them accurately.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual cost in 1980–81 at 1980 prices of 2·3 million unemployed in terms of (a) welfare benefits, including allowances and rebates of all kinds, (b) the loss of revenue from income tax and national insurance contributions, (c) the loss of production and (d) the loss of value added tax and other indirect taxes.

I refer my hon. Friend to p. 114 of Cmnd. 7841, which states that a variation of 100,000 in unemployed—excluding school leavers, and so on—is estimated to vary benefit costs in 1980–81 by £110 million at 1979 survey prices, which is about £130 million at,, 1980–81 estimated outturn prices. Thus a level of unemployment of 2·3 million or 2·0 million excluding school leavers, would imply expenditure of benefit payments of £2·6 billion at 1980–81 prices. This estimate includes only national insurances and supplementary benefit payments, other than to school leavers. The recently published estimate of national insurance unemployment benefits alone is £1·1 billion in 1980–81, based on an assumption of 1·7 million unemployed, excluding school leavers. Information on other benefits could be provided only at the cost of disproportionate time and effort.The loss of revenue from income tax and national insurance contributions, the loss of production, and the loss of value added tax and other indirect taxes which is associated with an increase in unemployment depend on the reasons for the change in unemployment and the subsequent development of the economy. In principle it is possible to assert a number of ways in which all the 2·3 million might be employed, but they would all be hypothetical and unrealistic. I regret therefore that I cannot answer parts (b)-(d) of my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if it would be possible, on the basis of Great Britain's EEC obligations, to deduct the rebates agreed for 1980 and 1981 from the contributions which he makes to the EEC; and if he will make a statement;(2) why, in view of the fact that about two-thirds of the rebate is payable only after individual projects have been approved for grant by EEC committees, he included the rebate from the EEC in his recent statement on public expenditure reductions for the current financial year;(3) if the agreement with the EEC on the payment of rebates to the United Kingdom provided for the sums to be paid by the dates specified in the agreement whether or not there is agreement on a common fisheries policy; and if he will make a statement.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he expects will be the yield, during the current financial year, of the excise duty paid by industrial consumers on oil products.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will reduce the excise duty on fuel oil to bring it into line with the levels applying elsewhere within the European Economic Community;(2) what steps he is taking within the European Economic Community to eliminate or reduce the unfair competition arising from the level of excise duty on oil products applying elsewhere in the Community being less than half than that in the United Kingdom;(3) what estimate he has made of the price disadvantage suffered by United Kingdom industry compared with industries elsewhere in the European Economic Community as a result of the extra excise duty on oil products borne in the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, since the meeting of the Energy Council of the European Economic Community on 13 May 1980, at which all member States endorsed the need for economic energy pricing, there has been any adjustment of excise tax by any member country to reduce the excessive differential suffered by United Kingdom manufacturers.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on his review of the taxation of husband and wife.

The treatment for income tax purposes of husband and wife is an important and complex subject, and there can be no quick or easy answers. For that reason, as foreshadowed in my Budget Statement, I am issuing a Green Paper on this subject, inviting all those interested to give their views on the far-reaching issues it raises. I hope that the Green Paper will be carefully studied and widely discussed, and I shall welcome the fullest possible response from individuals as well as representative bodies.I shall be presenting this Green Paper to the House tomorrow. It is being published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and copies will be available from Government Bookshops.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total Government expenditure has been devoted to defence, education, health and social security, respectively, at five-year intervals from 1950–51 to date, including the planned outturn for 1980–81.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 November 1980]: The table below gives expenditure on the service specified as a percentage of total expenditure by central Government and local authorities. Data for earlier years, from published national income and expenditure accounts, is available only on a calendar year basis. For 1975–76 and 1980–81 the percentages are derived from the estimates published in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1980–81 to 1983–84"—Cmnd. 7841. Due to changes in coverage and definition, the percentages shown for 1965 and earlier may not be entirely consistent with those for the later years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost in tax revenue lost in a full financial year of increasing the initial first-year accelerated depreciation allowances on all new commercial and industrial buildings to the 100 per cent, level which already applies to investment in plant and machinery, both at 1980–81 outturn prices and at estimated 1981–82 outturn prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 December 1980]: I regret that figures are not available in the precise form requested, but if the total value at current prices of expenditure on new industrial and commercial buildings remained constant at its 1980 level the cost in a full year is estimated to be of the order of £1½ billion, on the assumption that in the hypothetical "full year" sufficient profits arc available to absorb the allowances in full.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing, for the prison population detained under Immigration Act powers by prison department establishment and country of origin, on 15 August, 12 September, 10 October, 7 November or the nearest convenient dates, those who were (a) alleged illegal entrants, (b) recommended for deportation by the courts without custodial sentence, (c) recommended for deportation and custodial sentence and (d) discharged (i) under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 and (ii) under section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971.

I regret that the information can be provided only for a current date. On 27 November the number of persons detained in prison department establishments under the powers in the Immigration Act 1971 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table indicating, for the latest convenient date, the time spent in prison department establishments by persons recommended for deportation by the courts without custodial sentence, showing the numbers detained for more than one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and 10 weeks, respectively.

The information on 27 November 1980 was as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of persons against whom deportation orders have been made under section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971 during each of the last five years and to the latst convenient date 1980.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost to public funds of detaining a person on remand in a prison department establishment.

As I said in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 23 July 1980, the cost of keeping a person on remand is not separately recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are any circumstances in which journalists are allowed to interview prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to public funds in the last financial year of arranging visits to prisons for the wives and families of convicted prisoners who are on social security benefit.

In 1979–80, £315,314.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial arrangements are being made to cover the loan or secondment to the West Yorkshire police of senior officers from other forces.

No payment is normally made for assistance of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current strength in number of the police special patrol group; and if he has any plans to increase its size.

The current strength of the Metropolitan Police special patrol group is 241; the Commissioner has its eventual complement under review in the light of my statement of 10 March.—[Vol. 980, c. 395–96.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested as being illegal immigrants in each month since February; of each monthly figure how many were discovered as they went through Customs at one of the United Kingdom airports and ports; and what number were arrested, having been resident in the United Kingdom for more than one day.

The number of illegal entrants detected is published quarterly in the Home Office statistical bulletin—Control of Immigration Statistics, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. The figures for the first two quarters of this year were 486 and 414 respectively. The information requested in the second and third parts of the question is not available, but people attempting to enter illegally by means of falsified or forged travel documents or by deception and who are detected at the immigration control are refused entry and are not treated as illegal entrants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission on 1 November.

I understand that on 1 November, 177 staff were employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission, of whom 21 were employed on a part-time basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received, since January 1980, asking him to introduce legislation to make the occupation of private property whilst the owners are away and the refusal to leave illegal.

We have received one letter from a member of the public suggesting that squatting should be illegal, It is already a criminal offence under section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 for a person who has entered premises as a trespasser to fail to leave when asked to do so by a displaced residential occupier or by a person with a right to occupy the premises who had not taken up residence at the time of the trespass.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people applied for licences to operate metal detecting devices in each month of 1980 up to the latest month for which figures are available.

The figures recorded relate only to the number of licences issued. For the period in question, these were:

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 2 December,

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list hex official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 December.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley).

asked the Prime Minister when she intends to pay an official visit to Scotland.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the action being taken by the Western allies, through the United Nations, to bring about a ceasefire in the Gulf war.

I have been asked to reply.We all want to see an early end to this conflict. We and our Western allies are working at the United Nations and elsewhere to this end. We supported Security Council resolution 479 and agreed to the Secretary-General's appointment of Mr. Olaf Palme as special emissary to the region. We hope that his mission will advance the prospects for a political settlement of the dispute.

asked the Prime Minister if she will consider the appointment of a Minister with specific responsibility for the welfare of animals.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 25 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Longside in the constituency of East Aberdeenshire.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the progress of the large local authorities in cutting manpower.

I have been asked to reply. No.

asked the Prime Minister when she last met the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when last she met representatives of the Confederation of British Industry.

I have been asked to reply.At the NEDC on 4 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will visit Hamilton teachers Training college.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when next she proposes to visit Wales.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend hopes to visit Wales later this month.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to meet President-elect Reagan.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend hopes there will be an early opportunity to renew her acquaintance with President-elect Reagan.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy in how many member States of the European Coal and Steel Community redundant opencast coal operatives are qualified to benefit from re-adaptation payment schemes.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many persons employed in deep mines, other than employees of the National Coal Board, have received payments under the Redundant Mineworkers and Concessionary Coal (Payments Scheme) Orders 1973 and 1978, and amending orders.

286. These are former employees at licensed mines.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy bow many employees of the National Coal Board not employed, in deep mines have received payments under the Redundant Mineworkers and Concessionary Coal (Payments Scheme) Orders 1973 and 1978, and amending orders.

2,013. These are former employees at prescribed facilities associated with deep nines.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the organisations and individuals who have made representations to him about the level of excise duty on oil products in the United Kingdom compared with the lower levels within the European Economic Community.

I have received many representations on this subject from trade associations, chambers of commerce, companies and individuals. Among major organisations which have suggested a reduction in the level of duty are the CBI, the Chemical Industries Association, the British Independent Steel Producers Association, the British Paper and Board Industry Federation and the British Textile Employers Federation. A full list of organisations and individuals could only be supplied at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much unemployment has risen since May 1979 in the Irlam employment office area of the Newton parliamentary constituency.