Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 9 December 1980

Arts Council

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is now able to announce the grant-in-aid he proposes to give to the Arts Council in 1981–82.

The House will be glad to know that in the expenditure plans for 1981–82, which I shall be submitting for parliamentary approval, I intend to provide for a grant of £80 million to the Arts Council of Great Britain. This represents an increase of just over 14 per cent. on this year's grant. I also intend to provide £1.4 million for the Crafts Council, and £6.4 million for the British Film Institute. The Arts Council grant contains a special addition of £1 million to its housing the arts fund, which in part continues the Government's contributions towards the development of the Royal Opera House. Similarly, the Crafts Council grant includes provision for an extension of the present exhibition gallery, which will meet a long-felt need in this area.

Trade

Steel Exports

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the value of British steel exports to the United States of America; and what, proportion this represents of total European Economic Community steel exports to the United States of America.

United Kingdom exports of steel to the United States of America in the first 10 months of this year were valued at £50 million. In the year 1979, the latest period for which comparable international information is readily available, they were valued at £107 million—about 12 per cent. of total Community exports of steel to the United States of America. United Kingdom exports in the early part of this year were affected by the steel strike.

Textile And Clothing Industries

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the Government's estimate of the value to United States manufacturers of textile and clothing of hidden subsidies covering power and export credits and the unfair competition which it gives to British companies.

We estimate that the advantage to United States manufacturers of synthetic yarns and fibres as a result of the United States energy feedstock price differential, is in the range of 8 to 16 per cent. of their selling price. It would be less for other synthetic textile products. Regarding export credits, items such as textiles and clothing ale generally exported on a cash basis, or on a very short-time credit basis, at commercial rates. My Department has no evidence that the United States is offering any hidden or open subsidy through export credits in this respect.

Textile Machinery (Export Credit Guarantees)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why he is refusing export credit guarantees on textile machinery to (a) Zambia and (b) Tanzania.

At the present time ECGD cover is not available for exports on credit terms to either of these markets in view of the very long delays in the transfer of foreign exchange payments. This policy applies generally and not only to exports of textile machinery.

Machine Tools

asked the Secretary for Trade what has been the value of machine tools (a) exported and (b) imported for each of the last 10 years.

The information is as follows:

£ million
	Exports f.o.b.	Imports c.i.f.
1970	115	78
1971	131	69
1972	111	73
1973	123	100
1974	163	148
1975	228	166
1976	249	205
1977	288	222
1978	345	407

Note: These estimates relate to overseas trade in the principal products of minimum list heading 332 of the standard industrial classification 1968: Metal-working machine tools.

Source: Business Monitor MQ 10.

Stock Market (Dawn Raids)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what further action he intends to take to deal with the problem of dawn raids.

The regulation of the stock market lies in the hands of the Stock Exchange Council. I am glad to say that the proposals made by the CSI in conjunction with the Stock Exchange Council for handling the problem of dawn raids are constructive and sensible. I was concerned at the situation that arose following the Consolidated Goldfields affair in August this year, but subsequent action by the City's self-regulatory authorities has indicated the great value of a self-regulatory system. The Department of Trade has already publicised its proposals for changes in legislation and careful consideration is now being given to the incorporation of some of these proposals in the Companies Bill, which will be presented to Parliament later this Session.

Civil Service

Local Government, Planning And Land Act 1980

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects printed copies of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 to be generally available.

Tomorrow.

Energy

North Sea (Natural Gas Liquids)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his assessment of the availability of natural gas liquids in 1985, 1990 and 1995; and whether, and if so how and by what method, he proposes to allocate the resources to competing claimants.

Our tentative assessment of the arisings of natural gas liquids from the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea that will be recovered by systems now existing or planned is about 7 million tonnes at each of the years in question. Obviously this can relate only to fields already known at this time and, as our knowledge of these fields alters and we learn of new finds, these figures will change.So far as the allocation of these liquids is concerned I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to his question on 6 November.—[Vol. 991, c.

630.]

Ethane

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what formula he proposes should be used for the assessment of the ethane price to be paid following delivery of natural gas liquids from the gas-gathering pipeline.

The price for natural gas liquids is a matter to be settled by commercial negotiations.

British National Oil Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has given or proposes to give, the British National Oil Corporation permission to take up 51 per cent. of the associated gas delivered from selected oil fields in the North Sea.

The British National Oil Corporation does not need my permission to exercise its options to natural gas liquids that it has by virtue of the various participation agreements with licensees.

Energy Prices

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when and why he revised upward his estimate of future real growth in energy prices to the end of the century from 3 to 4 per cent. per annum; and what are the anticipated consequences for public domestic consumers of gas, electricity, oil and coal and for the rate of depletion of North Sea gas and oil.

My Department keeps prospects for energy prices under continuing review. In the case of oil there are considerable uncertainties both about the level which prices might reach by the end of the century and the path which will be followed. The range of uncertainty embraces both figures mentioned in the hon. Members's question. The price of oil is important for depletion policy and influences the terms of competition between fuels in the energy market. But many other factors also enter into the prices of the other fuels and no unique relationship with world oil prices can be assumed.

Nationalised Industries (Advertising Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total amount spent on advertising, as between the press, television and other forms, by each of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible.

This is a matter for the industries concerned and I have asked the chairmen to write to the hon. Member.

Nationality Law

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what are the rights which accompany the status of citizenship of the British dependent territories as outlined in Cmnd. 7987;(2) what are the rights which accompany the status of British overseas citizenship as outlined in Cmnd. 7987.

I have been asked to reply.The forthcoming Bill will not deal with civic rights, which will continue to depend on the laws of the country or territory concerned. All such citizens will be entitled to protection overseas in the same way as any other British national, and will be eligible to hold passports describing their citizenship.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people are likely to be affected in each of the three categories of citizenship outlined in Cmnd. 7987 (a) British citizenship, (b) citizenship of the British dependent territories and (c) British overseas citizenship; and which are the countries particularly affected in the second and third categories.

I have been asked to reply.Precise figures are not available. It is thought that about 57 million will become British citizens. About 3 million will become citizens of the British dependent territories by virtue of connections with the dependencies mentioned in appendix C to Cmnd. 7987. About 1.5 million people are likely to become British overseas citizens. A high proportion of them live in India, Malaysia and East Africa.

Home Department

Migrant Workers

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the fact that there are now over 2·1 million persons unemployed in the United Kingdom, he will review the continuance of permanent settlement by migrant workers in the United Kingdom after a period of approved employment, in accordance with the terms of a recommendation revised in 1949.

Maintaining conditions for a period beyond four years would not of itself reduce the number of overseas workers in employment in this country. Effective control depends on limiting the availabilty of work permits, as the Government have done, to those holding recognised professional qualifications or having a high degree of skill or experience and whose engagement is essential.

Firemen

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of firemen in service at the latest available date and on the equivalent date in each of the preceding five years.

The full-time and part-time strengths—including control-room staff—of fire brigades in England and Wales as at 31 December in 1979 and each of the preceding five years, were as follows:

Full time
1974	31,117
1975	32,550
1976	32,592
1977	32,276
1978	34,003
1979	35,916
Part-time (excluding whole-time members with retaining obligations)
1974	14,011
1975	14,701
1976	15,065
1977	14,925
1978	14,645
1979	14,612

Traffic Wardens

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the establishment for traffic wardens employed by the Metropolitan Police; and how many were in post in each month from January 1980 to November 1980.

Actual strengths were as follows, against a ceiling of 1980:

January	1,076
February	1,071
March	1,059
April	1,068
May	1,067
June	1,083
July	1,076
August	1,086
September	1,087
October	l,096
November	1,134

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the authorised and actual strength of the traffic wardens on duty in Hyde Park; and whether they are attached to the Metropolitan Police and receive similar pay to Metropolitan Police wardens.

At the request of the Department of the Environment, three Metropolitan Police traffic wardens are deployed in Hyde Park during the summer months. The answer to the second part of the question is "Yes".

Mr Dassu (Immigrant Sponsorship)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will prosecute for fraud the man named as Dassu in the Times Law Report on Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department, ex parte Ibrahim, on 28 March 1980 in connection with his fraudulent sponsorship of four immigrants for entry on the grounds that he intended to marry each one of them.

On 19 May 1980 at Preston Crown court Mr. Dassu was convicted on four charges under section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment in respect of each charge, the sentences to run concurrently.

Metropolitan Police

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ratio of Metropolitan Police to population in the Metropolitan Police area in each year since the present establishment was fixed.

The present establishment was set in 1979, but in the last 10 years the ratio of police officers to population on 31 December has been as follows:—

1970	1:385
1971	1:370
1972	1:368
1973	1:374
1974	1:367
1975	1:358
1976	1:337
1977	1:341
1978	1:339
1979	1:328

London Fire Brigade

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ratio of London Fire Brigade to population in the London Fire Brigade area in each year since 1970.

The figures which could be provided within the compass of a parliamentary answer would be misleading. I shall write to the hon. Member.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Data Protection

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if Her Majesty's Government are prepared to sign on 28 January 1981 in Strasbourg the convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 17 September 1980;(2) whether Her Majesty's Government, after signing the Council of Europe convention on the automatic processing of personal data, will take effective measures to speed up the ratification procedure in order to ensure that it comes into effect as quickly as possible.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department is examining policy on data protection. Once his findings are available the Government will consider whether the United Kingdom can sign and later ratify the convention.

European Community

Conservative European Reform Group

asked the Lord Privy seal if he will make a statement, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Flint West (Sir A. Meyer) on 3 December, Official Report, column 395, explaining how the aims of the Conservative European Reform Group are incompatible with continued membership of the European Economic Community.

My hon. Friend wrote to my right hon. Friend about this on 4 December. We are considering this question and the points he made in his letter carefully and will reply as soon as possible.

Industry

Machine Tool Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much has been spent on research and development programmes for the machine tool industry for each year since 1970 at constant prices; and if he is satisfied that there is sufficient investment in this field.

Information available to the Department on expenditure on research and development of metal-working machine tools within industry is obtained by survey every three years. The details in current prices and estimates at constant (1975) prices are as follows:

	Current prices	constant prices^*
	£ million	£ million
1969	5·3	11·7
1972	2·8	4·8
1975	5·7	5·7
1978	8·8	5·8
^*The deflator used is appropriate to a wider group of industries, of which machine tool manufacture forms a part.

The adequacy of this investment is essentially a matter for industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what aid has been given to the machine tool industry, and in what forms, for each of the last 10 years at constant prices.

The Department of Industry and its predecessors have provided assistance to the machine tool industry for each year since 1970 as follows:

	£000 current prices	£000 1975 prices
1970	1,159	2,113
1971	760	1,265
1972	3,088	4,863
1973	4,602	6,670
1974	3,676	4,552
1975	26,399	26,399
1976	1,452	1,225
1977	1,646	1,194
1978	4,171	2,733
1979	7,226	4,228

These figures represent the totals of assistance given each year under the pre-production order scheme between 1970 and 1974, the additional and accelerated order scheme, the machine tool industry scheme, the product and process development scheme, the microprocessor applications project, the selective investment scheme and to Alfred Herbert Ltd., and KTM Ltd.

Nationalised Industries (Advertising Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total amount spent on advertising, as between the press, television and other forms, by each of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible.

This is a matter for the industries concerned.

Non-Assisted Areas

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how appropriate local authorities will be consulted in the Government's review of the areas which under present proposals will become non-assisted in August 1982.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1980]: Areas due to become non-assisted by being downgraded two or more steps will be the subject of a special review before descheduling takes final effect in August 1982. It will take into account representations made by local authorities in the areas under review.

Cable And Wireless Limited

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will list the Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth Governments who were consulted about the implications of clause 76, selling of shares in Cable and Wireless Ltd., of the British Telecommunications Bill, prior to Second Reading of the Bill on 2 December 1980; and what was the reaction of the governments consulted.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1980]: The Government initiated consultations last month with the Governments of the 30 or so countries, including Commonwealth countries, associated States and dependent territories in which Cable and Wireless provides telecommunications services under a franchise, on the basis that Her Majesties Government were including in the British Telecommunications Bill powers to enable shares in Cable and Wireless to be sold, but that no decision had been taken. The Government have undertaken that no final decision will be made without seeking the view of the Governments concerned. Reactions so far have been limited.

Scotland

School Leavers (Unemployment)

46.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to alleviate unemployment amongst Scottish youngsters who will be leaving school this month.

We have substantially expanded the youth opportunities programme this year, and we have announced a further major expansion of the programme for 1981–82.

Perinatal And Infant Mortality

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates for Scotland in 1979 and the first half of 1980 by health board areas.

The figures are given in the table below.

Perinatal and Infant Mortality Rates, Health Board Areas, Scotland, 1979 and 1980
Health Board Area	Perinatal Mortality Rate^*		Infant Mortality Rate†
	1979	First half 1980	1979	First half 1980
Highland	14	11	14	16
Orkney	20	8	4	—
Shetland	11	11	11	—
Western Isles	2	11	5	—
Grampian	13	7	8	7
Tayside	10	14	8	9
Fife	15	11	12	12
Lothian	14	13	13	14
Borders	18	20	17	9
Forth Valley	14	16	12	14
Argyll and Clyde	16	16	14	13
Greater Glasgow	13	16	13	14
Lanarkshire	15	13	14	11
Ayrshire and Arran	19	19	16	16
Dumfries and Galloway	13	17	15	19
Scotland	14	14	13	13
^* Stillbirths and deaths in first week of life per 1,000 births, live and still.
† Deaths in first year of life per 1,000 live births.

Local Government

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the appointees to the committee of inquiry into local government in Scotland represent any particular interests; and, if so, which interests.

My right hon. Friend appointed the members of this committee, not as representatives of particular interests, but in anticipation of the individual contribution which he expected they would be able to make, drawing from their varied backgrounds in local government, central Government, industry and academic life.

Code Of Civic Government

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland 'when a Bill will be introduced to Parliament implementing the proposals for a code of civic government in Scotland outlined in Cmnd. 7958.

The Civic Government (Scotland) Bill will be a high priority for the Scottish legislative programme in the parliamentary Session 1981–82, but I am holding it in readiness in case an opportunity occurs for earlier introduction. This will depend upon the progress of other Scottish Bills. If the Bill is not introduced until 1981–82 I will ensure then that it provides for a short deferment of the expiry of the Burgh Police Acts and local Acts, which are at present due to expire at the end of 1982. Such a deferment would give local authorities more time to consider the case for renewing their own local legislation after the passage of the proposed Civic Government (Scotland) Bill.

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Q4.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements on 9 December.

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 9 December.

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q29.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q31.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 9 December.

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q34.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

Q35.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q36.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 December.

Q40.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 December.

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

European Heads Of Government

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister when she will next meet European Heads of Government.

At the European Council meeting on 23 and 24 March in the Netherlands.

Health And Safety At Work

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the light of the recent leak of industrial propane at Wealdstone, she will publish the review of the cost-efficency of methods of implementing policy on health and safety at work carried out by the Central Policy Review Staff; and whether she will make a statement.

There are no plans to publish the review by the Central Policy Review Staff. It has no bearing on the capability of the Health and Safety Executive in relation to incidents such as that which occurred at Wealdstone on 20 November.

Paymaster General

Ql1.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will dismiss the Paymaster General.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 25 November.

Economic Policies

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received concerning the adverse effects on Wales of the economic policies of Her Majesty's Government.

I have received a number of letters from hon. Members and members of the public.

Education And Science

Student Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report on a yearly basis since 1973 (i) the number of pupils leaving school in England, (ii) the number of pupils leaving school in England after sitting the GEC A-level examinations, (iii) the number of students entering polytechnics, universities, and colleges of higher education, excluding those entering for teacher training and (iv) the number of students entering teacher training courses, excluding the postgraduate certificate, in polytechnics End colleges of higher education.

The numbers of school leavers entering colleges of higher education are not distinguished separately from the numbers entering other further education establishments. The table below shows the numbers of leavers, the numbers who had attempted A-level examinations and the total numbers entering universities, polytechnics and ail other further education establishments to follow degree courses, teacher training courses and all other courses at both advanced and non-advanced levels.

School leavers in England
(Total)
			School leavers entering full-time Higher and Full time education
A-level year	A-level leavers	Leavers who had attempted A-level examinations	Degree Course exc B.Ed	Teacher Training College inc B.Ed	Other Further Education Courses
1973–74	641·80	114·23	41·84	14·92	70·77
1974–75	651·71	115·01	42·90	13·41	83·65
1975–76	666·59	119·59	47·03	8·63	90·56
1976–77	707·51	126·21	49·33	5·58	98·24
1977–78	724·32	126·97	52·61	3·94	100·39
1978–79 (prov)	737·37	128·05	54·29	3·84	99·41

Pupil Behaviour

asked the Secretary of State for Educaton and Science if he will list the changes which have taken place by way of statute, or in consequence of circulars from his Department, in the sanctions available to heads of school and teachers for handling misbehaving pupils since the passing of the Education Act 1944.

None.

Burnham Primary And Secondary Committee

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now agree to giving the National Association of the Teachers of Wales (UCAC) representation on the Burnham primary and secondary committee.

My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet completed his review of the membership of the Burnham primary and secondary committee. He will announce his decision on the application for membership from the National Association of the Teachers of Wales when the review is complete.

Special Needs

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report those local authorities that are described in paragraph 38, page 13, of the White Paper "Special Needs in Education" (Cmnd. 7996) as

"pursuing the good practice that already provides a substantial base on which to build".

No. Examples of good practice in difference aspects of special education are to be found in varying degrees throughout the education service and comparisons of the kind invited by this question would be invidious.

Expenditure Cuts

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish the review that has been made by Her Majesty's inspectors of education of the effect of cuts in the educational service, which is now being considered by the Expenditure Steering Group on Education.

I am willing to consider making publicly available in due course the report now in preparation by Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Expenditure Steering Group for Education Services. I wish, however, to take into account the group's views.

Arts And Social Science Courses

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students were enrolled in each year of each arts and social science course at each polytechnic in England and Wales in 1979–80 and 1980–81.

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

Cytomegalovirus Vaccine

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made on the cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine; if there is any evidence that it can be reactivated in pregnancy; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised that a small trial of a potential cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine on renal transplant patients is continuing at St. George's hospital medical school and King's college hospital. I understand, however, that, although further patients have been entered into the trial, it is too early for any firm conclusions to be drawn from it.I am advised that epidemiological studies of CMV infection in pregnancy are continuing at St. Bartholomew's and Charing Cross hospitals. The Medical Research Council has recently awarded grant support to the research workers conducting these studies, to enable them to follow up those children identified with congenital CMV infection.The Medical Research Council is not at present supporting any research directed towards establishing whether CMV can be reactivated in pregnancy. The council is always willing to consider support for any soundly based research proposals.

Burnham (Further Education) Committee

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is delaying the admission of a representative of the Association of Polytechnic Teachers to the Burnham (further education) committee; and by what date he expects a representative of the Association of Polytechnic Teachers to have been so admitted.

My right hon. and learned Friend intends that further consultations should be undertaken before he announces a decision about the association's application for admission of a representative to the Burnham further education committee.

Legal Aid

asked the Attorney-General, under the latest revision of the legal aid rules, what proportion of the population he estimates are now potentially eligible for legal aid; and what was the proportion previously.

As undertaken in the reply to the hon. Member on 13 November 1980 by the Solicitor-General, the Lord Chancellor has written to him about this matter, and I have arranged for a copy of that letter to be placed in the Library.

Family Law

asked the Attorney-General, in view of the large number of cases where the application of the "child of the family" aspect in cases under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, section 25(3), has resulted in the prevention of subsequent remarrying due to the financial implications of the court's judgment, if he will investigate the effect of the law and bring forward any necessary amendments to alleviate the situation.

There is no evidence to suggest that there is a large number of cases of the particular kind my hon. Friend describes. The aim of section 25(3) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 is to achieve a fair balance between the interests of all those concerned, including the person who is not the natural parent of the child. The Lord Chancellor is not convinced of the need to investigate the effect of this provision.

asked the Attorney-General what representations he has received on the "child of the family" aspect where the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 in divorce proceedings results in the financial responsibility being allocated to a person who is not the natural father of the child in question and where the natural father is still alive.

Three representations have been received, of which one was from my hon. Friend.

Court Actions (Publication Of Documents)

asked the Attorney-General if he will seek to amend the law to ensure that when documents have already been read out in open court it is not open to parties to pursue an action for contempt when the texts of such documents are transmitted to third parties.

Notice of appeal has now been given in the case in which this issue, which is not correctly identified by the question, arose. In these circumstances it is not appropriate to consider whether or to what extent any change in the law would be desirable.

Social Services

Intra-Uterine Device

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many terminations of pregnancy were due to failure of the intra-uterine device; and how many malformed births were due to the intra-uterine device for the years 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to him on 3 June.—[Vol. 985, c. 633–4.]

Family Planning Clinics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the number and location of family planning clinics in England in 1977, 1978, 1979 and at the present date; and if he will name which of those clinics are scheduled for closure.

The numbers of family planning clinics in England in 1977, 1978 and 1979 were as follows:

1977	1,745
1978	1,735
1979	1,743

Information about the total number of clinics at present is not readily available.The remaining information for which the hon. Member has asked is not available centrally in the detail requested.

Special Care Baby Units

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the names and locations of hospitals possessing operational fully equipped intensive and special care baby units; how many such units there are; and how many intensive and special care baby cots there are in each hospital.

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 28 November—[Vol. 994, c. 293–96.]—the provision of intensive care for babies is a regional specialty. Details of the numbers of combined special and intensive care baby units and the numbers of cots available, as at March 1980, were given to the Social Services Committee and have been published in Volume V, pages 96–7, of its second report—(Session 1979–80 (HC 663-V)).Information about the location of the 243 hospitals having special care baby units and the numbers of cots they provide is given in the table below. The information relates to 1978, the latest year for which data are available.

Special Care Baby Units
Name of Hospital	Number of cots
Northern Region
Cameron Hospital, Hartlepool	15
North Tees General, Stockton-on-Tees	19

Name of Hospital	Number of cots
Middlesbrough Maternity Hospital, Middlesbrough	41
City Maternity Hospital, Carlisle	15
Helme Chase Maternity Hospital, Kendal	3
Risedale Maternity Hospital, Barrow-in-Furness	6
West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven	14
Workington Infirmary, Workington	3
Greenbank Maternity Hospital, Darlington	14
Dryburn Hospital, Durham	14
Shotley Bridge General Hospital, Consett	15
General Hospital, Bishop Auckland	15
Ashington Hospital, Ashington	14
Hexham General Hospital, Hexham	4
Bensham General Hospital, Bensham	5
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead	13
Princess Mary Maternity Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne	21
Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne	24
Preston Hospital, North Shields, Tyne und Wear	15
General Hospital, South Shields	14
Sunderland District General Hospital, Sunderland	32
Thorpe Maternity Hospital, Easington	16
Yorkshire Region
Maternity Hospital, Hedon Road, Hull	24
Westwood Hospital, Beverley	10
Avenue Hospital, Bridlington	8
Grimsby Maternity Hospital, Grimsby	25
Scunthorpe General Hospital, Scunthorpe	11
Scunthorpe Maternity Hospital, Scunthorpe	5
Maternity Hospital, Northallerton	6
Maternity Hospital, Fulford	20
Scarborough Hospital, Scarborough	6
New Harrogate District Hospital, Harrogate	9
Bradford Royal Infirmary Maternity Unit, Bradford 9	18
St. Luke's Maternity Hospital, Bradford 5	25
Airedale General Hospital, Keighley	14
Halifax General Hospital, Halifax	18
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Huddersfield	18
Staincliffe General Hospital, Dewsbury	20
The Maternity Hospital at Leeds, Hyde Terr, Leeds	28
Wharedale Hospital, (Otley Branch) Otley	1
St. James' Hospital, Leeds 9	27
St. Mary's Hospital, Armley, Leeds	7
Many gates Hospital, Wakefield	14
Pontefract General Infirmary, Pontefract	27
Trent Region
City Hospital, Derbyshire	28
Scarsdale Hospital, Chesterfield	27
Leicester General Hospital, Leicester	17
St. Mary's Hospital, Melton Mowbray	3
Leicester Roual Infirmary (Maternity Unit) Infirmary Square	25
Prigrim Hospital, Boston	13
Grantham and Kesteven General Hospital, Grantham	10
Lincoln County Hospital, Sewell Road, Lines	21
King's Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield	28
Kilton Hospital, Worksop	8
Nottingham City Hospital, Huchnall Road, Notts	42
Highbury Hospital, Bulwell	6
Nottingham Hospital for Women, Peel Street, Notts	9
Barnsley District General Hospital, Barnsley	20
Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Doncaster	24
Moorgate General Hospital, Rotherham	14
Northern General Hospital, Sheffield 5	18
lessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield 3	18
Nether Edge Hospital, Union Road, Sheffield	18
East Anglian Region
Maternity Hospital, Mill Road, Cambridge	24
Peterborough District Hospital (Maternity Wing) Thorpe Road	20
Stamford and Rutland Hospital, Stamford	2
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Norwich	22
Northgate Hospital, Great Yarmouth	16
District General Hospital, Kings Lynn	18
Bowthorpe Maternity Hospital, Wisbech	4

Name of Hospital	Number of cots
New West Suffolk Hospital, Suffolk	12
Ipswich Hospital (Heath Road Wing), Ipswich	22
North West Thames Region
Bedford General Hospital (North and South Wings) Kempston and Kimbolton Roads, Bedford	14
Luton and Dunstable Hospital (Maternity Wing) Luton	33
Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City	14
Hemel Hempstead General Hospital (St. Paul's Wing),
Hemel Hempstead, Herts	12
St. Albans City Hospital (Normandy Road and Mid Herts Wings), St. Albans, Herts.	12
Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road	20
North Herts Maternity Hospital, Hitchin	20
Victoria Maternity Hospital, Barnet	12
Edgware General Hospital, Edgware	20
Central Middlesex Hospital, Park Royal, London NW	18
Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow	24
West Middlesex Hospital, Isle worth	23
Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road	12
Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road	20
Perivale Maternity Hospital, Western Avenue	8
Hillingdon Hospital, Hillingdon	14
St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, W2	13
St. Mary's Hospital, Harrow Road, W9	14
Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, WI	10
St. Stephen's Hospital, Chelsea, SW10	9
North-East Thames Region
Orsett Hospital, Orsett	6
Basildon Hospital, Nethermayne, Basildon	21
St. John's Hospital, Chelmsford	16
Colchester Maternity, Colchester	15
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow	18
St. Margaret's Hospital, Epping	5
General Hospital, Rochford	16
Rush Green Hospital, Romford	20
Harold Wood Hospital, Harold Wood	18
Royal Free New Hospital, Pont Street, NW3	18
University College Hospital, Gower Street, WC1	19
Whittington Hospital, London, N19	16
City of London Maternity Hospital, London, N4	14
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, EC1	8
The Mothers Hospital (Salvation Army), London E5	15
Forest Gate Hospital, London E7	9
Plaistow Maternity Hospital, Plaistow, E13	9
London Hospital (Whitechapel), London E1	12
London Hospital (Mile End) Bancroft Road, E1	6
Enfield and District Hospital (Chase Wing), Enfield	19
North Middlesex Hospital, Edmonton, N18	21
Bearstead Memorial Hospital, N16	2
Barking Hospital, Barking, Essex	18
Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, E11	20
South-East Thames Region
Buchanan Hospital, St. Leonards-on-Sea	12
Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton	22
Eastbourne District Hospital, Eastbourne	12
Buckland Hospital, Dover	5
Willesborough Hospital, Ashford, Kent	6
Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury	12
Isle of Thanet District Hospital, Ramsgate	10
Gravesend and North Kent Hospital, Gravesend	7
West Hill Hospital, Dartford	8
West Kent General Hospital, Maidstone	10
All Saints Hospital, Chatham	15
Pembury Hospital, Pembury	12
Queen Mary's, Sidcup, Kent	14
Bexley Maternity	1
Greenwich District Hospital, Greenwick	20
British Hospital for Mothers and Babies, London, SE18	14
Bromley Hospital, Bromley	15
Farnborough Hospital, Farnborough	10
Beckenham Maternity Hospital, Beckenham	6
St. Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road SE1	19

Name of Hospital	Number of cots
King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5	20
Guy's Hospital, London SE1	14
Lewisham Hospital, London SE13	25
South-West Thames Region
Ashford Hospital, Ashford	12
St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey	28
Frimley Park, Frimley	20
St. Luke's Hospital, Guildford	14
Epsom District Hospital, Epsom	14
Redhill District Hospital, Redhill	12
Royal West Sussex Hospital, Chichester	17
Crawley Hospital, Crawley	12
Cuckfield Hospital, Haywards Heath	6
Southlands Hospital, Shoreham-by-Sea	12
Mayday Hospital, Thornton Heath	20
Kingston Hospital, Kingston-on-Thames	13
St. George's Hospital, Tooting Grove, SW17	8
South London Hospital for Women and Children, London SW4	9
St. Helier Hospital, Carshalton	15
Wessex Region
Royal Victoria Hospital, Bournemouth	12
Poole General Hospital, Poole	16
Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester	13
St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth	30
Southampton General, Shirley	20
Royal Hants County Hospital, Winchester	14
Basingstoke District General Division, Basingstoke	14
Salisbury General Hospital, Salisbury	14
Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon	33
Bradford-on-Avon Maternity Hospital, Bradford-on-Avon	1
St. Martin's Hospital, Bath	15
St. Mary's Hospital, Newport	9
Oxford Region
Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot	15
Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Taplow, Maidenhead	18
Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading	36
Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, Aylesbury	12
Wycombe General Hospital, High Wycombe	20
Kettering and District General Hospital, Kettering	15
Northampton General Hospital, Northampton	36
Horton General Hospital, Banbury, Oxon	15
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford	27
South-Western Region
Bristol Maternity Hospital, Bristol	32
Southmead General Hospital, Bristol	36
Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro	20
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter	31
North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple	6
Plymouth General Hospital, Plymouth	24
Cheltenham Maternity Hospital, Cheltenham	12
Gloucester Maternity Hospital, Gloucester	20
Yeovil General Hospital, Yeovil	6
Taunton and Somerset Hospital, Taunton	20
West Midlands Region
County Hospital, Hereford	12
Bromsgrove General Hospital, Bromsgrove	17
Worcester Royal Infirmary, Worcester	20
Copthorne Hospital, Shrewsbury	22
Burton-on-Trent General Hospital, Burton-on-Trent	19
North Staffordshire Maternity Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent	30
George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton	22
St. Mary's Hospital, Harborough Magna, near Rugby	5
Monroe Devis Maternity Home, Tiddington	1
Wameford General Hospital, Leamington Spa	15
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Maternity, Edgbaston	36
Good Hospital, Sutton Coldfield	22
Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham 29	8
Sorrento Maternity Hospital, Birmingham 13	32
Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham 18	25

Name of Hospital	Number of cots
Walsgrave Hospital, Walsgrave-on-Sowe	30
Wordsley Hospital, Stourbridge	7
Hallam Hospital, West Bromwich	14
Solihull Hospital, Solihull	14
Marston Green Maternity Hospital, Marston Green	39
Manor Hospital, Walsall	15
New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton	26
Mersey Region
West Cheshire Hospital, Chester	29
Leighton Hospital, near Crewe	15
Macclesfield Hospital, Macclesfield	10
Warrington District General Hospital, Warrington	18
Sefton General Hospital, Liverpool 15	6
Liverpool Maternity Hospital, Liverpool 7	24
Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool 14	10
Mill Road Maternity Hospital, Liverpool 6	31
Whiston Hospital, Prescot	24
Christiana Hartley Maternity Hospital, Southport	11
Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool	20
Victoria Central Hospital, Wallasey	4
St. Catherine's Hospital, Birkenhead	18
Grange Mount Maternity Hospital, Birkenhead	3
Clatterbridge Hospital, Merseyside	10
North-Western Region
Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Lancaster	16
Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Blackpool	24
Royal Infirmary, Preston	15
Sharoe Green Hospital, Preston	14
Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn	20
Burnley General Hospital, Burnley	17
Ormskirk and District General Hospital, Ormskirk	12
Bolton District General Hospital, Bolton	21
Fairfield General Hospital, Bury	17
North Manchester General Hospital, Manchester	22
St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester 13	23
Withington Hospital, West Didsbury	18
Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester 23	11
Oldham and District General Hospital, Oldham	19
Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale	15
Hope Hospital, Salford 6	21
Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport	22
Tameside General Hospital, Ashton-under-Lyme	24
Park Hospital, Urmston	12
Billinge Hospital, Orrell, near Wigan	25
London Postgraduate Hospitals
Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital, London W6	20

Pregnancies

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of women reported their pregnancies by (a) 12 weeks, (b) 16 weeks, (c) 20 weeks and (d) 25 weeks in each area health authority in 1977, 1978, 1979 and the first half of 1980.

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 3 June—[Vol. 985, c. 621.]—this information is not collected centrally.

Rubella

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many girls aged between 11 and 14 years there were in each area health authority in 1978, 1979 and the first half of 1980; and what percentage in each year were vaccinated against rubella.

Information about numbers in age groups by areas is not held centrally. As part of the rubella vaccination campaign, the Department asked area health authorities to report the situation obtaining on 30 June 1980. Replies have not yet been received from all areas but, in a majority of the replies, the uptake of rubella vaccination among school girls is now over 80 per cent. of the target population.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of rubella were reported in 1978, 1979 and in 1980 up to the last date for which figures are available.

Rubella is not a notifiable disease, but returns to the Royal College of General Practitioners from a representative sample of practices show the national trend, expressed as a weekly rate per 100,000 of the population of all ages, to be as follows:

1978	13·4
1979	8·7
^*1980	5·6
^* Up to 11 November.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he has any plans to continue the campaign warning against the dangers of rubella; and if he will make a statement;(2) which health authorities are undertaking rubella campaigns similar to that run by his Department in 1979; and whether any such campaign has been stopped because of financial constraints.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 3 June.—[Vol. 985, c. 619–620.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the incidence of congenital rubella, by area health authority, in 1979.

Details of the position at 1 March 1980 were given in my reply to the hon. Member on 3

Numbers, and rates per 1,000 total births, of babies born with congenital malformations, by mother's age, 1977–79, England and Wales
Mother's age		1977	1978	1979
Under 15^*	Number	9	6	7
	Rate	38	27	29
15–19^*	Number	1229	1288	1311
	Rate	22·4	22·8	22·0
20–29	Number	8102	8278	8571
	Rate	21·0	20·9	20·5
30–34	Number	2132	2219	2549
	Rate	21·0	19·5	20·1
35 and over	Number	739	820	869
	Rate	23·1	23·6	22·6
Age not stated	Number	193	156	222
^* Figures for mothers aged under16 and 16–19 are not available.

Note: Figures are derived from a voluntary system of notifying congenital malformations observed at birth or up to seven days after birth and are therefore an incomplete measure of the total number of affected infants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the total number of births to the following age groups: (a) under 16 years, (b) 16–19 years, (c) 20–29 years, (d) 30–35 years and (e) 35 years and over in 1978, 1979 and the first half of 1980; and what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates for each group.

June.—[Vol. 985 c. 620.] A further seven cases had been notified to the national congenital rubella surveillance scheme by 30 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services hove many pregnancies were terminated in 1979 because of (a) maternal rubella disease, (b) maternal rubella contact and (c) maternal rubella immunisation.

The figures for England and Wales are (a) 431; (b) 144; (c) 156.

Births (Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of (a) all births and (b) births in National Health Service hospitals were induced in 1976, 1977, 19'78, 1979 and the first half of 1980, respectively; and what were the perinatal mortality rates for these births.

In 1978, the latest year for which figures are available, the estimated number of inductions as a percentage of all deliveries in NHS hospitals in England and Wales was 36·3 per cent. The comparable figures for hospital inductions as a percentage of all births was 33·4 per cent. The perinatal mortality rate for these births is not readily available. Information for 1976 and 1977 was given in my reply to the hon. Member on 3 June. —[Vol. 985, c. 623.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the rates of congenital malformations per 1,000 total births for babies of women (a) under 16 years, (b) 16–19 years, (c) 20–29 years, (d) 30–35 years and (e) over 35 years for 1977, 1978, 1979, and for the first half of 1980.

The following are the figures. Information for the first half of 1980 is not available.

The latest available figures for perinatal and infant mortality by age of mother are for 1978. Numbers of births by age of mother for the first half of 1980 are not yet available.The following are the figures:

Births by age of mother, 1978 and 1979
Infant and perinatal mortality, rates by age of mother, 1978
			England and Wales
	Total births (live and still)		Perinatal mortality rate	Infant mortality rate
Age of mother	1978	1979	1978	1978
Under 16	1,401	1,391	24·3	15·9
16–19	55,198	58,331	20·7	18·8
20–29	396,261	418,424	14·2	12·6
30–34	113,988	126,622	14·1	10·9
35+over	34,678	38,385	23·4	14·1

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of births to single women in 1977, 1978, 1979 and the first half of 1980; and what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates and the comparable figures for all births.

Illegitimate births (live and still) and perinatal and infant mortality rates in respect of illegitimate births, and comparable figures for all births in 1977, 1978, 1979 in England and Wales
Year	Illegitimate			Total
	Total births	Perinatal mortality^*	Infant mortality†	Total births	Perinatal mortality^*	Infant mortality†
1977	56,078	23·3	20·1	574,664	17·0	13·8
1978	61,336	21·1	18·2	601,526	15·5	13·2
1979	70,189	Not available	Not available	643,153	14·7	12·8
^* Rates per 1,000 live and still births
† Rates per 1,000 live births

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the number and percentage of total births of babies weighing (a) 2,500 grams or less, (b) 2,000 grams or less and (c) 1,500 grams or less, and the stillbirth, perinatal and neonatal rates for each group for 1977, 1978, 1979 and the first half of 1980.

Information for 1977 and 1978 was given in my reply to the hon. Member on 3 June—[Vol. 985, c. 625–26]. The figures for 1978 have since been revised and they, together with figures for 1979, are given below. Information is not yet available for 1980.

	1978	1979
Babies weighing 2,500 grams or less
Live	37,068	40,748
Still	3,105	3,125
Total	40,173	43,873
1. Percentage of total births	7·1	7·2
2. Stillbirth rate per thousand live and stillbirths	77·3	71·2
3. Perinatal deaths per thousand live and stillbirths	141·6	132·1
4. Neonatal deaths per thousand live births	79·8	74·4
Babies weighing 2,000 grams or less
Live	10,976	12,043
Still	2,383	2,363
Total	13,359	14,406
1. Percentage of total births	2·4	2·4

The information is not available for single women. The following table shows illegitimate births and mortality rates for 1977 and 1978 and comparable figures for all births for 1977, 1978 and 1979. Figures of mortality rates for illegitimate babies in 1979 and of comparable mortality rates for all babies in the first half of 1980 are not available.

	1978	1979
2. Stillbirth rate per thousand live and stillbirths	178·4	164·0
3. Perinatal death rate per thousand live and stillbirths	337·6	317·8
4. Neonatal death rate per thousand live and stillbirths	217·4	206·7
Babies weighing 1,500 grams or less Live	4,162	4,526
Still	1,586	1,590
Total	5,748	6,116
1. Percentage of total births	1·0	1·0
2. Stillbirth rate per thousand live and stillbirths	275·9	2600
3. Perinatal death rate per thousand live and stillbirths	556·2	542·2
4. Neonatal death rate per thousand live and stillbirths	433·0	426·7

Perinatal And Infant Mortality

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates for England in 1979 and the first half of 1980, by region and area health authority.

The final figures for 1979 are in the following table. Figures for the first half of 1980 are not available.

Area	Infant death rate per 1,000 live births	Perinatal death rate per 1,000 total births
England	12·8	14·6
Regional and area health authority
Northern	13·3	16·4
Cleveland	14·2	16·2
Cumbria	14·3	16·2
Durham	14·0	16·2
Northumberland	10·3	13·2
Gateshead	12·7	17·8
Newcastle upon Tyne	15·3	171
North Tyneside	13·0	20·9
South Tyneside	8·9	16·7
Sunderland	12·6	15·6
Yorkshire	14·3	16·6
Humberside	13·0	161
North Yorkshire	11·3	14·4
Bradford	161	18·0
Calderdale	21·2	18·7
Kirklees	14·6	15·8
Leeds	13·8	17·3
Wakefield	16·1	17·6
Trent	12·5	14·6
Derbyshire	11·7	13·6
Leicestershire	13·4	15·0
Lincolnshire	9·4	13·5
Nottinghamshire	13·6	16·0
Barnsley	18·2	18·0
Doncaster	11·4	15·1
Rotherham	12·3	15·8
Sheffield	11·8	11·9
East Anglia	12·6	130
Cambridgeshire	12·3	131
Norfolk	13·2	13·6
Suffolk	12·3	12·1
North West Thames	11·7	13·2
Bedfordshire	12·0	16·9
Hertfordshire	12·1	11·9
Barnet	10·5	10·4
Brent and Harrow	11·3	13·1
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow	11·5	13·3
Hillingdon	13·0	12·6
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster	11·1	12·7
North East Thames	11·9	13·5
Essex	9·4	11·2
Barking and Havering	13·9	14·2
Camden and Islington	14·3	14·4
City and East London	14·2	17·9
Enfield and Haringey	12·0	12·2
Redbridge and Waltham Forest	13·4	14·5
South East Thames	13·1	14·1
East Sussex	12·6	13·6
Kent	11·7	14·0
Greenwich and Bexley	14·8	13·6
Bomley	9·7	11·7
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham	16·2	15·5
South West Thames	11·1	13·3
Surrey	10·8	10·8
West Sussex	12·0	16·8
Croydon	12·2	16·3
Kingston and Richmond	9·4	11·6
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	10·7	12·7
Wessex	12·8	12·8
Dorset	14·2	120
Hampshire	11·8	11·8
Wiltshire	14·1	15·7
Isle of Wight	14·9	16·4
Oxford	11·3	11·6
Berkshire	11·6	10·7
Buckinghamshire	10·2	12·5
Northamptonshire	12·3	13·5

Area	Infant death rate per 1,000 live births	Perinatal death rate per 1,000 total births
Oxfordshire	10·8	9·8
South Western	12·0	13·3
Avon	12·5	14·7
Cornwall and Isles of Stilly	13·2	14·9
Devon	10·8	11·4
Gloucestershire	10·1	10·8
Somerset	14·6	15·5
West Midlands	13·8	16·8
Hereford and Worcester	12·3	14·3
Salop	13·9	16·9
Staffordshire	13·1	15·7
Warwickshire	14·7	15·5
Birmingham	14·9	16·4
Coventry	151	19·0
Dudley	12·1	18·8
Sandwell	17·4	22·6
Solihull	11·9	15·9
Walsall	11·2	16·7
Wolverhampton	13·5	19·2
Mersey	13·0	15·6
Cheshire	12·8	15·5
Liverpool	11·4	14·8
St. Helens and Knowsley	15·7	20·4
Sefton	11·2	13·2
Wirral	14·4	13·1
North-Western	13·8	15·9
Lancashire	12·3	15·1
Bolton	15·6	18·4
Bury	15·6	13·9
Manchester	18·5	15·4
Oldham	13·2	14·6
Rochdale	15·5	16·5
Salford	17·2	22·2
Stockport	9·7	13·3
Tameside	11·0	18·3
Trafford	12·6	13·9
Wigan	12·9	16·9

Blood Sales

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what inquiries he has made into the sale of blood given by donors to the National Blood Transfusion Service; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East, Official Report, 10 November, column 75, what progress has been made with his inquiries into the sale abroad of blood plasma through the National Heart Hospital in London.

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

Supplementary Benefit (Assessment)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is intended to include redundancy payments for the purposes of calculating capital resources when determining claims for supplementary benefits.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the effect of the Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulations 1980 in the case of a person receiving a redundancy payment in excess of £2,000 in September 1980 and disposing of all but £2,000 of that payment by the time he falls due to claim supplementary benefit.

The Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulations 1980 provide that capital resources of £2,000 or less shall be disregarded, and that where they exceed £2,000 the claimant shall not be entitled to supplementary benefit. Regulation 4(1) provides that any resource of which a person has deprived himself solely for the pupose of securing benefit may be treated as if it were still possessed by him.The question of entitlement to supplementary benefit in an individual case is for the independent adjudicating authorities (the benefit officer in the first instance) who will give a decision having regard to all the facts of that particular case, in the light of the regulations and case law decided by the social security commissioner as it evolves.

Prescription Charges

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much National Health Service prescription charges would have had to be increased in order to take account of inflation for each of the years 1970 to 1980; and what the actual prescription charges were in each of these years.

The figures below are based on June 1968, when prescription charges were reintroduced at 12·5p per item, and take account of the retail price index at June of each year.

Year	Charges increased in line with inflation	Actual charge
	(p)	(p)
1970	13·9	12·5
1971	15·4	^*20·0
1972	16·3	20·0
1973	17·8	20·0
1974	20·8	20·0
1975	26·2	20·0
1976	29·8	20·0
1977	35·1	200
1978	37·7	20·0
1979	42·0	†45·0
1980	50·8	‡70·0
		§100·0
^* (from 1 April 1971)
† (from 16 July 1979)
‡ (from 1 April 1980)
§ (from 1 December 1980)

Welfare Foods

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his intentions for the future of children's vitamin drops and vitamin tablets for expectant and nursing mothers.

Because of increased raw material and production costs, the United Kingdom Health Ministers have agreed that the following price increases will take effect from 5 January 1981 for vitamin supplements bought at clinics and welfare food distribution centres:

	Present Price	Increased Price
Children's vitamin drops (per bottle)	14p	16p
Vitamin tablets for expectant and nursing mothers (per container)	30p	33p

The Welfare Food Order, 1980, will require amendment to give effect to these changes and an amending order will be laid before the House in due course.The effect of the price increases will be that a family with an expectant mother and two children under 5 would pay about 1p extra a week. Vitamin supplements will continue to be available free in exchange for tokens under the Welfare Food Order 1980 for expectant and nursing mothers and young children in families receiving supplementary benefit, family income supplement or qualifying on grounds of low income.

Wales

National Park Authorities (Ministerial Appointments)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the names of the ministerial appointees to the boards or committees to each national park authority; and if he will indicate the years of their retirement.

The information is as follows:

	Current term expires
Snowdonia National Park Committee
Mr. R. S. Chapman	1982
Mr. E. Hammond	1981
Mr. J. Harrop	1983
Mr. F. W. Jarvis	1983
Mrs. E. Kirby	1981
Professor W. S. Lacey	1982
Mr. H. Lyall-Cottle	1981
Mrs. V. Webb	1983
Mr. E. Williams	1981
Brecon Beacons National Park Committee
Mrs. P.Brabner	1983
Mrs. S. J. Gittins	1981
Mr. R. Hosking	1981
Mr. D. W. Jenkins	1982
Mr. K. P. Mascetti	1981
Mr. M. Porter	1982
Mr. K. A. Powell	1982
Mr. D. A. Price	1981
Mr. D. R. Snowdon	1981
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Committee
Mrs. J. Asby	1983
Dr. R. G. Crump	1982
Mr. N. G. Haines	1981
Mrs. M. Herbert	1982
Mr. D. Lort-Phillips	1982
Mr. R. M. Powell	1983

Non-Teaching Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the £35 million allocated by the Government to protect and improve provision for non-teaching costs will be allocated to Welsh education authorities; and how much has been allocated to date.

The figure of £35 million, which is an England-only figure, relates to the whole period covered in the last public expenditure White Paper—Cmnd 7841—revalued to November 1979 prices. The equivalent Welsh figure amounts to £2·1 million. Of the combined England and Wales provision of £37·1 some £8 million was allowed for in the 1980–81 RSG settlement which was made on an England and Wales basis. Under the RSG system the way money is spent is a matter for the local authorities to determine themselves.

Rail Sidings (Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to remove the anomaly whereby firms can receive grants for meeting part of the costs of 'rail sidings, but such grants are not available when a local authority stipulates: as a planning condition that a new factory must have a rail link.

No, because in such circumstances the purpose of the grant is not met.

Leasehold Valuation Panels

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the leasehold valuation panels established under the Housing Bill to begin working; and when the necessary commencement order will be introduced.

I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

Perinatal And Infant Mortality Rates

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates for Wales in 1979 and the first half of 1980 by each area health authority.

Final figures for 1979 are as below:

	Infant mortality-rate per 1000 live births	Perinatal mortality-rate per 1000 total births
Clwyd	11·5	14·5
Dyfed	15·0	15·2
Gwent	10·8	16·6
Gwynedd	10·0	12·0
Mid Glamorgan	11·8	15·6
Powys	99	140
South Glamorgan	13·8	16·0
West Glamorgan	14·3	18·0
Wales	12·4	15·6

Data for the first half of 1980 are not yet available.

Roads

asked the. Secretary of State for Wales if there ire any plans to build a dual carriageway in Mid-Wales during the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Work has recently been completed on the Brecon southern bypass which is a dual carriageway. Short lengths of dual carriageway astride junctions are also incorporated in the Dolgellau bypass which is due to be opened next spring and some dual carriageway trunk road is being considered for the Welshpool relief roads scheme. The actual date of starts for the latter scheme is dependent on the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and on the availability of funds at that time. Generally speaking, however, traffic needs on trunk roads in Mid-Wales are met by the provision of good standard single carriageway roads.

Housing Policy

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with local authorities' housing policy in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I am studying the policies of the Welsh local authorities as expressed in their latest housing strategy and investment programme submissions. My first impression is that, in general, they are formulating their policies in a responsible way.

Welsh Water Authority

asked the Secretary of Slate for Wales what external financing limit and what target rate of return will be applied to the Welsh Water Authority in 1981–82.

The external financing limit for the Welsh Water Authority will be £29 million in 1981–82. Water authorities are being set financial targets in the form of a rate of current cost operating profit on the current value of their net assets. The WWA will be required to earn 0·3 per cent. in 1981–82 as the first step towards achieving a target of 1·25 per cent. by 1985–86.I know that the WWA is examining its budget for next year with the utmost care, to ensure that increases in charges are kept to the lowest level.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Aujeszky's Disease

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will amend his current legislation to enable the Meat and Livestock Commission to levy producers for the specific purpose of eradicating Aujeszky's disease;(2) if he will conduct a poll among pig producers to ascertain the level of support for a self-funded scheme to eradicate Aujeszky's disease.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to him and to my hon. Friend the Member for Eye (Mr. Gummer) on 4 December.

Employment

School Leavers

14.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what studies have been made by his Department of the increased number of school leavers to enter the labour market in the first half of the l980s as a result of the increase in the number of births in the 1960s.

The Government have estimates of the numbers of school leavers entering the labour market in successive academic years. The number is expected to peak at 715,000 in the current academic year and to decline thereafter. My Department has sponsored a number of research projects into the experience of school leavers entering the labour market.

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many special schemes for school leavers will be implemented in the Crewe travel-to-work area in the year 1980–81.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in the Crewe and Nantwich local authority district, which roughly approximates to the Crewe travel-to-work area, there were 600 places on approved schemes at the end of October 1980. Some 420 young people had already entered YOP by that date. The commission will keep the stock of places under review to ensure that no young person in the groups covered by the undertaking will be left without the offer of a place on the programme.

Young Persons (Employment Qualifications)

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure a closer liaison between the training boards and his Department on the one hand and schools on the other on the employment qualifications for young people.

The Manpower Services Commission (MSC), the industrial training boards and the Education Departments already work closely together on this important question, and my right hon. Friend is encouraging this. The Department of Employment and the Department of Education and Science now work more closely in this field than ever before.

Short-Time Working

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current estimated number of employees on short-time working in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with November 1979.

Information is available only for operatives in manufacturing industries in Great Britain. The numbers on short-time working, either for the whole or for part of the week in the weeks ended 13 September 1980 and 10 November 1979, were 368,000 and 64,700, respectively.

Jobcentres

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the work being undertaken by jobcentres with particular reference to their cost effectiveness and placing of people in new jobs as compared with the old employment exchanges.

I am generally satisfied with the work being undertaken by jobcentres. Jobcentres are more cost effective than the old employment exchanges, they are helping to place people in employment more quickly and the atmosphere they engender for job seekers has greatly improved. The increased volume of business handled by jobcentres means that staff productivity is higher and cost per placing lower than in other offices. Evaluation has also shown that, compared with the offices they replace, jobcentres handle more vacancies, fill more of the vacancies notified to them and place more job seekers into employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the future role of jobcentres.

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions he has given to the Manpower Services Commission in respect of the opening of new jobcentres.

I have informed the Manpower Services Commission that I support its jobcentre programme and its plans to complete it. However, the future pace of this programme will be affected by the resources available to the commission.

43.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for closing the jobcentres and reverting to the practice that all job vacancies are dealt with by local employment offices.

Until 1972 vacancies notified to the public employment service were handled in offices which also dealt with the payment of unemployment benefit. I have no proposals for reverting to that system, or for a general policy of closing jobcentres. Since modernisation, the public employment service has performed more efficiently. In particular, jobcentres, which are replacing the old style employment offices, handle more vacancies, fill more of the vacancies notified to them, place more jobseekers into employment and do so at a lower unit cost than the offices they are replacing. As a result, I have informed the Manpower Services Commission that I support its jobcentre programme and its plans to complete it. However, the future pace of the MSC's jobcentre programme will be determined in the light of resources available to the commission. I have also asked the MSC to develop the programme of modernising the employment service in the most cost-effective way and to avoid extravagance particularly in relation to the siting of jobcentres.

Unemployment Statistics

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the rise in unemployment in the United Kingdom since May 1979.

Between May 1979 and November 1980 the increase in the numbers registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, was 722,100.

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment.

At 13 November 1980 the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,162,874 compared with 1,355,203 at 8 November 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were in employment in each year since 1945, subdivided between men and women, part-timers and full-timers.

Comprehensive estimates of the numbers of all male and female employees in employment are available from mid-1948 to 1980 and of full-time and part-time employees from mid-1971 to 1977. The following table gives the available information for Great Britain.

Thousand
	Male			Female
	Full-time	Part-time	All	Full-time	Part-time	All
Mid-year
1948	—	—	13,273	—	—	6,721
1949	—	—	13,341	—	—	6,723
1950	—	—	13,447	—	—	6,871
1951	—	—	13,490	—	—	7,036
1952	—	—	13,499	—	—	6,990
1953	—	—	13,526	—	—	7,083
1954	—	—	13,678	—	—	7,282
1955	—	—	13,810	—	—	7,448
1956	—	—	13,966	—	—	7,551
1957	—	—	14,017	—	—	7,593
1958	—	—	13,948	—	—	7,502
1959(a)	—	—	13,984	—	—	7,581
1959(b)	—	—	13,824	—	—	7,159
1960	—	—	14,031	—	—	7,418
1961	—	—	14,202	—	—	7,586
1962	—	—	14,309	—	—	7,697
1963	—	—	14,330	—	—	7,731
1964	—	—	14,460	—	—	7,902
1965	—	—	14,565	—	—	8,055
1966	—	—	14,551	—	—	8,237
1967	—	—	14,214	—	—	8,133
1968	—	—	14,013	—	—	8,173
1969	—	—	13,891	—	—	8,257
1970	—	—	13,706	—	—	8,287
1971	12,840	584	13,424	5,468	2,757	8,224
1972	12,719	600	13,319	5,454	2,877	8,331
1973	12,813	665	13,478	5,542	3,153	8,705
1974	12,675	689	13,363	5,512	3,421	8,933
1975	12,542	697	13,240	5,422	3,551	8,973
1976	12,398	699	13,097	5,366	3,585	8,951
1977	12,395	681	13,076	5,433	3,617	9,050
1978	—	—	13,043	—	—	9,120
1979	—	—	13,036	—	—	9,276
1980	—	—	12,765	—	—	9,141

Notes

1. Estimates from 1948 to 1959(a) are based on mid-year counts of national insurance cards.

2. Figures from 1971 to 1977 are from censuses of employment. Those from 1959 (b) to 1970, taken from the continuous series of employment estimates, are comparable with the census figures and take account of discontinuities present in earlier data.

3. Figures for 1978, 1979 and 1980 are from the quarterly series of provisional employment estimates which does not distinguish full-time from part-time employees.

Youth Opportunities Programme (Inner London)

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently on youth opportunities programme schemes in inner London; and how many eligible for such schemes are unemployed.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there were some 2,200 young people participating in the youth opportunities programme and 9,320 registered with more than six weeks unemployment al the October count in Inner London Education Authority boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current amount payable in training allowance to a 19-year-old trainee on the youth opportunities programme; and if he will make a statement on how this relates to unemployment pay and supplementary benefits and its effect on whether or not trainees are attracted to the scheme.

I am informed by the MSC that the allowance payable to trainees in the youth opportunities programme is £23·50 a week. This compares with the following benefits paid to 19 year olds:

Unemployment benefit (single person) £20·65
Supplementary benefit (single, non householder) £19·20

The youth opportunities programme has been for 16 to 18-year-olds, although in certain circumstances some 19-year-olds whose entry to the employment market has been delayed for reasons other than continuing formal education could be admitted to the programme. Following my right hon. Friend's announcement on 21 November 1980—[Vol. 994, c. 204–7]—the youth opportunities programme will be focused on 16 and 17-year-olds, although young people up to the age of 24 will be eligible for entry if places are available and it is considered it would be of significant benefit to their employment prospects.

Unemployment And Short-Time Working

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the number of people unemployed and working short time; what were the equivalent figures a year ago; and if he will make a statement.

At 13 November 1980 the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,162,874 compared with 1,355,203 at 8 November 1979.Information on short time working is available only for operatives in manufacturing industries in Great Britain. The numbers on short time either for the whole or part of the week, in the weeks ended 13 September 1980 and 8 September 1979 were 368,000 and 51,100, respectively.The high level of unemployment imposes great individual hardship and great economic cost. We are tackling this by bringing down inflation and reducing public spending so that industry has the confidence and resources to invest in the future. In the meantime we have expanded the special employment measures to help those most affected by unemployment.

Manpower Services Commission (Industrial Training)

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what amount of the extra money allocated to the Manpower Services Commission for 1980–81 will be devoted to industrial training.

No extra money is being allocated to the Manpower Services Commission for industrial training in 1980–81.

Training And Work Experience Schemes

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with monitoring procedures for participants in training and work experience schemes funded by the Manpower Services Commission.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that detailed monitoring procedures have been drawn up to ensure that training and work experience schemes funded under the youth opportunities programmes are operating correctly. Resources constraints have led to some reduction in the frequency of monitoring visits, but the matter is kept under constant review.

Economic Policy

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the employment effect of the economic package announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Monday 24 November.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens).

Tuc

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when next he plans to meet the leaders of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the present employment situation.

The employment situation was discussed by all parties on the National Economic Development Council on 3 December. My right hon. Friend expects further such discussions with leaders of the Trades Union Congress in the coming months.

Environmental Improvement Programmes

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Emloyment how much money is being allocated to the work of environmental improvement programmes, pursuant to his statement, Official Report, column 224, 21 November.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that no fixed allocation of community enterprise programme funds is to be made between schemes for the improvement of the environment and other schemes of benefit to the community. Every scheme proposed by a sponsor will be equally considered on its merits.

Cbi

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he proposes to have further consultations with the Confederation of British Industry about the long-term improvement of industrial relations.

My right hon. Friend has had a number of discussions with representatives of the Confederation of British Industry about the long-term improvement of industrial relations. He is, of course, ready to meet them at any time.

South Yorkshire

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons are currently unemployed in the county of South Yorkshire; and how this compares with the numbers unemployed one year earlier.

At 9 October 1980, the latest date for which an age analysis is available, the number of young people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed in the county of South Yorkshire was 14,789. The corresponding figure at 11 October 1979 was 8,404. Hon. Members will know that the youth opportunities programme exists to help these young people and that my right hon. Friend has announced a major expansion of the programme for 1981–82.

Industrial Practice Codes

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he plans to meet the new chairman of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to discuss codes of industrial practice; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lowry's appointment does not take effect till 2 February 1981. My right hon. Friend expects to be in frequent contact with him when he assumes office. I am sure that discussions will cover, amongst other topics, the various codes of practice on industrial relations and employment matters issued both by myself and by ACAS.

Temporary Short-Time Working Compensation Scheme

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of employees covered by the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in the West Midlands and the country as a whole.

It is not possible to provide statistics for the temporary short-time working compensation (TSTWC) scheme for the West Midlands. However, during October 1980 there were 145,500 workers working short time to save 60,519 potentially redundant jobs in the Midlands and 412,300 workers working short time to save 179,911 potentially redundant jobs throughout Great Britain as a whole.

Young Persons (Greater London)

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of young people to the age of 18 years currently unemployed in the Greater London area.

At 9 October, the latest date for which an age analysis is available, there were 20,646 young people under the age of 18 years registered as unemployed in the Greater London area. Hon. Members will know that the youth opportunities programme exists to help this group and that my right hon. Friend has announced a major expansion of the programme for 1981–82.

Disabled Workers

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to make a decision on the quota scheme for disabled workers.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that its review of the quota scheme is well advanced. I now understand that the commission will be submitting its recommendations on this complex issue to me early in the new year. I shall make no decision until I have given its advice very careful consideration.

Textile And Clothing Industry (Redundancies)

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his Department's estimate of the numbers of workers in the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry who will have been made redundant or have received notices of redundancy to take effect in 1981 by the end of 1980.

I regret the information is not available in the form requested.

Textile And Knitted Goods Industries

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of persons employed in the textile and knitted goods industries at the latest available date, and at December 1978 and December 1979.

The following table gives the provisional estimates of employees in employment in Great Britain for the industries specified at September 1980, the latest date for which information is available, and at December 1978 and December 1979.

	Textiles (Order XIII of the Standard Industrial Classification 1968)	Hosiery and other knitted goods (Minimum List Heading 417 of the Standard Industrial Classification 1968)
	000s	000s
December 1978	455·6	109·6
December 1979	430·3	105·6
December 1980	378·1	96·5

Average Gross Hourly Earnings of Manual Workers in Industry^*
	(i) National currencies		(ii) Sterling†
	April 1979	October 1979	April 1979	October 1979
			£	£
United Kingdom	£1·88	£2·04	1·88	2·04
Belgium	203 Bfr	210 BFr	3·26	3·39
Denmark	..	..	..	..
France	18·84 FFr	19·66 FFr	2·09	2·18
Germany (FR)	12·42 DM	12·63 DM	3·16	3·29
Irish Republic‡	1·79 Punt	2·02 Punt	1·79	1·92
Italy	3,101 Lira	..	1·77
Luxembourg	223 LFR	218 LFr	3·58	3·52
Netherlands§	13·51 Fl	13·80Fl	3·18	3·24
^* All production industries excluding electricity, gas and water
† Converted at average market exchange rates for the corresponding periods
‡ Data refer to March and September; adults only
§ Provisional figures
.. Not available

Source: Eurostat—Wages and Incomes, 4–1980

Industry Training Boards

39.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received regarding his plans to change the basis of financing the industry training boards.

The comments received by the MSC in its recent consultations were copied to my Department. In addition I have received comments from several organisations and individuals who wrote to me directly. The CBI, and many other employers' organisations which commented, opposed the review body's recommendation that the responsibility for funding ITB operating costs should be transferred from the Exchequer to industry,

School Leavers

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect the changes announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement of 24 November will have on the employment prospects of school leavers in the Leeds travel-to-work area.

I refer the hon. Member to the earlier reply to the question from the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens). The employment prospects of school leavers are clearly related to employment prospects generally. My right hon. Friend announced on 21 November a major expansion of the youth opportunities programme to help the young unemployed in 1981–82.

Industrial Wages

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average industrial wage in the United Kingdom compared with all other European Economic Community countries.

The latest available data are shown in the following table.It is important to note that, because of differences in definitions and methods of compilation of the statistics between countries, these figures are not fully comparable. Moreover, they do not take account of differences in taxation and social benefits, and differences in the internal purchasing power of the various national currencies.particularly at this time. The TUC accepted the recommendation, but considered that there should be a transitional period. The Government took careful account of these and other representations in determining their policy on the funding of ITB operating costs.

Wages Councils (Inflation)

40.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what contribution wages councils are making towards reducing inflation.

While a continuing falling rate of inflation is essential for economic recovery, it is doubtful whether the work of wages councils helps or hinders this trend.Wages councils, which are independent of Government, set statutory minimum rates of pay for workers in the trades and industries they cover. These rates are determined by representatives of the trade with the help of independent members. The rates are comparatively low and in practice many employees earn more than the minimum. However, the earnings of some low paid workers are underpinned by the minima and to that extent their wages may be higher than they would be in the absence of statutory minimum rates.

Industrial Disputes (Statistics)

41.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish statistics on a regional and sub-regional basis of the number of days lost through industrial disputes.

The regional figures as published annually in the Employment Gazette, are as follows for 1979:

Region	Working days lost in stoppages in progress (Thousand)
South East	4,487
East Anglia	548
South West	2,423
West Midlands	4,199
East Midlands	2,351
Yorkshire and Humberside	3,115
North West	4,516
North	2,164
Wales	1,642
Scotland	3,298
Northern Ireland	730
United Kingdom	29,474

Sub-regional figures are not readily available for recent years and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Borough Of Brent

44.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are now registered as unemployed in the London borough of Brent; and what percentage increase has occurred in the last 12 months.

At 13 November 1980 there were 7,809 people registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Kilburn, Wembley and Willesden employment offices, which closely corresponds to the London borough of Brent. This was 42·7 per cent. higher than the corresponding figure at 8 November 1979.

Corby And Kettering

45.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and how many women are registered as unemployed in the areas covered by (a) the Kettering employment office and (b) the Corby employment office.

At 13 November there were 2,320 males and 856 females registered as unemployed in the Kettering employment office area. The corresponding figures for Corby were 4,792 males and 1,452 females.

Training And Apprenticeship Systems

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he plans to introduce a 10-year programme to modernise the training and apprenticeship system; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment said in his statement to the House on 26 November we are currently discussing with the MSC and amongst those concerned in industry and education how we can make progress in modernising training arrangements, and we hope that proposals for consultation will be brought forward early in the new year. The Government are convinced that industry must take action to improve training opportunities for both adults and young people, and that greater flexibility in industrial training arrangements is essential if industry is to be able to respond effectively to the changing demands of the 1980s, and to the changing needs of individual members of the work force.

Hull

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to reduce unemployment in Hull.

In the longer term, employment prospects in Hull, as elsewhere in the country, depend on our success in the battle against inflation. In the meantime, Hull stands to benefit from the extra £250 million which is to be allocated nationally to the 1981–82 programme of special measures to help the unemployed. And, as a development area, Hull will continue to attract a high level of regional assistance.

Unemployed Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 6 August, column 116, if he will now estimate the net cost of employing all the unemployed, assuming a wage of £65 a week.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 December 1980, c.3]: Using the same assumptions that were used in the previous calculations, including benefit levels of £26·50 and April 1980 unemployment figures, the net cost would be:

All ages	18 and over
£	£
1,225 million	1,132 million

Unemployment Costs

42.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the additional cost to the Government for each additional man who becomes unemployed, assuming that he has a wife and two children and was previously earning the average industrial wage.

I have been asked to reply.The additional cost to the Government will vary according to how long the man has been unemployed. The following table, which indicates that given in the Manpower Services Commission's review and plan, 1977, therefore shows the cost for the first 12 months separately, as well as the average for the first year. The individual specified in the question, a man receiving the average industrial wage, is, not typical of the unemployed as a whole who tend to have lower than average male weekly earnings when in employment.

Financial cost to the Government of unemployment—Married man with two children

1979 Dec.

1980 Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Monthly Average (Dec. 1979· Nov. 1980)

Loss of revenue

Income Tax

95·55

118·22

110·66

Net loss of Indirect Tax

17·76

11·24

14·94

12·90

38·25

34·87

44·45

44·61

47·71

45·52

43·66

44·05

33·33

Employee NI contributions

31·21

38·66

36·18

Employer NI contributions

64·82

78·48

73·79

Total loss of Revenue

209·34

202·82

206·52

204·48

273·61

270·23

279·81

279·97

283·07

280·88

279·02

279·41

254·10

Transfer Payments

Flat rate unemployment benefit

127·84

150·08

138·96

144·52

150·08

138·96

150·08

144·52

150·08

149·58

144·48

Earnings related supplement

31·10

59·98

55·54

57·76

59·98

24·43

—

49·51

Supplementary Benefit

37·53

—

30·56

56·25

54·17

56·25

56·53

49·35

Income Tax rebate

48·50

—

48·50

Rent Rebate

14·93

26·81

24·88

25·87

28·12

29·21

11·90

—

23·10

Rate Rebate

5·06

9·77

9·04

9·40

11·41

11·85

4·83

—

8·77

Free School meals

4·50

6·00

7·00

7·35

4·20

9·90

9·45

6·30

—

9·90

10·35

9·00

7·63

Free Welfare milk

1·35

—

3·14

5·12

5·27

5·10

5·27

5·10

4·34

Total Transfer Payments

270·81

301·14

283·92

293·40

246·01

261·02

223·27

217·75

203·96

213·69

221·95

220·21

246·43

Total Financial Cost to the Government

480·15

503·96

490·44

497·88

519·62

531·25

503·08

497·72

487·03

494·57

500·97

499·62

500·52

Notes:

1. The man is assumed to be married with two children, one aged under 5, and one aged 5–10, and his wife is assumed not to be working. He becomes unemployed on 1 December 1979.

2. For each financial year, the man's earnings are assumed to be at the level of average earnings for adult males whose pay was not affected by absence, all industries and services covered by the New Earnings Survey, updated to October using the average earnings index (old series, all industries and services, adjusted). If he were not made unemployed, it is assumed his earnings would increase in April 1980 to the average level for 1980–81, assuming a 19·3 per cent. increase over 1979–80. Average earnings each year are then (£ per week): 1977–78; 82·27; 1978–79; 94·71; 1979–80; 110·81; 1980–81; 132·19.

3. Tax payments, national insurance contributions, and tax refunds are assumed to be the same in each month regardless of the number of days in the month. He is assumed not to be contracted-out of the state pension scheme.

4. Flat rate unemployment benefit is not paid for the first three days of unemployment and earnings related supplement for the first twelve. Once awarded, unemployment benefit is paid for 312 days and earnings related supplement for 156 days.

5. It is unlikely that supplementary benefit would be paid for the first few days of unemployment, pending receipt of unemployment benefits. The final wages received would be taken into consideration, and in most cases would cover requirements for this period.

6. Rent and rates: For 1979–80 rent is assumed to be £6·90 per week, and rates £2·78 per week. For 1980–81 rent is assumed to be £8·20 per week and rates £3·55 per week. ( Hansard, Vol. 983, No. 167, cols. 660 et seq).

7. Income tax refunds are not counted as income when calculating entitlements to rent and rate rebates. There is no entitlement to rebates whilst in receipt of supplementary benefit, which includes an allowance for full rent and rates.

8. Net loss of indirect tax: His loss of purchasing power when unemployed compared to his position if in employment was calculated first, taking into account all transfer payments. According to the Economic Trends analysis based on the family expenditure survey—the effects of taxes and benefits on household income, 1978 Economic Trends, January 1980—for a household with around average earnings, 21·5 per cent. of disposable income in 1978 went on indirect taxes. Excluding rates, which have already been taken into account, and allowing for the offsetting effect of subsidies, gives a figure of about 18 per cent. The increase in VAT and hydrocarbon oil duty in the June 1979 Budget could be expected to raise this by about 3·5 to 21·5 per cent. in 1979–80. The April 1980 Budget is assumed to have increased the share of indirect taxes by 1 per cent. of disposable income, making a total of 22·5 per cent. in 1980–81. These percentages have been applied to the loss of disposable income when unemployed to give the figures of net loss of indirect taxes in the table.

Defence

Nimrod Aircraft (Armaments)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, following the crash of an RAF Nimrod aircraft in Scotland on 17 November, whether Nimrod aircraft ever carry nuclear depth charges.

In accordance with long-standing policy, we neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons.

Departmental Stationery

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total bill for office stationery in his Department in the last completed accounting period.

The total bill for office stationery during the 1979–80 financial year was as follows:

	£m
Printing and Binding	11·849
General Office Supplies	4·535
Envelopes and Die Stamped Stationery	1·081
Converted paper (Photographic) and Reprographic	1·851
Converted Paper (Other than Photographic and Reprographic)	2·040
Printing Paper	6·751
Consumables for Office Machinery	2·195
Total	30.302

The need for economy has recently been brought to the attention of all staff once again.

Officers (Servants)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of servants for officer rank s in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, respectively, in the last completed accounting period.

Particular senior officers, and officers in command appointments, are entitled to a certain amount of domestic assistance, where this is required as a consequence of their official responsibilities for official entertainment and community relations. Records are not maintained separately and costs are not readily available. My noble Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence will therefore write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Baor (Drivers)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total bill for drivers for the British Army of the Rhine in the last completed accounting period.

The total cost of staff car drivers in BAOR during the financial year 1979–80 was approximately £3 trillion. The majority of these drivers are Service men often with other duties and all trained for their operational role in war.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total bill for drivers for officer ranks at the Ministry of Defence in the last completed accounting period.

The total cost to public funds during 1979–80 for the wages and salaries of drivers in the Ministry of Defence London car service was approximately £500,000.

Baor (Telephone Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total bill for telephone usage for the British Army of the Rhine in the last completed accounting period.

Precise figures are not available, but is is estimated that the telephone element of total communications costs for the British Army of the Rhine for the latest accounting period, covering 1 April to 31 October 1980, is some £2,150,000. The attention of all staff has recently been drawn to the expense of telecommunications and to ways of making economies.

Departmental Telephone Bill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total bill for telephone usage at the Ministry of Defence in the last completed accounting period.

The total bill for all Defence telephone usage at Service units, establishments and headquarters at home and overseas, for the period 1 April to 31 October 1980, was approximately £29,100,000, inclusive of VAT, of which some £4,000,000 was for MOD headquarters buildings. The figure covers rental of exchanges and other equipment, private circuits, hire of telephonists, as well as call charges. The attention of all staff has recently been drawn to this expenditure and to ways of making economies.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total bill for tea ladies for all ranks and civilian employees; and what was the total number of civilian employees and Service personnel at the Ministry of Defence in the last completed accounting period and in the previous accounting period, respectively.

There is no such grade as "tea lady" employed at the MOD. The average number of civilian employees and Service personnel serving at the Ministry of Defence in 1978–79 and 1979–80 was as follows:

	1978–79	1979–80
Civilian employees	13,649	12,965
Service personnel	2,665	2,620

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the total cost of (a) civilian employees and (b) Service personnel at the Ministry of Defence in the last completed accounting period and the previous completed accounting period, respectively.

Expenditure on the pay and allowances of civilians at the Ministry of Defence was £75 million in 1978–79 and £88 million in 1979–80. The equivalent costs in respect of Service personnel for these years are estimated to be £22 million and £25 million respectively.

Sea Rescue (South Wales)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the sea rescue by a Sea King helicopter from the RAF Station at Brawdy in South Wales when three Irish girls were rescued from "Casper I"; what were the total costs involved; and who will meet the cost of the operation.

At the request of Her Majesty's Coastguard at Hartland, an RAF Sea King helicopter from 202 Squadron, RAF Brawdy, was scrambled twice during the night of 25–26 November to airlift crew and passengers from the Panamanian freighter "Casper I" which had developed engine failure, and was drifting on to the coast at Port Isaac, Cornwall. The first lift, at around midnight, comprised four men and five girls, who were taken to RAF St. Mawgan. The helicopter then remained at St. Mawgan on standby while the remaining three crew members tried to weather the storm. An hour later they were also lifted back to RAF St. Mawgan. The vessel subsequently foundered.The extra expenses incurred in the rescue total approximately £2,200. These costs will be borne by Her Majesty's Government.

Civil Defence (Circulars)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the titles, reference numbers and dates of all circulars sent by his Department to local authorities in the last 10 years on the subject of civil defence in the event of nuclear war.

Responsibility for such circulars fall to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to whom the hon. Gentleman has already tabled an identical question.

Nuclear Waste And Warheads

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how nuclear waste from nuclear submarines in Scottish bases is (a) processed and (b) stored; if he will list the location of any nuclear waste dumps; and what security precautions are taken in relation to the storage of nuclear missile warheads.

Spent nuclear fuel from submarines undergoing refit in Rosyth dockyard is transported to British Nuclear Fuels Limited's plant at Windscale where it is at present stored pending a final decision on whether it is to be reprocessed. Certain other accumulated radioactive waste is moved periodically to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell prior to sea dumping. Some very low-level contaminated material from the early refit programme, such as clothing, was buried at Rosyth dockyard, but all such material is now transported to BNFL's site at Drigg near Windscale for burial. All disposals are in accordance with appropriate United Kingdom and international regulations. Stringent precautions are taken to ensure the security of all nuclear weapons, but it would not be appropriate for me to go into details.

Defence Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the base for assessments of future defence expenditure will be taken as the 2½ per cent. real increase decided for the coming year or the 3 per cent. which was the original undertaking to NATO.

The undertaking to NATO is to aim for real increases in annual defence spending in the region of 3 per cent., recognising that, for some individual countries, economic circumstances would affect what could be achieved. Plans for 1982–83 and 1983–84 will be contained in the public expenditure White Paper to be published with the Budget next year.

Northern Ireland

Fisheries

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the licence duties set out in Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland 1980, Nos. 388 and 393, have been increased; what is the percentage increase on the former sums in each case; what has been the percentage increase in the cost of living index since the last increase; and what has been the percentage increase in the costs of running the Fisheries Conservancy Board and the Foyle Fisheries since the last increase in licence duties.

The licence duties referred to in these Statutory Rules apply only to that part of Northern Ireland under the control of the Fisheries Conservancy Board.The board is a self-financing organisation which normally relies on licence duties as its main source of income and the increases proposed for 1981 are necessary to enable it to carry out its responsibilities under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966.The percentage increase from 1980 to 1981 on the former licence duties is set out below:

(a) Eel Fishing (Licence Duties) Regulations (NI) 1980 SR 1980 No. 388: these increases vary from 29 to 30 per cent. for each type of licence.

(b) Fisheries (Licence Duties) Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 1980. SR 1980 No. 393: the increases are shown on the following table:-

Fishing Engine	1980	1981	% increase
	£	£
Draft net for the capture of salmon and freshwater fish on Lough Neagh.	28·00	36·00	29
Draft net for the capture of freshwater fish other than trout and Rainbow trout on Lough Erne.	18·00	23·00	29
Draft net for use in freshwater other than Lough Neagh or Lough Erne.	70·00	91·00	30
Single wall set net or trammel net for the capture of trout in Lough Neagh per 100 yards.	4·00	5·00	25
Single wall set net or trammel net for the taking of freshwater fish other than trout and rainbow trout per 100 yards.	4·00	5·00	25

Fishing Engine	1980	1981	% increase
Bait net for the taking of freshwater fish other than trout and rainbow trout for use as bait—per net.	1·00	1·50	50
Long lines for the capture of pike on Lough Erne.	3·00	10·00	233
Fixed tidal draft net.	70·00	120·00	71
Fixed tidal draft net which operates in the estuary of a river upstream of a defined mouth.	420·00	546·00	30
Tidal draft net.	52·00	100·00	92
Drift net used in tidal waters.	52·00	100·00	92
Bag net used in tidal waters.	174·00	226·00	30
Salmon box or crib.	209·00	272·00	30

Fishing Licence	1980	1981	% increase
	£	£
Season game fishing rod licence	6·20	7·75	25
15 day game fishing rod licence	4·20	5·25	25
Additional amount payable by the holder of a Foyle Fisheries Commission season game fishing rod licence to use a single game rod.	4·70	6·25	33
Season coarse fishing rod licence	1·45	3·00	107
Fifteen day coarse fishing rod licence	0·70	2·00	186
Dealer's Licence	10·00	15·00	50

Since January 1980 when the licence duties were last increased, the retail price index has increased by 13·6 per cent. The percentage increase in the cost of running the Fisheries Conservancy Board since the last increase in January 1980 is approximately 22 per cent. The cost of ruining the Foyle Fisheries Commission is a matter for the commission itself, but I understand that it has increased by 0·2 per cent. since the last increase in licence duties on 1 March 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there has been an increase in the staff of the Fisheries Conservancy Board and the Foyle Fisheries Commission during the last 12 months; and, if so, how many extra staff were engaged, and far what periods by each body.

There were no increases.

Animals (Ritual Slaughter)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now take action to stop the ritual slaughter of animals for export.

No. Slaughtering in accordance with Islamic and Jewish practices is permitted by law throughout the United Kingdom. However, the Farm Animal Welfare Council is considering slaughter practices in. Great Britain and careful consideration will be given to any recommendation it may make.

Visitors

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that the number of visitors to Northern Ireland is calculated not by the number of people who arrive in the Province by ship, aircraft or train, but by the number who stay in hotels and guest houses.

No. Many visitors do not stay in hotels and guest houses, The method used to calculate the number of visitors to Northern Ireland is the same as that employed in Great Britain and other countries and is based on internationally accepted definitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visitors to Northern Ireland stayed in hotels and guest houses, respectively, in the Province in each of the past 10 years.

I understand that the Northern Ireland Tourist Board estimates, on the basis of a sample survey, the number of visitors staying in hotels and guest houses and I will ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Tourist Board

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost in the current year of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, including salaries, expenses, accommodation, travel and entertainment; and how this compares with each of the past 10 years.

The total cost to public funds, in the current financial year including salaries, expenses, accommodation, travel and entertainment is estimated at £1,632,000. The comparable total costs for the past ten years are as follows:

Financial Year	£000's
1970–71	493
1971–72	512
1972–73	570
1973–74	470
1974–75	480
1975–76	608
1976–77	672
1977–78	665
1978–79	909
1979–80	1,176

Details of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board's income and expenditure are contained in the hoard's annual accounts, copies of which for the years 1974–75 onwards are available in the Library.

Perinatal And Infant Mortality

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates for Northern Ireland in 1979 and the first half of 1980 by health board areas.

I regret that this information is not yet available due to a number of factors, including industrial action by local registrars which has now ceased. When the information is available I will write to the hon. Member.

Terrorism

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of persons arrested under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act and the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act in the period from September 1978 until December 1979 and from January 1980 to the nearest convenient date; for how long those arrested were interrogated; and what proportion were subsequently charged with an offence, scheduled or unscheduled and which offence.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 December 1980]: The number of arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976, and persons subsequently charged, during the periods in question are as follows:—

Period	Arrests	Persons Charged
1.9.78 to 31.12.79	214	72
1.1.80 to 31.10.80	201	95

Because of the method of maintaining records prior to 1980, it is not possible except at disproportionate cost to identify the number of arrests under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978, or the number of persons subsequently charged, for the period 1 September 1978 to 31 December 1979. During the period 1 January 1980 to 31 October 1980, a total of 3,868 arrests were made under the Act. Of these 577 were re-arrests by the police of people initially arrested by the Army. Three hundred and thirty three persons were charged with scheduled offences and 41 with unscheduled offences as a result.It is not possible except at disproportionate cost to identify the length of time for which persons arrested were held or the specific offences with which those concerned were charged.

Pauline Mclaughlin

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the physical and mental condition of Pauline McLaughlin currently in Armagh prison hospital; and if he will release her to a civilian hospital.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 December 1980]: Pauline McLaughlin was first remanded to prison in 1976 and sentenced early in 1978 to detention during the pleasure of the Secretary of State for the murder of a soldier in 1974. She was also sentenced to concurrent terms of imprisonment ranging from 5 to 16 years for seven other offences, including attempted murder and causing explosions.It is on record that before her imprisonment she already suffered from a condition of nervous origin which manifested itself in the form of repeated vomiting. Since her admission to Armagh prison this vomiting has caused gradual loss of weight. She has had thorough medical investigation and treatment both within the prison and in hospital outside. Her psychological state and the effects of her vomiting on her weight and bodily functions continue to cause concern and she is being carefully observed by professional staff. Her condition is not at present critical. She is not in the prison hospital.Throughout her imprisonment this girl has had the most assiduous and expert medical attention from prison medical staff backed up by the facilities and specialist expertise of the Health Service. She has had frequent examinations by outside consultants, including one nominated by solicitors acting for her family, who have expressed their approval and high regard for the health care she has received in prison.While Miss McLaughlin's health does give cause for serious concern, it is considered in the light of all the advice available that there are insufficient grounds for taking the exceptional course of releasing her on licence from the indeterminate sentence and using the Royal Prerogative to remit the balance of the fixed terms. However, the case will continue to be kept under very close review, and if at any time Miss McLaughlin requires treatment which cannot be provided in the prison she will be moved to the most suitable outside hospital without delay.Statements have recently been circulated to the effect that necessary health care has been denied to this prisoner. These are wholly untrue. The professional staff in attendance act solely in accordance with clinical judgment and professional ethics and the prison administration puts no obstacles in the way of medical assessment and treatment.

National Finance

Invalidity Pensioners (Age Allowance)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the extra costs, on the assumption that invalidity pensions were already treated on taxable income, of extending the age allowance to invalidity pensioners.

If invalidity pensions had been taxable in 1980–81 it is estimated that the cost of extending the age allowance to invalidity pensioners would have been of the order of £35 million.

Inland Revenue Officers (Disciplinary Proceedings)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue officers have been subject to disciplinary proceedings for actions displaying incompetence or lack of courtesy to the public in the year ended 31 March 1980.

18 officers were disciplined for incompetence, and one for lack of courtesy.

Money Supply

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the estimated increase in the money supply in the first half of 1980, taking account of disintermediation; and if he will indicate when he expects this to be reflected in a corresponding increase in the rate of inflation.

The seasonally adjusted increase in sterling M3 for the first six banking months of 1980 was 11·2 per cent. at an annual rate. After adjusting for distortions caused by the operation of the corset and its removal in June the underlying growth rate was probably somewhat higher. It is, however, not possible to measure it precisely, particularly from month to month. Estimates of distortions are inherently unreliable and would be liable to frequent change as more information became available. On the basis of our best assessment to date, it seems likely that the growth of sterling M3 during the current target period has beer, of the order of 20 per cent. per annum in underlying terms.Future rates of inflation will depend cm monetary developments over an extended period arid short-run fluctuations in monetary growth probably have relatively little impact.

Value Added Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the yield of value added tax on funeral companies.

The information is not available. Burials and cremations are exempt from VAT and businesses are not required to register for VAT unless they also make supplies of taxable goods and services exceeding in value the exemption limit, now £13,500 a year. In 1979–80 VAT amounting to £1·4 million was charged to their customers by businesses registered as funeral directors, cemeteries and crematoria.

Coinage

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list it, the Official Report details of the market research into the currency and coinage requirements of commerce, and the general public carried out by his Department or the Royal Mint over the past five years.

No. The market research has been carried oat by the Royal Mint and not the Treasury and much of it provides a basis for commercial decisions or confidential advice to Ministers.

Woodlands (Taxation)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes any change in the income tax arrangements which apply to the occupation of woodlands managed on a commercial basis.

I have been considering this matter in the light of the comments and recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee in its eighth report. The present taxation arrangements for woodlands have existed for a considerable time and I recognise the important part which they play in encouraging investment by the private sector in the industry. It is particularly important in an industry with the long timescale of forestry for there to be stability in the tax arrangements so that confidence is maintained. In the light of these considerations, I have concludes that no change should be made to the present income tax arrangements.

Privet Pension Schemes (Tax Relief)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the real cost to the Exchequer of providing tax relief on payments made into private pension schemes in each of the years 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80 respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1980]: The net cost of all income tax reliefs for occupational pension schemes is estimated to be:

	£ million
1975–76	400
1976–77	400
1977–78	400
1978–79	500
1979–80	550

These figures are subject to a wide margin of eror. They hve been calculated on the basis set out in the Inland Revenue's note of February 1978 to the General Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee.—second report 1977–78, appendix 15.

European Economic Community (Budget)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the daily financial contribution by the British Government to the funds of the European Economic Community; and if he will list the annual increase in these payments for the years 1977, 1978 and 1979.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1980]: The United Kingdom's net contributions in the years quoted were £368·4 million, £803·9 million and £943·3 million respectively. On a daily basis the figures were as follows:

	Average Daily net Contribution		Increase over previous years
1977	£1·01	1977	£0·55
1978	£2·20	1978	£1·19
1979	£2·60	1979	£0·40

Environment

Wetlands (Ecological Damage)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the nature of the ecological damage lately sustained by each of the internationally important wetlands of Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere, the Bure Marshes, Lindisfarne and Cors Fochno has been reported to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and National Resources, as required by articles 3(2) and (8) of the Ramsar convention.

Details of the changes due to human interference at Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere and Cors Fochno are contained in the United Kingdom national report submitted to the IUCN in July 1980. There had been some damage to the Bure Marshes in the past, but since the site was listed under the Ramsar convention steps have been taken by the Nature Conservancy Council to halt this and there has been no further deterioration to report. No ecological damage has been recorded on the Rasmar site at Lindisfarne. There has been damage caused by overgrazing in an adjacent dune system within the grade 1 site, but this is outside the boundaries of the Rasmar site.

Historic Buildings

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take on the recommendations contained in the report of the working party on alternative uses of historic buildings.

I have warmly welcomed the report of Lord Montagu's working party. The recommendations will be studied carefully over the coming months.

London Docklands (Beckton)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for the Beckton site in the docklands; if this site will be included in the area of the London Docklands Development Corporation; and if not, what are his reasons for excluding it.

That part of the British Gas Corporation "Beckton site" to the west of the line of the East London river crossing—as shown in the Beckton district plan—is included in the proposed urban development area so that the proposed London Docklands Development Corporation can incorporate plans for its development in its strategy for the regeneration of its area. The remainder was excluded as it cannot become available for development, other than for short-term purposes, until decisions have been made on its possible use for a substitute natural gas plant. Such a decision is not imminent.

House Building (Moratorium)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the number of new dwellings on which work has stopped since the imposition of the moratorium on building;(2) on how many dwellings being modernised work has stopped since the imposition of the building moratorium.

I have made no such estimates.

Metropolitan Borough	Official site (if any)	Caravan pitches	Gipsy families in Borough (as at 16 July 1980)
Bolton	Hall Lane	16	16
Bury	Todd Street	13	13
Manchester^*	—	—	21
Oldham	Ada Street	16	18
Rochdale†	—	—	23
Salford	—	—	—
Stockport†	Warth Meadow (temporary)	16	5
Tameside	—	—	19
Trafford	Hall Lane, Carrington (private)	50	55
Wigan	Birkenshaw Lane	15	26
		126	196
^* Site to be reconstructed.
† Permanent site proposals in progress.

Sheltered Housing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of sheltered housing places available in England and Wales, giving a breakdown by responsible housing authorities.

The most up-to-date information for England is that included in local authorities' HIP returns for 1980–81, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. These give local authorities' estimates of numbers of sheltered dwellings and numbers of elderly persons resident at 1 April 1980. Information for Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Listed Buildings

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the workings of sections 55 and 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, and in particular with the number of prosecutions brought against those responsible for the deliberate demolition of listed buildings.

I am satisfied that sections 55 and 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 provide suitable statutory protection for listed buildings. Proceedings can be initiated by individuals and amenity societies as well as by local authorities.I understand that the Home Office does not maintain separate figures for prosecutions under these provisions.

Gipsies

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of official sites for gipsy caravans in each county in England.

A list of gipsy sites provided by local authorities as at 1 January 1980 is available in the Library and will be up-dated early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the present official gipsy sites in each of the Metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester and the number of gipsy families in each borough at the last count.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications he has received from county councils since May 1979 for approval of plans for gipsy caravan sites; and how many have been approved.

Since May 1979, 73 schemes for grant-aid have been submitted to the Department for initial approval in principle and the same number have received consent. 89 schemes have also been received for the second stage of final commitment to proceed, and 81 such schemes have received approval.

Water Authorities

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what external financing limit and financial target will apply to the water authorities in 1981–82; and whether there will be any special arrangements for equalisation of charges as between authorities.

The external financing limit for English regional water authorities will be £424 million in 1981–82; this is similar in real terms to that for 1980–81.Water authorities are being set financial targets in the form of a rate of current cost operating profit on the current value of their net assets. English water authorities at present earning less than 1¼ per cent. will move to that figure over the three years 1981–82 to 1983–84. Those authorities already earning more than 1¼ per cent. will continue generally at their present level during the three-year period. The new financial target will increase the level of self-financing, with a limited impact on charges averaging 2 per cent. extra over all authorities in 1981–82.There will be no further special arrangements for equalising charges as between water authorities. The Government consider that it is better from the point of view of efficiency if they charge in accordance with their own costs. The move to current cost accounting and the new form of financial targets should in itself lead to a measure of greater equalisation of charges.I have emphasised very strongly to water authorities the crucial importance of their examining their budgets for next year in the most rigorous manner to ensure that increases in charges are kept to an absolute minimum.

Fees And Commission

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South, on 2 December, what is the figure for the cost of fees in respect of disposal of land no longer required and for fees incurred in the normal course of Property Services Agency business.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1980]: In 1979–80 expenditure by the Property Services Agency on consultants' fees in respect of disposal of land and buildings no longer required—including disposals on the Defence estate—was £0·5 million. In 1980–81 it is estimated that the figure will be £1·0 million.

Transport

Coaches (Courier Seats)

asked the Minister of Transport why it is necessary to have a ban upon the use of courier seats in coaches, in view of the fact that many of them travel abroad from Devon to the European Community where such seats are allowed.

Seats intended for the use of coach passengers in this country, including couriers, must comply with the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) Regulations 1972. My Department has in the past waived this requirement for folding courier seats which do not meet the normal safety standards as long as they are clearly marked "not for use in the United Kingdom". The Department has been considering ending this concession, but we will reconsider the question in the light of any representations which my hon. Friend and others would like to make.

Armitage Report

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive the report of Sir Arthur Armitage's inquiry on lorries, people and the environment.

I received Sir Arthur's report yesterday and it has been published today. Copies are available in the Library at the House of Commons. I would like to thank Sir Arthur and his assessors for their work.The remit I gave Sir Arthur was very broad and the recommendations reflect this. I recognise that the most controversial of these will be the proposed increases in lorry weights. It is important to recognise that this does not imply bigger lorries. Indeed, the report proposes that new controls should be placed upon the size of lorries and that, because of the changes proposed, damage to the roads can be reduced. Nevertheless, these proposals will clearly need to be considered very carefully in the context of the whole report.I repeat my assurances that the Government will not take any final decisions until there has been time for proper consideration of the report and parliamentary debate. En one respect, however, the Government can act now—that is, in restructuring vehicle excise duty on heavy lorries. The report shows that the heavier lorries do not pay their full track cost. The forthcoming Transport Bill will enable action to be taken here.

British Railways (Corporate Review)

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received the British Railways Board's corporate review for the years 1981 to 1985; and if he will make a statement.

The chairman submitted the Railways Board's 1980 corporate review to me formally on 26 November. I am now studying it and will make a statement in due course.

Road Construction Sub-Units

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now able to announce final decisions on the phasing-out of road construction sub-units.

On 3 October, I issued a memorandum setting out my proposals for transferring some three-quarters of the work of road construction sub-units to consultants in the private sector, with the balance to be carried out by county councils as agents of my Department. I have now considered the further response of county councils and staff and have reached final decisions confirming that the design and supervision of new motorways and trunk roads is in future to be carried out largely in the private sector. Interested organisations, county councils and staff have been told of my final decisions. We have also written to hon. Members who have expressed an interest in the outcome, and I have arranged for a copy of the tables setting out the future allocation of schemes to be placed in the Library of the House.

Many county councils have now accepted my proposals. Some had modifications to suggest and my final decisions make some changes to the previous proposals. I believe that these should be acceptable to the county councils concerned, to the staff, and to consultants. I intend now to press ahead with the process of transferring schemes to consultancy or to agency and with winding up the sub-units in an orderly way. The clearing house, which I set up to look after the interests of staff, has my full confidence in securing satisfactory terms and conditions from consultants for staff.

Volume 995: debated on Tuesday 9 December 1980

Written Answers To Questions

Arts Council

Trade

Steel Exports

Textile And Clothing Industries

Textile Machinery (Export Credit Guarantees)

Machine Tools

Stock Market (Dawn Raids)

Civil Service

Local Government, Planning And Land Act 1980

Energy

North Sea (Natural Gas Liquids)

Ethane

British National Oil Corporation

Energy Prices

Nationalised Industries (Advertising Costs)

Nationality Law

Home Department

Migrant Workers

Firemen

Traffic Wardens

Mr Dassu (Immigrant Sponsorship)

Metropolitan Police

London Fire Brigade

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Data Protection

European Community

Conservative European Reform Group

Industry

Machine Tool Industry

Nationalised Industries (Advertising Costs)

Non-Assisted Areas

Cable And Wireless Limited

Scotland

School Leavers (Unemployment)

Perinatal And Infant Mortality

Local Government

Code Of Civic Government

Prime Minister (Engagements)

European Heads Of Government

Health And Safety At Work

Paymaster General

Economic Policies

Education And Science

Student Statistics

Pupil Behaviour

Burnham Primary And Secondary Committee

Special Needs

Expenditure Cuts

Arts And Social Science Courses

Cytomegalovirus Vaccine

Burnham (Further Education) Committee

Legal Aid

Family Law

Court Actions (Publication Of Documents)

Social Services

Intra-Uterine Device

Family Planning Clinics

Special Care Baby Units

Pregnancies

Rubella

Births (Statistics)

Perinatal And Infant Mortality

Blood Sales

Supplementary Benefit (Assessment)

Prescription Charges

Welfare Foods

Wales

National Park Authorities (Ministerial Appointments)

Non-Teaching Costs

Rail Sidings (Costs)

Leasehold Valuation Panels

Perinatal And Infant Mortality Rates

Roads

Housing Policy

Welsh Water Authority

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Aujeszky's Disease