asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many proposals for mergers of building societies since 1970 have fallen within the scope of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission;(2) how many merger proposals have been referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission since 1970; and how many references concern building societies.

Since the beginning of 1970, 53 merger references, including eight references on newspaper irate have been made to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. None has concerned building societies. In the same period 45 merger proposals involving building societies have qualified for reference within the terms of the legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will review the charges for the use of Trinity House pilots on ships of 500 tons and less in view of the substantially increased rates that are now proposed for such small ships.

Pilotage charges as such are not my responsibility, but I think my hon. Friend is referring to the draft byelaws recently published by Trinity House which would extend compulsory pilotage in the London pilotage district to smaller vessels than is the case at present. It will fall to me in due course to confirm the byelaws, but first I am seeking the advice of the Pilotage Commission on any amendments it thinks should be made to the draft in the light of the many objections I have received. It would be wrong for me to reach a judgment on the merits of the byelaws until I have that advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what provisions in the law relating to civil aviation specify a concept of British nationality; and which would require amendment if legislation were to be introduced to amend nationality law along the lines of the White Paper on British nationality.

Provisions in civil aviation legislation which refer to British nationality, and will require adaptation to fit the new regime, include:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what provisions in the law relating to shipping specify a concept of British nationality; and which would require amendment if legislation were to be introduced to amend nationality law along the lines of the White Paper on British nationality.

The full implications of these proposals for merchant shipping legislation are at present under examination, but the following provisions have been identified as requiring adaptation to fit the new regime:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the level of trade, imports and exports, in clothing with the United States of America for each year since 1977 and for the current year to the latest available date.

The information is as follows:

Trade in clothing with USA, 1977-October 1980
(£ thousand)
	1977	1978	1979	Jan-Oct 1980
Imports (cif)	10,120	12,023	25,837	36,318
Exports (fob)	31,297	33,647	28,602	23,362

Source: SITC(R2) Division 84, excluding item 847.11 and Group 848, and corresponding items under SITC(R1).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to make a statement on the negotiations in relation to the renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement for trade in textiles and clothing.

The Government have already said that they consider it essential that there should be a successor arrangement to the current MFA and that the arrangement should be the best deal it is possible to obtain for the clothing and textiles industries, taking account of British interests as a whole. I do not expect the negotiations to begin in earnest until next year. Although the MFA itself expires at the end of 1981, the bilateral arrangements negotiated until it continue until the end of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made to the United States Government regarding their intention to increase tariffs on United Kingdom and other European Economic Community exports of wool garments into that country; and if he will make a statement.

The United States will increase duties on certain imports—mainly of woollen textile products —from 1 January 1981 if the existing United Kingdom quotas on nylon carpet yarn and polyester filament yarn are continued next year and if further compensation has not been agreed before that date. The United States Government have been left in no doubt that we consider the level of retaliation proposed to be excessive; and that we strongly disapprove of their action in announcing this before any decision has been taken about the continuation of the quotas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the current quotas on imports of United States synthetic fibres and their renewal as from 1 January 1981.

The existing polyester filament yarn quota is set at 9,035 tonnes. For the first nine months of the year imports of this procuct from sources subject to the quota totalled 10,043 tonnes. Of this total, 3,540 tonnes were imports for re-export, which the quota is not designed to restrict. The nylon carpet yarn quota sources in the first nine months totalled 4,300 tonnes. I have not yet reached a decision on whether we should seek to renew the quotas for 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if European Economic Community investigations into allegations of unfair trade practices by the textile producers of the Prato region of Italy have been concluded; and if he will make a statement.

The Commission reported in January this year that its investigations had not found concrete evidence of unfair practices contravening the provisions of the Treaty of Rome. In June of this year at the behest of the Departments of Trade and Industry, the Commission chaired a meeting between representatives of the Yorkshire and Prato industries to discuss further information on comparative costings. Although the possibility of a further meeting was left open my information is that the Wool Textile Manufacturers' Federation does not at present intend to resume these exchanges.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the latest balance of trade position in textile goods.

In the period January to October 1980 the crude deficit—exports valued fob minus imports cif—in trade in textile goods^* was £379 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the future of the Victoria and Albert museum art slide library.

The Victoria and Albert museum will not be operating the slide loan service after March 1981. Nevertheless, I can assure the hon. Member that I intend that this service will continue and I am in the process of negotiating alternative arrangements for continuing this important service to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make representations to the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community to increase the budget of the social fund and extend its terms of reference so that it can be used for a broader range of projects to assist disabled people.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures for the number of people receiving guarantee payments in each quarter since the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act was passed in 1978.

I regret that this information is not available, as there is no statutory requirement for an employer to notify lay-offs to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider amending the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 to expressly require that the first five days on which an employee on short time is entitled should attract guarantee payments.

No. The Act in its present form confers on employees a clear entitlement to guarantee pay and there is no justification for amending it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of employers staggering or attempting to stagger guarantee payments have been brought to the attention of the Department of Employment or industrial tribunals since the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 was passed.

Only one case has come to the attention of my Department and, as far as I am aware, no cases have been considered by an industrial tribunal.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment under what statutory provisions firms putting workers on short time are required to give due notice to the unemployment benefit office of the days they intend to cover by guarantee payments.

There is no statutory provision requiring employers to give UBOs this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the practice adopted by unemployment benefit offices in issuing Girocheques to those on short time is automatically to assume that guarantee payments cover the first five days unless they are advised otherwise.

No. In general UBOs are already aware of whether workers on short time are affected by guarantee payments Where this is not the case, UBOs will find out whether guarantee payment is relevant before any payment of benefit is made. However, a final decision to disallow unemployment benefit can only he taken by the independent insurance officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the maximum, minimum, and average times that elapse between a complaint being notified to the Department: of Employment and being dealt with by an industrial tribunal.

Complaints are notified to the Central Office of the Industrial Tribunals (COIT) for England and Wales or to the COIT for Scotland. The estimated minimum time to elapse between the notification of a complaint to the appropriate COIT and the first hearing by a tribunal is 4 to 6 weeks. The average time is about 10 weeks.It is not possible, without considerable research, to make estimates of the maximum time as this can be affected by a variety of factors beyond the control of the COITs such as the illness or non-availability of the parties, their representatives or witnesses, and impending proceedings in other courts.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the meeting held by the European Community Council of Ministers, Labour and Social Affairs, on 27 November at which Her Majesty's Government were represented.

The United Kingdom Government were represented by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security and myself.The Council considered a proposal for an amendment to the social security regulations as regards the system for paying family benefits to workers in one Community country whose children live in another Community country. No agreement was reached but discussions are to continue until a satisfactory solution is found.As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security explained in greater detail in her reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdonshire (Mr. Major) on 4 December, the Council agreed to proposals extending the cover of the regulations on social security, including the provisions on medical care, to the self-employed. An important feature of this will be that self-employed persons who fall ill or have an accident while visiting another member State will be entitled to the medical treatment which is immediately necessary from the sickness insurance scheme of that State on the same terms as its own insured population.The Council agreed to extend the anti-poverty programme for two years from November 1980 al a limited cost. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security, whilst supporting the limited proposals for research, expressed regret that the programme included no activities which would be of direct benefit to poor people.There was a brief discussion on a proposal to allow export of payments under pre-retirement schemes. The Government do not however agree with the proposal to extend the scope of regulation (EEC) 1408/71 to allow this. In particular, regulation 1408/71 (which is mainly concerned with social security schemes) is inappropriate for payments under an employment measure such as the job release scheme. Discussion of the Commission's proposal will however be further considered in the Council.Subject to a possible request for consultation from Greece, the Council agreed a decision extending for two years four previous decisions granting aid from the European social fund to workers in the textiles and clothing industries, migrant workers, young people under 25 and women, which were due to expire at the end of this year.There was an exchange of views on a Commission proposal for a regulation to provide assistance from the European social fund for income support schemes for redundant shipbuilding workers, but no decision was reached. The matter is to be further considered by officials in the light of the Council discussion and any amendments the Commission may decide to make to its original proposal.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the outcome of the European Community Development Council in Brussels on 18 November.

The Council adopted two resolutions on world hunger. The first endorsed the priority already given in Community aid programmes to the agricultural and rural sector, supported the adoption by developing countries of appropriate food strategies, and accompanying research and other measures and underlined the importance of a successful conclusion to negotiations for a new wheat trade convention the second provided authority for multi-annual food aid commitments, within the total programme, in certain circumstances; and for contributions of cereals food aid in individual cases to food security stocks. The Council also agreed that the proposed framework regulation must be adopted without delay to govern the whole area of food aid.In addition, the Council agreed a programme of aid to non-associated developing countries for 1980 and guidelines for the operation of the programme in 1981. It also agreed guidelines for a common approach on European investment in Community negotiations with developing countries. There was a brief discussion on North-South issues, and on the need for greater consistency between the Community's development aid and other policies.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the sixth replenishment of the International Development Association.

The sixth replenishment was due to come into effect on 1 July 1980 but has not yet done so because the United States Congress has failed to authorise the United States contribution. The order in respect of the United Kingdom contribution, which was approved by the House on 17 June 1980, accordingly remains inoperative. — [Vol.986, c. 1485–504.] To enable the association's operations to continue pending effectiveness of the replenishment, a number of Governments have signified their willingness to make advance payment of part of their contributions, as was done in similar circumstances in previous replenishments. Her Majesty's Government have informed the association that, subject to the approval of Parliament, we intend to participate in these bridging arrangements. I shall, therefore, be asking the House to approve a draft order for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reports of the misuse of poisons in the countryside have been received by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland since 1 January; and if he will list the regions where such incidents, if any, have occurred.

Since 1 January the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has received reports of 28 confirmed cases of the misuse of poisons involving wildlife and domestic pets in the countryside in Scotland. Incidents occurred in all regions except Central and Fife.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he is having with the Norwegian Government on their ban on cod and haddock fishing in the Norwegian waters of the North Sea; and if he will make a statement.

None. The sharing of joint Norwegian/European Community stocks is a matter for negotiation by the European Community Commission. The Norwegian Government's decision to ban for the rest of this year fishing for cod and haddock by European Community vessels in Norwegian waters is based on the agreement for 1980 negotiated by the Commission and ratified by the Council of Ministers. The Norwegian ban does not affect fishing by European Community vessels elsewhere in the North Sea.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes that natural gas liquids from the gas-gathering pipeline should be confined to use in established petrochemical complexes or in part to plants on green field sites north of St. Fergus.

I have no such proposals in mind. The natural gas liquids are not mine to dispose of.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the gas-gathering pipeline is intended to be a common carrier system; and whether participants or an independent authority will set the tariffs.

On 19 June I informed the House that the Organising Group (BGC, BP, and Mobil) would be developing proposals for how the pipeline organisation could best be structured as a private utility transmission company. I have no plans for an independent authority to determine pipeline tariffs.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of ethane derived from the gas-gathering pipeline is expected to be included in specification gas purchased by the British Gas Council.

No decisions have yet been made. The BGC/Mobil gas-gathering study (published as Energy Paper No. 44), assumed that 20 per cent. of the ethane would be included in specification gas purchased by the British Gas Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the company or authority scheduled to build and operate the gas-gathering pipeline will also operate the feeder lines covering gases other than methane to port facilities or petrochemical plants.

No decisions have been taken on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in order to be able to fix the date for commencing work on the gas-gathering pipeline, he will seek to expedite the settlement: of a price to be paid for the methane derived from the pipeline.

Work on the gas gathering pipeline is already well tinder way, as are gas sales negotiations between British Gas and licensees.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the names of members of the committee set up to examine the North Sea's marginal fields; how often it has met; and if details of its deliberations are available.

The study group which has been set up to undertake the review of marginal fields consists of officials from the Department of Energy, Treasury and Inland Revenue and representatives of the offshore oil industry. It has no formally constituted membership. It has met six times. I have received its first report and shall make a statement in due course.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what representations she has received regarding the limitations on civil servants standing for election to local authorities.

None.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she has been able to reduce the advertising cons of the Central Office of Information.

Economies introduced by the Central Office of Information reduced their advertising costs by 10·3 per cent. in the financial year 1979–80, a saving of over £2·3 million. A new system of paying advertising agencies started at the beginning of the present financial year. This should bring further savings.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service she will make a statement about her review of the Government's statistical services.

I hope that an announcement will be made before long.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are her plans for the future of the Civil Service Pay Research Unit.

My right hon. and noble Friend will be considering the future work of the unit in the light of decisions on Civil Service pay for the future.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she is satisfied with the progress being made in improving the efficiency of the Civil Service.

Good progress is being made. There is much more to be done.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what arrangements have been made to transfer staff into the Department of Employment and the Manpower Services Commission, which have extra work to do because of unemployment, from those Ministries which have a reduction of activity because of the Government cuts.

There is in my Department a staff transfers unit which tries to find suitable vacancies in other Departments for staff who become surplus in their existing Department. The Department of Employment and the Manpower Services Commission are included in these arrangements.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service on what basis Civil Service pay is to be determined in the coming year.

The Civil Service pay agreements and the pay research procedures governed by them have been suspended for the 1981 pay settlement. The settlement will be based on the cash limit.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will make a statement on the machinery for determining Civil Service pay.

The Civil Service pay agreements and the pay research procedures governed by them have been suspended for the 1981 pay settlement. The settlement will be based on the cash limit. Discussions about possible changes to the pay research system for the longer term are taking place with the Council of Civil Service Unions.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the size of the Civil Service at the most convenient date; and what it was on 1 April 1979.

At 1 October 1980, the latest date for which figures are available centrally, there were 697,100 civil servants. At 1 April 1979 the figure was 732,300.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether there is a general rule governing those civil servants who wish to continue working to the age of 65 years, or whether discretion is left to Departments.

The head of each Department has the discretion to decide whether individual civil servants may continue to be employed beyond their minimum retiring age; this is normally 60. Retention depends on a number of factors including the availability of posts and the fitness and efficiency of the person concerned.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she is satisfied that catering for the Civil Service is provided as economically as possible

Yes. Most of the larger staff restaurants are run by the Civil Service Catering Organisation (CISCO) on commercial lines. Some staff restaurants are run departmentally and the guidance and advice of CISCO is available to them.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will make a statement about the privatisation of jobs currently undertaken by industrial civil servants.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated following her statement on 13 May, the criterion for deciding whether work will be put out to the private sector is whether this would be commensurate with sound management and good value for money.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what categories of public appointments are restricted to British subjects, including Commonwealth citizens; which of these require the taking of an oath of allegiance before assumption of office; and to what extent citizens of the Irish Republic may be appointed to each category.

In making appointments to public bodies Ministers are not restricted to British subjects or Commonwealth citizens. They are, however, required to satisfy themselves that any necessary security provisions are met. The taking of an oath of allegiance on accepting a public appointment is not generally required.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what Armed Forces and Civil Service posts are restricted to British subjects, including Commonwealth citizenship; which of these require the taking of an oath of allegiance before assumption of office; and to what extent citizens of the Irish Republic may hold such posts.

Under the Civil Service Commission general regulations, made under the authority of the Civil Service Order in Council 1978, candidates for appointment in the Civil Service are required to be British subjects, Commonwealth citizens, British protected persons, or citizens of the Irish Republic. In addition, they have to satisfy certain conditions as to parentage or residence. I have arranged to have copies of the relevant extract from the general regulations placed in the Library. Civil servants are not required to take an oath of allegiance before the assumption of office.The conditions for entry into the Armed Forces are, of course, the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. I am informed, however, that all entrants are required to be British subjects, Commonwealth citizens, or citizens of the Irish Republic, and that all entrants to the Army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Marines have to take an oath of allegiance.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she is now prepared to give the names of the permanent secretaries who have requested permission to transfer directly to private industry since May 1979.

It has not been the practice of this or previous Administrations to publish details of applications received under the business appointments rules.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will review her Department's policy on computer procurement for the public service and the principle of single-tender placement in cases where a substantial proportion of the work is likely to be passed on to foreign concerns, though British firms not originally invited to bid have the experience and capacity to undertake it; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's present computer procurement policy, which gives a preference to ICL, will end on 31 December 1980. From 1 January 1981, the Government's procurement of computers will be in accordance with the European Community supplies directive and GATT code. Within these international rules, the Government will continue to support the British computer industry.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will make a statement on the future of Civil Service index-linked pensions.

I refer my hon. Friend to the supplementary answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister whether the appointees to the inquiry into the value of pensions represent any particular interests; and, if so, which interests.

No. They have a wide range of experience and authority, drawn from work in industry, commerce, public service, the trade union movement, and the actuarial and economics professions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what salary a person married with two dependent children would have to earn to give the same real value as a salary of £2,000 and £5,000, respectively, paid in 1970 to someone with similar family commitments.

A married man with two children under age 11 would need to earn £7,300 or £18,800 in 1980–81 to have the same real net income as a man with a salary of £2,000 or £5,000, respectively, in 1970–71.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the total body of income tax payers delivered a full return of income in each of the tax years 1974–75 to 1979–80.

The Inland Revenue does not keep records of the total numbers of income tax returns received in each tax year. Of the total body of income tax payers who may be required to deliver a full return of income once a year, it is estimated that the following proportions were issued with returns requiring a declaration of income for the year shown.

Income Tax Year	Proportion Issued
	%
1974–75	49
1975–76	47
1976–77	47
1977–78	47
1978–79	47
1979–80	44

In addition, there would in each year have been an unrecorded number of returns which were issued to employed tax payers following a major change in their circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of tie Exchequer what would be the consequence to the national insurance fund in 1981–82 of abolishing the earnings ceiling on national insurance contributions; and what would be the net gain to the fund assuming that the amount was increaed by the standard Treasury supplement in both cases under the new rates announced on 24 November.

Abolition of the upper earnings limit would increase income to the national insurance fund in 1981–82 by about £680 million. Of this amount about £85 million would be attributable to the treasury supplement. These figures assume the retention of the upper earnings limit in calculating contracted-out contributions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to introduce a system of differential interest rates aimed at assisting industry such as is operated in other European Economic Community countries.

No. For the reasons given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 13 November—[Vol 991, c. 445–7] — I do not consider that this would be appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate for the financial years 1980 to 1985 of the revenues which will accrue to the Government as a result of the exploitation of the North sea by the oil companies (a) prior to his statement to the House on Monday 24 November and (b) in the light of that statement, such estimates to he broken down by source.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the year-on-year increase in the retail price index for each year since 1970.

I refer my hon. Friend to page 42 of the November 1980 edition of Economic Trends.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors he calculates have led to the United Kingdom being at the bottom of the wages table in Europe; and what action the Government propose to take to remedy the situation.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to ensure that transactions on sale of equipment and services between partners in an offshore licence, which can be set against petroleum revenue lax, occur at true market value.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the year-on-year increase in the pensioner index published in the Employment Gazette, for each year since 1970.

Following is the information:

Annual average percentage increases: all items (excluding housing)
Year	One person pensioner households index	Two person pensioner households index
1971	10·1	9·9
1972	7·6	7·4
1973	9·6	10·2
1974	16·1	16·2
1975	25·8	25·3
1976	19·1	18·8
1977	16·8	16·8
1978	8·1	8·0
1979	11·7	11·9
*1980	16·0	14·3
*Comparison of 1979–80 third quarter figures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update to 1980–81 his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North dated 11 March 1980, Official Report, c. 540, showing the total estimated cost of housing expenditure, including mortgage interest tax relief.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1980]: The estimated figure for the total cost of housing expenditure in 1980–81, including mortgage interest tax relief, is about £8 billion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of each quarterly change in sterling M3 money stock since January 1975 is represented by that quarter's change in borrowings by, respectively, central Government, local authorities, public corporations, industrial and commercial companies and the personal sector;

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1980,]: The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the Government's annual take from North Sea oil and gas, respectively, at current prices and at 1980 prices each year since 1970; what has been the breakdown each year as between royalties, petroleum revenue tax, corporation tax and other sources of revenue; what forecast is made of each of these sources of revenue at 1980 prices each year to 1985; what percentage of net revenues, after deduction of development costs, is represented by the Government take each year since 1970; and what estimate is made for each year to 1985.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1980]: It is not possible to provide separate figures for oil and for gas. Following are the receipts of royalties, PRT and corporation tax from North Sea oil and gas since 1970:

£ million outturn prices
	Royalties	PRT	CT*	Total
1970–71	3	—	—	3
1971–72	6	—	4	10
1972–73	11	—	4	15
1973–74	12	—	3	15
1974–75	15	—	5	20
1975–76	20	—	5	25
1976–77	71	—	10	81
1977–78	228	—	10	238
1978–79	289	183	50	522
1979–80	628	1,435	166	2,229
* Estimated proportion attributed to North Sea oil and gas.

In addition, about £40 million CT in 1978–79 was satisfied by setting off advance corporation tax; the corresponding amount in 1979–80 was £100 million.Following are the figures in 1980 prices:

£ million 1980 prices
	Royalties	PRT	CT	Total
1970–71	11	—	—	11
1971–72	19	—	13	32
1972–73	33	—	12	45
1973–74	33	—	8	42
1974–75	37	—	12	49
1975–76	38	—	10	48
1976–77	120	—	17	136
1977–78	337	—	15	352
1978–79	386	244	67	697
1979–80	732	1,672	193	2,598

Forecasts for later years depend on a number of factors —including changes in the price of oil, costs and the production programme — which cannot be precisely estimated. For the current year and next year I expect total Government revenues from oil and gas to be as follows (1980–81 prices):

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the annual cost of the present rate of death grant.

I have been asked to reply.The annual cost of the present death grant is £23 million, including £6 million for administration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department have responsibility for administering the provisions regarding death grant.

I have been asked to reply.It is estimated that at present some 730 staff are employed in administering death grant.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the latest annual figure for road deaths and casualties, respectively, attributable to drunken driving; and whether he will make a statement.

Provisional figures for 1979 indicate that 1 in 3 of drivers killed in road accidents had blood alcohol levels over the legal limit. In about 1 in 10 of all road accidents, including damage-only accidents, alcohol is considered to be a significant contributory cause.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will have regard to the number of licences suspended as a result of public service vehicles having been found defective when making the regulations necessary for the operation of sections 19 to 23 of the Transport Act 1980.

The Act itself lays down clearly the factors to which the traffic commissioners must have regard in granting or revoking public service vehicles operators' licences.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to announce a decision on the orange badge scheme for disabled drivers.

As a next step I have arranged to meet my hon. Friend and other members of the all-party disablement group next week for a further discussion about the proposed changes in the scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the proposed 6 per cent. limit on public sector wage increases will be applied to British Railway employees.

Six per cent. is the limit of the Government allowance for the pay element for rate support grant for 1981–82. In their next pay settlement, due in April 1981, the board and the unions will need to have primary regard to what the railways can afford to pay in current conditions, bearing in mind the relevance of productivity to the financial strength of the railway.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the danger to pedestrians using the footpath between the Esso garage and Tudor Avenue, Dymchurch, he will undertake an investigation into the delay to improvements on the A259 trunk road.

I am aware that the footway at this point is comparatively narrow and the county council is preparing a possible improvement scheme which I look forward to receiving. Preparatory work on a major scheme to bypass Dymchurch has been suspended for the time being but it will be resumed when there is a prospect of fitting the bypass into the programme. I see no need for an investigation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will seek to introduce measures to increase the safety of children in cars.

I am afraid that I could not hold out any prospect of our introducing legislation in the present Session.

asked the Minister of Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board to discuss the recommendations of the Monopolies Commission on South-East commuter services.

asked the Minister of Transport when he next intends to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board to discuss implementation of the recommendation in the Monopolies Commission report on South-East commuter services.

I have regular meetings with the chairman to discuss current policy issues and I am due to meet him next on 15 December.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will review the legislation concerning tachographs.

My right hon. Friend is urging his colleagues in the Council of Ministers of Transport to review the relevant legislation in order to remove the present obscurities and increase its flexibility.

asked the Minister of Transport how many representations he has received about his proposals for a new form of vehicle licensing.

We have received a great many representations on the consultation document we issued.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he has taken to promote rail exports.

We take every available opportunity to help find suitable markets for railway exports, and in particular we try to keep in touch with the responsible Ministers in other countries. My right hon. Friend visited China in April as a follow-up to the agreement on railway co-operation which he signed with the Chinese Minister of Railways in November last year. We maintain close contact with British Rail in its overseas activities. But the crucial need is for the railway industry to supply goods at competitive prices and with competitive delivery periods.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now approve British Railways' plans for the electrification of the lines to Cambridge.

I am considering the British Railways boards' proposals for the electrification of these and other lines.

asked the Minister of Transport how many high speed trains are currently in service in British Railways; and what increase is proposed in 1981.

The Railways Board has 68 high speed trains currently in passenger service and it expects to introduce a further 20 sets into service in 1981.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make an official visit to the vehicle licensing office at Stirling.

No. As the hon. Member is aware, the office is to close in February. Other jobs have been provided for the staff. Relicensing transactions can now be handled at 23 post offices in the area giving the public a much more convenient service.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will meet the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange and other hon. Members from Merseyside to discuss the National Ports Council's report on the port of Liverpool.

Yes, my office has been in touch to arrange a date.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to remove the anomalies in concessionary fares schemes for the elderly operated by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to remove the anomalies in concessionary fares schemes for the elderly operated by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to remove the anomalies in concessionary fares schemes for the elderly operated by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

No. Local authorities are best placed to decide what concessions to provide having regard to their local needs and priorities.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that the transport supplementary grant for 1981–82 will not discriminate against local authorities which subsidise their local bus and rail services.

All English county councils have included local public transport subsidies in their bids for transport supplementary grant. In making the settlement we shall take account of each county's needs.

asked the Minister of Transport when work on the electrification of the section of the St. Pancras to Sheffield railway line between Bedford and Sheffield will begin; and when electrification of the section London St. Pancras to Bedford will be completed.

Electrification of the Bedford to Sheffield line will be considered in the light of the findings of the joint British Rail/Department of Transport review of the case for main line electrification. I understand from British Rail that the St. Pancras to Bedford electrification project should be completed by October 1982.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the major projects for which British Railways have received financial assistance from the European Community in the last five years.

Fourteen grants from the European regional development fund and seven loans from the European Investment Bank have been made to the British Railways Board in the last five years. I am writing to my hon. Friend listing the projects involved and the amount of the grants and the loans.

asked the Minister of Transprt if he is satisfied with the co-ordination of European Economic Community policy so far as it affects financial aid to railways.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the present system of checks followed by his Department in ensuring that Ministry of Transport tests are properly undertaken.

Before authorised examiners are appointed to conduct MoT tests, checks are made to ensure that their garages comply with the Department's requirements for equipment, premises and staff. Testers to be employed have to be nominated by the authorised examiner and are required to undergo an approved training course.Authorised examiners must maintain records of tests conducted. The Department makes periodic inspections to check standards of testing and procedures and investigates complaints about individual test results. If there is doubt about a garage's performance formal or incognito checks may be carried out. Authorisations may be withdrawn if examiners or testers are not meeting the required standards.

asked the Minister of Transprt whether he supports the recommendations by the Lorries and Environment Committee with regard to maximum lorry weights; and if he will make a statement.