asked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans his Department has made for the International Year of Disabled People 1981; what funds have been allocated for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

All departments in the Civil Service—which is the largest employer of registered disabled people in the United Kingdom—have been asked to mark the year by continuing, and where possible improving, their efforts to promote the employment and advancement of disabled people. Progress will be reviewed through a series of meetings with the Departmental disabled persons officers.Copies of

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will conduct during the International Year of Disabled People 1981 a thorough review of all his Department's policies that affect disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

The policy within the Civil Service is to employ disabled people wherever possible and to encourage and assist them to overcome the problems posed by their disabilities This policy is kept under continuous review through regular meetings of Departmental disabled persons officers, who have the responsibility within their own departments for the employment and career development of the disabled.

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will list in the Official Report the Select Committees of the House, together with details of overseas visits undertaken by each during the last Session of Parliament and the cost of each visit.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1980]: The following are the Select Committees with power to travel abroad, together with details of all visits undertaken during Session 1979–80, showing the dates of the visit, the countries visited and the accounts received up to 22 December 1980. In a few cases the accounts may not have all been received.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the current level of British contributions to each multilateral aid and development agency, and to agencies concerned with

The planned level of such expenditure for 1981–82 is not yet available. Provision will be sought in the Supply Estimates which will be available in March. The figures for 1979–80 and 1980–81, as taken from the Supply Estimates for those years, are as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal, if he will publish in the Official Report the details of the programme of aid to non-associated developing countries for 1980, and of the guidelines for the operation of the programme in 1981, both agreed at the Development Council of the European Economic Community on 18 November 1980.

Yes. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list in the Official Report those loans and grants provided so far in this financial year under the aid-trade provision of the bilateral aid programme.

The following agreements have been concluded since the beginning of April 1980:

asked the Lord Privy Seal, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Consett on 3 December 1980, how much was pledged by the United Kingdom to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the Middle East in 1979 and 1980; and how these figures relate to the appropriate United Kingdom financial years.

The United Kingdom pledged £4.4 million to the agency for 1979 and £4.5 million for 1980.The 1979 contribution was paid in two equal instalments of which the first was in our financial year 1978–79 and the second in 1979–80. The 1980 contribution was paid in 1980–81.£250,000 will also be paid in 1980–81 as the first instalment of our 1981 contribution to the agency of £5 million.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further response Her Majesty's Government will be making to the report of the Brandt Commission "North-South: A Programme for Survival".

The Government have welcomed the Brandt report. We share the deep concern of the Brandt Commission about the outlook for many developing countries. We shall continue to contribute to international action designed to help the developing countries and to participate in international discussion of North-South issues.

asked the Prime Minister which Government Ministers, on what occasions and for what purposes, found it necessary in the public interest to be accompanied by their spouse at public expense when travelling overseas on official duties during 1980.

Expenses of spouses accompanying Ministers on overseas journeys may be charged to official funds only when the presence of the spouse is in the public interest.In many cases no extra travelling expense is involved because the numbers attending or other considerations warrant the use of an RAF aircraft.The information requested is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister what was the total cost of running the Cabinet Office in the financial year 1979–1980.

Gross expenditure on the Cabinet Office Vote for 1979–80 was £5,229,333.

asked the Prime Minister what is the total number employed in the Cabinet Office.

591 at 1 January 1981.

asked the Prime Minister what steps she is taking to prevent information of Cabinet meetings from being publicly disclosed; what previous steps she has taken; and if she will make a statement.

All concerned are well aware of the rule that the proceedings of Cabinet are confidential. The attention of members of the Cabinet is drawn to this rule when they are appointed.

asked the Prime Minister if she will consider introducing legislation to appoint a special Ombudsman to investigate complaints of maladministration by the nationalised industries.

I have no proposals to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what new measures the Government are taking to promote the aims of the International Year of Disabled People.

The Government have made it clear that they support the aims of the International Year, and Ministers will be taking every opportunity to influence public attitudes to disabled people and to encourage their integration and participation in the community.Achievement of the aims of the Year is part of a continuing process. Much is already being done by public services and voluntary bodies, and the Year provides a special opportunity to take stock, to consider how present support and services can be improved and to plan for their long-term extension as resources become available. Special initiatives will be planned to fit within this framework.For information about activities already planned by individual Departments, I would refer the right hon. Member to the replies being given by my right hon. and hon. Friends today to a series of questions from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris). Other activities will be announced during the Year as arrangements are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in furtherance of competition policy, he will seek to set up an inquiry into hotel pricing in London.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what follow-up action to improve maritime safety he has in mind in the light of the outcome of the Paris conference on maritime safety on 1 and 2 December.

We intend to take an active part in the working group on port State control which was set up by the conference and is meeting for the first time today in The Hague.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has any plans to make any references under section 13 of the Competition Act 1980.

My right hon. Friend has no specific proposals in mind at present. As the rate of inflation moves downwards, it becomes less and less likely that these powers will need to be used to supplement existing competition legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the United Kingdom's balance of trade with the newly industrialising countries in the first nine months of 1980.

In the first nine months of 1980 there was an overall crude surplus of £125 million in our trade with newly-industrialising countries. In manufactured goods there was a crude surplus of £1,205 million and a crude deficit of £1,080 million on other goods, mainly food and raw materials.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when next he intends to meet the Director General of Fair Trading to discuss the matter of refusal to supply.

I meet the Director General frequently, and this subject has arisen from to time, but I have at present no further plans to discuss it with him.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will initiate a study into advertising and promotion campaigns directed at children; and if he will take steps to curb this form of advertising.

The Advertising Standards Authority has recently published a study of children's reactions to advertisements and is considering how this should be followed up. I have also received views as requested from the National Federation of Women's Institutes and the Scottish Women's Rural Institutes. There is no evidence however of any need to intervene at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he regards recent changes away from the British flag by merchant fleets as significant; and whether he proposes to take any action to discourage further transfers.

The sharp drop since 1975 in merchant shipping tonnage registered in the United Kingdon has for the moment eased. This decline was due to ship disposals and not to re-registration overseas. The future size of our merchant fleet and its job opportunities depend primarily on its operating costs, including its labour costs, being internationally competitive.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what response he has made so far to the consultative document on collusive tendering.

My right hon. Friend has received many comments on the consultative document which are interesting and useful. We are now considering these comments before reaching final conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the increase in the value and volume of imports and exports of textiles and clothing in the latest available 12-month period, distinguishing between low-cost and other countries; and if he will make a statement.

In the period December 1979 to November 1980, the value of imports of textiles and textile clothing from low-cost countries decreased by 6 per cent. compared with the preceding 12-months and imports from the rest of the world decreased by 4 per cent. Exports to low-cost countries increased by 10 per cent. and to the rest of the world by 4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the percentage change in the volume of exports and imports during the first nine months of 1980 over the equivalent period of 1979.

In the first nine months of 1980, export volume was 3½ per cent. higher than in the corresponding period of 1979, and import volume was 2 per cent. lower.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether imports and sales of Japanese motor vehicles in 1980 complied with the understanding reached between the Japanese and British automotive industries.

Prudent marketing voluntarily adopted by the Japanese manufacturers kept their annual share of the United Kingdom market between 9 per cent. and 11 per cent. for the five years from 1975 to 1979. Their share of a smaller market in 1980 was 11·9 per cent. Our concern at this increase has been made clear to the Japanese authorities. I believe that the exceptional fall in sales at the end of the year is indicative of the seriousness with which the manufacturers in Japan treat the understanding between the two industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps have been taken by his Department to investigate the accident involving a Boeing 707 aircraft which occurred at Lulsgate airport on 11 October 1979.

A team from the accidents investigation branch of my Department made extensive inquiries over four months obtaining information from Kuwait, India and Zaire as well as in this country and the crew members were interviewed. The aircraft was traced to Kuwait, thence on to Bombay, after which its whereabouts were not clear.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce legislation to protect consumers from the excessive rates of interest being charged on loans to low-income families to enable them to purchase Christmas presents for their children, in view of long-term hardships that have been caused this Christmas to such families.

New primary legislation is unnecessary. The Consumer Credit Act will, when fully operative, give very comprehensive consumer protection. Already the Advertisements and Quotations Regulations enable consumers to ascertain the cost of credit. The Act gives the courts power to reopen extortionate credit bargains.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what measures he is proposing to improve import substitution over this next year.

The Government's economic policy is designed to improve the competitiveness of British industry on both home and overseas markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement outlining Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to flags of convenience.

The Government wish to see the preservation of a freely competitive international shipping environment and believe that each nation should be free to set its own conditions for admission to its register, subject only to the full observation of internationally agreed standards.By the same token the choice of flag is a matter for the ship owner, who must be free to make a commercial decision taking into account relative operating costs, including labour costs.In international discussions on flags of convenience, the United Kingdom will continue to oppose any measures which are likely to reduce competition in shipping with the consequent increase in the costs of international trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many merchant ships formerly under the British flag were transferred to flags of convenience during 1980; and what was the total tonnage.

The available statistics on such transfers includes sales by British to foreign owners, and these account for the great majority of such transfers. It is not, therefore, usually possible to distinguish the minority of transfers to other flags where the British owner retains an interest in the ship. As there is no generally agreed definition of a "flag of convenience", the table below gives transfers to all foreign flags (up to end-November 1980, the latest date available).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to set up an inquiry into the productivity and manning levels of British Airways.

The airline's productivity and manning levels are a matter for the British Airways Board and I see no reason to undermine that responsibility by setting up an inquiry. The board has demonstrated its determination to ensure that productivity continues to be improved so that British Airways can compete successfully and profitably in a difficult international market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 1 December, what response he has had from the Advertising Standards Authority upon the complaints about misleading cutlery advertisements referred to it.

I understand that the Advertising Standards Authority's code of advertising practice committee has upheld complaints in all three of the cases involving cutlery advertisements which have been drawn to my attention, and which I drew to its attention, but not in the case of a holloware advertisement which I also brought to its attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement on the review of statistical forms sent out by his Department.

Since May 1979 the Department has stopped three inquiries, saving 6,000 forms a year, and has cancelled plans to hold a retail shops inquiry for 1981, saving a further 150,000 forms. By streamlining other regularly conducted statistical inquiries, the number of forms issued is being reduced by a further 30,000 a year. The situation is under continuous review and further savings will be made wherever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress he has made towards the liberalisation of air services in Europe.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier` today to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Rhodes James). In addition to action on fares, we are pressing, both in the Community and bilaterally, for the introduction of new services where these are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority, and we have put to our Community partners a draft directive designed to liberalise the carriage of low-weight parcels and freight.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the maximum levels of compensation liability accepted by all airline companies in respect of dependants of those who have lost their lives or who are injured in air crashes involving passengers to and from Great Britain from overseas destinations.

The Warsaw Convention of 1929 and the amending Hague Protocol of 1955 specify a maximum level of compensation—equivalent to about £9,500 but permit airlines to adopt higher limits if they wish. I list below those countries whose airlines are known to have done so, and the limits which I understand they currently apply.

(1) Countries which quote a special contract rate of US$58,000 (equal to 45,600 Special Drawing Rights).

• Air Afrique Countries
• Australia
• Belgium
• Burma
• Canada
• El Salvador
• Finland
• France
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Panama
• Singapore
• Spain
• Thailand
• United Kingdom

US$58,000=45,600 SDRs

£stg=0·539SDRs

(2) Countries which quote a special contract rate of £25,000 (equal to 46,400 SDRs)

• Brunei
• Gibraltar
• Hong Kong

(3) Countries which quote a special contract rate in their own currencies

• Austria—Sch.1.1m (equal to SDRs 62,400)
• Denmark—Kr.375,000 (equal to SDRs 49,000)
• Federal Republic of Germany—DM.150,000 (equal to SDRs 60,200)
• Norway—Kr.333,000 (equal to SDRs 50,500)
• Sweden—Kr.270,000 (equal to SDRs 48,600)
• Switzerland—Fr.170,000 (equal to SDRs 75,500)

(4) The United Kingdom will be increasing its special contract limit to 100,000 SDRs as from 1 April 1981 and it is believed that France will be increasing its limit to 80,000 SDRs from the same date. Other European countries are understood to be thinking of similar increases over the next few months.

All figures have been rounded to a convenient approximation in view of the day to day variations due to currency fluctuations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he plans any new initiatives to reduce the level of manufactured goods imported into the United Kingdom.

No. In principle, the future for British industry must lie in the expansion of world trade rather than in protectionism.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of United Kingdom exports of oil and oil products to the European Economic Community in 1970; and what was the comparable figure for 1979.

The value of United Kingdom exports of oil and oil products to the European Community (9) was £84 million in 1970 and £2,635 million in 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade which British industries currently face disadvantage as a result of differences between tariffs placed against manufactured imports by other developed countries and lower tariffs levied by the United Kingdom on similar imported products.

Various other developed countries have tariffs higher than the levels in the European Community's common customs tariff against products manufactured by a number of British industries. Conversely the CCT is higher than other developed countries' tariffs against many British exports. The tariff cuts agreed in the Tokyo round of multilateral trade negotiations will reduce many of these disparities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the current review of the nationalised industries consumer councils will be completed.

I will report our conclusions to the House as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of total imports into the United Kingdom come from developing countries, as indicated by the most recent 12-month period for which statistics are available.

Information in respect of 1980 may be derived from table 15 of the press notice on the current account of the United Kingdom balance of payments for December. A copy of the press notice is available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he made his latest review of security measures for flights between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The security measures for flights between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are kept under regular review. They were considered by the National Aviation Security Committee at its last meeting on 29 October 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many United Kingdom passport holders heads of household have entered Great Britain under the special voucher scheme in each year since its inception; and how many applications for special vouchers have been received from United Kingdom passport holders.

The number of United Kingdom passport holders admitted to the United Kingdom under the special voucher scheme is published annually in the Command Paper "Control of immigration: statistics" (Footnote (a) of table 3(a) of the issue for 1979, Cmnd. 7875). Figures for the first three quarters of 1980 are given in table 2 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 17/80.The information available on applications for special vouchers is given in the following table; figures for 1968 to 1973 could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions reports have been made of attacks on the Hindu centre in Cedars Road, E15, on persons entering and leaving the temple, and on Mr. Bhasdari, the general secretary; what action was taken by the police in each case; whether he has received the letter for the hon. Member for Newham, North-West with a letter from Mr. Bhalla on the subject of such attacks; and if he will make a statement;(2) why no action was taken by the police following the arrest of nine youths for damaging a Hindu temple in Cedars Road, Stratford, E15, on Monday 22 December 1980;(3) whether he will investigate complaints from Asian and African residents in Newham that no police action has been taken on reports of attacks on the homes and property and persons of coloured people; and whether he will publish his findings.

The hon. Member's letter of 9 January was received on Monday 12 January. Inquiries are being made of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, and the hon. Member will receive a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the first results of the evaluation programme which is monitoring further reconvictions for criminal offences committed by young offenders who have completed sentences at New Hall detention centre; and if he will make a statement.

We hope that the results of the evaluation programme, which will include information about reconvictions during the first year after release of persons discharged from New Hall, Send and four other detention centres between June and December 1980, will be available by late 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that drivers are being stopped and required to take a breath test only in those cases where the police officer stopping the vehicles has reason to suspect that the driver has been drinking.

The evidence available suggests that the police powers to stop vehicles under section 159 of the Road Traffic Act 1972, and their powers to require breath tests of drivers under section 8 of the same Act, are being used properly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange to compile figures of the number of drivers stopped by the police in each county between 24 December 1980 and 2 January and breathalysed, together with the number of positive results and subsequent prosecutions.

The information on breath tests is published for calendar years, and the part-year figures requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made by the Metropolitan Police in their search for Charles Richardson.

Mr. Richardson was arrested by officers of the Metropolitan police on Friday 16 January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to enable viewers holding National Giro accounts to pay their television licence fees by automatic debit transfer.

No, because the National Giro automatic debit transfer system is not compatible with the computerised television licensing system. Giro account holders can pay for their licences by Giro transfer at no cost to themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fatalities have been caused by fire in the last three years.

Fatal casualities resulting from fires attended by local authority fire brigades in each of the years 1969–70 are published in table 5 of Fire Statistics United Kingdom 1979, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Figures for 1980 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen on 17 December, if he will outline the reasons for the keeping of a prisoner at Swansea prison for over 26 weeks awaiting an appeal hearing.

The prisoner in question is serving a sentence of 18 months imprisonment imposed on 15 May 1980. The prisoner has not applied for bail pending the hearing of his appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available to the public the full facts, as known, of the likely effects of a full-scale nuclear attack upon any particular area.

The effects of nuclear weapons are set out in detail in the Government booklet "Nuclear Weapons", obtainable through Her Majesty's Stationery Office and main booksellers. A copy is in the Library of the House. Similar information will appear in the new guidance on domestic nuclear shelters which we are publishing on 22 January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take powers to require those local authorities who are making either very slow or no progress on home defence to introduce measures to improve their local situations.

Regulation 6 of the Civil Defence (Planning) Regulations 1974 provides this power.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans his Department has made for the International Year Disabled People 1981; what funds have been allocated for this purpose; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will conduct during the International Year of Disabled People 1981 a thorough review of all his Department's policies that affect disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

Officers of my Department are expected to have regard to the special needs of the disabled in all aspects of their work. In view of the aims of the International Year of Disabled People, I am arranging for heads of divisions and branches throughout the Department to be reminded of the need to be continually aware of the requirements and expectations of the disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the licensing arrangements for professional private investigators; and if he will make a statement.

There is no statutory licensing of private investigators. As part of our recent review of the private security industry, we considered the need for the statutory control of private investigators and concluded that the case for such control had not been made out. In our view it is preferable to support and encourage self-regulation within the industry, and discussions will now take place on how this might best be achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the new Nationality Bill, he will have any discretion as to whether or not to grant registration once requested by a minor born in the United Kingdom neither of whose parents were settled in the United Kingdom at the time of the child's birth.

It is proposed in the Bill that people born in the United Kingdom to parents neither of whom was a British citizen or settled in the United Kingdom at the time of their births shall be entitled to be registered as British citizens if the conditions in clause 1(3) or in paragraph 2 schedule 2 are satisfied. It is also proposed, in clause 3(1), that the Secretary of State shall have discretion to register any person as a British citizen if while he is a minor an application is made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence, if any, he has received either from those who have made public assertions, or others to substantiate the claims of easily available supplies of tobacco, alcohol or drugs at Frankland gaol near Durham.

I have received no such evidence. I am satisfied from inquiries I have made that there has been no slackness or impropriety in the running of Frankland, and I am grateful to the Armed Forces for their consistently high standard of care and supervision of the prisoners there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners had been on remand for (a) longer than three months, (b) longer than six months, (c) longer than nine months and (d) over a year on average in London establishments at the latest convenient date.

We will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners had been on remand for (a) longer than three months, (b) longer than six months, (c) longer than nine months and (d) over a year at Brixton prison at the latest convenient date.

We will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will dispense with the requirement to advertise in the press applications for naturalisation, or discretionary registration, under the British Nationality Act 1948.

Yes. I have decided that in future advertisements will not be necessary. The requirement to advertise has been in force since 1918. But in view of the very few cases in which advertisements are at present found to be of value I believe that the merits of now dispensing with them, with the consequent saving in cost to applicants, outweigh other considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of children currently in institutions under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, their location, age, offence and date of conviction.

[pursuant to the reply, 12 December 1980]: To provide all the information requested would involve disproportionate cost. The available information is given in the following table:

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee to study the procedure for Prime Minister's questions with a view to ensuring that more questions are answered.

The arrangements for Prime Minister's questions were examined by the Select Committee on Parliamentary Questions in 1971–72 and by the Procedure Committee in 1976–77. I do not consider that the appointment of a further Select Committee would be justified at this stage.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how the sovereign equality of States in international law, which is a basic principle of the United Nations Charter, is reconciled with the inequality in this respect between States which are, and States which are not, parties to the Treaty of Rome.

Neither the principle of the sovereign equality of States nor the United Nations Charter is affected by the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community. The preamble to that Treaty includes the following:

"Intending to confirm the solidarity which binds Europe and the overseas countries and desiring to ensure the development of their prosperity, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations".

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will institute a study to identify the levels of immigrant population in each Community country together with details of entry eligibility, documentary control of citizens including voting rights, rights of entry of dependants and repatriation allowances; and if he will arrange for the results of those inquiries to be published in the Official Report.

No. The information on which such a study would be based is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, I will write to my hon. Friend and refer him to published sources of information on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will direct electricity and gas boards to assess the numbers of long-term domestic disconnections for debt by making a count at a specific point in time rather than counting the numbers in reconnection; and what is his estimate of the numerical difference between these two systems.

No. This is a matter for the industries but I am advised that it is not possible to identify the period of disconnection until a consumer is reconnected. I also understand that the alternative method proposed would not give a significantly different answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out for the year ended 31 March 1980 in each area electricity board and regional gas board (a) the number of domestic consumers, (b) the number disconnected for debt and (c) of those reconnected the number who had been disconnected for (i) one year or more, (ii) three months or more, (iii) one month or more, (iv) two weeks or more, (v) one week or more, (vi) two days or more and (vii) less than two days.

The information requested under (a) and (b) and for (c) (iii) in the form collected by each industry is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that the figures supplied by the London Electricity Board for the number of domestic consumers whose electricity supply has been disconnected for longer than one month as a result of debt are an accurate reflection of the true numbers.

I have no reason to doubt the board's figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient meter licensers are employed by his Department to prevent delays in meeting the demand for prepayment meters, following his announcement that these are to be available on request.

I am satisfied that the full complement of meter examiners employed by my Department is sufficient to meet the industries' requirements for the certification of meters.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which area electricity boards have stocks of prepayment meters which cannot be issued to consumers applying for them due to delay in licensing.

I am asking the chairman of the Electricity Council to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, during each of the years 1975 to 1980, how many inspectors of electricity meters were employed by his Department to license these meters for use; and how many (a) credit meters and (b) prepayment meters were so licensed each year.

The figures for meter examiners employed and total meters certified are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the decision will be taken on the location of the converter station for the proposed 2,000 MW power link between the United Kingdom and France; and whether this will be soon enough to make the project attractive to Electricité de France, the collaborators in the scheme.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Energy and for the Environment have decided to reopen the inquiry into this proposal. The reopened inquiry will now commence on 16 February. A decision will be taken as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish in the Official Report a table of the estimated oil imports in 1980 of countries belonging to the International Energy Agency; and how these estimates compare with the limits laid down at the ministerial meeting of December 1979.

Published figures of estimated oil imports in 1980 of countries belonging to the International Energy Agency are not yet available to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will direct the Gas Corporation under section 7(2) of the Gas Act 1972 to dispose of the former gasworks site at Rawsholm, Glasgow by sale to the Scottish Development Agency at the price recommended by the district valuer or by independent arbitration.

My right hon. Friend has no power to make such a direction.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress was made in the implementation by the Union of Socialist Republics and Eastern European countries of the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act during the last six months.

The weeks before the opening of the preparatory meeting in Madrid were marked by a further serious decline in the respect shown by certain countries for the commitments entered into in the Helsinki Final Act.On 20 August 1980, the Soviet Government resumed jamming of Western broadcasts in the Russian language. In October, the German Democratic Government increased its minimum exchange requirements: this has led to a drastic reduction in the number of Western visitors. Soviet troops remained in Afghanistan, and there has been no let-up in the intense campaign of repression within the Soviet Union against those who seek respect for basic human rights.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what plans his Department has made for the International Year of Disabled People 1981; what funds have been allocated for this purpose; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will conduct during the International Year of Disabled People 1981 a thorough review of all his Department's policies that affect disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

We are still considering how to mark the International Year of Disabled People. I hope that a decision will be announced soon. The special position of disabled people is given full consideration in any policy conducted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which affects them.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government recognise the illegal regime in Afghanistan; what diplomatic administration is maintained in Kabul and at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend announced in his reply of 25 April 1980 to my hon. Friend the Member for Westbury (Mr. Walters), Her Majesty's Government no longer accord recognition to Governments. The Government do not deal with the Babrak Karmal régime on a Government-to-Government basis: the dealings which our post in Kabul has with the authorities are kept to routine administrative matters. In Kabul Her Majesty's Government are represented by a chargé d'affaires, with five supporting staff, the cost of running the post in 1979–80 was £297,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the proportion lost in Wales of the estimated 766,000 jobs lost in the United Kingdom economy between September 1979 and September 1980.

Estimates of the number of employees in employment compiled quarterly by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment are published on a regular basis in the Department of Employment Gazette. The latest published information relates to the quarter ending June 1980 and indicates that in the preceding 12 months the number of employees in employment in Wales fell by some 32,000: the equivalent of 7·7 per cent. of the decrease in the United Kingdom as a whole. Estimates up to September 1980 will be published in the Employment Gazette later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the proportion in Wales of the estimated job loss of 85,000 in the manufacturing sector throughout the United Kingdom in October 1980.

On the basis described, Department of Employment monthly estimates of employees in employment would indicate a Welsh component of between 11 and 12 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount of funds allocated for (a) private insulation grants and (b) local authority housing insulation in (i) Aberconwy, (ii) Alyn and Deeside, (iii) Delyn, (iv) Rhuddlan and (v) Ynys Mon, Isle of Anglesey, respectively, setting out against each one the amount spent so far.

No allocations were made specifically for local authority housing insulation. For private insulation grants, the following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will consider the setting up of an all-Wales health advisory council; and whether he will make a statement;(2) whether he has considered the replies received in connection with the proposed reorganisation of the health services in Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is still considering responses to his paper "The Structure and Management of the National Health Service in Wales", which included a proposal for setting up a Welsh Health Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made by the Manpower Services Commission in Wales in providing places in the youth opportunities programme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there has been a good response to its recent publicity campaign for sponsors. Overall, more young people are able to participate in the programme. For 1980–81 as a whole the expectation is that about 27,000 young people will have entered the programme compared with about 21,000 in 1979–80. The programme is to be substantially expanded in 1981–82 and funds have been made available to provide for 42,000 to 43,000 young people to enter the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the figures for the female employment activity rate in Wales for the periods 1979–80 and 1980–81.

The latest economic activity rate for females in Wales, based on the EEC labour force survey, is for 1979, when it was provisionally estimated as 41·5.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans his Department has made for the International Year of Disabled People 1981; what funds have been allocated for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

In support of local voluntary organisations, the Welsh Office has made a grant to the Wales Council for the Disabled for the establishment and servicing of a voluntary committee to co-ordinate activities in Wales throughout the year. Grants have been made also to the Youth Hostels Association (South Wales region) and Friends of the Young Disabled to support projects aimed at promoting the concept of opening up the countryside to the young disabled using YHA facilities. "An Access for the Disabled" building awards scheme has also been funded. In addition, a number of schemes for the disabled put forward by local authorities are being considered in the 1981–82 urban aid programme. It is not possible to say precisely at this stage what funds in total will be allocated for IYDP purposes.