Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 20 January 1981

Overseas Development

Development Divisions

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is yet able to make a statement in response to the Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on development divisions, published in September last.

My observations on the report are being placed on the Table of the House today, as Cmnd. 8130.

Trade

Cargo Sharing

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how cargo sharing under the United Nations convention or a code of conduct for liner conferences will be controlled and supervised as between exporting and importing countries; and if he will make a statement.

The then Under-Secretary of State for Trade replied to a written parliamentary question on the United Nations liner code convention on 17 May 1979.In his reply he explained that agreement had been reached on a European Community regulation which opened the way for member States to become contracting parties to the code subject to certain reservations which will disapply the code's cargo-sharing provisions between the member States and other OECD countries, parties to the code.The Department of Trade is presently consulting interested parties about proposals concerning the new legislation which will be required before the United Kingdom can accede to the code convention. These consultations are taking place on the basis of a consultative paper issued by the Department on 15 August 1980. I am making copies of this paper available in the House of Commons Library.

Manufactured Goods

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a table showing the deficit or surplus in trade with the EEC and the rest of the world, respectively, in manufactured goods, excluding oil and precious stones, in 1980; and if he will publish a table showing the relative deficits or surpluses in each year since 1970.

The available information is as follows:

United Kingdom crude trade balance in manufactures^*less precious stones† with the European Community‡ and rest of the world
	European Community £ million	Rest of the world £ million
1970	+385	+1,832
1971	+293	+2,453
1972	+10	+2,101
1973	-381	+1,773
≑1974	-713	+2,398
1975	-603	+4,136
1976	-650	+4,675
1977	-807	+5,894
1978	-1,866	+5,474
1979	-2,843	+4,166
1980	-1,884	+5,556
Notes:
^* SITC sections 5 to 8 (oil is classified to section 3 and not included under manufactures).
† Taken as SITC 66 (non-metallic mineral manufactures nes) as full details of trade in precious stones with the European Community are not available. In value terms precious stones now account for about 70 per cent. of the United Kingdom's trade with the Community (excluding Greece) under SITC 66.
‡ Including Greece.
≑ Figures up to 1974 are on a Rev. 1 basis and subsequently on Rev. 2. The resulting discontinuity is, however, very small.

Source:

Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the main reasons for substantial deficit in trade in manufactures with the EEC in the years 1977 to 1979 by comparison with the substantial surplus in such trade with the rest of the world.

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

Ball Bearing Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report up-to-date information as to imports and exports in the ball bearing industry with particular reference to import and export levels achieved, respectively, by United Kingdom-owned and non-United Kingdom-owned companies manufacturing in the United Kingdom.

Details of overseas trade in ball, roller and needle-roller bearings are given under SITC(R2) subgroup 749.1 in tables III (imports) and VI (exports) of the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics, copies of which are in the Library. Details of trade in plain shaft bearings, plain housings, and housings for ball, roller or needle-roller bearings are given under SITC(R2) subgroup 749.3 against code numbers 8463 3500, 8463 3800 and 8463 1700 respectively in tables IV (imports) and VII (exports) of the same publication. Information is not available about the trade of individual companies.

Textile Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what the value of the exports of the following textile products was in 1980: man-made staple, man-made filament, yarn, wool, corded or combed or combed spun yarn, cotton, man-made fibre, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, carpets and other textiles;(2) what was the value of the imports of the following textile products into the United Kingdom in 1980: manmade staple, man-made filament yarn, wool, corded or combed spun yarn cotton, man-made fibre, woven-fabrics, cotton, man-made fibre wool, carpets, knitted fabrics and other textiles, and which three countries in order exported on average the most textile products to the United Kingdom in 1980.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1981]: The available information is as follows:

Trade in Textile Products, January-November 1980
	Imports CIF £ million	Exports FOB £ million
Man-made fibres suitable for spinning and waste of man-made fibres	81	174
Yarn of continuous man-made fibres	175	214
Wool or other animal hair, carded or combed (including tops)	12	48
Cotton yarn	54	24
Yarn of discontinuous man-made fibres	54	44
Yarn of wool or animal hair (excluding tops)	28	75
Woven cotton fabrics (excluding narrow or special fabrics)	234	112
Fabrics woven of man-made fibres (excluding narrow or special fabrics)	320	122
Fabrics woven of wool or fine animal hair	40	152
Knitted or crocheted fabrics (including tubular knit, pile, and open-work fabrics)	51	67
Carpets, carpeting, rugs, mats and matting	146	132
Other textiles	313	298

The three principal countries (by value) from which, overall, these textile products were consigned to the United Kingdom were, in

Details of the number of companies registered and removed from the register are as follows:
	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
1. England and Wales
New companies registered	53,819	52,872	60,611	62,958	66,104
Companies dissolved	6,800	7,435	7,348	6,582	^*5,340
Companies struck off	27,257	31,601	16,842	17,337	^*20,571
2. Scotland
New companies registered	2,266	2,342	2,955	3,514	3,270
Companies dissolved	433	400	398	349	371
Companies struck off	1,049	1,186	1,008	1,404	558
3. Northern Ireland
New companies registered	616	752	812	735	611
Companies dissolved	62	58	58	50	58
Companies struck off	343	187	—	451	87
^* These figures are provisional.
Note: It is not possible to provide separate details for England and Wales.

Employment

Unemployment Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for employment what was the number unemployed by order of the standard industrial classification and the number of vacancies in each region of the United Kingdom at the latest available date.

The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed quarterly according to the

descending order, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States of America and Italy.

Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics (SITC (Rev 2) Division 65, Groups 266 and 267 and sub-group 268.7).

Companies (Registrations And Closures)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many businesses went into liquidation and how many new businesses were registered between 1 January 1980 and the last month for which figures are available.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1981]: For the year 1980, provisional figures for England and Wales show 6,876 company liquidations—compulsory plus creditors' voluntary—and 4,000 bankruptcies and deeds of arrangement—for all individuals and partnerships.The number of new companies registered in 1980 in England and Wales was 66,104. New sole traders and partnerships registered numbered 144,504, but as they only have to register if they intend to use names other than their own there is no comprehensive record of the number of unincorporated businesses started.

Companies (Registrations And Deregistrations)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many companies have been (a) registered and (b) deregistered in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales in each of the past five years.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1981]: The information is as follows:industry in which the unemployed person last worked and the latest date for which this information is available is 13 November 1980. A corresponding industrial analysis of notified unfilled vacancies is available for 7 November, this information is given in the following table for the areas specified.The vacancy figures relate only to those notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the economy as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.

	R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies
Standard Industrial Classification 1968		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡
	South East			East Anglia			South west			West Midlands
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	5991	174	40	2,832	72	7	3,441	72	12	2,511	47	13
Mining and quarrying	771	24	1	199	2	—	700	6	—	2,249	7	—
Food, drink and tobacco	8,562	343	26	2,954	127	3	4,650	74	2	4,187	74	33
Coal and petroleum products	902	17	3	30	—	—	116	2	—	84	2	—
Chemicals and allied industries	5,961	355	45	537	18	—	1,121	19	1	1,541	74	3
Metal manufacture	3,072	104	11	241	12	—	769	16	—	10,989	54	6
Mechanical engineering	12,661	1,226	36	2,407	93	5	4,865	187	6	9,675	171	9
Instrument engineering	2,478	393	27	234	20	—	769	56	1	379	16	1
Electrical engineering	12,158	2,061	62	1,034	39	2	2,791	117	6	6,075	178	18
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	1,934	28	3	414	32	—	1,138	16	—	163	3	1
Vehicle	7,518	784	8	942	20	1	1,973	70	4	16,258	70	4
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	9,479	590	42	846	88	4	1,927	82	3	26,665	201	21
Textiles	1,942	131	18	195	7	2	841	12	3	2,927	33	—
Leather, leather goods and fur	735	83	14	66	3	—	291	5	1	562	11	4
Clothing and footwear	6,914	1,436	97	616	34	1	1,560	33	6	2,250	99	8
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	2,666	140	12	328	10	1	722	11	—	5,580	53	4
Timber, furniture, ect.	6,179	438	29	683	35	—	1,458	72	2	1,929	98	5
Paper, Printing and publishing	9,891	401	68	770	41	2	2,426	77	5	1,952	32	24
Other manufacturing industries	8,283	391	30	1,026	57	3	2,083	42	2	3,732	59	2
Construction	56,006	1,852	82	6,243	191	4	16,589	405	9	23,948	290	12
Gas, electricity and water	2,140	141	11	287	14	3	855	19	1	887	24	3
Transport and communication	24,575	1,735	66	2,323	140	1	6,107	397	4	6,454	109	17
Distributive trades	47,418	7,074	626	4,746	434	27	14,777	890	73	18,503	997	83
Insurance, banking, finance and business services	19,127	2,753	192	1,284	199	22	3,426	392	10	3,975	551	31
Professional and scientific services	21,348	4,874	283	2,214	378	10	7,103	769	17	6,595	459	39
Miscellaneous and defence	56,328	8,762	432	6,457	894	25	22,832	1,427	37	19,015	1,047	97
Public administration and defence	21,890	2,519	488	2,258	182	5	7,556	401	9	6,438	398	47
Not classified by industry (including school leavers)	94,736	—	—	8,496	—	—	23,948	—	—	48,899	—	—
Total	451,644	38,829	2,752	50,662	3,142	128	136,834	5,669	214	234,391	5,157	485
^* Registered Unemployed.
† Employment Offices.
‡ Careers Offices.

	R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies
Standard Industrial Classification 1968		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡
	East Midlands			Yorkshire and Humberside			North-west			North
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	2,725	80	9	3,860	64	8	1,892	18	6	1,454	11	3
Mining and quarrying	6,053	54	1	6,298	12	2	1,357	1	—	4,836	2	—
Food, drink and tobacco	3,811	87	5	7,313	242	17	10,584	131	3	3,695	72	6
Coal and petroleum products	119	7	—	371	4	—	473	31	—	153	2	—
Chemicals and allied industries	1,432	73	10	2,508	28	1	6,466	131	4	2,842	80	2
Metal manufacture	6,493	215	8	7,097	170	6	10,429	219	1	6,936	147	5
Mechanical engineering	6,493	215	8	7,097	170	6	10,429	219	1	6,936	147	5
Instrument engineering	177	71	—	263	23	3	518	24	—	559	4	—
Electrical engineering	1,803	283	4	2,241	64	1	6,676	185	2	4,551	63	6
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	154	24	—	697	32	—	1,904	16	—	4,674	29	1
Vehicles	2,050	32	—	3,497	52	5	6,287	106	3	1,151	26	—
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	2,585	59	4	6,731	91	5	6,908	96	6	2,091	32	4
Textiles	7,815	376	23	10,495	81	16	15,356	99	5	2,749	11	3
Leather, leather goods and fur	427	11	1	427	23	4	860	22	3	280	2	—
Clothing and footwear	4,338	248	12	4,997	117	3	7,186	221	12	4,579	79	—
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	1,413	34	1	2,349	14	2	3,450	30	—	1,837	14	—
Timber, furniture, etc.	1,472	90	7	2,744	79	6	3,748	82	2	1,439	36	4
Paper, Printing and publishing	1,406	54	3	2,003	50	6	4,756	89	3	1,518	29	2
Other manufacturing industries	2,163	77	1	2,197	36	—	6,130	64	6	1,518	29	2
Construction	15,527	218	10	26,287	320	16	38,605	405	13	29,338	224	10
Gas, electricity and water	560	19	1	667	63	1	1,180	42	1	624	21	1
Transport and communication	4,225	261	5	7,401	131	4	14,474	266	16	5,876	106	4
Distributive trades	10,161	950	51	17,348	131	4	14,474	266	16	5,876	106	4
Insurance, banking, finance and business services	1,841	333	9	2,949	354	16	5,973	479	14	2,560	222	9
Professional and scientific services	3,947	481	6	6,282	581	30	10,272	750	15	5,735	589	9
Miscellaneous and defence	12,135	937	35	18,383	1,122	36	34,195	1,747	26	16,700	972	8
Public administration and defence	4,603	300	29	7,642	549	27	12,831	757	12	8,792	525	12
Not classified by industry (including school leavers)	22,776	—	—	39,959	—	—	63,896	—	—	31,166	—	—
Total	127,684	5,397	236	200,846	5,320	287	311,952	7,715	210	168,339	4,248	135
^* Registered Unemployed.
† Employment Offices.
‡ Careers Offices.

	R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies
Standard Industrial Classification 1968		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡
	Wales			Scotland			Northern Ireland
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	1,726	26	9	5,255	111	7	2,351	3	2
Mining and quarrying	2,520	26	1	3,925	69	1	372	1	—

	R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies		R/U ^*	Notified Unfilled Vacancies
Standard Industrial Classification 1968		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡		at †	at ‡
Food, drink and tobacco	2,586	52	4	10,110	339	10	3,169	13	2
Coal and petroleum products	227	11	—	206	2	—	51	—	—
Chemicals and allied industries	1,556	54	1	2,322	215	7	368	12	1
Metal manufacture	1,556	54	1	2,322	215	7	368	12	1
Mechanical engineering	2,854	56	6	9,746	665	8	1,315	31	5
Instrument engineering	395	17	—	1,646	36	1	97	1	—
Electrical engineering	2,409	58	2	5,213	366	3	1,722	21	2
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	267	2	—	3,744	154	—	827	10	1
Vehicles	1,805	89	—	2,660	37	—	423	13	—
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	3,457	53	2	3,626	126	—	856	7	3
Textiles	1,328	12	—	6,987	274	4	4,330	13	2
Leather, leather goods and fur	143	1	—	464	14	—	73	—	—
Clothing and footwear	2,472	58	11	4,869	352	12	3,772	24	1
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	929	20	—	2,034	35	2	632	1	—
Timber, furniture, etc.	1,175	51	1	1,868	69	3	655	8	1
Paper, Printing and publishing	1,015	40	3	3,015	72	2	704	3	1
Other manufacturing industries	2,935	64	—	2,210	33	1	704	11	—
Construction	22,061	262	9	36,671	1,125	20	20,263	55	20
Gas, electricity and water	502	38	1	838	87	1	291	—	—
Transport and communication	4,669	134	5	9,538	1,134	9	2,329	13	6
Distributive trades	10,704	598	32	23,223	2,337	87	7,529	114	37
Insurance, banking, finance and business services	1,948	293	3	4,164	793	24	1,354	69	2
Professional and scientific services	5,036	528	5	10,252	1,565	27	4,726	62	2
Miscellaneous services	12,581	789	32	28,329	1,997	47	6,472	99	14
Public administration and defence	6,939	460	5	15,836	1,240	18	4,599	85	7
Not classified by industry (including school leavers)	27,462	—	—	48,111	—	—	21,460	—	—
Total	134,277	3,811	132	254,559	13,306	296	91,686	669	109
^* Registered Unemployed.
† Employment Offices.
‡ Careers Offices.

Paper Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers have been made redundant in the paper industry since May 1979.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of workers involved in redundancies of 10 or more so far confirmed as due to occur in the paper industry between May 1979 and December 1980 is 12,296.

Small Businesses

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will meet the wages council subcommittee of the National Federation of the Self-Employed and Small Businesses Limited to discuss the adverse effect which present legislation has on these businesses due to the activity of the wages councils; and if he will make a statement.

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

Youth Opportunities Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps he is taking to improve the quality of education and training in the youth opportunities programme;(2) how many young people are in the youth opportunities programme; and what percentage of those

young people is in work experience placements

(a) for the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) for the Northern region and (c) for the Durham and Cleveland areas.

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

Disabled Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if, in view of the statement in the Manpower Services Commission corporate plan 1981–85, that the employment service will lose over 800 staff, mainly in the jobcentres but also in services for disabled people, he will indicate which services for disabled people are to be lost; and if he will make a statement;(2) if, in view of the projected reduction in services to disabled people set out in the Manpower Services Commission corporate plan 1981–85, he is satisfied that adequate provision will exist to enable disabled people to be given all possible help to obtain employment.

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

Redundancies

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that adequate information is provided to recognised trade unions and to his Department by firms declaring large numbers of redundancies.

Yes.

Companies (Disclosure Of Information)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in the light of refusals by major companies to disclose any economic or financial information, if he will seek to introduce further legislation on the provision of factual information if necessary as an aid to good industrial relations and effective industrial reorganisation.

I am unaware of the instances to which the hon. Member refers.The responsibility rests with companies to determine what information to provide over and above that required by existing statutory provisions which, in addition to company law, also include sections 17 and 18 and sections 99 and 100 of the Employment Protection Act 1975 (disclosure of information to trade unions for collective bargaining purposes and consultation with trade unions on impending redundancies). The Government have stressed the importance for industrial relations of improving consultation and communication with employees but believe that this can best be done voluntarily with arrangements tailored to individual circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is taking to increase staffing at employment offices in Consett and Stanley and in other areas now experiencing especially large increases in unemployment.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1980]: I am informed by the MSC that eight additional staff were temporarily allocated to Consett jobcentre from other offices when the steelworks closed and that the permanent staff of the office has been increased by two. At Stanley two extra staff have been temporarily allocated to help deal with a major redundancy. The MSC hopes to continue a flexible policy of staff deployment to meet pressing needs in particular places within the reduced staff resources available to the public employment service.

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 20 January.

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 20 January.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q29.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 20 January.

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q34.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q35.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q36.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q37.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q38.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q39.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q40.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

Q41.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

Q42.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 January.

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

Rate Support Grant

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the response of local councillors and the public to the effects of the rate support grant settlement and the consequent expenditure and rating decisions now being taken for 1981–82.

The rate support grant settlements for 1981–82 for England and for Wales are reasonable and have regard to the need to reduce public sector spending. It is too early to assess the response to the settlements. Local authorities have not yet taken decisions on their budgets and rates for 1981–82.

Edge Hill

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to visit Edge Hill.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Cardigan

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to visit Cardigan.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Departmental Co-Operation

Q31.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the degree of co-operation between the Department of the Environment and the Department of Energy in the fields of energy conservation and energy pricing.

Yes.

Company Directors (Loss Of Office)

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to extend her policy of encouraging wage and salary restraint in the public and private sectors so as to bring within its ambit the large payments for compensation made by companies to company directors for loss of office, in view of the fact that these large sums are passed on to the consumer with consequent increase in inflation.

Compensation payments to company directors, other than amounts payable as compensation for a breach of a director's contract with a company, should reflect what companies can afford in the light of financial and economic circumstances; and company law provides that such payments can be made only with the approval of the shareholders. Further, so as to provide proper control over the amount of compensation payable for breach of contract, Section 47 of the Companies Act 1980 requires the approval of shareholders to any agreement giving a director the right to be employed for more than five years.

Home Defence

asked the Prime Minister if, in the interests of ensuring effective co-ordination between Departments in defence matters, she will take steps to arrange for the inclusion of a section on home defence in the defence White Paper, at present published annually by the Ministry of Defence.

Consideration will be given to the inclusion of home defence and all other aspects of the overall defence picture in the next Statement on Defence Estimates, which is already in preparation. Co-ordination between Departments on defence matters is already satisfactory.

Science Research Council

asked the Prime Minister if she will outline her timetable in relation to the appointment of a successor to Sir Geoffrey Allen, FRS, as chairman of the Science Research Council; and if she will make a statement.

No specific timetable is involved in the process, on which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is now engaged, of appointing a successor to Sir Geoffrey Allen, whose period of office as chairman of the Science Research Council ends on 30 September 1981.

Home Department

Citizens Band Radio

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in formulating his estimates of the number of citizens band radios presently in use in the United Kingdom, he has taken any account of the importation figures for citizens band aerials.

Our estimate of the number of 27 MHz tranceivers in use is based on information supplied by the Radio Interference Service as a result of the monitoring of actual transmissions throughout the country. We have no information on the number of citizens band aerials imported.

Police (Radio And Television Broadcasts)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the growing practice of the police in general and the Metropolitan Police in particular of giving radio and television broadcasts and reports concerning persons and cases where prosecutions are envisaged and in some instances contravening the rules of natural justice, whether he will introduce legislation to stop these practices.

The police are, like anyone else, subject to the law on contempt, which prohibits the publication or broadcast of material having a tendency to interfere with the course of justice in particular legal proceedings which are pending at the time, and they will continue to be so subject under the proposals contained in the Government's Contempt of Court Bill.

Cumbria (Electoral Divisions)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to confirm that the new electoral divisions for Cumbria will be operative for the May 1981 elections.

Yes. My right hon. Friend made an order on 16 January giving effect, without modifications, to the proposals of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England for new electoral arrangements for Cumbria at the elections to be held in May 1981.

Civil Defence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to introduce machinery to enable prior consultation to take place between national and local officers specifically concerned with home defence matters prior to his proposals being communicated formally to Parliament and to local councils.

We do not think there is a need for formal machinery. There is already frequent consultation, and it is our intention that this shall continue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to require the various local authority associations to hold regular consultations on the subject of home defence.

We do not think there is a need for such powers. We regularly consult the local authority associations on all aspects of their civil defence responsibilities, and they are in frequent touch with each other.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to set up a combined research cell and inspectorate to ensure a more satisfactory standard of preparedness in home defence.

My right hon. Friend does not feel that such a cell is necessary. He is satisfied with the present arrangements for research, whereby research in the field is undertaken by the scientific advisory branch of the Home Office. He prefers to rely upon regular informal liaison with local authorities rather than formal inspection.

Vietnamese Refugees

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the number of houses or apartments which have been allocated by each local authority in the United Kingdom to refugees from Vietnam and the number of refugees involved in each case.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 December 1980]: The following information, which relates to the position on 30 November 1980, was provided by the Joint Committee for Refugees from Vietnam:

(1)
	Units Occupied	Refugees resettled	Units offered not yet occupied
ENGLAND
London
GLC	238	1,064	323
Camden	6	33	14

	Units Occupied	Refugees resettled	Units offered not yet occupied
Merton	6	23	—
Bromley	10	40	2
Redbridge	—	—	2
Southwark	5	20	—
Tower Hamlets	—	—	5
Waltham Forest	2	10	9
Barnet	4	20	—
Bexley	4	27	3
Greenwich	6	32	9
Metropolitan counties
GREATER MANCHESTER
Wigan	3	16	7
Bury	4	20	—
Manchester	13	67	7
Oldham	4	15	—
Trafford	7	34	—
Stockport	15	51	—
MERSEYSIDE
Liverpool	13	47	7
St. Helens	10	45	—
Knowsley	10	58	—
Wirral	5	21	7
SOUTH YORKSHIRE
Sheffield	6	31	—
Rotherham	8	32	—
TYNE AND WEAR
Newcastle upon Tyne	10	55	—
North Tyneside	4	19	2
Gasteshead	—	—	6
South Tyneside	2	10	—
WEST MIDLANDS
Wolverhampton	2	9	4
Walsall	10	55	—
Dudley	12	53	—
Sandwell	2	8	—
Birmingham	47	211	3
Solihull	2	10	—
WEST YORKSHIRE
Bradford	6	34	1
Leeds	1	2	10
Calderdale	13	59	2
Kirklees	4	21	1
Non-metropolitan counties
AVON
Northavon	2	4	—
Bristol	10	57	—
Kingswood	4	22	—
Woodspring	3	14	—
Wabsdyke	2	12	—
Bath	3	10	1
BEDFORDSHIRE
Mid Bedfordshire	4	8	—
South Bedfordshire	2	3	—
Luton	4	20	—
ROYAL COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE
Newbury	5	24	5
Reading	6	30	—
Wokingham	3	16	—
Windsor and Maidenhead	2	10	3
Slough	4	16	2
BUCKINGHGAMSHIRE
Aylesbury Vale	8	37	—

	Units Occupied	Refugees resettled	Units offered not yet occupied
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Huntingdon	18	89	3
South Cambridgeshire	4	17	—
Cambridge	8	37	1
CHESHIRE
Halton	6	30	—
Ellesmere Port and Neston	9	50	1
Vale Royal	6	33	3
Macclesfield	4	16	2
Chester	5	23	1
Crewe and Nantwich	2	14	—
Congleton	2	9	—
CLEVELAND
Hartlepool	5	23	—
Middlesborough	12	54	—
Longbaurgh	7	45	1
CORNWALL
North Cornwall	2	3	—
CUMBRIA
Carlisle	2	11	4
Allerdale	—	—	3
Copeland	—	—	3
South Lakeland	—	—	2
Barrpw-in-Furness	1	8	—
DERBYSHIRE
High Peak	4	13	—
Chesterfield	1	2	—
North East Derbyshire	7	24	—
Derby	11	57	2
Erewsah	3	19	—
South Derbyshire	2	9	2
DEVON
North Devon	3	22	2
West Devon	3	18	3
Mid Devon	2	11	—
Exeter	3	13	1
East Devon	1	7	—
Plymouth	2	10	—
South Hames	3	15	2
Torbay	4	14	—
DORSET
Wimborne	3	16	—
Christchurch	2	7	—
COUNTY DURHAM
Derwentside	—	—	2
Chester-le-Street	2	9	—
Durham	6	24	—
Easington	2	14	4
Sedgefield	4	16	5
Darlington	6	24	4
EAST SUSSEX
Wealden	2	7	—
Lewes	3	11	—
Hastings	2	2	—
ESSEX
Uttlesford	3	11	2
Braintree	2	14	2
Clochester	3	15	—
Tendring	2	11	—
Harlow	3	16	5
Chelmsford	4	21	1
Maldon	1	5	—
Basildon	3	16	—

	Units Occupied	Refugees resettled	Units offered not yet occupied
Thurrock	6	25	—
Southend-on-Sea	5	17	—
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Tewkesbury	10	45	—
Gloucester	3	26	—
Cheltenham	4	24	—
Cotswold	2	10	—
Stroud	2	9	—
HAMPSHIRE
Basingstoke and Deane	3	16	—
Rushmoor	19	76	1
Test Valley	4	16	—
Winchester	4	19	—
East Hampshire	5	27	—
New Forest	3	17	2
Southampton	6	44	—
Eastleigh	4	21	—
Fareham	1	4	—
Gosport	3	10	—
Portsmouth	4	22	—
HEREFORD AND WORCHESTER
Wyre Forest	2	5	1
Bromsgrove	2	9	1
Redditch	2	10	—
Malvern Hills	6	26	4
Worcester	6	35	—
Wychavon	5	18	—
HERTFORDSHIRE
North Hertfordshire	4	18	—
Dacorum	2	5	1
Welwyn Hatfield	4	10	—
Hertsmere	—	—	2
HUMBERSIDE
Kingston upon Hull	6	29	—
Scunthorpe	11	38	3
Glanford	—	—	6
Cleethorpes	3	14	—
Great Grimsby	3	13	—
ISLE OF WIGHT
Medina	—	—	1
KENT
Dartford	2	10	2
Gravesham	3	16	—
Medway	2	9	1
Gillingham	2	11	—
Swale	2	9	2
Canterbury	3	13	1
Thanet	3	13	1
Tonbridge and Malling	—	—	1
Maidstone	4	17	—
Tunbridge Wells	1	4	1
Ashford	8	42	—
Shepway	—	—	3
LANCHASHIRE
Lancaster	3	14	1
Ribble Valley	4	25	—
South Ribble	2	11	—
West Lancashire	—	—	2
Blackburn	6	34	—
Hyndburn	4	19	—
Burnley	3	13	—
Pendle	4	21	—
Rossendale	3	10	—
LEICESTERSHIRE
North West Leicestershire	3	14	—

	Units Occupied	Refugees resettled	Units offered not yet occupied
Charnwood	1	4	1
Hinckley and Bosworth	3	15	2
Leicester	5	30	—
Blaby	—	—	2
Harborough	1	8	—
LINCOLNSHIRE
West Lindsey	—	—	2
East Lindsey	5	16	—
Lincoln	1	7	3
Boston	—	—	2
South Kesteven	3	23	—
South Holland	2	10	3
NORFOLK
West Norfolk	10	47	—
Breckland	8	44	—
Norwich	6	34	—
Broadland	—	—	1
Great Yarmouth	—	—	2
South Norfolk	2	10	1
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Corby	—	—	5
Kettering	13	65	—
Deventry	—	—	2
Wellingborough	5	26	—
South Northamptonshire	2	2	—
NORTHUMBERLAND
Alnwick	—	—	4
Wansbeck	2	11	—
Blyth Valley	6	35	—
NORTH YORKSHIRE
Richmondshire	2	10	—
Ryedale	—	—	2
Scarborough	4	18	—
Harrogate	4	14	1
York	2	8	1
Selby	5	26	—
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Bassetlaw	3	14	—
Mansfield	1	7	1
Newark	4	22	21
Ashfield	1	5	1
Broxtowe	2	13	—
Nottingham	2	10	—
Gelding	2	17	4
Rishcliffe	1	8	—
OXFORDSHIRE
West Oxfordshire	2	14	—
Cherwell	2	8	—
South Oxfordshire	2	16	—
Value of White House	2	17	—
Oxford	1	7	—
SALOP
The Wrekin	6	26	—
Bridgnorth	2	12	—
SOMERSET
Sedgemoor	2	14	—
Mendip	1	5	—
West Somerset	4	23	—
Taunton Deane	3	17	—
Yeovil	2	11	—
STAFFORDSHIRE
Stoke-on-Trent	7	44	3
Stafford	2	7	—
East Staffordshire	6	15	—

	Units Occupied	Refugees resettled	Units offered not yet occupied
South Staffordshire	2	12	—
Lichfield	1	4	—
Tamworth	4	13	—
SUFFOLK
Waveney	4	23	—
Mid Suffolk	3	10	—
Suffolk Coastal	12	49	—
Babergh	10	50	—
SURREY
Surrey Heath	3	14	—
Working	5	18	—
Elmbridge	4	18	—
Epsom and Ewell	3	12	1
Mole Valley	2	9	1
Tandridge	1	6	2
Waverley	3	13	—
WARWICKSHIRE
North Warwickshire	2	14	—
Nuneaton	3	17	2
Rugby	1	5	—
Warwick	2	7	—
WEST SUSSEX
Chichester	2	10	—
Arun	2	19	—
Worthing	3	14	—
WILTSHIRE
North Wiltshire	3	12	2
Thamesdown	18	111	2
West Wiltshire	2	19	3
Kennet	2	13	—
SCOTLAND
CENTRAL
Clackmannan	6	12	—
Falkirk	5	5	1
Stirling	4	9	2
FIFE
Kirkcaldy	3	5	1
North-East Fife	3	6	—
GRAMPIAN
Aberdeen	4	14	8
HIGHLAND
Inverness	5	21	—
Ross and Cromarty	4	22	1
LOTHIAN
East Lothian	4	16	—
Edinburgh	16	48	14
West Lothian	1	8	2
STRATHCLYED
Clydebank	—	—	5
Glasgow	5	16	31
Inverclyde	2	10	2
Motherwell	7	36	—
Renfrew	5	12	3
TAYSIDE
Perth and Kinross	7	29	—
WALES
CLWYD
Clowyn	1	7	—
Delyn	4	16	—

	Units Occupied	Refugees resettled	Units offered not yet occupied
Alyn and Deeside	2	9	2
Glyndwr	4	16	—
Wrexham Maelor	7	37	1
DYFED
Ceredigion	—	—	2
Preseli	2	9	—
South Pembrokeshire	2	8	—
GWENT
Newport	3	20	1
Islwyn	4	25	—
Torfaen	10	61	1
Monmouth	2	8	2
GWYNEDD
Yns mon—Isle of Anglesey	—	—	2
Arfon	—	—	2
MID GLAMORGAN
Ogwr	5	28	2
Rhondda	—	—	2
Merthyr Tydfil	5	28	7
Rhymney Valley	2	12	2
POWYS
Montgomery	—	—	2
Brecknock	—	—	2
SOUTH GLAMORGAN
Cardiff	6	37	—
Vale of Glamorgan	3	9	—
WEST GLAMORGAN
Swansea	7	33	2
Neath	—	—	2
Afan	—	—	2
NORTHERN IRELAND
Craigavon	18	87	—
Lisburn	3	17	—
Coleraine	5	23	—
Ballymena	5	18	—
Antrim	—	—	5

(2)
New Town Development Corporation	Units Occupied	Number of refugees	Units offered not yet occupied
Basildon	10	50	2
Bracknell	5	30	2
Central Lancashire	17	92	3
Cumbernauld	2	9	1
Cwmbran	3	18	—
East Kilbride	9	41	—
Glenrothes	4	10	—
Harlow	9	45	—
Irvine	1	4	—
Livingston	6	26	—
Milton Keynes	17	77	3
Northampton	4	27	6
Petgerborough	22	87	—
Redditch	4	19	—
Runcorn	7	31	2
Skelmersdale	9	60	3
Stevenage	5	29	—
Telford	4	28	—
Washington	6	30	—

(2)
Constituency	Housing Authority area	Number of Refugees
Barnet, Finchley	Barnet	20
Cardiff South East	Cardiff	37
Ebbw Vale	Blaenau Gwent	—
Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles	Etterick and Lauderdale,
Peebles	Roxburgh and Tweedale	—
Buckinghamshire,	Aylesbury Vale and
Aylesbury	Wycombe	37
Basildon	Basildon	66
Penrith and the	Allardale, Eden and
Borders	Carlisle	11
Surrey, East	Tandridge	6
Leeds, North East	Leeds City	65
Cambridgeshire	South and East	76
Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	76
Lowestoft	Waveney	23
Chesham and Amersham	Chiltern	—
Staratford-on-Avon	Stratford-on-Avon	—
St. Ives	Penwith and Kerrier	—
Oswestry	Oswerstry and North	—
Oswestry	Shropshire	—
Cleveland and Whitby	Langbaurth and	18
Cleveland and Whitby	Scarborough	18
Worcester	Wychavon and Worcester	53
Henley	South Oxfordshire	16
Ayr	Kyle and Carrick	—
Pembroke	S. Pembrokeshire and	17
Pembroke	Preseli	17
Spelthorne	Spelthorne	—
Wanstead and Woodford	Redbridge	—
Chelmsford	Chelmsford and	21
Chelmsford	Brentwood	21
Guildford	Guildford and Waverley	25
Runcorn	Warrington, Vale Royal	186
Runcorn	and Halton	186

Scotland

Glasgow Royal Infirmary

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what works are to be included in phase 2 of the building of Glasgow Royal infirmary; when this phase is expected to be started; and when it is expected to be completed;(2) what foundation work, if any, was carried out for the proposed new Royal maternity hospital during the building of phase 1 of the Glasgow Royal infirmary;(3) when he expects foundation work on the proposed new Royal maternity hospital in Glasgow to be completed; whether the remainder of the building work is to be carried out by the same contractors; when the remainder of the building is to be started; and if he will make a statement.

Phase I of the redevelopment of the Glasgow Royal infirmary, which is expected to be completed by the end of 1981, includes a deck and foundation for the proposed maternity unit.Phase II of the redevelopment, which consists of a new maternity unit to replace the existing Royal maternity hospital, is on the provisional list of schemes in the major capital building programme for the National Health Service in Scotland announced in May 1977. The inclusion of schemes on the provisional list is intended to allow preliminary planning to proceed; it does not, however, commit resources to the scheme; and questions of contractors or of starting or completion dates for this phase do not yet arise.

Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether the accommodation and facilities in the existing Glasgow Royal maternity hospital are comparable with those in the maternity hospital in the Glasgow district;(2) how many single rooms there are in the present Glasgow Royal maternity hospital.

The Glasgow Royal maternity hospital has one single room, and a total of 150 beds plus 38 special care baby cots, compared with the following numbers at the other major maternity units in the Greater Glasgow health board area:

	Total beds	Cost	Single rooms
The Queen Mother's Hospital	114	34	31
Rutherglen Maternity Hospital	100	25	200
Southern General Hospital	112	39	30
Stobhill Hospital	83	38	1

Employment Transfer Scheme (Cumbernauld)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications under the employment transfer scheme were processed in 1980 at the Cumbernauld office of his Department; and, of these, how many have been granted.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that during 1980 30 applications for assistance under the employment transfer scheme were lodged at its Cumbemauld employment office and that 14 of these were successful.

Rate Income

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the amounts raised by local authorities in rates in Scotland in each of the past seven years.

The figures, exclusive of domestic element of rate support grant and rates rebates grant, are as follows:

Year	Net Incom from Rates £ million
1974–75	304·5
1975–76	388·7
1976–77	447·6
(p) 1977–78	523·0
(p) 1978–79	583·2
(p) 1979–80	684·8
(est) 1980–81	933·2
(p)=provisional; (est)=estimated.

Wales

Rates Income

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the amounts raised by local authorities in rates in Wales during each of the past seven years.

The amounts raised by local authorities in rates in Wales during each of the past seven years are listed below:

	Rates £ million (Outturn Prices)
1974–75	119·5
1975–76	149·0
1976–77	171·6
1977–78	185·7
1978–79	224·6
1979–80	^*251·8
1980–81	^*322·3
^* The figures for 1979–80 and 1980–81 are estimates derived from rating authorities resources element claim forms and estimates of RSG domestic element payments.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Nuclear Weapons

35.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals he has to take part in further international discussions aimed at multilateral nuclear disarmament.

The Government will continue to take part in international discussions on multilateral nuclear disarmament in the Geneva Committee on Disarmament and in other bodies under the auspices of the United Nations.

36.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the progress of talks on the limitation of theatre nuclear weapons in Europe.

The Government welcome the opening of talks between the United States and the Soviet Union on TNF arms control. The first round of discussions, which took place between 17 October and 17 November in Geneva, were serious and substantive in character.

European Court Of Human Rights

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many cases are currently awaking consideration by the European Court of Human Rights in which the United Kingdom is alleged to be in breach of human rights conventions; and into which categories these cases fall.

There are at present four cases against the United Kingdom under consideration by the Court. They are:

(a) Young, James and Webster. This case has become publicly known as "the closed shop case"; it is concerned with the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association laid down in article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

(b) Campbell and Cosans. This case concerns corporal punishment in Scottish schools and has been referred to the Court under article 2 of protocol No. 1 to the convention, about "the right to education in conformity with parents' religious and philosophical convictions".

(c) X versus the United Kingdom. This case concerns the detention of a patient in a mental health institution and raises issues under article 5(2) and 5(4) of the convention, about informing a person arrested promptly of the reasons and the charge, and about the need for speed in deciding the lawfulness of arrest or detention.

(d) Dudgeon. This case involves the compatibility of the law on homosexuality in Northern Ireland with article 8 of the convention, about the right to respect for private and family life.

Transport

Transport Infrastructure (South Yorkshire)

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the future transport infrastructure in South Yorkshire will be such as to allow viable and active levels of industrial activity to be maintained.

I have in preparation proposals for Stocksbridge bypass, its link to the M1 and Aston relief road.

BRHL: Financial Results
£ million	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Gross Income	3·0	2·8	3·8	5·2	4·0	5·6	12·4
Expenditure^*	2·9	3·3	4·0	5·2	4·6	7·8	13·2
Operating profit	0·1	^†0·5	^†0·2	0·0	^†0·6	^†2·2	^†0·8
^* Including charges made by BRB headquarters departments.
^†Loss.

These figures have been extracted from the Railways Board's annual report and accounts. Interest is paid corporately by the Board, and no separate figures for BRHL are published. The results for 1980 are not yet available, and it is not the practice to publish estimates before the final results are published.

Roadside Trading

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with the powers currently available to local authorities to control unauthorised roadside trading and snack bars; and when he expects to announce the result of his review concerning the possibility of instituting a licensing scheme to cover such activities.

The powers available to local authorities to control roadside trading on the whole appear to operate satisfactorily. A licensing scheme for roadside traders has been suggested by the local authority associations and the Department has been considering this, among other suggestions for improvements in existing powers. We will be holding further discussions with the associations shortly.

Driving Tests (Eyesight Test)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the eye vision test procedures that are given to applicants by driving test examiners.

Yes. The test is simple to understand, easy to apply and requires a reasonable standard of eyesight.

Heavy Goods Vehicle Testing Stations

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of and the income from heavy goods vehicle testing stations in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

South Yorkshire metropolitan county council is responsible for local transport infrastructure.

Rail infrastructure is in the first instance the responsibility of the British Railways Board.

Seaspeed Hovercraft

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the profit and loss results for the Seaspeed hovercraft operation for each of the years 1973 through to 1979, according to normal accounting conventions, with full allowance for interest on capital employed and any British Railways headquarters overhead; and if he will give an estimate of expected results for 1980 on a similar basis.

The following is the information requested:

The figures are:

Financial Year	Expenditure	Income
	£ million	£ million
1977–78	7·875	8·213
1978–78	7·633	9·463
1979–80	8·842	9·998

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many tests on vehicles were carried out by heavy goods vehicle testing stations in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

The figures are:

Financial Year	Number of Tests
1977–78	869,318
1978–79	892,342
1979–80	896,399

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the net Exchequer gain or loss, excluding proceeds of sales, as a result of the sale of the heavy goods vehicle testing stations.

Testing fees are set at the start of a 12-month period, based on estimated costs and throughput. Costs and income are intended to balance, but a particular period may show a surplus or loss depending how circumstances change during the year. There is no predictable pattern and excluding the proceeds of disposals, I would expect the effect on the Exchequer of transferring this work out of the Civil Service to be broadly neutral.

Public Service Vehicles

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many, tests were carried out in 1980 on public service vehicles by Government inspectors.

144,276 inspections of public service vehicles were carried out in the 1979–80 financial year.

M25 Motorway

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce his decision on the line of the Swanley to Sevenoaks section of the M25 motorway.

I have today announced the decision of my right hon. Friends to accept the inspector's recommendation to proceed with the published proposals. I have placed a copy of the announcement in the Library.

Road Maintenance

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of local road maintenance expenditure accepted for grant purposes in 1980–81 and 1981–82 at November 1969 prices; what reduction the 1981–82 level represents in percentage terms; what factors led him to reduce the real level of resources available for maintenance; and whether he is satisfied, in view of the continuing decline in maintenance resources during the last decade, that further cuts will not lead to reduced maintenance standards.

Technical difficulties make it impracticable to produce figures for local road maintenance expenditure at 1969 prices. At November 1979 prices expenditure accepted for 1981–82 is £517·2 million compared with £561·7 million for 1980£81. After allowing for a change in definition, under which expenditure on new maintenance vehicles and machinery is transferred from current to capital expenditure accepted expenditure decreased by 5·3 per cent. between 1980–81 and 1981–82. Local authorities should be able to avoid reducing standards of maintenance if they take advantage of the scope for reducing operating costs and increasing efficiency by careful management. The distribution of accepted expenditure is designed to protect those counties who are already planning to make significant savings on maintenance or who have particularly high needs.

Environment

Planning Authorities

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those planning authorities in England and Wales the memberships of which are not all directly elected; (2) if he will list those planning authorities in England and Wales, none of whose members are directly elected.

The principal authorities carrying out functions under the Town and Country Planning Acts are directly elected local authorities. However, in the Peak and Lake District national parks, the functions of the local planning authorities are vested in the joint and special planning boards respectively. None of the members of the board are directly elected, but the majority are county councillors.In the other eight national parks, most of the functions of the local planning authorities are discharged by national park committees which are committees of the county councils concerned. The members of the committees are appointed on the same basis as the Peak and Lake District planning boards.It is also intended that the urban development corporations proposed for London and Merseyside Docklands should be local planning authorities for their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table listing all the planning authorities in England and Wales, the number of planners each authority employs and the number of planning applications which each authority dealt with in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

Information in this detail is not published by the Department. However, for England and Wales as a whole the number of full-time equivalent staff employed in local authority planning departments in mid-September 1980 was 21,969. This figure includes administrative support and staff involved in building control. It does not include the staff of national park authorities. The number of planning applications dealt with by local planning authorities in England in the 12 months ending March 1980—the most recent 12-month period available—is estimated at 517,000. The corresponding figure for Wales is provisionally estimated at 33,000.Detailed figures on staff in local authorities have been collected independently and published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. A copy is available in the House of Commons Library.Statistics on planning applications decided by each planning authority in England are also available in the House of Commons Library.

Commercial Water Charges

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the percentage increases in commercial water charges—including charges for water supply, sewerage, effluent and environmental services—for each of the water authorities in England and Wales for the period from the inception of those authorities to the current year.

The information requested is not available, and because of variations in the basis of charge it would be very difficult if not impracticable to obtain it. I propose to write to my hon. Friend explaining the difficulty in more detail.

Rent Assessment Panels

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the levels of remuneration paid per day or per session to members of rent assessment panels; how the levels of this remuneration are fixed; and if he will seek to reduce the levels of payment.

The fees currently payable are: chairmen £80 per day, professional members £63 per day and lay members £40 per day. Fee levels for all administrative tribunals and public inquiries are reviewed from time to time by the Civil Service Department following consultations between the Lord Chancellor's Department and the legal profession. My right hon. Friend has no plans to reduce the levels of payment to members of rent assessment panels.

Urban Deprivation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the measures which have been taken on urban deprivation since May 1979.

My right hon. Friend has made clear this Government's view that the inner cities are vitally important to the health of the country. We maintained the partnership and programme arrangements and the level of resources for the urban programme in England in 1980–81. We have cut the bureaucracy involved in the programmes. Urban development corporations are being set up to deal with the special problems of the docklands in London and Merseyside. Other measures include experimental enterprise zones, to stimulate economic activity, land registers to promote the constructive use of land in public ownership, and further initiatives to involve the private sector more effectively. My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement soon on the way ahead for inner city policy.

Housing (Pimlico)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Brent People's Housing Association is being forced to offer for sale eight properties in the Pimlico area capable of housing 24 families.

Brent People's Housing Association, as the development agent for Tennant Housing Trust, is disposing of a few of the trust's properties in order to achieve a more viable management portfolio.

Kielder Reservoir

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated total cost of the Kielder reservoir.

The latest estimate prepared by the Northumbrian water authority indicates the total cost of the Kielder project is likely to be £150 million at July 1979 prices. Of this total the reservoir works are estimated to cost £75 million

A.
(a)		(b)
Electorate at May 1979		Ratepayers at May 1979
36·7 million		17·8 million
	(c)
(i)	(ii)		(iii)
Ratepayers on full rates	Ratepayers in receipt of partial rate rebates or Supplementary Benefit assistance with rates		Ratepayers in receipt of full rate rebate or Supplementary Benefit assistance with rates

South Holland District Council

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the South Holland district council for any dispensation in respect of the Housing Act 1980.

South Holland district council has sought determinations from the Secretary of State under schedule 1 part 1 paragraph 5 to the Housing Act 1980 that the right to buy shall not apply in respect of 10 bungalows for which applications to buy have been received.The district council has also applied to the Secretary of State for designation as a rural area under section 19 of the Act.

Local Authority Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give his best estimate overall for England and Wales, and for each district, overall national factors to be applied when specific details for each district are not known, of the numbers and percentages of (a) ratepayers and spouses of ratepayers who are also council tenants, (b) ratepayers who are either council employees or spouses of council employees, (c) persons, ratepayers and spouses, who benefit from rent rebates and (d) the electorate who do not have a direct interest or are unaffected by increased council spending, namely, ratepayers and spouses, less tenants and spouses, employees and spouses and rate rebate recipients and spouses;(2) if he will give his best estimate overall for England and Wales, and for each district, applying overall national factors when specific details for each district are not known, of

(a) the number of electors, (b) the number of ratepayers, (c) the number of householders affected by the payment of rates, namely, husbands and wives, based on national or local factors, whichever are available, for the number of adults normally sharing the responsibility for the financial maintenance of the home and (d), (c) as a percentage of (a).

The information for England and Wales as a whole, as far as it is available, is set out below. All figures are for 1979–80 unless otherwise stated. The information requested by district is not available in all cases; in some it can be found in published documents which are mentioned, and in others published documents are mentioned that may be of help.

(a)		(b)
13·0 million	2·8 million		2·0 million
(d)(c(i) as percentage of (a)=35)	(c(ii) as percentage of (a)=8)		(c(iii) as percentage of (a)=5)
(c(i) as percentage of (b)=73)	(c(ii) as percentage of (b)=18)		(c(iii) as percentage of (b)=11)
Notes
(i) A detailed breakdown of the electorate is available in the OPCS Monitor E.L 80/1 (Published 20 May 1980).
(ii) The make-up of "households" of the ratepayers at (a) (b) and (c) above is not known.
(iii) Further information can be obtained from figures showing the percentage of households receiving rate rebates by district, which are contained in the DOE/Welsh Office publication "Rate Rebates 1979–80", copies of which have been placed in the Library.

B.
(a)		(b)
Council tenants paying rates 1979–80		Ratepayers who are council employees or spouses of council employees
5·4 million		not available
(c)
(i)	(ii)	(d)
Rent rebate recipients	Recipients of Supplementary Benefit assistance with rents	Electorate without direct interest in or unaffected by increased council spending
1·0 million	1·3 million	not available
Notes
(i) The make-up of "households" of council tenants who are ratepayers at B (a) above is not known.
(ii) The number of ratepayers and spouses who are council employees or spouses of council employees is not known. The total number of council employees—that is full-time equivalents—as at 13 September 1980 was 2,056,013. A detailed breakdown by authority is contained in the September 1980 report of the Joint Manpower Watch published on 16 December 1980, copies of which are available in the Library.
(iii) The figure of 1 million rent rebate recipients at B(c)(i) comprises ½ million single recipients and ½ million married recipients. A similar breakdown of those recipients of supplementary benefit assistance with rent at B(c)(ii) is not available. Virtually all of those in both categories are ratepayers. In addition, there were about 200,000 rent allowance recipients—that is non-public sector tenants—in 1979. Details of how many rent allowance recipients had a spouse or were ratepayers are not available. Further information in respect of rent rebate and rent allowance recipients by district is available in "Housing Rents Statistics at April 1979"—Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy SIS ref. 72.80.
(iv) It is not possible to provide precise number of electors, either nationally or by district, who do not have a direct interest in, or are unaffected by, increased council spending.

Rates

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the amounts raised by local authorities in rates in England during each of the past seven years.

The available figures^* are as follows:

	£ million
1975–76	3,655
1976–77	3,968
1977–78	4,505
1978–79	4,966
1979–80	†5,773
^* Rate Income: excluding government grant towards rate rebate, and the domestic element of Rate Support Grant. The figures are rate income, reported by local authorities as received in the year.
^† Provisional outturn.

Figures for 1980–81 are not available on the same basis as for earlier years.

Departmental Land, Christchurch

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Christchurch council concerning the future of his Department's land at Steamer Point, Christchurch.

The Property Services Agency has consulted the district council on the future use of this land in accordance with normal procedure prior to the sale of surplus Government land. If agreement is not reached there is provision for the matter to be referred to my right hon. Friend for decision in a manner similar to a planning appeal.

Liverpool (Ministerial Visit)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Liverpool.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange (Mr. Parry) on Monday 19 January 1981.

Enterprise Zones

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make a further announcement about the designation of an enterprise zone for Dudley in the West Midlands.

A statutory invitation under the terms of schedule 32 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, was today issued to Dudley metropolitan borough to prepare a scheme with a view to designation as an enterprise zone of some 540 acres in the Blackbrook Valley. Copies of the invitation are being placed in the Library of the House. The statutory procedures of consultation and then the hearing of representations will begin shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make a further announcement about the designation of an enterprise zone for the Salford docks/Trafford Park area of Greater Manchester.

Statutory invitations under the terms of schedule 32 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, were today issued to the city of Salford and Trafford metropolitan district council, to prepare schemes with a view to designation as an enterprise zone of some 780 acres in Salford docks and Trafford Park. Copies of the invitations are being placed in the Library of the House. The statutory procedures of consultation and then the hearing of representations will begin shortly.

Energy

Chemical Industry (Energy Charges)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the deep concern of the chemical industry at the present charges for energy and the fact that their competitors in France and Germany have the advantage of cheaper energy prices, he will take steps to harmonise fuel and energy charges within the Community; and if he will also give details of any other measures he proposes to take.

I am of course aware of the chemical industry's concern, and recently met the Chemical Industries Association to discuss its report on energy pricing. Discussion on their comparative international data is continuing at official level.All Community member States have agreed to principles of economic pricing for all fuels and further discussions are in progress to refine the practical interpretation of these principles. However, even within the Community, costs of energy production and market conditions will naturally vary from country to country and this should be reflected in the price charged; harmonisation of prices would artifically distort the market. But we welcome the assistance of United Kingdom industry in identifying any unfair pricing practices, contrary to the agreed principles. The Government will take up vigorously with the Community any such cases.

Domestic Gas (Standing Charges)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report the levels of standing charges for domestic gas at May 1980 and November 1980, respectively, with the percentage increases, in each area of the United Kingdom.

The setting of tariffs, which includes the level of the standing charge, is a matter for the British Gas Corporation. I have therefore asked the chairman to write to the right hon. Gentleman.

North Sea Gathering Pipeline

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when it is expected a price will be agreed covering North Sea gathering pipeline methane; whether the Stratfjord bid of the British Gas Corporation has had any relevance in the negotiations; and when private sector companies will be able to bid directly from producers for piped methane.

Prices negotiated are likely to reflect timing, quality, supply pattern and other factors characteristic of each gas source. I would not expect a single price in common given such factors. The relevance of BGC bids elsewhere is a matter for the negotiators. The provisions of section 8 of the Energy Act 1976 already give scope for private sector companies to bid direct for supplies of piped methane.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether a price has been agreed covering ethane to be derived from the North Sea gathering pipeline; and how the price is being or has been established by commercial negotiations having virtually a monopoly seller.

The price or prices for ethane from the North Sea will be established by commercial negotiation. BNOC's participation options do not give it a virtual monopoly and there are many potential sellers and purchasers of the ethane.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in his plans for the North Sea gathering pipeline, in whom rests the property in the propane and butane; and what arrangements have been made for their disposal.

The propane and butane from the North Sea fields are the property of the licensees in the first place, subject to BNOC's participation options and any other commercial arrangements they may conclude. As I indicated in my answer on 17 December 1980 to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Osborn) the pattern of disposal of these products should be determined by commercial negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the consent of the British Gas Corporation is required to enable the British National Oil Corporation to deal in and market ethane; and what are the conditions set forth for doing so.

No; BNOC would require BGC's consent only if, very improbably, it proposed to supply ethane to premises in Great Britain for non-industrial purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy who will own and operate the fractionation plant to be built at St. Fergus; and whether it is estimated that completion of the North Sea gathering pipeline will substantially increase oil production after 1985.

Final arrangements for the proposed St. Fergus gas facilities have not yet been decided. I cannot anticipate decisions on development and production proposals yet to be received in respect of oil production.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent discussions he has held with the Norwegian authorities as to the possibility of their participation in the proposed gas-gathering scheme.

The last meeting between Ministers of both countries was in November, and there are continuing contacts between officials on both sides. The Norwegian authorities have been told that if Norwegian gas is dedicated to the gas gathering pipeline Norwegian interests would be welcome in the pipeline company.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many licensees are involved in the proposed gas-gathering operation; and whether he will list the companies concerned.

The number of licensees involved in the supply of gas to the proposed gas gathering pipeline will depend on precisely which fields are finally connected to the pipeline. However, Energy Paper 44, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, lists on page 61 the fields mentioned in the BGC-Mobil gas gathering report, and the companies which operate these fields. Of the fields listed, Brent and Frigg already have settled gas disposal arrangements.

Domestic Gas Appliances

asked the secretary of State for Energy when he will announce his decision on the recommendations of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on domestic gas appliances.

The Government are still considering the recommendations of the MMC report. We intend to reach decisions as soon as possible.

Brent Field

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the British National Oil Corporation has a right to acquire 51 per cent. of the Brent field natural gas liquids; and what effect this will have on the Moss Morran project.

The participation agreement with Shell and Esso was concluded in 1977 and took full account of the Moss Morran project. The details of the agreement are confidential to the parties concerned, myself, BNOC, Shell and Esso.

Domestic Electricity Supplies (Disconnections)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has studied the Child Poverty Action Group report on the London Electricity Board's record of disconnecting domestic consumer's for debt; and what action he proposes to take about the report's descriptions of a failure by the London Electricity Board to observe the industry's code of practice on disconnection.

I have seen a copy of this report and I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs) on 8 December.

Energy Conservation And Fuel Switching

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list the lines of action for energy conservation and fuel switching adopted at the International Energy Agency December meeting; and what specific action he proposes to implement them in the United Kingdom.

A copy of the lines of action for energy conservation and fuel switching agreed by the International Energy Agency governing board at ministerial level on 9 December 1980 has been deposited in the Library of the House. The United Kingdom's energy conservation programme already covers most of the actions set out in the guidelines and further positive steps are being taken. For example, a Bill is at present before Parliament to give power to the Government to set efficiency standards for heating and gas appliances. The Government have also made a significant increase in the funds available for energy saving demonstration projects which encourage the adoption of innovative technology, including waste heat recovery techniques.

Fuel Reprocessing Plant (Cap La Hague)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information or warning was received from the French authorities about the fire at the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at Cap La Hague near Cherbourg on 7 January which led to the release of strontium 90 and plutonium contaminants; whether the Channel Islands were affected; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised by the Health and Safety Executive that, on 7 January, the French regulatory authorities informed the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) of the incident under a formal arrangement with the executive providing for the exchange of information about nuclear safety matters. They advised that on 6 January radiological surveillance at La Hague had shown a slight rise in radioactivity, and this radioactivity was traced to an underground waste store from which whisps of smoke were emerging. Action was taken to control and extinguish any fire. They further advised that the increase in the level of radioactivity detected did not exceed permitted limits during the incident.I understand from my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that, in accordance with the arrangements agreed with the French Government, the prefect of the Department of La Manche notified the Channel Islands authorities of this incident on 7 January.The NII is maintaining contact with the French authorities and expects in due course to receive further information concerning the circumstances of the accident when these have been evaluated. I expect to be further advised when that information is available.

Defence

Defence Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what economies he plans to make in defence spending during 1981–82.

I hope to make a statement on this after questions this afternoon.

Cruise Missiles

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what precise arrangements have been arrived at in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the distribution of cruise missiles in each member State of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Of the 464 United States ground-launched cruise missiles to be based in Europe as part of the NATO long-range theatre nuclear force modernisation programme, 160 will be based in the United Kingdom, 96 in the Federal Republic of Germany—together with 108 Pershing II ballistic missiles—and 112 in Italy. Belgium and the Netherlands have still to take final decisions on basing missiles in their countries.

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had any recent discussions with the European Economic Community Defence Ministers concerning the siting of cruise missiles in Western Europe.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether cruise missiles to be sited in the United Kingdom will have interchangeable chemical and nuclear warheads; and if he will make a statement.

There has never been any suggestion that the 160 cruise missiles to be based in the United Kingdom as part of NATO's modernisation of its long-range theatre nuclear forces should have chemical warheads.

Royal Naval Ships (Operation Efficiency)

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by how much the days spent at sea by ships of the Royal Navy have been reduced as a result of the reduced use of fuel; what financial savings are being made; and whether he is satisfied that sufficient sea time will be spent to enable operational efficiency to be maintained at the highest level.

As part of the further measures to which my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for Defence referred on 8 August 1980—[Vol. 990, c. 480]—the overall planned consumption of fuel by the Royal Navy is being reduced in the latter part of this financial year. Nuclear-powered vessels are, of course, not affected. We are seeking to minimise the impact of this on Fleet efficiency and I am satisfied that essential operational commitments will continue to be met.

Chemical Warfare

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with the United States of America Secretary for Defence concerning chemical warfare.

My right hon. Friend has had no such discussions. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which my right hon. Friend the present Leader of the House gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) on 2 December 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if there has been any change of policy since 7 November 1980 when the then Secretary of State for Defence said that the United Kingdom had no plans to acquire chemical weapons or to place chemical weapons in the United Kingdom; and if so, whether he will describe the circumstances which have led to this change.

There has been no change of policy.

Manpower Costs

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the aggregate percentage increase in the wage and salary cost of the Armed Services in the past 12 months.

Our latest estimate is that expenditure on Armed Forces pay and allowances in the financial year 1980–81 will be 17·4 per cent. higher than in 1979–80.

Defence Expenditure (International Comparisons)

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries will, in the current year, show a greater percentage increase in defence spending than the United Kingdom; and which will show a lesser increase.

No figures are publicly available but, as my right hon. Friend the present Leader of the House said on 2 December—[Vol. 995, c. 184]—United Kingdom defence expenditure will grow this year in real terms by a greater percentage than practically every other country in the Alliance.

Gazelle Observation Aid

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet made a decision on the Gazelle observation aid.

It is expected that a decision will be made soon.

Trident

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the cost to the United Kingdom of the Trident missile system.

Between £4½ and £5 billion at July 1980 prices over 15 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what further representations he has received about the proposed purchase of Trident;(2) what recent representation he has received regarding the proposal to purchase Trident missiles.

Some 90 letters and two petitions referring specifically to the purchase of Trident have been received by my right hon. Friend the present Leader of the House and myself since the announcement on 15 July 1980 of the Government's decision to acquire the Trident missile system.

Sea Eagle

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Sea Eagle missile.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will be making shortly.

Harrier Aircraft (Replacement)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to makean announcement on the choice of V/STOL aircraft to replace the Royal Air Force Harriers due for retirement in 1985.

Evaluation of the two main contenders to meet the Royal Air Force requirement for an improved version of the Harrier is continuing. We hope to reach a decision later this year.

Royal Ordnance Factories

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future organisation and employment prospects of the Royal ordnance factories.

I have nothing to add at present to the statement made in the Consolidated Fund Bill debate on 17 December 1980.

Hms "Fisgard"

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the modernisation and expansion of HMS "Fisgard", near Torpoint; and if he will make a statement.

The future of HMS "Fisgard" has been under consideration for some time. It has now been decided to retain its task at Torpoint. Modernisation of the establishment has been proposed and work will begin as soon as funds are available. This is unlikely, however, to be before the late 1980s.

Transfer Of Functions

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that the current studies to consider the transfer of certain functions such as catering supply and transport from Ministry of Defence permanent workers to civilian subcontractors pay sufficient regard to continuity of service.

Yes. The Ministry of Defence will ensure that any arrangements made with commercial contractors to perform functions presently carried out by Ministry employees contain reasonable assurances of continuity of service. The use of contractors to provide supporting services such as cleaning, catering and domestic and technical support at research and development establishments is already well-established practice.

Defence Expenditure (International Companies)

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportions of the gross national product are spent on defence in the United Kingdom and Japan; and what total annual expenditure this represents in each case.

In 1979–80 the United Kingdom Defence Estimates amounted to £9,183 million representing 4·6 per cent. of gross national product at market prices. So far as comparisons can be made, corresponding Japanese figures are 2,090 billion yen and 0·9 per cent.

Stornoway Airport

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been made to him in opposition to the development of Stornoway airport for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation purposes.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has received a number of representations from the local council and from individuals who are concerned about the development. As the hon. Member will know, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has recently announced that a public inquiry will be held into this matter.

Cruise Missiles

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what further representations he has received about the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

Since the NATO modernisation programme was agreed last December, about 1,160 letters and 23 petitions have been received by my right hon. Friend the present Leader of the House and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on the decision to base United States ground launched cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

Civil Service Posts (Plymouth)

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the intention to lose 32,000 Civil Service posts from his Department between 1 April 1981 and 1 April 1984, how many posts he expects to lose in the Plymouth travel-to-work area during this period.

It is far too soon to say.

Service Women (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Review Body on Armed Forces Pay has considered the adjustment of the x-factor component of the pay of Service women who are now undertaking the same sort of armed duties as Service men; and if so, what has been the result of this consideration.

Although members of the WRAC and WRAF are being trained in the use of arms, this training will not be given to all Service women and they will not be required to undertake the same sort of armed duties as Service men. The training will be in the use of arms for self-defence only and women will not serve in combat units. The Review Body on Armed Forces pay, which is an independent body, reviews the position of Service women in every pay review, and it is for it to decide whether the recent change in the status of Service women is sufficient to justify a change in the x-factor component of their pay. I understand that the Review Body will be looking at this issue in the course of its 1981–82 review of pay.

Chemical Weapons

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains the case that there is no agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States of America which would allow storage of chemical weapons in the United Kingdom; and if he will ensure that no chemical weapons are stored in the United Kingdom.

We have received no request from the United States concerning the basing of chemical weapons in the United Kingdom and have no plans to store such weapons.

Pressurised Water Reactors

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the construction of a pressurised water reactor at HMS "Vulcan".

Prototype pressurised water reactors for the Royal Navy have been undergoing development and testing at HMS "Vulcan" since 1966. A new generation of reactor plant, designated PWR2, is now undergoing design and development for future classes of Royal Navy submarines. A prototype reactor assembly will be installed within a new shore test facility on the "Vulcan" site. It is expected that the PWR2 will come into operation in the mid-1980s and have an overall life of 20–25 years. It is intended that the PWR2 will have a number of advantages over its predecessor, both militarily, and in the areas of operability and maintenance. It will, of course, be designed to comply with all the latest safety standards.

National Finance

Corporation Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider introducing a scheme that would reduce the corporation tax paid by limited companies or partnerships which increase their exports on a year-to-year basis.

No. Other things apart, a special reduction of this kind would be contrary to our international obligations.

European Community Commissioners (Pensions)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution is made by Her Majesty's Government to the pensions of former European Economic Community Commissioners.

The 1981 Community budget includes 978,000 meua—about £615,000 at the rate of exchange of £1=1·5889 eua used for 1981 Community budget estimates—for retirement and invalidity pensions of Commissioners. The United Kingdom contributes to the budget as a whole and not to individual budget items; in 1981 the United Kingdom's gross contribution is expected to be about 21 per cent. of total contributions.

Committee On Enforcement And Powers Of The Revenue Bodies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list all the publications which have carried advertisements from the Committee on Enforcement Powers of the Revenue Bodies; and how many responses received to date are attributable to this advertising;(2) if he will detail the cost of the recent advertising campaign in the national press by the Committee on Enforcement Powers of the Revenue Bodies.

The committee's advertisements appeared in the following publications:

The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Times, Financial Times, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, Daily Record, Belfast Telegraph, The Scotsman, Cardiff Western Mail and Y Cymru.

I understand that some 150 responses attributable to the advertising had been received up to 15 January 1981. The cost of the advertising campaign was about £10,000.

Value Added Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of value added tax received in the financial year 1979–80 from repairs to churches.

I regret that the information is not available since the returns do not distinguish between VAT charged on repairs to churches and other building work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review and, if necessary, seek to amend the Value Added Tax (Competitions) Order 1980 in items 1 and 2 of the exemption group created by that order so as to ensure that entry fees in rallies such as the Scottish rally are included and qualify for exemption; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1981]: The terms of items 1 and 2 of the exemption group created by the Value Added Tax (Competitions) Order 1980 were considered most carefully before the order was made and laid. It was never intended that the relief should apply to profit-making ventures or to organisations not established for purposes of sport or physical recreation. There are therefore no plans to make an amending order, although the precise scope of the relief, as is the case with VAT reliefs generally, will be reviewed from time to time in the light of how it is operating in practice. I shall write to my hon. Friend about the particular case of the Scottish rally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the fairness of the arrangement whereby value added tax is charged in respect of entering a horse in a show but not if the horse jumps or runs; and if he will make a statement.

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

Textile Industry

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if in view of the extent to which the performance of the British textile industry is affected by the exchange rate of sterling, interest rates and energy costs, he will bring forward financial measures to mitigate these effects.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind general changes in the Government's economic and financial policies, since any financial measures confined to the textile industry are primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry. I am very conscious of the difficulties now facing the textile industry, but I am afraid that there nothing I can add to what my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer told the House during the course of the Supply day debate on 15 January.

Index-Linked Savings Certificates

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the expenditure on advertising index-linked savings certificates in each of the last four months; that were the relevant figures over the same months in each of the last five years; and if he will list the mean rate of inflation prevalent in respect of each of those six four-month periods.

The information required is as follows:

Advertising expenditure on Index-linked National Savings Certificates
Month	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
	£	£	£	£	£	£
September	18,873	10,585	37,547	11,915	35,709	85,260
October	19,923	20,538	39,300	28,823	45,748	57,738
November	1,161	17,511	16,289	24,458	46,044	593,549
December	—	3,625	566	1,517	61,187	480,250
Total	39,957	52,259	93,702	66,713	188,688	1,216,797

The mean rate of inflation for each four-month period over the mean price level, as measured by the retail prices index (RPI), for the corresponding period in the previous year was as follows:

	Mean RPI figure September to December	Increase over previous year per cent.
1974	114·0	—
1975	143·3	25·3
1976	164·5	14·8
1977	187·0	13·7
1978	202·0	8·0
1979	236·5	17·1
1980	273·0	15·4

Self-Employed Persons And Small Businesses (Subscriptions)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow tax relief on subscriptions paid by members of the National Federation of the Self-Employed and Small Businesses Limited; and if he will make a statement.

I have noted this suggestion. These subscriptions are not considered to be incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the individual member's trade and do not qualify for tax relief under the present law.

Income Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many men and women aged 75 years and over are subject to income tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of persons liable to income tax in (a) 1978–79, (b) 1979–80, (c) an estimate for 1980–81 and (d) an estimate for 1981–82 on (i) the basis of unchanged personal allowances and (ii) on the basis of indexed changed personal allowances.

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

European Community

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply on 15 January, why the information needed to produce a figure of the net contribution made to the European Economic Community in the calendar year 1980 is not available; and if it is normal Treasury practice to keep a note of the sums paid to the European Economic Community and the sums received.

The Treasury has access to the relevant information, but details about transactions late in the year take time to be collected and collated centrally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the gross payments made to the European Economic Community between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1980.

The total gross contribution in 1980 was £1,862 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the gross payments made by the European Economic Community to the United Kindom between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1980.

I regret that full information about United Kingdom receipts is not yet available.

European Community Budget

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total payments by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community budget in each year since 1973; and, expressed as percentages, what increases or decreases the payments represent.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1981]: The following tables give the net payments by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community budget for each year from 1973 to 1979 and, where applicable, the percentage change:

Year	Net Contribution	Percentage Change
1973	102	—
1974	31	-69·61 per cent.
1975	-56	—
1976	167	—
1977	369	+120·96 per cent.
1978	804	+117·89 per cent.
1979	947	+17·78 per cent.

As regards the United Kingdom 1980 net contribution to the Community budget, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) on 15 January.

Wine And Beer (Excise Duties)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the European Court of Justice to give a final judgment in the infraction proceedings against the United Kingdom in connection with the excise duties on wine and beer; and what is the position with regard to harmonisation proposals due to have been discussed at a Fiscal Council on 22 December.

The Fiscal Council arranged for 22 December was cancelled and no further meeting has so far been arranged. As regards the infraction proceedings the European Court has agreed to an extension until the end of April 1981 of the time allowed for the United Kingdom and the European Commission to examine further the question of the relationship between the excise duties on wine and beer.

Tax Thresholds And Break-Even Points

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information on tax thresholds and break-even points in table 2A I of the Inland Revenue Statistics for 1980–81.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1981]: The figures are shown opposite. For 1979–80 the earnings figures have been updated and are the averages of the figures obtained in the new earnings survey of the average weekly earnings of full time adult male manual workers at the April of the beginning and end of each year. For 1980–81 the estimated level of earnings for September

Tax Year	Threshold ar current prices (index)	Threshold at 1949–50 prices (1949–50=100)	Threshold as percentage of average manual earnings	Tax-free income at current prices	Tax-free income at 1949–50 prices (index) (1949–50=100)	Tax-free income as percentage of average income^†	Break-even point at current prices	Break-even point at 1949–50 prices (index) (1949–50=100)	Break-even point as percentage of average manual earnings
	£		per cent.	£		per cent.	£		per cent.
Married man, two children under 11
1979–80	1,815	73·2	34·1	2,231	86·9	38·9	3,327	109·2	62·5
^*1980–81	2,145	74·3	33·9	2,589	86·7	38·2	3,625	102·2	57·3
Married man with 4 children‡
1979–80	1,815	55·1	34·1	2,647	74·3	43·0	4,713	102·3	88·6
^*1980–81	2,145	55·7	33·9	3,034	73·0	42·0	5,108	95·2	80·7
^* The estimates of average earnings in 1980–81 are provisional.
† Average income is defined as the average earnings of a full-time adult male manual worker plus family allowance or child benefit as appropriate.
‡ Two children under 11; one child aged between 11 and 15; one child 16 or over.

European Economic Council (Payments)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will detail the gross national payments to the European Economic Council for each member State allocated by resource: common agriculture policy, common tariff and value-added tax.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1981]: The Community budget is financed from own resources.

Member States	Sugar and Isoglucose Levies		Agricultural Levies		Customs Duties		VAT Own Resources		Total
	MEUA	£ million	MEUA	£ million	MEUA	£ million	MEUA	£ million	MEUA	£ million
Belgium	33	20	158	95	404	242	330	198	925	555
Denmark	20	12	7	4	131	78	190	114	348	208
Germany	141	84	220	132	1,793	1,073	2,380	1,425	4,534	2,714
France	171	102	91	54	910	545	1,790	1,071	2,962	1,772
Ireland	5	3	3	2	66	40	62	37	136	82
Italy	61	37	390	233	656	393	791	473	1,898	1,136
Luxembourg	—	—	0·13	0·08	5	3	15	9	20·13	12·08
Netherlands	43	26	240	145	550	329	439	263	1,272	763
United Kingdom	31	19	410	245	1,485	889	1,259	754	3,185	1,907
Total	505	303	1,519·13	910·08	6,000	3,592	7,256	4,344	15,280·13	9,149·08
Conversions between European Units of Account and Sterling are at the rate of £1=1·67 EUA, the average exchange rate for 1980.

1980—the latest month for which an appropriate estimate of average earnings is available—has been used. This has been obtained by updating the figure in the new earnings survey for April 1980 of average earnings of full time adult male manual workers taking account of the movements in a centred three-month moving average of the seasonally adjusted monthly index of average earnings of all employees covering the whole economy.

Tax year	Threshold at current prices	Threshold at 1949–50 prices index (1949–50=100)	Threshold as percentage of average manual earnings
	£		per cent.
Single person
1979–80	1,165	119·2	21·9
^*1980–81	1,375	120·5	21·7
Married man without children
1979–80	1,815	116·3	34·1
^*1980–81	2,145	118·0	33·9

These consist of sugar and isoglucose levies, agricultural levies on trade with non-member countries, duties collected under the common customs tariff and VAT own resources.

The following table shows the estimated gross payments due from each member State to finance the 1980 European Community budget, as amended by supplementary budget No. 2 which was adopted by the European Parliament on 23 December 1980.

Bankruptcies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in respect of all bankruptcies recorded in the period 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1980, in how many cases the Inland Revenue was the majority creditor; and what relationship this number bears to the total number of bankruptcies in the same period.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that this information is not available for all bankruptcies arising in 1980 and can only be ascertained for any particular year at disproportionate cost.

Education And Science

Post-School Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will commission an investigation into ways of increasing participation in post-school education with special reference to the North-East of England.

A review of post-compulsory education undertaken for the Government and the local authority associations will be published on 26 January. In commissioning it the joint sponsors had levels of participation very much in mind.

Burnham Committee

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has completed his review of the membership of the teachers' panel of the Burnham primary and secondary committee; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have decided to give one seat on the Burnham primary and secondary committee to the Professional Association of Teachers and to increase representation of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers from six to seven. I am proposing no further changes. Accordingly the new composition of the committee is as follows:

Association of County Councils	13
Association of Metropolitan Authorities	10
Welsh Joint Education Committee	2
Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association	4
National Association of Head Teachers	2
National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers	7
National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education	1
National Unions of Teacher	16
Professional Association of Teachers	1
Secondary Heads Association	1

A copy of the determination has been placed in the Library of the House. It takes effect from tomorrow.

Science Budget

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the science budget for 1981–82 will be divided between the recipient bodies.

I have accepted the recommendation of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils that the science budget in 1981–82 should, subject to approval by Parliament of the Estimates in due course, be allocated as follows:

	£ million (1980 survey prices)
Agricultural Research Council	30·6
Medical Research Council	73·2
Natural Environment Research Council	39·4
Science Research Council	174·3
Social Science Research Council	16·1
British Museum (Natural History)	6·5
Royal Society	3·3
	343·4

The figure for the Medical Research Council includes a sum of £13·9 million transferred to the science budget from the Health Departments in respect of research hitherto commissioned by them with the council, following from the revised arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 28 October last.

English National Opera

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he proposes to make to the jubilee appeal launched today by the English National Opera.

The Government propose to make a contribution of £500,000 to the appeal which the English National Opera has launched. The Government's contribution will both enable much needed structural work to be done at the London Coliseum, and also provide better working conditions for performers and others who work in the theatre. This contribution will be paid through the Arts Council and forms part of its capital allocation for 1981–82 already announced. I hope this will encourage generous contributions also from the business community and the general public.

Industry

Telecommunications Equipment

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he now proposes to take to ensure that non-tariff barriers are not established in Europe against the import of British telecommunications equipment.

The Government are concerned that the proposed liberalisation of the United Kingdom market for terminal equipment should be matched by reciprocal opportunities in those countries which seek a share of our market. The Government will, therefore, with the knowledge of the Commission, be holding bilateral discussions with Governments of relevant countries, to obtain appropriate assurances, before the market for the products concerned is opened to general competition.

Strategic Metals

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the major producing countries of the following metals: tantalum, tungsten, niobium and vanadium, production of each metal by each of the countries in 1979 and the percentage the total figure represented of world sales.

The output of tantalum, tungsten, niobium and vanadium in 1979 by the major producing countries and the percentage this represented of total world production is as follows:

	Country	Tonnes	% of World Total
Tantalum
(Gross weight)	Thailand	410	37%
	Malaysia	200	18%
	USSR	140	13%
	Canada	130	12%
	Total	880	80%
Tungsten
(Metal content)	China	11,500	26%
	USSR	8,700	19%
	Australia	3,140	7%
	USA	2,994	7%
	Total	26,334	59%
Niobium
(Gross weight)	Brazil	22,100	78%
	Canada	5,130	18%
	Total	27,230	96%
Vanadium
(Metal content)	South Africa	13,748	42%
	USSR	9,000	27%
	USA	5,717	17%
	Finland	2,650	8%
	Total	31,115	94%

Source: Institute of Geological Sciences

Business Statistics Office, Cardiff

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many staff are employed at the Business Statistics Office, Cardiff; how many were employed there in March 1979; what is the purpose of this office; and what is its annual cost to the taxpayer.

940 staff were employed at the Business Statistics Office on 1 January 1981 compared with 1,035 on 1 April 1979. The cost of the office in the financial year 1979–80 was £8·9 million. The office is the main agency for collecting, processing and publishing the statistics on trade and industry required for purposes of Government policy.

Manufacturing Industry (Robotics)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what support Her Majesty's Government are giving to manufacturing industry to encourage robot control and production systems.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what financial support Her Majesty's Government are giving to the British Robots Association and to other research institutions to encourage the development of robot control systems in manufacturing industry.

The Department of Industry provided a grant of £15,000 to help launch the British Robot Association. As part of the Government's efforts to encourage the development and application of industrial robots in Britain, financial aid has also been allocated to the National Engineering Laboratory and to several research bodies.The National Engineering Laboratory has received approximately £350,000 for robot development work under the automated small batch production project. The Steel Castings Research and Trade Association (SCRATA) has been allocated grant aid of £305,000 for a project involving the application of robotics in foundry work. The Production Engineering Research Association (PERA) is receiving assistance totalling £443,000 to operate a robot advisory service. In addition in 1980 the Science Research Council launched a £2·5m industrial robotics programme to encourage academic/industrial collaboration on robot development projects.Implicit in all these programmes is encouragement of robot control systems.

Unit Labour Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish figures showing the rise in unit labour costs, adjusted for inflation, in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Germany, (c) France, (d) the United States of America and (e) Japan for each year from 1974.

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

Redundancies

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied that adequate information is provided to his Department by firms declaring large numbers of redundancies.

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

British Robot Association (Exhibition)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will arrange for an exhibition by the British Robot Association to take place in the Upper Waiting Hall during the week commencing Monday 13 April.

Yes. Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Monday 13th April to Friday 17th April 1981.

Waste Management Advisory Council

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the Waste Management Advisory Council.

The Waste Management Advisory Council was set up six years ago to advise the then Government on all aspects of waste management. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I have now reviewed the activities and achievements of the council and the work which remains to be done. The council has made a valuable contribution in identifying the main problems and priorities, but we believe that further progress can best be achieved in this important area by more direct and informal co-operation between central and local Government and the other interests concerned. My right hon. Friend and I have therefore decided that the council should be abolished.

British Telecom (Exhibition)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will arrange for an exhibition by British Telecom to take place in the Upper Waiting Hall during the week beginning Monday 9 February.

Yes. Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Monday 9 February to Friday 13 February 1981.

Civil Service

Departmental Reports

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for

	Salary at 1 September 1971^* ‡	Pension from 1 September 1971^†	Pension from 1 December 1972	Pension from 1 December 1973	Pension from 1 December 1974	Pension from 1 December 1975
Permanent Secretary of CSD, Treasury or Cabinet Office#	15,000	5,736	6,367	6,959	8,107	10,223
Permanent Secretary#	14,000	5,375	5,967	6,522	7,598	9,581
Second Permanent Secretary#	13,000	5,049	5,604	6,125	7,136	8,998
Deputy Secretary#	9,000	3,729	4,139	4,524	5,270	6,645
Under Secretary#	6,750	3,057	3,393	3,709	4,321	5,449
Assistant Secretary	6,300	2,735	3,036	3,318	3,865	4,874
Directing Grade 'A'	6,490	2,864	3,179	3,475	4,048	5,105
Directing Grade 'B'	6,300	2,724	3,024	3,305	3,850	4,855

Birkenhead, Official Report, 3 December 1980, c. 317, if he will list the reports published by his Department which have been debated by the House.

None.

Green Papers (Responses)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the criteria governing decisions on whether to publish the representations made in response to a Green Paper.

No such criteria have been prescribed centrally.

Pensions

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will limit the pensions increase rights of all retired civil servants to the 6 per cent. cash limits as proposed for civil servants still in public employment.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November 1980.—[Vol. 994, c. 314–15.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give a table of figures showing, on the date when indexed pensions for public services became operative, the 20 top graded rates of civil servants and their employed salaries at this stated date; and, on the assumption that these persons were entitled to and received full indexed pensions, what these were on the first annual basis and for each year to the latest and most convenient date.

The Civil Service does not have a single hierarchy but consists of an open structure, which comprises the most senior grades in the Service, and a number of occupational groups. Therefore the information cannot be provided in exactly the form requested. The following table shown below gives the information requested for the grades in the open structure, some senior grades in the main occupational groups and for the executive officer and clerical officer grades. The table also shows the current pay of the grades in question.

	Salary at 1 September 1971 ^* ‡	Pension from 1 September 1971 †	Pension from 1 December 1972	Pension from 1 December 1973	Pension from 1 December 1974	Pension from 1 December 1975
Chief Scientific Office (lower band)	6,600	2,936	3,259	3,562	4,150	5,223
Deputy Chief Scientific Officer	6,380	2,787	3,094	3,382	3,940	4,968
Clerical Officer≑	2,000	884	981	1,072	1,249	1,575
Executive Officer≑	1,385	606	673	736	857	1,081
^* The first increases in pensions under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, which introduced index-linking for public service pensions, took effect on 1 September 1971.
† Assuming retirement on 1 September 1971; pension calculated on the basis of maximum reckonable service and salary at the maximum of the relevant scales in the final three years of service.
‡ Salaries are scale maxima, where appropriate, and exclude London Weighting.
≑ Examples of the corresponding information for more junior grades.
#Open Structure.

	Pension from 1 December 1976	Pension from 1 December 1977	Pension from 1 December 1978	Pension from 12 November 1979	Pension from 24 November 1980	Current salary of grade‡
Permanent Secretary of CSD, Treasury or Cabinet Office#	11,634	13,693	14,706	17,059	19,874	33,500
Permanent Secretary#	10,903	12,833	13,783	15,988	18,626	31,000
Second Permanent Secretary#	10,240	12,052	12,944	15,015	17,492	28,500
Deputy Secretary#	7,562	8,900	9,599	11,088	12,918	24,500
Under Secretary#	6,201	7,299	7,839	9,093	10,593	20,500
Assistant Secretary	5,547	6,529	7,012	8,134	9,923	19,500
Directing Grade 'A'	5,809	6,837	7,343	8,518	9,923	19,939
Directing Grade 'B'	5,525	6,503	6,984	8,101	9,438	19,500
Chief Scientific Office (lower band)	5,955	7,009	7,528	8,732	10,173	20,170
Deputy Chief Scientific Officer	5,654	6,655	7,147	8,291	9,659	19,500
Clerical Officer≑	1,792	2,109	2,265	2,627	3,060	6,745
Executive Officer≑	1,230	1,448	1,555	1,804	2,102	4,740
‡ Salaries are scale maxima, where appropriate, and exclude London Weighting.
≑ Examples of the corresponding information for more junior grades.
# Open Structure.

Public Servants (Costs)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what were the total numbers of civil servants and other public sector workers and their annual costs (a) when the Government assumed office and (b) for the latest and most convenient stated date.

I can answer only for the Civil Service. At 1 April 1979 there were 732,000 civil servants in central Government Departments, compared with 697,100 at 1 October 1980, the latest date for which figures are available. The provision in Votes in 1979–80 for Civil Service pay costs was £3,717 million and in 1980–81 was £4,627 million.

Ex-Ministers Of The Crown

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will give at the latest stated date the total number of ex-Ministers of the Crown who were drawing in any way pensions by virtue of the office they once held and the total amounts paid per annum to these recipients; how many of these were Members of the House of Lords; and how many of these hold other appointments made or recommended by the Government on a paid or expenses-paid basis.

I understand that 12 former Ministers are receiving pensions from the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund, the total annual amount in payment being just over £6,000. Three of these pensions were earned by service in the House of Lords. In addition, there are five pensions in payment to former Prime Ministers and two to former Lords Chancellor, at an annual cost of about £93,000. Central records indicate that four of these 19 pensioners currently hold salaried or expenses paid appointments made or recommended by the Government.

Social Services

National Health Service (General Medical And Pharmaceutical Regulations)

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review schedule 1to the National Health Service (General Medical and Pharmaceutical Regulations).

The terms of service for doctors in schedule 1 to the National Health Service (General Medical and Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1974 are kept under review. If my hon. Friend has some particular problem in mind perhaps he would write to me.

Office Of Population Censuses And Surveys

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the corresponding Office of Population Censuses and Surveys monitor for 1979–80 to P.P.1. 1979/9 will be published; and what is the reason for the delay.

OPCS Monitor PP1 81/1 "Mid-1979 estimates of the population of New Commonwealth and Pakistani ethnic origin" is expected to be published early in February, together with Monitor FM1 81/1 giving statistics of births by birthplace of mother for 1979. The decision was taken to publish FM1 simultaneously with PP1, as it contained supporting material for PP1. As a result, PP1 is later than last year but FM1 is earlier.

Children (Psychiatric Treatment)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were diagnosed as in need of psychiatric treatment in the years 1975 to 1980.

This information is not available. NHS statistics show the number of children—or families—who had a first visit to a psychiatric out-patient clinic in a given year, but these statistics would include children referred for diagnosis but found not to be in need of psychiatric treatment; conversely they omit others who

Net Revenue Expenditure—England
	£ million at November 1978 prices
	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79
Mental Handicap
In-patients and out-patients	219·6	216·2	222·9	227·1
Percentage of NHS expenditure in England	3·9	3·8	3·8	3·8
Mental Illness
In-patients and out-patients	460·9	448·2	463·7	469·0
Day Patients	18·2	19·6	22·5	23·0
Total	479·1	467·8	486·2	492·0
Percentage of NHS expenditure in England	8·5	8·2	8·3	8·2
Special Hospitals	13·9	14·0	14·7	15·2
Percentage of NHS expenditure in England	0·2	0·2	0·2	0·3

Comparable figures for 1974–75 are not available. Expenditure on other generic services benefiting the mentally handicapped and mentally ill—for example

Net Revenue Expenditure—Scotland
	£ million at November 1978 prices
	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79
Mental Handicap (all patients)	28·9	28·1	28·9	30·7
Percentage of NHS expenditure in Scotland	3·7	3·6	3·6	3·7
Mental Illness (all patients)	85·0	83·9	85·2	89·5
Percentage of NHS expenditure in Scotland	10·8	10·6	10·6	10·7
Special Hospital	2·5	2·5	2·7	2·7
Percentage of NHS expenditure in Scotland	0·3	0·3	0·3	0·3

Comparable figures for Wales and Northern Ireland are not available.

may be diagnosed elsewhere as in need of psychiatric treatment—for example, in child guidance clinics not contributing to NHS statistics, in special schools, or in observation and assessment centres provided by social services departments.

Following are the figures for first visits to NHS child and family psychiatric out-patient clinics—1979 and 1980 figures are not yet available:

1975

1976

1977

1978

30,558

31,265

31,831

31,516

Mental Illness And Handicap (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage of National Health Service expenditure in the United Kingdom on (a) mental illness and (b) mental handicap patients in the last five years.

The following table shows estimated revenue expenditure on hospital services specifically for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped in England over the last four years, and what this represents as a percentage of total NHS revenue spending:community health and family practitioner services—cannot be separately identified and is not accounted for in the figures.Similar qualifications apply to figures for Scotland, which are shown in the table below:

National Insurance (Employers' Contributions)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the yield of employers' national insurance contributions in 1978, 1979 and 1980, both in total and as divided between private sector and public sector employees.

The totals, which include national insurance surcharge, are as follows:

Year
1978–79	£7,858 million
1979–80	^*£9,860 million
1980–81	^*£11,720 million
^*estimated

Information is not available to split the sums as requested.

Unemployment Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the ratio of unemployment benefit to average adult male earnings for (a) a single person, (b) a married couple and (c) a married couple and two children at the latest available date; and how this compares with the position in 1950, 1960 and 1970.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Table 6.2(b) shows unemployment benefit, including earnings-related supplement, plus, where appropriate, family allowances/child benefit as a percentage of net income, based on the average earnings of all adult male workers. The latest firm figures available, to add to those in the table, are for April 1980; and the relevant percentages are (a) 38·0, (b) 48·7 and (c) 56·3 respectively. Figures based on the earnings of all adult male workers are not available for years before 1970; but table 6.1(a) gives similar figures for 1950 and 1960—before earnings-related supplement was introduced—based on the average earnings of male manual workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was paid to persons in the 60 to 64 years age group in the last three years in the form of unemployment benefit.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. The nearest available information relates to a five per cent sample of persons claiming unemployment benefit on one day in May 1978, 1979 and 1980. It is estimated from this that the total amount of unemployment benefit—not including any supplementary benefit—payable for a full week in those months to persons aged 60 to 64 was £1.4 million, £1.4 million and £1.7 million respectively. Multiplying those figures by 52 would provide only a very approximate estimate of payments for a full year.

Farmers' Lung

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to include farmers' lung as a disease condition which qualifies for compensation by the Government.

The benefits of the industrial injuries scheme have been available to sufferers from farmers' lung since June 1965.

Kidney Machines

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are registered for kidney machine treatment in each of the hospital regions; how many kidney machines are available; and how many homes have been fitted for kidney machines where none have been installed.

On the number of patients receiving treatment on kidney machines in each of the health regions I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 13 January.—[Vol. 996, c. 555–56]Information is not available centrally on the number of patients awaiting treatment on kidney machines or the total number of machines which are available. Each patient on home haemodialysis would have his or her own kidney machine but in hospital two or three patients can make use of one machine by dialysing at different sessions. In addition, renal units generally have a number of kidney machines available for treatment of acute renal failure and also a small stock of reserve machines to cover breakdowns or emergencies.I am not aware of any homes which have been fitted for kidney machines and where they have not been installed.

Census Enumerators (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the remuneration of census enumerators in England has been fixed at a level higher than that for Scotland; and why it is higher in London than the rest of England.

The work load given to an enumerator in England and Wales is greater than in Scotland. A London allowance is given that is broadly comparable with that received by other Government employees.

Housing Estates (Heating Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those housing estates which he has recognised to have high heating running costs under schedule 3, part 1, paragraph 5, to the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations 1980.

This information is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.

Social Security Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the current estimated levels of non-uptake of social security benefits by type of benefit and Department of Health and Social Security region in Scotland.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Prentice), the former Minister for Social Security, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Kelvingrove (Mr. Carmichael) on 19 December 1980.—[Vol. 996, c. 526.]

Supplementary Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of extending the long-term rate of supplementary benefit to people who are required to attend at an employment benefit office only quarterly.

Approaching £20 million at current benefit rates, using November 1979 statistics and assuming that claimants were to qualify for the long-term scale rate at the same time as it was decided that they need attend an unemployment benefit office only quarterly to register for work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and women aged 75 years and over are in receipt of supplementary benefit.

About 850,000 (183,000 men and 666,000 women) including the wives of beneficiaries. These and related data may be found in "Social Security Statistics, 1980" at tables 34.73, 34.75 and 34.77, which is held in the Library.

Disabled Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to make information readily available to journalists and members of the public concerning the extent of disability in the United Kingdom in view of the International Year of Disabled People 1981; and if he will make a further statement.

Civil Servants in Socially Handicapped and Mental Health Divisions:—
	Under Secretary	Assistant Secretary	Principal	SEO	HEO	EO	CO	CA	Total
1.5.79	1½	6	18½	9	23½	28	16½	12	115
2.1.81	1½	6	16	9	22	24	13	5	96½

Of these, those concerned with the services enquired about are shown below.Others manage the special hospitals or deal with services for other vulnerable groups.

1. Services for the elderly
	Assistant Secretary	Principal	SEO	HEO	EO	CO	CA	Total
1.5.79	1	4	1½	3½	6	3	3	22
2.1.81	1	3	1	2	3	1	1	12

2. Services for physically handicapped, deaf and blind people
	Assistant Secretary	Principal	SEO	HEO	EO	CO	CA	Total
1.5.79	1	4	½	6½	6	3	3	24
2.1.81	1	3	1	6	5	3	1	20

3. Services for the mentally ill
	Assistant Secretary	Principal	SEO	HEO	EO	CO	CA	Total
1.5.79	1	1½	1	1½	1	1½	1	8½
2.1.81	1	1½	1	1½	2	1½	—	8½

The information division in the Department is co-operating closely with the Voluntary Organisations Committee for the Year to ensure that such information as can be provided is made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that there are sufficient civil servants in his Department's socially handicapped and mental health divisions to provide a proper service to disabled members of the public during the International Year of Disabled People 1981; and if he will make a statement.

In general, the staff in these divisions do not provide a direct service to disabled members of the public but are concerned with the development of policy and other related work. I am satisfied that the numbers of staff in post are appropriate to the tasks they are asked to perform.

asked the Secretary of State for Social services if he will list the numbers of civil servants at each grade within his Department's socially handicapped and mental health divisions in May 1979 and the last date for which figures are available; and if he will indicate the numbers in each grade concerned primarily with services for the elderly, services for physically handicapped people generally, services for the deaf, services for the blind, services for people suffering from mental illness and services for the mentally handicapped.

The figures are as follows:

4. Services for the mentally handicapped
	Assistant Secretary	Principal	SEO	HEO	EO	CO	CA	Total
1.5.79	1	3	—	4	5	1	3	17
2.1.81	1	2	—	4	4	1	2	14

Individual members of staff are not as a rule designated to deal exclusively with services relating to physically handicapped blind or deaf people.

The staff enumerated above are concerned with the development of policy on services for the groups mentioned and with related work. A large number of professional and other staff in other parts of the Department are also concerned, continuously or from time to time, with various aspects of services for these groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, for those cases where a local authority has decided not to provide a particular service under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 at all, whatever the need for that service in the area, he requires each individual disabled person who needs that service to ask him to use his default powers, or if he is prepared to accept one application representative of disabled people as a whole in the locality; if he will take steps to transfer to himself any function which a local authority has, in contravention of that section, decided no longer to perform; and if he will make a statement.

The duty imposed by section 2 of the 1970 Act is to meet the needs of any person ordinarily resident in the area of the local authority for any of the kinds of assistance which are specified in the Act. Section 36 of the National Assistance Act 1948, under which a default order may be made, applies so far as the 1970 Act is concerned, to the failure to meet the needs for assistance of particular persons in particular cases. The question of whether a default order should be made arises, therefore, in relation to particular individuals and it would be a misuse of the Secretary of State's powers to deal with cases in any other way. My right hon. Friend will continue to give careful consideration to individual cases as they are brought to his attention.

United Kingdom Nationals (Benefits)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the additional benefits accruing to United Kingdom nationals travelling in European countries from the agreement adopted on 17 October at the International Labour Office; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom is considering the final text of the agreement adopted by the International Labour Office. Under existing bilateral agreements and European Community regulations, United Kingdom travellers are already covered for immediately necessary treatment arising in most European countries. Ratification of the International Labour Office agreement might lead to agreements with some of the five remaining European countries not included in such agreements.

Consultants (Establishment)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to increase the consultant establishment employed in the National Health Service by adjusting the ratio between consultant and junior staff.

The Department's policy, agreed with the medical profession, is

i. that patient care is best provided by fully trained doctors;

ii. that the time doctors spend in training grades should be determined by training, and not service, requirements

and that, therefore, it is necessary for the consultant grade to expand faster than the training grades. For a number of reasons, however, progress in implementing this policy has been slow and the Chief Medical Officer in the Department recently wrote to regional health authority chairmen and presidents of the Royal Colleges and Faculties proposing discussions on how problems which have slowed down its implementation might be tackled.

Supplementary Benefit (Television Licences)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will amend the supplementary benefit regulations to allow the cost of television licences to be taken into account.

No. The Government believe that it is in general preferable to channel resources available to help the poorest into increasing the supplementary benefit standard scale rates, which beneficiaries can spend as they choose.

Physiotherapists

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will reconsider his decision to fragment the physiotherapist if he will consider the appointment of a district physiotherapists to plan and deploy physiotherapists to the best advantage; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has made no such decision. The future organisation and management of physiotherapy services is a matter to be decided by the new district health authorities when they come into being. The guidance we have on management arrangements for the restructured NHS enables the new authorities to have maximum flexibility in developing arrangements which best suit local circumstances.

Health Service Administrators (Conference Expenses)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether Health Services administrators who attended a conference on "Running a Profitable Lottery for Hospitals and Medical Charities" on 10 December 1980 at the Piccadilly Hotel were able to charge their expenses in connection with the conference to their employing health authorities.

This is for each health authority to decide.

Mr Tom Wilkie (Accident)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will hold an inquiry into all aspects of the accident which occurred at 11 am on 14 November at St. Columbia's hospital when Mr. Tom Wilkie was knocked down by an ambulance vehicle.

No. Responsibility for investigating road traffic accidents rests with the police.

Retirement Pensions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men aged 60, 61, 62, 63 and 64 years, respectively, have already paid sufficient contributions at that age to entitle them to a full pension at statutory retirement age.

I regret that information about the numbers of men of these ages who already satisfy the contribution conditions for a standard rate basic retirement pension at age 65 is not available.Although the contribution requirements for full basic pension can be met earlier than at age 65, earnings-related additional pension under the new pension scheme can be earned by male employees up to the end of the tax year before reaching 65.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated cost to the national insurance fund of paying to those people who defer their retirement beyond statutory retirement age a 10 per cent. increase in pension for each year retirement is deferred between the ages of 60 and 65 years (women) and 65 and 70 years (men).

I shall let the hon. Member have the information as soon as possible.

Retirement

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and women are currently deferring retirement beyond their statutory retirement age.

It is estimated that at the end of 1980, some 100,000 persons were currently deferring retirement beyond pension age (60 for women and 65 for men).

Down's Syndrome

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, he will seek to increase public expenditure on research into Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1981, c. 488]: The Medical Research Council is the main Government-funded body supporting research into Down's syndrome, from support by the Department of Education and Science and the health Departments. The council is currently supporting an extensive programme of research relevant to Down's syndrome and a number of inter-related studies are being funded directly by my Department. We recognise the opportunity offered by the International Year of Disabled People and are always ready to consider whether additional research can be commissioned within the bounds of availability of financial and scientific resources.

Hospital Waiting Lists (Macclesfield)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are awaiting admission to hospital for treatment in the Macclesfield area at the latest convenient date, broken down into the categories of complaint for which they are awaiting treatment.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 January, 1981]: On 30 September 1980, numbers waiting were as follows:

Complaint	Number
General Medicine	1
General Surgery	1,219
Ear, Nose and Throat	167
Trauma and Orthopaedic	561
Dental Surgery	118
Gynaecology	372
Geriatrics	46
Mental Illness	53
Total	2,537

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Atlantic Salmon Stocks

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards an international convention on the problem of Atlantic salmon stocks; and if he will make a statement.

Informal consultations have been held involving the European Community, Canada, the United States and Norway with a view to agreeing the text of a North Atlantic salmon convention. Some progress was made and a further meeting is expected to be held in Ottawa later this month involving those mentioned above and other interested countries.

Animals (Exports)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the live export of food animals for immediate slaughter or further fattening will be permitted to include Greece, Spain and Portugal when each joins the European Economic Community.

Exports of such animals are permitted to Greece which undertook, in the Treaty of Accession, to implement by 1 January this year the provisions of the EEC directives which protect the welfare of animals during international transport and which require effective stunning before slaughter. Because of the long overland journeys involved, the animals are permitted to travel only by air or by sea.The terms of accession for Spain and Portugal are yet to be determined.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the reasons for the continuance of the live export trade.

Because of the strong overseas demand for livestock from the United Kingdom.

Eggs

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will now take to protect the British egg industry from imported French eggs being sold as British eggs on the United Kingdom market; and if he will make a statement.

European Community regulations lay down detailed labelling requirements for eggs traded within the Community. It is one of the responsibilities of the United Kingdom's egg marketing inspectorate—at all stages other than retail—and of local authorities—at the retail stage—to check that labelling requirements are properly observed and to follow up specific complaints.If my hon. Friend has any evidence of labelling requirements not being observed, I would be grateful if he would provide me with the information.

Inland And Inshore Fisheries

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to issue the consultation document on the outcome of his review of inland and inshore fisheries.

Preparation of the consultation document is continuing and it will be issued as soon as it is completed.

European Community (Food Taxes)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total of European Economic Community food taxes incurred by British exporters which have not been paid since 1973; if he will divide this total in such a way as to indicate the number of years for which debts have been outstanding; and if he will indicate whether interest is charged on such outstanding debts.

The outstanding export levy debts at 30 September 1980 were given in the Treasury Minute on the Fifteenth—Thirty-Fifth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 1979–80. At the end of 1980 outstanding export levy debts stood at about £4·5 million. A breakdown of the debts based on the date of export is not available, but the majority of the exports concerned took place before 1 August 1977, when the intervention board was first empowered to take securities against the payment of levies. In most cases it has not been possible to charge interest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce has written off any debts incurred by British exporters liable to European Economic Community food taxes since 1973; and what has been the amount involved in any such bad debts.

Since 1973 the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce has written off export levy debts totalling £42,685·73.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what period of time was allowed for the payment of European Economic Community food taxes which fell to be paid by British exporters in respect of food exports; and if the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce is empowered to make arrangements for these taxes to be paid over a period without interest being charged.

Until 1 January 1979 the board normally allowed a period of about five weeks from the date of issue of the invoice. It also had discretion to allow levy debts to be paid over a period without interest.Since 1 January 1979 EEC directive 78/453 has allowed 32 days from the date of export for payment and the board has had no power to extend that period without interest.

Green Pound

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his reasons for the devaluation of the green pound in 1980; and how he secured reasonable prices for consumers as set out in article 39 of the Treaty of Rome.

The last devaluation of the green pound was made in 1979. I regard the resulting prices as reasonable for consumers, taking into account the interests of producers.

Foodstuffs (Prices)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price in 1980 in the United Kingdom of foodstuffs covered by European Economic Community arrangements; what was the average world price in 1980 of the same foodstuffs; and what is the percentage difference between the two figures.

It is impossible to give a detailed reply because, for many commodities world prices are not available on a basis comparable to that on which average United Kingdom market prices are collected. I have nothing to add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 20 December 1979.

European Community (Food Levy)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current European Economic Community levy or tax on: 1 lb. of frozen New Zealand lamb, 1 lb. of frozen Australian lamb, 1 lb. of frozen Australian beef, 1 lb. of New Zealand butter, 1 lb. of New Zealand cheddar, 1 lb. of Canadian cheddar, 1 lb. of self-raising flour, 1 lb. of plain flour, and a standard hard grain wheat loaf; and what proportion this represents of current wholesale prices.

The information requested is set out below: in the case of variable levies the rates used are those applying in the second week of January 1981 and take account of MCAs; wholesale prices are estimates or averages representative of current market conditions.

Commodity	Levy or tax (pence per lb. Weight)	Per cent. of current wholesale price
Frozen New Zealand lamb	4^*	8
Frozen Australian lamb	†	†
Frozen Australian beef	13–70‡	12–65

Commodity	Levy or tax (pence per lb. Weight)	Per cent. of current wholesale price
New Zealand butter	14§	17
New Zealand cheddar	3§	4
Canadian cheddar	3§	3·5
Self-raising flour	1	12·3
Plain flour	1	9·8
Standard (800 gram) hard grain wheat loaf	≑	≑
^* Maximum levy of 10 per cent. ad valorem.
† There are currently no significant imports of Australian lamb. Maximum levy of 10 per cent. ad valorem.
‡ Frozen Australian beef is subject to both a variable levy and an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent. The figures given are approximations for representative cuts indicating the range between levy free imports and those entering at the full rate. The majority of imports enter levy free or at reduced rates of levy under special concessionary arrangements.
§ Concessionary rates.
≑ There are currently no significant imports of hard grain wheat loaves.

Northern Ireland

Operations

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about operations in Northern Ireland.

Responsibility for operations designed to counter terrorism rests with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, supported where necessary by the Army. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Antrim, South (Mr. Molyneaux) on 15 January concerning the present security position in the Province.

Suckler Calves

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now publish in the Official Report the average prices paid for suckler calves in the principal markets in Northern Ireland in each of the months of September, October, November and December in the years 1974, 1977, 1979 and 1980, showing the prices at cash and constant taking 1974 as 100.

1. New Posts
	Eastern Board		Northern Board		Southern Board		Western Board
	31 December 1979	31 December 1980	31 December 1979	31 December 1980	31 December 1979	31 December 1980	31 December 1979	31 December 1980
Senior Nursing Officers	2	1	—	2	—	—	—	—
Nursing Officers	—	6	—	—	1	2	—	—
Secretarial staff	—	—	—	—	1(PT)	—	—	—
Total cost pa	£18,500	£69,500	—	£14,144	£9,500	£15,000	—	—
2. Number of comparable posts which disappeared in the same period
One senior nursing officer post in the Northern Board disappeared in the year ended 31 December 1980 and was replaced by a nursing officer post and 1 charge nurse post. The additional cost of this replacement was £5,259 in a full year.

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

Nurses

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nurses are at present employed on nursing duties in each health and social services board area in Northern Ireland at 31 December 1980; how many there were 12 and 24 months earlier; and, of the nurses employed, how many were student nurses.

The information is as follows:

Period Ending	Total Nursing Staff	Total Student Nurses
Eastern Board
31 Dec 1978	9,641	2,666
31 Dec 1979	10,048	2,815
31 Dec 1980	10,735	2,957
Northern Board
31 Dec 1978	2,508	284
31 Dec 1979	2,663	321
31 Dec 1980	2,868	379
Southern Board
31 Dec 1978	2,779	297
31 Dec 1979	2,944	322
31 Dec 1980	3,057	332
Western Board
31 Dec 1978	2,689	598
31 Dec 1979	2,798	609
31 Dec 1980	2,756	606

Nursing And Secretarial Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many senior nursing officers, nursing officers and secretarial staff to assist them have been appointed to new posts in each of the health and social services board areas in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years or, if more convenient, the last and present financial years to 31 December 1980; what is the cost of these posts in each such year in each board area; and how many comparable posts have disappeared in the same period.

The information is as follows:

Terrorism

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the total cost of damage caused by terrorist-type activity in Northern Ireland to date in the current financial year.

Between 1 April and 31 December 1980 the Northern Ireland Office received 2,861 claims or notices of intention to claim compensation for criminal damage of which 1,341 so far have been recorded as damage caused by terrorist-type activities. It is not possible to estimate the overall cost of the damage since there is considerable lapse of time between an incident and the settlement of a claim relating to it.

Hospitals (Ward Clerks)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the hospitals in each health and social services area in Northern Ireland where ward clerks are not employed.

Ward clerks are not employed in the following hospitals:

Eastern Board

Thorne Hospital
Haypark Hospital
Malone Place Hospital
Muckamore Abbey Hospital
Musgrave Park Hospital
Shaftesbury Square Hospital
Foster Green Hospital
Purdysbum Hospital
Lissue Hospital
Killowen Hospital
Thompson House
Bangor Hospital
Crawfordsburn Hospital
Downshire Hospital
Quoile Hospital
Hardy Greer House

Western Board

Derg Valley Hospital
Gransha Hospital
Roe Valley Hospital
Strabane Hospital
St. Columb's Hospital
Waterside Hospital
Stradreagh Complex for the Mentally Handicapped
Omagh General Hospital
Tyrone County Hospital
Tyrone and Fermagh Hospital
County Hospital, Enniskillen

Southern Board

South Tyrone Hospital
Banbridge Hospital
St. Luke's Hospital
Tower Hill Hospital
Armagh City Hospital
Moira Hospital
Bannvale Hospital
Newry General Hospital
Mourne Hospital

Northern Board

Waveney Hospital
Braid Valley Hospital

Ballymena Cottage Hospital
Massereene Hospital
Peter Stott Martin House
Holywell Hospital
Route Hospital
Hopefield Hospital
Cushendall Hospital
Robinson Memorial Hospital
Dalriada Hospital
Mary Rankin Hospital
Ratheane Hospital
Moyle Hospital
Smiley Hospital
Carrickfergus Hospital
Sir Thomas and Lady Edith Dixon Hospital
Mid-Ulster Hospital
Whiteabbey Hospital
Greenisland Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many ward clerks are currently employed by each health and social services board in Northern Ireland; how many there were 12 months earlier; and what is the projection for January 1982.

The total number of ward clerks, currently employed by each of the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland, together with the numbers employed on 31 December 1979 and a projection for 1 January 1982 is as follows:

	31 December 1980	31 December 1979	Projection for 1 January 1982
Eastern Board	128	131	128
Western Board	7	7	7
Southern Board	21	21	23
Northern Board	2	2	2

Seasonal Workers (Unemployment Benefit)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will indicate the present number of seasonal workers in Northern Ireland who are excluded from receiving unemployment benefit; if the seasonal workers so excluded include persons who normally work for three months, six months and nine months, respectively, in each year; and what was the number of seasonal workers registered as unemployed in December 1979 and December 1978.

The information asked for is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Consultant Posts

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the consultant posts vacant in each health and social services board area in Northern Ireland at 31 December 1980 and indicate those posts that have been vacant for a period of more than six months.

The information is as follows:

Consultant Posts Vacant at 31 December 1980
Speciality	Location	Whether vacant more than 6 months
Eastern Health and Social Services Board
Anaesthetics	1. Royal Victoria Hospital	Yes
	2. Royal Maternity/Royal Victoria/Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children	Yes
	3. Musgrave Park Hospital	Yes
	4. Mater Infirmorum Hospital	No
Chest Medicine	5. Malone Road Chest Clinic	Yes
	6. Malone Road Chest Clinic/Whiteabbey Hospital	No
Dermatology	7. Ulster/Ards/Downe Hospitals	Yes
Geriatrics	8. Ulster Hospital^*	Yes
	9. Royal Victoria Hospital	Yes
	10. Royal Victoria Hospital	Yes
Nephrology	11. Royal Victoria/Belfast City Hospital	Yes
Ophthalmology	12. Ards/Bangor Hospitals	No
Paediatrics	13. Belfast City Hospital	Yes
	14. Royal Maternity/Lagan Valley/Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children^*	Yes
	15. Ulster Hospital Pathology	Yes
Pathology	16. Belfast City Hospital	Yes
	17. Belfast City Hospital^*	Yes
	18. Royal Victoria Hospital	Yes
	19. Mater Infirmorum Hospital^*	Yes
	20. Ulster Hospital	Yes
	21. Blood transfusion Service	Yes
Psychiatry	22. Mater Infirmorum Hospital	Yes
	23. Killowen/Purdysburn Hospital	Yes
	24. Windsor House	Yes
	25. Downshire Hospital	Yes
Radiology	26. Belfast City Hospital	Yes
	27. Royal Victoria Hospital^*	Yes
	28. Royal Victoria Hospital	Yes
	29. Mater Infirmorum Hospital^*	Yes
Radiotherapy	30. Belvoir Park Hospital	Yes
	31. Belvoir Park Hospital	Yes
Rheumatology and Rehabilitation	32. Royal Victoria Hospital	Yes
Special Care	33. Muckamore Abbey	Yes
	34. Muckamore Abbey	Yes
Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery	35. Royal Victoria/Forster Green Hospitals	Yes
	36. Royal Victoria Hospital	Yes
Venereology	37. Royal Victoria Hospital	Yes
Northern Health and Social Services Board
Anaesthetics	1. Waveney Hospital	Yes
	2. Route Hospital	No
Dermatology	3. Massereene Hospital et al	Yes
	4. Massereene Hospital et al	Yes
ENT Surgery	5. Waveney/Mid-Ulster Hospital	Yes
General Medicine	6. Massereene/Moyle Hospitals	Yes
Geriatrics	7. Moyle Hospital	Yes
	8. Coleraine/Route Hospitals	Yes
Obstetrics and Gynaecology	9. Coleraine/Route Hospitals	Yes
Paediatrics	10. Waveney Hospital et al	Yes
Pathology	11. Waveney Hospital	Yes
	12. Waveney Hospital	Yes
	13. Whiteabbey Hospital^*	Yes
Radiology	14. Whiteabbey Hospital	Yes
	15. Waveney/Massereene/Mid-Ulster Hospitals	Yes
	16. Coleraine/Route Hospitals	Yes
	17. Coleraine/Route Hospitals	Yes
Southern Health and Social Services Board
Accident and Emergency	1. Craigavon Area Hospital^*	Yes
Geriatrics	2. South Tyrone Hospital	Yes
	3. Daisy Hill Hospital	Yes
Paediatrics	4. Craigavon/Daisy Hill Hospitals	Yes
Pathology	5. Craigavon Area Hospital	Yes
	6. South Tyrone	Yes
Radiology	7. Craigavon Area Hospital	Yes
	8. Craigavon Area/Daisy Hill Hospitals^*	Yes
Western Health and Social Services Board
Chest Medicine	1. Erne Hospital	Yes
General Medicine	2. Tyrone County Hospital	Yes
Ophthalmology	3. Altnagelvin Hospital^*	Yes
Pathology	4. Altnagelvin Hospital	Yes
Psychiatry	5. Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital	Yes
	6. Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital	Yes
	7. Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital	Yes
	8. Gransha Hospitals	Yes
Radiology	9. Tyrone County/Erne Hospitals	Yes

Speciality	Location	Whether vacant more than 6 months
	10. Altnagelvin Hospital	Yes
	11. Altnagelvin Hospital^*	Yes
Special Care	12. Stradreagh Hospital	Yes
*indicates Locum in post.

Public Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the expected level of public expenditure per head in Northern Ireland; how much it is per head for the cities of Belfast and Londonderry, respectively, for the current financial year; and what were the figures for each of the last two years.

Northern Ireland public expenditure per capita for 1978–79 and 1979–80 was £1,380 and £1,590 respectively—at outturn prices. Per capita spending in 1980–81 is expected to be about 1,750—at forecast outturn prices.

The information on public expenditure per capita to Belfast and Londonderry is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Prisoners (Political Status)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what occasion or occasions, and in what terms, any indication was given at any time on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to persons convicted of crimes committed before March 1976 that they would continue to enjoy political status in Her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland indefinitely.

I shall reply to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

Volume 997: debated on Tuesday 20 January 1981

Written Answers To Questions

Overseas Development

Development Divisions

Trade

Cargo Sharing

Manufactured Goods

Ball Bearing Industry

Textile Industry

Employment

Unemployment Statistics

Companies (Registrations And Closures)

Companies (Registrations And Deregistrations)

Paper Industry

Small Businesses

Youth Opportunities Programme

Disabled Persons

Redundancies

Companies (Disclosure Of Information)

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Rate Support Grant

Edge Hill

Cardigan

Departmental Co-Operation

Company Directors (Loss Of Office)

Home Defence

Science Research Council

Home Department

Citizens Band Radio

Police (Radio And Television Broadcasts)

Cumbria (Electoral Divisions)

Civil Defence

Vietnamese Refugees

Scotland

Glasgow Royal Infirmary

Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital

Employment Transfer Scheme (Cumbernauld)

Rate Income

Wales

Rates Income

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Nuclear Weapons

European Court Of Human Rights

Transport

Transport Infrastructure (South Yorkshire)

Roadside Trading

Driving Tests (Eyesight Test)

Heavy Goods Vehicle Testing Stations

Seaspeed Hovercraft

Public Service Vehicles

M25 Motorway

Road Maintenance

Environment

Planning Authorities

Commercial Water Charges

Rent Assessment Panels

Urban Deprivation

Housing (Pimlico)

Kielder Reservoir

South Holland District Council

Local Authority Statistics

Rates

Departmental Land, Christchurch

Liverpool (Ministerial Visit)

Enterprise Zones

Energy

Chemical Industry (Energy Charges)

Domestic Gas (Standing Charges)

North Sea Gathering Pipeline

Domestic Gas Appliances

Brent Field

Domestic Electricity Supplies (Disconnections)

Energy Conservation And Fuel Switching

Fuel Reprocessing Plant (Cap La Hague)

Defence

Defence Expenditure

Cruise Missiles

Royal Naval Ships (Operation Efficiency)

Chemical Warfare