asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish a table in the Official Report showing in which sectors exports are (a) increasing in volume and (b) increasing their share of world trade in volume by reference to 1979 and 1978, respectively; and if, for these sectors, he will indicate the proportion of total exports covered and provide figures of actual volume where available to substantiate his case, particularly as regards manufactured goods.

The information requested, by broad commodity group, in respect of the volume of United Kingdom exports may be derived from table 9 of the monthly press notice "The current account of the United Kingdom balance of payments" for December, and from corresponding tables in the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics. Copies of these publications are available in the House of Common Library.Estimates of the United Kingdom share of world trade in volume terms are available only for manufactured goods as a whole. The latest estimates relate to the first half of 1980 and suggest some small fall in volume share.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the evidence of danger from Indian cotton dresses, he will now make an order under the Consumer Safety Act 1978 to ban their supply immediately.

I understand that dresses made from certain Asian cotton fabric may catch fire more easily and burn more rapidly than dresses made from fabrics of comparable weight in other fibres. The hazards would be greater for long flowing dresses of the kind in question. In view of their current popularity and reports of serious accidents I felt it desirable to issue a warning to the public to take care. I do not consider that a ban on supply is called for although warning labelling might be desirable if accidents were to increase sufficiently. However, I should prefer not to anticipate the review of the flammability of clothing generally that officials are carrying out in conjunction with representatives of the textile and clothing trades and consumer organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will request the European Economic Community antidumping unit to investigate whether the sale of Japanese computer-controlled machine tools to British customers on terms which include six months or more interest-free credit constitutes dumping; and if he will make a statement.

In seeking to establish whether dumping is taking place in any particular case, the European Commission may take into account, among many other factors, the nature and duration of credit terms offered. If the machine tool industry has a complaint of dumping which it wishes to pursue, my Department's antidumping unit will be glad to give further advice and assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what grounds he has decided to transfer responsibility for trade with Yugoslavia from commercial relations and exports division 3 to division 4.

The transfer follows from a reorganisation within my department and setting up the exports to Europe branch to deal only with export promotion work. There is no change in the Government's policy over trade relations with Yugoslavia.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the main reasons for the 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 January 1981]: We are a multilateral trading nation, and differences in balances of trade with particular areas are to be expected. The composition of our trade with particular areas are to be expected. The composition of our trade with different areas varies, often considerably. Countries outside the Community provide a major market for our exports of manufacturers, while a large part of our imports from these countries consists of raw materials and fuels. It is not altogether surprising, therefore, that we have a large surplus on trade in manufactures with the non-Community countries.

asked the Prime Minister what reply she is making to the petition for the continuation of the Royal Liverpool children's hospital signed by 185,000 Liverpudlians and delivered to her in early December.

I am very well aware of the strong local feeling about the future of the Myrtle Street branch of the Royal Liverpool children's hospital. My hon. Friend the Minister for Health is keeping in close touch with the health authorities who are carrying out further studies into Liverpool's future needs for paeditric services.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will consider introducing legislation to provide for a quota of extra councillors on each local authority, elected solely by commercial ratepayers.

There are many difficulties, but the question of the so-called "business vote" is being considered as part of my right hon. Friend's review of the rating system.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to monitor the health, dental health and nutrition of children who are no longer provided with school meals.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services intends in due course to arrange for the nutritional effects of school meals arrangements in selected areas to be monitored. There are no plans to include monitoring of dental health in the study.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students are at present in teacher training colleges; and how this figure compares with each of the three preceding years.

Provisonal figures indicate that there were about 35,000 enrolments on full-time and sandwich initial teacher training courses in England and Wales at November 1980. The comparable figures for the three preceding years were:

1977	67,600
1978	50,300
1979	41,200

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list detailing the names of each school by region which has applied to join the assisted places scheme.

My right hon. and learned Friend published in October a list, by region, of the schools he had invited to join the assisted places scheme; I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. A revised list detailing the number of places schools have now agreed to offer is being prepared and I shall arrange for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member when it is published at the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 27 November, Official Report, c. 240–1, if any further examples have been brought to his attention where teachers' salaries are being paid by parental contributions; and if so, if he will give details.

No further examples have come to my Department's attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amounts have been allocated to each local education authority for 1981–82 for capital projects; and how this compares with the amounts for 1980–81 at constant prices.

Allocations of prescribed expenditure on education made to local education authorities in England under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 for the financial year 1981–82 are set out in the table below.Allocations for 1980–81 related not to actual expenditure but to the value of building work authorities were permitted to start during the year. They cannot, therefore, be compared with the 1981–82 allocations.

Education Capital Expenditure 1981–82
LEA	Total Prescribed Expenditure £s at 1981–82 outturn prices
Greater London
Barking	2,661,110
Barnet	5,101,930
Bexley	931,660
Brent	1,176,290
Bromley	1,569,940
Croydon	580,800
Ealing	1,465,310
Enfield	1,076,900
Haringey	2,403,020
Harrow	542,730
Havering	372,790
Hillingdon	1,718,730
Hounslow	1,983,460
Kingston-upon-Thames	1,314,790
Merton	712,470
Newham	3,162,790
Redbridge	545,280
Richmond-upon-Thames	1,319,670
Sutton	196,340
Waltham Forest	1,709,920
ILEA	13,560,950
Metropolitan Districts
WEST MIDLANDS
Birmingham	7,452,980
Coventry	3,755,250
Dudley	2,566,720
Sandwell	1,621,210
Solihull	198,600
Walsall	4,619,840
Wolverhampton	3,122,710
MERSEYSIDE
Knowsley	653,460
Liverpool	5,966,630
St. Helens	3,651,600
Sefton	1,250,470
Wirral	1,540,650
GREATER MANCHESTER
Bolton	3,094,690
Bury	1,707,010
Manchester	4,822,290
Oldham	1,288,890
Rochdale	1,851,440
Salford	1,651,100
Stockport	1,580,300
Tameside	2,117,770
Trafford	585,820
Wigan	3,505,190
SOUTH YORKSHIRE
Barnsley	640,220
Doncaster	1,761,460
Rotherham	1,021,400
Sheffield	3,245,200
WEST YORKSHIRE
Bradford	5,348,990

LEA	Total Prescribed Expenditure £s at 1981–82 outturn prices
Calderdale	1,340,740
Kirklees	5,638,910
Leeds	7,354,250
Wakefield	4,311,450
TYNE AND WEAR
Gateshead	682,190
Newcastle	1,997,710
North Tyneside	554,730
South Tyneside	1,870,270
Sunderland	2,567,540
Non Metropolitan Counties
Isles of Scilly	—
Avon	2,711,880
Bedfordshire	5,010,820
Berkshire	4,090,950
Buckinghamshire	7,889,040
Cambridgeshire	6,526,840
Cheshire	8,083,590
Cleveland	9,458,030
Cornwall	5,472,260
Cumbria	2,099,990
Derbyshire	8,750,830
Devon	9,287,070
Dorset	5,672,920
Durham	2,527,360
East Sussex	5,170,200
Essex	10,491,570
Gloucestershire	3,187,200
Hampshire	9,429,540
Hereford and Worcester	3,318,590
Hertfordshire	4,527,070
Humberside	5,980,330
Isle of Wight	852,900
Kent	8,816,230
Lancashire	11,246,200
Leicestershire	9,179,640
Lincolnshire	2,895,420
Norfolk	3,876,070
North Yorkshire	3,229,450
Northamptonshire	7,027,950
Northumberland	3,779,380
Nottinghamshire	6,756,130
Oxfordshire	3,185,070
Salop	3,572,820
Somerset	2,981,300
Staffordshire	11,911,690
Suffolk	5,645,820
Surrey	3,227,390
Warwickshire	1,366,380
West Sussex	2,314,940
Wiltshire	2,152,130
Total England	354,749,550

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 24 November, Official Report c. 20, if his Department has yet completed its special exercise to collect early statistics on the numbers of overseas students enrolled for the academic year 1980–81 in the maintained sector of further and higher education; if he will publish the results in the Official Report; and if he will give the figures for 1978–79 and 1979–80.

The following is the information requested:

Enrolments of overseas students in maintained, assisted and grant aided establishments of further education in England and Wales
thousands
	1978–79	1979–80	*1980–81
Advanced courses	20·2	19·9	16·6
Non advanced courses	26·4	25·7	19·1
Total enrolments	46·6	45·5	35·7
* Provisional.

The 1980–81 figures are estimates based upon a sample exercise. All the figures include students from other European Community countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the type, the tonnage of each type, the cost, and the country of origin of imported coal; if he will take steps to prevent the importation of such coal where alternative, or acceptable alternative, types are available from the mining industry of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The table below gives the information requested for the period January to November 1980, the latest period for which figures are available. It is estimated that in 1981 the level of imports will fall by about 2 million tonnes. It is for the individual coal consumer to make his own decision on where to obtain supplies, in consultation with his suppliers.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects the negotiations for the entry of Spain and Portugal into the European Economic Community to be completed.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects the negotiations for the entry of Spain and Portugal into the European Economic Community to be completed.

The entry negotiations with Portugal and Spain are well under way and are proceeding roughly in parallel. There is no formal timetable for their completion. For our part we shall work for their successful and expeditious conclusion.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he will next be attending a Heads of Government meeting of the European Economic Community; and what items are likely to be on the agenda.

The next European Council will be held on the 23 and 24 March. Such meetings are normally attended only by Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers. It is too early to say what subjects are likely to be discussed.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is satisfied with the implementation by the European Economic Community Commission of the decision of the Council of Ministers, taken on 15 January 1980 following the invasion of Afghanistan, to curb the sales of agricultural produce to the Soviet Union.

I am generally satisfied that the Commission has taken action on the sectors concerned and that it has been ready to take account of member States' views where possible. The Government's concern to ensure effective implementation of the Council decision is well known and United Kingdom views have been made plain as necessary to the Commission and other member States.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he next expects to meet the Fireign Ministers of the European Economic Community countries to discuss possible reforms of the European Economic Community.

I plan to attend the next Foreign Affairs Council which will be held on the 16 and 17 February. It is too early to say what will be on the agenda.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement on his most recent meeting with the Council of Ministers.

As I explained earlier this afternoon to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing), I am circulating in the Official Report a detailed account of the Foreign Affairs Council held on the 19 and 20 January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a separate breakdown of the figures for indictable crimes and violent robberies in England and Wales.

The total numbers of serious offences recorded by the police in England and Wales and the numbers which were of robbery are published in table 2.1 of "Criminal statistics, England and Wales, 1979"—Cmnd. 8098. Offences of robbery in which firearms were reported to have been used are given in table 3.1 of the same publication. Other details concerning the circumstances of offences are not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he can give about the volume of petitions he receives from prisoners and the proportion which he grants.

Censuses of petitions were conducted annually between 1975 and 1977 and estimated figures for those years are as follows:

	1975	1976	1977
Number of petitions (to nearest 100)	11,300	9,500	10,000
Proportion granted	21 per cent.	19 per cent.	18 per cent.

I regret that information for more recent years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken with regard to the Expenditure Committee's recommendation that the use of petitions by prisoners should be studied; and whether he will make a statement.

A preliminary study of petitions is in hand, but progress on a wider review must depend on the availability of resources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will request chief constables to organise an onslaught on crime in general and on the offence known generally as mugging on the same basis as that organised before and during the Christmas and New Year period for drink and driving investigations.

The deployment of their officers is a matter for individual chief officers to decide. We are satisfied, however, that chief officers do make special efforts, where appropriate, to deal with offences of violence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the comments of the judge at Knightsbridge Crown Court on Monday 12 January regarding the Metropolitan Police exceeding their legal authority in the case of Alan Wild and his growing of cannabis, he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the action which has or will be taken against those responsible and in order to prevent a repetition of the incident; and whether he will make a statement.

The Commissioner tells us that a misunderstanding gave rise to accounts of what happened in the particular case. The Deputy Director of Information for the Metropolitan Police has written to the press to explain that the practice of the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory, when required to examine small plants which have only seed leaves, is to allow them to grow only until sufficient leaves are present for an accurate scientific examination, and then to allow the plants to die. I understand that the plants taken from Mr. Wild were dealt with in that way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many female prisoners have been released from prison in England and Wales in each of the last five years and the current year on compassionate and/or medical grounds; of these, in each case, how many were suffering from anorexia nervosa as their principal or only complaint; and, of these, how many subsequently died as a result of that condition;(2) how many of the female prisoners released from prison in England and Wales on compassionate and medical grounds in each of the last five years and the current year were let out on licence and how many as the result of a pardon; and, in each case, how many are known to be still within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom courts;(3) if he will list the crimes for which each of the female prisoners released from prison in England and Wales in each of the last five years and the current year on compassionate and for medical grounds were convicted.

The numbers released on each ground and the offences of which the women were convicted were as follows:

Year	Medical Grounds	Other Compassionate Grounds	Offences
1977	1	—	Theft Causing grievous bodily harm
	—	1
1978	Nil	Nil
			Obtaining property or pecuniary advantage by deception
1979	1	—
	—	1	Theft Forgery; theft; handling stolen property; and soliciting.
1980	—	1
1981	Nil	Nil

All were released by the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of mercy to remit the remainder of their sentences. None was granted a free pardon or released on licence. None was suffering from anorexia nervosa. No information is available about the present whereabouts of those who may still be alive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the Home Office research unit in 1980; and whether any cut in expenditure on the unit is planned.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to questions by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 8 December 1980.—[Vol. 995, c. 461–2.]

asked the Secretery of State for the Home Department how many stops have been made in stated recent periods by police officers in specified areas in the Metropolitan Police District under, respectively, section 4 of the Vagrancy Act, section 66 of the Metropolitan Police Act, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Dangerous Drugs Act 1967 and other legislation.

We will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether a former Minister of the Crown is entitled to draw his ex-ministerial pension in addition to his full or part-time salaried appointment; and whether any incomes restrictions apply in these instances.

Former Ministers of the Crown are subject to abatement arrangements which reflect the policy for public servants explained in my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member of 1 April 1980.—[Vol. 982, c. 131–2].

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will seek to re-arrange his cash limit grants to the public services so as to ensure that ex-Ministers should not draw more than 6 per cent. of their pensions, whilst having other payments from full and part-time Government appointed employment, and that their pensions when taking private employment should be on the same basis as to all other retired pensioners on the national insurance pension basis.

No. The important considerations for abatement purposes are the relationship between the salaries in the former and the new appointments and the level of pension. On the suggested adoption of national insurance practice, I have nothing to add to my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member on 8 December 1980.—[Vol. 995, c. 450–1].

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how much of the basic State pension for a single person and for a married couple is taken into account when calculating the index-linked pension of a civil servant or a public sector employee.

Civil Service pensions are reduced on account of the basic State pension by £1·70 a year for each year of reckonable service. The reduction applies only to those who were recruited to the Civil Service on or after 1 March 1948 and it no longer applies to service given after 31 March 1980. Other public service pension schemes have been modified to produce a similar effect.

asked the Minister for Civil Service, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 24 November, Official Report column 16, if he has now finished his consideration of the review of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency's technical services; and if he will make a statement.

Consideration continues as most of the proposals in the review require further study, evaluation and consultation with departments affected. It is planned to complete this work by July.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will mark the International Year of Disabled People by taking steps to allow blind people to bring their guide dogs into the House as a right.

Guide dogs are normally admitted. If several dogs are present during Mass Lobbies, or on other busy days, arrangements have been made for handlers to take charge of the dogs at St. Stephen's Entrance.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what subjects the Foreign Secretary discussed with Arab leaders during his recent visit to the Middle East; and what was the outcome of these discussions.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what subjects the Foreign Secretary discussed with President Sadat during his recent visit to Egypt; and what was the outcome of the discussions.

My right hon. and noble Friend met King Hassan in Morocco and President Sadat in Egypt. They discussed bilateral relations and international issues, including the Arab/Israel dispute. My right hon. and noble Friend naturally explained the views of the ten and their efforts to contribute to a comprehensive peace.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made, and in what context, in the discussions between the European Economic Community President and Middle East countries involved in the Arab-Israel dispute.

Following the valuable consultations which Mr. Thorn had with all the parties concerned last summer, useful work has been done, in the framework of political co-operation, to clarify the practical implications of the principles of the Venice Declaration. Further contacts with all the parties will now be pursued by the Dutch President of the Council of Ministers. The Ten will continue their efforts to contribute to a peace settlement with vigour and determination.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the meeting between Sir John Graham, the offical of his Department responsible for Middle East affairs, and Yasser Arafat in Beirut on 2 December was authorised by him; what subjects were discussed; and what was the outcome of the meeting.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what contacts have recently been made with the leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier this afternoon to the hon. Member for East Kilbride (Dr. Miller).

asked the Lord Privy Seal what consultations he is having or proposing to have with the United States Secretary of State about a peace settlement in the Middle East.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and noble Friend will be visiting the United States from the 26 to the 28 of February for talks with the new Administration on a wide range of issues, including the Middle East.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what recent discussions he has had with other EEC Ministers about the situation in the Middle East.

The Heads of State and Government of the Nine discussed the Middle East at their meeting in Luxembourg on 2 December and issued a statement. The question of how this statement should be followed up by the president of the Council of Ministers was discussed by my right hon. and noble Friend with his European colleagues when they met in Brussels yesterday.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further measures he has taken to promote settlement in Cyprus.

The Government continue to give full support to the intercommunal talks under United Nations auspices. There have been recent contacts with the parties and with Dr. Waldheim's special representative in Cyprus.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what preparations he is making for the North-South summit in June.

Formal preparations for the meeting are in the hands of the 11 co-sponsoring countries. We are keeping in close touch with developments.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects to convene the constitutional conference to discuss the independence of Belize.

The precise date has not yet been decided.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what consideration he has given to the two proposals made by President Brezhnev in December regarding the Gulf and strategic nuclear weapons; and if he will test these offers by welcoming them and starting to negotiate.

We have studied the proposals carefully and have noted their emphasis on the principles of the nonuse of force and non-interference in the internal affairs of others. The best test of these proposals will be whether the Soviet Union withdraws its troops from Afghanistan.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made within the United Nations towards ending the illegal occupation of Namibia by South Africa.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations towards ending South Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend).

asked the Lord Privy Seal what recent discussions he has had with Mr. Dirk Mudge, chairman of the Ministers' Council, and representatives of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance which administers South-West Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mudge, and other members of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, visited the United Kingdom from 11–16 December 1980. He met my right hon. and noble Friend and myself. I had further discussions with Mr. Mudge while in Geneva to attend the recent meeting on Namibia.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is satisfied with the rate of progress of the Saudi Arabian authorities in arranging for the release of eight British nationals employed on the Arabian Elder site and who have been detained for eight months without any charge being brought against them; and if he will make a statement.

During the investigation into the death of a British employee the company's foreign staff, including nine United Kingdom nationals, were not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia. Our embassy has made representations to the Saudi authorities about the delay. Four Britons have already left and I expect our continuing action on behalf of the remainder to lead to early permission to leave for the four who seek it. Only one Briton was detained in custody; he was released after five weeks.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many individual cases were dealt with by Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff when British citizens experienced injury or other difficulty whilst abroad; and how this number compares with five, 10 and 15 years earlier.

Assistance to United Kingdom nationals in difficulty overseas is afforded mainly by consular staff. It takes a wide variety of forms but in only a few circumstances—such as those where there might be a need to contact relatives in this country—are consuls required to report to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office cases of assistance rendered. As an illustration, 5,037 cases in 1974 and 5,618 cases in 1980 were reported to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Figures for the other years requested by the hon. Member cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many representations he has now received for the withdrawal of the British Ambassador from Chile.

The Foreign and Commonwealth office has received approximately 650 representations on this subject over the past year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to future Government support for the Sea Eagle and Sky Flash missile projects, in the light of the current review of defence expenditure.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many jobs were created by overseas investment in the United Kingdom during 1979–80 and 1980–81; how many jobs were lost by British companies producing the same or similar commodities; and whether he considers that any of these jobs were lost as a result of unfair competition.

It is not possible to provide figures in precisely the form requested. We expect more than 10,000 jobs to be created in the United Kingdom as a result of inward investment projects started or firmly decided upon during 1980; the corresponding figure for 1979 was more than 7,000. Statistics for jobs gained and lost cannot be related to the production of individual commodities. Any specific allegations of deliberate unfair competition would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and the Director General of Fair Trading. It is, however, essential to remember that the British economy is an open one; firms in this country, whatever their origins, have to be able to compete in an international market place.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many civil servants in his Department are at present seconded to (a) the private and (b) the public sectors of industry; and for what periods.

As at 16 January seven civil servants from the Department of Industry were on secondment to private industry and commerce and nine were temporarily with public sector bodies. Secondment periods range from six months to four years, most being for one year or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many employees of (a) the private and (b) the public sectors of industry are at present working in his Department; and for what periods.

As at 16 January there were 15 employees from the private sector of industry and commerce working in the Department of Industry and none from the public sector. The secondment periods vary from one to six years, but the majority are of two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many civil servants in his Department have had experience of private industry; where they are employed within his Department; and if he can give comparable information with regard to the number who have had experience of the public sector.

Full historic records are not available, but from 1 January 1976 to 31 December 1980 14 civil servants from the Department of Industry have been temporarily seconded to private industry and commerce, and nine to the public sector of industry. Those who have returned to the Department are employed in a wide variety of posts. A number of the Department's staff are known to have had previous industrial experience in one or other sector before joining the Civil Service, but precise figures are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the results of his contacts with Courtaulds over the export of textile machinery.

The Department is in close contact with Courtaulds about the possibility that some regional development grant may be repayable as a result of factory closures and the subsequent sale or disposal of assets. However, details of any amounts to be repaid are a confidential matter between the company and the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the considerable delay in the payment of make-up payments to redundant steel-workers formerly employed at the British Steel Corporation Shotton works, he will urgently institute an inquiry into the reasons for the delays in paying make-up payments from the Sheffield agency office of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

No. The delays which have occurred in such cases stem from the very large number of redundancies in the steel industry in 1980. Benefits under the joint United Kingdom Government/European Community scheme are linked to previous earnings. The amounts due each week of the benefit period are assessed by the Department's agency office on the basis of information which has to be obtained from the former employer, the new employer or training establishment, and other Government Departments, as well as the steel worker concerned. The need to deal as quickly as possible with the effects of the 1980 steel redundancy programme put heavy pressure on the organisations concerned.In the case of Shotton, the steel strike early last year presented an additional obstacle in getting information on eligible redundant steel workers to the Department's agency office. To date, some £5 million has been paid in benefits to 5,865 Shotton workers and the agency is working overtime to clear outstanding payments to the remaining 217 people notified as eligible.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 20 January 1981]: Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to discuss Community financing and budgetary matters with his counterparts in the Council of Ministers and with members of the Budget Council, in particular with regard to the different financial interests of the member States.

The Finance Council, which my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer usually attends, is due to meet next on 16 February; the Budget Council, which I usually attend, is due to meet next in July, to discuss the 1982 European Community budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to amend the Value Added Tax (Competition) Order 1980 in order to include games such as bridge and chess as well as sport or physical recreation.

No. While recognising that bridge and chess may make a contribution to social life, the relief afforded by the order was necessarily limited to certain sport or physical recreation competitions only. To extend the relief into the area of games and pastimes generally would be inconsistent with the essentially broad-based nature of the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many men receive an additional personal allowance under section 14 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 on the grounds that their wives are totally incapacitated by physical or mental infirmity.

Probably about 5,000, though insufficient information is centrally available to enable a precise estimate to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what official guidance is available on the definition of "totally incapacitated by physical or mental infirmity" in section 14 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970; and if he will make a statement.

The qualifying conditions for the allowance are met when the wife is unable, as a result of total physical or mental incapacity, to look after the home and child. I see no need for official guidance beyond this, but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I will gladly look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to seek to amend section 14 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 to define the phrase "totally incapacitated by physical or mental infirmity" by reference to receipt of attendance allowance or such other social security benefit or benefits for which machinery for assessment and appeal exists; and if he will make a statement.

I see no need for such legislation, since I am not aware that the present provisions cause any difficulty to taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects publication of the 123rd report of Inland Revenue for the year ended March 1980.

I understand that the Board of Inland Revenue hopes to publish its 123rd report for the year ended 31 March 1980 in mid-February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the light of the recent price increase, what is now his estimate of the total revenue to the Exchequer in the current financial year from royalties and taxes on North Sea oil.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the effective percentage rate of stoppage, namely income tax plus national insurance, on the taxable income, after allowances, of a married householder with an average mortgage commitment earning: £4,000, £4,500, £5,000, £5,500, £6,000, £6,500, £7,000, £7,500, £8,000, £8,500, £9,000, £9,500, £10,000, £10,500, £11,000, £11,500, and £12,000 gross income as at 1st January 1980; what will be the effective percentage rate of stoppage in each case at 1 January 1981 where each earnings figure has been inflated by the rate of increase in average earnings and the quotient represents taxable income and assumes for calculation purposes only that taxable income is a similar proportion of gross income as previously; and what is the difference between the two figures.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1981, c. 626.] If I understand my hon. Friend's question correctly, married men earning £4,000 and £12,000 in September 1979 whose income increased in September 1980 in line with the increase in average earnings, would pay tax plus national insurance contributions representing the following percentages of gross earnings.

Percentage of gross earnings:
	Sept 1979	Sept 1980	Difference
	%	%	%
£4,000	15·3	17·2	1·9
£12,000	26·7	27·6	0·9

Each of the calculations assumes that mortgage interest relief is given on an outstanding mortgage of £7,100—the average for 1979.The increase in average earnings between September 1979 and September 1980 was 22·6 per cent., as measured by the monthly earnings index—0three month moving average of seasonally adjusted figures. The increase from January 1980 to January 1981 is not yet known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the revenue which would be raised by each 1 per cent. of a tax levied on bank profits.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1981, c. 627.]: The yield of any increase in the rate of tax on the profits of banks—now 52 per cent.—would depend on the level of their taxable profits at the time. If the rate had been 1 percentage point higher their additional tax payments in 1980–81 would have been roughly £10 million. This estimate covers United Kingdom banks—including discount houses—and licensed deposit takers and United Kingdom branches of overseas banks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out an index of prices of a packet of cigarettes, a bottle of whisky and a bottle of wine against an index of beer prices for the last 20 years, the index shown for beer being 1 in each year and the indices shown for cigarettes, wine and whisky being 1 in 1980.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1981, c. 656]: Following is the information, which is based on the prices already supplied to my hon. Friend.

The prices of cigarettes, wine and whisky relative to the price of beer (Beer prices = 1 and October 1980 = 1)
	Beer	Cigarettes	Wine	Whisky
(October)
1960	1·0	1·4	1·3	1·7
1961	1·0	1·4	1·3	1·7
1962	1·0	1·4	1·3	1·7
1963	1·0	1·4	1·3	1·7
1963	1·0	1·3	1·2	1·7
1964	1·0	1·4	1·3	1·7
1965	1·0	1·2	1·4	1·7
1966	1·0	1·2	1·3	1·8
1967	1·0	1·1	1·3	1·8

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

[pursuant to his reply, 20 January 1981]: I regret that information on which to base an estimate is not centrally available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many female prisoners have been released from prison in Scotland in each of the last five years and the current year on compassionate and/or medical grounds; of these, in each case how many were suffering from anorexia nervosa as their principal or only complaint; and, of these, how many subsequently died as a result of that condition;(2) how many of the female prisoners released from prison in Scotland on compassionate and on medical grounds in each of the last five years and the current year were let out on licences and how many as the result of a pardon; and, in each case, how many are known to be still within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom courts;(3) if he will list the crimes for which each of the female prisoners released from prison in Scotland in each of the last five years and the current year on compassionate and on medical grounds were convicted.

No female inmate has been released from a penal establishment in Scotland during the past five years on compassionate or on medical grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were murdered by firearms in Scotland in each of the last two years, or financial years if more convenient, to the latest available date; and, of these murders, how many were committed during armed robberies and what were the weapons used in each case.

During 1979, the latest year for which data are available, no persons were murdered by means of firearms. The one murder in 1978 in which the victim was shot was not committed during an armed robbery.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many robberies were committed in Scotland in each of the last two years or financial years if more convenient, to the latest available date, by persons armed with (a) handguns, (b) shotguns and (c) other firearms; and of the persons apprehended for these crimes, how many held firearms certificates for (i) the weapons concerned and (ii) any other firearm.

The numbers of armed robberies committed in Scotland in the two latest years for which data are available are given in the following table:

Robberies involving firearms, 1978 and 1979
	Number
Firearm involved	1978	1979
Handgun	7	14
Shotgun	10	17
Other firearms	45	56
	—	—
Total	62	87

Information on whether any of the persons apprehended for these crimes held firearms certificates is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to increase the fees for firearms certificates in Scotland in the current year.

A review of the basis of calculation of firearms fees should be completed in the spring, when the level of fees will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates, respectively, for each social class where babies were born into married households in each of the last five years.

The rates are given in the table below:

Legitimate Perinatal and Infant Mortality Rates, Social Class, Scotland, 1975–79
	Perinatal* Rate per 1,000 births live and still
Social Class	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979‡
I	13·3	14·0	10·7	14·5	10·4
II	14·1	15·0	13·9	10·9	12·2
III	20·3	16·8	17·4	14·9	13·2
IV	23·0	20·2	19·2	15·3	13·8
V	25·2	20·3	23·5	17·4	19·4
All Social Classes	19·8	17·2	17·1	14·5	13·4

	Infant† Mortality Rate per 1,000 live births
Social Class	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979‡
I	9·2	10·6	8·8	12·0	8·2
II	12·1	10·1	12·9	7·8	10·7

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report or another publication an annual progress report on the actions taken and the developments which follow such action by the area health authorities with the highest perinatal mortality and handicap rates in Scotland.

No. I am satisfied that all health boards are aware of the need to continue to seek improvements in the perinatal mortality and handicap rates. My Department commissioned a survey into perinatal deaths in Scotland in 1977; a survey of the 1979 figures is almost complete and further similar studies will be carried out for 1980 and 1981. The results of these surveys are made available to health boards and serve as valuable indicators of progress made or requiring to be made by individual boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown of his estimated figure of £60 to £160 million as being the cost of implementing the second report of the Social Services Committee on perinatal mortality and handicap; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 4 December 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will monitor the steps taken by the 30 area health authorities with the highest perinatal mortality rate to improve their rate; what action he proposes to assist such authorities; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish the response of the 30 area health authorities regarding the reasons for their high perinatal death rate; if he will publish the course of action each area health authority proposes to take; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will publish in the

A general summary of the reports from the 33 health authorities was published in October 1979 and I am not intending to publish further details of information which is now more than two years old. As Cmnd. 8084 made clear, we are not imposing from the centre instructions on how health authorities should use their resources and opportunities for improving maternity and neonatal services and, despite the importance we attach to proper monitoring, we are not deciding at this stage when and how authorities should report on progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if his Department accepts some of the responsibilities for implementing recommendation 18 of the Second Report of the Social Services Committee on perinatal mortality; what is his Department's estimate of the costs of meeting such a recommendation; if he will issue a six-monthly report on progress of this recommendation; and if he will make a statement;(2) what steps his Department is taking to implement recommendation 2 of the Second Report of the Social Services Committee on perinatal mortality; if, in view of the importance of information and education in reducing perinatal mortality, he will immediately substantially increase his figure of £375,000; and if his Department will give a six-monthly report on improvements in information and publicity on this subject;(3) if he will implement recommendation 12 of the Second Report of the Social Services Committee on perinatal mortality; what hospitals designated as regional and sub-regional perinatal centres are not fully provided with facilities for full intensive care of the mother and foetus before and during labour as well as for the baby after birth; if he will publish six-monthly reports of the equipping of such units; and if he will make a statement;(4) what progress is being made to implement recommendation 15 of the Second Report of the Social Services Committee on perinatal mortality; what priority his Department gives to the continuous recording of the foetal heart rate of all babies during labour; if he will publish six-monthly progress reports on development in this field of obstetrics; and if he will make a statement;(5) what progress is being made to implement recommendation 17 of the Second Report of the Social Services Committee on perinatal mortality; whether he accepts the three minimum recommendations given by the committee; if he is prepared to give a six-monthly progress report; and if he will make a statement;(6) what positive steps his Department is taking to implement recommendation 1 of the Second Report of the Social Services Committee on perinatal mortality; if he will make a six-monthly report of progress by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Paragraphs 66, 67, 75, 78 and 79 of Cmnd. 8084 set out the Government's views on where responsibility rests for considering the recommendations specified by the hon. Member. The Department has now issued health circular (8)13 to health authorities and has approached professional and other bodies. Paragraphs 40–41 of Cmnd. 8084 explained that we are determined not to place excessive burdens on the NHS and that it was premature to decide how and when health authorities should make reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he considers the reasons are why the United Kingdom's perinatal mortality and handicap rate is not as good as other Western countries; and if he will make a statement.

Paragraphs 17–19 of Cmnd. 8084 pointed out that, among other reasons, major congenital malformations—particularly of the nervous system—occur much more frequently in this country. Paragraph 52 referred to economic and social factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the timetable with regard to the final decision being made about the future of the Royal Liverpool children's hospital, Myrtle Street.

I am conscious of my hon. Friend's concern about the proposals made by the Liverpool area health authority (teaching) to close the Myrtle Street branch of the Royal Liverpool children's hospital at the end of the decade. A working party established by the Mersey regional health authority is currently studying the future needs of Liverpool for paediatric services and how they might be met. I shall study its report and other relevant information very carefully before making a decision. I do not expect this to be before the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has yet concluded consultations on the proposal announced on 18 January 1980, Official Report, column 892, to deduct pay-as-you-earn income tax from national insurance pensions; and what increase in staff will be required by his Department to carry out this task.

The Inland Revenue wrote to a number of representative organisations shortly after the proposals were announced, and it will be contacting them again later this year.The increase in staff required in the Department of Health and Social Security to implement the proposals will depend on such matters as the number of pensioners affected and the outcome of the detailed work on the procedures necessary, which is currently going ahead. However, as my hon. and learned Friend, the Minister of State, Treasury, made clear in his reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 18 January 1980, the increase in staff in the Department of Health and Social Security will be far outweighed by the staff savings in the Inland Revenue—[Vol. 976, c. 892.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 10 November 1980, Official Report, column 113, if he has received the conclusions of the Committee on Gynaecological Cytology following its review of routine cervical screening policy; if he will publish these; and if he will make a statement.

We have not yet received the committee's conclusions. When we do so, my hon. Friend will be able to decide what further action, including publicity, would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North-East on 3 November, Official Report, column 471, if he has yet completed his review of the household duties test for non-contributory invalidity pension for married women; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Prentice) the former Minister for Social Security gave the hon. Member on 3 November.