asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will detail the plans he has for improving the net income of farmers in Northern Ireland in the current financial year.

I am still considering representations made to me by the leaders of the Ulster Farmers Union when they came to see me on this subject on 15 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he intends taking to reduce unemployment in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of people in Northern Ireland is unemployed, compared with the percentage in the rest of the United Kingdom, as at January 1981.

On 15 January 1981, 17·2 percent. of the working population were registered as unemployed in Northern Ireland compared to 9·8 per cent. in Great Britain.I refer hon. Members to the statement which I made in the House on 15 January. I made it clear then that the Government were already taking positive steps to reduce unemployment through the promotion of jobs and to assist the unemployed in the short term through our special employment programmes, but that the real solution lay in the determined pursuit of national policies which will provide the necessary sound industrial base for the Province's economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what number of male prisoners additional new accommodation will be provided in Her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland in each of the next two years.

200 additional new cells at Magilligan will be available for use by May 1981 and a further 450 are expected to be ready at Maghaberry in the autumn of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been lost in the construction industry from 1 July 1980 until the present time in Northern Ireland.

The information is not available in the form requested. But the number of people unemployed in the construction industry has risen from 15,274 on 5 July 1980 to 23,257 on 15 January 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied with the security co-operation between the security forces in Northern Ireland and the security forces in the South.

Yes. Co-ordination and co-operation between the forces of law and order on both sides of the border continue to be good, but those responsible are continuously looking for means of further improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the security of the border areas of Northern Ireland.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what involvement his Department has in the determination of who those persons in Northern Ireland are who receive special security protection.

It is a matter for the Chief Constable to decide who should receive special security protection.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement with the Euroweld firm in East Belfast; and what prospects for his work force he foresees.

My officials have been exploring with the receiver ways in which the company might continue trading under his direction. It is not possible at this early stage of the receivership to assess the long-term prospect for employment in the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the De Lorean Car Company Ltd.

I understand that series production of the car has commenced, that the company is now employing 880 persons and that the sales launch will take place in the United States of America in April 1981.With regard to the company's recent application for government assistance I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has so far been made in Northern Ireland in implementing proposals for the introduction of a dog warden scheme financed by increased licence fees.

A proposal for a draft Order in Council to enable the implementation of a dog control scheme will be published soon as a basis for consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences against prison discipline were reported during the last three months of (a) 1979 and (b) 1980; and what, in each case, was the total remission forfeited as a result of these offences.

Information is not available in the form requested. However, between 1 October 1979 and 31 December 1979, 14,857 offences against discipline were punished in prison department establishments in England and Wales and 5,280 punishments of forfeiture of remission were awarded. Information on the amount of remission lost was not collected centrally. Information for 1980 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles were held in (a) prisons and (b) remand centres on 30 June 1980; in which establishments they were held; and what was the breakdown of their ages, the offences with which they were charged and the length of time for which they had been in custody.

The information which can be made available without disproportionate cost is given in the following tables. Information on the offences with which unsentenced prisoners are charged is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislative or other action would be required (a) to alter the amount of remission to which prisoners are entitled and (b) to introduce a conditional release scheme of the kind which operates in Northern Ireland.

A change in the level of remission could be effected by ameending the Prison Rules 1964. The statutory instrument would be subject to negative resolution. The introduction of a conditional release scheme as operated in Northern Ireland would require primary legislation and major changes to the parole scheme would also be necessary. Both measures would involve the recalculation of most sentences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were being held in Brixton prison, unconvicted but on remand awaiting trial, on the date when the three prisoners escaped last December; what offences these unconvicted prisoners had been charged with; and how many had been held in the prison for six months or more.

; On 16 December 1980 about 450 persons were in Brixton prison on remand awaiting trial. It is estimated that about 80 of them were first remanded in custody six months or more earlier; some may have spent some of the intervening time on bail. Information on the offences with which remand prisoners are charged is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will study the judgment of the Recorder of Belfast, in which he expressed the view that citizens band radios are of great assistance to terrorists; and if he will make a statement on this aspect of their use.

All radio equipment—whether its use is licensed or unlicensed—can be misused. The introduction of a legalised open channel service will not represent any additional risk to public security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to include a section on security in any future Government publication regarding citizens band radios.

We have no plans to issue any further discussion document on open channel radio. When the service is introduced we will consider publishing a simple code of conduct to act as a guide to users on the proper use of the facility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the National Union of Licensed Victuallers concerning an increase in the amount of prize money that can be paid out by amusement with prizes machines in public houses; and if he will make a statement.

I received a document prepared jointly by the National Union of Licensed Victuallers, the Brewers' Society and the Scottish Licensed Trade urging that the maximum prize on amusement with prizes machines in public houses be increased from £1 to £10. This proposal is being taken into account in my consideration of the recommendation by the Royal Commission on gambling for a change in the prize structure for amusement with prizes machines. In the meantime, I have made an order increasing to £2 the maximum prize on all amusement with prizes machines, including those in public houses. The purpose of this increase, which comes into effect on 16 February, is to maintain the real value of prizes available on these machines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the last year for which figures are available, how many women have received prison sentences for soliciting.

Information on the number of females proceeded against at magistrates's courts for offences of prostitution, nearly all of which were offences of

"loitering or soliciting in a public place for the purposes of prostitution"

"loitering or soliciting in a public place for the purposes of prostitution".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the weekly cost of keeping a woman in prison.

During the financial year 1979–80, the average cost of keeping a female in custody was £164 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Commonwealth countries determine (a) who their nationals are, and (b) how nationality is passed on from one generation to the next, according to (i) the jus soli principle, and (ii) the jus sanguinis principle; and if he will publish a list of such countries in the Official Report.

It is understood that the following Commonwealth countries adopt the principle of jus soli and confer citizenship automatically on everyone born within their territory except for the children of diplomats and enemy aliens:

• Australia,
• Bangladesh,
• Barbados,
• Botswana,
• Canada,
• Dominica,
• Fiji,
• The Gambia,
• Grenada,
• Guyana,
• India,
• Jamaica,
• Kenya,
• Malta,
• Mauritius,
• New Zealand,
• St. Lucia,
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
• Seychelles,
• Tanzania,
• Trinidad and Tobago,
• Tuvalu,
• Zimbabwe.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide early support to the poultry industry in order to salvage the buildings now in need of repair and replacement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 28 January—[Vol. 997, c. 478]—announcing a £2 million contribution by the Government towards poultry meat inspection costs. No other aid schemes to the poultry industry are currently under consideration. Projects meeting the appropriate criteria may qualify for regional selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) households without children, (b) two-parent families and (c) one-parent families in Wales are entitled to, and receiving, rent rebates, rent allowances and rate rebates.

The information is not available in the form requested. However, in the last week of March 1980 there were 132,180 households receiving rent rebates and 24,825 receiving rent allowances; in the financial year 1979–80, 137,465 households received rate rebates.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out on a consistent price basis in volume terms, the housing investment programme allocations to Welsh local authorities for 1978∓79 and 1979–80, both before and after their revision, 1980–81 and 1981–82, and the total provision for housing capital spending for 1981–82 including estimated capital receipts.

For the period 1978?–79 to 1980–81 housing finance allocations have covered a different range of activities in each year. Consequently, there has been no common basis between the years. It would not therefore, be possible, except at disproportionate cost, to bring them to a common and meaningful price basis.For 1981–82, each distict council in Wales has received a single capital expenditure allocation for all its services including housing, which it is free to use as it sees fit.The total provision for housing capital spending in 1981–82 including capital receipts is £86·4 million at 1980 survey prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many housing starts were made for each quarter in 1979 and 1980 in Wales; and how many houses were completed for each quarter in 1979 and 1980.

The figures—which cover both public and private sectors—are given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which local authorities in Wales have applied for houses to be exempted as old people's dwellings from the sale of council house procedures of the Housing Act; and how many houses in each local authority are involved.

52 applications have been received from 16 Welsh local authorities as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish a consultative paper on the role and membership of community health councils in Wales.

The document "Community Health Councils in Wales: a Consultative Paper on Role and Membership" has been published today, and copies are being sent to a wide range of interested bodies. I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

asked to the Lord Privy Seal if he will make urgent representations to the President of Malawi to secure either the release or the trial of those Britons who have been held without trial in that country for considerable periods; and if he will make a statement.

The only United Kingdom national in custody in Malawi was tried and convicted of theft in April 1980. Seven other British residents have been charged with offences. I have already made representations at the highest possible level about bringing promptly to trial six of them charged with fraud. Two cases have been heard, but verdicts are awaited. Two are due for trial on 23 February and the others are due to follow soon. We continue to keep the situation under close review, and to press the authorities for speedy completion of the cases.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report in tabular form the number of inhabitants, according to the latest available information, of the following British dependent territories: the Colonies of Anguilla, Belize, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands and Dependencies, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, St. Helena and Dependencies, the Sovereign Base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Turks and Caicos Islands and the Virgin Islands.

The latest estimated population figures of the United Kigdom dependent territories are as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report in tabular form the number of inhabitants, according to the latest available information, of the following British dependent territories which are associated States: Antigua, St. Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla.

The latest available figures are:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Sciencewhat canteen facilities are available to headquarters staff of his Department.

A restaurant operated by the Civil Service Catering Organisation provides self-service luncheon facilities and a take-away snack service to the headquarters staff of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to compensate teachers in colleges of education made redundant between 1 April 1979 and 31 August 1980 by basing their redundancy pay on the salaries recommended by the Clegg Commission; and whether he will make a statement.

The Colleges of Education (Compensation) Regulations 1975 provide for three types of compensation: resettlement compensation, long-term compensation and retirement compensation. Resettlement and long-term compensation are calculated in relation to the actual loss or diminution suffered in emoluments and will therefore not be related, before 1 September 1980, to rates of pay that became operative only from that date. In so far as retirement compensation is calculated by reference to "average salary" within the meaning of the Teachers' Superannuation Regulations 1976, it will be increased as a result of the decision to apply the staged increases agreed in the Burnham committees for 1979–80 as notional salaries from 1 April 1979, for pensions purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to his statement on 4 February concerning the future and expenditure of the Inner London Education Authority, he will now list those items of expenditure which he believes can be omitted from the spending in the next financial year which will not prejudice the good service of that authority, and give for each item the related percentage of expenditure for the year 1980–81.

In 1979–80 unit costs in the Inner London Education Authority's schools were more than 50 per cent. greater than the national average and upwards of 25 per cent. greater than those of other comparable urban areas. It is for the authority itself to determine where reductions in expenditure can best be made without damaging the quality of the service. I hope that it will take into account both the savings in buildings and staffing which are possible, in inner London as in other areas, because of falling school rolls and the "disturbing examples of waste and inefficiency" identified in the recent report by Her Majesty's inspectors "Educational Provision by the Inner London Education Authority".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made on the review for the provision of youth announced on 7 July 1980: and whether he intends to publish its findings.

My right hon. and learned Friend announced the setting up of the review group on the youth service on 19 January—[Vol. 997, c. 75]—and I was present at the first meeting of the group on 2 February. My right hon. and learned Friend will consider the question of publication when the group has reported to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure the continued availability of the Victoria and Albert museum slide library; and if he will make a statement.

I intend to ensure the continuation of the slide service and I am considering ways of doing so. I shall make an announcement as soon as I can.

asked the Attorney-General (1) when the results of the survey his office intends to conduct in early 1981 of judicial statistics relating to maintenance orders in England and Wales will be available to the public;(2) what are the details of the survey that his office intends to conduct in early 1981 of judicial statistics relating to maintenance orders in England and Wales; and whether he will ensure that the survey identifies (a) for each child involved and (b) for each spouse involved, the number of orders made and the amounts of maintenance payable at levels of (

Such a survey would be a matter for the Lord Chancellor. He has no plans to conduct one.

asked the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to ensure that the growing need for detailed and up-to-date statistical information on the financial consequences of divorce for parents and children is being satisfactorily met.

A review of the statistical requirements of the Lord Chancellor's Department is in hand and will include consideration of the information required in connection with divorce.

asked the Attorney-General, in the light of the level of legal costs incurred to public funds during the past 12 months, what action he has taken or intends taking to reduce these costs; and whether he will limit such increases as may occur to the Government's 6 per cent. cash levels.

Legal costs are subject to control and the provision for expenditure on legal services payable from public funds must reflect the Government's policy on public expenditure generally.

asked the Attorney-General what proportion of judgments requiring enforcement have not been enforced six months after they could have been enforced in the case of (a) High Court judgments and (b) county court judgments, taking the most convenient date.

The information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 12 February.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher).

asked the Prime Minister what specific objectives Her Majesty's Government will set themselves during the forthcoming period July to December when the United Kingdom assumes the Presidency of the European Community's Council of Ministers.

The Government's general objective during our Presidency will be to manage business efficiently and to contribute to the development of practical and constructive policies in the Community. It is too early to say what specific objectives we will have, but one of our main aims will be to ensure that the Community tackles effectively the restructuring of the Community budget under the agreement of 30 May 1980.

asked the Prime Minister what joint studies commissioned after her meeting with the Taoiseach in Dublin have been set up; and whether she will make a statement on the implementation of the communique of 8 December 1980.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 2 February, to the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. Robinson).

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the accountability of nationalised industries.

The nationalised industries are accountable to sponsoring Ministers who in turn are answerable to Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet the general council of the Trades Union Congress.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government, in concert with the four other Western Powers in the contact group, intend to make a further demarche to South Africa regarding the future of Namibia, following the collapse of the United Nations conference in Geneva and the unsatisfactory progress in achieving a ceasefire.

As I told the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) on 3 February, we are anxious to try to bring about a settlement in Namibia and I look forward to discussing the subject with President Reagan when I visit Washington from 25/28 February.

asked the Prime Minister what proposals she has to improve the effectiveness and accountability of government in Wales.

Our general policy is to increase the effectiveness of government by removing unnecessary intervention from the centre. We have already reduced the number of bureaucratic controls over local government in Wales and will continue to do so. The same approach applies to other public bodies. The Government are already fully accountable to Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government are committed to work for a full economic and political union of EEC States democratically controlled by a directly elected Parliament.

Britain is committed by the Treaty of Accession signed in 1972 to implement the provisions of the Community Treaties. The preamble of the Treaty establishing the EEC says that the signatories are

"Determined to lay the foundations of an every closer union among the peoples of Europe"

asked the Prime Minister whether she will give details of the minority of the Scott Committee who have, or have had, public service pension schemes applicable to themselves.

It is not the practice to publish details about individuals' pension arrangements; and I have every confidence in the committee's independence.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to counter the growing practice of persons who, being appointed to various public positions which imply a voluntary code of silence on matters of political controversy, nevertheless make political statements or sign political documents or who use their public offices in support of such declarations; and if she will give instructions that persons in public appointments for which Ministers are responsible should abstain from all public political activities.

No. I believe the existing guidance on political activities, which should be brought to the attention of members of public boards at the time of their appointment, is understood and observed.

asked the Prime Minister if, when she meets the President of the United States of America, she will discuss with him the international implications of the supply by the countries of the European Economic Community, including the United Kingdom, of cheap subsidised food to the Soviet Union and ther large trade and commercial agreements with that country.

I see no reason to do so. The United State Administration has welcomed the European Community's support for the grain embargo imposed after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and is aware of the British Government's consistent opposition to all subsidised food sales to the Soviet Union. While we maintain the specific economic measures against the USSR announced in January 1980, the Government believe that normal trade should in present circumstances continue on the basis of mutual advantage.

asked the Prime Minister whether, when meeting representatives of the Government of Holland, she raised the question of the dumping of fish in Great Britain by Dutch fishermen; and whether she will make a statement on these talks.

I did not discuss with the Government of the Netherlands the allegations by our fishermen of Dutch imports into the United Kingdom as the issue had already been raised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at an earlier meeting with the Dutch Minister of Fisheries who undertook to look into the allegations which the industry had made.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's intentions with regard to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on civil liability and compensation for personal injury—Cmnd. 7054–1.

The Government are considering the Royal Commission's recommendations, which range so widely over many fields of responsibility that separate consultations have been, or are being, conducted on different parts of the report. The Government will announce their conclusions on particular subjects when they are ready to do so. However, I can tell the right hon. Member that my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor intends to introduce legislation to implement some of the recommendations on damages, while my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is now considering the response to the discussion document on the review of the industrial injuries benefit scheme. The United Kingdom is also involved in constructive negotiations with her European partners on the proposed EC directive on product liability.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals are currently under discussion between his officials and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities concerning the collection of statistics on homelessness; and what is his estimate of the total saving to the central Government and of the additional cost to local government arising from the proposed changes.

My Department has invited the views of the convention on a proposal which has been under preliminary discussion in the Central and Local Government Statistical Liaison Sub-Group on Homelessness Statistics. The proposal, which stems from a review of statistical services within the Scottish Office, is to introduce a simplified aggregate return of homelessness statistics which could save the central Government about £13,000 a year. I cannot at present assess the savings or costs for local government, but I have no doubt the convention will consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange funding through the Medical Research Council to support the use of the pocket syringe for diabetic patients designed by the department of clinical physics and bio-engineering in Glasgow.

I am aware of this development, but have no reason to think that those who originated it require support from the Medical Research Council at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many outbreaks of milk-borne disease in the last 10 years have been traced to milk which was purported to be, but was not in fact, effectively pasteurised.

In Scotland, one.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each housing authority in Scotland, the estimated income from rates paid by domestic ratepayers occupying local authority housing under the following heads (a) district rates, (b) regional rates and (c) water rates.

The information for 1980–81 is contained in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for the most recent year for which figures are available the estimated income from rates paid by domestic ratepayers occupying local authority houses in each housing authority in Scotland (a) before taking into account rate rebates and (b) after taking rate rebates into account.

The information, for 1979–80, is as follows: