asked the Secretary of State for Trade what recent discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Soviet Union regarding trade links and economic matters.

Officials of my Department recently met Soviet Government representatives in Moscow to review actions under the 1975 inter-governmental programmes for economic and industrial, and scientific and technological co-operation. There have also been discussions on air and shipping services between the two countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will publish details of exports of uranium oxide reexported after processing by value and volume for the years 1978, 1979 and 1980, giving the countries of destination;

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he intends to publish a Green Paper on a new form of incorporation for small firms.

This information is not available; uranium oxides are not separately identified in the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ensure that the price undertakings given to the European Commission by East Germany, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Romania on their imported crossply and fabric-braced radial ply car tyres are published to enable the industry in the United Kingdom to undertake its own monitoring.

No. Price undertakings given to the European Commission by foreign suppliers in antidumping cases contain commercially confidential information and it would not be appropriate to publish them. They are monitored as necessary by the Commission and also by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the average landed price of crossply and radial car tyres from East Germany. Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Romania at the latest date for which figures are available; and how this compares with the figures for each of the previous four six-monthly intervals at constant prices.

The available information is as follows:

The consultative document "A New Form of Incorporation for Small Firms" is published today.The preparation of this consultative document arises from the Government's determination to do everything possible to remove unnecessary obstacles to the setting up and operation of the small business, particularly those run on a family basis. While incorporation under the Companies Acts undoubtedly brings advantages, it has been suggested that it imposes burdens which may be inappropriate on some small firms particularly in relation to their internal organisation and the disclosure of their affairs. The Government accordingly invite views on proposals for new forms of incorporation described in the Green Paper which are designed to confer the benefits of incorporation without all the requirements of the Companies Acts.The Government are looking for the widest possible informed response to the Green Paper because of the important new possibilities for small business organisation now canvassed. These would be additional to the opportunities offered by traditional companies legislation. If that response indicated that fresh legislation would be welcomed, then further consultations on the details of any changes would be undertaken

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will arrange for an exhibition relating the works of the Arts Council to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 23 February to Friday 6 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of (a) teachers and lecturers, (b) administrators and (c) other personnel employed by local education authorities in the United Kingdom in 1978, 1979 and 1980; and if he will show teachers as a percentage of the total in each year.

The numbers employed in the education service of local authorities in England and Wales were:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report details of those services and functions carried out by local education authorities in England which (a) have been eliminated and (b) have been made discretionary' since 3 May 1979.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 February 1981, c. 41]: No action has been taken since 3 May 1979 which would prohibit services or functions which local education authorities were previously empowered to carry out. The Education Act 1980 made the provision of school milk and meals discretionary, the latter subject to local education authorities providing free school meals for families receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement; and to their providing facilities free of charge for pupils to eat their food. The Act also replaced the commonly misunderstood duty imposed on local education authorities by section 8(l)(a) of the Education Act 1944 with a discretionary power to provide education for children under 5 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the reply of the chairman of the Arts Council to his letter of 9 February expressing concern about the recent cuts in grants.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 February 1981, c.31.]: I attach my letter of 10 February to the chairman of the Arts Council and the reply of 13 February.FROM THE MINISTER FOR THE ARTSRt Hon. Kenneth RobinsonChairmanArts Council of Great Britain105 PiccadillyLONDONW1 10 February 1981You will have seen the exchanges in the House of Commons on 2 February on the decisions taken by the Arts Council in respect of its 1981/82 grant. We have already had a talk about this but 1 am writing to put my views on record.The distribution of the Arts Council's grant for 1981/82 was of course settled before I assumed office. In no way would I wish to intervene in the individual decisions made by the Arts Council within the total sum available nor the strategy which lay behind them. I am however a little concerned—and this concern was reflected in the views of Members on both sides of the House—about the precipitate way in which the cuts appeared to be announced, in some cases to bodies which had evidently not clearly understood that withdrawal of Arts Council support was a possibility. Although I am aware of the circumstances, it was unfortunate that in a few cases in London the notice of withdrawal of grant reached the body in question after it had first heard the news through the media.As I indicated. I attach considerable importance to telling bodies well beforehand when the Arts Council is dissatisfied with the quality of their work to an extent which could bring into question the continuation of grant. In these circumstances I hope that in future it may be possible to ensure that they can have the maximum time to adjust and seek extra help from other sources. I am also somewhat concerned at the suggestion which has got about that the reason for the Council's action was financial, arising from the level of the grant. Your strategy, with which I certainly do not want to disagree, was partly based on other, primarily artistic, considerations, and I would welcome any move which helped to make that clear.PAUL CHANNONDear Minister,Thank you for your letter of 9 February conveying views expressed in the House about the Council's announcement of grants for 1981/82.Perhaps I can begin by referring to your last paragraph. As you know, I advised your predecessor in August that the revenue bids from the Council's clients for 1981/82 in aggregate exceeded £90 million. Our revenue bid to the Government for the lower figure of £84 million represented a proper appraisal of our clients' due needs after discounting what we had to recognise as their more unrealistic aspirations. The final revenue grant figure of £77½ million announced in December was substantially more than might have been expected given the current state of the economy and its consequences for public expenditure levels generally. At the time of the grant announcement, we warmly welcomed this response to the needs of the arts.Nevertheless, the increase in grant for the coming year remains slightly below the Government's own forecast of inflation over the period, and is appreciably below our original bid. There is no doubt that to have distributed the final sum on anything like a pro rata basis to all existing clients would have been insufficient to prevent the collapse of some companies, including some of the very best and some which are making the most vital contributions to the arts in the regions. Apart from the level of Council subsidy, the general economic situation is making it more difficult for companies to increase box office receipts; the constraints on local authorities are affecting their contributions to the arts; and some of the costs which our clients have to bear (such as travel and accommodation costs for touring companies) have been rising far more steeply than the general rate of inflation.In the case of some of the clients whose grants we are not renewing in 1981/82, our decision was based solely on dissatisfaction over a period with the quality of their work. Their subsidy would have been at risk whatever the level of the Council's grant-in-aid. But I have to say that, for the reasons I have already indicated, many of our decisions were indeed closely related to the level of grant. A principal objective of the exercise was to provide necessary margins of safety for those clients whose survival we saw as of paramount importance.Turning to what you refer to as "the precipitate way in which the cuts appeared to be announced", we were naturally concerned not to delay our announcements any longer than was absolutely necessary after the Government's own announcement of our grant-in-aid. Of course we had given the matter a great deal of thought before 9 December. For some months beforehand, the Council itself, its Finance and Policy Committee, its specialist Panels and Committees of advisers and its staff had all been reviewing clients in their respective fields with considerable care, bringing to bear in the process all the wealth of knowledge, expertise and factual information accumulated over many years from so many sources. Your letter perhaps implies a suggestion that it would have been preferable for the Council to let clients know from the outset that they were under that kind of scrutiny. The difficulty is that, until the actual grant announcement, we could not come to any firm conclusions about the number of clients for whom it would not be possible to renew grant. We had necessarily begun by making more pessimistic assumptions about the level of our grant. Had those assumptions been realised in the event, the list would have had to include far more than 41 clients, perhaps more than twice as many. If we had told all those clients that there was a possibility that their grants would not be renewed, we would have caused a great deal of needless anxiety and distress. Indeed in some cases, the news could have undermined their financial positions even in the current year and precipitated their collapse under pressure from their banks and other creditors. In our view this would not have been preferable to the course we decided to adopt.I agree that the Council has a standing obligation to tell any client when it is dissatisfied with its work, and indeed where its future grant may be at risk for whatever reason. There may have been cases in which this policy has not been adequately implemented in the past, and we shall ensure that this does not recur. But I doubt whether such a warning will necessarily soften the blow of a subsequent decision not to renew grant. Perhaps I can give you just two examples from recent history. In the case of one of the 41 clients, we have consistently and repeatedly expressed over recent years our grave concern about crucial aspects of the company's affairs; and yet the company's administrator expressed total astonishment when the Council decided not to renew grant. The case of the National Youth Theatre, where the Council decided not to renew grant for either the amateur or the professional sides of the company's work, provides another illustration. Only this week, the company's Director has made clear in a letter to

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the work of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.

The work of the board is described in its annual reports, of which the most recent is Cmnd. 7942, published in June 1980.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the removal of hedges and the support given by his Department for the continuation of this policy.

My Department does not grant-aid hedge removal, and has not done so since 1976, except where it is necessary for the proper functioning of a field drainage scheme. We do, however, grant-aid the provision, replacement and layering of hedges.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of miles of hedgerows forming boundaries of or within farms which have been removed during the last 10 years.

Decisions about the removal of hedges are made by individual farmers and the work does not generally qualify for grant-aid. Consequently, I have no basis on which to estimate the length of hedgerows which have been removed in the last 10 years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the expected 1981 yield of home-grown sugar; what is the current acreage of the crop; and if he will make a statement about the future of the sugar beet industry in the United Kingdom.

I understand that the British Sugar Corporation expects to contract for about 210,000 hectares in 1981. Depending on weather conditions, the yield of sugar should be in line with the maximum quota of 1·15 million tonnes which I have indicated I would accept in the negotiations on a revised Community sugar regime. This quota will give the industry the opportunity to supply about half of the United Kingdom market, most of the remainder being supplied by cane sugar.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it remains his policy to maintain the value of the green pound at its present level.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the trend of milk production revealed in the White Paper "Annual Agricultural Review 1981".

The White Paper revealed that milk production in 1980 increased slightly over its level in the previous year. I regard that as satisfactory, given the difficulties currently facing our dairy farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the competitive position of the United Kingdom poultry industry.

No. This is why we are pressing the Commission to prepare proposals for harmonising hygiene inspection and charging arrangements throughout the Community and to investigate French action on State aid. As regards competition with third countries, the Commission has now tabled proposals for some increases in sluicegate prices. Meantime, my right hon. Friend has announced assistance of up to £2 million towards the cost of poultrymeat inspection in the current financial year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what ways the Apple and Pear Development Council has improved the promotion of United Kingdom production.

Since I reorganised the Apple and Pear Development Council in May last year it has launched a television advertising campaign, increased its general publicity activity and introduced the kingdom scheme for promoting the marketing of British apples. Thanks to the council's efforts, both traders and consumers have been reawakened to the merits of British apples and pears.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution the Potato Marketing Board has made to improving the standard of ware potatoes on the United Kingdom market.

The Potato Marketing Board lays down and enforces quality standards for home-grown ware potatoes. The initial results of a current ADAS investigation into the quality of ware potatoes at wholesale markets indicate that only about a quarter of supplies are meeting the board's standard. The board and ADAS are together examining ways of minimising mechanical damage, which has been the major fault found so far in this season's crop. It is important that progress be made in this area if our producers are to compete effectively with imports and improve their own returns.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the recent dispute affecting English fishing ports.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friends the Members for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and for Folkestone and Hythe (Sir A. Costain) earlier today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with forestry interests regarding the interaction of forestry with other land use interests.

The Forestry Commission, under arrangements agreed with Forestry Ministers, consults other land use interests both in regard to its own operations and those of private owners carried out under its grant-aid schemes. These consultative procedures are designed to ensure that forestry forms part of an effective pattern of rural land use, and experience to date suggests they have had a good measure of success.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will have discussions with his EEC colleagues at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers on a revised quota for cane sugar imports.

No. The quotas for cane sugar imports from the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries agreed in 1975 under protocol 3 of the Lome convention are of indefinite duration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the present state of the agriculture industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the outcome of the survey of farm incomes in the United Kingdom as shown in the White Paper "Annual Review of Agriculture, 1981".

The White Paper on the 1981 annual review of agriculture included some encouraging figures of output and some discouraging income figures. I keep the position under close review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the present profitability of agriculture.

An assessment of profitability, in a strictly denned sense, is not available for agriculture in the United Kingdom. However, the White Paper on the 1981 annual review of agriculture contained a forecast of farming income in 1980. It is too early to make a forecast for 1981.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the Cream Regulations S.I., 1970 No. 752. which specify the minimum fat content of double and single cream, are working satisfactorily.

We have received representations from the trade suggesting that the cream regulations are in need of amendment to take account of recent technological developments in the manufacture of cream. Accordingly, we have asked the Food Standards Committee to review the current regulations and we await its report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects to reach agreement with his European Economic Community counterparts on a common fisheries policy.

This will be discussed further at the next meeting of the Fisheries Council on 9–10 March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the operation of the new European Economic Community sheepmeat regime.

Representations have come from the export trade, which is concerned about the present arrangements for clawback of variable premium on exports. We have secured certain improvements in respect of exports to third countries and will be seeking further improvements in the Commission's forthcoming review of export policy for sheepmeat.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what future he envisages for the British edible pulse production.

Processors of dried pulses are facing certain difficulties at present; however, there seems no reason to doubt the viability in general of pulse production in Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from British poultry producers about the higher costs of poultry inspection in the United Kingdom compared with the costs of similar inspection in other European Economic Community countries.

We have received a number of such representations and are continuing to seek an urgent Community solution. My Department maintains close contact with the industry and local authority associations on this question.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her public engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements on Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 February.

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

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to meet President Reagan.

I shall be meeting President Reagan in Washington next week.

asked the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the United Nations initiative in Afghanistan.

The Government supported the United Nations General Assembly resolution of 20 November, which expressed the hope that the United Nations Secretary-General would appoint a special representative. Dr. Waldheim has now appointed a personal representative to carry forward the efforts which he has been making. The Government hope that this step will help in bringing about a solution involving the complete withdrawal of Soviet troops and the freedom of the Afghan people to have a Government of their own choosing.

asked the Prime Minister if she plans to visit the European Assembly in Strasbourg.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit Maputo.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will now take steps to reduce the level of unemployment on Merseyside.

I am of course deeply concerned at the current high level of unemployment on Merseyside. A fall in unemployment on Merseyside, as in the country as a whole, depends largely upon a recovery from the present world recession and on an increase in world trade. It also depends upon our ability to control inflation and improve our international competitive position. That is what the Government's policies aim to do.As a special development area, Merseyside will continue to benefit from the full range of regional incentives at the highest levels available in Great Britain. These, together with Liverpool's designation as an inner city partnership area, an enterprise zone at Speke, an urban development corporation based on the docks and our programme of special employment and training measures, are proof of our determination to do all we can in the more immediate term to help the area.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the number of hon. Members she has seen on matters relating to factory closures since she last answered oral questions; and how many jobs are expected to be lost in the closures discussed.

I have not held any such meetings since 17 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will publish in the Official Report a list of the most important of the companies which she said, in the course of the debate on economic and industrial policy, Official Report, 5 February, c. 422, are expanding.

The Government do not as a normal rule monitor the performance of individual companies. We are none the less aware of examples of firms of varied size in many different locations which are expanding despite the world recession.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will publish in the Official Report a statement showing how the Government's policies influence employers to increase efficiency and reduce unit labour costs in cases where the firms are not overmanned and where there are no restrictive labour practices.

In difficult trading and financial circumstances all firms, including the most efficient and competitive, need to rethink their organisational and working practices, and to cut back on less efficient plant. Looking further ahead, all companies stand to benefit as inflation is further reduced and our policies bear fruit.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the methods used by Government Departments to publicise commencement orders and other secondary legislations vary from Department to Department, and that frequently such orders are not publicised, even in Her Majesty's Stationery Office lists, until after they have taken effect, if she will introduce a general procedure for the making and announcement of such orders to enable all those affected to be aware of the existence of the orders before they come into operation.

Statutory instruments are of various kinds, and are made by Departments with differing functions and in differing circumstances. The arrangements for publicising them necessarily vary according to the nature of the case. The introduction of a general procedure would not, therefore, be appropriate. But if my hon. Friend has a particular problem in mind, I should be glad if he would let me have details.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, pursuant to his reply on 27 October 1980, Official Report, c. 96–98, about the United Kingdom's budget contribution to the European Economic Community, whether the 30 May agreement specified when any refunds, due in the event of the gross contribution from the United Kingdom for 1980 exceeding the percentage share of Community gross domestic product, should actually be made; and if he will make a statement.

The 30 May agreement specifies that the refunds made under the financial mechanism should be entered in the Community's 1981 budget. The financial mechanism set up by Council regulation No. 1172/76 says in article 7 that at the request of the member State concerned, an advance equal to 75 per cent. of the provisional amount of the payment shall be paid at the beginning of the year following the year to which the payment applies. This article further provides that, after the revenue and expenditure account has been drawn up, and as soon as it has at its disposal the final data referred to in the regulation, the Commission shall calculate the final amount of the payment and determine such adjustments as may be necessary. Article 73 of the financial regulation of 31 December 1977 requires the Commission to draw up the revenue and expenditure account by 1 June.In accordance with these arrangements, we received £210·5 million under the financial mechanism on 30 January 1981, and expect to receive the balance this autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the use of military miniature rifle ranges by civilian clubs; and what are the reasons for recent substantial increases in rental charges.

Our policy is to allow civilian clubs to use Service-controlled small-bore indoor ranges when they are not required for Service purposes. To do so the clubs must be affiliated to the National Small-Bore Rifle Association, consist of at least 10 members, and be approved by the Home Office on application by the NSRA. When a civilian club uses a range its members must comply with the range standing orders.The charges for the use of Service ranges by civilian rifle clubs are to be increased following an investigation into the cost of running Service ranges. This showed that the charges previously made for the use of Service ranges bore little relationship to the cost of providing the facilities. The new charges represent less than the full cost of providing these facilities, but will recover a fair proportion of our costs, given the long-standing relationship between the Services, the NSRA and the benefits accruing to us as a result of the NSRA's activities. It is our intention to review the charges annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why firms in Dyfed that supply the Ministry of Defence are required to use imported timber rather than wood available from the nearby forests of the Forestry Commission.

I am not aware of any such stipulation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries to whose armed forces serving members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces have been seconded or are attached under any other arrangement.

The following table lists the countries where members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces are serving on loan terms, secondment or exchange, with the armed forces of other Governments:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Bahrein
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Brunei
• Canada
• Denmark
• Federal Republic of Germany
• Fiji
• France
• Ghana
• Hong Kong
• Italy
• Kuwait
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Swaziland
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America
• Zimbabwe

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries whose nationals are currently undergoing military training in the United Kingdom or with Her Majesty's Armed Forces.

Service personnel from the following countries are currently undergoing training with Her Majesty's Armed Forces either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere:

• Argentine
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Bahrein
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• Denmark
• Egypt
• Federal Republic of Germany
• Fiji
• France
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Lesotho
• Libya
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Peru
• Philippines
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• St. Vincent
• Sudan
• Swaziland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkey
• Uganda
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America
• Venezuala
• Zaire
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with regard to the sale of 116 vacant houses at RAF Dishforth since his letter on the subject to the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton dated 20 September 1979; and if he will make a statement.

132 of the 195 married quarters at RAF Dishforth are surplus to Defence requirements. Discussions are continuing between the Property Services Agency as agents for the Ministry of Defence and the Yorkshire water authority about the adoption of water and sewerage services to them, but this problem has not yet been resolved. If it can be overcome the houses will be sold.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of printing, publishing and posting his brochure on cruise missiles.

The total cost was £10,266·34.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what would be the extra cost to the Exchequer if index-linked pensions in the public sector were increased by (a) 14 percent. and (b) 8 percent. for the year 1981–82.

The cost of index-linking pensions in the nationalised industries falls on the relevant pension funds, contributions to which are not a direct charge on the Exchequer. The cost to the Exchequer in the first full year of increasing public service pensions by the stated percentages in November 1981 would be of the order of (a) £380 million, (b) £220 million. These figures cover some 1·6 million pensions, principally from the Armed Forces, the Civil Service, the National Health Service, local government, teaching and the police and fire services.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service by what average percentage of gross Civil Service wages she would have to increase the superannuation contribution if such an increase were used wholly to pay for an increase of Civil Service index-linked pensions 1 per cent. above the rate of the Civil Service pay increase.

Increases in Civil Service pay rates for 1981–82 have not yet been settled. Pay reductions in respect of Civil Service pensions are related to liabilities expected to accrue in the long term and not to the rate of inflation in any particular year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will seek to limit the pensions of all civil servants so that those already in retirement do not get increases over and above the rates payable in the same grade currently retiring.

My hon. Friend's proposals will be borne in mind in the Government's consideration of the Scott report and reactions to its analysis and findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many cases occurred in non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible, over the last 10 years, where compensation has been paid to any person who is a part-time member of the body who ceases to be a member otherwise than on the expiry of a term of office where he considered that there were special circumstances making it right that compensation should be paid; how much money was paid on each occasion; and what were the considerations in each case which caused him to make the decision to pay compensation.

As far as it is possible to ascertain, there have been no such cases in the past 10 years within my field of responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the details of contracts for the supply of uranium oxide for processing, re-export and stockpiling by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. or any other British agency.

Contracts involving BNFL, its customers and its respective suppliers are, as in most businesses, confidential to the companies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list in the Official Report the number of disconnections of (a) electricity and (b) gas for each of the regional boards for each of the last three years.

The figures for the years ending 31 December are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the present operation of the code of practice by gas and electricity boards and progress in the reviews of the code.

I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Members for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs)—[Vol. 995, c. 927–8]—and for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd)—[Vol. 995, c. 435–6]—on 8 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints he has received about the conduct of health and safety at work officers in the last 12 months.

During the 12 months to 31 January 1981 five complaints were sent to my right hon. Friend and my predecessor about the conduct of inspectors of the Health and Safey Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average weekly wage, while in work, of those persons who became unemployed during 1980.

Information on the previous earnings of those becoming unemployed is not regularly compiled. However, a special study by the Department of Health and Social Security of a sample of men registered as unemployed and claiming benefit in autumn 1978 showed that the average gross weekly wage from their last full-time job was £70. compared with average weekly earnings of all men in full-time employment in April 1978 of £86.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what levels of grant will be payable by the Manpower Services Commission to sponsors of youth opportunities programme workshops in respect of their running costs as from April 1981.

Consideration is being given to the level of grant payable from April 1981 by the Manpower Services Commission to sponsors of youth opportunities programme workshops in respect of their running costs. Details will be made public as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of approved capital costs will be payable to new sponsors of youth opportunities programme training workshops as from April 1981; and whether he considers it represents a sufficient incentive to achieve his objectives under this part of the programme.

Proposals for the reimbursement of capital costs to sponsors of training workshops in the youth opportunities programme in 1981–82 are being considered. Details will be made public as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment with whom the consultations took place about whether the upper limit for the compensatory award for unfair dismissal should be increased; and whether anyone other than employers or their organisations expressed the view that the compensatory award should remain the same as it was in February 1980.

Consultations took place in autumn 1980 with the following organisations:

• Alliance of Small Firms and Self-Employed People Ltd.
• The Association of British Chambers of Commerce
• The Association of Independent Businesses
• British Institute of Management
• British Multiple Retailers Association
• Commission for Racial Equality
• Confederation of British Industry
• Equal Opportunities Commission
• Engineering Employers' Federation
• Federation of Master Builders
• The Federation of Medium and Small Employers
• The Forum of Private Businesses
• The Industrial Society
• Institute of Directors
• The Institute of Personnel Management
• Local Authorities Conditions of Service Advisory Board
• The Managerial Professional and Staff Liaison Group
• The National Association of Head Teachers
• The National Chamber of Trade
• National Federation of Retail Newsagents
• National Federation of Self-Employed, and Small Businesses Ltd.
• The National Union of Small Shopkeepers in Great Britain
• Retail Consortium
• The Teesside Small Business Club
• Trades Union Congress
• The Union of Independent Businesses

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much he estimates that the compensatory award for unfair dismissal has diminished in true value since it was last increased in February 1980.

On the basis of the movement in the retail price index from February 1980 to December 1980, the latest month for which a figure is available, the compensatory award for unfair dismissal, which is currently £6,250, has diminished in real terms by £608.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now arrange for unfair dismissal awards to be index linked.

In the light of the present economic situation and the need to control inflation, the Government do not consider it appropriate to index awards automatically regardless of employers' ability to pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the arrangements for the safe handling of uranium oxide within the United Kingdom and at the port of origin.

Handling operations involving uranium oxide are subject in port areas to the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and at places of use additionally to the Ionising Radiations (Unsealed Radioactive Substances) Regulations 1968 or to conditions imposed by virtue of a site licence granted under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. The transport of material throughout the United Kingdom is governed by modal regulations based on the standards established by the International Atomic Energy Authority.Having regard to the low specific activity of uranium oxide and to the present scale of use I do not consider these requirements or the standard of compliance inadequate. However, new ionising radiations regulations are in preparation which will apply to the use. handling and storage of radioactive material and will unify and rationalise the stipulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what cuts in disablement resettlement officers have been recommended in the Manpower Services Commission's corporate plan.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now revise, in the light of inflation, the answer he gave to the right hon. Member for Doncaster on 18 July 1980, Official Report, c. 732, that the average cost to public funds of each unemployed coal miner is now estimated to be £6,492 during the first year of unemployment, and £5,390 during the second year of unemployment.

The average cost to public funds of each unemployed mine worker is now estimated to be £6,810 per worker during the first year of unemployment, and £5,732 during the second year of unemployment. The estimates are based on the assumption that each mine worker remains unemployed for the whole of the two-year period.

Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took his Department until 11 February to deport Mr. Peter Mollenhoff and Miss Margaret Bachtrop, both German citizens, when they had been recommended for deportation in November 1980 after having been found guilty of shoplifting and living on social security payments of £40 a week since July 1979; and whether, in future, he will act more speedily to carry out court recommendations of deportation and thus save taxpayers' money.

Before deportation orders could be signed it was necessary to wait for the expiry of the time for making an appeal against the recommendation of the court and for reports about the circumstances of the offence.After the orders were signed, representations about the case were considered, there was a right of appeal against destination, and arrangements for removal had to be made. Recommendations for deportation received from the courts are dealt with as quickly as possible, priority being given to cases where the person concerned is detained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the longest and most convenient period up to and including 1 February 1981 the number of reports of the offence known generally as mugging having occurred in the London borough of Newham; in how many cases arrests and charges have been made; to what extent the prosecutions which have ensued have proved successful; and whether he will make a statement.

We will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in establishing so-called wet shelters.

Negotiations are virtually complete towards the establishment of an overnight shelter in Birmingham to which the police might take drunkenness offenders as an alternative to arrest and prosecution. This will be in Bordesley, Birmingham B12, and the facility will be managed by the Birmingham Committee for Night Shelter. Necessary adaptations to the building are being made and staff are being recruited; it is hoped to begin operations within the next few weeks.Consultations on the establishment of a shelter in London are still continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the days in the last three years on which Brixton prison was manned at below minimum security standards.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how frequently sentenced prisoners in borstals or prisons may send and receive letters; and if he is satisfied that this is sufficient to ensure adequate contact with families and friends.

Weekly; both prisoners and borstal trainees have a statutory entitlement to one letter and postage on this is met from public funds. A second free letter is allowed to young offenders. In case of need for purposes of family welfare a governor may allow any inmate an extra free letter. In addition, all prisoners and trainees may send further letters on which they pay postage from their prison earnings; in no prison is less than one such letter allowed; in all training prisons and borstals at least two such letters are allowed. As many letters are allowed inward as outward. My right hon. Friend regards these provisions as reasonable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken or intends to take to increase the number of staff dealing with applications for registration as a British subject in the light of the provisions of the British Nationality Bill.

The explanatory and financial memorandum to the Bill refers to the provision of 45 extra staff; but the number of applications to be dealt with cannot be predicted and the need to contain public expenditure restricts the number of additional staff that can be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of applications received in each of the past 24 months for (a) registration as a British subject as of right and (b) registration under the discretionary power; and what is the number of staff dealing with such applications during each of those months.

The table below shows the total number of applications for registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies received in each of the past 24 months and the number of staff in post in the nationality division at the beginning of each of those months. In addition to applications for registration the staff deal also with applications for naturalisation and nationality inquiries. It is not possible to break down the figures for applications for registration in the way requested.Applications for registration received:

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on relations with Poland with particular reference to Polish debts and imports of food to Poland from the EEC.

We value and continue to develop our bilateral relations with Poland, which is a major trading partner as well as a country which has traditionally been close to Britain, as my right hon. Friend made clear to the House on 18 December, we are considering sympathetically Poland's request for economic assistance. We are providing £15 million credit for the purchase of food under the European Community offer. We have also offered relief on a proportion of Polish debt falling due for repayment in the first quarter of 1981 pending discussions with major creditors about the longer-term problem.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give details of schemes for voluntary repatriation of immigrants as carried out in France.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 19 January.—[Vol. 997 c. 19-20.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any assessment has been made by the United Nations or otherwise of the comparative levels of death and injury caused to non-military personnel by acts of violence by both Israeli and Palestinian action over each of the last years since the Litan's war in 1978.

Comprehensive and reliable figures of this sort are not available. The United Nations publishes no statistics on civilian casualties in South Lebanon.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those countries (a) within the Commonwealth and (b) outside the Commonwealth that permit their nationals to hold dual nationality and (c) which forbid the holding of dual nationality.

The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, some information on dual nationality is given in a House of Commons Library Paper dated 19 June 1978 and I have no reason to believe that this is out of date.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those countries where it is known that nationality may be transmitted through the female line.

I understand that the nationality law of the following countries provides for transmission through the female line: Australia, Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Dominica, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Grenada, New Zealand, Sweden, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and United States of America.

Lewis asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department sent by first-class post an unemployment benefit cheque to the value of lp to Mr. Ryan Wilkes of Kidderminster, Worcester; and what were the total cost staff and efforts to settle this debt.

I have been asked to reply.I am looking into the matter raised by the hon. Gentleman and will write to him within a week about it.