asked the Attorney-General whether he will place in the Library a copy of each submission of written observations by the Agent for the United Kingdom since 3 May 1979 pursuant to Article 20 of the Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Economic Community, and a copy of each future such submission.

It is the practice of the Court of Justice of the European Economic Communities to include in its published reports of cases before the court a summary of all written observations submitted to it pursuant to article 20 of the Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Economic Community. Copies of those reports are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade under what circumstances Samuel William and Son of Dagenham Dock ceased trading.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to Samuel Williams (Dagenham Dock) Limited. I understand that because of substantial losses the company went into creditors' voluntary liquidation on 20 November 1980.Mr. P. Monjack of 3/4 Bentinck Street, London W1A 3BA is the voluntary liquidator of the company and is responsible for the conduct of the liquidation and the realisation and distribution of the assets.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received concerning the dumping of timber from Canada in the United Kingdom; and what action he has taken.

In September 1980 I offered the help and advice of my Department's anti-dumping unit to a Scottish company which alleged dumping of sawn timber by Canadian producers but this offer has not been taken up. No other allegations of dumping have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements have been made for redundancy payments following the cessation of trading by Samuel Williams and Son of Dagenham Dock.

Statutory redundancy payments amounting to £118,700 have already been paid to 62 employees direct from the redundancy Fund in accordance with section 106 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978. A further 35 payments totalling £70,430 will be made in the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now take steps to increase the penalties levied upon employers for failing to notify him of intended redundancies and the enforcement of the rules and the penalties for their breach.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to render the Crown as liable as other employers for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act.

I have no present intention of introducing such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy of the closure of unemployment benefit offices.

As a result of an efficiency review under the guidance of Sir Derek Rayner a number of small offices were identified where savings would result from closure and transfer of signing arrangements to nearby offices. In view of the increase in unemployment since the review was carried out I have now decided to defer closure until unemployment falls except in those cases where there are strong operational grounds for closure.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will announce the result of the review of the rates of allowance payable under the job release scheme.

Following the review of the rates of allowance under the job release schemes the allowances which will apply as from 6 April 1981 are as follows:For disabled men aged 60 to 63:

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official duties for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister what are her offical engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements on 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Leighton).

asked the Prime Minister whether she will visit Walton-le-dale.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements exist for international co-ordination to implement the objectives of the United Nations Year of Disabled People; and what contribution the United Kingdom is making towards an international effort.

I have been asked to reply.The United Nations has appointed an advisory committee to propose activities at international, regional and national levels both for the year itself and for the longer term. The United Kingdom has played an active role in the work of this committee. The interested specialist bodies, including the World Health Organisation, International Labour Organisation and UNESCO are working closely with the United Nations International Year Secretariat and the advisory committee.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the number of new houses built in 1980.

I have been asked to reply.The level of new house building in 1980 should be seen against the significant expenditure by local authorities on improving their existing stock, against the extensive measures that the Government have introduced to assist private renting and low-cost home-ownership, and against the necessary steps the Government have taken to restore a sound economy which is the indispensable requirement for a sustained expansion of house building.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the administrative co-ordination between the Treasury and the Department of the Environment in examining possible alternatives to the rating system.

I have been asked to reply. Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the results of the urgent review which she announced of the finances of regional water authorities.

I have been asked to reply.Following the discussions which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services have had with the chairmen of the individual water authorities, in the light of the review, water authorities have been considering their rating levels, and we are pleased to note that they have all proposed significant reductions over those originally envisaged.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit the Government's electronic research laboratories at Baldock, Hertfordshire.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will report to the House the substance of any representations Her Majesty's Government are making to South Africa on the question of Namibia.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs are presently in Washington and will be discussing the future of the Namibia negotiations with the United States Government. In the light of these discussions, and of the further consideration which we hope all concerned are undertaking, we shall see what further contacts may be necessary.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the relationship between strikes and unemployment.

I have been asked to reply.Strikes are bound to have an adverse effect on competitiveness which in many cases leads to losses of jobs and sometimes ultimately to closures. There is little doubt, for example, that the recent seamen's dispute will result in job losses in the United Kingdom fleet.

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 been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend has held no such meetings since 24 February.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the results of the trials of word processors recently conducted by his Department; and what action he is taking.

A range of stand-alone word processors with displays were tested in Government Departments and a copy of the report has been placed in the Library. The trials have shown that the machines are a significant aid to efficiency where staff are carefully selected and trained and where the machines are used for appropriate work, mainly the preparation of reports and letters using standard paragraphs. It is, however, also clear that the use of these machines will not be cost-effective if they are introduced over the full range of typing work. I have, therefore, asked Departments to look for appropriate and cost-effective applications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, as a matter of urgency, he will take steps to allow greater power of sentencing to magistrates dealing with young offenders, particularly when offences of vandalism are concerned.

The Government's proposals for legislation to strengthen the sentencing powers of the courts to deal with young offenders are set out in the recent White Paper on young offenders—Cmnd. 8045. My right hon. Friend will take full account of the views of my hon. Friend and others on the urgency of the need for such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now reached a decision on the introduction of a legal citizens band service.

After careful consideration I have decided to permit a 27 MHz FM citizens band service, provided that the equipment meets the standards we shall set. The 27 MHz AM equipment currently used in this country will remain illegal. Further evaluation of 930 MHz equipment has confirmed that this should provide a good service with minimum risk of interference, and accordingly I shall also be making available a frequency band around 930 MHz. Users will be required to hold a licence which will permit the use of both types of equipment, and which will be renewable annually. Consultations are taking place with the Post Office with a view of their issuing licences on my behalf.It will now be necessary to discuss draft equipment specifications with manufacturers, to seek the advice of the statutory Advisory Committee under section 10 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 on the technical requirements to ensure the minimum of interference, and to reflect the outcome of this in regulations setting equipment standards to which manufacturers, importers and assemblers will have to conform. Arrangements will also have to be made for the setting up of the licensing system. The adoption of a frequency in the 27 MHz range may affect existing authorised users of this band, and the implications for them are being taken into account in the detailed planning.I hope to be able to introduce this authorised service by early autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been, in respect of penal establishments, (a) the total number of attempted escapes, (b) the total number of successful escapes and the security category of each prisoner escaping, and (c) the number of occasions during the period where the censorship of prisoners' correspondence has been directly responsible for the prevention of the escape of a prisoner.

The available information for 1980 is that there were 125 recorded attempts to escape from closed establishments for male adults or young prisoners; 128 from closed establishments for male young offenders; and 9 from closed establishments for females. Attempted escapes from open establishments are not recorded centrally. There were 74 actual escapes by prisoners from closed establishments for male adults or young prisoners, and 385 from open establishments. Three of the prisoners who escaped were in security category A, 8 in category B, 60 in category C and 388 in category D. There were 105 escapes from closed establishments for male young offenders and 1,095 from open borstals and detention centres. Male young offenders are not placed in the security categories A to D. There were 88 escapes from establishments for females, all from open conditions. Female offenders are not given a security category unless they present an exceptionally high risk, when they may be placed in category A. No such prisoner escaped in 1980.Information about the numbers of escapes in previous years is given in the annual reports of the work of the prison department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total prison population (a) at the beginning of the prison officers' dispute, (b) at the end of it and (c) at the latest convenient date.

Taking the total prison population to include inmates of all prison department establishments in England and Wales, including approved places under the Imprisonment (Temporary Provisions) Act 1980, as well as persons exceptionally detained in police cells, the relevant figures are (a) 44,005 on 30 September 1980, shortly before industrial action began; (b) 41,481 on 9 February 1981, shortly before a delegate conference of the Prison Officers' Association endorsed the suspension of industrial action; and (c) 42,257 on 16 February 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a copy of the report from West Yorkshire police on the death of Helen Smith in Jeddah, and place a copy of the report in the Library.

No. I understand that the police inquiries into this death are still continuing. When the police report is completed it will be sent to the Leeds coroner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any report on the autopsy of Helen Smith, or items relating to a report, are being held by any member of his Department or person acting on behalf of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The Leeds coroner sent to my right hon. Friend last July a copy of a statement which he had made to the press, including a summary report of a post-mortem examination carried out by his pathologist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the Criminal Law Revision Committee's report on prostitution.

The Criminal Law Revision Committee, in consultation with the Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences, has only recently begun the study of the law on prostitution which forms part of its comprehesive review of the law on sexual offences. The first step will be the publication of a working paper, which the committee hopes to have ready early next year. It is too early to say when the committee's report will be produced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals to amend the law relating to prostitution.

The Government think it right to await the outcome of the review of the law on prostitution which the Criminal Law Revision Committee is undertaking, in consultation with the Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences, before reaching any conclusions on the need for legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the membership of the Voluntary Services Unit.

The voluntary services unit is a division of the Home Office headed by an assistant secretary. Its staff are listed by name and grade in the Home Office staff directory, a copy of which is held in the Library, and is amended as changes occur.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is proposed to seek further to continue those provisions of the Imprisonment (Temporary Provisions) Act 1980 which will otherwise lapse on 28 February.

No. The national industrial action by the Prison Officers' Association was initially suspended on 19 January and this suspension was confirmed by a special delegate conference of the Prison Officers' Association on 11 February. The suspension has allowed the emergency use of Frankland prison and Rollestone camp to be ended. By the end of this week, it should no longer be necessary to use police cells instead of prison accommodation. Accordingly I do not at this stage think it necessary to seek the further renewal of those powers which would otherwise lapse on 28 February.The performance of the police and Service men who have helped with the care and custody of prisoners has been outstanding and I should like to pay tribute to the vital part they have played in maintaining the criminal justice system. I am grateful too for the understanding shown by the courts in this difficult situation. Detailed negotiations with the Prison Officers' Association on the establishment of a new duty system are proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take following the publication of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries working party report on conservation and its recommendations on (a) the creation of 10 new trainee conservator posts for non-national museums, (b) the establishment of senior posts in the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tate Gallery for the dissemination of conservation information and (c) enabling the British Museum (Natural History) and the Royal Scottish Museum each to accept one taxidermy trainee and the former to conduct seminars in advanced taxidermy.

My predecessor wrote last year to the chairman of the Standing Commission, welcoming this report. Its recommendations are sensible and practical, and deserve careful attention by those responsible for the management of the national and local museums and by the area museum councils, to whom they are primarily addressed. They will need to consider what progress can be made, within the resources available to them, in the directions recommended by the working party.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether (a) it is his policy to continue the revised system in force for the interpretation of preeminence in regard to works of art and museum objects offered in satisfaction of capital transfer tax, which was the subject of a written answer from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Warley, East on 7 August 1980, Official Report, c. 274–5, (b) whether he will consider if any further revisions to the working of the revised system are possible, with a view to ensuring, with the co-operation of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries or otherwise, that the wider consultations envisaged in the written answer of 7 August 1980 are not overlooked in appropriate cases and (c) whether he will arrange for the working of the revised system to be publicised in any relevant literature issued by Government Departments.

Yes, but the revised guidelines have been in operation for only six months, and I see no need to amend them at present. I intend to publicise the procedures for acceptance in lieu and private treaty sales in a document to be issued later this year, which will refer to the guidelines on pre-eminence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the anticipated yield from stamp duties on the conveyance of houses in the current financial year; and what was the amount in each of the last five years.

There has been no change in the figure of £225 million for the estimated yield in the current year given in reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) on 15 January 1981. The figures for the five earlier years are as stated in that answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from stamp duty on house purchase conveyances for the last quarter for which figures are available; and what proportion of such revenue relates to the sale of council houses and flats.

About £60 million on residential property in the last quarter of 1980. The proportion attributable to council houses and flats is not known, but is believed to be small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of inflation as measured by the last three-monthly retail price index figures annualised.

The increase in the retail prices index over the last three months expressed as an annual rate was 8·2 per cent. for the all items index, and 7·8 per cent. for the index excluding seasonal foods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rate of inflation in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for the 12 month period up to May 1980.

The retail prices index increased by 13·0 per cent. in the 12 months to January 1981; and by 21·9 per cent. in the 12 months to May 1980.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he considers that the British economy now suffers demand inflation.

Probably the main causes of high inflation have been irresponsible financial policies and excessive Government borrowing. I shall have more to say about the situation facing the United Kingdom economy in my forthcoming Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from the tax on amusement machines in the latest available 12-month period for which figures are available.

There are different categories of "amusement machines". Value added tax is charged on the gross takings of "amusement only machines" at the rate of 15 per cent. but no reliable estimate can be made of the revenue yield.It is estimated that the yield of VAT—which is charged on net takings—and of licence duty on gaming machines, which are also for amusement, was about £45 million in 1980.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with progress in implementing the Government's economic policy.

Inflation continues to fall sharply. This is the key to sustainable recovery. There are indications that the fall in output may be coming to an end.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his response to the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association's submissions to him on the proposed alterations to oil and gas taxation.

We have carefully considered the association's representations and my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor will take full account of its views when deciding his Budget measures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress for an increase in child benefit.

The CBI budget representations to the Chancellor did not include any call for an increase in child benefit. The TUC has called for an increase, in its economic review, to £6 in November 1981 and £7 in April 1982.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that the increase in the money supply is in line with Treasury forward planning.

Money supply growth as recorded by sterling M3 has been higher than our target range, partly of course because of the ending of the supplementary special deposits scheme last summer. However, recent figures are more encouraging and certainly much lower than in the autumn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the exchange rate.

The Government's policy is to allow the exchange rate to be determined by the balance of market forces. Whether the rate is rising or falling, intervention by the authorities is limited to small-scale smoothing operations, to moderate excessive fluctuations and preserve orderly markets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry on the value of the £ sterling exchange rate.

I met representatives of the Confederation of British Industry on Friday 23 January in order to discuss their Budget representations. The level of the sterling exchange rate was one of the many issues discussed at this meeting.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 9 February, Official Report, c. 265, if he will detail the additional net costs which he considers would be incurred if the Government employed unemployed individuals at the same level of earnings as the average Exchequer cost of unemployment per person.

The additional net cost will include the administrative, supervisory, and materials costs involved in any public sector employment programme, and the employers' national insurance contributions and surcharge. On assumptions similar to those given in February's economic progress report article, and taking into account the points mentioned above, the net cost to the Exchequer employing unemployed individuals at the level of earnings specified in the question—£3,400—would be in the region of £2,500.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) Official Report 9 February, c. 265, on the cost to the Exchequer of unemployment, if he is able to provide separate figures for males and for females.

February's economic progress report gave estimates of the cost to the Exchequer of an average increase in registered unemployment. I regret, however, that I cannot provide separate estimates for males and females without making further assumptions on their characteristics, and incurring disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to use the value added tax system, wherever possible, to encourage visible and invisible export earnings; and if he will make a statement.

The value added tax system provides for the zero rating of exports of goods and of certain international services. Zero rating does not extend to those "invisible exports", which involve the provision of services wholly within the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total net revenue received by the Government from North Sea oil in the last year; and what estimate of net revenue at 1981 prices is made for each year to 1985.

Total Government royalty and tax receipts from North Sea oil and gas for the last full year (1979–80) were £2,229 million at outturn prices, after setting off about £40 million advance corporation tax. Estimates for the current year and 1981–82—£4 billion and £4½ billion to £5 billion respectively, both at 1980–81 prices—were given in the Industry Act forecast in November; revised estimates will be given at the time of the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations have been conducted by the Customs and Excise over the last two years into the activities of multinational companies; how many of these activities have resulted in a court case; and how many have been settled outside court on what is known as a "compound settlement".

There are no figures available which distinguish investigations made into what may be described as multinational companies and to produce them would involve unacceptable costs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in his forthcoming Budget, he will have regard to the need to provide additional financial incentives to enterprise zones in the larger cities.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Harrow, Central (Mr. Grant) and Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Steen).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations his Department has received in support of a duty-free shop at Liverpool airport; and what steps he has taken towards providing this service.

Representations have been received from hon. Members, from members of the European Parliament representing local constituencies, from the Merseyside county council, the Merseyside chamber of commerce and from various local interests.The number of international passengers using Liverpool airport has not yet reached the level at which the provision of duty-free shopping facilities would be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 27 November 1980, Official Report, c. 257, if he will now again consider the possibility of an excess profits tax on clearing bank profits.

As the hon. Member will appreciate, I cannot anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has now decided to disallow travel and subsistence expenses for seafarers.

The Inland Revenue became aware that travelling and substistence allowances paid by employers to seafarers in travelling from their home to their regular port were being wrongly paid without deduction of tax. Following discussions with the National Maritime Board it was agreed that with effect from 6 April 1981 tax will be deducted from payments made to seafarers making regular journeys to the same port in the United Kingdom. The position of other seafarers, including those who travel abroad to take up overseas employment, is not affected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the expected public sector borrowing requirement for 1980–81.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Mr. Patten).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when drawing up his Budget Statement, he will give consideration to measures which would have the effect of stimulating the West Cumbrian economy.

In drawing up his Budget Statement my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor will include what measures he considers most beneficial to the economy of this country, including West Cumbria.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the total amount of tax paid has increased since May 1979.

The increase in total taxation, including local authority rates and national insurance contributions, between the second quarter of 1979 and the third quarter of 1980—the latest period for which comprehensive data are available—was 26½ per cent. on a seasonally adjusted basis. Money GDP increased by 20 per cent. over the same period so that the proportion of taxes paid in GDP increased by 5·4 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has now received from charities in respect of his forthcoming Budget.

Many representations have been received to the effect that all charities, or particular charities or classes of charity, should be relieved of value added tax on goods and services supplied to them, and that further income and corporation tax relief should be given for donations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration in forthcoming financial legislation to make more effective provision for reducing the loss of tax revenue due to the black economy.

I have noted the right hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will change the Treasury rules for public accounting in order to exclude from Public Expenditure Survey Committee and public sector borrowing requirement calculations private finance going into joint ventures between nationalised industries and private enterprise.

Under existing rules such private sector finance would be excluded from the public expenditure survey and the public sector borrowing requirement if the joint venture were controlled by the private enterprise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the aggregate revenue to the Exchequer, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, from North Sea oil and gas operations, including corporation tax, personal taxation, petroleum revenue tax and taxation on companies other than oil companies whose earnings depend substantially on servicing the offshore operations.

For revenues from royalties, petroleum revenue tax and corporation tax from North Sea oil and gas production I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 10 December 1980—[Vol. 995, c. 641–44.] Estimates of the revenues from personal taxation of North Sea employees and from taxation on companies other than oil companies whose earnings depend substantially on servicing the offshore operations are not readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the anticipated revenues from North Sea oil for the year 1981–82.

The Industry Act forecast last November included an estimate that the revenues from North Sea oil and gas in 1981–82 would lie in the range £4½ billion to £5 billion at 1980–81 prices. Revised estimates will be available at the time of the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received in connection with his forthcoming Budget.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the economic indicators available to him show that the bottom of the economic recession has yet been reached; and when he expects clear signs of recovery to become apparent.

There are indications that the fall in output may be coming to an end. Prospects for recovery will be improved by further reductions in inflation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence 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.

We can find no evidence of any such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has gone ahead with a trial of the RB44 vehicle so that the firm T. T. Boughton can have a Ministry of Defence sales endorsement to potential overseas customers.

To date, no trial of the RB44 vehicle that could give the firm a Ministry of Defence sales endorsement has been undertaken by the Ministry of Defence. However, discussions are taking place between officials of the Department and the firm with a view to such a trial taking place shortly, subject to agreement on satisfactory terms being reached

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the commercial and industrial uses of krypton gas in the United Kingdom; and what volume is produced.

The primary commercial and industrial use of krypton gas in the United Kingdom is for the filling of electric luminescent tubes. It is also used in the manufacture of electronic tubes and radiation detectors. Data on the volume of production of the gas is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what use has been made to date of optical fibres in the United Kingdom; and whether he envisages copper wire ultimately being replaced by the new technology.

Optical fibres are used in the United Kingdom in telecommunications, process plant, control systems and in medical instruments. Copper wire will be replaced where freedom from electrical interference and wider bandwidths are required. However, I do not envisage that there will be complete replacement in the foreseeable future.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make financial assistance available to Monarch Airlines to enable it to purchase 757s with Rolls-Royce engines from the Boeing Corporation.

Monarch Airlines has announced its decision to purchase two Boeing 757 aircraft with Rolls-Royce engines plus options on two further such aircraft. The airline has stated that the necessary finance for this purchase is being provided from commercial sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the review of the existing code of practice for the disconnection of domestic gas and electricity consumers was commissioned by the industries and their consumer councils; what steps he has taken to expedite the report; and when be now expects it to be published.

The review was commissioned in February 1979. I am taking a close interest in its progress. I understand it will be completed later this year and that the report on the research undertaken by the PSI will subsequently be considered for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list in the Official Report the number of disconnections of gas supplies for each of the regional boards for each of the last three years where the householder has been (a) a recipient of supplementary benefit, (b) a recipient of supplementary benefit with one or more children aged five years and under, or (c) a retirement pensioner.

I understand that this information is not available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list in the Official Report the number of disconnections of electricity for each of the regional boards for each of the previous three years where the householder has been (a) a recipient of supplementary benefit, (b) a recipient of supplementary benefit with one or more children aged five years and under or (c) a retirement pensioner.

I understand this information is not available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what evidence he has that any of the coal imported into the United Kingdom in 1979, 1980 or 1981 has been dumped on the United Kingdom market or that imports have not been priced on a fair competitive basis.

To the best of my knowledge coal imported into the United Kingdom in the years quoted has been priced broadly in line with international market price levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the coal mines comprising the least efficient 10 per cent. of National Coal Board pits included in the calculation of the loss of £190 million referred to by him on 17 February, Official Report, c. 140, the loss attributable to each pit and the number of people employed at each pit.

Provision of information about the performance of individual collieries is a matter for the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list, by percentage, the share of current North Sea oil production attributable to each of the following companies (a) BP Petroleum Development Ltd., (b) Chevron Petroleum (UK) Ltd., (c) Esso Exploration and Production Ltd., (d) the Gulf Oil Corporation, (e) Mobil North Sea Ltd., (f) Shell UK Exploration and Production Ltd. and (g) Texaco North Sea UK Co. Ltd.

Information on the shares of oil production from the United Kingdom continental shelf attributable to individual oil companies is commercially confidential. Information on licensees' interests and on individual field production is published annually in the Secretary of State's report to Parliament—the Brown Book.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the net value, in £ sterling, of oil and gas reserves discovered in the North Sea to date at 1981 prices; and what are his Department's projections for this figure for each year up to 1990 at current prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 February 1981, c. 376]: The gross value of oil and gas reserves discovered in the United Kingdom continental shelf to date is estimated to be around £400 billion at early 1981 prices. It is not possible to provide figures for the net value of reserves due to the degree of uncertainty about future extraction costs. Projections for the value of reserves at current prices are not available for the period requested.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the areas of policy in which the European Assembly has competence as defined by the Treaty of Rome and subsequently.

The Parliament's principal powers are as follows. Under article 203 it adopts the budget and can reject the entire draft budget, and can amend the provisions for non-obligatory expenditure, over which it has the last word, subject to the limits of the maximum rate. It can propose modifications to items of obligatory expenditure, but here the Council has the last word. Adoption of the budget is the only act of a legislative nature that the Parliament is empowered to take.On legislation outside the budget, the Parliament's role is limited by the treaties to delivering opinions. Many Treaty articles specify that the Council can take action only after receiving such an opinion from the Parliament. The European Court of Justice upheld this requirement last year, although there is no obligation on the Council to accept the Parliament's views.Under article 144 the Parliament may pass a vote of censure on the Commission by two-thirds of the votes cast and a majority of the Parliament; if it does the Commission must resign.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he anticipates that the Indian war crimes file in the India Office library will be opened.

A search of the records of the former India Office now held in the India Office library and records has failed to reveal any general file or set of files entitled "the Indian War Crimes file" or any papers with a similar description.If the right hon. Member will provide more details of the information sought, I will arrange for a further investigation of the records to be made.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to assist the Maltese Government in removing obstructions caused by wartime wrecks and other war debris affecting the development of the port facilities in the Grand Harbour of Valetta and the new commercial harbour at Marsaxlokk.

I am not aware of any such obstructions. The Government have confirmed the offer made in 1978 to consider what assistance could be given, in the context of specific harbour development plans, where it can be shown that wrecks or unexploded ordnance constitute a hindrance to such plans.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government has taken any further action to clear the island of Fifla and the surrounding waters off Malta from unexploded wartime devices since the reply given to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, Central, (Mr. McNamara) Official Report, 5 March 1980.

No. That reply remains valid.

asked the Lord Privy Seal who accompanied his noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on his recent visit to Nigeria; and which organisations they represent.

In addition to officials, my right hon. and noble Friend was accompanied by, at his invitation, a team of top level representtives of British business, industry and finance. Members of this party were:

• Lord Barber (Standard Chartered Bank Limited)
• Lord Jellicoe (Tate and Lyle)
• Mr. G. W. Mackworth-Young (Morgan Grenfell and Company Limited)
• Sir Austin Pearce (British Aerospace Limited)
• Mr. R. G. Puttick (Taylor Woodrow Group)
• Mr. W. Richardson (Vickers Shipbuilding Group)
• Mr. C. H. Tidbury (Whitbread and Company Limited)
• Mr. A. J. R. Veale (GEC)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the area health authorities that have been drawn to his attention as having exceeded their cash limits in 1980-81; and if he will indicate the amount of such overspending in each case.

The Department sets the cash limits of regional health authorities and they in turn set the cash limits of area health authorities. It is for regional health authorities to monitor the cash limit performance of area health authorities so as to ensure that the regional cash limit is not exceeded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) of 9 February Official Report, c. 259-260, he will express in per capita terms the 1981-82 revenue and capital allocations to regional health authorities.

The figures given below show per capita revenue and capital allocations based on the population figures used in calculating target allocations weighted to reflect relative health care need; the revenue figures include the service increment for teaching:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the officers in the finance division of his Department have qualifications in accountancy.

16 officers of the finance division of my Department are fully qualified professional accountants and 60 are in training; 26 officers hold a technician qualification and 13 are in training.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has issued any directive to regional health authorities on the subject of claims for damages by patients who have received psychosurgery operations.