asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether his Department has carried out any surveys of marine traffic using the traffic separation schemes in the west of the United Kingdom; and if so, if he will arrange for a report thereon to be placed in the Library;(2) what steps he has taken or is planning to take to monitor the extent of compliance by ships with the recommended directions of flow in the traffic separation schemes in the west of the United Kingdom and to prosecute offenders or report them to their flag States.

In 1977–79 four surveys of this sort were made for my Department by the National Maritime Institute. They suggested an unsatisfactory degree of compliance at that time with the traffic flow requirements and I am considering what further monitoring would be sensible, in these and other areas. Copies of the institute's reports have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of British export trade in manufactured goods is manufactured in the United Kingdom by multinational companies based overseas.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the proposed acquisition of Davy International by the Enserch Corporation of Texas.

My decision to refer this merger to the commission was announced today. I should make it clear that this decision in no way implies a departure from the policy of successive Governments in welcoming inward investment in the United Kingdom.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the total sum of money so far sent to his Department in voluntary donations, as a result of the campaign by the World Development Movement towards the cost of overseas aid; and what action is to be taken in this regard by his Department.

The total sum to date is £1,975. As to the action being taken in respect of these donations I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development to the right hon. and learned Member for Dulwich (Mr. Silkin) on 2 February.—[Vol. 998, c. 4–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much oil was used in Central Electricity Generating Board power stations in January 1979 and January 1980; how many power stations have been converted from oil to coal in the last five years; and how many power stations are using oil.

Details of fuel used by the public supply system in England and Wales are published monthly in table 9 of Energy Trends. Total oil burn in CEGB power stations for the four-week periods January 1979 and January 1980 was 1·04 million tonnes and 0·55 million tonnes respectively These amounts include oil used in gas turbines, diesel plant and for lighting up and flame stabilisation in coal-fired boilers.Although there have been no conversions of CEGB power stations from oil to coal burning in the last five years, Kingsnorth power station boilers were adapted to dual firing capable of burning both coal and oil, and the board's coal burn increased from about 66 million tonnes a year to about 80 million tonnes a year while oil burn decreased from over 10·5 million tonnes a year to about 5 million tonnes a year in that period.Eighteen CEGB steam power stations, with a declared net capability of 8·8 GW, are wholly oil-fired, of which seven (1·5 GW) are due to be decommissioned in October 1981 together with the oil-fired boilers at one of the board's three mixed fired stations. None of the remaining stations is currently expected to operate on base load.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the Egyptian Government have started negotiations with the United Kingdom for the purchase of advanced gas cooled reactor nuclear power stations; and what is the size of the reactors involved.

No, but the question of supplying nuclear reactors to Egypt was raised with Ministers by the Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs during his recent visit to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the attitude to the Select Committee report HC114–1"The Government's Statement on the New Nuclear Power Programme".

The Government are carefully considering the Select Committee's report, and will reply in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking in the context of his current discussions, to ensure that the provisions of the code of practice on disconnections are being observed by gas and electricity boards.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 23 February.—[Vol. 999, c. 267.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will modify his energy policy so as to aid and consider companies where energy costs are a substantial part of total costs but which are not necessarily bulk users of energy.

The Government are aware that energy-intensive companies are not all bulk users of energy. They will be taking this fact into account in considering the report of the NEDC task force reviewing energy prices to United Kingdom industry compared with those to its competitors abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many occasions nuclear power policy has been debated in the House during the past three years.

One full day's debate and three Adjournment debates.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 March.

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

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the average daily cash transfers to or from nationalised corporations in the last financial year.

Net payments to the industries on Government accounts averaged £4·9 million a day in 1979–80, taking account of loans from the national loans fund, less repayments of principal, deposits and interest; issues of public dividend capital, including issues under section 18 of the Iron and Steel Act 1975, less receipts of dividend; Government grants; and taxation receipts.

asked the Prime Minister how many representations she has received in the last two months about the level of child benefit.

I have received a few such letters.

Cox asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Cyprus.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek a meeting with the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit Gorton.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Greater Manchester.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to visit Bonn.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what action followed her reception on 16 January of an Alliance Party delegation when discussions took place on the security of Northern Ireland.

My discussion with representatives of the Alliance Party ranged widely over Northern Ireland matters, security being among them, and was confidential. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland accompanied me and will take any action that he considers desirable in the light of the views expressed.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her meeting with President Reagan.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her visit to the United States of America.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the statement which I made in the House yesterday.

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.

None since 24 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement about Lord Diplock's first report on the interception of communications in Great Britain.

Lord Diplock's first report as monitor of the arrangements for interception set out in Cmnd. 7873 is published today. I am grateful to Lord Diplock for the conscientiousness with which he has undertaken his review and for the thoroughness of his report. I welcome his intention to continue his system of random checks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the unsatisfactory state of colour television reception in the area of Llanrwst, Gwynedd.

The broadcasting authorities are primarily responsible for extending and improving the coverage of their UHF television services. They consider that the Llanrwst area should be adequately served by the relay station at Betws-y-Coed but are willing to look into any particular complaint.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to ensure that the formula to index-link firemen's pay with that of the highest paid skilled manual workers is adhered to.

The pay and conditions of service of firemen are negotiated in the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades, on which the Government are not represented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for naturalisation were received in each of the past 24 months; what was the number of staff dealing with such applications during each of those months; and how many naturalisation cases were decided in each of those months.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many naturalisation applicants in each of the last 10 years opted to take the language test in Welsh.

Paragraph 1(d) of the second schedule to the British Nationality Act 1948 requires an applicant for naturalisation to have sufficient knowledge of the English language. An applicant for naturalisation cannot therefore opt to show knowledge of Welsh. An applicant for registration under section 5A(2) of the 1948 Act can do so, but no records are kept of the number who do.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of naturalisation applications has been granted for each of the last 10 years.

The available figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary for the Home Department what are the average, shortest and longest times taken for the processing of naturalisation applications for each of the last five years.

Information about the shortest and longest times taken for the processing of naturalisation applications is not available.The average time taken to deal with such applications was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many naturalisation applications have been refused in each of the last 10 years because the applicant failed (a) the good character and (b) the language test; and how many other refusals there were and for what reasons.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest information he has on the number of Iranians who were admitted to the United Kingdom for 12 months or less in 1979 and are still in the United Kingdom, other than those who (a) have been granted extensions to stay, or (b) are awaiting appeals against refusal to extend their stay.

The information available on the numbers of Iranian nationals admitted to the United Kingdom in 1979 is published in table 1 of the annual Command Paper"Control of immigration: statistics, United Kingdom, 1979" (Cmnd 7875). Information is not available on the numbers so admitted who are currently in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Government cars are available to officials and civil servants in his Department; what are the rules governing their use; and what is the total cost per annum for providing such a service.

The Home Office has 88 cars of its own mostly based on operational units or outstations. The determinants in authorising use are the cost of public transport, time savings and operational necessity. The estimated operating costs are about £130,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider amending legislation in order that concessionary television licences are made available to those persons certified as being housebound in order to compensate for their loss of any travel concession

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many gun licences have been issued in each of the past 10 years.

Annual statistics of firearm and shotgun certificates issued and renewed by chief officers of police are not collected centrally. The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many gun licences are held (a) in England and (b) Wales; and what are these numbers per head of population.

Statistics of the numbers of firearm and shotgun certificates issued each year are not collected centrally. On 31 December 1979 there were 864,070 in force in England and 87,594 in Wales; a ratio per head of population of 1:54 and 1:32, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the quota figures to allow more people from India to enter the United Kingdom each year under the special voucher scheme; how many are currently waiting to be issued with vouchers; and if he will make a statement.

This matter is kept under review. At the end of last year 5.144 applicants for special vouchers in India had yet to be offered them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from (a) East Africa and (b) India entered the United Kingdom under the special voucher system for the last year for which figures are available; and how this compares with the figures for the previous five years.

The total number of United Kingdom passport holders admitted to the United Kingdom holding special vouchers is published annually in the Command Paper"Control of immigration: statistics"—footnote (a) to table 3 (a) of the issue for 1979 (Cmnd. 7875). Figures for the first three quarters of 1980 and for the years 1977–79 inclusive are given in table 2 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 17/80. It is not the practice to disclose the figures for individual countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report, from international sources available to him, a table showing the top 20 countries in order of income per head of population over the last five years; if he will express the relative positions in percentage terms using the United States gross national product as base: and if he will give the United Kingdom estimate on the bases of an economy (a) with and (b) without offshore oil.

The table below contains estimates of gross national product at market prices per head of population for the top 20 countries in respect of the years 1975 to 1977. The figures have been calculated by the World Bank. Comparable figures for the later years are not available. The top 20 countries have been defined through the figures published by the World Bank and include only those with a population of 1 million or more. The figures are based on average relative prices and exchange rates during 1975 to 1977 and the year-to-year movements reflect changes in the real output in each country and in the rate of inflation in the United States.

Meyer asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report loans granted to projects in the United Kingdom by the European Investment Bank in each year since 1973 and the percentage each figure represents of the total loans granted by the European Investment Bank within the Community in each given year.

Loans granted to projects in the United Kingdom by the European Investment Bank in each year since 1973 and the percentage each figure represents of the total loans granted by the European Investment Bank within the Community in each given year were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of administration by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise of the rules relating to duty and tax-free allowances on imports of tobacco goods, alcoholic drinks, perfume, toilet water and other goods imported by persons coming into the United Kingdom, treated separately for each category for the last financial year for which figures are available.

I am afraid it is not possible to isolate these costs from those of the many other tasks which are performed by the staff concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the public sector borrowing requirement in 1972–3, 1973–74, 1977–78 and 1979–80 respectively;(2) what was the total national debt at the end of the financial years 1973–74, 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80; and what is the latest available figure.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he now plans to introduce compulsory sheep dipping in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans at present to introduce compulsory sheep dipping in the current year, but the position is kept under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to increase industrial activity in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's economic strategy is aimed at further reducing inflation, restoring the competitiveness of our industry, establishing a basis for sound growth and achieving a consequent reduction in unemployment. Within this framework a substantial measure of financial support is available for industrial development throughout Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study the Health and Safety Executive has made of the use of krypton 85 in fluorescent lamps; and whether any radiation hazard has been detected.

When any radioactive gas is incorporated in fluorescent lamps the manufacturing process is subject to the Ionising Radiations (Unsealed Radioactive Substances) Regulations 1968. Whilst no specific study has been made, the Health and Safety Executive is satisfied that the precautionary measures required by these regulations will ensure the radiological safety of persons employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of people and the numbers of young people under 20 years of age who are currently unemployed in (a) Mid-Northumberland and (b) the Northern region; and how these figures compare with the position 12 months earlier.

The following table gives the total numbers registered as unemployed and the numbers of young people under 20 years of age included in these figures at January 1981, the latest date for which an age analysis is available. It also gives corresponding information at January 1980. Mid-Northumberland has been taken as the area covered by the Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth, Cramlington and Morpeth employment offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is being taken to investigate complaints from union members about alleged breaches of political fund rules in 1980.

Of the 20 complaints made to the Certification Officer during 1980, 11 have been resolved, 4 are to be dealt with shortly at a formal hearing, and inquiries are continuing in the other 5 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken to ensure the widespread availability of the leaflet entitled"Funds for Trade Union Ballots".

My Department has so far distributed some 190,000 copies of its leaflet entitled"Union Secret Ballots" which explains the scheme. It is available throughout the country from my Department's offices, from MSC jobcentres and the regional offices of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. The separate leaflet entitled"Funds for Trade Union Ballots", prepared by the Certification Officer, who is responsible for the administration of the scheme, explains the scheme for those seeking refunds under it. Copies are therefore available only from his office.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is being taken to ensure that the Certification Office receives the financial returns from the 15 trade unions in 1978 and the 39 trade unions in 1979 which have failed to submit them.

The Certification Officer, who is responsible for administering the statutory provisions which relate to union returns and accounts, is an independent public official not subject to directions from Ministers as to how he carries out his functions. His annual reports contain a chapter indicating the action his office has taken in this general area, but I am informed that if the hon. Member wishes more detailed information the Certification Officer will be glad to supply this to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the total grants made to Scotland from the European social fund since 1973; and what estimate he has made of the extent to which these grants have assisted the employment situation in Scotland.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will review the new terms for short-term compensation for redundancies to take particular note of the concerns of very small businesses.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what monitoring of companies' use of funds available under work experience and other schemes for youth employment is undertaken by the Manpower Services Commission and his Department to ensure that they do not displace full-time male or female employees or affect their rates of pay and working conditions; and whether he is satisfied with these arrangements in view of representations made to him by hon. Members;(2) how many and what kind of representations he has received from hon. Members and trade unions about the misuse by companies of funds available under work experience and youth opportunities programme schemes for using young people in place of normal full-time employees; and whether he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he proposes to increase severance payments for all registered dock workers in line with the payments to be made in the Ports of Liverpool and London.

Severance arrangements applying to registered dock workers generally are contained in a national voluntary severance scheme (NVSS) agreed by the port employers and trade unions in the National Joint Council for the Port Transport Industry. Scales of payment under the NVSS are primarily for the industry to determine. The supplementary payments to registered dock workers accepting severance in Liverpool and London during March and April, which were announced recently by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, reflect the special needs of these ports and are outside the scope of the NVSS.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the total aid given to industry out of public funds by his Department or by organisations reporting to him for each of the last 10 years and for that part of the present year available, in actual money terms and expressed in financial terms of the value of money the first year of the series; and how many companies or organisations received this aid.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1981, c. 133]: The total aid given to industry by my Department in each of the last 10 years and for the current year to the end of January is as follows:

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

[pursuant to his reply, 19 February 1981, c. 190]: The Manpower Services Commission's corporate plan proposes a reduction of 120 posts in the provision of resettlement services for disabled people—including those administering the provisions of the"quota" scheme—over the period 1981–85.The resettlement services for disabled people are provided by a range of staff and I am informed by the MSC that it is not possible to determine at this stage how such a reduction in staff would be apportioned between different categories of staff.We are concerned to maintain the level of service to disabled people and are still considering the commission's proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if pensioner households are excluded from the construction of the general index of retail prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 February 1981, c. 381]: About half of all pensioner households are included in the coverage of the retail prices index and half excluded. The latter are the low-income pensioner households in which at least three quarters of the total income is derived from national insurance retirement or similar pensions or supplementary pensions or allowances. The exclusion of low-income pensioner households follows recommendations of the retail prices index advisory committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of household expenditure by one-and two-person pensioner households is spent on (a) housing (b) fuel, light and power and (c) food—excluding meals bought away from home; what has been the latest annual increase in prices of these categories of expenditure; and if he will show comparisons for all households of these figures.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 February 1981, c. 381.] The 1979 family expenditure survey shows the following proportions of total household expenditure:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why housing is excluded from the two special indices of retail prices used for one and two-person pensioner households.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 February 1981, c. 381]: The retail prices index advisory committee recommended that housing should be excluded from the calculation of the indices of retail prices for pensioner households because of the difficulty of measuring changes in housing costs for special categories of households.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in order to ensure a more effective uprating of national insurance supplementary and other social security benefits, he will introduce a low-income family retail price index to reflect the special expenditure patterns of such families.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 February 1981, c. 381]: No. Studies carried out and published by my Department—see March 1979 and May 1980 issues of Employment Gazette—have shown that the retail prices index is a good indicator of the price increases faced by the different types of household to which the index relates; this includes low-income families and the majority of recipients of social security benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of one or two-person pensioner households are members of the retail prices index advisory committee; what proportion of members of the committee this represents; and how this compares with the proportion of male and female pensioners in the population as a whole.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 February 1981, c. 381]: Information on the personal circumstances of members of the advisory committee is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards community hospitals.

We have encouraged health authorities to keep small local hospitals open wherever practicable, because of their important role in the local community. The details of our hospital policy, including that on community hospitals, will be announced later this year when our current review of policy is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from pensioners' organisations in Wales concerning the index-linking of retirement pensions; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend met a deputation from the National Old Age Pensioners' Association of Wales on 20 October last. As to the index-linking of retirement pensions, she assured the deputation that they would be price-protected. I have no record of more recent representations on this matter from pensioners' organisations in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that doctors are not taking advantage of any National Health Service facilities in treating private patients.

In general, yes. If the hon. Member has any evidence of abuse, perhaps he will draw it to my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals were inspected by the Medicines Inspectorate in 1975; how many hospitals were inspected in 1980; and how many hospitals will be inspected in 1981.

The information is not available in the form requested but can be provided in terms of inspectorate-days spent on site at hospital manufacturing units. The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received on the death grant.

Over the last three months we have received, from organisations and individuals, about 200 representations on the death grant, concerned mainly with its level.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there has been any increase in the work load of the Medicines Inspectorate since the number of inspectors was established; and whether there has been any increase in the number of inspectors during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services how many inspectors are employed in the Medicines Inspectorate; when this number was established; and whether this number has been reviewed since.