asked the Secretary of State for Trade what conferences or exhibitions in the United Kingdom or abroad dealing with offshore oil have been sponsored or financed by the Government in 1980; and if he will list the location, general theme and cost of each conference held.

Whilst the Government have not directly sponsored or financed offshore oil exhibitions or conferences in the United Kingdom or abroad during 1980, under the British Overseas Trade Board's joint venture scheme the Department of Trade provided support for groups of British exhibitors at the following six oil shows overseas:

Event	Net Expenditure (Rounded) £
Singapore Offshore South East Asia conference and exhibition—26–29 February	45,000
Houston 12th Annual Offshore Technology conference 5–8 May	122,000
Amsterdam European Exhibition for Petroleum Technology—20–23 May	20,000
Rio de Janeiro Latin American Oil Show—1–4 July	18,000
Stavanger Offshore North Sea Technology conference and exhibition—26–29 August	23,000
Mexico City International Oil and Gas exhibition—24–29 November	31,000

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has any evidence that the United Kingdom insurance industry is unfairly hindered in its overseas operations by trade barriers imposed by foreign Governments; and whether he believes that any initiative by Her Majesty's Government is required to improve the situation.

Many countries regulate the conduct of insurance business and some of this regulation acts as a barrier to free trade. That is even true of certain member States of the European Community. A draft EC directive which would constitute a major step towards freeing intra-Community trade in insurance has been under consideration since 1975. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister drew attention at the European Council in December 1980 to the lack of progress on this draft, and it is now due to be considered by Ministers in the Finance Council on 16 March. The United Kingdom is also participating in the work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the identification of obstacles to trade in insurance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what is the present assessment of the fire risks involved in the use of polyurethane foam as a stuffing for furniture; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is his estimate of the percentage of upholstered furniture currently being made which makes use of polyurethane either as a covering or as stuffing;(3) what research he has instituted or supported to find an economic alternative to the use of polyurethane foam as a stuffing for upholstered furniture.

Standard polyurethane foam used in domestic furniture in combination with certain covering materials is readily ignitable, burns fiercely and rapidly, emitting intense heat and, during burning, rapidly produces large quantities of dense and acrid smoke containing common products of combustion.The fire risks from polyurethane foam commonly used in upholstery material for domestic furniture depend on a number of factors. The type and quantity of foam is significant but so also are the burning characteristics of the outer fabric, the presence or absence of fire barrier materials, the design of the furniture itself and the sources of ignition to which the furniture is likely to be exposed.While the proportion used varies from piece to piece, I understand that over 90 per cent. of domestic upholstered furniture in current production contains polyurethane, predominantly in the foam.The Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations 1980 are intended to avoid the risks of the fabric and filling combined catching fire and are far in advance of anything else in the world. I believe also that the regulations have stimulated further research into safer economic alternatives to the polyurethane foam used for filling at present. Industry is engaged in research and development into such alternatives and several are being assessed technically by the Government's Property Services Agency. However, the prospects for their effective commercial use in domestic furniture cannot be forecast.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report the total volume of match imports into the United Kingdom in each of the past three years and the principal exporting countries.

Details of imports of matches, including principal countries of consignment, are published under SITC(R2) item 899·32 in table III of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of the home market Japanese motor imports took in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the Federal Republic of Germany in each of the last three years.

The following is the latest available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his policy on the European Commission's proposals for outward processing, as set out in the draft regulation on outward processing traffic with Mediterranean countries; if he will indicate, in detail, any reservations on the proposal; and what is his policy on the offsetting of outward processed trade allowances against existing trade quotas and on the extent to which domestic production would be subject to outward processing.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 19 December—[Vol. 996, c. 553]. The United Kingdom has no special quotas for outward processed goods, and textiles and clothing manufactured outside the Community count against any relevant quotas or restraint levels when entering the United Kingdom whether or not they were manufactured from materials produced in the Community. There are no plans to change this practice and therefore the Commission's proposal to harmonise member States' arrangements for administering special OP quotas would have no direct impact in the United Kingdom. However, in connection with the forthcoming negotiations on the MFA, the Government will welcome representations from industry and any other interested bodies on this aspect of our arrangements for low-cost textile imports.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 March 1981, c. 57]: The available information relating to the percentage of United Kingdom exports accounted for by United Kingdom enterprises with overseas direct investment links in the years 1975 to 1978 was published in table 6.2 of the Business Monitor MA4, Overseas Transactions 1978, a copy of which is in the Library. Separate information is not compiled for overseas controlled enterprises in manufacturing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proposals he has to bring supplementary benefit for the unemployed into tax; and when he expects to introduce them;(2) what proposals he has to bring unemployment benefit into tax; and when he expects to introduce them.

As my right hon. and learned Friend said in his Budget Statement last year, it is our intention to bring into tax unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit paid to the unemployed with effect from April 1982. The detailed proposals for this will be in legislation which we shall introduce in the coming Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Back Bench hon. Members who use their own cars, kept up at their expense, are charged notional beneficial tax on their petrol allowances and travel vouchers.

All hon. Members, like all other paid office-holders and employees, are liable to income tax on car allowances and travel vouchers provided for travel between home and duty because the cost of the journey is not incurred in the performance of their duties, but tax is not chargeable in respect of an hon. Member's travel between Westminster and his constituency in the performance of his duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of abolishing duty payable on matches.

The yield from the duty in the 12 months to January 1981 was about £5·5 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the overall cost per £ sterling of revenue on (a) duty collected by Customs and Excise on wines and spirits, (b) personal taxation and (c) corporation tax.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of abolishing the employer's national insurance surcharge.

The gross yield of the national insurance surcharge in 1980–81 is expected to be around £3½ billion. However, it is estimated that around £800 million of this is paid by central and local government. The cost of abolishing the surcharge in 1980–81 net of payments by central and local government would therefore be about £2·7 billion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) income tax, (b) capital gains tax and (c) corporation tax has been paid, respectively, under section 38 of the Finance Act 1973 in each year since the financial year 1973–74.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1981, c. 7–8]: About £50 million PAYE tax from offshore activities is estimated for 1980–81. Corporation tax paid to 31 January 1981 by companies liable under S.38 is about £60 million. The other information requested is not readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims under section 38 of the Finance Act 1973 have been referred to the Board of the Inland Revenue for investigation.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1981, c. 8]: Presumably the hon. Member has in mind the issue of certificates under paragraph 7 of schedule 15 to the Finance Act 1973. Forty-four such certificates have been issued.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing for] 980–81, and on a comparable price base (a) the estimated yield of each separate tax and duty collected by the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, (b) the estimated yield of (i) a 1 per cent, increase in the rate of percentage related taxes and (ii) of revalorising excise, hydrocarbon and all other taxes and duties not specified in (i) in line with the last 12 months' annual rate of inflation, and the effect of each increase on the retail price index and (c) the estimated cost of revalorising personal and other income tax allowances and higher rate thresholds in line with the last 12 months' annual rate of inflation.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1981. c. 7] gave the following information:

(a) For the available information on Inland Revenue taxes and Customs and Excise duties I refer the hon. Member to the reports of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Inland Revenue and the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise for the year ended 31 March 1980—Cmnds. 8160 and 8099. Revised estimates will be published on Budget day.

(b) (i) The estimated yields of a one percentage point increase in the basic and higher rates of income tax are £800 million and £50 million respectively, in a full year at 1980–81 income levels, the additional yield in 1980–81 of a similar rise in the corporation tax rate is estimated at £85 million, for information on increases in other taxes, I refer the hon. Member to the supplement to the May 1980 edition of the Economic Progress Report (No. 121) and to the replies given on 12 January to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson).—[Vol. 996, c. 501–502.].

(ii) It is estimated that increasing the specific excise duties collected by Customs and Excise by 15·1 per cent., the increase in the RPI between December 1979 and December 1980, would yield about £1,000 million in a full year.

(c) The cost of revalorising personal tax allowances—including the age allowance limit—and higher rate thresholds—including the investment income surcharge threshold—by 15·1 per cent. is estimated at about £2,400 million in a full year at 1980–81 income levels.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give details of the new award to stimulate better use by British businesses of engineering and scientific talent at universities and polytechnics, referred to in her speech to the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee.

The purpose of the proposed award is to encourage co-operation between higher education and industry to improve the competitiveness of industry and commerce. It will recognise outstanding work in education and training, research, consultancy and entrepreneurship, of direct benefit to industrial and commercial performance. It is hoped to launch the scheme in about two months time, when further details will be given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he is going to reach a decision on the question of the police pension of Mr. J. Keane.

I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations have been consulted over the possible effects on probation and bail hostels of the proposed devolution of responsibility for the probation and after-care service.

Consultations are in progress with the Central Council of Probation and After-Care Committees, the Conference of Chief Probation Officers, the National Association of Probation Hostels, the Association of County Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the London Boroughs Association and the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are known to his Department to have died in fires for each of the last 10 years; how many in each year died in buildings open to the public, such as discotheques, shops and hotels; and in how many cases the burning of polyurethane was a contributory factor to the cause of death.

The numbers of deaths from fires attended by local authority brigades starting in various types of premises are published annually in"Fire Statistics, United Kingdom"—table 23 in the volume for 1979. The total numbers of such deaths in the years 1969–79 are given in table.5 of the volume for 1979. Copies of volumes for 1979 and earlier years are in the Library of the House. Information is not available on the number of deaths in which the burning of polyurethane was a contributory factor to the cause of death; the only available information is given in the following table. Information for 1980 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies he has initiated into the fire hazards of polyurethane as a furnishing material, whether used in private homes or in public buildings, and the risk of burning polyurethane emitting hydrogen cyanide fumes; and if he will make a statement.

The fire risks posed by certain new materials, including polyurethane, were the subject of a report by a technical sub-committee of the joint fire prevention committee of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Councils for England and Wales and for Scotland, which was published in November 1978. My right hon. Friend has arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the library of each House. More recently, research has been commissioned by our Department as a basis for determining the criteria which should govern regulations which my right hon. Friend proposes to make under sectiion 12 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 to control the display in shops and department stores of polyurethane foam-filled furniture. As regards the use of polyurethane as a furnishing material, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 25 February 1981 to a question from the hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Ward).—[Vol. 999, c. 363.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the cost in 1980 of United Kingdom membership of ICCROM; whether he sought any advice from outside his Department before taking the decision to withdraw; and what is his assessment of the consequences to the United Kingdom of withdrawal.

At the rate of exchange current when the payment was made the cost in 1980 was £29,350.Other Government Departments were consulted before the decision. The likely consequences for conservation within the United Kingdom are not great and, as our withdrawal implies no criticism of ICCROM, we hope that the level of professional contacts will be maintained.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how often, since 1 January 1980, the Catering Sub-Committee of the Services Committee has met; and how often it has met since 1 January 1981.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any member of the staff of the Refreshment Department, other than the General Manager, bears a particular responsibility for the management of the Tea Room and the Strangers' and Members' Cafeterias.

I have been asked to reply.A supervisor in each of the Tea Room and Strangers' and Members' Cafeterias is responsible for their day-to-day running.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his reaction to the recommendations of the Children's Committee on"The Needs of the Under-Fives in the Family", with particular reference to the low provision of nursery education in the Principality.

The Children's Committee's document has been presented as a contribution to public debate and I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to make a statement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects Her Majesty's inspectors will have completed their survey of Welsh youth service provision; and if he will then make a statement.

It is expected that the study of youth service provision in Wales will be completed by Her Majesty's inspectors about the end of this year. I will then be able to assess the need for a separate review body in Wales similar to that recently announced for England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange to meet representatives of the football authorities to discuss crowd behaviour at football matches.

I have a continuing dialogue with the football authorities on many matters affecting the game, but with particular emphasis on the subject of crowd behaviour.More formally, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs and I recently met the Football Association to discuss its proposals to deal with this problem. Only last Monday I attended a conference on hooliganism organised by the Football Trust at which representatives from every sector involved with this issue was represented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the context of his review of current legislation, he will consider introducing legislation to allow local authorities to reserve a portion of their available housing stock for local residents on the housing list even when this conflicts with provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977.

The effect of the provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 on housing waiting lists is one of the issues being considered in the review of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has refused the proposed exemption from sale to tenants of any homes presently owned by the New Forest district council on the grounds for exemption claimed by that local authority; and if his commitment remains that tenants have a right to buy except in circumstances individually specified by his Department.

The New Forest district council has to date submitted requests that 15 dwellings, where tenants have claimed the right to buy, should be excluded from the right to buy on the grounds set out in paragraph 5 of schedule 1 to the Housing Act 1980. One case was submitted outside the time limit laid down in the Act and the dwelling concerned is therefore not excluded from the right to buy. The other 14 cases are still being considered in the light of the provisions of paragraph 5.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent local councils are deliberately hindering the sale of council houses; and what steps he is taking to assist applicants to buy in such circumstances.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Reading, North (Mr. Durant); Burton (Mr. Lawrence); and Newark (Mr. Hogg).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning consents on appeal have been considered by his Department in the last 12 months; and how many have been recommended by his inspectors for acceptance.

The number of planning appeals decided in 1980 was 13,130 of which 4,044 —31 per cent.—were allowed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to encourage the recycling of used bottles and the re-use of waste paper and cans.

Discussions are taking place with the interests concerned to encourage greater recycling of glass. I am pleased to note that the glass industry has set itself substantially increased targets for the next three years. I am in touch with local authorities and others in support of this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment further to his answer of 15 December, Official Report, column 73, whether he has now examined ways in which water authorities could be made more effectively accountable to the public.

We are still considering the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it remains his policy that there should not be a national equalisation of water charges.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities are currently not making house improvement grants available because of the effects of the moratorium; and if he will list them.

No authority is prevented by the moratorium from giving either mandatory grants or any discretionary grants which, before the moratorium, it had entered into an undertaking to give; or from entering into new commitments which will not involve expenditure by the authority before 1 April 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he is proposing for meeting the cost of the public inquiry about the development of Stansted airport.

When planning inquiries are held the general practice is for the Department to meet the costs of providing the inspector and for the local planning authority to meet the costs of accommodation. I am considering my hon. Friend's representations that in this particular case we should pay accommodation costs too and I am prepared to discuss the issues with him without holding out the prospect that we can depart from long-standing practices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of housing starts in the public and private sectors during 1980; and how many starts he estimates will take place during the course of the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing starts in the public sector he plans for 1981.

Provisional figures show that in England in 1980 there were 44,300 housing starts in the public sector and 83,600 in the private sector. The number of public sector starts this year will depend largely on decisions taken by local authorities on the use of their HIP allocations. In the private sector it will depend on the commercial judgments of private housebuilders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to designate further London boroughs and metropolitan districts as authorities required to publish registers of publicly owned waste and vacant land.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 4 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen).—[Vol. 998, c. 125.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received of the likely percentage increase in rates in 1981; and if he will make a statement.

Authorities are presently sending information to my Department on rate poundages for 1981–82. We have not yet received sufficient returns to make any firm estimate of the average increase overall.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate number of rented dwellings in England and Wales built before 1914; and what percentage this represents of current housing stock.

Figures are not available in relation to dwellings built before 1914, but it is estimated that in England at the end of 1977 about 1¾ million households, or about 10 per cent. of the total, were living in rented dwellings built before 1919. I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Wales for information as regards Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how detailed a breakdown of grant-related expenditure in respect of each local authority he intends to publish.

A full listing of the components of GRE for each service and for all English local authorities was sent to the local authority associations last week. Copies were also placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the South Yorkshire and Sheffield waterways scheme; and what is the estimated date of completion.

A number of projects have been completed, including the rebuilding of Sprotbrough lock. Work is in hand on further projects and tenders have been invited for others. I shall send the hon. Member details.The improved waterway is expected to be open to traffic late in 1982 but landscaping and other associated works will continue during 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people entitled to receive but not claiming a non-contributory invalidity pension.

Approximately 100,000 people who are receiving supplementary benefit would be eligible for non-contributory invalidity benefit if they claimed it. No estimate is available of the number of people eligible who are outside the supplementary benefit field.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost at 1980–81 benefit rates of extending entitlement to invalidity benefit (a) to all those now receiving and (b) to all those now entitled to receive a non-contributory invalidity pension; and what would be the additional cost of extending entitlement to invalidity benefit on the same basis to married women.

The additional cost of paying invalidity benefit at 1980–81 rates to all those now receiving non-contributory invalidity pension (NCIP) is estimated to be about £85 million in a full year. There would be offsetting savings in supplementary benefit which cannot readily be estimated but which could amount to more than £20 million.About 100,000 people are eligible for NCIP but only receiving supplementary benefit, and the additional cost of paying invalidity benefit at 1980–81 rates to them would be £155 million gross. It is not possible to estimate the substantial supplementary benefit savings which would come from such a change. It is also not possible to estimate the number of people eligible for NCIP but not receiving it or supplementary benefit.If NCIP were paid to housewives on the same basis as it is to men and single women, and at the invalidity benefit rate, it is thought that the extra cost would be of the order of £350 million gross. It is not possible to estimate the amount of any supplementary benefit savings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will update table 8 of the survey"Handicapped and Impaired in Great Britain", Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1971, showing the estimated numbers of men and women in Great Britain with varying degrees of handicap.

Studies since the national survey on which"Handicapped and Impaired in Great Britain" was based have been limited in scope or too variable in quality for their results to be used out of context to update the figures in table 8. A major national survey would be required and the Government have no plans at present for such an undertaking.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to reduce substantially the number of hospital doctors who work more than 104 hours per week; and if he will seek to legislate to limit the maximum period of time hospital doctors may work without a break.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 2 March [Vol. 1000, c. 34]. I do not consider that legislation would be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will accept the advice of the Children's Committee and assist in a practical form with (a) the availability of forms and information with regard to available benefits and (b) the improved readability and intelligibility of forms that have to be completed to claim for these benefits.

My right hon. Friend has noted the references in the discussion document from the Children's Committee. The Department has been aware for some time of the need to make improvements in this respect. Some progress has already been made and a programme of further improvements is in hand. It is intended that information for new and expectant mothers should be a priority, with new or improved leaflets and forms starting to appear later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his policy towards the report of the Children's Committee on"The Needs of the Under-Fives in the Family".

What the Children's Committee has produced is a discussion paper. I understand that it proposes to make recommendations in due course when it has considered: the response of interested organisations and individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of children in care for 1979–80 and 1980–81 in the following counties (a) Cheshire, (b) Staffordshire and (c) Shropshire.

I regret that these figures are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it remains his policy to adhere to the public undertaking given by him on 21 November 1980 that he would seek to persuade the House not to implement any legislation during the currency of his main agreement with the tobacco industry, namely, before the end of July 1982.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much it would cost to bring the death grant up to £150.

The cost of increasing the current £30 death grant to £150 would be an additional £70 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if there is any way known to his medical advisers of reducing the inevitability of death to those who breathe hydrogen cyanide fumes arising from burning polyurethane.

No. Exposure to hydrogen cyanide fumes arising from burning polyurethane does not inevitably cause death. The risk of death from hydrogen cyanide poisoning depends on the length of exposure and the concentration of the fumes. A lethal outcome can only be avoided by rapidly discontinuing exposure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have died as a result of gas-induced carbon monoxide poisoning in each of the past 10 years.

The information is given in the following table:

Deaths from Gas-Induced Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, 1970–1979 England and Wales.
Year	Acc idental Poisoning✶	Suicide†	Undeter mined‡	Total
1970	262	511	38	811
1971	182	346	27	555
1972	123	197	16	336
1973	93	143	9	245
1974	81	50	4	135
1975	64	23	7	94
1976	79	14	3	96
1977	75	8	5	88
1978	66	11	1	78
1979	114	9	5	128
In addition, there are some 30-60 deaths each year from carbon monoxide poisoning due to incomplete combustion of domestic fuels (coal, coke. wood, etc.)
✶ ICD E870-E872 (8th Revision), E867, E868.0, E868.1 (9th Revision)
† ICD E951
‡ ICD E981

In 1979 the 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) was introduced and figures for that year may not be strictly comparable with those for earlier years.An initial investigation suggests that the rise in the number of deaths assigned to accidental poisoning in 1979 can not be wholly ascribed to the use of the 9th revision of ICD. A detailed investigation of coding procedure is being made and results will be sent to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that general practitioners are sufficiently aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning; what plans he has to introduce a publicity programme to warn of the symptoms; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the number of general practitioners in the area covered by the Derbyshire health authority with particular reference to Bolsover; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 February 1981, c. 342]: The distribution of family doctor services is determined by the Medical Practices Committee from whom I understand that a general practice vacancy which has given rise to some difficulty in Bolsover is to be filled on 1 April.In 1979, the latest year for which figures are available, the average list size of general medical practitioners in Bolsover and in Derbyshire AHA as a whole was 2,344 and 2,429 respectively compared with an average in England of 2,286.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money was paid out in social security and all other welfare benefits in 1978, 1979 and 1980, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 February 1981, c. 457]: Expenditure on social security benefits and for free welfare milk is as follows:

Financial year	£ million
1978–79	15,312
1979–80	18,327
1980–81 (estimated)	22,100

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies are awaiting initial approval from the Manchester office of his Department of temporary employment subsidy schemes; how many companies in the North-West region are now approved for such payment; how many companies have been approved by the Manchester office but are awaiting visits by wages inspectors before they can receive cash payment; and what is the current average waiting time in the Manchester region between first submitting an application for approval and receipt of the first Ministry payment.

Employees in Employment in West Midlands					(Thousands)
Standard Industrial Classification 1968	June 1976	June 1977	June 1978	June 1979	June 1980
Agriculture, forestry, fishing	32	32	31	30	29
Mining and quarrying	26	25	25	25	25
Food, drink and tobacco	55	55	53	56	55
Coal and petroleum products	1	2	1
Chemicals and allied industries	19	21	21	23	22
Metal manufacture	116	121	120	114	105

It is not possible to produce statistics about the temporary short-time working compensation scheme analysed by company as some companies submit more than one application. It is, however, estimated that in the North-West region:

(1) there are at present 400 applications awaiting initial approval under the scheme;

(2) at present 1198 applications are approved and are receiving reimbursement under the scheme;

(3) there are 144 companies awaiting a visit from an official after the first four-week claim has been submitted;

(4) the current average time between submission of an application and receipt of first payment (which is made in arrears for each four or five-week period) is eight weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now take steps to implement fully the recommendation of the Health and Safety Commission in the report"Framing Noise Legislation" that noise in factories should be limited to 80dBA.

The report"Framing Noise Legislation" prepared by the Industrial Health Advisory Committee's sub-committee on noise recommended a limit of 90dBA over eight hours, or any equivalent exposure.I understand from the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that a consultative document containing proposals concerning regulations and a supporting code of practice dealing with protection of hearing at work will be published later this year.We shall wish to consider proposals for legislation in the light of comments which the Health and Safety Commission receive during the consultative period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed in each of the industrial sector classifications in the West Midlands in each year since 1960.

Regional employment estimates by each order of the 1968 Standard Industrial Classification are available on a comparable basis from June 1965. Information for each June from 1965 to 1975 was published in the August 1976 issue of the Employment Gazette, page 839 et seq. The following table gives corresponding information for 1976,1977 and 1978 for the West Midlands region. It also gives provisional estimates for Orders, or groups of orders for 1979 and 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the percentage increase in unemployment for (a) men, (b) women and (c) young people for each region of the United Kingdom during 1980.

Age analyses of the numbers registered as unemployed are available only in January, April, July and October. The following table gives the percentage increases between January 1980 and January 1981 in the numbers of males, females and young people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed in the areas specified.

	Percentage increase
	✶Male	✶Female	Young people under 20 years of age
South-East	75·3	71·8	113·2
East Anglia	77·1	57·6	103·4
South-West	56·6	43·9	70·8
West Midlands	106·5	81·2	105·9
East Midlands	83·0	74·4	107·9

	Wolverhampton employment office area			West Midlands region
	✶Male	✶Female	Young people under 20 years of age	✶Male	✶Female	Young people under 20 years of age
January 1980	5,483	2,858	1,930	90,990	42,297	23,486
January 1981	10,135	4,249	3,143	187,922	76,622	48,348
Percentage increase	84·8	48·7	62·8	106·5	81·2	105·9
✶ Including young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, at the latest available date, how many (a)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) young people were unemployed in (i) Wolverhampton and (ii) the West Midlands in January and December 1980; and what percentage increase in the year this represents in each case.

Age analyses of the numbers registered as unemployed are available only in January, April, July and October. The following table gives, for the areas specified, the numbers of males, females and young people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed at January 1980 and January 1981 and the percentage increases between these dates.lone mothers and

It is estimated that in 1978, the latest year for which estimates have been made, there were approximately 825,000 lone parents in Great Britain. Of these about a quarter of a million worked full-time and about 160,000 worked part-time, either as employees or as self-employed. Of the quarter of a million lone parents who worked full-time it is estimated that about two-thirds were lone mothers and a third lone fathers. It is believed that almost all lone parents working part-time are mothers, although no precise estimates are available. These estimates are based on information from the general household survey. Comparable separate estimates of self-employed lone parents are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the public expenditure cost of implementing provisions of the Education Bill, as drafted; and if he will make a statement.

As explained in the financial memorandum, the Bill's provisions should not give rise to significant additional expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if, in the light of the ruling by Mr. Justice Forbes in the High Court that Hereford and Worcester county council could not charge parents for tuition in musical instruments in schools, he proposes to advise local education authorities that those which have made charges acted illegally and should refund to parents the money collected;(2) what steps he is proposing to take following the decision in the High Court by Mr. Justice Forbes that Hereford and Worcester county council could not charge parents for tuition in musical instruments at school; and if he will make a statement.

I intend to study the implications of the High Court decision, a transcript of which is not yet available. It is too early to say how it may affect other local education authorities whose arrangements for providing tuition in musical instruments vary widely.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report details of any agreements between British institutions and the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

The Science Research Council has an agreement with the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, signed in December 1971, relating to the use of facilities at the South African astronomical observatory. I am aware of no agreements with the South African council on the part of other national scientific institutions within my right hon. and learned Friend's field of responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the OfficialReport the correspondence he has had from the Advisory Centre for Education concerning the recent report by Her Majesty's schools inspectorate and his reply.

The Advisory Centre for Education wrote to me on 19 February and I replied on 24 February. The correspondence was as follows:Rt. Hon. Mark Carlisle MPSecretary of State for EducationDepartment of Education and ScienceElizabeth HouseYork RoadLondon SE119 February 1981Dear Secretary of StateThe draft report of her Majesty's Inspectorate on the effect on the education service of local authority expenditure policies has confirmed that many local education authorities are failing in their statutory duties under the Education Act, 1944: contrary to Section 8, they are not providing schools sufficient in character and equipment to provide education appropriate for students of different ages, abilities and aptitudes; and contrary to Section 61, fees are being charged in respect of the education provided in maintained schools.It is essential, therefore, that you name these authorities who are, prima facie, breaking the law. Although we welcome the publication of the report as a tentative step towards greater official openness about conditions in schools and colleges, it is less than useful to parents and students if these LEAs are not identified. For the same reason, previous reports on expenditure policies should also be published.In the light of HM Inspectorate's irrefutable evidence, we urge you to exercise your powers under Section 99 of the Act to declare these authorities in default in respect of the duties imposed upon them, and to direct them to fulfil their legal obligations.The report also makes clear (paragraph 5) that you were aware more than a year ago of the probable effect of your government's policies on the education service; evidence of deteriorating standards, now officially documented, has been repeatedly brought to your attention by ACE and others. The policies that you have carried out over the period are wholly at odds with the duty imposed upon you by Section 1 of the 1944 Act to 'promote the education of the people of England and Wales and the progressive development of institutions devoted to that purpose, and to secure the effective execution by local authorities... of the national policy for providing a varied and comprehensive education service in every area'.As this devastating report was prepared before further demands for cuts and the announcement of the Rate Support Grant settlement which will undoubtedly accelerate the decline in standards, we, and all users of the education service, await decisive action on your part to make good, belatedly, the enormous damage that has already been inflicted on the country's schools and colleges.Yours sincerely,Nick Doylefor the Advisory Centre for EducationThis letter is being circulated to the Press.Nick Doyle Esq.Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) Ltd.18 Victoria Park SquareBethnal GreenLondon E2 9PB24 February 1981Dear Mr. Doyle,Your letter relate to the Inspectorate's draft report. The final report is being published today and I enclose a copy.The survey's purpose is to present me with an overall picture nationally. It is not a detailed report about every LEA. In every case the LEA concerned has been informed of the HMI findings on which the report is based. Much of the material on which the report is based was provided by the LEAs themselves, on the understanding that the report would not identify them.In these circumstances it would be wrong for me to link any individual LEA publicly with the report and I do not intend to do so.The evidence on which the report is based does not justify default action on my part under Section 99 of the Education Act 1944. I do not accept your assertion that LEAs are failing in their statutory duties under Sections 6 and 61 of the 1944 Act nor do I accept your view that the Rate Support Grant settlement prevents local authorities from executing effectively"the national policy for providing a varied and comprehensive education service in ever)' area" in accordance with Section 0 of the Education Act 1944. Such a service continues to be provided: the resources devoted to it are limited by what the country can afford.The HMI report reveals weaknesses only in certain institutions, and the report gives the local authorities concerned the opportunity to review their expenditure priorities to ensure that they continue to fulfil their statutory obligations.I am releasing this letter to the Press since you so released yours.Yours sincerely,Mark Carlisle.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will mitigate the effects of increased fees to be charged to students from overseas studying in the United Kingdom during 1981–82.

I have been asked to reply.The Government have decided to allocate sufficient aid funds to training programmes in 1981–82 to restore the number of new awards for students and trainees from developing countries under Government to Government programmes and the Commonwealth scholarship and fellowship plan to approximately the levels of 1978 and 1979.We have also extended for 1981–82 the fee support scheme and we plan to make up to 300 awards available under this scheme to selected privately financed post graduate students from developing countries who are suffering hardship as a result of fee increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement as to what plans he has for the fuller use of Somerset House for arts exhibition and display purposes.

I have been asked to reply.We are considering, in conjunction with the University of London, the possibility of housing the Courtauld Institute Collections in the Fine Rooms of Somerset House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal 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 Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a total of 16 cars and 19 vans in the United Kingdom and 860 vehicles in overseas posts. Rules governing their use are those established by the Civil Service Department for all Government transport.The annual total running costs for the vehicles in the United Kingdom, excluding vehicle purchase but including the cost of drivers' salaries, is about £375,000. The overseas fleet running costs, including replacement, servicing and administration, will amount to about £6 million in 1980–81.

asked the Lord Privy Seal why Her Majesty's Government endorsed the recent statement by the European Economic Community countries criticising South African action against terrorism.

The statement reflected the Government's concern, and that of the other Governments of the Ten, that the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states bordering South Africa would exacerbate tensions and run counter to the search for peaceful solutions to the problems of the region. The statement made clear that the Ten are opposed to violence, no matter where or by whom. as a means of resolving political problems.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of the release of three of the British citizens held captive in Iran, he will pay an early visit to Tehran for the purpose of obtaining the release of the remaining British prisoner, Mr. Pyke, and in restoring diplomatic and commercial relations with Iran.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to visit Tehran. The Government remain deeply concerned for the British business man, Mr. Pyke, who remains in prison in Iran. We continue to do all we can on his behalf and are asking the Iranian authorities for urgent clarification of his position.As the Government have frequently made clear, we wish to have normal relations with Iran. But the continuing uncertainties over Mr. Pyke's position make it difficult at present for us to achieve this.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the number of UNIFIL soldiers in Lebanon known or suspected to have been killed by the Palestine Liberation Organisation since that force was sent there; what is the equivalent number of killings by Major Haddad's forces; and in how many cases the responsibility for the killing is unclear.

As of 14 February, 56 UNIFIL personnel have died in South Lebanon since the force was established. The United Nations breaks this figure down as follows:

Killed by Major Haddad's militia	5
Killed by armed elements (PLO and Lebanese National Movement)	10
Killed by mines	6
Killed—responsibility undetermined	6
Accidental deaths	20
Died of natural causes	9

asked the Lord Privy Seal what assurances the United Kingdom has obtained from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany regarding the contracts of British Nuclear Fuels Limited to reprocess spent nuclear fuel from the Federal Republic of Germany.

Notes were exchanged with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on 18 July 1980 and 5 December 1980 (relating to two separate contracts) about the return of nuclear waste and the conditions under which plutonium would be returned for use in the Federal Republic. Copies of the Notes are being placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the terms of refence of the committee which is investigating Scottish and English rating.

	Primary	Secondary	Others	Total
Education authority
Roman Catholic	101,720	80,020	—	181,750
Non-denominational	443,440	330,220	43,500	817,150
All	545,160	410,240	43,500	998,900
Grant-aided
Roman Catholic	330	1,170	—	1,500
Non-denominational	6,160	10,550	720	17,430
All	6,490	11,720	720	18,930
Independent
Roman Catholic	460	860	—	1,320
Non-denominational	5,720	8,140	1,190	15,040
All	6,180	9,000	1,190	16,360

Note: Figures have been individually rounded and as a result totals may differ slightly from the sum of the individual components.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish the amounts spent by each education authority in Scotland on the education of children outwith the area covered by the authorities; and whether he will specify in which forms of education the money was spent.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of employees in Scotland on short-time working and the number of employers making use of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme.

I regret that the information is not available in the precise form requested. An estimate of the number of operatives in manufacturing industry in Scotland who were on short-time working in the week ending 13 December 1980, the latest date for which information is available, was published in the February edition of the Department of Employment Gazette—table 1.13. Estimates of short-time working among other groups of employees are not available. Records of applications under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme are not kept on a company basis.

The inter-departmental group of officials was asked to examine all possible options for the replacement of domestic rates. It has no formal terms of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total numbers of pupils in wholly public education, wholly private education and fee-assisted education, distinguishing between primary and secondary and indicating the numbers in each sector in schemes where the special factor is the religious denomination.

The numbers of pupils at September 1979 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any financial assistance for investment has been given to Bryant and May in respect of the match-making plant at Maryhill, Glasgow.

In Scotland selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 is administered by my Department. The amounts of selective financial assistance paid to firms are confidential but arrangements exist for the publication in British Business of limited information on offers of assistance to individual companies. Details of an offer by the Department to Bryant and May, Glasgow, of an interest relief grant of £11,760 were published in November 1977.Regional development grants are administered by the Department of Industry and inquiries about the payment of such grants should therefore be made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list in the Official Report the savings made by each of the departmental reviews carried out under the guidance of Sir Derek Rayner.

I am having the information collected, and will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government have authorised the supply of spare parts to South Africa for Buccaneer aircraft sold during the 1960s.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will conduct an investigation into the supply of spare parts to South Africa for Buccaneer aircraft in contravention of the United Nations mandatory arms embargo on South Africa.

The United Kingdom fulfils its obligations as regards the arms embargo against South Africa under Security Council Resolution 418. If there is any evidence of a breach of British law, Her Majesty's Government would fully investigate the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the amount of research and development taking place sponsored by the oil, gas and coal industries and by the Government and others into the abstraction of by-products from coal, such as gasification, liquefaction, oil, gas, chemicals, petrol and other premium products; and what was the amount spent in research and development in each of the last 10 years.

British Gas has a major long-term programme to develop processes to manufacture substitute natural gas and within this are constructing a commercially sized version of the slagging gasifier at its Westfield development centre.The NCB has devised two processes to produce transport fuels from coal and Government has made a major contribution to the cost of design studies for pilot plants to develop these processes.The NCB is also participating in an IEA project on coal pyrolysis aimed at liquid and gaseous products. The Government have provided a major portion of the United Kingdom's contribution to the project.The following table shows the annual expenditure by the BGC and the NCB on the abstraction of by-products from coal since 1970–71.

Year	BGC Expenditure £m	NCB Expenditure £m
1970–71	—	0·035
1971–72	—	0·2
1972–73	—	0·25
1973–74	—	0·3
1974–75	1·6	0·6
1975–76	2·4	1·4
1976–77	2·5	1·9
1977–78	2·6	1·9
1978–79	3·1	1·9
1979–80	4·9	3·5
The NCB figure for 1979–80 includes the Government contribution to the oil-from-coal pilot plant design studies. The total Government expenditure on research and development into coal conversion over the last five years amounts to about £1 million. It is not possible to provide figures for the effort or expenditure of the oil companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central of 16 February, Official Report, c. 28, when he anticipates a reduction in the range of uncertainty, at present a factor of three, in the estimates for the cost of generating electricity from wave power; and at what estimated cost in p/kwh further development will be undertaken.

A comprehensive review of the costs of electricity generation from wave energy devices is to be undertaken during the next year and is expected to reduce the present range of uncertainty.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, at a suitable time, he will consider the introduction of legislation to curtail sulphur dioxide and nitrogen emissions from coal-fired boilers in order to encourage the use and development of fluidised bed boiler plants.

The introduction of legislation to control the emission of sulphur and nitrogen oxides from combustion processes is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if any estimate has been made of the quantity of coal which would be consumed through the extensive use of fluidised bed combustion boilers of the 50,000 pp hour of steam/hot water to 80,000 pph range.

My Department's information on the number of boilers in this capacity range and their average load factor is not yet sufficiently detailed to permit estimates to be made with any confidence. However, a boiler in this size range operating at a high load factor would burn between 20,000 to 25,000 tons of coal per year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, what information he has as to the extent to which coal deteriorates if left in heaps exposed to the weather for prolonged periods and the consequential effects on price.

Weathering in stock piles has long been recognised as a factor which, if prolonged, can affect the value through a reduction in calorific value and, where relevant, an adverse effect upon coking properties. It is impossible to generalise on the extent of this deterioration.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report details of United Kingdom agreements on co-operation with South African institutions in the area of nuclear technology.

The only agreement between the United Kingdom and South Africa in the nuclear field is one between the UKAEA and the South African Atomic Energy Board which provides for the authority to make available on commercial terms consultancy services on thermal reactor safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the facts contained in the National Economic Development Council report on comparative energy prices will mean a change in his policy towards energy prices for industry; and if he will make a statement.

We have promised a quick response to the NEDC report. However, any action we take to help industry with rising energy costs will be within a framework of contiued economic pricing.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he plans to issue directives to the Gas Corporation and the Central Electricity Generating Board in respect of their pricing policy for industry, following the National Economic Development Council report on comparative energy prices; and if he will make a statement.