asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will (a) provide a list of all measures such as duties, taxation, import deposits, levies, and other controls which discriminate against Scotch whisky in Greece and (b) state what steps have been taken to emove such measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many non-tariff barriers to trade in goods have been dismantled through the European Community harmonisation measures since 1973; and which British industries have been the chief beneficiaries of these measures.

The programme for dismantling technical barriers to trade is carried out by the use of directives under Article 100 of the Treaty of Rome. The programme which was set up in 1969 and subsequently revised in 1973 comprises 240 proposals of which 126 have now been translated into directives, including 88 since 1 January 1973.

During the transitional period of Greek membership of the European Community Scotch whisky and other British exports to Greece remain subject to certain tariffs and other duties. The principal ones affecting Scotch whisky are given in the table below.The 88 directives fall into three main categories; motor vehicles, agricultural tractors and measuring instruments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British merchant vessels are registered in open registry countries; and how this figure compares with each of the years 1974 to 1980.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1981, c. 10]: There is no generally accepted definition of what constitutes an open registry. There are no official statistics on the extent to which ships under other flags are beneficially owned by United Kingdom interests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a revised version of the table given in an answer to the hon. Member for Bedford in the Official Report, 3 December 1980, relating to tax on petroleum products.

The revised table is as follows:(^*)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect of the Budget on both the retail price index and upon the price of cigarettes, expressed as a percentage.

It is estimated that the retail price index will rise by about 2 per cent. and the price of 20 king-size tipped cigarettes by about 18 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that surgical appliances, such as spinal and abdominal supports, specially designed shoes and so on, when not supplied free, but paid for by the patient, are not covered by value added taxation.

The purchase of such surgical appliances by patients is already relieved of value added tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra (a) income tax, (b) national insurance contributions and (c) average Excise duties a family with two children will pay as from April 1981 where the man's net income is (i) £200 per week, (ii) £150 per week, (iii) £100 per week and (iv) £80 per week; and what percentage loss of earnings this represents in each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the tax threshold for a two and four-child family and the eligibility for the family income supplement for a two and four-child family, together with the supplementary benefit entitlement for such a family, taking into account the Budget measures and social security changes.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the United Kingdom's gross domestic product will be equivalent to tax burden in 1981–82; and how this compares with the percentages for 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the best estimates now available of the impact so far of the Civil Service pay dispute on the Government's income.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated effect of the Budget proposals on the tax and price index.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish table 7 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report of 1981–82 at 1978–79 prices so as to be directly comparable with the corresponding table 9 in the 1980–81 Statement and Report.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1981. c. 23]: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to some recently published material. Paragraph 25 of part II of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1981–82 states that the figures at 1978–79 prices in tables 6, 8, and 9 of last year's Financial Statement and Budget Report—corresponding to tables 6, 7 and 8 of this year's issue—can be approximately translated to the price base used this year by inflating them by 16½ per cent—which was the rise in the GDP deflator between the two years as estimated at the time of the 1980 Budget. A Treasury note, "Comparisons of this year's and last year's medium-term projections of expenditure revenues and borrowing in the Financial Statement and Budget Report" revalues in this way the figures published last year and compares them with those published in table 8 of the 1981–82 Financial Statement and Budget Report. Another Treasury note, "Government Revenues from North Sea Oil and Gas"—compares the estimates of Government revenues from the North Sea given in table 7 of the 1981–82 Financial Statement and Budget Report with those published last year. Copies of these are in the Library of the House of Commons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the additional revenue from a 1 per cent. increase in value added tax.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1981. c. 24]: About £620 million in a full year.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 17 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 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 Hereford (Mr. Shepherd).

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.

One; and some 1,200.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of Energy and the Department of Health and Social Security on matters of energy pricing and assistance for the most needy people.

I am satisfied that both Departments keep closely in touch on these matters. The most recent example of this co-operation was the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services last week that supplementary benefit heating additions would be increased next November in line with the expected rise in fuel prices. In this way we aim to maintain the extra purchasing power given to heating additions last November when we boosted them to their highest ever real value.

asked the Prime Minister whether she intends to hold further discussions with Heads of Government of the North Atlantic Treaty Powers about introducing an enhanced radiation weapon; and whether she will make a statement.

There are no proposals currently before NATO for the deployment of an enhanced radiation weapon; we shall participate fully in Alliance discussion of any proposals that come forward.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the reasons for having a child benefit scheme.

It has for long been the view of all parties that our tax and benefit systems should recognise the needs of families with children, and should differentiate between such families and those without responsibilities for children. Child tax allowances achieved this but gave no help to families below the tax threshold. Family allowances did not recognise the first child. Child benefit, which replaced both allowances, was introduced in 1977 with the support of all parties. I am glad that, even in the very difficult circumstances of this year, we have been able to increase child benefit by about 10½ per cent. and so honour the pledge given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 28 July last year.

asked the Prime Minister when she next plans to meet the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister when she intends next to meet the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland.

I expect to do so at the European Council in the Netherlands on 23–24 March.

asked the Prime Minister what further discussions she has had with the President of the United States of America regarding the possible creation of a rapid deployment force.

None since I reported to the House on 2 March about my talks with President Reagan.

asked the Prime Minister how many separate investigations into leakages of official information have now been carried out by the present Government; which Departments have been subject to investigation; whether security-sensitive documents have been involved; what classification they have had and for which Departments, respectively; who has been responsible for carrying out investigations in each case; how many man hours have been spent, approximately, on each investigation and at what cost to public funds; which investigations have been concluded and what actions have been taken as a consequence; and whether any prosecutions under the Official Secrets Act have been considered or initiated.

It would be inappropriate to disclose this information.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to undertake a national referendum of the closed shop and recommend to the House the implementation of the result.

The Government are opposed to the principle of the closed shop and share fully the public indignation which recent cases involving a number of local authority employees have caused. We have already, after thorough public consultations, introduced new protection for those affected by closed shops, in the Employment Act 1980, and its accompanying code of practice. More recently, in January, the Government published a Green Paper—Cmnd. 8128—on the subject of trade union immunities which discusses further measures, including some relating to closed shops, and we have asked for comments on the Green Paper by 30 June. In the circumstances, I do not believe that a referendum would be useful, but I would urge all those with experience of the operation of closed shops to submit their views to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment by 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether any changes have been made in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) as a substitute member in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many breaches of the code of practice on disconnections have been reported by each area electricity consultative council and gas consumer council.

I am asking the chairmen of the National Gas Consumers' council and the Electricity Consumers' Council to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to create a strategic stockpile of coal totalling up to 8 million tons; and if he will undertake a survey of the storage facilities which could be used for such a stockpile.

No. Substantial stocks of coal are held in the United Kingdom on a commercial basis by NCB and by coal consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates to be the cost of stockpiling 1 million tonnes of coal per annum.

I am informed by the NCB that the present cost to revenue account of putting coal to stock rather than selling it is some £6 to £7 per tonne including interest in the first year. The subsequent cost of maintaining coal in stock would depend on the length of time for which stocks were held, and the interest charge for financing the stocking.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is expected to be the impact of the deferment of pit closures upon electricity consumers.

The price and supply of coal for electricity generation are a matter for commercial discussion between the NCB and the generating boards.I am discussing with the NCB the revision of its financial arrangements in the light, inter alia, of the agreement between the NCB and the mining unions that pit closures would again be dealt with under the industry's normal consultative procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates will be the total demand for coal this year and the subsidy that would be required if all production subject to normal stocking should be sold.

I estimate that United Kingdom demand for coal during the present financial year 1980–81 might be 122 million tonnes. I have no plans at present to publish a forecast of demand for future years. It would not be reasonable to try to match production and sales of coal over a single year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the collieries closed each year since 1974 and the nature of the pledge given by the industry in the "Plan for Coal"; and to what extent pit closures have fallen behind schedule.

The details of individual pit closures are a matter for the National Coal Board and I have asked the chairman of the board to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there is any restriction upon the sale by the Central Electricity Generating Board of suitably located coal-fired power stations in excess of the board's requirements.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he anticipates the European Commission will give its full report on the comparative study on energy pricing policies; and, in the interim, if he is planning any steps to protect the position of United Kingdom industry.

The Commission study is being prepared in time for the next Energy Council planned for June. The Government have just announced a £168 million package aimed at helping industrial energy consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will invite the European Commission, apart from examining the evidence of fuel subsidies in the European Economic Community, to compare the relative costs of the production of electricity in France and the United Kingdom, and determine the urgency or otherwise of a large nuclear programme.

At the Energy Council in May 1980 the Community agreed guidelines for investment in energy supplies, including nuclear power. The Commission has recently reviewed progress towards these guidelines. On the basis of that review the Energy Council on 3 March invited the Commission to examine the need to go further than the investment levels currently fixed and, if necessary, to propose measures to attain the guideline objectives.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is considering additional steps apart from reference to the European Commission of a comparative study of energy pricing policies in the European Economic Community to ensure that bulk electricity users in the United Kingdom are not at a disadvantage with companies operating in France and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Government's view is that European electricity prices should be related to the continuing costs of supply. These costs will vary between countries depending on the structure of their supply systems. The Government have announced that the electricity supply industry is to offer new flexibility in its pricing arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to break the link between the price of gas supply contracts and the level of heavy fuel oil duty.

Any decision to renegotiate gas supply contracts is a matter for the parties to the contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which gas supply contracts link the price of gas to the British Gas Corporation to the level of fuel oil duty; which body was responsible for negotiating these contracts; and whether the contracts were specifically reviewed and approved by his Department.

Details of individual gas supply contracts are commercially confidential. Contracts for sale of gas to the British Gas Corporation were negotiated between it—or its predecessors—and the producers. My Department has not reviewed and approved contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what would be the increase in the cost of gas to the British Gas Corporation of a reduction in the level of fuel oil duty by (a) 25 per cent., (b) 50 per cent., (c) 75 per cent., and (d) 100 per cent.

This concerns the contents of confidential commercial contracts, and is essentially a matter for the British Gas Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average length of time spent in custody by (a) males and (b) females sentenced to borstal training.

The average time spent in custody, after sentence, by those discharged from borstal training in 1979 was about nine months for males and about eight months for females. Information for 1980 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of time spent in Bullwood Hall borstal by young women discharged from there in 1980.

The average time spent in Bullwood Hall borstal by females discharged in 1979 was about six months. Information for 1980 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the names and addresses of all the chief constables in England.

This information is contained in the "Police and Constabulary Almanac, Official Register for 1981", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the grades and salaries for each grade of police constables in the London Metropolitan area, including the value of allowances.

The current rates of basic pay for members of the Metropolitan Police are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expense was incurred in entertaining members of the press at Stormont on the occasion when he gave his assurances on the Dublin summit.

£126·23.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expense was incurred in hosting the recent dinner in the Stormont Parliament building on the occasion of the visit to Northern Ireland by the Prime Minister.

Approximately £1,220.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why subsidy was paid on 56, Carlisle Park, Ballynahinch, in view of the fact that the loadbearing walls contain materials for which no British Standard exists, and whose structure violates byelaws 11, 14, 16, 31, 57, 46, 47, and 53.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1981.] Payment of private enterprise housing subsidy is a responsibility for local authorities in Northern Ireland.I am advised that the former East Down rural district council paid subsidy in respect of 56, Carlisle Park, Ballynahinch, on 13 March 1972 on being satisfied that the dwelling conformed to specifications and plans which the council had approved under the Housing (Owner Occupation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether any planned trunk road improvement schemes in South-West Wales have been delayed.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the right hon. and learned Member for Aberavon (Mr. Morris) on 18 February and 9 March and to his own question on 12 March.—[Vol. 999, c. 147–148; Vol. 1000, c. 243; Vol. 1000, c. 408.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will bring forward planned trunk road improvements in South-West Wales in order to improve employment prospects in Dyfed.

The ability to bring forward the starting dates of trunk road improvement schemes is constrained by the need to complete satisfactorily the engineering design and the necessary statutory and contractual procedures relating to each scheme. I am pleased to say that all these processes for the Carmarthen southern by-pass and the Pontyfenni diversion are complete. Work on the former has already started and I expect the contract for the latter to be let next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what financial measures are being devoted to ensure that more resources will be devoted to non-Welsh speaking children under 5 years old in the year 1981–82 as compared with the previous year; and if he is satisfied that the money available is adequate compared with the money made available for Welsh language education for the under-fives on a child-by-child basis.

The general provision for nursery education makes no distinction between Welsh speaking and non-Welsh speaking children.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's estimate of the effect of the proposals contained in the public expenditure White Paper on the number of lecturers employed in the institutes and colleges of higher education in Wales.

This information is not available separately for institutes and colleges of higher education in Wales. The Government's expenditure plans assume that the total number of full-time equivalent teachers employed in all colleges of further and higher education in Wales will decline by 10 per cent. between 1978–79 and 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's estimate of the effect of the proposals contained in the public expenditure White Paper on the intake of students in teacher training colleges in Wales.

We do not expect the Government's public expenditure plans to have any direct effect on the intake of students to teacher training in the public sector in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the average waiting times for admission to hospitals in Wales for treatment in each of the main specialities.

Information at the level of detail requested is derived from data files held on the WHTSO computer. Due to industrial action at the computer centre it is impossible at present to extract these figures. I shall write to the right hon. and learned Member with the information as soon as this problem is resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities in Wales are now operating low-cost home ownership schemes; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available, since we do not seek regular returns of current low cost home ownership schemes. Officials of the Welsh Office are currently showing groups of authorities the film "A First Home" and discussing with them the various ways in which they might develop future schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any further plans to build advance factories in Ceredigion during the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

The most recent factory building programme put forward by the Development Board for Rural Wales, covering projects to be planned and started during 1981–82—which I approved in January—includes six projects in Ceredigion, three in Aberystwyth and three in Cardigan. Developments in the period 1982–83 and thereafter have yet to be decided. But in formulating its proposals for these years the board will continue to give full consideration to the needs of Ceredigion within its overall development strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide a breakdown of the 81,187 employee population for Port Talbot, Bridgend, Cymmer, Maesteg and Porthcawl into each of these areas and into male and female.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the employment that would be provided if the Nissan project came to Wales.

Direct employment would be 4,000 to 5,000. There would also be substantial indirect employment benefits. No decision has yet been taken on where, within the United Kingdom, the proposed project would be located.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in restoring the annual rate of increase in real terms in defence expenditure to the 3 per cent. agreed as the NATO target.

Defence spending since the Government came into office and our forward plans are in line with the undertaking to NATO to aim for real increases in defence spending in the region of 3 per cent. a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with representatives of Saudi Arabia and the Emirates concerning defence problems in that area; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today. I will be visiting Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain next week at the invitation of their respective Governments to discuss matters of common interest with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in planning a NATO rapid deployment force for use in the Gulf.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what consideration has been given to the possible creation of a rapid deployment force.

I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Defence Ministers of NATO countries on the subject of rapid deployment forces outside the NATO area.

At the December 1980 meeting of NATO's defence planning committee, Defence Ministers of NATO countries acknowledged that events outside the NATO area can bear directly on the security of all member countries. They recognised the benefits for the protection of essential interests of all member nations of the actions taken by the United States and others to deploy forces in the Indian Ocean and Gulf area.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, further to his reply of 17 February, Official Report, col. 130, he has reached any new estimate of the amount by which defence expenditure will exceed cash limits this year; and what new steps he has taken to restrain expenditure.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on that occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet made a decision as to the Gazelle observation aid.

A decision has now been made to award the contract for the Gazelle observation aid to Ferranti Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is prepared to review the decision to allow the placing of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the progress of discussions among the North Atlantic Treaty powers about introducing an enhanced radiation weapon in the capability of the central front forces.

Although the matter has been discussed in the past, there are currently no proposals before NATO for the deployment of enhanced radiation weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that aircrew in Royal Air Force squadron service gain adequate flying experience.

as I said in answer to the hon. Member's question on 4 November 1980-[Vol. 991, c. 531–32] —Royal Air Force aircrew are given sufficient flying experience to achieve and maintain a high standard of performance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on Anglo-United States collaboration over the AV8B aircraft project.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence discussed this project with the United State Secretary of Defence during his visit to Washington last week. The attitude of the United States Government is most encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the cost of the electronic equipment used in the Trident programme will be spent with British firms manufacturing in the United Kingdom.

The strategic weapon system—that is, the missiles and the equipment related to the missiles—will be purchased from the United States of America. The submarines will be built in the United Kingdom, and I would expect a very large proportion of the equipment, including electronic equipment, in the submarines to be manufactured here. We estimate that at least 70 per cent. of the total expenditure on the programme, including shore facilities, will be spent in the United Kingdom. I cannot give a more precise breakown of costs because decisions on submarine design have not yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next proposes to meet the United States Minister of Defence to discuss military co-operation within the Alliance.

I met the United States Defence Secretary, Mr. Caspar Weinberger, in Washington on 11 March. I expect to meet him again at the spring meetings of the NATO nuclear planning group and defence planning committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his visit to the United States of America.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire West (Mr. Parris).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of last year's school leavers are still unemployed in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) Kirklees, (c) Huddersfield, (d) Greater Manchester and (e) Oldham; and what percentage these numbers represent of the total number of school leavers for each area.

The statistics do not indicate the numbers of last year's school leavers who are still unemployed. For this reason, and because the latest numbers of school leavers available from the Department of Education and Science are for the academic year 1978–79, it is not possible to provide the percentages requested. The following table gives the numbers of unemployed school leavers under 18 years of age in the areas specified at March 1980, before the Easter leaving date, and at February 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will take steps to locate the headquarters of Community Industry in an area of high unemployment, such as Kirkby where a site at Kirkby Fields is ready;(2) if he will make a full statement on the reasons why Community Industry has decided not to locate its headquarters in an area of high unemployment;(3) how many staff will be working at the headquarters of Community Industry;(4) if he will estimate the annual funds that the location of the headquarters of Community Industry will bring to the area in which it is relocated, the total number of workers, of all kinds that it will employ and the number that will be recruited locally.

Community Industry has recently carried out an internal investigation into the question of relocating its headquarters. Various options for a new site were considered, including that at Kirkby Fields, but CI management recommended that, although there were potential long-term advantages in relocating the headquarters in the North, it was not in the best interests of the scheme to make such a move at this time. The national management board of CI endorsed this recommendation on the grounds that during a period when CI was expanding its programme and consolidating its role, it was essential to maintain stability at headquarters especially in terms of staffing.At present the staffing complement of CI's headquarters is 27, and the estimated cost of operating the headquarters during 1979–80 was £369,974, at its present site.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what amendment to the rate of allowance for the job release scheme is to be made in April in accordance with the provisions published in the leaflet "Job Release Scheme for Disabled Men, aged 60 to 63"; and if no amendment is to be made, if he will give the reasons.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Montgomery) on 26 February 1981—[Vol. 996, c. 410],—in which I gave details of the job release allowances which will apply from 6 April 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the percentage unemployment rate for each region in the European Economic Community at the latest available date.

Recent figures have been requested from the statistical office of the European Communities and when they are received I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers, respectively, have been prosecuted under section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 during each of the 12-month periods since that Act came into force; and with what result.

Full information in the form requested is not available. The categories of suppliers are

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers during each of the most recent 24 months for which records are available have been prosecuted under the Employment Protection Act 1975 for failing to notify him of intended redundancies; and with what results.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many protective awards have been applied for under the Employment Protection Act 1975 during each of the latest 24 months for which records are available; and with what results.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers and how many employees, respectively, have been prosecuted under sections 2 and 3, respectively, of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 during each of the 12-month periods since that Act came into force; and with what result.

Employees are not liable for prosecution under sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The following table covers prosecutions by the Health and Safety Executive under sections 2 and 3. Full corresponding information is not available about prosecutions by local authorities. The analysis is by informations rather than cases; one case can cover a number of informations.not mutually exclusive; only limited information is available about local authority prosecutions; and the analysis of Health and Safety Executive prosecutions is in terms of informations laid rather than cases—one case can cover a number of informations. The available information is shown below.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether, having regard to the current level of unemployment, he will introduce legislation to impose minimum holiday entitlement for all employees;(2) whether, in view of the current levels of unemployment he will seek to ensure a shorter working day, working week and working life.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1981, c. 27]: No. Any action which raises unit labour costs would weaken the competitive position of British industry and have an adverse effect on employment.