Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 19 March 1981

Duchy Of Lancaster

Sir Peter Hayman

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will move to set up a Select Committee to investigate the security implications of the entries contained within the volumes of Sir Peter Hayman's diaries referred to in the trial of Tom O'Carroll at the Old Bailey.

No.

Members Of Parliament (Salaries)

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in view of the fact that wage, salary and other income grants to public servants have varied between 11, 12 and 17 per cent., and that national average incomes have risen by 17 per cent. over the past 12 months, to what extent he expects to increase hon. Members' salaries, on this basis or that as now offered to the Civil Service.

Hon. Members will receive an increase in salary to £13,150 per annum with effect from 13 June 1981, this being the third stage of the increase approved by the House in July 1979 and updated by 9·6 per cent. in July 1980. No decision has yet been taken on any further increase. The Government will make proposals at the appropriate time in the light of the general economic circumstances.

Attorney-General

Sir Peter Hayman

asked the Attorney-General if he will prosecute Sir Peter Hayman under the Post Office Acts for sending and receiving pornographic material through the Royal Mail.

In 1978 a packet containing obscene literature and written material was found in a London bus. The subsequent police investigation revealed a correspondence of an obscene nature between Sir Peter Hayman and a number of other persons. Altogether a total of seven men and two women were named as possible defendants in the report submitted by the Metropolitan Police to the Director of Public Prosecutions.The Director advised against prosecuting any of the nine persons either under section 11 of the Post Office Act 1953 or for any other offence. Among the considerations he took into account were the factors that the correspondence had been contained in sealed envelopes passing between adult individuals in a non-commercial context and that none of the material was unsolicited.Subsequently the Metropolitan Police submitted a further report which revealed that one of the nine, not Sir Peter Hayman, was also carrying on a correspondence with a tenth person. The police investigation showed that the two shared an obsession about the systematic killing by sexual torture of young people and children. In view of the extreme nature of the material they had sent each other, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided to prosecute them for conspiring to contravene section 11 of the 1953 Act. There is no evidence that Sir Peter Hayman has ever sent or received material of this kind through the post.It has been suggested that Sir Peter Hayman was considered as a possible defendant following the police investigation into the conduct of the Paedophile Information Exchange which led to the recent trial at the Central Criminal Court for conspiracy to corrupt public morals. That prosecution was against persons alleged to have been involved in the management or organisation of PIE. Although Sir Peter Hayman had subscribed to PIE, that is not an offence and there is no evidence that he was ever involved in the management. At the recent trial, whilst there were general references to members of PIE, including, though not by name, Sir Peter Hayman, there was no reference to any material produced by him or found in his possession.I am in agreement with the Director of Public Prosecutions' advice not to prosecute Sir Peter Hayman and the other persons with whom he had carried on an obscene correspondence.The Director of Public Prosecutions and I remain determined that, where the evidence justifies it, prosecutions will be brought in cases involving sexual acts with children or offences under the Protection of Children Act 1978—indecent photographs of children.

Personal Injury Cases (Damages)

asked the Attorney-General if he will estimate, for each of the last 10 years, the amount of damages for personal injuries awarded by courts in England and Wales which was referable to the plaintiff's medical expenses; and if he will publish such figures as a percentage of total damages awards for each of these years.

The information needed to make this estimate is not collected.

Barristers (Dress)

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation which would enable him to set aside rules or conventions under which a barrister at law is required to wear prescribed clothing when addressing or attending any court, with a view to ensuring that the only requirement that may be made should be that members of the legal profession should be reasonably dressed.

No.

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Personal Injuries (Damages)

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will estimate, for each of the last 10 years, the amount of damages for personal injuries awarded by courts in Scotland which was referable to the pursuer's medical expenses; and if he will publish such figures as a percentage of total damages awards for each of these years.

No statistics are available and it would cost too much to obtain them.

Scotland

Solvents (Abuse)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths were attributed to solvent abuse in the latest available year; and if he will provide a breakdown for each health board area.

In 1979 two deaths were recorded, one each in Grampian and Lothian health board areas, as due to inhalation of solvent vapours.

Sheltered Housing Project (Maryhill)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Housing Corporation has allocated towards the Loretto housing association for its 28 units sheltered housing project in Maryhill approved by the Scottish Development Department at a cost of £455,000.

The distribution between individual housing associations of the £72·8 million which will be available for housing association schemes in Scotland in 1981–82 is the responsibility of the Housing Corporation. I shall ask the corporation's chief officer for Scotland to write to the hon. Member.

Trade

Bradford Exchange Limited

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why his Department exempted the Bradford Exchange Limited, of 24–28 London Road, Wembley, Middlesex, from listing its directors on its letterhead as required under section 201 of the Companies Act 1948.

Exemptions may be granted where

"special circumstances … render it … expedient".

They are given in cases where frequent changes of director would lead to unacceptable printing expenses and in cases where the disclosure of particular directors' names could adversely affect the commercial interest of the company. It is not the practice to indicate which reason applies in a particular case.

Insurance Companies (Repudiation Of Liability)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether he will seek to introduce legislation to remove the exemption of insurance companies against the limits placed on exclusion clauses by the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977;(2) whether he will seek to introduce legislation to remove the right of insurers to repudiate liability if the assured fails to supply information not requested by the insurer.

The right of insurers to avoid a contract of insurance in cases of non-disclosure of information not specifically requested of the policyholder is a matter examined in the Law Commission's report "Non-Disclosure and Breach of Warranty—Cmnd. 8064". My Department is engaged in consultation on the report, and decisions as to legislation, including any possible amendment to the Unfair Contract Terms Act, must await completion of that process.

Caravans (Code Of Practice)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he will publish the code of practice to be applied to caravan owners and caravan site operators in the United Kingdom; and if the code will be enforceable through legal action if a contract is violated by either party to the contract.

The Director General of Fair Trading is discussing a draft code of practice for holiday caravan sites with the National Caravan Council and the National Federation of Site Operators. He and the associations will no doubt publish the code if agreement is reached.A holiday caravan owner would not be able, through legal action, to enforce his rights under a voluntary code of practice. The draft code does, however, provide for site operators to offer written contracts to caravan owners. Such contracts would, of course, be legally enforceable in the normal manner.

Aircraft Accident (Tenerife)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has received the report of the commission of inquiry on the accident to the Dan Air Boeing 727 at Tenerife in April 1980; and when he now expects to be in a position to publish it.

The report upon the accident to the Dan Air Boeing 727 at Tenerife on 25 April 1980 has not been received by my Department. On Monday 9 March 1981 a telegram from Madrid indicated that the report had been completed and that a copy of the definitive text would be sent to the Department by the end of that week.When the report has been received and translated the Secretary of State will be in a position to make a decision on its publication.

Tamworth Industrial Fabrics Ltd (Correspondence)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why his Department's export intelligence branch at Export House, 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4, has not replied to letters received from Tamworth Industrial Fabrics Ltd., dated 3 February and 2 March; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 18 March.

Royal Bank Of Scotland And Lloyds And Scottish Finance Group (Mergers)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will refer the takeover bids by Standard Chartered Bank for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group and by Lloyds Bank for the Lloyds and Scottish Finance Group to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will, after consultation with the Director General of Fair Trading, refer the proposed merger of the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Standard Chartered Bank to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

My right hon. Friend will announce his decisions as soon as practicable.

Trust House Forte Ltd—Savoy Group

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will, after consultation with the Director General of Fair trading, refer the bid by Trust House Forte Ltd. for the Savoy group of companies to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

My right hon. Friend will announce his decisions as soon as practicable.

Full-Line Forcing And Tie-In Sales (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on full-line forcing and tie-in sales is to be published; and if he will make a statement.

The report is published today.The commission has studied the general effect on the public interest of the practices covered by the reference. On the evidence available it finds that the effect of the practices varies considerably with the circumstances in which they occur and is not consistently harmful, beneficial, or neutral. The proportion of cases in which the practices operate against the public interest is not sufficiently high to justify a general prohibition. In particular cases the practices may be harmful, but the commission believes that the existing provisions of the Competition Act which provide for a case-by-case approach and, where necessary, of the Fair Trading Act, are sufficient in general for adequate control of such cases. The commission suggests guidelines for the identification of practices which may need further investigation.The practices were referred to the commission for investigation in April 1979. The reference, made under section 78 of the Fair Trading Act 1973, required the commission to report on the general effect on the public interest of the practice of requiring purchasers of one type of goods or services to acquire other goods or services as a condition of supply. This definition covers the practices commonly known as "tie-in sales", where a particular good or service cannot be acquired without another specified item, and "line-forcing" or "full-line forcing", where one item cannot be acquired from a range without some or all of the remaining items.The commission finds that practices covered by the reference are not uncommon, but that their character varies considerably with the circumstances of the sector in which they are found. "Tie-in sales" are commonly found in connection with machines and equipment, especially where it is supplied on rental or under service agreements and guarantees. Tying conditions may require the user to accept the supplier's servicing facilities, spare parts, or related products. A similar type of tying arrangement occurs when goods for sale are supplied in connection with storage or dispensing equipment. "Full-line forcing" in the strict sense appears to be relatively uncommon. "Line forcing" of a more limited kind is more common, especially in connection with "agency" arrangements in retailing.

The commission's report includes brief surveys of the effects of practices covered by the reference in connection with particular products or services, including copying machines, computers, cosmetics, shoe retailing, franchise distribution systems, certain aspects of the brewery trade, petroleum products, insurance agency, agricultural equipment and supplies, pharmaceuticals, and the supply of television advertising time.

The commission finds that the effects of the practices vary according to circumstances such as the type of product, the form of the tying condition—including the degree of exclusivity—and the strength of competition in the relevant markets. In some cases arrangements are justified for technical reasons, or lead to a reduction in costs. But where the supplier enjoys substantial market power, the practices may simply represent the exercise of monopoly power in one market to restrict competition in another. The commission emphasises that in some cases the issues are complex, and that it was not always able to examine particular industries in sufficient depth to reach firm conclusions.

The commission's main aim in the investigation was to establish whether the practices covered by the reference are invariably, or almost invariably, against the public interest, and therefore merit being singled out for special treatment. It has concluded that this is not the case. Although the practices may give rise to concern, in a significant proportion of cases there is no evident detriment to the public interest. A general prohibition of the practices would not be justified. Any new legislation would need to make provision for exemptions, and a large number of cases would have to be considered on their merits. There would be serious problems in defining the practices to be covered by the legislation. Overall, there would be no significant advantages in this approach as compared with existing means of investigation. The commission recommends continued use of the Competition Act, or, where a practice gives rise to concern throughout an industry, the complex monopoly provisions of the Fair Trading Act. In identifying cases which may give rise to concern, relevant considerations include the degree of market power the supplier enjoys in the market for the goods or service to which the conditions are attached, and the structure of the market for the other goods or services concerned. Other relevant factors include the degree of exclusivity insisted on, and any technical arguments which may be put forward in favour of the practice.

I accept the commission's conclusion that at present there is no need for legislation to prohibit these practices. The report will be useful in identifying circumstances in which the practices may be harmful. The Director General of Fair Trading will be able to take the findings of the commission into account when considering action under the Competition Act.

Export And Import Markets

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the top 10 countries for United Kingdom exports and trade success together with the value of the business; and how much trade is to EEC member countries.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 March 1981, c. 213–14]: The revised information is as follows:

United Kingdom's top 10 export markets in 1980
Country	1980 value
	£ billion
Federal Republic of Germany	5·1
United States of America	4·5
Netherlands	3·8
France	3·6
Irish Republic	2·6
Belgium/Luxembourg	2·3
Switzerland	2·0
Italy	1·9
Sweden	1·6
Nigeria	1·2

The value of United Kingdom exports to the European Community—including Greece —in 1980 amounted to£20·5 billion.Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom (1981 classification basis).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list separately the United Kingdom's top 20 export and import markets, both including and excluding trade in oil and precious metals or stones, both in absolute and percentage terms, for each of the last years.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 March 1981,c. 381]: Provision of the full information would require a great deal of data extraction and compilation which could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is readily available for 1980 is given in the following tables:

United Kingdom imports in 1980: top 20 suppliers
	£ million O.T.S. basis
	Value	Percentage of total imports
1. United States of America	6,034	12·1
2. Federal Republic of Germany	5,666	11·4
3. France	3,851	7·7
4. Netherlands	3,407	6·8
5. Belgium/Luxembourg	2,384	4·8
6. Italy	2,304	4·6
7. Switzerland	1,897	3·8
8. Saudi Arabia	1,887	3·8
9. Irish Republic	1,773	3·6
10. Japan	1,709	3·4
11. Sweden	1,472	3·0
12. Norway	1,441	2·9
13. Canada	1,425	2·9
14. Denmark	1,102	2·2
15. Hong Kong	850	1·7
16. Spain	795	1·6
17. Finland	793	1·6
18. South Africa	752	1·5
19. Kuwait	648	1·3
20. Singapore	536	1·1
Total imports	49,886	—

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom (1981 classification basis).

United Kingdom exports in 1980: top 20 markets
	£ million O.T.S. basis
	Value	Percentage of total exports
1. Federal Republic of Germany	5,071	10·7
2. United States of America	4,535	9·6
3. Netherlands	3,843	8·1
4. France	3,586	7·6
5. Irish Republic	2,586	5·6
6. Belgium/Luxembourg	2,259	4·8
7. Switzerland	1,953	4·1

	Value	Percentage of total exports
8. Italy	1,896	4·0
9. Sweden	1,618	3·4
10. Nigeria	1,195	2·5
11. Denmark	1,030	2·2
12. South Africa	998	2·1
13. Saudi Arabia	946	2·0
14. Australia	815	1·7
15. Norway	792	1·7
16. Canada	751	1·6
17. Spain	702	1·5
18. Japan	596	1·3
19. Hong Kong	559	1·2
20. India	529	1·1
Total exports	47,339	—

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom (1981 classification basis).

United Kingdom imports excluding oil^, precious stones† and precious metals‡ in 1980: top 20 suppliers*
	£ million O.T.S. basis
	Value	Percentage of total║
1. United States of America	5,617	13·8
2. Federal Republic of Germany	5,350	13·2
3. France	3.454	8·5
4. Netherlands	2,593	6·4
5. Italy	2,049	5·0
6. Belgium/Luxembourg	1,783	4·4
7. Irish Republic	1,735	4·3
8. Japan	1,650	4·1
9. Canada	1,415	3·5
10. Sweden	1,403	3·5
11. Norway	1,099	2·7
12. Denmark	1,060	2·6
13. Hong Kong	820	2·0
14. Switzerland	780	1·9
15. Finland	770	1·9
16. Spain	697	1·7
17. South Africa	639	1·6
18. Singapore	528	1·3
19. Australia	474	1·2
20. New Zealand	415	1·0
Total║	40,643	—
^* SITC Division 33.
† SITC Division 66.
‡SITC Group 681.
║ Excluding oil, precious stones and precious metals.

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom (1981 classification basis).

United Kingdom exports excluding oil^, precious stones† and precious metals‡in 1980: top 20 markets*
	£ million O.T.S. basis
	Value	Percentage of total║
1. Federal Republic of Germany	3,690	9·7
2. United States of America	3,235	8·5
3. France	3,012	7·9
4. Netherlands	2,489	6·5
5. Irish Republic	2,198	5·8
6. Belgium/Luxembourg	1,751	4·6
7. Italy	1,714	4·5
8. Nigeria	1,146	3·0
9. Sweden	1,082	2·8
10. South Africa	965	2·5
11. Switzerland	872	2·3
12. Saudi Arabia	743	2·2
13. Australia	787	2·1
14. Spain	673	1·8
15. Canada	666	1·7

	Value	Percentage of total║
16. Denmark	615	1·6
17. Norway	578	1·5
18. Japan	551	1·4
19. Hong Kong	530	1·4
20. Soviet Union	452	1·2
Total║	38,194	—
^* SITC Division 33.
† SITC Division 66.
‡ SITC Group 681.
║ Excluding oil, precious stones and precious metals.

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom (1981 classification basis).

Prime Minister

Engagements

Q6.

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

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 19 March.

Q9.

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

Q10.

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

Q11.

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

Q12.

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

Q13.

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

Q14.

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

Q15.

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

Q16.

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

Q17.

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

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 19 March.

Q19.

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

Q20.

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

Q21.

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

Q23.

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

Q24.

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

Q26.

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

Q27.

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

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

Q30.

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

Q31.

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

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister if she wall list her official engagements for Thursday 19 March.

Q34.

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

Q35.

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

Q36.

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

Q37.

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

Q39.

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

Q40.

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

Q41.

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

Q42.

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

Q43.

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

Q44.

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

Q45.

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

Q46.

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

Q47.

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

Q48.

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

Q49.

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

Q50.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 19 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 Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).

Central Policy Review Staff

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if she will dismiss the Central Policy Review Staff.

No.

Caernarfon

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister when next she plans to visit Caernarfon.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Pensioners' Lobby

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister what were her reasons for refusing to meet the pensioners' lobby on 4 March; and if she will make a statement.

I am always ready to meet my own constituents in the constituency; otherwise delegations are received by the Secretary of State of the Department concerned. Consequently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services met the delegation on my behalf, and had a useful discussion with it.

Interception Of Communications (Diplock Report)

Q29.

asked the Prime Minister what action she proposes to take on the report by Lord Diplock on the interception of communications in Great Britain.

I have noted Lord Diplock's conclusions in his report and the fact that he proposes to continue with a system of random checks. At present I see no need for further action.

Mintlaw

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Mintlaw in the East Aberdeenshire constituency.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Factory Closures

Q38.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the numbers 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 100.

Dunlop Ltd

asked the Prime Minister if the £6·1 million promised to Dunlop Ltd. in her speech of 29 July 1980, Volume 989, column 1311 counts against the public sector borrowing requirement for the present year in view of her answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Snape) Official Report, 2 March 1981, column 42, stating that the company has not yet claimed the money.

Any payments made against the offers of assistance will contribute to the public sector borrowing requirement in the year in which they are made. As no claims have been made to date the public sector borrowing requirement for this year is unaffected.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Green Pound

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he is not proposing to revalue the green pound.

I do not consider that a revaluation of the green pound would be justified at the present time.

Tate And Lyle Refinery, Liverpool

11.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange, by the Prime Minister on 25 February, Official Report, c. 371, what meetings he has held concerning the proposed closure of the Tate and Lyle refinery, Liverpool.

As the hon. Member knows, I have received delegations whose members have included Merseyside hon. Members, Members of the European Parliament, trade union leaders, representatives of a wide variety of Merseyside interests and of Tate and Lyle management and workers.

Common Agricultural Policy

15.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards the radical reform of the common agricultural policy.

Average increases in common prices have been held to only 3 per cent. a year in the last two price fixings, while in 1980 common agricultural policy expenditure rose at only half the rate of the previous five years.

Pre-Packaged Foods (Cost)

16.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will conduct a survey to see whether pre-packaging of certain foods forces single persons and the elderly to buy more than they wish to.

No. I have no grounds for believing that such a problem exists.

Agriculture Industry (Employment)

20.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present level of employment in the agriculture industry as a proportion of the total work force in the United Kingdom.

The estimate of agricultural manpower for 1980 is 2·7 per cent. of total civilian manpower, engaged in all occupations.

Agricultural Training Board

21.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions have taken place between his Department and representatives of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers on the future activities of the Agricultural Training Board.

Questions concerning the Agricultural Training Board are among matters which are discussed from time to time with representatives of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers.

Milk

22.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of United Kingdom milk production went for manufacturing; and what percentage was sold on the liquid market in the past year.

In 1980, 52·6 per cent. of total sales of milk off farms was used for manufacture and 47·4 per cent. was sold on the liquid market.

Fish Stocks

23.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he plans to take to protect fish stocks around United Kingdom coasts in the coming year.

The best protection for fish stocks would be agreement on a satisfactory comprehensive common fisheries policy covering total allowable catches and national quotas for the various stocks, technical measures of conservation, access limitations in coastal waters and adequate measures for control. We shall continue to work for this.

Agricultural Wages

24.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total agricultural wages bill for the last financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not available for financial years. The most recent information on the agricultural wages bill in the United Kingdom is set out in table 21 of the White Paper on the annual review of agriculture 1981—Cmnd. 8132.

Milk Marketing Board

25.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when next he plans to meet the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board to discuss the planning of the future operational strategy of the board.

Although I frequently meet the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board, the board's operational strategy is for him and the rest of the board to determine.

Agricultural Land

26.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on his consultations concerning changes in the classification and grading of agricultural land, following his reply to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet on 30 October 1980.

Consultations are still in progress and I shall let my hon. Friend know the outcome as soon as possible.

Potatoes

27.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnage of potatoes the Potato Marketing Board's second buying programme will absorb.

The aim of the second buying programme is to raise the average level of producer prices for the season as a whole to the guaranteed level by ensuring that the full surplus is covered by support arrangements. The exact quantity placed under contract will depend on the response of the market to the buying operation.

Intervention Stocks

28.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the size of intervention stocks in beef and veal, pork, butter, cheese, skimmed milk powder, olive oil and wine expressed in terms of the number of days normal consumption of these commodities which the stocks represent.

Following is the information requested, based on stocks held in public intervention at recent dates:

Estimated supply, in days, of stocks held in public intervention in the European Community.
	days
Beef	16
Butter	17
Skimmed milk powder	31
Olive oil	53

Note: No stocks of veal, pork, cheese or wine are held in public intervention storage in the European Community.

Beef

29.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the level of beef production.

Production in 1981 is likely to be somewhat lower than in 1980, but supplies should still be adequate.

European Community (Exports To Russia)

30.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentages the exports of wheat, flour, butter, beef and wine, respectively, from the European Economic Community to the Soviet Union in 1980 exceeded or was less than the average annual exports over the previous three years.

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to him on 15 January and 9 March.—[Vol. 996, c. 643–5/Vol. 1000, c. 240.]

Beef Cows

31.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many beef cows in the United Kingdom were eligible for receipt of the beef cow premium in the last year; and what percentage that is of the total United Kingdom beef cow herd.

The number of cows on which the suckler cow premium is expected to be paid in the United Kingdom in the 1980–81 marketing year is nearly 1·2 million, representing about 80 per cent. of the United Kingdom beef herd.

Farm Incomes

32.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what proportion the incomes of British farmers has fallen or risen in relation to their European Economic Community counterparts over the last year.

Farming income in the United Kingdom fell by some 10 per cent. in 1980, which was a fall of some 24 per cent. in real terms. Information on changes in farming income in other member States is not available on any consistent basis.

Fish And Fish Products

33.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote the orderly marketing of fish and fish products.

We have asked our special advisers to examine the marketing of fish. We have set up a small team of officials and industry representatives to investigate allegations by United Kingdom fishermen of illegal and unfair imports. We have secured an undertaking that the European Commission will examine the need for action to control cheap imports from third countries; and we are working within the Community on changes to the marketing regime which are required to make it more effective.

Poultry Industry

34.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the United Kingdom poultry industry.

Poultrymeat production in the United Kingdom increased during the 1970s, but remained virtually unchanged in 1980. I am aware of the need to ensure that the United Kingdom industry is in a position to compete on fair terms with the industries of other member States of the European Community and those of third countries.

35.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the United Kingdom level of self-sufficiency in poultrymeat production.

United Kingdom self-sufficiency in poultrymeat production in 1980 is estimated to have been 99 per cent.

42.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of United Kingdom poultry production now comes from intensive systems.

Ninety-eight per cent. of eggs and, although precise figures are not available, probably a similar percentage of poultrymeat.

Cream (Container Regulations)

36.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider the introduction of regulations to require the fat content of cream to be clearly displayed on all cartons and containers sold to the public.

We have no immediate plans to introduce such regulations. As I explained in reply to a question from my hon. Friend on 19 February 1981, the Food Standards Committee has been asked to review the current cream regulations, and I await its report.—[Vol. 999, c. 178.]

Glasshouse Production

37.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value of glasshouse horticultural production in each of the last three years.

The value of glasshouse horticultural production in the United Kingdom in the years in question was as follows:

1978	£144,583,000
1979	£150,109,000
1980 (estimate)	£161,514,000

Barley

38.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the forecast of barley production in the United Kingdom for the 1981 harvest.

The only indication available at this stage is that the area sown to winter barley in Great Britain by 1 December 1980 was up by 9 per cent. compared with 1 December 1979. But this may merely reflect a continuation of the trend from spring to winter sown varieties.

Farm Subsidies

39.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average subsidy to each farmer to be paid during the present financial year; and what is the grand total of such subsidies.

Total public expenditure in the United Kingdom in 1980–81 under the common agricultural policy and on national grants and subsidies in support of agriculture is estimated at £978 million. There are 296,000 full and part-time farmers. Much of this expenditure is not paid directly to farmers and benefits interests other than agriculture, such as consumers, and it is therefore not possible to derive a meaningful average subsidy to each farmer from the above figures.

Farm Prices

40.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to meet the representatives of the National Farmers Union to discuss the proposed farm prices.

I met representatives of the National Farmers Union on 27 February to discuss the common agricultural policy price proposals for 1981–82, and I plan to continue the discussion with them later this month.

Wool Marketing Board

41.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what level of support he plans to give to the British Wool Marketing Board in the current year.

I am at present considering the level of the guaranteed price for wool in 1981.

43.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnage of sheepmeat has been exported to the European Economic Community between 20 October 1980 and 28 February 1981; and what was the figure for the corresponding period in the previous year.

Figures are available only on a monthly basis and only up to January 1981. From 1 November 1980 to 31 January 1981 the United Kingdom exported 10,511 tonnes of sheepmeat to the European Community, compared with 10,635 tonnes in the corresponding period in the previous year.

Swine Vesicular Disease

44.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of swine vesicular disease in the United Kingdom there have been in the last six months; and if there is now evidence that it is being contained.

Twenty-two outbreaks of the disease were confirmed in the period September 1980 to February 1981 in Great Britain. Only three of these have occurred this year. The results of stringent monitoring which was undertaken in the Yorkshire-Lancashire area, where the disease is centred, and the diminution in the number of outbreaks, suggests that progress is being made with containment of the disease.

Fishing Industry

45.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to strengthen the fishing industry on North Humberside.

The Government intend to continue to take all possible steps to strengthen the industry throughout the United Kingdom.

Brucellosis

46.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stage the brucellosis eradication programme has reached within the United Kingdom.

In Great Britain the brucellosis eradication programme is now in its final stages. By the end of February, 99·1 per cent. of all cattle herds were accredited. All of Scotland, virtually all of Wales and most of England with the exception of parts of the South West, Midlands and North-East have been declared attested areas where effectively all the herds are accredited. If current progress is maintained, these remaining areas will be declared attested this year.Northern Ireland has been a brucellosis attested area since November 1971.

Price Review

47.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he is going to announce the conclusion of this year's price review; and if he will make a statement.

The Council of Agriculture Ministers is making every effort to make progress quickly in the negotiations on the farm price proposals, but I cannot forecast when a settlement might be reached.

Marginal Land Farmers

48.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the light of the present situation of farmers of marginal land, he will seek to make changes in the arrangements for support for them, before the completion of the marginal land survey.

I cannot anticipate the results of the marginal land survey.

European Community (Price Proposals)

49.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the additional annual cost to the European Economic Community of the Commission's 1981 agricultural price proposals.

The Commission's latest estimate is that its 1981 agricultural price proposals will add 844 million ECU—£530 million—to FEOGA guarantee expenditure in a full year, while increasing the levies collected as own resources by 321 million ECU—£200 million.

Agriculture Industry

50.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the Country Landowners Association and the National Farmers Union of England and Wales about the future structure of agriculture.

I regularly have discussions with both the Country Landowners Association and the National Farmers Union about various aspects of agriculture and, where appropriate, take account of the likely future structure of the industry.

51.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the present level of investment in new machinery, plant, buildings and breeding stock in the agriculture industry.

No. I am concerned about the fall in the volume of investment in plant and machinery and the trend in breeding livestock numbers, which, if continued, would have adverse effects on the productive potential of the industry.

European Community (Subsidised Exports)

52.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of proposes by the European Commission for negotiating long-term contracts for the export of subsidised European Economic Community farm products to countries outside the European Economic Community.

Although the Commission's paper "Reflections on the Common Agricultural Policy" and its 1981–82 price proposals both refer to its intention to submit proposals of this sort to the Council, it has not yet done so.

Subsidised Butter (Charities)

53.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the operation of the present scheme for the sale of subsidised butter to charities in the United Kingdom; what is the cost of the scheme; and how much has been sold to independent schools which are charities.

I am satisfied with the operation of the scheme. As to the second and third parts of the question, I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to my hon. Friends the Members for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) and for Devizes (Mr. Morrison) on 10 and 16 March.—[Vol. 1000, c. 289.]

Education And Science

Local Authorities (Manpower Requirements)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the implications for local authorities' manpower requirements of the provisions of the Education Act 1980.

The provisions of the Education Act 1980 relating to school government and admission to schools may involve the employment of extra staff by local authorities, the number depending on the extent to which present practice is in line with the new arrangements. The ultimate effects of the school meals and milk provisions on local authorities' manpower requirements will depend upon the way in which authorities run these services under the new provisions. There has already been a significant reduction in the number of kitchen and canteen staff employed, and the demands on clerical staff time have been reduced.

Further And Higher Education (Teacher Redundancies)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many redundancies among teaching staff in public sector further and higher education he expects as a result of the downward revision of budgets for further and higher education.

This information is not available. As explained in the Government's expenditure plans—Cmnd. 8175—the detailed implications of the plans for the non-university sector are under discussion with the local authority associations.

Higher Education (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals about reduced expenditure on higher education; and what reply he has made.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals has written to my right hon. and learned Friend and, subsequently, he and I, together with the chairman and secretary of the University Grants Committee, met representatives of the CVCP on 12 March. The points made by the CVCP will be taken into account in the continuing discussion between the Department and the UGC referred to in the expenditure White Pauer.

Universities (Closure Or Amalgamation Proposals)

asked the Secretary or State for Education and Science if he has proposed, or received proposals for, the closure or amalgamation of any British universities, and if he will enumerate any such proposals.

My right hon. and learned Friend has neither made nor received any such proposals.

Universities (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the proportionate fall in spending by the universities, in real terms, in the financial years 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84 following the expenditure White Paper.

The White Paper envisages a fall in recurrent expenditure, net of tuition fee income, on subsidised students in universities of about 3½ per cent. in real terms in the financial year 1981–82. As the White Paper explains, the detailed plans for universities in later years have not yet been settled.

Civil Service

Contract Cleaning

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she has studied report No. 20 published by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service on the contract cleaning industry; and if she is now prepared to have talks with the relevant unions on its implications.

This report was made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, and I understand that he is consulting interested parties before reaching a decision about the report's recommendations. But I am willing to discuss the arrangements for cleaning Government premises with the Civil Service trade unions if they wish.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Poland (Food Assistance)

55.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the reasons for the current European Economic Community food assistance to Poland.

In the light of Poland's present economic and social difficulties, the European Council on 1–2 December stated

"their willingness to meet, so far as their resources allow, the requests for economic aid being made to them by Poland".

The Polish Government had made known to the Community their urgent need for food and agricultural products and the Foreign Affairs Council accordingly agreed on 16 December to make available to Poland at special prices the products listed in my statement of 17 December. There have subsequently been minor adjustments to that list.

Home Department

Prisoners (Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report, for each prison in England, the number of prisoners available for work but not able to do so at the latest available date.

This information is not centrally available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

Smoke Detectors

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to reduce deaths and injuries from fire and smoke, he will direct the Health and Safety Executive to issue advice on the installation of smoke detectors in industrial premises.

The Health and Safety Executive has responsibility for industrial premises offering special risks, and for fire risks from industrial processes. General advice on fire safety in industrial premises is a matter for fire authorities. The circumstances of fire deaths and injuries in industry are not thought to justify the issue of special advice about the installation of detection equipment, but fire brigades are ready, on request, to advise on this and other matters.

Remand Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, for over 30 years, his Department was able to give full details of the numbers of persons in prison on remand awaiting trial but is now unable to provide the information; and to what extent this is a result of the use of computers and other electronic aids.

Full details on persons held in prison department establishments on remand awaiting trial are available only on the individual files held in establishments and in this respect the position has not changed during the past 30 years. The cost of extracting information from these files in order to answer parliamentary questions is usually disproportionate. Less detailed information is held centrally on both computerised and other files, and such information is used to answer parliamentary questions in so far as this can be done without incurring disproportionate costs.

Fines (Outstanding Payment)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why his Department was able for some 30 years to give full details of the amounts of fines outstanding for payment but is now unable to supply this information; and to what extent this is a result of the use of computers and other modern aids.

A recent review of the arrangements by which justices' clerks notify the Home Office quarterly of outstanding sums payable to the Secretary of State showed that a few courts had not been correctly classifying the sums in question. The misrecording is not attributable to the use of computers or other modern mechanical accounting aids. We have no reason to believe that it has had more than a marginal effect on the national figures of arrears of fines and fees which have previously been published, but the uncertainty created by the errors—and the fact that two courts had not then provided information for the quarter ended 30 September 1980—was reflected in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 11 March. Detailed advice will shortly be issued to courts with a view to obtaining better and prompter information in future.

Tyne And Wear (Parliamentary Constituencies)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Parliamentary Boundary Commission to report on the constituencies in Tyne and Wear county.

I understand that the Boundary Commission for England is likely to have completed its current review of all parliamentary constituencies, including those in Tyne and Wear, by the end of 1982.

Easter Act 1928

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make an order pursuant to section 2(2) of [8 and 19 Geo. 5 c. 35.

No. My understanding is that the Churches are unlikely to agree on the dates provided for in the Easter Act 1928, and we would not think it helpful in these circumstances to propose the laying of a draft Order in Council.

Persons On Remand

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of his latest statement made on 16 March concerning the relieving of pressure on the prison services, he will introduce permanent legislation to ensure that the thousands of persons now imprisoned on remand awaiting trial who have not been found guilty of any crime should be released on condition that they report to the police.

No. It would not be in the public interest to allow bail indiscriminately to people accused of crimes.

Police Custody (Deaths)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the figures relating to deaths in police custody during 1980.

The information is given in the following table:

DEATHS IN POLICE CUSTODY BY POLICE FORCE AREA, RESULT OF INQUEST AND PLACE WHERE DEATH OCCURRED
England and Wales 1980	Number of persons
Police Force Area	Total	Inquest Verdict				Place where death occurred
		Natural Causes	Misadventure	Accidental death	Suicide	Adjourned	Not held^*	At police station	In hospital or on way to hospital	Else-where†
Cheshire	2	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	1
Cumbria	1	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	—
Dorset	2	—	2	—	—	—	—	2	—	—
Durham	2	—	—	—	1	—	1	—	2	—
Essex	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	—	—
Greater Manchester	5	—	5	—	—	—	—	1	4	—
Hampshire	1	—	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
Kent	3	—	1	1	—	1	—	1	2	—
Lancashire	2	2	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1
Leicestershire	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
London, City of	2	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	—
Merseyside	6	3	—	2	1	—	—	1	5	—
Metropolitan Police District	20	5	6	5	—	2	2	7§	12	1
Norfolk	1	—	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
Northumbria	2	1	—	—	1	—	—	2	—	—
Nottinghamshire	2	—	—	—	2	—	—	1	1	—
Staffordshire	1	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	1	—
Thames Valley	2	—	2	—	—	—	—	1	1	—
West Midlands	4	1	2	—	1	—	—	3	1	—
West Yorkshire	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
North Wales	1	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
South Wales	1	—	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
England and Wales	63	17	22	9	6	4‡	5	24	35	4
^* The primary causes of death given in these cases were respectively myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis, lobar pneumonia, cardiac arrest and pneumonia.
† These deaths occurred at the scene of the arrest.
‡ Includes two cases where the inquest has not been resumed, a member of the public having been charged with manslaughter.
§ Includes one case where the person would have been held in a prison department establishment had there been no industrial action by prison officers.

Personal Information (Protection)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government propose to introduce legislation to safeguard personal information handled automatically; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have decided in principle to introduce legislation for this purpose when an opportunity offers.The Government are satisfied that developments in information technology make it desirable to provide statutory protection for personal information handled automatically. In reaching this conclusion the Government have had regard to developments internationally and in particular to the guidelines on this subject adopted last autumn by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and to the convention concluded by the Council of Europe. The legislation will enable the United Kingdom to endorse the OECD guidelines and to ratify this convention. In the meantime, the Government propose to sign the convention at an early date.The Government accept as a starting point the principles formulated by the Younger committee in its report on privacy—Cmnd. 5012, paras 592–599. Our intention is that the legislation should incorporate and so far as possible give effect to these principles. Consultations following the publication of the report of the Data Protection Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Norman Lindop, Cmnd. 7341, showed broad acceptance of the need for some statutory control but less agreement about the machinery. One of the Government's objectives will be that our arrangements should keep costs down for the private sector and should contain those for the public sector within existing planned totals. We do not therefore propose to set up an independent data protection authority. Another objective will be that the arrangements should be sufficiently flexible to allow for differences between automatic processing methods, the purposes of data systems and the information they contain.The basis of our proposals will be the establishment of a public register. This will be built up in stages. Users of systems which handle personal information automatically will be required to register and to comply with various other requirements.The intention is that registration should require, as a minimum, a description of the system and the purposes for which it is used and publication of the code of practice followed by the user. Provision will be made to ensure that adequate security arrangements are observed. There will also be provision for securing access to information by data subjects as appropriate. There will be full consultation with trade associations and other bodies about the progressive implementation of the requirement to register. The legislation will also provide for appropriate sanctions to ensure compliance with these requirements.

Industry

Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Industry for what reasons there is a difference in the policy of his Department in answering parliamentary questions over the disclosure of the level of grants paid to individual firms depending on whether the grants were paid under the Industry Acts or the Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972.

Following the sixth report of the Expenditure Committee in 1972, the names of companies receiving assistance under the Industry Act and the amounts received have been disclosed since late 1974 following discussions with industrial associations. In order to preserve the confidentiality of negotiations between the company and the Governnment, details are not published until the first quarter after the first payment has been made.Work under the Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972, whose purpose was to encourage exploration for and evaluation of the United Kingdom's mineral resources, corresponds to industrial research and development and is especially confidential. Publication of individual grants would be likely to disclose a project's location and scale of operation, which are commercially very sensitive. It is therefore not the Government's policy to disclose details of grants to individual companies under either the MEIG Act or the Science and Technology Act and companies are assured that any information supplied to the Department will be treated in strict confidence.

Walsall

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much assistance has been given to companies in Walsall under section 8 of the Industry Act in each of the last three years.

The amount of assistance offered to firms in the Walsall travel-to-work area under section 8 of the Industry Act in each of the last three calendar years was as follows:

	No. of projects	Value of offers £000
1978	21	730·8
1979	43	1614·3
1980	26	232·2

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what assistance has been given to Walsall companies under the various microprocessor schemes in the last two years.

Under the microprocessor application project five companies from Walsall have received assistance towards the cost of feasibility studies and one further application is being considered. Two applications for assistance for development projects are under consideration.

National Giro Bank

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the announcement that the National Giro Bank is to become a clearing bank will in any way affect the provision of the postal Giro service.

No, but customers cheques should be cleared more rapidly.

Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied that the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency acts in a fair manner in relation to private competitive consultants.

CIPRA operates within the remit given to it by the Clothing Economic Development Committee. I am not aware of any evidence that CIPRA is unfairly gaining specific assignments at the expense of private competitive consultants.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will wind up the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency.

CIPRA is a company limited by guarantee, and the Government are not in a position to wind it up. Continuation of the Government's grant-in-aid to CIPRA is subject to a review which will be undertaken shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proposals the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency has to help existing consultants to develop their capabilities.

CIPRA is always willing to work with other consultants provided mutually acceptable financial arrangements can be reached. I understand that outside consultants have so far been used by CIPRA on 18 assignments.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many assignments the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency has passed to other organisations to carry out; and what is the total cost of these assignments.

I am told that other consultants and organisations have been used by CIPRA on 18 assignments worth £56,000. There have been a number of other cases where CIPRA has referred inquirers to outside organisations, but precise records of such cases are not kept.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much of the work undertaken by the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency could be undertaken by existing consultants.

In principle some of CIPRA's activities could probably be carried out by existing consultants. In practice, however, it is not possible to say to what extent clothing firms using CIPRA's services would be prepared to turn to other bodies to fill the gap if CIPRA did not exist.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what public funds have been spent by the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency in the present financial year; and what proportion the agency has spent on (a) promoting other consultants, (b) promoting the agency and (c) establishing the agency consultancy.

Grant-in-aid of £50,000 has been paid to CIPRA in the current financial year. This grant is not tied to any of the specific activities of CIPRA, but goes towards the general costs of running the agency.

British Steel Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate, on the basis of his most recent information, of the number of people who will be employed by the British Steel Corporation in Wales, Scotland, and England, respectively, in one, two and three years' time.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1981]: My right hon. Friend has made no such estimates.

Northern Ireland

Agriculture Industry

54.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the condition of the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland,

Although the average size of farm business is less than half that in Great Britain, the Northern Ireland agriculture industry is technically strong and efficient. Using 8·9 per cent. of the total United Kingdom farm work force and 5·8 per cent. of United Kingdom farm land, it produces 6·4 per cent. of United Kingdom gross agricultural output. With the current high level of unemployment in Northern Ireland, there is inevitably some under-employment on farms. However, during 1979 and 1980 farm incomes have fallen in money terms by about 85 per cent. and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently exploring possible ways and means of helping the industry during 1981.

Medical And Social Services (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in percentage terms and on a pro rata basis the total amount spent on (a) medical services and (b) social services in Northern Ireland compared with the amount spent in Great Britain during the period 6 April 1980 to 6 January 1981.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the £10 million redistributed from the Department of Health and Social Services in the 1980–81 financial year came from the medical services and how much was taken from the social services.

Of the £9·7 million reallocated in 1980–81 from Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland as part of the reallocation and resources designed to help strengthen Northern Ireland's industrial base, some £5·7 million was found by deferring capital projects and the remaining £4 million from revenue budgets. The revenue allocations to the health and social services boards are not specific to particular services and thus each board has been left to determine how to achieve the necessary savings taking into account operational priorities and local circumstances.

Fuel Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the additional financial resources provided to hold electricity tariffs down in Northern Ireland have resulted in equalising electricity costs throughout the United Kingdom; and whether he will postpone his decision to withdraw the extra fuel allowance from Northern Ireland residents in receipt of family benefits who receive no increase in the uprated heating additions applied to the whole of the United Kingdom until such equalisation is achieved.

On the question of an extra fuel allowance I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 23 January.—[Vol. 997, c. 270.]The additional financial resources provided in 1980–81 enabled the Northern Ireland Electricity Service to avoid any further widening during the year of the differentials between Northern Ireland electricity tariffs and those elsewhere in the United Kingdom. On 5 March my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that the Government will take steps to bring Northern Ireland electricity tariffs more closely into line with those in England and Wales and to keep them there. I hope in the near future it will be possible to announce how this undertaking will be implemented in 1981–82 and later years.

Training Schools (Black Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role is envisaged for the training schools in Northern Ireland, following the implementation of recommendations relating to young offenders contained in the Black report.

Their future role is being worked out in consultation with the training schools and other relevant agencies.

Ormeau Park Recreation Centre

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Ormeau Park recreation centre under construction will include a multi-purpose hall; and what is the full range of activities for which the centre will be equipped.

The Ormeau Park recreation centre which is being built by the Belfast city council with a grant from the Department of Education for Northern Ireland will have a 400 square metres hall catering for a wide variety of sports. Outdoor facilities will include a floodlit all-weather pitch, a kick-about area, and a children's play area. A range of equipment will be provided. The management of the centre will assess local demand for particular sports and make arrangements accordingly.

Health And Social Services (Administrative Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the area boards will be abolished in pursuance of reducing public expenditure within the Department of Health and Social Services; and, if not, what action will be taken subsequent to the Royal Commission's report concerning the need to reduce administrative costs.

There are no plans to abolish area boards in Northern Ireland, which are the counterparts of the district health authorities in Great Britain. It is, however, intended to make a statement in the summer to announce the results of the wide-ranging review of the structure and management of the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland. The review is being carried out in the light of the Royal Commission recommendations to reduce administrative costs to the minimum compatible with efficient and responsive management.

Leisure Centres (North And West Belfast)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the location of each leisure centre in the constituencies of North and West Belfast; and what is the total number of residents in those constituencies.

The Shankill leisure centre, Shankill Road, and the Ballysillan leisure centre, Bllysillan Road, which is still under construction and is likely to be completed by January 1982, are in the North Belfast constituency; the Andersonstown leisure centre, Andersonstown Road, and the Beechmount sports complex, Falls Road, are in the West Belfast constituency. There are no up-to-date census figures for total population by parliamentary constituencies: on the latest electoral roll for North Belfast, there are 64,114 persons and on that for West Belfast, there are 59,373.

Constitutional Reform

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he proposes to create arrangements for the government of Northern Ireland that will better meet the needs of all its people.

While direct rule continues, my immediate priority is to ensure that the Government's security, economic development and social policies are implemented effectively and sensitively. To this end I propose, with the agreement of the Prime Minister, to make the machinery of government of Northern Ireland more efficient and accountable to my direction and control. This is consistent with the allocation of departmental responsibilities to my two Ministers of State which was announced on 7 January and will be done without change to the existing constitutional arrangements.To achieve more effective deployment of public sector financial and manpower resources I propose to merge the control functions of the Northern Ireland Departments of Finance and of the Civil Service. Detailed implications of how this merger is to be effected are being examined.Studies of the departmental organisation required to deal more vigorously and effectively with economic development and social affairs are also in hand.Consultations with the staff sides and bodies concerned will now begin. I shall publish my final proposals when I have considered the results of these consultations.

De Lorean Car Co

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the directors and shareholdings of the De Lorean Car Company Incorporated of America.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 March 1981, c. 105]: The directors of the De Lorean Motor Company are:

Robert W. Benjamin
Henry I. Bushkin

Eugene A. Cafiero
Cristina F. De Lorean
John Z. De Lorean
Alex Fetherston
Robert S. Gay
Eric M. Javits
Thomas W. Kimmerly
G. Edmund King
Donald H. Lander
James H. Season
James Sim
Edward L. Smith
James G. Stark
Richard C. Swanson

The company has undertaken to provide the names of its approximately 450 shareholders. These will be forwarded to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Wales

Services For The Elderly/

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many bursaries his Department is providing for senior registrars to further their experience in geriatrics, in order to meet the doubling in the number of consultants in that specialty needed during the next decade as described in the recently published White Paper "Growing Older".

The Welsh Office announced in August 1979 a scheme to award an annual bursary in each of the four following years to enable senior registrars to gain experience in geriatric medicine. No bursary has so far been taken up.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what preparations his Department has made to train the substantially increased number of psychiatrists that will be needed over the coming decade to deal with the increasing numbers of senile psychiatric patients that, according to the recent White Paper "Growing Older," are to be cared for in community and other relatively small local hospitals, as opposed to large psychiatric hospitals, hitherto predominantly responsible for providing the service.

I am satisfied that the area health authorities in Wales are fully aware of the need to deal with a growing number of psychiatric problems of the aged and will provide posts and training opportunities as resources and central manpower allocations permit.

School Leavers (Dyfed)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children are expected to leave school in Dyfed in each of the school leaving periods in the current year; what assessment he has made of their job prospects; and if he will make a statement.

About 5,100 in the academic year 1980–81, of whom about 13 per cent. are expected to leave at or before the end of the Easter term. Employment prospects for these young people, as for other age groups, depend ultimately on the restoration of the health of the national economy which the Government's policies are designed to bring about. But in recognition of the special needs of young people the Government have provided resources for a major expansion of the youth opportunities programme in 1981–82. In Dyfed 3,450 opportunities will be available compared with 2,300 in 1980–81.

School Closures

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many primary and secondary schools, respectively, were closed in each of the last five years in Wales; how many closures are contemplated in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Information from local education authorities shows that the numbers of schools closed in the last five years were:

	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
Primary	33	32	15	6	13
Secondary	3	10	13	1	—

However, many of these formed part of reorganisation or rationalisation schemes where educational facilities were amalgamated, modernised or replaced. The net reduction over the period was 34 primary and 13 secondary schools. Responsibility for proposing closures lies with local education authorities or the governors of voluntary schools and I am not aware of their intentions for the future.

Doctors' Salaries

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each of the health authorities the proportion of its total budget that is spent on doctors' salaries for each of the last three full years available.

Expenditure by Welsh health authorities on salaries of directly employed medical staff as a proportion of total revenue expenditure was as follows:

Authority	1977–78 per cent.	1978–79 per cent.	1979–80 per cent.
Clwyd	6·1	6·1	6·6
Dyfed	6·4	6·5	7·2
Gwent	5·3	5·3	5·6
Gwynedd	5·4	5·3	5·8
Mid Glamorgan	5·5	5·5	6·2
Powys	2·7	2·7	3·0
South Glamorgan	7·5	7·5	8·0
West Glamorgan	6·6	6·4	7·0

Environment

Local Authorities (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities' budgeted expenditure in the current year is in excess of the target as laid down by his Department; and by how much.

On the basis of local authorities' revised 1980–81 budgets—and some amendments—249 authorities in England have budgeted for current expenditure in excess of their volume "targets" for 1980–81, by a total of £317 million—at November 1979 prices. This figure takes no account of the shortfall by those authorities that have recorded budgeted volumes at or below target. On the basis of experience, the actual outturn for local authority current expenditure volume in 1980–81 is likely to be less than the budgeted expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish a list of housing authorities in England showing for each the sum included in its grant-related expenditure assessment as published in The Rate Support Grant Report (England) 1980 for factor E7 notional housing revenue account deficit, as notified to each authority and the average rent per dwelling in 1980–81 for each authority, or, if that figure is not available, the exclusive rent income for 1980–81 divided by the average housing revenue account dwelling stock as notified to authorities, together with the comparable figure as estimated by him for factor E7 for the regional average rent as applied to each authority;(2) if he will publish a list of local authorities in England showing for each the amount of its grant-related expenditure assessment at November 1980 and estimated outturn prices 1981–82, or whichever price basis is available, and how much of it in each case is attributable to current expenditure, revenue contributions to capital outlay, loan charges, rate fund contributions to the housing revenue account, and interest receipts; and how the total of each of these categories relates to the figures given in annex A of The Rate Support Grant Report (England) 1980;(3) if he will publish a list of local authorities in England showing for each the amount included in its grant-related expenditure assessment in respect of concessionary fares at November 1980 and estimated 1981–82 outturn prices, or whichever basis is available;(4) if he will publish a list of education authorities in England showing for each the amount included in its grant-related expenditure assessment in respect of school meals and milk at November 1980 and estimated 1981–82 outturn prices, or whichever basis is available;(5) if he will publish a list of local authorities in England showing for each the amount assumed in its grant-related expenditure assessment in respect of capital allocations for other services gross before making the weighting adjustment prescribed in appendix 1 to annex J of the Rate Support Grant Report (England) 1980, and the actual allocation as notified by his Department; and what effect upon the authority's notional rate poundage there will be if its grant-related expenditure assessment is adjusted in his first supplementary report to take account of any difference between the assumed and actual allocations.

Tables showing the service breakdown of GREs for all authorities in such detail as is currently available were deposited in the Library on 26 February 1981.I am placing in the Library of the House information about rent levels in 1980–81 and about average regional rents which was requested.No calculations have been made of the effect of substituting actual capital allocations for estimated capital allocations in the GRE formulae at supplementary report; but the possibility of making such a change will shortly be discussed with the local authority associations.

Housing Investment Programmes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors account for the differences between the figures for housing investment programme allocations to English local authorities, Official Report, 21 January, column 200, and the figures for volume actually achievable from provision, Official Report, 26 February, column 438.

In his question on 14 January 1981 the hon. Member asked for figures on housing investment allocations, and in that on 19 February he asked for figures on the provision for housing capital expenditure. The differences in the figures arise from the fact that provision for housing up to and including 1980–81 included provision for expenditure on gipsy sites and also for items of housing expenditure which at that time were covered by locally determined sector allocations rather than housing investment programmes. In addition, when the revised HIP allocations for 1979–80 were issued in August 1979, a contingency sum of £50 million at 1980 outturn prices within the gross provision was not distributed for the reasons indicated in paragraph 2 of the allocation letter to local authorities dated 7 August 1979.

Smoke Detectors

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in order to reduce deaths and injuries from fire and smoke, he will amend the building regulations to require the installation of smoke detectors in all new houses.

No. There is insufficient evidence to justify the extension of regulations to make the provision of smoke detectors a statutory requirement.

Leasehold Valuation Tribunals

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been decided by the leasehold valuation tribunals in England since 1967.

None.

Town And Country Planning Regulations

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now withdraw the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) Regulations 1981 for further consideration, in view of the representations which have been made to him.

No.

Housing Investment Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he now has about the likely housing investment expenditure in 1980–81 of local authorities in England; and when he expects to announce adjusted allocations for 1981–82.

I have today placed in the Library a table showing each authority's estimate of the housing capital expenditure in 1980–81 to which it declared itself to be committed in December 1980. These figures are compared with each authority's adjusted permitted level of expenditure for 1980–81. As a result of revisions to certain authorities' figures they now indicate that the national cash limit may be exceeded by £4·3 million rather than the figure of £7 million that my right hon. Friend gave the House on 15 December 1980.—[Vol. 966 c. 38.] To this should be added further expenditure arising in his financial year from my right hon. Friend's decision to allow underspending authorities to approve discretionary grants and loans for home improvement.As my right hon. Friend told the House on 15 December 1980, adjustments to the housing investment programme allocations provisionally announced on that day are necessary both to reflect overspending or underspending by individual authorities, and to offset a net total of £56·1 million—revised from the original figure of £55 million in the light of subsequent figures from authorities—which was available to authorities in 1980–81 under the year-to-year tolerance limits but which would lead to the cash limit of £2,186 million for that year being exceeded by 2·503 per cent.My right hon. Friend has decided to make these adjustments by deducting 2·503 per cent. from each authority's permitted spend figure for 1980–81—that is, from its basic allocation as adjusted by tolerance—and by using this abated figure to estimate the extent of an authority's under or overspending in 1980–81 before specifying its formal allocation for 1981–82.Each local authority is being informed of—

(a) its revised permitted spend' for 1980–81;

(b) the extent to which the authority's latest estimate of outturn for 1980–81 falls within or exceeds this revised permitted spend; and

(c) the consequential adjustment to the authority's allocation for 1981–82.

The table referred to above contains details of the calculations for each authority. I have also placed copies of the formal allocation letter in the Library.

Grant-Related Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his policy on the inclusion of indicators of need in calculation of grant-related expenditure; why certain indicators of need such a s unemployment, lack of car ownership, low educational attainment and homelessness are omitted; and why proxy measures of need are used, for example total population, when actual measurements relating directly to service levels are readily available, for example birth and death rates and numbers of children in receipt of free school meals.(2) why the daily non-work inflow of people, high costs of land, labour and transport, additional wear and tear on infrastructure and the regional role in education and cultural services and other similar factors connected with the role and responsibilities of urban regional centres are not recognised by the grant-related expenditure assessment.(3) why no account is taken of the daily inflow of commuters in the assessment of planning, implementation and employment generation expenditure;(4) if he will publish an explanation for the inclusion of each weighting factor included in appendix 3 to annex J of the rate support grant report 1980; and how the total allocations between each grant-related expenditure service heading are derived.

For a description of the indicators chosen for use in the grant-related expenditure assessments and the reasoning underlying those choices I refer the hon. Member to the publication "Grant Related Expenditure: How the Expenditure Needs of Local Authorities are Assessed in the New Block Grant". The hon. Member may also find it helpful to refer to the further publication "Grant Related Expenditure: Components of Grant Related Expenditure for English Authorities 1981–82". Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

Dioxin Dumping (North Derbyshire)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether sites other than Morton were used for dumping dioxin and associated debris after the explosion at Bolsover Coalite in 1968.

I do not have that information since it is the local authorities which are responsible for waste disposal and it is for them to decide whether the planning and public health provisions in force at the time were complied with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set up a public inquiry into the effects of dumping of dioxin in the North Derbyshire and Bolsover areas after the explosion at Bolsover Coalite in 1968.

No. It is for the local authorities to ensure that old tipping sites present no danger to health. Adequate advice is available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment where dioxin and associated waste was dumped following the Bolsover Coalite explosion in 1968; whether he will take steps to ensure that no development takes place on these sites and that access to them is prevented; and whether he is satisfied that arrangements to monitor the effects of the material are sufficient to ensure the safety of the public.

The location of the material is not known to me: I am satisfied that the local planning authority has sufficient powers to control the development of this, as of other land. The protection of the public from health hazards is the responsibility of the appropriate local authority and I am satisfied likewise that its powers in this respect are adequate.

Transport Policies (Cycling)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a list of the county and metropolitan councils which include cycling as a committed item in their transport policies and programmes; and if he will seek to require those which do not do so.

I have been asked to reply.The following counties acknowledge the importance of making suitable provision for cyclists in their transport policies and programmes for 1981–82.

Avon^*
Bedfordshire^*
Berkshire ^*
Buckinghamshire^*
Cambridgeshire^*
Cleveland^*
Devon
East Sussex
Essex^*
Greater London
Greater Manchester
Gloucestershire
Hampshire^*
Hereford and Worcester
Hertfordshire
Humberside
Kent
Leicestershire
Northamptonshire
North Yorkshire^*

Nottinghamshire
Oxfordshire^*
Staffordshire^*
South Yorkshire
Shropshire
Warwickshire^*
West Midlands^*
West Sussex^*
West Yorkshire
Wiltshire^*

Those which are asterisked have indicated that they are providing, or planning to provide, special facilities for cyclists. However, it should not be concluded that those counties which do not make reference to cycling in their TPPs are not making provision for cyclists. I have no power to require counties to include particular items in their TPPs, but local authorities are well aware of the importance of taking account of the needs of cyclists in their local transport planning.

National Finance

Public Sector Borrowing Requirement

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the difference in public sector borrowing requirement between £8·5 billion and £13·5 billion referred to in his Budget Statement of 10 March, Official Report, c. 763, is accounted for by (a) the depth of the recession leading to the payments of higher benefits and reduced tax revenue, (b) the need to sustain increased expenditure for nationalised corporations and other State enterprises, (c) Departments of State exceeding cash limits and (d) the increased servicing of debt due to high interest rates.

(a) The impact of the recession directly added some £1½ billion to expenditure and reduced income by some £1 billion.

(b) The external financing limits of nationalised industries for 1980–81 were increased by some £900 million; this was met from the Contingency Reserve and therefore did not add to the PSBR.

(c) The spring Supplementary Estimates showed overspending of previously announced cash limits totalling £264 million, of which defence accounted for £260 million.

(d) Public sector debt interest payments were over £1 billion higher than forecast a year ago, reflecting both higher interest rates and borrowing than assumed a year ago.

Personal Taxation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for the general taxpayer to be taxed on the same basis as lawyers and their system of taxed costs; and whether he plans any action to give the general taxpayer the same benefits obtained by lawyers.

The same tax principles apply to lawyers as to other people, having regard always to the circumstances of each case.

Value Added Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue which would be available to the Exchequer if value added tax at 15 per cent. was levied on overseas package tour holidays.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider reviewing the present decision to charge value added tax at the standard rate on road safety reflective armbands produced by ROSPA and other organisations.

No. In the context of a broadly based tax on expenditure, a selective relief from VAT for road safety reflective armbands could not be justified.

Sick Pay Schemes (Taxation)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no reference was made in his Budget Statement to the proposal on page 6 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report in respect of taxation of sums paid to employees under certain sick pay schemes; and if he will make a statement on the schemes affected.

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

Tax And Price Index

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the effect on the tax and price index of the Budget Statement; and if he still encourages collective bargaining based on this index.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the right hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. Walker) on 16 March. The Government have consistently made it clear that they regard no index as forming the basis for wage bargaining, which must take account of the employer's ability to pay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report an estimate of the Budget measures on the tax and price index.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the right hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. Walker) on 16 March.

Income Tax Payers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the extra number of income tax payers in 1981–82 as a result of failing to raise tax allowances; and if he will indicate separate numbers of people above and below 65 years of age.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of persons who will be paying tax because of his decision not to uprate personal allowances; what will be the cost of collection; and how many civil servants will be required for this purpose;

(2) how many retirement pensioners will be paying tax as a result of his decisions not to increase personal allowances and to increase pensions; what will be the cost of collection; and how many civil servants will be required for this purpose;

(3) what is his estimate of the change in the number of people who will be paying tax as a result of his Budget; and what is the change in the number of civil servants needed for the collection of tax.

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

Dutiable Items (Revenue)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much it would be necessary to raise the duty on beer, wines and spirits in order to raise the revenue anticipated from an increase of 10 per cent. in the duty on petrol and diesel.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Betting Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue would be raised by doubling betting tax.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Women Pensioners (Taxation)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the years since the introduction of the unified income tax system when for women aged 60 to 64 years the annual income from basic retirement pension has been above the single person tax allowance: and in which of these years income tax liability exceeded the Inland Revenue's tolerance for the collection of small sums;(2) if he will list the years since the introduction of graduated pension payments when the average payment to a woman aged 60 to 64 years combined with basic retirement pension has resulted in annual income above the single person's tax allowance; and in which of these years income tax liability exceeded the Inland Revenue's tolerance for collection of small sums.

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

Vehicle Excise Duty (Heavy Goods Vehicles)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he is not yet able to publish details of the proposed new rates of vehicle excise duty on heavy goods vehicles of more than 10 tons.

Revised schedules reflecting the average 15 per cent. increase in the rates of vehicle excise duty for all vehicles, which my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 10 March, were contained in the Budget resolutions. Full details of the increases for each vehicle category were available at all Post Offices involved in issuing vehicle excise licences and at the Department of Transport's local vehicle licensing offices from the opening of business on 11 March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in vehicle excise duty he proposes to levy on 32-ton heavy goods vehicles.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1981]: About 15 per cent., as announced by my right hon. and learned Friend in his Budget Statement.

European Community (Finance Council)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Community Finance Council in Brussels on 16 March.

The Finance Council met under Netherlands Presidency.There was a further discussion of the economic and financial aspects of the agricultural price fixing. My German colleague and I argued strongly for a cautious price policy and sought a resolution requiring the future growth of agricultural guarantee expenditure to be markedly below the growth in the own resources base. No agreement was reached, but there is likely to be a further discussion in April.After discusssing the draft insurance services directive, which would give insurers freedom to operate across frontiers within the Community, the Council confirmed the importance it attaches to making this freedom effective. Officials were instructed to prepare a report on the main issues for discussion at the May Fin ance Council.The Council also carried out one of its regular reviews of the economic situation in the Community and confirmed the guidelines agreed last December.

Power Stations (Duty-Free Oil)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to make any change in the rules governing the use of duty-free oil by power stations suplying approved oil refineries.

Gross Earnings	Net income (including child benefit)	Change in national insurance contributions	Change in national insurance contributions as percentage of net income	Change in average excise duties	Change in average excise duties as percentage of net income
£ per week	£ per week	£ per week	Percentage	£ per week	Percentage
(i) 272·51	200	4·36	2·2	2·68	1·3
(ii) 198·94	150	4·28	2·9	2·24	1·5
(iii) 123·52	100	1·23	1·2	1·81	1·8
(iv) 91·90	80	0·92	1·1	1·63	2·0

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 March 1981]: For a married couple where the wife is not working the proposed tax threshold for 1981–82 is £2,145. This does not depend on the number of children in the family. The family income supplement will be payable for a

Under the existing arrangements, power plants use duty-free oil if more than half their output is used for refinery operations. The Finance Bill, when published, will contain provision for full relief from duty on oil in power plants if more than one-third of their output is used for refinery operations. In addition, there will be a provision, in cases where between one-sixth and one-third of a power plant is used for refinery operations, to allow claims for repayment of one-third of the duty on the oil used as fuel.

Personal Tax Allowances

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase in the number of taxpayers in 1981–81, arising from his decision not to propose any rise in personal tax allowances as compared with the position as it would be under section 22(2) of the Finance Act 1977.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1981, c. 428]: It is estimated that 1¼ million more people will pay tax in 1981–82 than if allowances had been increased in line with the statutory indexation provisions.

Family Income

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 March 1981]: No extra income tax will be paid in April 1981 by those whose nominal incomes are unchanged. The information for national insurance contributions and estimates for average excise duties is as follows:family with two children with gross income of under £82 per week from November 1981. For a family with four children the corresponding figure is £98 per week.Some of the constituents of the supplementary benefit entitlement level which are normally used in comparisons of this kind—for example, housing costs—will not be available for about three weeks. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security will write to the hon. Member with the details required as soon as possible.

Transport

Cycling

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will cause a study to be made, and publish it in the Official Report, of the reasons why the casualty rate for cyclists is increasing while that for most other modes of transport is tending to decline.

This is a complex issue. Cyclists are vulnerable to increases in the volume of motor traffic and have benefited less than other road users from measures such as, for example, the development of the motorway network and of better protection for vehicle occupants involved in accidents. Possible improvements in the provision for and safety of cyclists will be discussed in the forthcoming consultation document on cycling.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has studied the American Department of Transportation report "Bicycle Transportation for Energy Conservation"; whether he will institute such a study in respect of the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.

We have studied the report, which assesses the energy savings which might be derived from more extensive use of bicycles in the United States of America. We have been reviewing cycling policy with a view to encouraging greater use of bicycles and shall shortly be publishing a consultation document.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the fact that in the simulated traffic situations in the current edition of the Highway Code only one cyclist example occurs, he will take steps in future issues of the code to include more examples which reflect the high level of cycle ownership and use.

I shall bear this in mind when the text of the Highway Code is next revised.

Motorways (Sevenoaks)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the lengths of the planned Swanley to Sevenoaks section of the M25 motorway and of the existing M26/M20 motorway route from Sevenoaks to Swanley; and what would be the estimate savings of fuel consumption and transport costs achieved by completion of the missing link in this ring road.

About 7¾ miles and 18¼ miles respectively. On the basis of the traffic forecasts prepared for the public inquiry in 1978–79, completion of the Swanley-Sevenoaks section should produce estimated annual savings in fuel consumption amounting by the year 2000 to approximately ½ million gallons on the "low growth" forecast or 1 million gallons on the "high growth" forecast. The total net present value of the economic benefits that would accrue from the scheme was estimated at the inquiry to be about £68 million at 1976 prices.

Motor Cycle Riders (Test)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now make a further statement about his proposals to introduce a two-part test of competence for motor cycle riders.

We have today issued a consultation paper setting out our proposals for a two-part driving test for motor cyclists and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The proposals are, of course, subject to the enactment of the relevant provisions of the Transport Bill at present before the House.

Petrol (Lead Additives)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current estimated additional cost of a gallon of petrol at the pump if the lead additives were removed.

The cost of moving to completely lead-free petrol has been estimated at around £200 million per annum at 1978 prices, with an annual cost to the motorist at that time of around £18 a year. These costs are not reflected in any increase in the actual cost of petrol at the pump—apart from a very small amount needed to cover the extra costs of distribution for a short period—because they are made up of the extra petrol motorists would need to buy to cover the same mileage with lead-free fuel and the costs of redesigning engines to run on such fuel.

Social Services

National Health Service (Employees)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many employees there were in the National Health Service in May 1979 and at 1 January 1981; and what their total salary bill was at each date.

I regret that information is not available in the precise form requested. The latest date for which accurate NHS manpower figures are available is September 1979, although I can provide a rough estimate of NHS staff for September 1980. Expenditure figures on salaries and wages relate to the financial year. The following table sets out the information.

NHS Manpower and Expenditure on Salaries and Wages—England
NHS Directly Employed Staff^*		Total Cost of Wages and Salaries†
Mid Financial Year	(WTE)‡	(£million)	Financial Year
30 September 1978	759,662	3,308	1978–79
30 September 1979	773,350	4,027	1979–80
30 September 1980 (Estimate)	793,000	5,350	1980–81 (Estimate)
^* These figures include locums, agency nurses and health visitor students but exclude independent contractors.
† Expenditure figures on salaries and wages include employers' contributions for superannuation and national insurance. All figures are in prices then prevailing.
‡WTE—whole time equivalent.

Drugs (Tests)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied that there is no increased possibility of a case similar to that of Thalidomide arising following the allowing of drug companies to avoid reproductive studies before the use of drugs on humans; and what increase in hazards to patients given these experimental medicines will arise;

(2) what categories of drug he plans should be subjected to carcinogenic, fertility and teratological tests before introduction; and whether he is satisfied that such requirements will adequately safeguard the public.

I have no plans to change the licensing authority's current requirements for testing new drugs before they are granted a product licence. The Department is currently consulting professional bodies and other organisations on recommendations submitted to the licensing authority by the Committee on Safety of Medicines to amend the data requirements for the issue of clinical trial certificates. A copy of the consultation letter—MLX 130—has already been placed in the Library of the House. The CSM considers that its recommendations will not increase the risk to patients participating in clinical trials. However, these proposals will be brought into effect only after the consultation period and if my right hon. Friend is satisfied that that is the case.Under the CSM's proposals, initial clinical trials of a new drug will be permitted before the results of reproductive studies in animals are submitted to the licensing authority, but only on condition that women of child bearing age are excluded from the trials in order to avoid any possibility of damage to a foetus.

Audiological Services

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present establishment and the number in the post of National Health Service audiology technicians in the North-West Thames region.

At 30 September 1979, the latest date at which information is available centrally, there were 54·8 whole time equivalent physiological measurement technicians—audiology—in post in this region. The hon. Member may find it helpful to seek detailed information direct from the regional health authority.

Child Care (Cost)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current cost of keeping a child in care.

The estimated weekly cost to local authorities in England of keeping a child in care in 1979–80, the latest year for which provisional information is available centrally, is £68. This figure includes running costs and capital charges before deduction of parental contributions, but excludes associated administrative and field social work costs.

Bio-Medical Research

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report his reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Eccles relating to projects and personnel from the bio-medical research units at Roehampton to University college, London; and if he will make a statement.

I am happy to publish my reply of today to the hon. Member, which answers fully the question raised. The text is as follows:

"Thank you for your letter of the 5th March enclosing one from Mr. R. King of Charnwood, Farthingreen Lane, Stoke Poges, concerning the transfer of the control of the Department's research unit at Roehampton to University College London and the decision to conclude research into volume adjustable shape adaptive (VASA) sockets for artificial limbs.

Research into VASA sockets was carried out by Dr. Isherwood in the Biomechanical Research and Development Unit at Roehampton throughout the 1970s. Following clinical trials at Roehampton, Oxford and Cambridge the conclusion was reached that this prosthetic technique is a useful addition to the methods available for helping patients who are experiencing problems in obtaining satisfactory limb fitting. It was not considered however to have a more general or routine application.

It was decided therefore to conclude the trial and to make VASA sockets available at a limited number of centres to which other limb fitting centres can refer patients as necessary. Because of the relatively limited application it is felt that concentrating supply through a limited number of centres will ensure the technical skills required are maintained and enhanced by the more continuous experience that this will create. The facility to provide this type of socket is available at Oxford, Cambridge and Roehampton, the centres at which the trial was based and expertise built up, and is in the process of being extended to Manchester and Birmingham.

Thus towards the end of 1980 when decisions were taken to transfer the control of the research unit to University College London the main thrust of the research work into VASA sockets was over and this was a factor in the carefully weighed decision that Dr. Isherwood should be among a number of staff not taken on by the new Bioengineering Centre. He has however been retained on the medical staff at the Roehampton limb fitting centre and is presently engaged in ensuring that the valuable techniques he has developed are effectively transferred to service use.

In any research environment it is essential to maintain a slowly changing variety of expertise to meet fresh research and development commitments. One of the main purposes of the transfer of this unit to University College London has been to make this possible by allowing easier access to the varied disciplines found within a university."

One-Parent Families

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest information he has as to the percentages of those one-parent families in receipt of benefits which arise from (a) desertion and divorce, (b) the death of one parent and (c) the non-marriage of the mother.

I regret that the information requested by my hon. Friend is not available.

Mentally Handicapped Children

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is made for the inspection of special homes for mentally handicapped children.

Private and voluntary homes for mentally handicapped children are subject to registration and inspection by local authorities by virtue of the Residential Homes Act 1980. In addition, officers of my Department have certain powers of entry, examination and inspection; these are summarised in annex 3 to circular DSWS(79)1, a copy of which is available in the Library, and include powers covering local authority accommodation for mentally disordered people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of mentally handicapped children; how many of them are cared for (a) in special homes, (b) in hospitals and (c) with their own families.

The total number of mentally handicapped children, and accordingly the number of those cared for by their own families, is not known.

On 31 December 1979 there were 2,839 mentally handicapped children under 16 in hospitals, and on 31 March 1980 there were 1,330 such children in local authority residential homes, and 526 in registered private and voluntary residential homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any special provision is made for the inspection of hospitals for mentally handicapped children and for those sections of general hospitals in which they may be accommodated.

Health authorities are responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of standards of facilities and care in all their hospitals, including those which accommodate mentally handicapped children. They are assisted in this task by my Department and by the development team for the mentally handicapped.

Supplementary Benefit (Blindness Addition)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he considered increasing the blindness addition to supplementary benefit for November 1981, in view of the decision to increae the tax allowance for working blind persons.

Yes, but it was decided not to make an increase.While we are continuing the blindness addition at the present rate, this special provision is an anomaly in that the aim of the supplementary benefit scheme, where there is disability, is to concentrate on needs arising from it rather than on the disability itself. However, most blind people qualify for the long-term scale rate and have received the substantial boost which has gone to all long-term beneficiaries in recent years. Moreover, blind non-householders aged over 18 receive the equivalent of the householder scale rate, and as a result of the changes we made in the supplementary benefits scheme last November, couples both of whom are blind now receive a blindness addition of £2·50 extra per week instead of £2·05.

Family Income Supplement

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what proportion of family income supplement beneficiaries are paying income tax; and how these figures will be affected by the Budget Statement and the social security benefits uprating statement.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. As the hon. Member will know from past replies, it is not possible to say how many families receiving family income supplement are actually paying tax at any particular time.Of the 88,000 families receiving FIS in October 1980, the latest available figure, about 62,000, or 70 per cent., had weekly incomes at the time of their claim that exceeded the 1980–81 tax threshold. Had the tax threshold been 10 per cent. lower at this time, this number would have been some 10,000 higher. On this basis, the decision not to raise tax thresholds in 1981–82 in line with inflation can be expected to have a comparable impact. Other measures in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget and my uprating statement hardly affect this estimate. —[Vol. 1,000, c. 757–83; c. 891–903.]

Pensions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average amount of graduated pension on a weekly basis to women aged 60 to 64 years for each of the last six years; and if he will give his estimate for the November 1981 uprating.

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

Invalidity Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to the Chancellor's Budget Statement, Official Report, c. 770, the restoration to invalidity of the 5 per cent. reduction in 1980 will, when taxable, include the reduction in 1981 due to the uprating being based on the 1980 figure.

The effect of the abatement in invalidity benefit was to take its rate below the equivalent rate of retirement pension with which it had been previously aligned. The Government have given a firm commitment that, when invalidity benefit is brought into tax, its rate will be restored to the level it would have reached—namely, the rate of retirement pension current at that time. My right hon. Friend announced in his statement to the House on 11 March—[Vol. 1000, c. 891–903]—that, as a step towards this, the rate of invalidity allowance payment with invalidity pension will be raised this November to the rate of the allowance payable with retirement pension.

Abortion

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the National Health Service abortion rate per 100 live births in each of the English and Welsh hospital regions and in Scotland and Great Britain as a whole for each of the years 1979 and 1980.

The available figures are as follows:

Number of Legal Abortions per 100 Live births in National Health Service Hospitals in 1979 by Regional Health Authority of Residence and by Country of Residence
By RHA of residence	Rate
Northern	11·5
Yorkshire	6·2
Trent	9·0
East Anglian	11·4
North West Thames	11·6
North East Thames	12·2
South East Thames	11·5
South West Thames	8·0
Wessex	7·8
Oxford	8·0
South Western	11·7
West Midlands	3·8
Mersey	4·1
North Western	6·4

By RHA of residence	Rate
By Country of residence
Wales	10·4
England and Wales^*	8·7
Scotland†	12·8
Great Britain	9·1
^* Includes 24 residents of England and Wales having abortions in Scotland. These figures cannot be allocated to the Regional Health Authorities.
† Includes 1,028 residents of Scotland having abortions in England and Wales.
Comparable data for 1980 are not yet available.

Census (Computing)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the British Computer Society has made its report on confidentiality of computing of the census of population; and if he will publish it.

Yes. The report "1981 Census of Population: Confidentiality and Computing", together with a statement by the Government and the Government's responses to the individual recommendations, has been published today—[Cmnd. 8201].

Employment

Secretary Of State (Engagements)

56.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list his engagements for Thursday 12 March; to what extent he kept his full list of public engagements as made before and up to Wednesday 11 March; why he cancelled his engagement for Thursday 12 March with the North West Trades Union Congress and trade union leaders in Liverpool; what engagement he held in place of this appointment; and whether he will make a statement.

On the morning of Thursday 12 March I attended Cabinet and other ministerial meetings. My programme for the rest of the day, which involved travelling to Liverpool for a meeting with the North-West regional council of the TUC and the Merseyside industries dinner, had to be altered because of urgent Government business which kept me in London. I attempted to rearrange the meeting with the regional TUC for the following morning, failing which a date has now been fixed for me to meet it in London at the beginning of April.

Employed Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people employed in March 1951 compared with March 1981.

The following table gives midyear estimates of the numbers of employees in employment in Great Britain for 1951 and 1980. In making comparisons account should be taken of a discontinuity at 1959. The figures from 1959(b) are from the continuous series of employment estimates, which take account of discontinuities in the earlier published series and are not comparable with those from 1951 to 1959(a) which are by earlier methods of calculation.

	Thousands
June 1951	20,526
June 1959
(a)	21,565
(b)	20,983
June 1980 (provisional)	22,008

Job Search And Employment Transfer Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to modify the pattern of grants and allowances payable under the employment transfer scheme.

With effect from 1 April 1981 the grants and allowances payable under the employment transfer scheme will be changed as follows:

	Change
(a) Free Fare to take up work	No change
(b) Free Fare for dependants to travel to join the applicant	No change
(c) Settling in Grant	These facilities will be withdrawn and replaced by a new Transfer Grant
(d) Temporary Separation Allowance
(e) Disturbance Allowance
(f) Continuing Liability Allowance
(g) Retention of Lodgings Allowance
(h) Assisted Home Visits
(i) Transfer Grant

The new transfer grant will be payable at one of four rates:

	£
Rate One: For an applicant with spouse and one or more children	1,200
Rate Two: For an applicant with a spouse but no "children OR an applicant with no spouse but one or more dependants	960
Rate Three: For an applicant without dependants who is a householder	735
Rate Four: For an applicant without dependants who is not a house holder	295

The transfer grant will be payable in five stages over one year. The first payment will be made as soon as possible after the applicant has started work and the other four will be paid at quarterly intervals. The transfer grant may, however, be paid in advance for house purchase.

	Amount
(j) Legal Expenses for sale of property	Currently 75 per cent, of approved costs up to a maximum of £350. This will be changed to 100 per cent, of approved costs up to a maximum of £700. Currently 75 per cent, of approved costs up to a maximum of £235. This will be changed to 100 per cent, of approved costs up to a maximum of £350
(k) Legal Expenses for purchase of property.
(l) Mobility Premium for those who have completed a substantial course under the Training Opportunities Scheme and who are moving to take up work requiring the newly acquired skill	£200 payable in four-stages at quarterly intervals.

The Manpower Services Commission has also reviewed and revised the rules governing eligibility and entitlement to assistance under the employment transfer scheme to make them easier to understand and simpler to apply. The rules will be printed in a new transfer scheme handbook, copies of which will shortly be placed in the Library. A new leaflet has been prepared for the public and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to raise the pay limit for assistance under the job search and employment transfer schemes.

The pay limit above which assistance under the job search and employment transfer schemes is not available will be increased from £6,264 per annum—£120 per week—to £7,308 per annum—£140 per week—with effect from 1 April 1981.

	Wolverhampton employment office area		West Midlands Region
	at employment office	At careers office	At employment offices	At careers offices
May 1979	524	67	16,069	4,695
February 1981	166	6	4,607	350

Defence

Universities And Polytechnics (Grants And Contracts)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the general principles upon which his Department lets research contracts or grants to universities or polytechnics rather than conduct the research in its own institutions.

The Ministry of Defence satisfied its needs for research by a co-ordinated programme of activities in industry, in universities and polytechnics and in its own establishments. Within this general policy the decision whether a particular piece of research is conducted at a university or polytechnic largely depends on the nature of the work and the availability of scientists, research staff and facilities to do it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list all research contracts or grants let by his Department to departments of British universities or polytechnics in each of the years 1975 to 1980; for each contract or grant what was its title, the name of the principal investigator concerned, its financial value, and the number of years for which it is to run; whether, in each case, the results of the research are classified, or may be freely published, and, in each case, whether the principal investigator or any ancillary staff are subject to security clearance or investigation prior to or following the issuing of the contract;(2) in the case of each contract of grant let by his Department to departments of British universities or polytechnics in each year from 1975 to 1980, in what way the defence of the realm was aided.

In any one year there are approximately 500 research agreements current between the Ministry of Defence and British universities and

Job Vacancies (West Midlands)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of job vacancies in May 1979 in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands; and what is the current number in each area.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 March 1981, c. 107]: The following table gives the numbers of vacancies remaining unfilled at employment offices and at careers offices in the areas specified at May 1979 and February 1981. The figures are not seasonally adjusted. The statistics relate only to those vacancies notified to employment offices and to careers ofices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.polytechnics. The duration of these agreements varies hut the standard length is three years. The annual cost to the defence budget is about £5 million at today's prices. The benefit to defence derived from these agreements lies in the fact that they permit the special expertise and facilities available in particular universities or polytechnics to be applied to the advancement of the Ministry's research and development programmes, notably in areas where the solution of complex fundamental problems might benefit from innovations in theoretical and experimental techniques which are being investigated by the relevant bodies. In all but a very small number of cases the results of research work are unclassified and, subject to the agreement of the Secretary of State for Defence—which is not unreasonably withheld—may be published in accordance with scientific practice. Where classified work is involved, the arrangements for its protection are broadly similar to those which apply in defence industry generally. It would require disproportionate effort to provide further details in the form requested.

Northern Ireland (Service Fines)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the minimum and maximum, and the average fines imposed in each regiment for the prevalent offences when serving in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Offences classified as "prevalent" are dealt with either summarily by commanding officers, or by courts martial, and may attract fines of up to 28 days pay. Offences also contrary to civil law may involve a fine up to the maximum which may be imposed by a civil court. Information about the actual fines imposed in individual regiments is not readily available and could not be provided without excessive effort and expense.

Canberra Aircraft (Refurbishing Contract)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the refurbishing contract in respect of five Canberra aircraft will be awarded to Short Bros. Ltd., Belfast.

The placing of this contract is still under consideration. The interested parties will be informed as soon as a decision has been taken.

Excess Baggage (Charge)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why his Department specifies that unaccompanied baggage in excess of entitlement is charged at a rate per cubic metre of £91·18 when carried to Hong Kong but £102·70 per cubic metre when carried to Cyprus.

Item and CCT No.	Common Levy^*		MCA†		Total Import Levy
	£/MT	P/LB	£/MT	P/LB	£/MT	P/LB
Common Wheat (10.01 A)	33·777	l·53	15·283	0·69	49·060	2·22
Barley (10.03)	18·664	0·85	13·597	0·62	32·261	1·47
Maize (10.05B)	32·629	1·48	13·597	0·62	46·226	2·10
White Sugar (17.01 A)	11·904	0·54	40·270	1·83	52·174	2·37
Butter 82·84 per cent, fat content (04.03A)‡	962·304	43·69	254·360	11·55	1216–664	55·24
Cheddar Cheese (04.04 EIb 1bb)	947·052	43·00	196·460	8·92	1143–512	51·92
Skimmed Milk Powder (04.02 AIIb 1)	313·541	14·23	105·990	4·81	419·531	19·04
Boneless Frozen Meat (02.01 AIIb4bb33)	1011–110	45·90	239·950	10·89	1251–060	56·79
Lard (15.01AII)	54·524	2·48	34·560	1·57	89·084	4·05
Pigmeat Carcasses║(02.01 AIIIa1)	170·428	7·74	107·990	4·90	278·418	12·64
Salted Bacon Sides (02.06BIa2aa)	218·150	9·90	138·230	6·28	356·380	16·18
Eggs (04.05AIB)¶	174·732	7·93	34·720	1·58	209·452	9·51
Poultrymeat 70 per cent. Chickens (02.02 AIb) #	122·121	5·54	29·760	1·35	151·881	6·89
^* Conversion from European Currency Units into Sterling has been made using the representative rate 1 ECU=£0·618655, and multiplying the resultant figure by the current Monetary Coefficient of 0·859.
† Currently, Monetary Compensatory Amounts (MCAs) act as a levy on imports.
‡ There is a special rate for New Zealand butter.
║ Does not include a supplementary levy which at present applies only to imports from the German Democratic Republic.
¶ Includes a supplementary levy applicable to imports from certain countries of origin. Regulations provide for supplementary levies to operate in this sector when average free-at-frontier offer prices fall below the sluice gate price.
# Does not include a supplementary levy which at present applies only to imports from Spain.

Glasshouse Industry (Energy Costs)

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, following the announcement of assistance to large industrial users of energy, he will offer similar help to the British glasshouse industry to enable it to compete with Government-assisted French, Dutch, Belgian and West German competitors.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) earlier today.

Northumberland (Shell Fishing)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the representations of the Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee on the likely effect of an increase to 83 mm carapace length for lobsters on the livelihood of shell fishermen in Northumberland; and whether he now proposes to introduce such a limit.

The information is not immediately available. I shall write to my hon. Friend.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

European Community (Foodstuff Purchases)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table bringing up to date the figures supplied by him in his written answer of 1 December 1980, Official Report, concerning levies on imported food.

The following is the information requested for the United Kingdom as at 11 March 1981:

I have given careful consideration to the representations made by the Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee and other fisheries organisations about the proposal to increase the minimum size for lobsters. The Government's decision will be announced shortly.

Green Pound

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the benefits to the consumer of a revaluation of the green pound.

Consumers would benefit to the extent that the resulting reductions in agricultural support prices in the United Kingdom and in monetary compensatory amounts on imports were reflected in changes in food prices at the retail level. The extent to which this would happen would depend on the market situation and on decisions by individual traders.

Volume 1: debated on Thursday 19 March 1981

Written Answers To Questions

Duchy Of Lancaster

Sir Peter Hayman

Members Of Parliament (Salaries)

Attorney-General

Sir Peter Hayman

Personal Injury Cases (Damages)

Barristers (Dress)

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Personal Injuries (Damages)

Scotland

Solvents (Abuse)

Sheltered Housing Project (Maryhill)

Trade

Bradford Exchange Limited

Insurance Companies (Repudiation Of Liability)

Caravans (Code Of Practice)

Aircraft Accident (Tenerife)

Tamworth Industrial Fabrics Ltd (Correspondence)

Royal Bank Of Scotland And Lloyds And Scottish Finance Group (Mergers)

Trust House Forte Ltd—Savoy Group

Full-Line Forcing And Tie-In Sales (Report)

Export And Import Markets

Prime Minister

Engagements

Central Policy Review Staff

Caernarfon

Pensioners' Lobby

Interception Of Communications (Diplock Report)

Mintlaw

Factory Closures

Dunlop Ltd

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Green Pound

Tate And Lyle Refinery, Liverpool

Common Agricultural Policy

Pre-Packaged Foods (Cost)

Agriculture Industry (Employment)

Agricultural Training Board

Milk

Fish Stocks

Agricultural Wages

Milk Marketing Board

Agricultural Land

Potatoes

Intervention Stocks

Beef

European Community (Exports To Russia)

Beef Cows

Farm Incomes

Fish And Fish Products

Poultry Industry

Cream (Container Regulations)

Glasshouse Production

Barley

Farm Subsidies

Farm Prices

Wool Marketing Board

Swine Vesicular Disease

Fishing Industry

Brucellosis

Price Review

Marginal Land Farmers

European Community (Price Proposals)

Agriculture Industry

European Community (Subsidised Exports)

Subsidised Butter (Charities)

Education And Science

Local Authorities (Manpower Requirements)

Further And Higher Education (Teacher Redundancies)

Higher Education (Expenditure)

Universities (Closure Or Amalgamation Proposals)

Universities (Expenditure)

Civil Service

Contract Cleaning

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Poland (Food Assistance)

Home Department