asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) if she has yet received any suggestions from the Civil Service unions about new procedures for settling Civil Service pay;(2) if any functions are now being performed by the Civil Service Pay Research Unit; and, if not, whether she will now abolish it,(3) what form her review of arrangements for settling Civil Service pay will take: and when she expects it to be completed.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord President of the Council told the Civil Service unions on 23 February that the Government intended to review the arrangements for determining the pay of non-industrial civil servants, with the object of establishing as soon as practicable an ordered and agreed system which will command the widest possible acceptance.The review is still in the early stages, and at present we are considering a wide range of factors, including a number of proposals for changes in the present arrangements which we have received from the Civil Service unions. It would be premature to predict at this stage how long the review will take. The Pay Research Unit will remain in being pending the outcome of the review.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she will give, at the latest and most convenient date, the total number of civil servants who receive salaries in excess of that paid to hon. Members.

Some 23,000 non-industrial civil servants at present receive basic salaries in excess of £11,750, which is the current basic salary of hon. Members.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what were the total sums spent in 1980 by Her Majesty's Stationery Office on printing in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why she is compiling a list of all civil servants who took part in the one-day strike on Monday 9 March; for what purpose this will be used; whether individuals will be able to check whether they are included on it; and if she will make a statement.

I am not compiling such a list, but Government Departments were asked to let my Department know how many non-industrial civil servants were on strike on 9 March; they were not instructed to give information about individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what financial guarantees are offered by the European Community for investment in alternative energy sources.

None, although the European Investment Bank has powers to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will seek to encourage other European Community States to accelerate investment in nuclear electricity generating capacity.

The European Community has adopted guidelines for investment in energy supply, including nuclear power, to 1990.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on planning for future long-term energy requirements and the extent to which coal will feature in such planning.

I believe that coal can have an important role to play in meeting our long-term energy requirements provided the coal can be produced efficiently and at prices which are competitive with other fuels.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what his Department's press office has done to publicise Government policy on gas prices.

The Government's approach to gas prices, and on energy prices generally, has been widely explained by my Department's press office.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received on the subject of energy prices to industry, following the report of the National Economic Development Council task force.

Following publication of the report I have received several representations from energy—intensive industries, including paper and board, chemicals and steel.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his Department's response to the National Economic Development Council energy task force report; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have announced measures on gas and electricity prices which will cost some £120 million in the coming financial year. These measures, which are in addition to steps already taken last year, will provide considerable benefit, particularly to large energy-intensive users. The NEDC task force report was fully taken into account in reaching these decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will bring forward proposals to create greater competition in the existing nationalised energy industry monopolies.

Competition between the fuels is essential, and I shall continue to consider all means of promoting competition between the energy industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on total energy consumption in the last 12 months as compared with the previous year and progress on his energy conservation programme.

Provisional figures for 1980 show that the total United Kingdom energy consumption on a primary fuel input basis was 7.5 per cent. less than in 1979 and the lowest level since 1975. As regards the progress of the conservation programme, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friends the Members for East Grinstead (Mr. Johnston Smith) and for Bath (Mr. Patten) on 23 February 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much money has been spent on conserving energy over each of the past four years; and what is the estimated figure for the current year.

It is not possible to give details of total expenditure on energy conservation, since a large part of this results from countless individual and private sector decisions. Government expenditure on separately identifiable energy conservation programmes was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will meet the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board to discuss the impact of its operations upon Government energy policy.

I meet the chairman of the CEGB regularly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the electricity supply industry about the effect on electricity prices in the context of the possible cancellation of the 1979 sales agreement between the National Coal Board and the Central Electricity Generating Board in order to accomodate a ban or similar restrictions on coal imports.

My right hon. Friend has invited the chairman of the CEGB to enter into commercial discussions with the NCB with a view to reducing the level of the board's coal imports. The discussions between the two boards are now taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ensure that the environmental impact of onshore oil and gas exploration is kept to the minimum by reviewing procedures within the control of his Department.

I am satisfied that the present arrangements, whereby a petroleum licensee is required to obtain all necessary planning permissions before applying for my consent to carry out survey work or drilling in the licensed area, are adequate to ensure that protection of the environment is fully considered by the appropriate planning authorities before any work can commence.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the currently projected levels of production of North Sea oil and gas.

The forecasts of petroleum production announced by my right hon. Friend on 5 March—[Vol. 1000, c. 153–54]—present a range of possible levels of production making allowance for the technical and geological problems which can delay North Sea operations. They present our best assessment of the likely outturn, taking into account the need for petroleum to be produced at levels consistent with good oilfield practice. The Government's aim is to prolong high levels of UKCS production to the end of the century.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what study he has made of the Cannock Chase drift mine proposal; what plans he has for encouraging this development and other National Coal Board investment plans; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the National Coal Board to decide on specific projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to promote the consumption of coal and the application of modern technology which will extend the use of coal.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his recent Budget Statement a £50 million grant scheme to encourage industry to make the switch from oil to coal-fired equipment.The scheme will apply to both conventional and new coal-using technologies, including fluidised bed combustion.As far as other new coal-using technologies are concerned, the British Gas Corporation is bringing its substitute natural gas technology towards the stage of commercial scale demonstration. The way forward on coal liquefaction is the subject of current discussion with the NCB.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what initiatives he plans to take during 1981 through the European Community and the International Energy Agency to obtain further reductions in the use of oil

I shall answer my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will make a statement on the form and nature of the advice given to the British National Oil Corporation and other oil companies on the preference which they should give in supplying oil to European Economic Community member States;(2) if he will list the countries to which British oil companies have been advised not to supply oil; and if he will make a statement.

No special advice has been given to the British National Oil Corporation or other oil companies on the disposal of their oil. As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest (Mr. McNair-Willson) on 24 may 1979, the Government continue to expect that oil companies exporting North Sea crude will do so in the markets of our partners in the International Energy Agency and the European Community.This expectation in no way cuts across the maintenance to the extent possible of any existing patterns of trade outside those regions. Apart from this general guidance, there are no specific countries to which British oil companies have been advised not to offer supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish as a White Paper the report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Nuclear Energy Agency's committee on the safety of nuclear installations and indicate briefly the main fndings of that report that concern the Three Mile Island accident.

No. I have arranged for copies of the report to placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made of the number of patents that have been registered by British research establishments resulting from financial support by the European Community in the implementations of energy research and development programmes.

None by my Department. The arrangements made for protecting any intellectual property arising from research work supported by the community are matters for the researcher and the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list, in order of the value of contracts won for work on the United Kingdom continental shelf, the top 10 offshore contractors.

The purpose of the information given in the individual returns supplied by each operator under the voluntary arrangement agreed with the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association is to monitor the flow of orders in respect of United Kingdom continental shelf activity and the share of orders gained within the United Kingdom. It is not intended to provide a ranking list of suppliers and no such records are kept.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide a breakdown of the total figure of £1,116 million given in his report to Parliament in June 1980 for expenditure on production platforms by the yard in which the platforms were constructed.

Details of orders are provided to my Department on a commercially confidential basis. It is not possible to publish the value of orders received at individual yards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain why after some five months a letter sent to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis by Mr. R. E. Grafton of Stratford, E.15, dated 12 August 1980, had not been acknowledged or answered.

I understand that Mr. Grafton's letter was acknowledged on 21 August; that he was subsequently seen by the local home beat officer and expressed himself satisfied with action taken by the police to meet his point; and that a further reply was therefore considered unnecessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Horne, Department how many convicted female prisoners in 1978, 1979 and 1980 received their first custodial sentence for soliciting.

I shall reply to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners convicted for soliciting had their children taken into care in the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.

The information is not collected centrally and if available could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convicted female prisoners serving sentences for soliciting had children under (a) 5 years of age and (b) 18 years of age in the years 1977. 1978, 1979 and 1980.

The information is not collected centrally and if available could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convicted female prisoners were serving sentences for soliciting in each of the years 1977 to 1980.

I shall reply to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the 25 changes in the Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts proposed by the Equal Opportunities Commission in January 1981 to improve equality between men and women; and when he intends to implement them.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to a question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 29 January.—[Vol. 997, c. 482.]Consultations are taking place with other Government Departments and with the Equal Opportunities Commission, but it is too soon to judge when the detailed examination of the commission's proposals will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Indian citizens who wished to visit their families and friends in the United Kingdom were barred entry over the weekend of 14–15 March.

This information is not readily available. It could be provided only at disproportionate cost, because statistics of those refused leave to enter are not compiled on a daily basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what tests he intends to carry out to ensure that commercially available nuclear fall-out shelters are able to withstand the effects of a nuclear explosion.

None. The recent Home Office publications "Domestic Nuclear Shelters" and "Domestic Nuclear Shelters—Technical Guidance" provide information and advice against which the claims of manufacturers can be assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes in the detention centre system.

I have decided to extend the tougher regimes pilot project by the autumn to Foston Hall junior detention centre in Derbyshire and Haslar senior detention centre in Hampshire.To take account of the growing pressures in recent years on detention centre places, I am also planning to make accommodation available for senior detention centre trainees at Guys Marsh borstal in Dorset and at the borstal and detention centre at Hollesley Bay Colony in Suffolk, and to redesignate the senior detention centre at Blantyre House, Kent as a junior detention centre.Both the extension of the pilot project and the changes in accommodation will require adjustments to the committal areas of detention centres. A circular giving details of the revised committal areas will be sent to the courts in due course.The pilot project will remain in operation at New Hall and Send detention centres. Minor modifications have been made to the timetables there, primarily to improve continuity in the programmes for work. I have at present no plans for further changes to the regimes at those centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decisions have been taken on the main recommendations of the report of the working party on clerks to boards of visitors of prison department establishments.

The working party's central recommendation was that, subject to certain transitional arrangements, the servicing of boards of visitors should become an integral part of the official work of their establishments instead of being undertaken on a fee payment basis by volunteers, most of whom are already members of the staff of those establishments.I share the working party's view that it should be possible to provide a better and more consistent service for the valuable work done by boards of visitors if such servicing became part of official duties and that this will not detract from the independence of boards. Accordingly, and following consultation with boards and with staff, I have decided that the "official duty" system recommended by the working party should be adopted at each establishment as and when the appointment of the present clerk comes to an end. I also accept the working party's recommendation that where, exceptionally, a board of visitors wishes to recruit and appoint a clerk from outside the prison service it should retain the right to do so.I am sympathetic to the working party's recommendations for an expansion of training for clerks to boards, and will take decisions on those recommendations in the context of the general review of prison department training recommended by the May committee, which will shortly commence.I have placed a copy of the working party's report in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the present acreage of national parks in Wales; and what proportion this represents of the total acreage in Wales.

The acreage of national parks in Wales is 1,015,680. This represents approximately 20 per cent. of the total acreage in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what the annual rate of growth in Wales was for the years 1974 to 1980.

It is estimated that the average annual growth in real gross domestic product in Wales between 1974 and 1979 was 1·6 per cent. Figures for 1980 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now take steps to make projections of gross migration flows to and from Wales, in order to assist physical and manpowering planning.

This is already done and the net flows resulting from the work are published in OPCS, reference volume series PP2.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an estimate of the additional number of persons in Wales who would be available for employment if the employee activity rate in Wales for all persons over 16 years of age equalled that of England.

89,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many school leavers are currently registered as unemployed in Ceredigion; how this figure compares with comparable figures for 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979; and if he will make a statement.

On 15 February 1981 there were 53 school leavers under the age of 18 registered as unemployed at employment and careers offices in the area. This compares with 37, 38, 32 and 20 in the corresponding month of 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 respectively. In 1981–82 the youth opportunities programme will provide opportunities for training and work experience for around 3,450 young people in Dyfed, compared with 2,600 in 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the use of the 1981 Welsh housing condition survey in the recently published "Regional Trends" 1981, he will now publish that survey.

The report on the Welsh housing and dwelling survey will be published on 27 March. Copies will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what estimate he has made of the proportion of British exports of manufactures which may be being sold at a loss in the hope that the exchange rate will fall to a level which will make British goods competitive overseas.

The Department has no estimate of the proportion of exports being sold at a loss, let alone whether any such selling is solely due to hopes that the exchange rate will fall. The future competitiveness of United Kingdom exports depends also on our relative inflation rate and productivity growth and on non-price factors such as quality.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the markings of country of origin of imported locks; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied with the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Acts 1968 and 1972, which prohibit false or misleading indications of origin; require the origin marking of imports sold here under a United Kingdom name or mark; and apply to all goods imported into the United Kingdom.The Trade Descriptions (Origin Marking) (Miscellaneous Goods) Order 1981, which will come into effect on 1 January 1982, will not apply to locks; as I made clear on 16 March in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Waller), my first priority is to implement the new order as it stands before considering the case for bringing in new products and sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce measures to limit the amount of locks imported into the United Kingdom.

No. Import statistics do not suggest that emergency safeguard action under the general agreement on tariffs and trade would be justified, and the United Kingdom has not asked for such action to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he intends to take to protect the British lock industry from unfair competition from abroad.

One company approached my Department in 1979 for advice on anti-dumping action but did not follow up that inquiry. Officials in my Department stand ready to advise the industry on the remedies that are available against unfair competition from abroad arid to assist in the preparation of a case.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress has been made by his Department in collecting companies' reports for the period 1 July 1979 to 30 June 1980 under the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa; how many reports have been received so far; how many are outstanding; and what reminders, if any, have been issued.

I shall be publishing shortly an analysis and summary of all company reports made under the code for the 12 months ended 30 June 1980. It will also include a list of all companies which might have been expected to report but have not yet done so. Reminders about reporting under the code were sent on 11 September 1980 and on 4 February 1981 to companies believed to have a major reporting responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has received any communication from the European Economic Community Commission on the issue of flags of convenience; and, if so, what has been his response.

I have received no communication on this subject from the European Community Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has received any communications from or been engaged in any discussions with the Liberian Shipowners' Council or the General Council of British Shipping concerning the meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in May on the issue of flags of convenience; and if he will make a statement.

Government Ministers have had no contact with the Liberian Shipowners' Council or the General Council of British Shipping on the forthcoming UNCTAD special session of the committee on shipping. It would be premature to discusss the May meeting with the General Council of British Shipping or any other interested national body until the studies commissioned from UNCTAD officials at the last committee on shipping are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if Her Majesty's Government have received a request from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to forward questionnaires, dealing with issues affecting bulk carriage for goods, to leading importers and exporters of iron ores, phosphates, bauxite and aluminium; and, if so, what advice he is giving;(2) if he will make a statement as to the attitude of Her Majesty's Government concerning the request which has been made by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development officials to Western nations' interests not to block investigations into control of bulk shipping.

The contents of such a questionnaire were agreed at the first meeting of a group of experts early this month. When we receive the questionnaire we will circulate it. I strongly urge a speedy and comprehensive response from those consulted, as this will ensure that future discussion within UNCTAD will take place on a more realistic and factual basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade on how many occasions since May 1979 he has discussed shipping issues with the seafaring trade unions and the General Council of British Shipping, respectively; and if he will make a statement on any discussions which have taken place.

Since May 1979 Department of Trade Ministers have had six meetings with the seafaring trade unions, and 13 meetings with the General Council of British Shipping. I regret that the National Union of Seamen has not accepted any of the invitations to meet Ministers; these remain open. Discussions covered a wide range of topics of mutual interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report the number of new registrations, changes and cessations relating to entries at the Registry of Business Names for each of the years 1979 and 1980 and the numbers of copies and certificates issued to the public of inspections of the register for these periods; and what is the percentage increase or decrease in each of these activities.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement concerning the consideration by European Economic Community Ministers of the latest report on the Commission's talks with the United States Administration about the increase of American textile imports into the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to arrange for the closure of the American nuclear submarine base at Holy Loch.

No.

asked the Attorney-General if he will reconsider the plan to transfer the Bristol Crown courts from the existing locations in the Guildhall, the Old Bridewell and the old council chamber to a new site at Redcliff Street, in view of the fact that the accommodation required could be more conveniently and economically provided adjacent to the existing courts and ancillary facilities on the site of the old general post office in Small Street; and if he will withdraw the planning application to Bristol city council pending such reconsideration.

The Lord Chancellor will be consulting further with the Secretary of State for the Environment in the light of the views expressed by the planning committee of the Bristol city council at its meeting on 18 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will review the decision taken by Heads of Government in 1974 to introduce a standard European Community passport to replace the present United Kingdom passport.

No. The Heads of Government at the European Council in December 1974 agreed in principle that there should be a common format for the national passports of European Community member States. The passports in the common format will not be European Community passports and their issue will remain a national prerogative.

asked the Prime Minister if it is the view of Her Majesty's Government that the agreement at the Foreign Affairs Council of Ministers to introduce a Common Market passport by 1985 represents a binding commitment; or if she intends to provide Parliament with the opportunity of accepting or rejecting the introduction of such European Community passports.

The Foreign Affairs Council agreed on 16–17 March 1981 that member States would endeavour to implement by January 1985 the 1974 decision in principle that there should be a common format for the national passports of European Community member States. But it was also understood that those member States which have not completed the revision of their laws or rules concerning nationality or the methods of producing the passport by the above date may issue the passport at a later date.We have made it clear that we do not intend to introduce British passports in the common format until we are ready to implement the International Civil Aviation Organisation's recommendations for a passport in a simplified standardised format with machine-readable capability. We are studying the technical problems involved and the changes will not be made for a number of years. There will be opportunities before then for Parliament to debate the matter.

asked the Prime Minister why it has been agreed to overprint future British passports with the words European Communities; and what consultation has taken place on the proposal.

Heads of Government at the European Council in December 1974 agreed in principle that there should be a common format for the national passports of European Community member States and this was reported to Parliament by the right hon. Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson). Discussions have continued intermittently since then on the detailed implementation of that decision. The inclusion of a reference to the European Communities on the front cover of passports in a common format was agreed by the Foreign Affairs Council in November 1975. Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on 16–17 March 1981 agreed that the words "European Community" should be used.Following the decision at the 1974 European Council, the Commission produced a consultative document which the House of Commons Scrutiny Committee considered in 1975. In February 1979 a House of Lords Select Committee reported on progress on the implementation of the ideas in the Commission's 1975 consultative document. The subject was debated in the House of Lords on 6 November 1979.

asked the Prime Minister what are the precise terms of reference and coverage of the inquiry into the leak of Budget secrets, and if it includes No. 10 Downing Street.

The inquiry is to establish whether there was a leak of official information in advance of the Budget, and if so what the source was. There are no precise terms of reference. It extends to all who had access to the relevant information.

asked the Prime Minister if she will include within the coverage of the inquiry into the leak of details of the 10 March Budget an investigation into whether comparable leaks occurred when similar details were published from the two previous Budgets.

No. Such investigations as were considered necessary into previous incidents were carried out at the time. I do not propose to give further details of such inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister on how many occasions during the past year the traffic in London, and particularly in Westminster, has been seriously affected due to official visits and ceremonial processions; if she will list these; and if she will give the cost of the police involved on each occasion.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis considers that during the past year traffic has been seriously affected on the following occasions:

• 15 July 1980
• Her Majesty The Queen Mother's 80th Birthday
• Procession to St. Paul's Cathedral;
• 18 November 1980
• The State Visit of the King and Queen of Nepal;
• 20 November 1980
• The State Opening of Parliament;
• 17 March 1981
• The State Visit of the President of Nigeria.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the purpose of the 1981 survey of employers' labour costs.

The 1981 labour costs survey is part of a triennial pattern of surveys carried out in all member countries of the European Community under a regulation of the Council. It seeks to measure all forms of labour costs—not just wages and salaries but also statutory payments such as national insurance and voluntary payments such as superannuation costs. The proportion of costs other than wages and salaries is of growing importance in this country and very substantial in a number of other Community countries. The survey also measures hours worked and training expenditure.The survey provides a minimum amount of information on labour costs analysed by industry, size of firm and region which is comparable in all member countries. It can affect the money received by the United Kingdom from Community funds—for example, in connection with the social and regional funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants are attached to the statistics division A3 of his Department; and if he will list the other statistical surveys being carried out by his Department apart from the survey of employers' labour costs.

As at 1 March 1981 statistics division A3 comprised seven staff, with about one third of their time devoted to the labour costs survey.The regular statistical surveys carried out by the Department—(apart from the labour costs survey)—are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an estimate of the cost of preparing and producing the 1981 survey of employers' labour costs; and if he is satisfied that the survey is a productive use of Government manpower.

The total cost of the 1981 survey of employers' labour costs, from initial planning stage to the production of analyses for Community and national purposes, is estimated to be around £170,000 at 1980 prices, about half of which is likely to be reimbursed from Community funds.The survey ensures that there is a minimum amount of information on labour costs, hours worked and training expenditure comparable to that of other member countries of the European Community, so that the United Kingdom can argue cogently, for example, when it applies for selective aid from the Community budget or seeks to further other policies through the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many organisations were asked to prepare figures for the 1980 survey of employers' labour costs; how many have provided relevant statistics; and what conclusions the survey has established.

There was no survey of employers' labour costs in 1980. Such surveys are only carried out triennially, the last to be completed being that for 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many organisations have been asked to prepare figures for the 1981 survey of employers' labour costs; how many have already replied; and how many indicated in their replies that they question the value of such a survey.

Copies of the specimen questionnaire for the 1981 survey of labour costs were issued to just over 12,300 organisations in Great Britain; a reduction compared with the sample of nearly 13,000 in 1978 and over 17,500 in 1975. Replies are not required until the action copies of the questionnaires are issued at the end of 1981. Eighteen letters have been received querying the value of the survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been lost in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk since May 1979.

Precise information about job gains and job losses is not available but an indication of the net change can be seen by comparing the levels of the quarterly estimates of employees in employment at different dates. Between June 1979 and Septmber 1980, the latest date for which information is available, the number of employees in employment in the North-West region fell by 102,000. The figures are provisional and are not seasonally adjusted. There are no employment estimates for Merseyside, Kirkby and Ormskirk for the period specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people opted out of the trade union political levy in 1980; and how that compares with the position in each of the last five years.

No figures for 1980 are yet available. I am informed by the Certification Officer that in the 73 unions with political funds the number of trade union members who were shown in annual returns to be exempt from contributing for the year ended 31 December 1979 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications the Certification Officer received for political levy "opting out" forms in 1980 and to date in 1981; and how this compares with the demand in each of the last five years.

I am informed by the Certification Officer that during 1980 he received 84 applications for forms used for claiming exemption from contributing to political funds and that he has received 61 such applications to date in 1981. This compares with 150 applications received during 1979. Figures for earlier years are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate has been made of the total sum of money "opted out" of trade union political levies in 1980.

I am informed. by the Certification Officer that no such estimate can yet be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, for the latest available year, what is the correlation coefficient between the rate of unemployment and the size of population for the countries of Western Europe.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of working days lost in industry during each of the past eight quarters as a consequence of short-time working in industry.

Statistics of the numbers of hours lost through short-time working are available for operatives in manufacturing industries in a selected week in each month which has been chosen to avoid public holidays. In the following table averages of the appropriate weekly figures have been grossed up to provide quarterly estimates of working days lost in Great Britain, assuming an eight-hour working day and a 13-week quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what discussions he proposes to have with the officers of the Royal National Institute of the Deaf about the employment of people who are totally or severely deaf; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is his estimate of the unemployment rate of totally or severely deaf people; and how this compares with the national average rate of unemployment.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what proposals he has for improved training of totally or severely deaf people to enable them to find employment in a wide range of industries, trades and professions;(2) what new steps he proposes to take to improve the training and job opportunities of people who are totally or severely deaf;(3) what special provision he is making to improve the training and job opportunities of young school leavers who are totally or severely deaf.

The Manpower Services Commission provides and sponsors a wide range of vocational training open to deaf people, including school-leavers, which includes specialist provision for those who are totally or severely deaf. The MSC will continue to keep this provision under review. The MSC is currently running a major campaign, entitled "Fit for Work", which has as an aim the improvement of job opportunities open to disabled people generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, for the last three years, he will tabulate in the Official Report the number of totally or severely deaf school leavers who failed to find employment within 12 months of leaving school.

Information is not kept in this form and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.From an analysis made each April since 1979 it is known that unemployed deaf young people registered with careers officers numbered 194 on 5 April 1979 and 242 on 10 April 1980. The 1979 analysis was made before the Easter school-leaving date. The handicap of these young people ranged from hard-of-hearing to total deafness.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of unemployed in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development during each of the past three years; and what percentage in each year was represented by unemployment in the United Kingdom.

Unemployment figures for 1978, 1979 and 1980—annual averages—as published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development using national definitions are given below. The United Kingdom figure is shown as a percentage of the total for each year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will increase the level of payment of young people on youth opportunities programme schemes in order to retain the differentials between such payments and the supplementary and unemployment benefits payable in October 1980.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mr. Dobson) on 8 December 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will define what is meant by "good quality training for work" as it affects the youth opportunities programme.

In the context of the youth opportunities programme, "good quality training for work" comprises opportunities for trainees to learn and use skills for employment in a practical setting; to gain knowledge and skills relevant to occupational tasks through training; to acquire skills that are important to his or her personal and social development in the adult community; and to have access to competent and practical advice on personal, educational, training and career development. Judgment of quality in individual cases depends on factors such as the maturity and experience of the young person; his or her abilities, skills and potential; and the particular circumatances of the local labour market.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many companies in (a) Wolverhampton, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the United Kingdom as a whole have been removed from the youth opportunities programme in the last year because they were using it as a source of cheap labour;(2) if he is satisfied with the present operation of the youth opportunities programme; and what plans he has to increase monitoring of the schemes;(3) how many school leavers are currently being supported by the youth opportunities programme; how this compares with the figures for each of the past three years; and what percentage of school leavers this represents in each case.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how much money will be allocated in 1982 to support the operating costs of industrial training boards;(2) why the Manpower Services Commission has written to industrial training boards saying that there will be no money to fund their operating costs after 31 December.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure adequate payment facilities of unemployment benefit and whether new computer equipment will be required to meet the increase in the number of payments.

An increase in the capacity of the two computer centres at Reading and Livingston, which control the majority of unemployment benefit and payments to the unemployed, has already been sanctioned and the necessary additional equipment is being obtained. These measures will enable the unemployment benefit service to deal with the increase in the number of payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his official visit to Liverpool on 12 March; and what was the purpose of his discussion at Liverpool airport.

I regret that my visit to Liverpool on 12 March had to be cancelled. The following day I addressed the Merseyside Young Conservatives' annual dinner, which was held at Liverpool airport.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of the assumptions regarding unemployment contained in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1981–82, he is confident that the Manpower Services Commission now has sufficient resources to meet the guarantees he has given to unemployed young people whilst at the same time improving the quality of the youth opportunities programme.

I am in close touch with the Manpower Services Commission and the commission will approach me if its resources are insufficient.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees there were in employment in manufacturing industries in (a) the Manchester travel-to-work area and (b) the Manchester city employment office area, in 1961, 1976 and at the latest available date.

Detailed employment statistics are available only from 1971, when censuses of employment were introduced, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage unemployment rate for the Manchester travel-to-work area at the latest date and two years previously.

At February 1981 the rate of unemployment in the Manchester travel-to-work area was 10·3 per cent. compared with 5·8 per cent. at February 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons aged under 25 years were registered as unemployed in (a) the Manchester travel-to-work area and (b) the Manchester city employment office area at October 1979, October 1980 and January 1981; what was the percentage change between each date; and what proportion these totals formed of the total numbers registered as unemployed in these areas.

The following table gives the information for the areas and dates specified. The numbers are not adjusted for seasonal influences and they include school leavers which are generally higher in October than in the following January.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees there were in employment in service industries in (a) the Manchester travel-to-work area and (b) the Manchester city employment office area, in 1971, 1976 and at the latest available date, together with the percentage changes between each date.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the ratio of registered unemployed to notified vacancies in (a) the Manchester travel-to-work area and (b) the Manchester city employment office area in December 1978 and at the latest date for which figures are available.

Vacancy statistics relate only to those notified to employment offices and careers offices. Because vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be only about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole and because of possible duplication between the separate figures for employment offices and careers offices, the two series cannot be added together and used to provide the ratios requested.The following table gives the unemployment and vacancy figures for the areas specified at December 1978 and February 1981. The figures are not adjusted for seasonal variations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of manual employees are semi-skilled or unskilled in (a) Manchester and (b) each local authority area in Merseyside.

I regret that the information is not available. My Department's emloyment statistics are analysed by industry but not by occupation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects that oil revenue bonds will be available to the public.

In the autumn of this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the public are adequately informed about the Budget.

The Treasury and Revenue Departments have maintained close liaison with the press and broadcasting media, both during and after the Budget speech, to ensure the speedy distribution of information about the Budget. I myself made my usual Budget broadcast, which was transmitted on the BBC and Independent television and radio networks, and other Treasury Ministers have also explained the Budget strategy at various times on both television and radio. The March issue of the Treasury's monthly "Economic Progress Report" due to be published on 25 March, will be devoted to the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the total inclusive tax burden now in operation to fall to the level or below that which was in operation in May 1979.

The burden of taxation overall depends on many factors. The major aim of the Government is to bring about a continuing reduction in the rate of inflation and to create conditions for a substantial growth of output and employment. This approach is set out in our medium-term financial strategy, which appears in part II of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1981–82. As this strategy succeeds, so it will be possible to reduce the burden of taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the direct and indirect taxes which have been increased since May 1979; and to what extent the total revenue per annum had resulted from these increased taxes.

The taxes that have been increased are:

• Petroleum revenue tax
• Value added tax
• Excise duties on:
• Hydrocarbon oil
• Tobacco
• Spirits
• Beer
• Wine
• Made-wine
• Cider and perry
• Matches
• Mechanical lighters
• Gaming licences
• Gaming machine licences
• Bingo
• Vehicle excise duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show for each of the years 1976–77 to 1979–80, and estimate for 1980–81, the yield at constant prices and as a percentage of the gross domestic product of each of income tax, surtax, corporation tax, value added tax, employee's national insurance contributions, employer's national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, development land tax, capital transfer tax, petroleum revenue tax, stamp duty, excise duty and estate duty.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would have been the benefit to the Exchequer if tax relief on mortgage interest had all been at the standard rate and not in part at higher rates for 1980–81; and what his estimate of it will be in 1981–82.

The estimated yield if tax relief on mortgage interest were allowed at the basic rate only is £130 million in a full year at 1980–81 income levels and £140 million at 1981–82 income levels. The 1981–82 figure is calculated on the basis of a 13 per cent. mortgage rate throughout the financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the gross national product increased between 1975 and 1980 in Wales, Scotland and England, respectively.

Estimates of gross national product for countries within the United Kingdom are not made. Estimates of gross domestic product at current factor cost, however, are available for years up to 1979. Percentage increases the GDP over the five years 1974 to 1979 were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a list of the charters of the Bank of England and the principal provisions falling within the ambit of section 3(3) of the Bank of England Act 1946.

The only charter made under the provisions of section 3(3) of the 1946 Act is the Bank of England Charter dated 1 March 1946 (Cmnd. 6752), article 1 of which provides for the revocation of both the charter of 1694—with certain specified exceptions—and the supplemental charter of 1896.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much public expenditure during each of the last three years was made up of tranfer payments; and what the totals were as percentages of total Government spending.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchaquer if he will publish the reference in the Official Report to which the Financial Secretary to the Treasury was referring in Official Report, 11 March, c. 976, concerning exchange control legislation.