asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will carry out an investigation under the Companies Acts of the collapse of Norton Warburg, and include the circumstances surrounding the sale of Cadac (London) Limited in 1978 by Touche Ross as receivers in which directors of Norton Warburg were involved.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply in the Official Report, 16 March 1981—[Vol. 1, c. 10]—when I was first asked whether I would institute a Department of Trade inquiry into the affairs of Norton Warburg. I understand that there was no sale of Cadac (London) Limited but that joint receivers appointed by a debenture holder on 10 October 1978 realised certain of that company's assets. On 13 November 1978 a winding up order was made against the company and the liquidator appointed by the court, Mr. G. A. Auger of Stoy Hayward and Partners, applied for and obtained a declaration by the court that the debenture was invalid as a result of which the joint receivers accounted to him for their realisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what negotiations are taking place to secure an early end to the dispute at Companies House affecting company search facilities; and whether his Department has any evidence to suggest that this dispute is acting as an impediment to trade.

The dispute at Companies House is part of the wider dispute over Civil Service pay. Negotiations on this are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council. As yet there is no evidence that the dispute is impeding trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether representations have been made to his Department concerning the delay in the introduction of anti-dumping measures against East European white goods manufacturers; and if he will seek to make an early decision in view of the effects of this delay on employment opportunities in the domestic white goods manufacturing industry.

No such representations have been received by my Department. Responsibility for taking anti-dumping action rests with the European Commission, but we are giving active support to those cases which are currently being considered by the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the proposed merger of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group and the Standard Chartered Banking Group; and when he will make a statement on the merger.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing United Kingdom exports each year since 1970 as a percentage of 1975 based on 1975 prices, together with a series showing this as a percentage of the corresponding figure for world trade.

The information is as follows:

	Volume of United Kingdom exports 1975=100	Estimated United Kingdom percentage share of world exports at 1975 prices
1970	79·5	5·2
1971	85·0	5·2
1972	86·0	4·8
1973	97·2	4·9
1974	102·3	4·9
1975	100·0	5·0
1976	108·6	4·8
1977	117·7	5·1
1978	121·0	4·9
1979	123·8	4·8
1980	125·9	*4·7
* Based on data for first three quarters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether his replies on statistical information now require hon. Members to calculate percentages from published figures; and, if so, when this change of policy occurred.

The established policy of my department in dealing with requests for statistical information is to refer Members to sources when the data can be obtained by simple arithmetical operations from accessible documents. It was decided last year that, provided undue work was not entailed, these arithmetical operations should include multiplication and division.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent Her Majesty's Government are responsible, including under international convention, for the prevention of deaths due to (a) accidents ashore, (b) accidents on board, (c) suicide, (d) homicide, (e) disease, and (f) disappearance at sea, respectively, among seafarers serving on British ships when in United Kingdom ports or when outside territorial waters.

Her Majesty's Government have no responsibility for the prevention of accidents ashore outside the United Kingdom. The Government are responsible for measures which it is appropriate and practicable for it to take to reduce the incidence of deaths arising out of employment as a seafarer on a United Kingdom ship when it is in a United Kingdom port or territorial waters or when it is outside territorial waters. Indeed, my Department is currently working on a series of regulations designed to reduce accidents to seafarers at work.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards increasing the European Economic Community Commission staff dealing with anti-dumping applications; and what representations have been made to the Commission on the issue.

We believe that the Commission must have sufficient resources to carry out its duties in the anti-dumping field. My right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury argued strongly for this at the Budget Council last year and we understand that there is shortly to be an increase in the numbers allocated to this essential work. We shall continue to press for any further strengthening of staff that may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to publish the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the proposed merger between S. and W. Berisford Ltd. and the British Sugar Corporation.

My right hon. Friend received the report on 20 February 1981. It is being published today. The Commission concluded that the merger might be expected to operate against the public interest by leading to a reduction in competition unless Berisford were to give up their merchanting and other trading functions in relation to Tate and Lyle products, and by leading to the loss of information on British Sugar's productivity and financial position unless British Sugar were maintained as a separate subsidiary and unless the farmers, and others needing to assess the record of the company which has a monopoly position, had available full information on its operations. However, the Commission considered that these adverse effects could be remedied by undertakings under section 88 of the Fair Trading Act which committed Berisford

(a) as soon as an orderly transition could be arranged, and subject only to its legal commitments, to cease trading in Tate and Lyle sugar and sugar products, save for the acquisition under certain circumstances of sugar for incorporation in Berisford's or British Sugar's own products; and

(b) to maintain British Sugar as a separate subsidiary without major changes in its activities or purposes, and to publish annually reports and accounts with supplementary material such as to give information comparable with that given in the directors' report and accounts, chairman's statement and chief executive's review published for British Sugar for 1979–80.

The Commission also noted with concern that competition in the sugar industry was very restricted, and suggested that if changes were to occur which fundamentally affected the present market arrangements, it would be desirable for any possible monopoly situation to be considered with a view to the establishment of any necessary safeguards in the interests of sugar users.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the evidence on which he based his statements relating to Mr. Albert Spanswick, Official Report, 12 March, c. 1016; and if he now wishes to correct them.

After I made the comments referred to by the right hon. Gentleman, I saw the correction printed in the Daily Mirror of 17 March. I wrote at once to Mr. Spanswick indicating that I fully accepted his correction, and that I appreciated that the Confederation of Health Service Employees was not making use of the private sector of medicine on the lines that have been adopted by a number of other trade unions. I expressed my personal regret for having referred in my speech to a press report which, though at the time it appeared to be well based, had subsequently been shown to be factually incorrect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further progress has been made in securing United Kingdom budget refunds from the European Community.

the Commission has today announced further decisions on payment of the United Kingdom's

Community contributions in respect of United Kingdom public expenditure programmes 1980–81
	Northern Ireland		Scotland		North		South-West		Yorkshire and Humberside		Total
	£ million	per cent	£ million	per cent	£ million	per cent	£ million	per cent	£ million	per cent	£ million
Roads	16·9	40	23·1	30	9·0	30	—	—	5·1	30	54·1
Rail	0·8	40	17·4	30	11·1	30	1·8	30	13·5	30	44·6
Water and Sewerage	10·3	40	—	—	18·9	30	5·7	30	21·3	30	56·2
Advance Factories	2·5	20	6·1	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	8·6
Land reclamation	0·2	20	3·6	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	3·8
Telecommunications	19·6	40	36·5	30	18·9	30	7·8	30	38·7	30	121·5
Housing	18·0	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	18·0
Total	68·3	—	86·7	—	57·9	—	15·3	—	78·6	—	306·8

The supplementary measures regulation provides that a down payment of 90 per cent. of agreed contributions may be made before certification that the expenditure in question has been carried out. Pending certification, the total amount now payable in respect of the five programmes is therefore 90 per cent of £306·8 million, or £276·2 million. As announced previously, similar payments totalling £157·9 million were made on 31 December and 2 February in respect of programmes for Wales and North-West England. The remaining 10 per cent of the Community contributions in respect of all these programmes will be payable when the public authorities concerned have certified that the expenditure in question has been carried out.The Community budget refunds are enabling public expenditure programmes generally in the United Kingdom to be sustained at levels higher than the country could otherwise have afforded. Expenditure programmes throughout the country are benefiting accordingly. The budget refunds. The United Kingdom is to receive in the next few days a further instalment of some £276·2 million under the "supplementary measures" scheme. This will bring our cumulative receipts under the 30 May budget refunds agreement to nearly £645 million, of which £434 million has been paid under the supplementary measures scheme and £211 million under the financial mechanism. These refunds represent 81·6 per cent. of our assumed gross entitlement for 1980 in the case of the supplementary measures scheme and 75 per cent. in the case of the financial mechanism.The supplementary measures scheme provides for contributions buy the Community in respect of public sector investment programmes in the United Kingdom, principally in the regions. Decisions announced by the Commission in December provided for Community contributions of £177·3 million in respect of programmes in Wales and North-West England. The decisions announced today provides for the Community to contribute a total of £306·8 million in respect of the current year's investment programmes by central government and public corporation spending authorities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, the North of England, South West England and Yorkshire and Humberside. The accompanying table shows the breakdown between these regions. The percentage figures show the Community contribution as a proportion of total estimated expenditure in 1980–81 on the programmes concerned.refunds do not, however, open the way to increases in domestic expenditure programmes beyond the levels already planned. These planned levels were set on the assumption that substantial refunds would be received from the community budget.Projects which form part of the programmes in Northern Ireland now attracting support under the supplementary measures scheme include the construction of a new road linking the M1 and M2 in Belfast, the provision of a new bridge across the River Foyle at Londonderry and improvement of the Lagan Valley sewer. Also attracting Community support are a £90 million programme to provide new and improved housing, particularly in Belfast, Londonderry and Lisburn, and wide-ranging investment programmes on telecommunications, rail, advance factories and land reclamation.Projects which form part of the programmes in Scotland now attracting support under the supplementary measures scheme include several improvements to the A9, in particular the construction of a by-pass at Pitlochry and a bridge at Kessock.Also attracting Community support are the programmes of major improvements to signalling and passenger facilities of the inter-city rail network, which will also benefit the long-distance freight services; the advance factory programme undertaken by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, the land reclamation and advance factory programmes undertaken by the Scottish Development Agency, including the GEAR project to regenerate the east end of Glasgow; and the programme of telecommunications investment planned by British Telecom. The latter programme is designed to strengthen the links with the more remote areas of Scotland, especially those facing new developments as a result of North Sea oil, as well as improving facilities in the central belt and links between Scotland and the national and international networks.Projects which form part of the programmes in the Northern region now attracting support under the supplementary measures scheme include improvements in the East-West links—A66 and A69—and the Al north of Newcastle. The main element of rail investment is the reconstruction of track on the inter-city routes in Northumberland and Durham. Also attracting Community support is a programme of improvements to the region's telecommunications network and water and sewerage facilities, including the Kielder reservoir and the Tees augmentation scheme.Projects which form part of the programme in the South-West region now attracting support under the supplementary measures scheme include the St. Neots, Colliford impounding reservoir and the Cambourne-Redruth main drainage scheme. Also attracting Community support are investment programmes to improve the region's rail and telecommunications facilities.Projects which form part of the programmes in Yorkshire and Humberside now attracting support under the supplementary measures scheme include the completion of the routes through Hull and improvements to the A180 route to Immingham and Grimsby. Improvements in the region's rail network include track reconstruction and signalling particularly in the Leeds and Doncaster areas. Also attracting Community support are investment programmes in telecommunications and water and sewerage, including improvements in the Yorkshire grid supply network and construction of the Don Valley intercepter sewer to improve facilities for industry in Sheffield.Summaries of the eight programmes put forward by the United Kingdom for Community support under the supplementary measures scheme have been placed in the Library.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1981, c. 218]: At the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Community held on 17 March the Commission presented a report of its recent discussions. Since it took up office in January the new United States Administration has deregulated oil prices and has announced its intention to remove export controls on certain types of naphtha and its wish to accelerate the deregulation of gas prices. The appreciation of the dollar against sterling in the past few months has also improved the competitive position of British manufacturers.The Council of Foreign Ministers agreed unanimously that this issue should be kept high on the agenda of European Community/United States relations. In particular, it invited the Commission to pay special attention to maintaining pressure for the deregulation of gas prices and to the damage being caused by the high level of United States exports to the United Kingdom. Further high-level discussions are planned in the coming weeks, and I expect a further report from the Commission at the April meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

asked the Prime Minister why she is unable to make available to Parliament more information about the joint studies being carried out in conjunction with the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

Like other intergovernmental dealings, the studies are being conducted by both sides on a basis of confidentiality. When complete they will be submitted to the Taoiseach and myself and will be considered by the two Governments. If this led the two Governments to make recommendations on matters of policy, they would of course place them before their respective Parliaments in the normal way.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to reduce the level of unemployment in Dundee.

Dundee receives the highest priority because of its special development area status, and the Scottish Development Agency is engaged in a £6 million industrial development programme in the city. To help those unable to find work, the Government are expanding the programme of special employment and training measures. In the long term, employment prospects in Dundee, as elsewhere, depend on the success of our policies to control inflation and restore economic competitiveness.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek powers to provide an extra day's unemployment pay or an extra day's supplementary benefit payment to unemployed persons and supplementary benefit recipients in acknowledgement of the forthcoming marriage on 29 July.

No.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are presently seconded to the Bank of England.

None.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether it is ever the policy of Government Departments to charge for information requested by members of the public.

Yes. A very substantial amount of information is provided to members of the public without any charge at all. But charges are frequently made for copying of documents, extraction of statistics, searches and the like.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will make a further statement on the measures she is considering to reduce the number of re-employed Civil Sevice pensioners.

It is too early to make a further statement but consideration of the cost and oprational efficiency implications of measures to reduce the number of re-employed Civil Service pensioners is continuing.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will make a statement on the pay dispute involving the Civil Service unions.

The Government's position remains as I explained it to the House in my statement on 5 March and in response to earlier questions this afternoon.

asked the Minister of State for the Civil Service if she will make a statement on progress in reducing the size of the Civil Service.

At 1 January 1981, the latest date for which figures are available centrally, there were 695,100 civil servants. This is a reduction of 37,200 since the Government took office.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what will be the mileage allowance for civil servants using their own cars on official business after the recent increase in the petrol tax.

As revised standard rates of mileage allowance are negotiated annually from 1 April in the light of the Automobile Association's schedule of motoring costs at that date, I do not yet know.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the inspector's report for the Castle Donnington section of the A42.

We have not received the inspector's report. It will be published when the decision of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and the Environment is announced. It is not possible at this stage to forecast when this will he.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received a response from the Road Haulage Association to the Armitage report's recommendation relating to 44-tonne lorries; and whether it was favourable.

Yes. The national council of the Road Haulage Association has expressed support for the Armitage recommendations for increased weights including a 44-tonne lorry with six axles.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Workington, Official Report, 2 March 1981, column 48, if, in his consideration of the British Railways Board's corporate plan, he will give special consideration to the position of rail services in rural areas like Cumbria.

I shall certainly take full account of the position of rural rail services in consideration of the Railways Board's corporate plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what provision he is making in his roads budget for 1981–82 for road safety.

The road construction and improvement programme in itself contributes to road safety. For example, the motorways and trunk roads expected to be opened in the next three years will save an estimated 2,000 accidents a year. In addition I have allocated aver £½ million for specific grants to organisations promoting road safety, and the Central Office of Information budget includes £3·4 million for road safety publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the submissions he has now received on the Channel tunnel project.

I have so far received two proposals for bridges, one for a submerged tube and five for various bored tunnel schemes. I am awaiting one further submission.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the establishment of a separate Railways Board for the Southern region; and if he will make a statement.

In my discussions with Sir Peter Parker we have agreed that there is a need for clearer accountability for the operation of the commuter services. He has told me that he is looking at the idea of a separate board under the Railways Board to take responsibility for British Rail's Southern Region services. The Railways Board is now developing this idea further, and I look forward to seeing the results of its further consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Railways to discuss safety matters.

I meet the chairman of British Railways frequently to discuss a wide range of topics. On safety, I express my appreciation of the high standards of passenger safety achieved, and of recent significant improvements in the safety of railway staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is now in a position to announce his policy upon a new system of fixed penalties for traffic offences.

The working group on traffic law set up by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and myself has proposed changes to improve and extend the present fixed penalty system. We are currently considering its recommendations and will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on future electrification proposals for British Railways.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a statement on the findings of the electrification review.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet received any proposals from Bedfordshire county council about the funding and construction of the Leighton Linslade bypass; and if he will make a statement.

The county council's proposals were received yesterday. I realise the importance which my hon. Friend attaches to this bypass and I will consider the proposals and respond to them as quickly as is reasonably possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the reasons for the difference between the 1981–82 trunk road construction budget and the 1980–81 budget.

The difference reflects the increased cost of road building, offset to some extent by reductions in the planned volume and transfers to maintenance and other categories.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the reduction in transport expenditure planned by the Government for the period 1980–81 to 1983–84 inclusive of transport supplementary grant, road maintenance, and capital expenditure on roads.

Expenditure on roads and local transport in England is planned to fall by about 5 per cent. between 1980–81 and 1983–84. Within this total, spending on trunk roads and motorways is planned to rise by about 9 per cent. from the estimated outturn in 1980–81. It is too early to give a breakdown between capital and maintenance in the later years, but I shall be giving priority to maintaining the programmes of new construction and motorway renewal. Transport supplementary grant is a transfer payment to local authorities to support their transport spending and does not score separately as public expenditure. It is not possible to say how much TSG may be available in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of petrol prices on transportation in the countryside.

Over the last decade there has been a steady decline in rural bus services and a large increase in private motoring, including journeys to work. However, it is extremely difficult to say what effect changes in fuel prices have on rural transport. Pump prices of petrol, including the increase in duty announced in the Budget, are still lower in real terms than the prices reached in 1975 despite the subsequent increases in OPEC prices for oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he hopes next to meet the chairman of British Railways.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board to discuss the corporate plan.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Newton (Mr. Evans) and for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to amend the Land Compensation Act 1973 to ensure that those with possible claims against a highway authority for compensation because of new road schemes are adequately notified of their rights.

Arrangements for notification are a matter for individual highway authorities. I am satisfied with the revised procedures now being followed in my department for trunk roads and these are followed by many highway authorities for local roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport by how much the tax paid by goods vehicles will exceed their track costs in 1981–82.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on Friday 20 March 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken in the last two years to facilitate safer commuter cycling in the United Kingdom's towns and cities.

Cycling facilities in urban areas are, in general, the responsibility of local highway authorities. We have provided technical advice and financial support for a number of schemes in towns aimed at safer cycling and we are considering how best to extend this support.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the financial assistance to be provided by the European Commission towards the integrated operations experiment in Belfast.

The integrated operations concept is at an experimental stage. The Commission has explained that there is no money specially earmarked for implementing it and that any financial assistance would be through existing European Community funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost to Government funds of Queen's university, Belfast and the New university of Ulster at Coleraine.

In the financial year 1980–81, the main heads of expenditure are recurrent grant from the Department of Education for Northern Ireland of £22·1 million for the Queen's university of Belfast and £6·2 million for the New university of Ulster; and capital grant, the estimated outturn of which is £1·20 million and £0·25 million respectively. There were also allocations of furniture and equipment grant of £1·1 million and £0·16 million respectively, though all of this may not be taken up. Apart from this, both universities receive income from fees, which, in respect of award holders, derives from Government funds: the cost cannot readily be calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the size of the public debt in Northern Ireland; and by how much it has risen or decreased since May 1979.

Details of the public debt 31 March 1979 and 31 December 1980 are as follows:

	31 March 1979	31 December 1980	£ million
Rent	8·7	12·5	+3·8
Rates	3·9	4·2	+0·3
Electricity	12·0	13·4	+ 1·4
Gas	3·7	3·6	-0·1
Total	28·3	33·7	+5·4

The rate debts figures are not fully comparable because those for December 1980 do not include any debt arising during the current financial year. This will not have been assessed until March 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the increase of manufacturing output and of productivity in Northern Ireland for each of the years 1977 to 1980 inclusive; and how these compare with the rest of the United Kingdom.

The percentage change from the previous year in manufacturing output for Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole for each of the years 1977–1980 was as follows:

	Northern Ireland	United Kingdom
1977	-1.0	+ 1·5
1978	0.0	+ 1·0
1979	-1.0	+0·5
1980	-7.0	-9·5

Notes:(i) The above figures are derived from the indices of manufacturing production.(ii) Figures are rounded to the nearest 0·5 per cent.Changes in productivity for these years were set out by the then Under-Secretary of State in a reply given to the hon. Member for Belast, East (Mr. Robinson) on 18 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many working days were lost through industrial disputes in 1980 in Northern Ireland; and how this figure compares with that for the rest of the United Kingdom.

49,400 working days were lost through industrial disputes in Northern Ireland in 1980. This is equivalent to a loss of 98 working days per thousand employees, which compares with 541 working days lost per 1,000 employees in Great Britain during the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total subvention received by the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund in each of the last four years for which figures are available

The total subvention to Northern Ireland in each of the last four financial years was as follows:

Financial Year	£ million
1976–77	620
1977–78	*688
1978–79	848
1979–80	944
*Excludes a once-for-all payment of £250 million to write off debt of the Northern Ireland Electricity Service.

The above figures include, in addition to grant-in-aid paid to the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund, other sums which are not receipts to that fund such as agricultural subsidies paid by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; a parity payment from the Great Britain national insurance fund to the Northern Ireland national insurance fund; and expenditure on law and order and protective services borne on United Kingdom Votes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the extent of overseas investment in Northern Ireland industry for each of the years 1977 to 1980 inclusive; and how many jobs were created as a result.

The information is not available in the exact form requested. During the years in question, however, the Department of Commerce, Northern Ireland, agreed to provide selective financial assistance to a number of companies of non-United Kingdom parentage in respect of projects designed to generate new employment.The planned fixed capital expenditure in these projects and the number of jobs promoted are:

Jobs Promoted
	Number	Gross Fixed Capital Expenditure £ million
1977	1,634	12·6
1978	3,893	46·4
1979	2,982	52·6
1980	2,054	23·9

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the dry dock in Londonderry was (a) constructed and (b) filled in; under what authority each set of works was carried out; and who financed them.

The completion of the former dry dock in Londonderry harbour was announced in 1862; it was infilled in 1978. Both construction and infilling were carried out under the Londonderry Port and Harbour Acts and Order 1854–1976. The construction works were wholly financed by the Londonderry harbour commissioners. The infilling was financed by the commissioners with the assistance of grants from the European regional development fund and the Department of Commerce's port modernisation grant scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list in the Official Report the paediatric consultant availability (a) in maternity units and (b) in reasonably close proximity to maternity units for each area health authority; if he will indicate any shortfall; and if he will make a statements;(2) what action he has taken to improve the paediatric consultancy provision for neonates.

The paediatric consultant availabilty in maternity units and in reasonably close proximity to maternity units and shortfall for each health and social services board area are as follows:

	Consultant Availability	Shortfall
Eastern Board	13	3
Northern Board	1	1
Southern Board	2	1
Western board	2	-

Three of the consultant paediatric surgeons in the eastern Board area provide a regional srevice to meet the needs of all boards.The report of the advisory committee on infant mortality and handicap—the Baird report—in 1979 recommended an increased provision on the 14 Consultants in post. This has now increased to 18. A further three training posts in paediatrics have recently been approved. While this level of provision compares favourably with England and Wales, health and social services boards have accepted the recommendation of the Baird report and will continue to seek to improve paediatric staffing levels as resources permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many United States dealers have agreed to distribute the DMC-12 motor car; and what is the current rate of production and the projected annual rate for 1981 and 1982.

I understand that 349 United States dealers have agreed to distribute the DMC-12 car and that to date formal agreements have been concluded by the company with 336 of them.I further understand that the company is currently producing about 15–20 cars per day. It expects to produce approximately 12,000 cars in 1981 and 20,000 in 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to negotiate to change the share arrangements in De Lorean Motor Cars Ltd. to ensure that the £17,757,000 contributed by the Northern Ireland Development Agency provides a majority of voting shares and that the 546,000 'B' shares are reduced from 90 votes per share to one vote per share.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the annual cost of the modern studies departments in Scottish colleges of education;(2) what is the annual cost of the modern studies department at Jordanhill college of education and how many staff are currently employed within it.

There is no separate modern studies department at Jordanhill or at most of the other Scottish colleges of education. Information in the form requested is therefore not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of units that have been generated by Inverkip power station since the first generator was commissioned together with the total capital cost of the station.

The operation of the Inverkip power station is the responsibility of the South of Scotland Electricity Board and I shall ask the chairman of the board to write to the hon. Member about the number of units generated. The capital cost of the station is expected to be £169 million at outturn prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects the Clydebank enterprise zone to be fully operational.

I now hope that the zone will come into operation by August, but the timing will depend on the period required to carry out the statutory procedures specified in schedule 32 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, most of which are the responsibility of the Clydebank and city of Glasgow district councils.This time scale is later than originally envisaged, but it took longer than expected to finalise the boundaries of the zone.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the paediatric consultant availability (a) in maternity units and (b) in reasonably close proximity to maternity units for each area health authority; if he will indicate any shortfall; and if he will make a statement.

The latest available information about the distribution of consultant medical paediatricians by the health board is given in the table below. Detailed matching of paediatric consultants to specific maternity units could, however, be provided only at disproportionate cost. Such arrangements are matters for the boards: in many instances consultants work at more than one unit in order to provide satisfactory cover for the widest possible area.Vacancy returns from health boards for the year to September 1980 indicated that no consultant medical paediatrician posts were among those which had been vacant for more than six months. A proposal by one board

for an additional consultant post is currently under discussion, and my Department is keeping the national staffing position under careful review.

Distribution of Consultant Medical Paediatricians at 30.9.80
Health Board	Numbers (Provisional)
Argyll and Clyde	4
Ayshire and Arran	3
Borders	1
Dumfries and Galloway	2
Fife	3
Forth Valley	2
Grampian	6
Greater Glasgow	19
Highland	2
Lanarkshire	4
Lothian	13
Orkney	—
Shetland	—
Tayside	9
Western Isles	—
Scotland	68

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken to improve the paediatric consultancy provision for neonates.

In June last year my right hon. Friend circulated to health boards a report by the national medical consultative committee on "Standards of Perinatal Care in Scotland". It was made clear that the implementation of the report's recommendations was primarily a matter for boards in the light of their own spending priorities Boards were also told, however, that the normal arrangements for approval of medical establishments would continue to apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received since publication of the Royal Commission report on the National Health Service regarding the difference in law of the legal responsibility for negligence of deputising general practitioners.

Three.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, since July 1979, any cases have been brought to his attention where actions for negligence against deputising general practitioners have been prosecuted due to the difference in law between Scotland and England and Wales.

No such cases have been brought to my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to bring the law in Scotland into line with that of the rest of the United Kingdom in regard to deputising general practitioners.

My right hon. Friend is committed to taking appropriate action on this matter as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage increase there has been in the number of staff employed by the English and Welsh Parliamentary Boundary Commissions in the last 12 months.

In the last 12 months, the staff serving both the English and Welsh Boundary Commissions has increased from 12 to 16; that is, by 33⅓ per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the visit to Hong Kong recently in connection with a further influx of the Vietnamese boat refugees; who went on this mission; how long it took; what costs were involved; why the local British consulate could not handle this inquiry without the visit; and what were the results of this inquiry.

Two officials of the immigration and nationality department of the Home Office and a representative from the voluntary agencies concerned with refugee resettlement arrived in Hong Kong on 28 February and returned to this country on 18 March. The expenses amounted to £4,000. The selection of the 10,000 quota announced in Geneva in July 1979 and the previous quota of 1,500 has been conducted by seven such visits during which more than 11,000 refugees have been selected by personal interview. There is no British consulate in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for naturalisation were received in February 1981; and how many applications were decided in that month.

903 and 575, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to place further limits on experiments on animals; and if he will make a statement.

We are committed to modernising and improving the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 after the main requirements of the convention now being prepared by the Council of Europe are known. Following the next meeting of the ad hoc committee of experts at Strasbourg from 12–15 May we expect to have a sufficiently clear idea of the obligations of the convention to enable us to move forward towards legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legslation to extend the Protection of Animals Act 1911 to cover wild animals and to prohibit the export of pelts; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend the Act in these ways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make an order under the Finance Act 1974 to enable district councils which prescribe taxi fares by byelaw to grant a surcharge to take account of the increase in road fuel duty and vehicle excise duty announced on 10 March.

I have made an order authorising a surcharge of up to 5 pence per journey. It will come into operation today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has had any discussions with groups representative of the ethnic majority with regard to the British Nationality Bill.

Since the introduction of the British Nationality Bill on 15 January my right hon. Friend and I have had discussions with a number of groups which represent a wide spectrum of the community. These include several Members of Parliament and representatives of the Churches.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Staffordshire on the demonstration in Burton-on-Trent by the National Front on Sunday 22 March; what warning was given to the police in advance; and if he will make a statement.

The chief constable of Staffordshire informs us that the New National Front gave the police two hours' notice of its intention to hold a march in Burton-on-Trent on Sunday. About 180 people took part in the march, which passed off without incident.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 March.—[Vol. 1000 c. 58].

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the comparative energy prices for the United States of America and the United Kingdom for oil per litre, coal per tonne and electricity per kilowatt.

Estimates of up-to-date consumer prices for each fuel in the United States of America and the United Kingdom collected on a reasonably comparable basis are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what would be the cost of phasing in the operation of the Coal Industry Act 1980 forward one year to 1984–85.

Extending the time limits in sections 4, 6 and 7 of the Coal Industry Act 1980 would not of itself add to public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates to be the overall cost of revoking the National Coal Board pit closure plan comprising consideration of 23 collieries

At the tripartite meeting on 11 March, the NCB gave an estimate of £100 million to £200 million per year for the combined costs of withdrawing the list of closures previously given and of action to reduce imports of coal towards the irreducible minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates would be the subsidy required to enable an additional 1 million tonnes of British coal to be exported.

It is part of the NCB's normal commercial responsibilities to decide how much and what type of coal to export and on what terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the position of the Government's reference to the European Court of Justice of prices paid by Dutch horticulturists for gas; and when he expects judgment to be given.

The Commission has instituted formal proceedings under article 93(2) of the Treaty of Rome against the Netherlands Government, which could result in the matter being referred to the European Court if the Dutch fail to take satisfactory action. I know that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food continues to impress upon the European Commission the need for this damaging distortion to trade to be removed without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the long-term contracts covering electricity supply to aluminium smelters are due for renegotiation; and whether he has power to intercede in the settlements of the bulk tariffs charged.

I understand these contracts have about 20 years to run but their terms are confidential to the parties concerned. Tariffs and agreements are the statutory responsibility of the industry. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no powers to intercede.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that there are sufficient supplies of anthracite and phurnacite to meet current demand and in the foreseeable future.

The production of these solid fuels is a matter for the National Coal Board. I have therefore asked the chairman of the NCB to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the cost-effectiveness in terms of the amount of investment per unit saved and the payback time of (a) roof insulation and (b) double-glazing for both old and new houses compared with the cost-effectiveness of new coal and oil-fired power stations and the incremental investment in North Sea oil and gas.

[pursuant to his answer, 16 February 1981 c. 28]: The costs of installing roof insulation and double-glazing and the resultant energy savings will vary according to individual circumstances. Factors affecting the calculations of cost-effectiveness include the type, cost and quantity of fuel consumed, the type, size and construction of the dwelling, the type and efficiency of the heating system and the desired comfort level. Research results suggest that part of any benefits of improved insulation may be absorbed in increased comfort standards. As illustration, the following figures are based on a representative semi-detached house, estimated national average heating costs at current prices and assuming no change in internal temperatures. Alternative circumstances can yield widely differing estimates.

	Capital cost per Therm saved per year £	Payback time Years
'Do it yourself (DIY) installation of 100 mm. mineral wool fibre loft insulation in an existing uninsulated house	1	3
DIY installation of low cost secondary glazing in an existing main living room	7	20
Contractor installation of 100 mm. mineral wool loft insulation in a new house	1	3
Installation of double-glazing in the main living room of a new house (only the marginal cost and benefits compared to single glazing are considered)	4	13

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are his plans for the future of the variable premium scheme for beef in Wales.

I am fully aware of the importance which Welsh beef producers attach to the beef premium scheme. In the CAP price negotiations, the United Kingdom will be seeking to retain the scheme as part of the beef support measures for 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the increase in unemployment relatively between Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom over the last six months; and if he will make a statement.

Between October 1980 and March 1981 the seasonally adjusted level of unemployment increased by 19·2 per cent. in Wales and by 25·8 per cent. in the United Kingdom as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest information on the level of rates being decided by Welsh local authorities for 1981–82; and if he will make a statement.

Full details of Welsh local authorities' rating decisions for 1981–82 are not yet available but present indications are that on average general rate poundages will be about 13 per cent. higher and domestic rate poundages about 18 per cent. higher than those for 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many rents for each rent officer area in Wales have so far been registered for shorthold tenancies; and if he will make a statement.

From the latest information available, the number of rent registrations where applicants had indicated that the letting was a shorthold is set out in the table below:

	Number
Clwyd	4
Dyfed (Carmarthen)	2

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the paediatric consultant availability (a) in maternity units and (b) in reasonably close proximity to maternity units for each area health authority; if he will indicate any shortfall; and if he will make a statement.

The number of consultant paediatricians—whole-time equivalents—employed by area health authorities in Wales at 30 September 1980 was: Clwyd, 4; Dyfed, 3; Gwent, 2; Gwynedd, 2; Mid-Glamorgan, 5; South Glamorgan, 6; West Glamorgan, 4.It is for the authorities themselves to assess their staffing requirements in the light of local circumstances. I understand that all consultant maternity units but not all general practitioner units are covered by paediatric consultants.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken to improve the paediatric consultancy provision for neonates.

Assessment of the need for new consultant posts is the responsibility of the area health authorities. The authorities are aware of recommendations on perinatal and neonatal mortality made in the second report of the Social Services Committee for the 1979–80 Session, and the Government's reply, and have been asked to implement recommendations appropriate in their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff, and at which grades, are wholly or partly employed in monitoring price increases of consumer items.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Service men, (b) Service dependants and (c) National Health Service patients received in-patient treatment at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, during the quarter ended 31 December 1980.

The figures of those receiving inpatient treatment at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich for the quarter ending 31 December 1980 are as follow:

Service men	Service Dependants	NHS
962	225	716

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to recover the costs of facilities at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, which are made available to the National Health Service; and when a decision is likely to be made.

Negotiations are continuing with the Department of Health and Social Security about the reimbursement of costs incurred on its behalf at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital. These include charges for the clinical assessment of ex-Far Eastern prisoners of war. An approach has also now been made to the local National Health Service authorities in respect of the use by them of internal specialised testing facilities and ultrasound equipment. It is not yet possible to say when agreement will be reached.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give consideration to the establishment of a Northern Ireland grand Committee.

I have at present no proposals to recommend any change in the existing arrangements whereby the consideration of any matter relating exclusively to Northern Ireland can be referred by the House to the Northern Ireland Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the mileage allowance for hon. Members using their own cars on official duties after the recent increase in the petrol tax.

The mileage allowance for hon. Members is linked to the highest rate of Civil Service mileage allowance and will remain at 19·1p per mile for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the redundancy schemes for which he is responsible and now in operation where any public funds are made available to the employing authority.

There are two statutory redundancy schemes:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied that the design provisions for the BAe146 feeder airliner will enable it to land and take off on runways such as Leeds-Bradford Airport; and what is the total Government contribution to the development of the BAe146.

The BAe146 has been designed to be capable of landing and taking off on runways shorter than that available at Leeds-Bradford airport. British Aerospace itself has received no Government assistance towards the development of the 146 aircraft. Between the original launch of the project in 1973 and the establishment of British Aerospace, the Government contributed about £8 million to the development of the then Hawker Siddeley 146.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes take place in the scheme of allowances payable to persons undertaking training opportunities scheme training courses with effect from 2 April 1981.

The allowances paid to trainees under the training opportunities scheme are being changed with effect from the first full pay week on or after 2 April 1981.The new simplified scheme will offer two basic rates of payment: £35·05 a week for single trainees and £54·45 for those who qualify for a dependant's allowance. These sums are an improvement on present rates and in addition the dependents' allowance will be more widely available. In certain circumstances, flat rate contributions will be available towards the cost of daily travel or living away from home.The new scheme will eliminate the earnings-related supplement, which is also being phased out of the benefit system, and abolish the separate lower rate for 19-year-old trainees.It will also introduce, from September 1981, an extra weekly payment for trainees undertaking year-long courses in skills which are in short supply and have a high priority for the economy.People already in training on 2 April will be able to retain their present allowances if these are more favourable.I have arranged for copies of the leaflet TSD N103 which gives details of the new scheme to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the increase in petrol prices, he will now lower the threshold for reimbursement of travelling expenses in connection with the youth opportunities programme.

No. The £4 threshold has remained since YOP began in April 1978 and consequently the real value of the assistance available for those with substantial travel expenses has increased.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he has any plans to measure the progress of young people through the youth opportunities programme and to have this recorded in profiles of attainment;(2) if he has any plans to compile profiles of competencies for young people within the early weeks of their initial placement within the youth opportunities programme as a firm base for subsequent vocational training suited to their individual requirements.

The youth opportunities programme sponsors record the progress of young people engaged in the programme. In order to provide a better basis for vocational preparation and training, the Manpower Services Commission is at present trying to develop a profile assessment, which would be started in the early weeks of the young person's placement with the youth opportunities programme and could be used to plan subsequent training relevant to the individual's needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish his latest estimate of the percentage of entrants to the youth opportunities programme moving from one module of the programme to another.

Information in the exact form requested is not available. However, one in five young people who enter the youth opportunities programme have already taken part in the programme at a previous date. In some cases the second or subsequent opportunity may be in the same element as an earlier opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the administrative arrangements within the youth opportunities programme are adequate to ensure that young people can progress from module to module of the programme accumulating learning and experience.