asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the total value of United Kingdom official aid to Uganda in 1980.

Expenditure on United Kingdom bilateral aid to Uganda in 1980 was £2,874,000. In addition, Her Majesty's Government contributed £500,000 specifically for relief work in Uganda to the Disasters Emergency Committee's appeal for East Africa. The United Kingdom share of European Community aid to Uganda in 1980 was approximately £1,900,000. The United Kingdom also contributed to the budgets of the various multilateral aid agencies operating in Uganda.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements are being made for the servicing of the Crown Agents' commencing capital debt.

In accordance with the provisions of section 20(2) and (4) of the Crown Agents Act 1979 I have decided, after consultation with the Crown Agents and with the approval of the Treasury, that the commencing capital debt of the Crown Agents shall be refinanced over the five years of the initial period. This will be achieved by the Crown Agents repaying a predetermined proportion of their outstanding original capital debt at the end of each of the remaining four years of the initial period, and borrowing up to the same amount from the national loans fund. £6 million of the commencing capital debt was refinanced on 1 January 1981 at the appropriate NLF rate in force on that date. As regards interest, I have determined, in accordance with section 17(4) of the Act, that in 1981, as in 1980, the interest payable on debt outstanding to the Government should be 20 per cent. of the relevant NLF rate.My primary concern is with the profitability before interest of the Crown Agents and I have been consulting them closely about setting them an overall rate of return target under section 13(2) of the Act, bearing in mind the returns which might be expected of private sector enterprises in broadly similar fields. I expect to set this target during 1981.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of the time of the House has been spent since 3 May 1979 on (a) European Community matters, (b) Welsh affairs, (c) Scottish affairs, (d) Northern Ireland Affairs and (e) other United Kingdom affairs.

The information is as follows, for the period 3 May 1979 to 20 March 1981:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade which importers of electrical products have been referred to the Director General of Fair Trading in respect of anti-competitive practices such as refusal to supply.

The Director General has not yet initiated any formal investigation of electrical products under the Competition Act 1980, but, following representations, informal inquiries have been made in this sector; details are confidential to the Director General and his office.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will define what constitutes a "local market" for the purpose of investigations into anti-competitive practices and the existence of local monopolies;(2) pursuant to the reply of the hon. Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw) to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard)

Monopoly references and investigations of anti-competitive practices are a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. Under the competition legislation he may limit a monopoly reference to a part of the United Kingdom; it will depend on circumstances whether it is appropriate to do so. An investigation of an anti-competitive practice may also be limited to a practice, the effects of which are confined to a part of the United Kingdom

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has any plans to delegate further powers under the Merchant Shipping Acts to classification societies; and if he will make a statement.

I have no present plans to delegate further powers under the Merchant Shipping Acts to the classification societies, but these arrangements are kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he has any plans to increase the complement of marine surveyors employed in the marine division of his Department; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish in the

The numbers employed in the Department's marine survey service on 1 March in each of the following years were:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a further statement on the Government's proposals for the Official Receiver service.

Since the written answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen) on 18 December 1980, the proposals published in the consultative document "Bankruptcy" (Cmnd. 7967), have been reviewed and amendments made in the light of the response to the Green Paper. I am presently considering further possible revisions and improvements to the proposed simplified bankruptcy system.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will consider the present practice of retailers of pricing petrol in non-tenderable amounts; if he will consider amending the Price Marketing (Petrol) Order 1980 to prevent this practice; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 20 March 1981, c. 200]: Although some motorists may find this practice irritating, it would not be in the public interest to prohibit it. It would reduce the scope for local competition if only ½p price steps were available and it would probably lead to prices being rounded upwards rather than downwards. At present all prices registered on petrol pumps are in tenderable amounts. Moreover, many motorists purchase their petrol by money's worth rather than by a specific quantity.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has received representations from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive about the arrangements that have been made for financing its operations in the forthcoming financial year.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Mr. Bradford) on 12 March.—[Vol. 1000, c. 995.] Discussions on details of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's budget for 1981–82 are now taking place between the executive and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to simplify the existing arrangements for promoting employment and industry in the Province.

As my right hon. Friend announced in reply to my hon. Friend for Skipton (Mr. Watson) on 19 March—[Vol. 1, c. 167]—he has set in hand studies of departmental organisation, including a study of the arrangements for economic development, which will necessarily include those for the promotion of employment and industry.

asked the Attorney-General if he will undertake a review of the working of the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976.

A number of difficulties which have arisen in practice are under consideration with a view to improvement, but it is not considered appropriate at present to initiate a general review.

asked the Attorney-General why, in the case of which details have been supplied to him, no charges were brought against a Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve policeman who had passed information to the Provisional Irish Republican Army prior to December 1979.

When the case was considered in November 1979 the DPP and I considered that the prosecution of this man was not justified in the public interest. One of the factors which we took into account was the likelihood that evidence might emerge which would put lives at risk.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will compare the redundancy pay available to (a) a steel worker, (b) a mine worker, (c) a docker, (d) an engineering worker and (e) a footwear worker, each after 25 years' service.

Payments under the statutory redundancy provisions of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 are based on the employee's age and earnings as well as length of service. Payments in excess of the statutory minimum depend on the arrangements concluded within the industry concerned, and will again involve a number of variable factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of employees on short-time working in each of the United Kingdom planning regions; and what percentage they form of the total work force in each region.

Statistics on short-time working are available only for operatives in manufacturing industries. Information for the standard regions of Great Britain for the week ended 13 December 1980, the latest available, is published in table 1.13 of the labour market data section of the February 1981 issue of Employment Gazette. Corresponding information for Northern Ireland is not available.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1981, c. 223]: The correlation coefficient requested can be calculated validly only for a group of countries for which the unemployment rate is available on a comparable basis, and its value is sensitive to the particular countries which are included in the calculation. In Western Europe, comparable OECD figures are available only for Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The unemployment rates for the latest available year are the average from the fourth quarter 1979 to the third quarter 1980. The correlation coefficient between these rates and the total population of the countries—in 1979—is 0·47. Although this coefficient is positive, it is based on so few countries that it cannot be taken to show a close relationship between the rate of unemployment and the size of population.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how much money will be allocated in 1982 to support the operation costs of industrial training boards;

[pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1981, c. 226]: My right hon. Friend told the House on 26 November that the Government's present intention is that Exchequer support for the operating costs of industrial training boards should be reduced in 1981–82, and should cease thereafter. The Manpower Services Commission was subsequently told that financial provision for such support would be reduced by £11·4 million—at 1980 survey prices—in 1981–82, and would be withdrawn thereafter. I am informed by the commission that, pending the outcome of the current sector-by-sector review of arrangements for promoting industrial training, it considered that it must treat all the industrial training boards alike in respect of the period of funding of operating costs. It accordingly wrote to industrial training boards to say that they should plan on the basis that Exchequer support for operating costs would cease at the end of 1981.The amount provided for the operating costs of industrial training boards within the cash limited estimate for the grant-in-aid to the commission for 1981–82 is £44·3 million—at 1981–82 outturn prices.My right hon. Friend has undertaken to look again at the timing of the cessation of Exchequer support in the light of the results of the review.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the progress his Department has made towards extending the limit of United Kingdom territorial waters to 12 miles.

I refer the hon, Member to the reply I gave on 18 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr).—[Vol. 1, c. 128.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will set out the legal authority under which he proposes to introduce a change in the colour of the United Kingdom passport and to superimpose the words "European Communities" on the front cover above the words "United Kingdom"; and, if new legislation is required, whether this will be subject to parliamentary procedure.

United Kingdom passports are issued under the Royal Prerogative, which is exercised by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. A change in the format of our passports does not require new legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the gross domestic product of the European Community is accounted for by the Community budget; and what proportion of expenditure by member State Governments this represents.

The Community budget for 1980 accounted for 0·8 per cent. of the gross domestic product of member States and about 1·7 per cent. of their combined general Government expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce further measures to stimulate investment.

The best way of aiding industry and encouraging investment is further to reduce interest rates and inflation. This was the central theme of my Budget judgment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his projected advertising budget for 1981 in respect of acquainting the public with the opportunity to purchase index-linked retirement certificates.

The total publicity budget of the Department for National Savings for 1981–82 is some £5·8 million. The share of this to be devoted to advertising index-linked certificates will depend on decisions to be taken during the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made in considering methods whereby capital projects of nationalised industries can be financed by direct access to the market.

We have considered a number of proposals of this kind. Unfortunately, none has yet met the key conditions, principally the need for there to be a genuine element of risk for the investor related to the performance of the enterprise, which would bring pressure for improved performance to bear on the management concerned, and the need to avoid excessive monetary growth.However, we are determined to continue searching for ways to achieve an acceptable method of allowing nationalised industries to fund profitable investment from the market.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the "cut off' sizing of children's clothing in relation to value added tax.

No. The Government's decision last year to continue the VAT relief for young children's clothing and footwear in its present form was taken only after a thorough review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Budget will have a deflationary impact; and if he will quantify it.

The action taken in the Budget to control public sector borrowing and redress the imbalances in the economy provides the only way of sustaining the downward pressure on inflation and ensuring better job prospects in the longer term.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has widened the gap in the capital tax allowances available as between manufacturing industry and the hotel industry.

The Government recognise the valuable contribution that hotels make to the economy. But the greatest need for new premises is in the industrial and manufacturing sector.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much, taking into consideration the current Budget proposals, taxation has increased since May 1979.

I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given to her on 23 March by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State.—[Vol. 1, c. 232.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to make index-linked Government stock available for purchase by the general public.

The present restriction of indexed gilts to United Kingdom pensions business has the effect of making them unavailable to non-residents. Although the prospectus allows for a possible widening of the eligibility criteria in the future, I would not at present wish to do so in such a way that would run the risk of attracting unwanted inflows.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will authorise expenditure of £1,000 million on carefully costed capital projects as a means of preventing further unemployment.

Public expenditure plans are as outlined on 10 March. Additional public sector investment would raise the borrowing requirement and interest rates unless it were in place of some other spending already planned. These are, of course, some of the issues we shall be considering in the next annual review of expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much would be required, at the latest available date, to match the buying power of £100 on 1 January of the years 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1981, respectively; and how much he estimates will be required on 1 January 1982.

The information requested for the years 1950 to 1981 is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the Government's progress in reducing the rate of inflation.

The annual rate of inflation for the period to February 1981 was 12·5 per cent. This compares with a figure of 21·9 per cent. for the period to May 1980. This reduction clearly shows that the Government's policy of tackling inflation by maintaining strict monetary and fiscal controls is working.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he anticipates that there will be an upturn in economic activity.

A number of indicators suggest that we may possibly be close to the bottom of the present recession. The economic forecasts published with the Budget show a small rise both in total output and manufacturing production between the first and second halves of 1981.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the extent of the fall in investment in manufacturing industry in cash terms in 1980 compared with 1979.

Fixed investment for use by manufacturing industry—including leased assets—rose by just under £500 million in current prices in 1980 compared with 1979.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many people will be brought into tax as the result of his decision not to index personal allowances.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects national output and the level of manufacturing output to start rising and the level of unemployment to start falling.

There are a number of indications, not yet confirmed, that we may be close to the bottom of the present recession. The economic forecasts published with the Budget show a small rise in both total and manufacturing output between the first and second halves of 1981. The Government do not publish forecasts of unemployment, which in the past have been notoriously unreliable. The action taken in the Budget to continue the fight against inflation and to redress the imbalances in the economy is the only way of ensuring better job prospects in the longer term.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the cost to the Exchequer in 1981–82 in terms of price-protected pensions benefits, wages, securities and other index-linked liabilities of a rise of a single point in the retail price index.

The additional cost on savings certificates and SAYE would be about £30 million. No public sector wages are automatically linked to the RPI. Rates of payment in 1981–82 for pensions and virtually all benefits have already been announced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the movement in the exchange rate against a basket of currencies since his Budget Statement.

At the close on 24 March the effective rate index for sterling had appreciated by 2 per cent. since 10 March 1981.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current value of the £ sterling, taking it as 100p on 27 March 1979.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the pound sterling as 100p in March 1979, its value in February 1981, the latest period for which information is available, was 75p.

asked the Prime Minister how many hon. Members she has seen on matters relating to factory closures since she last answered oral questions; and how many jobs are expected to be lost in the closures discussed.

I have had no such meetings since last Thursday.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minster if she will list her official engagements for 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 March.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall give a dinner for the Commonwealth Heads of Government and others who will be attending tomorrow's special meeting of the Privy Council.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has now formulated a reply to the recent message from President Brezhnev conveyed to her by his Excellency the Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

A reply is in preparation and I shall be writing to Mr. Brezhnev shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if she will set up an inter-departmental investigation into the effects of Government policy on rural areas.

No. I see no reason to change the present arrangements whereby in England my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland the respective Secretaries of State have special regard to monitoring the overall effect of our policies on rural areas.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the progress towards privatisation of nationalised industries.

Considerable progress has been made, and I particularly welcome the recent successful flotation of British Aerospace. But we still have far to go and will seize every opportunity to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what further progress will be made in the current year towards introducing private capital into the nationalised industries.

In 1980–81 disposals totalled about £440 million. Our disposals target for next year is £500 million.We are also looking for ways of allowing nationalised industries to borrow direct from the market where these would bring pressure to bear for improved performance and would avoid excessive monetary growth.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions she had during her visit to Dublin concerning a defence pact between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

None.

asked the Prime Minister if she will ask Sir Derek Rayner to undertake an inquiry into tax evasion and make appropriate recommendations.

No. The Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise are well aware of the problem of tax evasion and their measures to counter it are under constant review.

asked the Prime Minister if she will ensure that any souvenirs sold in the United Kingdom to commemorate the forthcoming Royal Wedding are marked with their country of origin, especially those that display a Union Jack.

Consumers are already protected against false or misleading indications of origin by the Trade Descriptions Acts 1968 and 1972. New origin marking requirements will not be implemented until 1 January 1982, which is the earliest practicable date.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will now make a statement on allegations that a senior former official involved with British intelligence at the time was under investigation during his retirement with regard to his loyalty to the United Kingdom.

I did so earlier today.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the light of reports relating to Sir Roger Hollis, she will initiate a full-scale inquiry into the British Intelligence Service since the end of the war.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether she will make inquiries as to whether recent disclosures on Sir Roger Hollis have any bearing on the operations of British security services at the present time;(2) whether she will make a statement about reports that Sir Roger Hollis may have been a KGB agent;(3) whether she will hold a full-scale inquiry into the operation of the British Intelligence Service since 1945.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has instituted an inquiry into recently published evidence linking Sir Roger Hollis with Soviet intelligence; and if she will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Member to the statement I made earlier today.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the outcome of her discussions with other Heads of European Community Governments on the common fisheries policy.

I did so yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister why the European Economic Community Commission, despite its request in a letter of 23 February 1979 to the United Kingdom Government, has to date not received all the necessary information it requires to enable it to evaluate the allocation of aid from the European regional development fund in the United Kingdom budget; and if she will undertake to have this information supplied forthwith so that a proper and conclusive examination may be made of the question of "additionality".

[pursuant to her reply, 20 March 1981, c. 202–3]: The Commission has been given information, most recently in 1980, about the allocation of aid in the United Kingdom from the European regional development fund. I am not aware of any recent requests from the Commission for further information. But if they are made we shall, of course, do our best to meet them.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, further to his statement in the House of 19 March, he will place in the Library details of the agreement between him and ICL on the bank guarantees of £200 million that his Department is providing to ICL; and whether he intends to seek authority from the House for this guarantee.

Details of offers made under section 8 of the Industry Act are commercially confidential to the parties involved and it is not the practice to publish them. As my right hon. Friend said in his statement on 19 March, he will be seeking authority for the guarantee from the House in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which British Steel Corporation businesses it is proposed to convert into separate Companies Act companies.

My right hon. Friend said on 24 February that Mr. MacGregor had agreed to consider placing those BSC businesses which are in competition with the private sector into separate Companies Act companies. BSC has already put arrangements in hand o transfer two substantial businesses into Companies Act companies: these are the corporation's steel stockholding business and Stanton and Staveley, which is a large manufacturer of pipes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chinook helicopters have been ordered; at what individual and total cost; and when the delivery will be completed.

Thirty-three Chinook helicopters have been ordered for the Royal Air Force. Their cost is of the order of £3·5 million each. The total cost, including modifications and special trials required by the RAF, reserve engines and initial spares, is expected to amount to about £288 million. Deliveries are expected to be completed by mid-1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many additional Hawk jet trainer aircraft are currently on order; at what total cost; and when they are planned to be in service with Royal Air Force.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made clear in his statement to the House on 20 January, it has been necessary to defer any further order for Hawk jet trainer aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the numbers of domestic consumers disconnected for debt by each of the area gas and electricity boards during the quarter ended 31 December 1980.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to promote the installation of reflectors behind wall-mounted radiators as a cost-effective energy conservation measure.

The booklet "Make the Most of Your Heating", which my Department issues free of charge, already advises householders of the value of this particular method of reducing heat loss.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he is giving to the possible establishment of a national energy conservation agency; what representations he has received on the subject; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations on this subject from individuals and interested organisations. I have nothing to add to the answer given to a supplementary question from the hon. Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers) on 23 February 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the average selling price of (a) a gallon of four-star petrol and (b) a gallon of diesel fuel, in April 1978, April 1979, April 1980 and January 1981.

The table shows typical retail prices of four-star petrol and derv:

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1981; c. 211]: The United Kingdom has already reduced its oil consumption to about 40 per cent. of its gross primary energy consumption and is, therefore, playing its full part in meeting the guidelines set by the Council of Energy Ministers in May 1980. At the meeting of International Energy Agency Ministers in December 1980 and more recently at the Council of Energy Ministers of the European Community on 3 March 1981, the United Kingdom confirmed its commitment to control oil consumption. The United Kingdom will continue to work with its partners in the EC and the IEA to achieve this objective.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Strathclyde on the cost to public funds of the escorting by police on the morning of Monday 23 March, of a van carrying letters intended for the Inland Revenue Cumbernauld accounts office from the Glasgow central post office; and how many police, and how many cars were involved.

I see no need to do so. I understand that, following a complaint about alleged harassment of an Inland Revenue vehicle, a police presence, involving at any one time not more than one car with two police officers on traffic patrol duties, was provided to monitor the passage of the vehicle and to ensure that no danger to road users would arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest available estimate of the number of people employed in the National Health Service in Scotland; if he will give the corresponding figures for each of the past five years; and how many were so employed in the first half of the 1980 financial year.

The figures—whole-time equivalent—are as follows; they do not include general medical and dental practitioners as they are nor employees of the NHS:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the recently announced changes affecting the Exchequer Office in Edinburgh will result in any change in responsibility for the care and custody of the Scottish Regalia.

Responsibility for the care, custody and preservation of the Regalia continues to vest in the Commissioners for the Regalia.The commissioners, who hold appointment in terms of a Royal Warrant of 1818, are ex officio the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, the Lord Clerk Register, the Lord Advocate and the Lord Justice Clerk. In consequence of the changes referred to, they have agreed that the day-to-day functions, hitherto performed on their behalf by the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer, should in future be carried out by the Scottish Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the criticism of the police computer recording system as made by Judge Owen Stable QC at the Wood Green Crown court on Thursday 19 March, what action has been taken or is to be taken by the Metropolitan Police to rectify the complaints made.

The records of the central criminal record office, from which the information was drawn in this case, are not kept on a computer. I understand that, in the case, the conviction records held in that office were accurate. The Commissioner tells me that inquiries are being made to establish the circumstances in which the information available to the court was not up-to-date. He also assures me that the procedures for handling criminal records in the Metropolitan Police are kept under close review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the prison population in Walton, Shrewsbury, Swansea and Cardiff prisons are (a) mentally handicapped and (b) educationally subnormal, (c) dyslexic and (d) illiterate; what special provisions are made for these groups; and if he is satisfied with those facilities at present available.

The information for mentally handicapped, educationally subnormal and dyslexic prisoners cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost. Some information about illiteracy is available and we shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible. Statistics are available for those prisoners who, in the opinion of the prison medical officer, are suffering from subnormality or severe subnormality, within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1959, of a degree which warrants detention in a psychiatric hospital. On 31 December 1980 there were no prisoners in these categories in Liverpool, Shrewsbury and Swansea and one in Cardiff out of a population of 274.Help is available to any prisoner who needs it under normal remedial education arrangements at each prison. Such provision is required under the Prison Rules 1964 and we are satisfied that the facilities are of a good standard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure for revoking a local government electoral arrangements order.

Electoral arrangements orders cannot be revoked. My right hon. Friend may, however, at any time make an order changing the electoral arrangements of any principal local government area in England or Wales provided that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England or Wales has undertaken a review of those arrangements and has submitted to him a report on its review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in 1979 what percentage of people who were given bail by Crown courts failed to appear to answer their bail.

The information required to make a satisfactory estimate is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in prison department custody on 31 December 1980 satisfied the Mental Health Act criteria for detention for psychiatric treatment: and, of these, how many were under 21 years of age.

On 31 December 1980 there were 324 inmates who, in the opinion of the prison medical officer, were suffering from mental disorder of a nature of degree to warrant detention in a psychiatric hospital. Thirty nine of these were under 21.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of prisoners sleeping in non-certified accommodation at the latest available date, the kinds of accommodation used and the penal establishment concerned.

On 20 March 1981 there were five prisoners in Oxford prison sleeping in a library which was formerly a double cell, and 29 trainees in Whatton detention centre sleeping in two storerooms and a classroom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library a copy of the report prepared but not published following an inquiry in 1969 on binding over.

No. The Home Office study which I think the hon. Member has in mind has been superseded by the review which the Law Commission is now carrying out of the power of the courts to bind over to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. Its report will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the remand of two 14-year-old girls in remand centres on 31 December 1980; what is the length of time on remand; and what will be their eventual disposal.

No 14-year-old girls were held in remand centres in England and Wales on 31 December 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of police expenditure in England and Wales in 1980–81 is attributed to duties arising from road traffic; and what percentage of the total this is.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost during 1981–82 of the organisation and provision of civil defence (a) to his Department and (b) to the local authorities.

(a) £12·25 million, excluding grant payments to local authorities; (b) £10·5 million, of which £8 million will be met by grant payments from the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest civil defence circular dated 20 March which requires local authorities to be able to mount a 48-hour war alert; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The circular follows my right hon. Friend's statement to Parliament on 7 August 1980 and reflects current civil defence policy.—[Vol. 990, c. 790–804.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is satisfied about the necessity for his Nuclear Protection Advisory Group; and what is the cost in staff and financial resources of its work during 1981.

The Nuclear Protection Advisory Group is an independent body which receives no money from this Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Lord Privy Seal's reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 20 March, when he expects to conclude his consideration of the points made by the Governor of Hong Kong about the British Nationality Bill; and if he will announce the outcome of his considerations and any proposals he has to make to meet the views of the Governor.

The Government have tabled an amendment—new clause 9—to the Bill which would meet points made on behalf of Hong Kong.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1981, c. 212]: The number of females received into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1978 for soliciting and similar offences other than brothel keeping was 189. This figure includes those received in default of payment of a fine. The corresponding total for 1979 was 157. The number of these females who received their first custodial sentence for soliciting is not available. Figures for 1980 are not yet available.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1981, c. 213]: The information requested for the years 1977 to 1979 is given in the following table. The figure for 1980 is not yet available.

Percentage of females received under sentence into prison department establishments in England and Wales who had been sentenced for the offence of loitering or soliciting for the purpose of prostitution, 1977 to 1979

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many gaming machine licences currently are held in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the current European proposals for an increase in farm prices is sufficient to cover the rising costs and the need for further investment in the British farming industry.

I recognise the difficulties that farmers are facing and I shall take account of these, along with other relevant factors, in the farm price negotiations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the proposed 90 mm. mesh size on the commercial viability and catch levels of the whiting fishery in the North Sea.

The relevant Community regulation prescribes that the increase in minimum whitefish mesh size in the North Sea to 90 mm. from 1 October 1982 should be reviewed by 31 July 1982. The effect of the proposed increase on the whiting fishery will be a relevant factor to be taken into account in the course of the review. At present the scientific indications are that an increase to 90 mm. would result in a significant increase in landings of whiting in the long term.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Council of Fisheries Ministers to begin its review of the proposal to increase the mesh size for white fish in the North Sea to 90 mm.; and whether he will press for a postponement of the introduction of the new size.

I cannot predict when the EEC Council of Fisheries Ministers will begin its review of the proposed increase in whitefish mesh size in the North Sea. However, the review must be completed by 31 July 1982. The United Kingdom attitude to any proposal to defer the introduction of the new size will be determined at the time in the light of the relevant factors, including the most recent scientific evidence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to reduce the number of bee disease inspectors; what effect he estimates this will have on the health of bees; and if he will ensure that no reduction takes place which will prejudice bee hygiene.

A small increase in the number of bee disease inspectors is proposed for 1981 as compared with 1980. There is no change in my Department's policy for systematic inspection of bee colonies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he is not seeking to ensure that, in areas apart from North Scotland and the Irish Sea, fishing outside 12 miles is conducted in a way which provides the dependent local fishing communities with a genuine preference.

The terms of the Hague agreement negotiated by the Labour Administration in 1976 precludes the possibility of access preferences outside 12 miles except in certain especially sensitive areas which include the "northern" parts of the United Kingdom. At our insistence the European Commission has conceded that this definition includes not only Scotland, but also Northern Ireland and the North-Eastern Coast of England south to Bridlington. It is the view of Her Majesty's Government that, within this area, restrictions on fishing by large vessels round North Scotland and in the Irish Sea would be of most benefit to the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is still his policy to secure a dominant preference for British fishermen between 12 and 50 miles from the British coast in the current European Economic Community negotations on a common fisheries policy.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Waltham Forest (Mr. Deakins) on 12 March.—[Vol. 1000, c. 424.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if agreement on a revised European Economic Community regulation on the common organisation of the market in fishery products is dependent on agreement on a new common fisheries policy.

The Commission's proposals for revising the regulation providing for the common organisation of the market in fishery products, which were published in November 1980, are being considered alongside other measures necessary to develop a revised common fisheries policy. We firmly believe that improved marketing arrangements are essential to support a coherent policy for the fishing industry. If appropriate, a new regulation could be adopted independently of other measures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify, for each type of fish, details of the catch quotas put forward by the United Kingdom at the European Economic Community Council of Agriculture Ministers.

The United Kingdom has not put forward proposals for catch quotas in the EEC Council of Fisheries Ministers. However, the most recent proposals of the Commission have been placed in the Library of the House under cover of an explanatory memorandum of 23 February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy cows were slaughtered in each of the past (a) 10 calendar years and (b) 10 marketing years.