asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress he has made in combating fraudulent origin marking of imported manufactures, in particular those from Taiwan.

We are pressing for the finalisation of a GATT agreement to discourage the importation of counterfeit goods. This would have the effect of stiffening legislation on the seizure and confiscation of counterfeited imports. In addition, where adequate evidence is available I am willing to make representations to the authorities concerned. Although we are unable to treat in a similar way cases which arise in respect of Taiwan, as the hon. Member is aware, I expressed the concern of the Government about such cases in the House on 19 December. I now understand that the Taiwanese authorities are introducing measures, including increased penalties and more rigorous enforcement, which they believe will be effective in stamping out counterfeiting, and that they have offered their assistance to United Kingdom manufacturers who suspect that their goods are being counterfeited in Taiwan. However, as I said in reply to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 19 January I shall not be satisfied until these practices have ceased, and we shall watch developments carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade 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 Trade what proportions of the United Kingdom's timber consumption have been (a) home grown and (b) imported in each of the past 10 years; and whether he has any plans to change this relationship.

The information requested—apart from data for 1971 which are not available—is as follows:

United Kingdom consumption of Timber: Proportions Home Grown & Imported, Percentages
	Home Grown	Imported
1970	8	92
1971	n.a.	n.a.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what consultations have taken place with trade associations in the United Kingdom about the possibility of establishing a European trade mark; and, further to his reply of 16 March, Official Report, column 12, what stage negotiations have reached.

Since 1977 the Department of Trade has been in continuous consultation with the standing advisory committee on trade mark law and practice regarding the establishment of a European trade mark. This committee is representative of industrial, commercial, advertising, trade mark professional, legal, consumer and trade union interests and is the recognised consultative body on trade mark matters in the United Kingdom.As to the progress of negotiations, there has been a first round of discussions between Government experts and the Commission of the European Communities and following these, the Commission has made formal proposals to the Council on which we are seeking the advice of the standing advisory committee. The proposals are also being considered both by the European Parliament and by the Economic and Social Committee. Pending the views of these two institutions, which are not expected before the end of this year, arrangements have also been made for a preliminary meeting of member States in the framework of the Council in June to consider initial views on the proposals and the arrangements for future discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a table showing the United Kingdom's exports to each European Economic Community nation in each of the past five years; and if he will also indicate the amount of these exports in each year to each nation, respectively, which consisted of oil and oil products.

The information, in respect of the United Kingdom as a whole, is as follows:

United Kingdom exports to the European Community £ million
Exports to:	Belgium/Luxembourg	Denmark	France	Federal Republic of Germany	Greece	Irish Republic	Italy	Netherlands
Total Trade
1976	1,108	660	1,749	1,856	150	1,236	831	1,512
1977	1,387	802	2,165	2,514	226	1,618	982	2,153
1978	1,605	831	2,496	3,087	206	2,024	1,122	2,251
1979	1,891	1,015	3,027	4,218	260	2,545	1,463	3,061
1980	2,259	1,030	3,586	5,071	218	2,637	1,896	3,843
Oil and Oil Products*
1976	28	148	72	99	7	189	37	143
1977	41	204	138	244	5	189	19	328
1978	52	239	149	336	3	202	15	295
1979	102	370	280	814	5	292	24	748
1980	108	403	497	1,289	6	382	131	1,272

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he now proposes to take under article 19 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, following the failure of the European Commission to come to a satisfactory agreement with the United States Government on unfair trade practices resulting from artificially low energy prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will now take unilateral and immediate action to deal more effectively with the unfair competition in textiles and clothing entering the United Kingdom from the United States of America in accordance with the assurance given in the House on 15 December 1980, Official Report, Vol. 996, c. 49–50.

I shall reply to my hon. Friends as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received concerning the number of companies who have not yet received their business registration numbers as a result of the Civil Service dispute; if he will publish details of any such companies in the Official Report; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will seek to ban the import of T-shirts bearing Royal photographs or other insignia commemorating the marriage of the Prince of Wales, in the light of the circular by the Lord Chamberlain forbidding the domestic manufacture of such items by the United Kingdom textile industry.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about the failure of the talks between the European Economic Community and the United States of America concerning problems arising from the upsurge of textile imports from the United States of America; and if, in that statement, he will refer to his statement of 15 December 1980, Official Report, volume 996, columns 49–50, and his intention to use options under article XIX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what evidence has been put to him on the sale of unapproved compression fittings illegally stamped with the official number of the British Standards Institution and manufactured in Italy; what steps he proposes to take to end these sales; and if he will make a statement.

False or misleading indications that goods conform to an established standard are prohibited under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. Enforcement of the Act's requirements is primarily the responsibility of local authority trading standards departments; but I will look into the matter raised by the hon. Member if he will send me further details.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will seek to estimate the effect on United Kingdom employment of the deficit of approximately £8,000 million in manufacturing trade with the European Economic Community between 1977 and 1980.

No. I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Employment on 24 March 1981.—[Vol. 1, c.800.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has yet received an application from Lonrho for his consent to its takeover of The Observer newspaper; whether he will refer that takeover to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

On 16 March I received an application from Lonrho Limited seeking my consent to the transfer of The Observer newspaper to its subsidiary, George Outram & Company Limited, from Observer International Inc., a subsidiary of Atlantic Richfield Company. The application was conditional upon my consent to the transfer without a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under section 58(3) of the Fair Trading Act 1973.On 20 March I informed Lonrho that, in the light of all the relevant circumstances, I had decided that I should not give my consent in this case without a report from the commission. As the application was conditional on my consent without a reference I was obliged to reject it, but I invited the company to submit an unconditional application, which would allow me to refer the proposed transfer to the commission. I made it clear that my decision entailed no view on the merits of the proposed transfer.On the same day, Mr. Rowland, managing director of Lonrho, announced that in order to avoid uncertainty which he believed would be occasioned by a reference, he had decided by agreement with Atlantic Richfield to acquire personally 50 per cent. of the shares in Observer International. No application was submitted for my consent to these revised arrangements. However, following discussions between my legal advisers and those of Lonrho and Mr. Rowland, the company announced on 26 March that Atlantic Richfield and Mr. Rowland had decided not to proceed with these arrangements. Instead, Lonrho would submit a revised application for consent in a manner which allowed the proposed transfer to be referred to the commission. The following day I received an unconditional application for my consent to transfer of

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if, in view of the level of prices of Her Majesty's Stationery Office publications, she will seek to secure greater circulation of necessary Government and parliamentary publications by means of lower prices.

Her Majesty's Stationery Office is very conscious of the desirability of securing the widest possible circulation for its publications. However, it has a statutory duty as a Government trading fund to meet its financial objective as settled with the Treasury. This means that it must price its products at a level which gives an adequate return on investment. Since the demand for many of its publications appears to be comparatively inelastic, sales would not be significantly increased by price-cutting. Lower prices will be introduced in those cases where they are likely to stimulate sales and increase net revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee of senior Members of Parliament to investigate the various known and reported cases relating to security of the State or the administration of justice where prima facie evidence exists of maladministration, or neglect and where alleged cover-ups have taken place in all cases and to report thereon to the House.

No. I refer the hon. Member to the statement on security matters made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 26 March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the age, sex, length of remand, locality and eventual disposal of each of the 10 schoolchildren on remand in prison for three months of more.

We will, reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the number of raids which have occurred on places storing and selling pornographic materials; in how many cases prosecutions were not initiated; and for what stated reasons.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the concern felt by persons and organisations at the present methods of police investigating and reporting on alleged irregularities committed by the police, whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee of Privy Councillors to decide whether or not such complaints made by the police or aggrieved persons should be investigated by a Select Committee for police administration.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now completed his consultations with regard to the interdepartmental working party on prisoner transfer treaties; and if so, what are the conclusions reached.

The consultations have not yet been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the estimated cost of redundancy payments to the staff of the domestic services department at the police training college, Bruche, Warrington, who will be dismissed when the department is privatised in April 1982;(2) what is the estimated annual saving to his Department of privatising the domestic services department of the police training college at Bruche, Warrington;(3) if he has any plans to privatise any department other than the domestic services department at the police training college at Bruche, Warrington;(4) what discussions he has had with the appropriate trades unions about the privatisation of the domestic services department of the police training college at Bruche, Warrington;(5) how many people are currently employed in the domestic services department at the police training college at Bruche, Warrington; and what is the number in each grade;(6) what is the current annual cost of running the domestic services department at the police training college, Bruche, Warrington; and what were the costs in each of the past five years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in recent years, hon. Members have been questioned by the Metropolitan Police concerning alleged offences of theirs whilst Parliament was in session.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

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

I have been asked to reply.About 94,000 gaming machine licences are currently held in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to amend the Matrimonial Proceedings (Polygamous Marriages) Act 1972.

I have been asked to reply.Those provisions of the Matrimonial Proceedings (Polygamous Marriages) Act 1972 which applied, on enactment, to England and Wales were repealed by the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and replaced by provisions in that Act to the same effect. There are no present plans for amendment.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish the Estacode.

No. The Estacode has been replaced by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, which was introduce in 1975. This is available in the Library, and on sale from the Civil Service Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the effect on rural Wales of the 20p per gallon increase in excise duty on petrol on both public and private transport; and if he will make a statement.

There will be some increase in business and private transport costs, but public transport costs should not be directly afficted. Stage bus service operators will continue to receive a full rebate of duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the working of the Reservoirs Act 1930 in Wales; what discussions he has had with local authorities regarding the regular inspection of reservoirs; if a list of all public and private reservoirs is kept in a central location or known to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The safety of reservoirs is naturally a matter of concern at all times. At present, public expenditure constraints rule out the implememtation of the Reservoirs Act 1975. I have not had any discussions with the local authorities, but I intend to draw their attention to their responsibilities under the 1930 Act. There is no central register of reservoirs, but I am taking steps to secure this information with respect to reservoirs in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the extent of flood damage during the heavy rainfall of the past month in Wales; and what help his Department has been able to give to the areas affected.

With the exception of Isgoed housing estate at Llanelli, where about 50 houses were affected, all of the many incidents of localised flooding which occurred throughout Wales were relatively minor. Responsibility for dealing with them rests with local authorities and the Welsh water authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the places where the Welsh housing investment programmes are available for inspection.

Copies of Welsh local authorities' housing investment programmes have been placed in the Library. Authorities were also urged to make them available locally for public discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to make the housing investment programme form filled in by local authorities in Wales of a format and standard similar to that used in England.

The HSIP form to be filled in by local authorities in Wales has to be designed to enable the Welsh Office to exercise its responsibilities in respect of housing and to fit with the local authority capital expenditure control system. The information required for these purposes will continue to be kept to a minimum. The form used in England is designed for the particular needs there.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Merioneth, 18 March, c. 116, if he is satisfied that there was no breach of the Gleneagles agreement in his Department's provision of conference facilities for use by the South African Rugby Union; and if he will make a statement.

Conference facilities were made available to the Welsh Rugby Union for a meeting of the International Rugby Board. The Welsh Office has received no request for the use of facilities or assistance of any kind from the South African Rugby Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many circulars have been issued by his Department since May 1979; how many of these have not borne the title of another Department on the issued circular; and how many circulars have been issued in that period without a similar circular being published by another Department.

From 1 May 1979 to 20 March 1981, the Welsh Office issued 110 numbered circulars to local and health authorities, of which 51 were not issued jointly with other Departments. The remainder of the information requested is not immediately available, but I will publish it in the Official Report shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to improve the promotion of the arts in the regions.

Yes. I encourage all the bodies to whom I give grants to consider the interests of the regions. Support for the performing arts is a matter primarily for the Arts Council, the local authorities and the regional arts associations. I shall shortly be having discussions with interested parties about their respective roles. The proportion as well as the amount of Arts Council funds spent outside London has increased considerably.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the future of the Victoria and Albert museum slide service.

I announced on 18 March, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Bendall) that I have asked the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries to take responsibility for the slide service as from this Wednesday. The commission will let me know in due course if it decides that other arrangements should he considered for the future management of the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has had any further discussions with the chairman of the Arts Council arising out of the correspondence lie had with him in February and the representations that have been made to him since then on the grants made by the Arts Council for 1981–82.

I regularly meet the chairman of the Arts Council to discuss matters of mutual concern.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has had any further correspondence with the Arts Council on the grants to be made by the council in 1981–82.

Not since my letter of 10 February and the reply to it which I published in the Official Report on 19 February—[Vol. 999, c. 173–5.]—in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the administrative pressures on the education authority, he will now indicate to the authority what action he expects it to take if his decision on Bolton comprehensive proposals is delayed beyond 30 March.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering Bolton's proposals and will announce his decision as soon as possible. In the meantime it is for the authority to take such action as it considers prudent to prepare for the school year 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what position in his Department is held by Mr. Stuart Sexton; and whether Mr. Sexton was speaking on behalf of the Department when he addressed the recent annual conference of the National Association for the Support of Small Schools.

Mr. Stuart Sexton is employed in my Department as my special adviser. It was in this capacity that he spoke to the annual conference of the National Association for the Support of Small Schools on 14 March.

asked the Attorney-General (1) how many appeals have been decided by the Lands Tribunal in England since 1967;(2) how many appeals have been decided by the Land Tribunals in Wales since 1967.

On the assumption that the information requested relates to decisions under section 21 of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967, the figures for the period since 1 January 1968 when the Act came into force are:-

England	109
Wales	6

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trained bricklayers and carpenters or joiners have received training at the Preston skillcentre since it opened; and what information he has as to the percentage of those trained in both crafts who have stayed in the building industry over each year since that time.

The statistics of those completing training in bricklaying and carpentry and joinery at Preston skillcentre are as follows:

Bricklaying
Period	Numbers who completed training	Numbers placed in employment using their skills at the end of training
June-Dec. 1977 (6 months)	3	1
Jan.-Dec. 1978	20	15
Jan.-Dec. 1979	27	22
Jan.-Dec. 1980	40	19

Carpentry and Joinery
Period	Numbers who completed training	Numbers placed in employment using their skills at the end of training
June-Dec. 1977 (6 months)	—	—
Jan.-Dec. 1978	28	18
Jan.-Dec. 1979	31	26
Jan.-Dec. 1980	48	21

Since August 1979, questionnaires have been sent to all trainees three months after completing their training and, for the period August 1979 to September 1980, 57 per cent. of the questionnaires returned in respect of bricklayers trained at Preston and 62 per cent. returned in respect of carpenters and joiners showed them to be working and using the skills taught on their courses. Figures are not available for the percentage who remain in the building industry after a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the length of each type of

	Birmingham travel-to-work area Unemployed aged under 18 years		Unemployed aged 18 and under 25 years
January each year	Number	As a percentage of all unemployed in the area	Number	As a percentage of all unemployed in the area
1979	3,559	8·4	12,466	29·3
1980	3,419	7·9	12,739	29·4
1981	6,871	8·2	24,844	29·7

	Handsworth employment office area Unemployed aged under 18 years		Unemployed aged 18 and under 25 years
January each year	Number	As a percentage of all unemployed in the area	Number	As a percentage of all unemployed in the area
1979	356	8·4	1,293	30·7
1980	384	9·6	1,212	30·4
1981	587	7·5	2,391	30·7

Comprehensive information in the form requested is not available, but in general the length of apprenticeship in manufacturing industry is four years for the large majority of apprentices who commence training at 16, though there are provisions in some occupations for shorter periods of training for late entrants. Pay levels vary from industry to industry, depend also on the age of the apprentice, and are generally the subject of negotiation between employers and trade unions, frequently through national joint councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers are currently registered as unemployed in (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands; and if he will give similar figures for 1978, 1979 and 1980.

The following table gives the numbers of school leavers under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in the areas specified at March in each of the years 1978 to 1981.

March each year	Birmingham travel-to-work area	West Midlands region
1978	967	3,098
1979	679	2,249
1980	745	2,588
1981 (provisional)	2,431	8,285

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons aged under 18 years and aged between 18 and 25 years were registered as unemployed in (a) the Birmingham travel-to-work area and (b) the Handsworth employment office area in January 1979, January 1980 and January 1981; and what was the their proportion at each date of the total numbers of registered unemployed in these areas.

The following table gives the information for the areas and dates specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the bodies, statutory and otherwise, for which he is responsible which sell a good or service, or whose activities have a direct bearing on the prices charged for goods and services, or which have any responsibility for monitoring any prices.

Within my right hon. Friend's responsibility and under the control or supervision of the Manpower Services Commission, goods or services are sold by:

• The professional and executive register
• The direct training service to employers
• Remploy Ltd.
• The underwater training centre
• Some industrial training boards

Without disproportionate effort it is not possible to be certain that the list is comprehensive.None of the activities of the bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible have a direct bearing on the prices charged for goods or services, nor do any have any responsibility for monitoring prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1980, Official Report, columns 443–44, what levels of allowances to young people on the youth opportunities programme he intends should apply when the structure of the allowances is simplified.

The new simplified structure of allowances to come into operation in April, referred to in the answer given to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South, (Mr. Dobson) relates only to those payable to trainees under the Training Opportunities Scheme and not to the allowance to young people on the youth opportunities programme. This will remain at £23·50 per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer on 24 March, why he considers that withdrawal from the European Economic Community would have the most adverse effect on employment.

The United Kingdom has established close economic links with the European Community. The Community now takes over 40 per cent. of United Kingdom visible exports and United Kingdom industry has adapted to the EC market. Furthermore, access to this market makes investment from outside the Community attractive. Withdrawal would disrupt these trade links and make investment in this country by foreign companies very much less attractive and therefore adversely affect employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, further to his reply of 24 March to the hon. Member for Isle of Ely, he will publish in the Official Report the number of employment opportunities to be created by the youth opportunities programme in 1981–82 which will be within the Wisbech employment office area; what percentage of the total jobs under the youth opportunities programme for 1981–82 this represents; and what were the corresponding figures for 1980–81.

:I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he is giving to increasing the present payment of young people undertaking work experience; and when he will make a statement on the outcome of any deliberations that are taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the present rates of payments of allowances to persons undertaking training opportunity scheme courses.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the official forecasts, in index form using 1978 as a base, of diesel oil prices and electricity prices for 1980, 1990 and 2000; and if he will make a statement on the Likely relationship between oil prices and electricity prices.

Estimates of diesel oil prices (in non-transport use) and electricity prices for 1980 in index form (1978 = 100) to the extent that they are available are shown below:

	Industrial Sector*		Domestic Sector†
	Gas/diesel oil	Electricity	Heating oil‡	Electricity
1978	100	100	100	100
1980	191	125	169	138
* Source: Department of Energy survey of large industrial consumers.
† Source: General index of retail prices.
‡ These include paraffins as well as gas/diesel oil

Forecasts of these fuel prices are dependent on a wide variety of factors. For diesel oil, these include the price of crude oil, market forces within the oil product market, the price and availability of competing fuels, developments in taxation policy and technological developments, while for electricity they include the composition (in terms of fuel type), merit order and load factors of power stations, the prices of input fuels and the financial objectives of the industry. Developments in all these factors are extremely uncertain, and for this reason no official forecasts are made.The increasing world price of crude oil will affect the terms of competition between all fuels, including electricity point. However, in view of the small proportion of electricity generated from oil-fired power stations at present and the likelihood that this will continue, and the factors mentioned above, there is unlikely to be a very close relationship between oil and electricity prices

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in view of the need to curb inflation in the nationalised sector, he will consider directing electricity boards to proceed with historic cost accounting rather than current cost accounting.

No. The introduction of current cost accounting has not itself affected the level of electricity prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list the latest available comparisons of retail prices, expressed in £ sterling, of derv, for Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy the Netherlands, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, both exclusive and inclusive of tax and duty, and taking account of the measures announced in the Budget.

The latest available estimates of the retail prices of Derv in EEC countries relate to 16 March 1981. Estimates for the United States of America relate to 16 February 1981. In making international comparisons of Derv retail prices, it must be remembered that sales at the retail price account for less than 20% of the market in the United Kingdom, this level being about half that of many other European countries. In the United Kingdom Derv is normally sold by oil marketing companies to industrial and commercial consumers under contracts, the confidential terms of which are negotiated individually.It must also be borne in mind when making such comparisons that difficulties can arise in times of changing prices and exchange rate fluctuations. There can, moreover, be a wide range of prices within countries and differences in the methods of collecting the data may not always provide comparable figures.

Estimated net price and retail price of DERV at 16 March 1981
	Net Price (excluding duty and taxes)	Retail price
	(pence/gallon)	(pence/gallon)
Belgium	68·5	111
Denmark	69·2	98
F R Germany	64·9	119
France	62·9	111
Ireland	68·2	117
Italy	60·9	74
Netherlands	65·1	97
US America(1)	59·6	66
United Kingdom	77·2	161

National currencies have been converted at exchange rates current on date of data collection.(1) USA prices relate to 16 February 1981SOURCES: EEC

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why it took until 17 March to tell the hon Member for Newham, North-West that his letter dated 3 March had been referred to another Minister as the matter raised concerning the Electricity Consumers' Council was within the other Minister's responsibility; and whether he will take steps to expedite such action in future.

The Department is currently receiving a very large number of letters. Every effort is made to deal as speedily as possible with letters from hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he plans to take to implement clauses 15 and 16 of the Energy Conservation Bill [Lords] following that Bill's enactment; and if he will make a statement.

Clauses 15 and 16 of the Energy Conservation Bill would come into effect immediately following Royal Assent. Clause 15 is primarily intended to provide specific statutory authority for the operation of two existing energy conservation advice schemes, the energy survey scheme and the energy quick advice service. But it would also provide authority for the introduction of new schemes if and when this proved desirable.Clause 16 would require water authorities to have regard to the need to conserve energy, and the consequent desirability of preventing water charges from inhibiting the abstraction of water for use as a source of power. The Department of the Environment will be writing after enactment to the water authorities in England and Wales to draw their attention to this provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why he advised the oil companies to export their North Sea oil only to the European Economic Commission and to countries in the International Energy Agency.

We work together closely on energy matters with our partners in the International Energy Agency and the European Community. The guidelines on North Sea oil export destinations (which allow for exports to countries outside the IEA and EEC if there is an existing pattern of trade) reflect this collaboration.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will advise the oil companies that they may sell North Sea oil to Israel; and if he will make a statement.

No. I do not propose at present to alter my advice to the oil companies on the destinations of United Kingdom North Sea oil exports.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what grants are available to firms for the commissioning of energy-saving demonstration plants; and if he will make a statement.

The energy conservation demonstration projects scheme, operated jointly by my Department and the Department of Industry, currently provides up to 25 per cent. grant assistance towards the capital costs of demonstration equipment, plus grant to cover the full costs of monitoring the energy savings arising out of such projects. The Government are currently supporting some 80 projects, at a cost to the Government of around £4 million, which offer potential savings of around 1·8 million tonnes of oil equivalent a year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the technical or trade names of products that contain 2,4,5-T, and the names of any compounds that are imported into the United Kingdom.

Commercial information of this kind is a matter for the trade association concerned, that is the British Agrochemicals Association.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to improve the viability of small-scale private forestry.

The additional costs of establishing small woodlands are already recognised in the Forestry Commission's existing grant schemes, and will be taken into account in determining the structure of grant aid under any new scheme which might be introduced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why officials of his Department are ordering the destruction, ploughing-back, or dyeing of Cornish potatoes; by what tonnage it is estimated that overproduction has taken place; and what is the estimated compensatory cost involved.

The present support-buying operation has been undertaken jointly by the Government and the Potato Marketing Board with the aim of ensuring that the average market price for the season as a whole is not less than the guaranteed price. It is not possible to estimate precisely the size of the surplus or the likely cost of dealing with it at this stage in the season, but so far 350,000 tonnes have been dyed and sold for stockfeed (not ploughed back) at a net cost to the Exchequer of about £6 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many persons were employed in cane sugar refining in 1972; how many are now employed in the industry; and what is the extent to which the change relates to the European Economic Community sugar policies.

At present, about 3,800 people are employed in the cane-refining industry. This figure includes those in the Liverpool refinery whose closure has been announced. In 1972 the figure was about 6,200. This change has been influenced by a number of factors, not least by the decline of 400 million tonnes in annual sugar consumption in the United Kingdom over the same period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to estimate the effect on United Kingdom employment of the loss of competitiveness stemming from the inflationary effect of the common agricultural policy since 1973.

Any estimate of the effect of the common agricultural policy on United Kingdom employment would require wholly hypothetical assumptions about the agricultural policy which the United Kingdom would otherwise have pursued.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total estimated cost of the Sea Wolf missile system; what is the expected cost of each individual missile system; and what is the planned in-service date.

The total programme cost of the Sea Wolf missile system is estimated to be about £385 million at September 1980 prices. The unit costs of these systems are still subject to negotiation. The planned in-service date for Sea Wolf is October 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea Eagle air-to-surface ship missiles are on order or are likely to be ordered; at what individual and total cost; and what is the expected in-service date.

It is not the practice to reveal total planned orders of missiles. The cost and the expected in-service date of Sea Eagle cannot be determined until the present review of the project has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sting Ray torpedoes are currently on order; and what is the estimated total requirement.

It is not the practice to release this information for weapons such as Sting Ray.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total estimated cost of the Sea Skua helicopter anti-ship missile programme; what is the estimated unit cost of each missile system; and what is the expected in-service date.

The estimated total cost of these missiles including development, spares and supporting equipment, is £200 million at September 1980 prices. The unit cost of this system is still subject to negotiation. The missile will enter service with the Royal Navy later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sidewinder AIM 9L air-to-air missiles are currently on order or likely to be ordered; at what individual and total cost; and what is the planned in-service date.

It is not the practice to disclose total requirements for weapons. The estimated total cost of AIM 9L missiles on order (including spares and supporting equipment), is £125 million at September 1980 levels. The unit cost of the missile is still subject to negotiation. The missile will enter service with the Royal Navy later this year and with the Royal Air Force next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missile programme; what is the expected unit cost of each missile system; and what is the expected in-service date.

The total cost of the current Sub-Harpoon programme is estimated to be about £290 million at September 1980 prices. The unit cost of the latest batch of missiles ordered is some £320,000. Sub-Harpoon is expected to come into service next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is total estimated cost of the 15 Sea King MK 4 helicopters on order for use by the Royal Marines; and when they are expected to be in service.

The first of the 15 Sea King Mk 4 helicopters for the Royal Marines entered service early in 1980, and deliveries are expected to be completed by 1983. I cannot on commercial grounds release the estimated cost of these helicopters at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea Harriers are currently on order for ASW operations; and what is the estimated total cost involved.

Thirty-four Sea Harrier FRSI aircraft have been ordered, of which 20 have been delivered. The Sea Harrier's roles are air defence, reconnaissance and surface strike, not ASW. The total estimated cost is £178 million VAT exclusive at September 1980 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects delivery of new landing craft; what is the estimated cost of each craft; and how many are currently on order or likely to be ordered in the foreseeable future.

It is expected that two 30m landing craft for the Army will deivered by the middle of this year. They will cost about £800,000 each. Further orders of these craft are under consideration. The possibility of ordering a number of smaller landing craft for the Royal Navy is also being considered for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to place orders for new medium minesweepers; what is the current estimated cost of each vessel; and when they are expected to be delivered.

Tenders for new medium minesweepers are currently under consideration, and a decision on these vessels will be made as soon as possible. I cannot comment at this stage on their estimated cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Northern Ireland has received from the European social fund in each year from 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1980; how much of these receipts were paid to the private sector and how much to the public sector; how much each year represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy; and how much was used to offset Government expenditure in Northern Ireland.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to the written reply published in the Official Report on 2 March on the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, whether the figure given covers receipts in respect of intervention arrangements; and whether the receipts in respect of the public sector are in fact cash additions to the Northern Ireland economy in that they are paid as additional money over and above central Government contributions.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to the written reply on 2 March, Official Report, c. 20, whether, since the receipts from the European regional development fund infrastructure projects, referred to in his reply, are passed on to the bodies undertaking the relevant work, these receipts may be regarded as direct cash additions to the resources of the whole economy of Northern Ireland; whether European regional development fund receipts for other industrial projects, referred to in his reply, are retained by Government; and if he will distinguish between and publish the extent of industrial and infrastructure receipts to Northern Ireland from the fund, in the manner used in reply to a parallel question in the Official Report on 14 April 1980.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many firms have made representations to him to open new business premises in Carlisle and Cumbria, respectively; and how many new jobs are expected as a result.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to his answer of 11 March, Official Report, c. 345, what, in money and percentage terms, would be the substantial loss of revenue to the Post Office if letters from the United Kingdom to other member States of the European Community were treated as internal mail and charged accordingly.

The Post Office tells me that, on the basis of the Community of Ten, at current postal rates revenue forgone would amount to some £4 million per annum. This represents 0·2 per cent. of estimated total revenue for 1980–81, but about 10 per cent. of the estimated excess of receipts over expenditure needed to meet the financial target for the postal business. The loss in revenue would be sufficient to turn overseas services as a whole from around the break-even point into loss. It would more than double expected losses on the European "all-up" service, to which the change in tariffs would apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will seek to introduce legislation to require the British Steel Corporation to pay severance payments as of right to workers after 1 July 1981.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 March 1981, c. 447]: No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what severance pay has been paid to workers of the British Steel Corporation over the last 12 months and what has been the average sum paid; what projections have been made for severance payments to workers of British Steel Corporation in the next 12 months; and what criteria are used for the calculation of the payments.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 March 1981, c. 447]: The level of severance payments where a closure takes place is a matter for negotiation between the BSC and representatives of the local workforce. The level of severance payment for each individual usually takes into account the level of weekly earnings, age, length of service and the fact that an early closure is to take place.No figures are yet available from the BSC about the average level of severance pay over the last 12 months: the latest information was provided in an answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 23 March—[Vol. 1, c. 253–54]—and relates to 1979–80. During that year 16,300 redundancies took place, and total redundancy payments, including severance pay, were £69 million.The BSC estimates that the redundancy and closure costs arising during the financial year 1980–81 will be £350 million and that the total reduction in the work force will be 41,000.The corporation has made a provision in its cash requirements for 1981–82 to cover redundancy costs of £180 million. It is expected that the work force will be reduced by at least 20,000.

Public expenditure by the central Government in Great Britain
	£ million at 1980 survey prices
	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81 estimated
Current expenditure
Social security	16,244	17,089	18,638	19,099	19,768
Defence	9,170	8,979	8,947	9,214	9,651
Health and personal social services	8,232	8,452	8,674	8,669	8,823
Industry, energy, trade and employment	2,509	2,143	2,496	2,629	3,222
Housing	1,886	1,798	1,888	2,076	2,158
Education and science, arts and libraries	1,540	1,416	1,429	1,412	1,468
Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry	1,274	845	645	709	828

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Ministers on steel in Brussels on 26 March.

I represented the United Kingdom at the Council of Ministers on 26 March 1981.The Council disussed the problems facing the Community steel industry. It reached agreement on a resolution in furtherance of the objective of restoring the industry to viability to eliminate the need for state aid. The Commission was requested to prepare a revised decision governing the conditions upon which state aids may be approved during the interim period before their elimination. Some important details, notably that of timing, have still to be settled.The Council reaffirmed the importance it attached to co-operation between producers to secure a recovery in market prices and called upon them to achieve agreement on the conditions for such a recovery by 1 April. The Commission stated its intention to secure full compliance with the pricing rules of the ECSC treaty.The Council is to examine in detail as soon as possible, in parallel with the decisions on restructuring and state aids, the appropriate social measures needed to mitigate the effects of capacity reduction.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the reasons why he will not appoint an advisory committee on economic affairs, as proposed by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West in his question of Wednesday 18 March.

There are already arrangements for examination of macro-economic policy—for example, through parliamentary debates, Select Committees and NEDC discussions—as well as periodic discussions with the CBI, TUC and others.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in tabular form, similar to table 1·5 of the Public Expenditure White Paper, public expenditure by the central Government clearly differentiating between current spending and capital spending on each programme for each of the last five years.

The information is set out in the table below.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra tax will be payable in a full year by (a) a single person and (b) a couple, in receipt of no income other than retirement pension, as a result of his decision not to increase personal allowances.

None, if no pension other than the flat-rate pension is received. This is below the level of the tax allowance available to elderly persons aged 65 or over. In the case of single women and widows aged 60–64, the basic pension exceeds the ordinary tax allowance for single persons, but the tax liability is within the Inland Revenue's administrative tolerances for assessment to tax.If the retirement pension is received with graduated pension additions, additional components or deferred retirement increments, liability to tax is unlikely to arise in the case of elderly couples or elderly single persons aged 65 or more unless they have other income as well. It is not known how many single women or widows aged 60–64 in receipt of retirement pension have additions to their pension but no other income. The number is not thought to be large, but it is not possible to estimate either the extra tax liability or the extra tax payable after taking account of the assessing tolerances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Brigg and Scunthorpe, Official Report, 18 February, c. 141, what the average level of penalty imposed by the courts for failure to make a value added tax return on time or late payment of value added tax was on the nine occasions up to 31 December 1980 when courts imposed penalties which were higher than could have been imposed prior to the Finance Act 1980; what average maximum fine could have been imposed on these nine occasions; what the average maximum penalty is that could have been imposed on these occasions prior to the Finance Act 1980; and whether Her Majesty's Customs and Excise will be submitting evidence concerning the new higher rate of penalties to the Lord Keith Committee on enforcement powers to revenue departments.

The average level of penalty imposed by the courts in the nine cases in question was £1,395. The average maximum fine that could have been imposed was £5,717. The average maximum fine that could have been imposed prior to the Finance Act 1980 was £730. Customs and Excise submitted evidence on VAT penalties generally, including comment on the higher rate introduced by the Finance Act 1980, to the committee on enforcement powers of revenue departments in August 1980. Memorandum No. 1 containing this evidence was released for publication on 29 January 1981.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) the amount of revenue collected from excise duty and other taxes on spirits in the years 1979–80 and 1980–81 and (b) the amount of increase in revenue expected to be raised in 1980–81 as a result of the increase of 50 pence per bottle imposed in the 1980 Budget.

It is estimated that the revenue collected from excise duty and VAT on spirits was about £1,415 million in 1979–80 and will be about £1,500 million in 1980–81. The Financial Statement and Budget Report 1980–81 records that, as a result of the increase in spirits duty imposed in the 1980 Budget, total revenue was expected to be about £40 million more in 1980–81 than it would otherwise have been.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the affairs of the London Goldhawk building society, now part of the London and South of England building society.

In the circumstances of this case I do not consider that any statement is warranted. I am assured that irregularities now being investigated by the police are such that no losses to the society or its members are likely to arise from them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any representations were made by members of the London Goldhawk building society before approval was given for that society to merge with the South of England society; and what matters were put forward in these representations.

I confirm that certain representations were made. I am sending to the hon. Member a copy of the Chief Registrar's written decision in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what checks are made by the Registry of Friendly Societies to ensure that no conflicts of interests arise in cases where building society directors have business connections with organisations seeking mortgages.

Every building society is required to include in its annual return to the Chief Registrar particulars of any advances made (1) to a company or other body corporate in which when the advance was made, or at any later time in the relevant financial year, a director, manager or secretary of the society held (either directly or through a nominee) shares the nominal value of which exceeded two and a half per cent. of the total paid up share capital of the company or other body corporate, or (2) to a company or other body corporate of which, when the advance was made, or at any later time in the relevant financial year, a director or the manager or the secretary of the society was a director, general manager, secretary or other similar officer.There is also a statutory duty, imposed by section 73 of the Building Societies Act 1962, for a director of a building society who is in any way interested in a contract or proposed contract with the society to declare the nature of his interest to the board of directors of the society. Failure to do so is a criminal offence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider amending the Building Societies Act 1962 so that building society boards of directors cannot use their society's funds to further their own interests by circulating comments about election candidates or members' resolutions without giving similar facilities to other members who are candidates who have proposed resolutions, in view of the mutual status of registered building societies.

I have no evidence which suggests that such an amendment is necessary or desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the procedure by which the Inland Revenue will indentify for 1981–82 those women aged 60 to 64 years who will become taxpayers by virtue of income consisting of basic retirement pension and graduated pension only and who have not been income tax payers previously due to the combined values of basic pension and average graduated pension being either below the value of the single tax allowance or the Inland Revenue's assessing tolerance.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to estimate the effect on United Kingdom employment of the net payment of approximately £3,000 million which the United Kingdom has made to the European Economic Community since 1973.

I regret that it is not possible to give a reliable estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the estimated cost of abolishing the national insurance surcharge for manufacturing, mining and quarry industries (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Wales.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1981, c. 287]: The revenue cost in a full year of abolishing the national insurance surcharge in the manufacturing, mining and quarrying industries in (a) the United Kingdom, and (b) Wales is estimated to be about £1·3 billion and £60 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of exempting all widows' pensions as income for tax purposes.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1981, c. 287]: The full year cost at 1981–82 income levels of exempting the national insurance widow's pension, the national insurance retirement pension paid to widows under 65 and widow's allowance would be about £110 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from tax the widow's allowance paid during the first six months of widowhood.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1981, c. 287]: The cost of exempting from income tax the widow's allowance including the earnings related supplement is not known precisely but could be of the order of £10 million in a full year at 1981–82 income levels.