asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure through 1981–82.

Details of my Department's proposed capital expenditure in 1981–82 are set out in subheads A2, A3, D3, E3, G3, G5, H2, H3, H4, H9, I2 and I5 of Supply Estimates Class IV Vote 4 and subhead A1 of Class V Vote.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, pursuant to his statement on 26 February, Official Report, c. 989, that action under article 93 of the Treaty of Rome was being taken against the Dutch proposals for a national aid scheme for their textile industry (a) what is the current position with regard to this action, (b) whether the Dutch Government have been required to suspend their scheme pending a decision by the appropriate ECC institution, (c) whether any similar action has been taken by the EEC against the national aid schemes proposed by the French and Belgian Governments for their textile and clothing industries, and, if so, whether implementation of these schemes has been suspended for the time being, and (d) what action Her Majesty's Government have taken with the EEC, and bilaterally with the national Governments concerned in respect of these French, Dutch, and Belgian textile aid schemes.

The information requested is as follows:

(a) In October 1980 the Commission instituted proceedings under article 93(2) of the Treaty of Rome in respect of the Dutch aid proposals. The Commission also made known its readiness to discuss further with the Dutch authorities those elements of the proposals which it found incompatible with the treaty. I understand that the discussions are still in progress.

(b) The effect of initiating the procedure of article 93(2) against aid proposals is to prevent the member State concerned from putting them into effect pending a final decision.

(c) The Commission is discussing the Belgian and French proposals with those member States but has not so far instituted the procedure of article 93(2). However, article 93(3) of the treaty requires that proposed aids should not be put into effect during the whole period of preliminary consideration by the Commission, and not just where such consideration has led to a decision to initiate the article 93(2) procedure. So far as I am aware the French and Belgian aid proposals have not been put into effect.

(d) The Commission asked all member States to submit their comments before it initiated the article 93(2) procedure in respect of the Dutch proposals. Last December, however, the Commission held a multilateral meeting with member States on the general question of aids to the textile industry. The United Kingdom delegate urged that a restrictive attitude towards such aids was generally appropriate to prevent distortion of competition to the disadvantage of other member States. The Government have taken no bilateral action in respect of the proposals referred to above, the control of State aids being a matter within Community competence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he intends to make any changes in the restrictions on night flights at Heathrow and Gatwick, as a result: of the research into the relationship between aircraft noise and sleep disturbance.

The report of the research carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority's directorate of operational research and analyses, published last year, shed some useful light on how much people's sleep was affected by aircraft noise. However, its findings were not sufficiently conclusive to justify any major change in the present restrictions on night flying at Heathrow and Gatwick.I have therefore decided that the progressive rundown in noisy movements—which the research showed caused most of the disturbance—should continue, as planned, each year reaching zero by 1987.No departures of such aircraft may be scheduled at Heathrow after 23.30, but in summer a very small sub-quota is already available for noisier aircraft which are unavoidably delayed. It will be maintained at the present level of 90 during 1982 and 1983, then at 60 for the three remaining years, and may be used only by noise certificated aircraft scheduled to depart before 22.30 hours.Quotas for the quieter aircraft announced in 1978 increase in size each year by the same number of movements as the noisier quotas decrease, the total number of movements remaining constant. Although the research suggested that a modest increase in these quotas would not increase the degree of disturbance, for the larger jet aircraft the evidence was not very conclusive. I do not at present believe that this warrants any acceleration in the rate of increase for quieter aircraft. But I will wish to undertake a further review of the restrictions on quieter flights when most of the noisier movements have been phased out.The evidence showed however that very little disturbance was caused by single and twin-engined propeller driven aircraft, or the smaller noise-certificated jets with a maximum take-off weight not exceeding 25,000 lb.—the small executive jet. So I have decided to exempt these types of aircraft from restriction, and to make a compensating reduction in the quotas for other quiet aircrrft from 1 November 1981. The effect of this is to reduce the annual quotas For such aircraft by 100 at Heathrow and by 2,300 at Gatwick.The majority of people interviewed during the research favoured no change in the present length of night restriction periods, and I am leaving them unaltered.A difficult balance has to be struck between the objective of reducing the disturbance caused by night flights, and imposing unreasonable restrictions on those who depend for their livelihood on the air transport industry, as well as the passengers it carries.These arrangement will produce a steady improvement in the noise climate around Heathrow and Gatwick. Noise levels will be regularly monitored, and I shall reconsider the exemptions if the expected improvement is not sustained. Noise limits on aircraft taking off will be strictly enforced, and the number of movements which infringe them will be deducted from the quota for the following season.Even when the noisier aircraft can no longer operate, some people living close to the airports will still be subjected to comparatively high levels of aircraft noise. To help them, I am improving the noise insulation grant scheme for the two airports.When these schemes were introduced on 1 April 1980 the grants were intended to cover the full costs of insulating all eligible rooms. The schemes were designed to be as flexible as possible, but limits were set on the cost of the insulation work involved. Price increases over the past year have made these limits indequate. After consultation with the British Airports Authority, which finances and operates the scheme, I have decided that the cost limits should be adjusted to ensure that the schemes continue to fulfil the purpose for which they were intended. Orders which will bring these higher levels of grant into effect from 1 June will be laid before the House on 1 May.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will set out in the Official Report the details of the assistance given by the United Kingdom in providing for the building of fertiliser plants or distribution of fertilisers in India.

Since 1970 we have assisted the building of a number of fertiliser plants in India, mainly through payment for British equipment, but in some cases also through payment of local costs. The aid allocation and expenditure to date on each plant are as follows:

Project	Aid Allocation		Estimated Expenditure (to date)
	£ million	Date	£ million
Kandla/Kalol Fertilizer Plants	7·00	1970	6·20
Tuticorin Fertilizer Plant	7·74	1971	7·20
Mangalore Fertilizer Plant	10·50	1971	9·80
Technical Cooperation for Mangalore Plant	0·70	1977	0·70
Kanpur Fertilizer Plant	7·70	1979
	increased to 8·10	1981	7·47
Hazira Fertilizer Plant	42·90	1981	19·00
Thai Fertilizer Plant	44·60	1981	—
Similar details of aid to assist the best use of fertilizers in India are as follows:
Indore-Gorakhpur Fertilizer Education Project (with FAO)	0·60	1976	0·60
Mangalore Fertilizer Extension Scheme	0·43	1979	0·43

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any explanatory material is to be made available to right hon. and hon. Members in respect of those clauses of the Finance Bill to be taken in Committee of the whole House.

Copies of notes on clauses in respect of those clauses to be taken on the Floor of this House are now available in the Vote Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak on 23 March, Official Report, c. 232–36, if he will give estimates of the typical post-Budget price per gallon of petrol and derv at March 1981 prices, for the dates given in that answer.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 April 1981, c. 221]: The information is as follows:

Petrol Prices Since 1950 at March 1981 Prices
Year and Date of Budget, tax or duty change	Post-Budget RPI January '74=100	Typical post-Budget price per gallon at current prices	Typical post-Budget price per gallon at March '81 prices
		(1) p	p
1950 18 April*	33·0	15·0	129
1951 10 April*	35·0	17·5	142
1952 11 March*	39·2	21·1	153
1953 14 April	40·6	22·1	155
1954 6 April	41·0	22·3	154
1955 19 April	42·4	22·7	152
1956 17 April	45·5	22·9	143
4 December*	45·9	30·2	187
1957 9 April	46·4	25·6	157
1958 15 April	48·5	23·3	136
1959 7 April	48·6	23·5	137
1960 4 April	48·9	23·5	136
1961 17 April	50·3	23·5	133
26 July*	51·3	24·4	135
1962 9 April	53·1	24·4	131
1963 3 April	54·2	23·8	125
1964 14 April	55·8	23·8	121
11 November*	56·7	26·5	133
1965 6 April	58·4	25·8	125
1966 3 May	60·9	26·0	121
21 July*	61·2	27·9	129
1967 11 April	62·3	26·9	123
1968 19 March*	65·1	29·4	128
22 November*	66·9	31·4	133
1969 15 April	68·7	32·3	134
1970 14 April	72·5	32·7	128
1971 30 March	79·4	34·5	123
1972 21 March	84·4	35·0	118
1973 6 March	90·4	36·5	115
1974 1 April‡	106·1	55·0	147

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure through 1981–82.

The information is contained in Class XV of the Supply Estimates for 1981–82. A classification and programme attribution of expenditure can be found at the end of each Vote.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many bans on processions are currently in force; and what are the lengths of the bans, the dates of commencement and the districts covered.

One ban on processions is currently in force in Scotland. It is for three months from 3 April 1981 and applies to all public processions in Strathclyde region other than those customarily held within the area of the region since before 1 January 1971.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what representations she has received about the effect of Her Majesty's Government policies on Government statistical services.

A number of representations about the Government's social survey work have come from interested individuals and organisations. Also, questions about the need for particular statistical returns have come from industry, commerce and individuals. A White Paper on the Government statistical services is being published this afternoon.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Walverhampton, North-East on 11 March, if she is yet in a position to announce the results of the review of the Government statistical services carried out by Sir Derek Rayner.

The Government have today published a White Paper on the results of the review of Government statistical services. The full range of background reports is being made publicly available by the Ministers concerned at the same time.The Government aim to make savings of £25 million a year in statistical costs by 1984 and to reduce the numbers of posts involved by about 2,500. Businesses will be relieved of the burden of three-quarters of a million statistical returns. These savings will be achieved mainly as a result of careful and detailed reviews carried out over the last year by Ministers and their staff in each Department with the help of Sir Derek Rayner. The Government's statistical effort will remain a substantial one, employing 6,500 staff and costing £75 million a year, The essential statistical services will continue and their management will be stronger. The reviews are consistent with the Government's policies for achieving a smaller Civil Service concentrating on the efficient performance of essential tasks.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she is satisfied that the achieving of overall reductions in the Civil Service is bearing equally on all Departments.

We are making savings right across the Civil Service. The scope for this varies between Departments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will review the pricing policy for Her Majesty's Stationery Office publications.

A review has recently been completed. It has endorsed Her Majesty's Stationery Office's present policy of pricing their publications so as to recover—apart from Hansard, for which there is a special Government grant—all the costs of producing, publishing and selling them, and to achieve the financial target set for Her Majesty's Stationery Office trading fund. The alternative would be for the taxpayer to meet the costs of underpricing. Recent steep increases in some areas are the consequence primarily of recovery from past underpricing and the identification for the first time of full costs. Within this overall policy, however, the prices now being charged by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for most one two page publications will be held at their present level for at least 18 months and more flexible arrangements will be introduced for settling the prices of important publications.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will give up-to-date figures of the number of people employed in the Civil Service who are in receipt of occupational pensions.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him on 29 January. The count is made annually and a more up-to-date figure is not available.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many working days have been lost during the Civil Service pay dispute.

Between 9 March and 29 April 1981, both dates inclusive, about 600,000 non-industrial man-days have been lost as a result of industrial action during the current Civil Service pay dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what research has been undertaken to his knowledge into the use of organic oxygenates in automotive fuels to reduce the quality of gasoline used in vehicles.

Both the oil and motor industries have carried out considerable research into the use of organic oxygenates as blending components in gasoline.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek to raise at the next meeting of European Economic Community Energy Ministers the question of introducing a European Economic Community directive to ban the use of lead in petrol in the countries of the Common Market.

The Government's policy on lead in petrol will be made clear in a statement of policy on all aspects of environmental lead which will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what international groups concerned with renewable energy sources he uses, in order to maximise the benefit to developing renewable energy sources in the United Kingdom; and if he will give any conveniently available figures, indicating pro rata Government expenditure on renewable energy sources in the United Kingdom, and other countries of the European Economic Community and International Energy Agency.

The United Kingdom is involved in a number of international programmes concerned with the development of renewable energies. The programmes of the Commission of the European Communities and the International Energy Agency (IEA) are of particular importance. An important aim of collaboration in these programmes is to supplement national programmes and to keep the United Kingdom abreast of developments in other countries.The IEA has published figures in "Energy Research Development and Demonstration in IEA Countries—1979 Review of National Programmes" for the estimated Government expenditure by member States on renewable energy sources and for the larger member countries. These are as follows:

	Expenditure 1979 (est) £ Million
Belgium	2·1
Canada	8·7
Denmark	4·0
Federal Republic of Germany	21·8
Italy	6·3
Japan	18·1
Netherlands	4·7
Spain	4·3
Sweden	15·0
United States of America	301·9
United Kingdom	9·1

The figures have been converted from dollars at the rate of $2·127 to £1. The United Kingdom figures do not include the expenditure of the nationalised industries.This publication is available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure through 1981–82.

The major heads of capital expenditure for my Department and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority are set out in subhead D4 of Supply Estimates 1981–82 Class IV Vote 5, subhead A3 of Class IV Vote 19 and subhead A3 and appendix II of Class IV Vote 7.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure through 1981–82.

As set out in the Government's expenditure plans Cmnd. 8175 the figures for capital expenditure in 1981–82 whether financed by central or local government are:

	£m 1980 Survey prices
Education Schools
Under-fives	7
Primary, secondary, and other	215
Higher and further education
Universities	102
Non-university sector	67
Total (including miscellaneous items not listed)	400
Science	50*
Arts and Libraries
Central Government	7
Local Government	13
Total programme	470
* Notional apportionment of total planned expenditure for science.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from local authorities which maintain polytechnics urging him to grant representation on the Burnham Further Education Committee to the Association of Polytechnic Teachers; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received no representations from any of those local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what arrangements have been made for the implementation of a public lending right in terms of accommodation and staffing; and how much he expects to spend on this in the current financial year;(2) when he expects to set up a scheme for the public lending right; and if he will make a statement.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many extra medical personnel have had to be employed by each of the eight Welsh health authorities in order that junior hospital doctors may be allowed their full study leave and study periods every week; and what has been the cost area by area;(2) how many of the medical personnel in each of the eight health authorities in Wales have applied for study leave, annually over the past five full years; how many have been successful in their applications to get leave; and what percentage have had to have their applications postponed or refused.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure through 1981–82.

The information is contained in Class XVI of the Supply Estimates for 1981–82. A classification and programme attribution of expenditure can be found at the end of each Vote.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the annual report of the Children's Committee for 1979–80; what action he has taken or will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question today by my lion. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plan to reopen the North Sea herring fishery including the fishery in the Longstone and Farn areas.

Current scientific advice is that the state of the herring stocks in the North Sea, and especially the central North sea which includes the Longstone and Fame areas, precludes the possibility of opening the herring fishery there in 1981. The European Commission has proposed a total allowable catch of 41,000 tonnes for 1981 for the North Sea and Channel, but it is proposed this should all be taken outside the central North Sea. Officials will shortly be consulting representatives of the fishing industry about the management arrangements which should apply if and when the North Sea herring fishery is reopened.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what means the increase in the minimum mesh size of shrimp nets from 16mm to 30mm on 1 April 1981 was made known to fishermen; and whether he will seek a period of grace in the enforcement of this provision in the light of the fact that many fishermen were unaware of the impending increase and invested in nets of less than 30mm.

Minimum mesh sizes of 30mm when fishing for Pandalus (prawns) and 20mm when fishing for Crangon (shrimps) are laid down by Council regulation (EEC) No. 2527/80 which came into effect on 1 October 1980. However, the regulation provided that 16mm nets could be used until 31 March 1981 when fishing for Pandalus and until 30 September 1981 when fishing for Crangon.In October 1980 officials in my Department sent a copy of the regulation to the main fishing organisations in England and Wales with an explanatory letter which specifically drew attention to these changes. The increases in mesh sizes are a necessary conservation measure and I do not consider that further delays in their implementation would be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to monitor the effect on the livelihood of fishermen on Northumberland of the recent increase and proposed further increase in the minimum length of lobsters.

My Department will continue to collect statistical information from the lobster fisheries in England and Wales which will enable us to monitor any changes in catch and effort, following the increase in lobster minimum size which will come into effect on 1 May 1981. As I said on 24 March, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough (Mr. Shaw), we shall be looking particularly carefully at the economic situation of the industry before the proposed further increase in minimum size is implemented.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of the herring ban on the Longstone herring stock and of the effect of the fishing of immature herring in the Skagerrak on this stock.

Preliminary indications are that the state of the herring stocks in the central North Sea, which includes the Longstone area, would not justify a resumption of directed herring fishing in 1981. A further scientific assessment of the North Sea herring stocks, including the possible effects on them of the Skagerrak fishery, is being undertaken shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will summarise the evidence on which he bases his assessment in the reply given to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed on 26 March that an increase to 90mm minimum size in the whitefish mesh would lead in the long term to a significant increase in landings of whiting; and what he anticipates would be the effect on landings in the short term.

I am sending the hon. Member an extract from a 1979 report of the advisory committee on fishery management of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, which indicated that an increase in minimum mesh size to 90mm, combined with restrictions on the Norway pout fishery, would result in significant long-term gains in landings of whiting for human consumption. It is expected that the principal short-term effect of increasing the mesh size to 90mm on the whiting fishery would be a reduction in the quantity of undersized fish caught. Catches of marketable fish should not be greatly affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure through 1981–82.

The major heads of capital expenditure for this Department are set out in the following sections of the Supply Estimates, that is subheads A1, C1 and D1 of Class IV Vote 1, subhead A1 of Class IV Vote 2, subheads A3 and B2 of Class IV Vote 6, and subheads B2 and G1 of Class IV Vote 8.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give consideration to sponsoring an information technology year and informing the public of the social and economic implications of information technology; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a forecast of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

The usual written forecast was deposited in the House on Monday 27 April. At present three meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for May.The Finance Council is expected to meet on 11 May to continue discussion of the draft non-life insurance services directive and may also do some preparatory work for the European Council in June.The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 11–12 May. Items for consideration have yet to be decided.The Foreign Affairs Council is expected to meet on 18–19 May to discuss Commission proposals on revising the method for adjusting Community staff pay and on a new consultation procedure with the staff. Ministers will also consider matters such as developments in the North-South discussion of international economic questions. There will also be a meeting with Portugal, in place of the meeting which was scheduled for 13 April, to continue the negotiations for Portuguese accession to the Community.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure, to include overseas aid, through 1981–82.

The provision for expenditure classified as capital in the 1981–82 Estimates of this Department is as follows:

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (non-Aid)
	£000
Purchase of vehicles	1,726
Purchase of computers	1,092
Purchase of office machinery	1,320
Purchase of communications equipment	3,725
Works services at relay stations operated by the FCO	3,619
Included in the FCO's grant-in-aid of the BBC's External Broadcasting Service:
Modernisation of Bush House	2,338
Works services at relay stations	2,760
Miscellaneous minor works services	1,228
Included in the FCO's grant-in-aid of the British Council:
Acquisitions and new works	988
Miscellaneous minor works services	447

Overseas Development Administration
	£000
Loans to Overseas Governments	34,000
Provisions for Loans to Overseas Governments still under negotiation	20,000
Contributions to Multilateral Organisations	236,964

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has had any discussions with the European Economic Community Commission following the statement in the European Assembly by Commissioner Narjes on the subject of the British Nationality Bill; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that Commissioner Narjes referred to the British Nationality Bill during the debate in the European Parliament on 12 March 1981 on a report prepared by the Legal Affairs Committee of that Parliament on the changes made last year by the Government to the immigration rules. The matters with which that report deals will form part of our continuing discussions with the European Commission on the immigration rules. These discussions have not so far involved nationality questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional funds in total have been used in London under section 11 of the inner area partnership programmes; and if he will list the projects on which this funding has been spent.

In the past three years estimated expenditure in London boroughs under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, of which the Government pay 75 per cent., was as follows:

1978–79	£19,093,000
1979–80	£22,635,000
1980–81	£28,759,000

Eligible expenditure is incurred where local authorities with substantial numbers of Commonwealth immigrants in their areas employ staff to meet the special needs of such immigrants arising from differences in language or custom. Over 80 per cent. of eligible expenditure is in respect of educational staff.Details of the individual projects could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the 3,619 Home Department what is the reason for the discrepancy in the duration of bans on processions such as that between the seven days in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and the 29-day ban imposed in Leeds.

Subject to my consent, an order under section 3(2) of the Public Order Act 1936 is made by the district or borough council concerned, at the request of the chief officer of police, according to circumstances in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the bans on processions currently in force indicating the length of each bar, the date of commencement and the districts covered.

In England and Wales, orders under section 3 of the Public Order Act 1936 are in force throughout the Metropolitan Police District and the City of London. Both orders are for a period of 28 days from 6 am on Saturday 25 April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend the Protection of Animals Act 1911 to prohibit the use of snares for trapping wild animals.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend the Act in this way. However, provision is made in clause 11 of the Wildlife and Countryside Bill to prohibit the use of self-locking snares.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are available to him to ensure that when a National Health Service hospital is sold and the purchaser continues to use it for medical treatment there is no drain of qualified personnel to the detriment of National Health Service services.

In general, we do not believe that the development of the private hospital sector will harm the NHS, but can, by suitable collaboration, assist the NHS. However, we recognise that particular private hospital developments might have an adverse effect on the staffing of an NHS hospital. It is to safeguard the NHS in such circumstances that we retained with amendments the controls in the Health Services Act 1976. The controls provide for authorisation by the Secretary of State of private developments of 120 beds or more or of any private developments, however small, in an area designated under section 12A of the 1976 Act. Designation is an additional control we introduced in the Health Services Act 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will restrict the sale of paracetamol, regardless of pack size, to pharmacies.

My right hon. Friend has at present no intention of doing so. The current legal position reflects advice proffered to us by the Medicines Commission and more recently by the Committee on the Review of Medicines.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if visitors from overseas who hold British passports are entitled to free National Health Service services at the time of use.

Eligibility to use the NHS is not tied to British nationality; provision of a British passport by an overseas visitor does not, therefore, entitle him to free NHS services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure through 1981–82.

The major head of capital expenditure for my Department is contained in subhead A2 of Supply Estimates 1981–82 Class XI Vote 1 (Capital Advances to Health Authorities). Other capital items in excess of £1 million are set out in subheads B3, D2, D4, D8, H1(1) and I5 of Class XI Vote 1; subhead A1 (part) of Class XI Vote 2 and subheads A2(4), A3(2) and A4 of Class XII Vote 4.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to the annual report of the Children's Committee for 1979–80; what action he has taken or will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

This report is mainly a retrospective review of the committee's activities in 1979–80 and an indication of issues which it might pursue in the 12 months which began last July. As the report makes clear, the committee offers advice to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and my right hon. Friend at any time through the year when it wishes to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 21 January, if he is yet in a position to announce the results of his review of the household duties test for non-contributory invalidity pension for married women.

The review has not yet been completed. When it is, we shall report to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much would be payable by way of a flat grant to all those aged 16 to 19 years who are (a) unemployed, (b) still at school, (c) on supplementary benefit and (d) on youth opportunities programmes if the money that is now being paid out for this age group were equally distributed;(2) if he will estimate how many would gain and how many would lose if the money that is now being paid out to 16 to 19-year-olds were equally distributed by way of a flat grant to all those in this age group who are

I regret that information is not readily available on which to base the calculation requested for this age group and to obtain it would incur disproportionate expense. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) on 27 April there are no plans for making any changes in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were on hospital waiting lists in the West Midlands regional health authority at the latest available date; and what are the comparable figures for each of the previous 10 years.

The information requested is given below. Comparable figures prior to 1974 are not available.

Number of Persons on Waiting Lists in West Midlands Regional Health Authority
31 December 1979*	86,490
31 December 1978	83,435
31 December 1977	75,826
31 December 1976	73,890
31 December 1975	68,417
31 December 1974	60,766
* Latest date available

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he is giving to compensating charities working to help disabled people for the value added tax they have to pay by awarding them grants of the same amount in support of the services they provide; and if he will discuss means of overcoming the effects of the increased rate of value added tax with representatives of all the voluntary organisations concerned.

The Department gives grants to a wide range of voluntary organisations, many of which help disabled people. Grants of this kind take account of a variety of circumstances, and we do not propose to consider basing the amounts awarded on an organisation's tax liabilities. Value added tax and its impact on charities are matters for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer who, in his Budget Statement on 26 March 1980—[Vol. 981, c. 1480]—announced substantial fiscal measures to help charities increase their donation income and, as proposed in his recent Budget Statement on 10 March 1981—[Vol. 1000, c. 770]—has extended certain existing VAT reliefs for the disabled and the charities serving them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the latest information available to him on mortality rates directly attributed to the use, as a contraceptive, of the progesterone-only pill;(2) if he will publish in the

[pursuant to his replies, 31 March 1981, c. 77; 7 April 1981, c. 233; and 14 April 1981, c. 94]: Mortality data are not available in the form requested by my hon. Friend. The following table^* estimates deaths associated with selected means of fertility control per 100,000 non-sterile women, by method of fertility control, age of woman, and development of country^**. The figures are not directly comparable as between developed and less developed countries because of differences in social habits, for example, smoking, and other factors which vary from one country to another.in hospitals and clinics—where depo-provera is most frequently given—is not, therefore, included and no meaningful estimate can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the contract for the construction of the car park at Alexander Square, Lurgan, has been awarded; when the contractor is due on site; and when tenders for the Taylor's Court scheme are due.

The contract for the construction of the car park at Alexander Square, Lurgan, has been awarded and work is expected to start on site in May 1981. The issue of tenders for Taylor's Court car park has been deferred to enable funds to be used for higher priority road works.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure through 1981–82.

The proposed capital expenditure for 1981–82 is:

	£ million
Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry	3
Industry, energy, trade and employment	174
Transport	33
Housing	13
Other Environmental Services	29
Law, Order and Protective Services	9
Education and Science, Arts and Libraries	8
Health and Personal Social Services	15
Other public services	1
Common Services	2
	*287
* cf table 4.9 in Cmnd. 8175.

These figures include capital expenditure on new construction, purchase of vehicles, plant and equipment and capital grants and are expressed at 1980 survey prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bans on processions are currently in force; and in each case, what is the length of the ban, the date of commencement and the district covered.

No bans on processions are in force in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to have further discussions with European Economic Community representatives from the other member States on the plans for a Channel tunnel.

When I have completed my study of the Select Committee's report and my examination of the nine proposals which have been put to me I shall first need to consult the French Government. Only in the light of any joint decision will it be appropriate to discuss any financial or other matters with the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the current position of negotiations for the construction of a Channel tunnel.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Members for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) and for Carlisle (Mr. Lewis) on 25 March 1981.—[Vol. 1, c. 907–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the cost and feasibility of a single-track rail Channel link.

I am currently studying the various proposals that have been put to me by potential promoters, which include a number for single track rail links.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the progress achieved with regard to the phasing out of the road construction units.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the transfer of work from road construction units to private consultants.

Very good progress has been made. Last week I announced the names of more consultants to whom I would offer work on road schemes at present being carried out by road construction sub-units. This means that the total value of the schemes now offered to the private sector is over £1,000 million. This represents about half the schemes which are to be transferred.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport in what proportion of road accidents which involve death or serious injury were drivers concerned driving with over the blood alcohol legal limit.

About one-third of the drivers killed in road accidents in England and Wales are found to have exceeded the legal blood alcohol limit. Comparable information on drivers in accidents involving serious injury is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about a service area on the M11 motorway since his announcement that he would consider alternatives to the Birchanger site; and if he will make a statement.

The only representation we have received, from Essex county council, is that a service area should be located at Harlow. We are seriously studying this and other possibilities but still consider that Birchanger would be the best location for a service area on the M11.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received, and from what bodies, on the consequences of his refusal to build the A6(M) through Stockport.

We are not refusing to build this road, which is an important scheme in the national trunk road programme. We have deferred further preparation work until it is possible to give a firm and realistic date for construction. I have received representations in support of the scheme from the hon. Member and my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold) and from the Greater Manchester council, Stockport borough council, other local bodies, and local residents. I am soon to make a visit to Hazel Grove and Stockport to see the up-to-date problems for myself.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with planned road provision in South London inside the perimeter of the M25.

I am satisfied with the planned provision for trunk roads within the area. Other roads are the responsibility of the local planning and transport authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied that the proportion of his Department's roads budget allocated to maintenance will achieve adequate standards of road safety.

Yes. The proportion of my Department's roads budget allocated to maintenance has been increased.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is now able to announce his decision on further electrification of the railway system; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he expects major investment in railway electrification to be completed by the late 1980s.

I hope to be able to make a statement on railway electrification soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give favourable consideration to the effective financing of railway electrification from all sources public and private.

I am ready to consider any financing proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the types of vehicles granted exemption from the tachograph regulations.

The United Kingdom has already taken advantage of all exemptions permitted by the Community regulations. Further exemptions would require amendment of those regulations and this would need the agreement of all member States. We will consider with our partners the case for further exemptions carefully, but strict enforcement of drivers hours rules for heavy vehicles is an important road safety measure. Road safety is not affected by such matters as the status of the driver or the worthy purpose of the journey as is often urged upon us by interested groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the estimated figure for road fatalities in 1980; and how this compares with previous years.

The provisional estimate of deaths is 5,940. The final figure is likely to be the lowest since 1958. In 1978 and 1979 there were 6,831 and 6,352 deaths respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chairman of the British Railways Board to discuss capital investment in British Railways.

I meet the chairman regularly to discuss a wide range of topics. I expect to meet him again shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the cost of construction of the A1-M1 link road, as at present planned.

Approximately £54·5 million at November 1978 prices, which is the price basis used in the 1980 roads White Paper, Cmnd. 7908. This includes the Kettering northern bypass.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the increase in coach services since the Transport Act 1980.

Following the removal of licensing restrictions last October there has been dramatic growth in coach services. New services have been vigorously developed and marketed by both independent and publicy owned operators. On the major or inter-city routes coach traffic has more than doubled, fares have been halved and new employment opportunities have been provided. This summer I expect to see some 200 new services on the road.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce legislation to require local councils to operate a policy of covering expenditure on transport from fare revenue without rate subsidies.

In deciding local transport's spending priorities local authorities need to have full regard, both to their ratepayers' ability to pay, and also to what the country can afford by way of public expenditure nationally. I shall have this very much in mind in my transport supplementary grant settlement later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many bypasses were opened in 1980.

It is difficult to distinguish precisely between so-called bypasses and other new road schemes. Six trunk road schemes which could be described as bypasses, not forming part of motorway routes, were opened in England, but some communities were also relieved of through traffic by major new routes such as the M11 Cambridge western bypass. Bypasses on other roads are a matter for the local highway authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the proportion of total English trunk road construction spending incurred in the Greater London Council area in the 1970's; and how this compares with the Greater London Council's share of the population.

Expenditure in the Greater London Council area on new construction and improvement of trunk roads, expressed as a percentage of total expenditure in England, was as follows.

Year	Percentage
1969–70	2·6
1970–71	1·9
1971–72	3·4
1972–73	4·7
1973–74	5·5
1974–75	6·6
1975–76	5·9
1976–77	5·8
1977–78	4·1
1978–79	4·4
1979–80	6·5

14·8 per cent. of the total population of England, mid-1979 estimate, was in the GLC area.The figures reflect the low proportion of roads in the GLC area which are trunk roads. The GLC and the boroughs are responsible for the overwhelming majority of the roads in London and receive a much higher percentage of national transport supplementary grant for its transport needs than its percentage of the total population.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has met the chairman of the British Railways Board to discuss industrial relations matters.

I meet the chairman of the British Railways Board from time to time to discuss a wide range of issues. Industrial relations are certainly not excluded although I regard them as matters for which essentially the board and the rail unions are responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what increases will be required in the present rail investment limit in each of the remaining years of the 1980s to give effect to the British Railways Board's proposals contained in "Rail Policy" a statement by the British Railways Board of its policies and potential for the 1980s.

The board's paper "Rail Policy" proposes substantial increases in investment in the next decade, which are considerably larger than those in the corporate plan. But no year-by-year profile is provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the revenue and expenditure incurred by the South Yorkshire county council on its cheap transport policy, the size of the deficit, the amount of this to be met by the transport element of the support grant, and the amount that will fall on ratepayers in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

Over the past four years South Yorkshire has spent over £100 million on subsidising local bus services quite apart from payments for old people's concessionary fares. I understand that it has budgeted to spend another £47·1 million this year in order to push up to 60 per cent. the proportion of its bus costs met from public funds. The last Government took the view that South Yorkshire's circumstances did not warrant pre-empting such a large slice of the limited transport resources nationally available to all counties. I entirely share that view. I accepted in the 1981–82 TSG settlement for South Yorkshire £7·3 million for public transport revenue support at November 1979 prices, equivalent to £9·5 million at cash limited outturn prices comparable with the county's budget. However, I am very concerned about the burden now being placed on South Yorkshire ratepayers whose rate precept has almost doubled to 57p between 1978–79 and 1980–81. The cost of the county's policy is equivalent to more than £30 on the typical domestic ratepayer's bill and a £14 million rates burden on local industry. This can only have a damaging effect on job prospects in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's proposed capital expenditure through 1981–82.

The major heads of capital expenditure for my Department are set out in the Supply Estimates as follows:Vote Number and Subhead:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will abolish compulsory smallpox vaccination for members of the Territorial Army.

The present policy of giving voluntary routine smallpox vaccinations to members of the Territorial Army is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the Armed Forces are women; how this compares with each of the other members of NATO; and what are the estimated percentages over the next five years.

Women represent 5 per cent. of the United Kingdom's Armed Forces—16,857 out of 334,203. The approximate percentages for other NATO members are as follows:

	percentage
USA	6·5
Canada	7
France	2
Denmark	1·5
Netherlands	1
Belgium	2

The remaining NATO nations either have no women in their armed forces or a few women in specialist posts.Although there is likely to be a small increase in the number of women recruited over the next five years, this will not significantly change the overall percentage of women in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom. We cannot comment on the future manning policy of our NATO allies.