asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether there are any similar projects to the capital jobmate project elsewhere in the country; and what support is being given to them.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the annual numbers of people in the Kings Lynn, Fakenham, Hunstanton and Swaffham office areas who have benefited from special employment measures introduced by his Department for each year from 1970 to 1981 inclusive.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1981, c. 432]: I regret the information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about when recommendation 6.5 of the Burgoyne report regarding the responsibility for offshore safety vested in his Department alone will be implemented; and if he will ensure that the independent examination of "Management Emergencies" recommended by the Burgoyne report is implemented without delay, and that the committee to be set up to perform this task will be similarly constituted to the Burgoyne committee.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1981]: Responsibility for offshore safety has effectively been vested in the petroleum engineering division of my Department since 16 February this year, when four experienced inspectors were seconded from the Health and Safety Executive. A revised agency agreement with the Health and Safety Commission endorsing this arrangement is expected to be ratified shortly.A summary of the Government's response to all the recommendations of the Burgoyne report was placed in the Library of the House on 3 November. Those recommendations relating to the management of emergencies (paragraphs 6.57 to 6.63 of the Burgoyne report) were broadly accepted by my Department. Most of these recommendations have been implemented. The remainder will be implemented as soon as practicable.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the progress made thus far in reducing the Civil Service establishment; if she will publish in the Official Report the number of full and part-time civil servants currently employed and show current figures against figures for 1 May 1979.

As I told my hon. Friend on 2 February [Vol. 998, c. 12–13], the numbers at 1 April 1979 were 717,300 full-time and 29,900 part-time. At 1 January 1981, the latest date for which figures are available centrally, the corresponding figures were 681,400 and 27,300. We are committed to a substantial further reduction over the next three years.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give for each of the other member States of the European Community the location of their consular posts in the United Kingdom.

Posts at which consular functions are carried out—excluding places where representation is by honorary consul—are as follows:

• Belgium: London, Manchester
• Denmark: London
• France: Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gloucester, Liverpool, London, Portsmouth
• Federal Republic of Germany: Edinburgh, Liverpool, London
• Greece: London
• Republic of Ireland: Liverpool, London
• Italy: Bedford, Edinburgh, London, Manchester
• Luxembourg: London
• Netherlands: London

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he estimates that the increased role of the Permanent Representatives Committee has resulted in a reduced role for embassies within the member States of the European Community.

No. Under the Community treaties, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the member States is responsible for preparing the work of the Council and carrying out the tasks assigned to it by the Council. The functions of the Council of Ministers and those of embassies within the member States of the Community are different.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will take steps to ascertain the number of staff employed by each of the member States of the European Community in their embassies in the other nine member States.

The total number of staff employed at British embassies in European Community countries other than staff funded by the Property Services Agency and the Ministry of Defence, is as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the policy of his Department on the export of nuclear weapons technology to South Africa.

In conformity with the United Kingdom's obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and in accordance with the United Nations' embargo on the sale of arms to South Africa, no nuclear weapons technology is exported to South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects the assets held by the British Steel

asked the Lord Privy Seal what discussions the Government have had recently with other member countries of the European Community over the Brandt report on international development issues; and what view the United Kingdom has advanced.

Many of the issues examined by the Brandt Commission were discussed by the Council of Ministers (Development) on 28 April. My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development spoke on the lines explained by Government spokesmen in the House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what numbers of staff are employed in, and what is the approximate annual cost of running, the United Kingdom representation to NATO in Brussels and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.

The information is as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many staff are employed in, and what is the approximate annual cost of running, the United Kingdom permanent representation to the European Community and the embassies in The Hague, Brussels, Copenhagen, Bonn, Athens, Paris, Dublin, Rome and Luxembourg, respectively.

The information is as follows:Corporation Liaison Services Ltd. to be transferred to a Companies Act company outside the control of the British Steel Corporation.

As soon as a private sector company can be set up to produce engineering steels.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he now expects to reply to the formal application which was made by the Association of Polytechnic Teachers on 16 November 1979 for representations on the Burnham Further Education Committee.

My right hon. and learned Friend expects a decision to be announced very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received representations from any local authorities which maintain polytechnics urging him to grant representation on the Burnham Further Education Committee to the Association of Polytechnic Teachers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish the interim report of the committee of inquiry into the education of children from ethnic minority groups; and if he will make a statement.

I have received this interim report, which is concerned with the educational needs and attainments of West Indian children in our schools. I have decided to publish it and will inform the House of the date of publication in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department's assessment of performance unit is to mount the survey of the performance of pupils of West Indian origin which the unit has had under consideration.

I have decided that the unit should not carry out the proposed survey. In reaching this decision, I have taken into account views expressed by the local authority associations, teachers' organisations and representatives of the West Indian community about the form of survey proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the date and place of meetings he has addressed since the publication of the British Nationality Bill, on the subject, together with a list of meetings similarly addressed by other Ministers in his Department.

Since the British Nationality Bill was published on 13 January my right hon. Friend has, in his capacity as Home Secretary, addressed the following gatherings on the Bill:

• 3 February—London Diplomatic Association.
• 19 February—Indian Journalists Association (London).
• 6 April—Seminar on youth and authority in a multi-racial society, Holly Royde College, Manchester.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West's written question on Thursday 16 April, he will give the reasons why he will not dismiss the Director of Public Prosecutions from office.

Because I have no grounds for doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that replies to letters from hon. Members are made by junior Ministers themselves, rather than being made by an assistant private secretary.

My Department's normal practice is for a private secretary to sign letters to hon. Members where the information conveyed is of an entirely routine nature, such as that inquiries are being made and that the Minister will reply when they are completed, or seeking further information about the matter raised. I see no reason to change these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give for any convenient stated period of time the actual or estimated costs to the National Health Service of persons who have received hospital treatment for injuries, illness and disabilities caused by or aggravated by (a) motor car accidents where seat belts (i) have and (ii) have not been in use, (b) smoking, (c) drinking, (d) obesity due to over-eating, (e) drug taking, (f) accidents at home and (g) accidents at work where evidence has been produced that the regulations on proper use of safety precautions have not been taken.

I regret that precise information is not available in the form requested. The best available estimates of the total cost to the National Health Service of the conditions listed are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received representations from electricity boards regarding the restoration of greater powers of discretion to Department of Health and Social Security officers over exceptional needs payments and direct debit of fuel bills.

I have recently received a letter from the chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board which mentions this point, and I shall be replying to him in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons have been subject to the four-week rule curtailing benefit entitlement each quarter since 1970.

The so-called four-week rule was suspended from 14 December 1973 and has not been reintroduced.On 6 July 1973—[Vol. 859, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost to public funds of the death grant in the last financial year; and what was the cost of administration.

The estimated cost of the grant in the financial year 1980–81 is £17 million and the cost of administration is of the order of £8 million. The inordinately high relative cost of administration is a major factor we are taking into account in our current review of the death grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the timetable for restructuring the National Health Service.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 April 1981, c. 248]: I also expect that chairmen and members of the new authorities will be announced by the end of September and will meet as "shadow" authorities in the autumn to appoint their future chief officers and to begin to consider their future management arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the organisations which have made protests to his Department about Health Circular HC(80)11; what general and detailed criticisms they have made; and if he will now withdraw the circular.

A wide range of comments have been made, mainly concerned that fund raising by the NHS might make it more difficult for voluntary organisations to raise their own funds. This is an important matter, but we believe these fears are unnecessary. The opportunities under section 5 of the Health Services Act 1980 are intended to supplement and support the work of existing voluntary groups. We wish to see voluntary groups extending not reducing their range. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has discussed this with me a number of times, and the right hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that we have agreed a further guidance note to the health authorities, which will be issued shortly. This will stress the need for the authorities to consult and work closely with local groups.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dog licences were taken out in the year April 1980 to April 1981; and what is his estimate of the percentage of dogs in England now properly covered by licence.

The latest available statistics relate to the financial year 1979–80, when licences issued in England covered a total of 2,538,994 dogs. There are no current estimates of the proportion of dogs properly covered by licence. However, the report of the interdepartmental working party on dogs, published in 1976, estimated that in the United Kingdom only one dog in two was licensed.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total expenditure in the financial year 1980–81 on contributions for pensions for Members' secretaries; and how this compares with the maximum theoretically payable in accordance with the resolutions of the House.

Total expenditure from the Parliament and Privy Council: House of Commons Vote (Class XIII 2) in the financial year 1980–81 attributable to contributions authorised by Members by way of pension provision for their secretaries and research assistants, amounted to £143,406. Had contributions for pensions at the maximum rate promulgated by the Resolutions of the House been authorised by all 635 Members, the total cost would have amounted to £499,110.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the police presence at the recent series of rallies held in Northern Ireland by the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley).

This information is not readily available and to obtain it would require considerable administrative work. Many police officers had to be diverted from their primary tasks to be on duty at the various rallies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the reasons for the continuing delay by the Housing Corporation in Scotland in reaching a decision upon the British Waterways Board's proposals for housing at Maryhill Locks; and if he will take steps to expedite the matter in view of the importance of revitalising this area of Maryhill.

I understand that the site in question has been proposed for development by a registered housing association but that no specific scheme has been prepared so far.While the Secretary of State is concerned with the Housing Corporation's broad proposals for the allocation of resources under its control, responsibility for the inclusion of particular housing association proposals in the programme for any particular year rests with the corporation. The case for directing such resources to the Maryhill area is accordingly one which should be pursued direct with the corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why information was not collected centrally regarding the number of people made redundant, excluding education and health employees, by local authorities in England in 1979 and 1980.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to him on 1 April 1981. The responsibilities of my right hon. Friend in respect of employees in local government are different from those of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services in respect of the NHS. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science was able to supply figures relating to teachers because his Department is responsible for the operation of the teachers' pension scheme.—[Vol. 2, c.127.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what financial savings he expects to achieve by reducing the number of manual employees at the Property Services Agency direct works offices in Greater London;

The number of industrial staff in the Property Services Agency's works organisation is being reduced in accordance with the Government's policies of reducing the size of the Civil Service and transferring work to the private sector. These measures will have no significant effect on costs or on standards of maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the ratio of managerial to manual staff at the Property Services Agency direct works offices in Greater London.

The ratio of professional and technical managerial staff to manual staff employed in the Property Services Agency district works offices in Greater London is about 1 to 40.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many notices of voluntary redundancy have been issued to industrial employees at the Property Services Agency district works office (a) throughout Greater London and (b) at Greenwich; and how many established posts are to be cut in each case.

Invitations to accept voluntary redundancy terms have been issued to most of PSA's works industrial staff but the numbers that can be released under those arrangements will depend on a number of factors, including the rate at which work can be transferred to private contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to give his decision on coal mining in the Vale of Belvoir.

My right hon. Friend is still considering the report of the imspector who held the inquiry into the National Coal Board's planning applications to mine in the Vale of Belvoir. The case raises important issues which require careful consideration, and whilst the decision will be issued as soon as possible, I cannot yet say when this will be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals were granted and how many were dismissed in conservation areas in London during each of the annual periods 1977 to 1981, inclusive.

I regret that the information requested is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the authorities with whom his Department has taken up formally their rate of progress in implementing the right to buy.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Reading, North (Mr. Durant), for Burton (Mr. Lawrence), and for Newark (Mr. Alexander), on 4 March and to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, North on 1 April. Since then the Department has also taken up formally with the following authorities their rate of progress in implementing the right to buy: Birmingham, Blyth Valley, Brent, Burnley, Darlington, Gateshead, Haringey, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Norwich, St. Helens and Tower Hamlets.—[Vol. 1000, c. 268–70: Vol. 2, c. 104.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional funds in total have been put into the inner area partnership programmes in London; and if he will list the projects on which this funding has been spent.

[pursuant to his answer, 29 April 1981, c. 422]: Allocations to these programmes, replacing the previous urban programme allocations, have been made as follows (at outturn prices):

asked the Attorney-General whether he will institute a system whereby a person can be served with a summons at his lodgings or place of work.

On the assumption that the question refers to the service of a summons in county court proceedings, there are no present plans to alter the existing rules of court. These rules now enable the summons to be served at the defendant's residence and there is nothing in them which prevents normal personal service on the defendant at his place of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will issue instructions to the United States Air Force to cease performing high speed, low level aerobatics over the village of Fleckney, Leicestershire.

Although every effort is made during low-level training to reduce disturbance to the population as a whole, it is not practical for low-flying aircraft to avoid every village. However, complaints made by the Fleckney parish council are being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what loan facilities are being contemplated to enable Portugal to purchase British-built equipment for its frigates; whether such facilities are competitive with those to be provided by Holland, Norway, Canada and Lichtenstein; and if he will make a statement.

As the British contribution to the NATO scheme to help Portugal acquire three new frigates, Her Majesty's Government have informed NATO that they will assist the financing of British equipment for these ships by supporting credit of 85 per cent. of contract price over 8 years at 8½ per cent. per annum. Certain other countries, which have military aid programmes, have offered to give equipment; these include Netherlands, Norway, Canada and Luxembourg.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the level of duty on pipe tobacco, in both current and constant money terms in each of the last 10 years.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the upper limit of the daily allowance paid for attendance to the Members of the House of Lords as at 1 April; and, on the assumption that the peers are married with normal marriage allowances and other tax allowances, what this stated tax-free daily allowance is worth on a taxed basis to peers with other incomes of £5,000, £6,000, £7,000, £8,000, £9,000, £10,000, £20,000 and above per annum.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 April 1981, c. 221]: The maximum daily allowance for reimbursement of the expenses of attendance payable to Members of the House of Lords at 1 April is £44. For a married man, the gross amounts per day that at different income levels would leave £44 per day after tax are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the Trade Ministers of the EEC are next due to meet; and what subjects he expects to be discussed at that meeting.

Trade subjects are normally discussed in the EC Foreign Affairs Council. The next meeting of this Council is expected to take place on 18/19 May and the forecast of items for consideration was deposited in the House on 28 April.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, pursuant to the notice which appeared in the London Gazette in 23 December 1980, list 0061 on page 17827, Corona Properties Ltd. has now been struck off the Register of Companies.

Corona Properties Ltd. has been struck off the register, and was dissolved on 3 April 1981. Notice of dissolution appeared in the London Gazette of that date in List 0061, page 4888.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the extra workload experinced by the citzens advice bureaux, he will grant their application for extra funds.

I am currently considering an application for additional funds from the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux, whose grant-in-aid was doubled last year, and will announce our conclusions in due course.

asked the secretary of State for Trade when he expects to be in a position to come to a decision about the representations made by citizens advice bureaux in respect of additional funding.

We will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to examine the pricing of pipe tobacco in relation to the implementation of increased prices as a result of the Budget and other price fluctuations.

No. Under section 13 of the Competition Act my right hon. Friend can require the Director General to carry out an investigation only if he is satisfied, which in the case of pipe tobacco he is not, that the price in question is one of major public concern.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to the reply of the Minister of State on 16 April, Official Report, c. 283., whether the discussions with the Director General of Fair Trading have included the question of the zoning of petrol prices in rural areas of Scotland; and whether he will take steps to investigate the practices of oil companies in charging different wholesale prices for bulk tanker loads in different places, for example Aberdeen and Fraserburgh.

My discussions with the Director General did not include zonal pricing, which the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on petrol (1979) found to be a long standing practice without anti-competive effects. The director has no present plans for investigating local wholesale price differentials, whether arising from this practice or otherwise, but has stated his readiness to use his powers if he has evidence that wholesalers are abusing their market power.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, since Japanese cars exceeded 10 per cent. of the United Kingdom market in 1980, he will take steps to ensure that the 1981 share is reduced by the amount by which the 1980 target was exceeded.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1981, c. 423]: Prudent marketing voluntarily adopted by the Japanese manufacturers kept their annual share of the United Kingdom market between 9 per cent. and 11 per cent. for the five years from 1975 to 1979. Their share of a smaller market in 1980 was 11·9 per cent. The Japanese authorities and their manufacturers are fully aware that we expect a significant reduction in their share this year.