asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official duties for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 May.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to meet the leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

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

I have had no such meetings since 5 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the United Kingdom's end use needs require energy in the form of electricity.

Figures published in the April issue of my Department's statistical bulletin Energy Trends show that in 1980 electricity accounted for 13·5 per cent. of consumption of all fuels by final users of energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what study has been made by his Department of the cost of saving energy by a programme of loft insulation of one half of all private dwellings in the United Kingdom as compared with the cost of building power stations to produce the equivalent of the energy thus saved.

My Department carries out a continuing analysis of the relative costs and benefits of investments in energy conservation and energy supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish his estimates for 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82, of (a) mortgage tax relief per mortgagor and per owner-occupier dwelling, (b) mortgage tax relief plus option mortgage subsidy per mortgagor and per owner-occupier dwelling, (c) Exchequer subsidy per local authority dwelling, (d) Exchequer subsidy plus rate fund contribution, or minus housing revenue account contribution to rate fund, per local authority dwelling, (e) Exchequer subsidy per public sector dwelling and (f) Exchequer subsidy plus rate fund contribution, or minus housing revenue account contribution to rate fund, per public sector dwelling, in each case indicating the number of dwellings or mortgagors on which the estimate is based.

Current estimates as regards local authority dwellings for Wales are:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the liaison between the local authority road improvement programme and the investment in the trunk road programme by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Local authority major road schemes complement the trunk road network and county councils' structure plans, together with their transport policies and programmes statements, aid the proper co-ordination of the two programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many grant payments have been made to local authorities and in which counties in Wales from the European regional development fund for new road schemes.

The number of highway and industrial estate access road schemes aided by the ERDF and the amount of grant committed is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schemes since 1974 have received grant-aid under section 8 of the Railways Act; and what is his estimate of the tonnage of freight that will be transferred to rail as a result.

Eleven schemes. It is estimated that 850,000 tonnes of freight per annum will be transferred from road to rail.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the strategic, economic and environmental factors that are taken into account in the decision to concentrate available resources on schemes which offer greater benefit as indicated in paragraph 5 of "Roads in Wales 1980".

The basic strategic and economic factor is the need for a good road having regard to the use that will be made of it by transport serving industry and by persons living in, working in or visiting the areas it will serve. Environmental factors are principally concerned with improving general living conditions for people who reside in those areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the areas whose traditional industries are in decline which are referred to in paragraph 5 of "Roads in Wales 1980" to which he has allocated the highest priority in formulating his trunk road programme.

The areas are principally those connected with the coal, steel and slate industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the rural areas referred to in paragraph 5 of "Roads in Wales 1980" where the tourist industry makes a substantial contribution to the economy and to which he had regard in formulating his road programme.

The areas are principally the three national parks and much of the coast of North-West, West and South-West Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the environmental benefits that will be brought to residents of towns and villages on the existing A55 as a result of its dualling, as set out in paragraph 7 of "Roads in Wales 1980".

The principal environmental benefits will accrue as result of these communities being bypassed. There will be increased safety for traffic and pedestrians; easier local traffic movements; reduction in noise, visual intrusion and atmospheric pollution; and mitigation of existing severance of communities within these towns and villages.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the statement in paragraph 5 of "Roads in Wales 1980" that the Government regard improvement of the motorway and trunk road network as an important element in the contribution of public expenditure programmes to the economic development of Wales is still his Department's policy.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is still his policy that the trunk road programme has to play its part in the reduction of public spending; and whether, in view of the Budget Statement, he anticipates making further adjustments to the trunk road programme in Wales in accordance with the policy set out in paragraph 3 of "Roads in Wales 1980".

Yes. As "Roads in Wales 1980" makes clear, the trunk road programme may be subject to adjustment and, like all other expenditure programmes, it will be reviewed during the course of the current public expenditure survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, following the consultations he has had, including those with the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards, he will now use his powers under the Weights and Measures Act 1979 to require that a legal pint measure of beer shall consist of liquid beer only and not a combination of liquid and gas.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. Johnston) on 6 May 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether he has made any assessment of likely levels of import penetration of overseas manufactured products following the announcement of specifications for citizens band radio equipment; and what means are available to limit such penetration;(2) if he will take steps to limit any sudden substantial increase in the imports of citizens band radio equipment which may arise following the announcements of specifications for such equipment.

No realistic forecast of import levels is possible at this stage. Under international law—notably Community legislation and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade—safeguard action to limit imports from non-Community sources is possible in cases where imports of a product increase rapidly to such an extent that they cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry. If such a situation were to arise in connection with citizens band radio equipment the Government would consider the case on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many people went overseas on package tour holidays in the latest year for which figures are available;(2) how many people went abroad on holiday and business, respectively, in the latest year for which figures are available.

Estimates for 1980 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he now expects to make a statement on the report of the inquiry into the crash of the Dan-Air Boeing 727 at Tenerife on 25 April 1980.

The Spanish report on the accident to the Dan-Air Boeing 727 at Tenerife on 25 April 1980 has not yet been received in the United Kingdom. The Spanish authorities are fully aware of the great interest that exists in the United Kingdom concerning the accident and they are being continually pressed for an early release of their report. No statement can be made until such time as the report has been received in the United Kingdom, translated and studied.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made with the Greater Dacca power generation project; and what steps he is taking to ensure that work from further stages of this project remains available to British firms.

Transmission work on the Greater Dacca power project should be completed by mid-1982, and distribution work by the summer of 1983. At the request of the Government of Bangladesh, we shall shortly conduct an appraisal of a possible extension to the project. Any further United Kingdom aid funds committed to it would be tied to the procurement of United Kingdom goods and services in the usual way.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will list the basic salary scales in each grade of the clerical, executive and administrative classes of the Civil Service in January 1979 and January 1981, in parallel columns.

The answer is given in the following table:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what part was played by SOGAT, NGA and NATSOPA in the discussions which led up to the granting of the Fleet Street tax amnesty.

Discussions took place with the employers and representatives of the three unions involved which led to the introduction in March 1979 of the special arrangement for the future. In the course of those discussions the representatives of the three trade unions and the employers were told of the terms of the offer to be made to casual workers in relation to past years' liabilities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that Mr. Yang Tzu Kune founder of the Rendezvous restaurant chain in Soho fled the country to Taiwan owing the Customs and Inland Revenue £4·5 million, if he will initiate proceedings against him with a view to seeking his extradition.

Mr. Yang Tzu Kune is not a person known to either of the revenue departments which have, however, identified Mr. William Tchi Hong Young as the founder of the Rendezvous restaurant group. Proceedings have been started against him. Mr. Young failed to answer to his bail and is understood to be in Taiwan. The United Kingdom has no extradition agreement with Taiwan. Moreover, fiscal offences are not normally within the scope of the Extradition Acts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when forming his Budget, he had available to him any estimate by the British Gas Corporation of the extra total cost to it of gas from the Frigg field if the £8 per tonne duty on heavy fuel oil had been removed.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer had available to him all relevant information about the effect of a duty change on the price of imported gas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the names and addresses of the directors of the Halifax Building Society together with their occupations, professional qualifications and the dates on which they became directors; how many initially were co-opted on to the board; and how many were nominated by ordinary members of the society.

All building societies are required by law to submit annual returns to the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, which include the names and addresses of their directors and their year of birth. In addition, notice pursuant to section 75 of the Building Societies Act 1962 of any change of directors, which includes the date of their appointment, must be given to the central office of the Registry of Friendly Societies, at 17 North Audley Street, London W1, where such notices and returns and other relevant information are available for public inspection.Particulars of whether directors were initially co-opted on to the board and how many were nominated by ordinary members of the society are not available. It is rare, however, for a director to be appointed initially other than through co-option.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to abolish the 714 tax certificates; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to abolish these certificates. Significant improvements in the terms on which they may be obtained were, however, introduced in the Finance Act 1980.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many profit-sharing schemes have now been set up as a result of the Finance Act 1978 as amended by the Finance Act 1980.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the figures for the exact annual direct costs of the official services of the Government Broker, based on the latest available annual figures, in terms of any fees, honoraria, extra salary payments, expenses or any similar remuneration rendered specifically in return for the exercise of such services, including any payments to assistants or staff.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 59]: The Government Broker is appointed by the National Debt Commissioners and for his official services rendered to the commissioners he receives an agreed sum from them. The sum of £2,300 is provided in Supply Estimates for this purpose in 1981–82. The Government Broker and his firm, Messrs Mullens & Co, also render a range of services to the Bank of England. Remuneration for these services is on the basis of commission at rates which are a matter for agreement between the Bank of England and Mullens & Co.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the business start-up scheme to cover debenture stock issued by co-operative enterprises.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 60]: No. This is a relief for investment in shares.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the considerable size, he will ask the committee chaired by Lord Keith of Kinkel to produce as a matter of urgency a special report on the black economy.

[pursuant to his reply,5 May 1981, c. 41]: No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to the art work done at Norton school in Teesside, Stockton to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 18 May to Friday 22 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of teachers of modern foreign languages in State schools.

this information is not available to my Department for maintained schools as a whole. A sample survey of maintained secondary schools in 1977 indicated that in England and wales there were some 23,000 teachers teaching modern languages, other than Welsh or English, as a second language. Each teacher is counted only once regardless of the number of modern languages he or she was teaching. Part-time teachers are included on the basis of their full-time equivalents.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils in state schools study modern foreign languages.

This information is not collected routinely or in detail for all schools. It is estimated from a sample survey of maintained secondary schools in 1977 that in England and Wales the following proportions of pupils were taking French and German, the two main modern foreign languages studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of entries, to Certificate of Secondary Education and O and A-level examinations, respectively, in modern foreign languages in State schools in the latest year for which figures are available; and what were the numbers of passes at each level.

From the latest available information it is estimated that of the 693,800 leavers from English maintained schools in 1978–79, 230,400 had attempted CSE or O-leel examinations in modern foreign languages and 16,000 had attempted A-levels in these subjects. Higher grades at O-level or CSE were achieved by 85,300 of these leavers and other grades by 124,100. Inaddition, 11,900 leavers had A-level passes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he is recommending the teaching of modern foreign languages in State schools as part of the core curriculum.

The study of modern languages can offer young people intellectual stimulus and cultural benefits, as well as being of direct practical value. The Government believe that proficiency in a foreign language will become an increasingly important skill in the future, and that a start should be made during the secondary education of most pupils. "The Second Curriculum" (March 1981) set out a number of unresolved questions about modern language provision in schools, which will be considered further in consultation with the interests most directly concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average annual cost, in terms of salary, national insurance and pension contributions, of a teacher in a State school.

The average cost, including employers' national insurance and pension contributions, of a teacher in primary and secondary maintained schools in England, based on returns for the financial year 1979–80, is £8,960 at November 1980 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake a feasibility study to consider whether financial and manpower savings would be made by transferring the administration of Forces pay to the clearing banks.

No. The administration of Forces pay is an integral part of the personnel management system and cannot be treated in isolation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what the 30 per cent. of the cost of the Trident system which will be spent outside the United Kingdom consists of.

This will be spent in the United States, mainly on the Trident missiles themselves—excluding the warheads—and on associated shipborne and shore-based equipments and supporting services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much time in terms of the number of man hours and in terms of the percentage of total available man hours has been spent by members of his Department in the last year for which figures are available on work specifically related to the activities of the Defence Committee in each of te following categories (a) Ministers, (b) permanent secretaries, (c) deputy secretaries, (d) under secretaries, (e) assistant secretaries, (f) principals and (g) all other staff; and how these figures compare with the effort devoted to the former Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee.

Informattion is not maintained in the form requested, However, broad assessments of the amount of time spent by officials and officers of the Department and the Armed Services on work arising from the activities of Select Committees were recotrded for the period 4 April 1980 to 17 February 1981 and that information is available in the following form:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum percentage of available working time spent by an individual member of his staff on work specifically related to the activities of the Defence Committee for the last year for which this information is available; and to how many people such a percentage applies.

For the last 12 months the maximum has been approximately 95 per cent. The answer to the second part of the question is two.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department are currently devoting the majority of their work time to the work of the Defence Committee; and how this compares with the number of staff similarly engaged on the work of the Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee in 1975 and 1976.

Three at present. Four in 1975 and 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual percentage increase in pay for the Armed Forces for each of the last three years.

The average percentage increase in pay for the Armed Forces for each of the last three years was as follows:

asked the Attorney-General if there is any evidence that the judiciary has imposed longer prison sentences since 1976 in order to compensate for the system of conditional release at half sentence.

I am not aware of any such evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement as to the future of district medical committees within the new Health Service organisation; and if he will ensure that the role of the medical profession will in no way be relegated or demoted and that all health authorities and the organisation below that level will consult the profession as hitherto.

The role of district medical committees and the way in which the advice of the medical profession will be available to the new district health authorities have been considered by a working group convened by the Department's chief medical officer. It reported that it was not essential to have a formal committee to advise district health authorities on medical matters. We have recently completed consultation with the NHS and the medical profession on the report but I am not yet in a position to say what guidance we shall give for the future. In considering the responses to the report we shall, however, bear in mind the need for flexibility which underlies our approach to restructuring the NHS. My right hon. Friend has no intention of diminishing the role of the medical profession or of restricting its opportunities to be consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement upon his discussions with community health physicians with regard to their employment following the proposed administrative changes; and whether they will be able to continue in their posts with a change of title or will be required to re-apply for posts they now occupy.

The arrangements for filling management posts in the new district health authorities are the subject of negotiation in the General Whitley Council, whose staff side includes a representative of community physicians. I hope that agreement will be reached shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of houses and so on empty on the site of Moss Side and Park Lane hospitals, and the length of time that they have been empty.

On 30 April 1981, 14 of the 201 houses on the Moss Side and Park Lane hospital estate, of which three are being held for consultant staff, were unoccupied. Two of the homes have been empty for more than two years, five for between one and two years and seven for between two weeks and one year—six of these houses are awaiting electrical up-grading to bring them up to present day building standards.In addition, 66 rooms for single staff were vacant; these have been built to meet the planned development of the new Park Lane hospital and will be occupied as additional staff are recruited to that hospital or to Moss Side hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that health authorities, when tendering for textile goods, should include specifications as to the country of origin for every process, and where this is stated to be European Economic Community or United Kingdom, the mill or company concerned should also be specified.

Health authorities have been advised to obtain details about the origin of each manufacturing process when inviting tenders for textile goods. Information about the mills or factories involved is expected to be included in tendering documentation in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money his Department hopes to save by the non-replacement of medically qualified staff who are retiring in the next three years within the Department.

Over £800,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, to allay the growing concern amongst senior registrars, seeking a future in community medicine, he will publish as soon as possible details of the measures that he is taking to minimise employment problems during the period of transition from area to district health authorities.

Sufficient career posts were advertised over the past 12 months to absorb all senior registrars who had satisfactorily completed their higher specialist training, and there is at present no evidence of a shortage of career post vacancies. However, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Social Services and Wales and I shall shortly be authorising regional health authorities in England and Wales to create up to a total of 30 supernumerary senior registrar posts in community medicine. The posts will be temporary and tenure will cease when restructuring is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the effect of the measures he has already in operation to reduce the occurrence of measles; and if he will make a statement on the low vaccination uptake.

The uptake of measles vaccination is about 50 per cent. and I do not regard this as satisfactory. However, the incidence of measles is now less than a quarter of what it was before vaccination was introduced and the disease is often mild. My right hon. Friend has no proposals for any further measures at present, but the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation is continuing to give attention to this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the measures open to him to control the general standard of hygiene in communal eating places in view of the incidence of individual food poisoning.

The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 already require catering businesses to observe necessary safeguards against food poisoning, and I am satisfied that they enable enforcement authorities to ensure that standards are maintained. I shall, of course, be prepared to consider specific suggestions which the hon. Member may care to put to me for strengthening them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce his decision on the chosen site for the energy-saving hospital concept.

I am afraid that consultations are still in progress on the site for the demonstration energy-saving hospital, but I hope to announce my decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual level of National Health Service expenditure expressed in constant prices since 1950 to date; and what is his present estimate for each year to 1984.

The information is not readily available in the form requested. Table E7 in the report of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service, Cmnd. 7615, HMSO July 1979, gives information for the United Kingdom between 1949 and 1977 at 1970 constant prices. The Government's expenditure plans for the NHS in England up to 1983–84 were published in the recent public expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 8175, which also gives comparable figures in constant prices back to 1975–76. Both are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual percentage increase in the salaries of doctors and dentists in each of the last three years.

Following the last three reports of the review body on doctors' and dentists' remuneration, the net remuneration of different groups of doctors and dentists within the National Health Service increased by varying amounts averaging 10 per cent. in 1978–79, 26 per cent. in 1979–80 and 31 per cent. in 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many companies in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area have been closed since May 1979; how many jobs have been lost as a result; and how many other jobs have been lost in the same period.

Comprehensive information on redundancies or on companies that have closed is not available, but I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of closures notified to it as due to occur in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in the period from May 1979 to March 1981, in establishments employing 10 or more people, was 14. The number of jobs involved was 595. An additional 3,003 jobs were associated with other redundancies in the area which were notified in the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total numbers of new housing starts in the Scottish private house building sector for the years 1978, 1979 and 1980.

The figures are:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the amount of building land sold by Scottish local authorities to the private building sector in the years 1978, 1979 and 1980 and the names of the local authorities concerned.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will have discussions with the Scottish local authorities with a view to releasing land to the private house building sector as a means of reducing the high unemployment in the Scottish building industry.

I am not aware of any significant shortage of housing land in Scotland as a whole at present, but I am conscious of the need to ensure that a continuing supply of suitable land is available at all times. The structure plans which regional councils have prepared or are preparing include estimates of the amount of land required for private housing and identify its general location. In approving these plans my right hon. Friend has an opportunity to ensure that the supply is adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to review the Scottish legislation relating to deer.

Yes. We have today sent copies of a consultative paper to interested organisations, inviting their comments by 30 June. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. When replies are received we shall consider what legislative measures are required.Comments are also invited from interested members of the public. Copies of the consultative paper may be obtained on request from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will advise police forces in Scotland not to use the Muni Quip radar device to provide information about vehicle speeds for the purpose of prosecutions, in view of the judgment in South Wales where evidence obtained from these machines was not accepted.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if there are any plans more closely to integrate the Overseas Development Administration within the Foreign Office.

There are already several joint departments, including those covering aid policy and economic relations, and a joint economic service. Following a recent review, it has now been decided to establish further joint departments covering such common service areas as accommodation and supply at home, management services, internal audit and automatic data processing, as well as a joint inspectorate.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what active steps towards arms control have been taken by Her Majesty's Government in the past year; and what is planned for the coming year.

The United Kingdom supports the strategic arms limitation talks process and has played an active part in NATO consultations on theatre nuclear forces arms control. We welcome the American decision to begin negotiations with the Soviet Union on this subject by the end of the year. In the multilateral field, we have made major contributions to the Geneva discussions on a comprehensive programme of disarmament, on security assurances to non-nuclear weapon States and on the prohibition of chemical weapons. We signed the United Nations Convention on Certain Inhumane Weapons, to the elaboration of which we had contributed. In the coming months we expect to join actively in preparations for the second United Nations special session on disarmament in 1982. All these activities are described in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's quarterly arms control newsletter, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, during the negotiations taking place on Spain's application to join the European Economic Community, he will seek to ensure that Spain has agreed to the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights before entry into the Community.

Spain signed the European Convention on Human Rights in November 1977 and ratified it in October 1979.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will accept in the Council of Ministers the opinion of the Court of Auditors of the European Economic Community in its annual report for 1979 that action by the Commission in respect of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund guarantee section contravened articles 203 and 205 of the European Economic Community Treaty.

This matter was considered by the Council during the preparation of its recommendation for a discharge in respect of the implementation of the 1979 budget. Member States accepted the view of the Court of Auditors that Commission actions in relation to the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund guarantee at the end of 1979 were irregular, but concluded that the expenditure involved was properly chargeable to the budget. The Council therefore commented as follows:—

"The Council agrees with the Commission that owing to exceptional circumstances this expenditure must be charged to the 1980 financial year.

The Council regrets this situation and urges the Commission to ensure that it does not recur".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present number of people registered as unemployed in the following London boroughs: Merton, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.

Precise information for London boroughs is not available. The following table gives the provisional numbers of people registered as unemployed at 9 April in the employment office areas which correspond most closely to the London boroughs specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of jobs supported by the temporary short-time working compensation scheme for (a) the textile and clothing industries, (b) the Macclesfield and Congleton travel-to-work areas, (c) Lancashire, (d) Cheshire and (e) the North-West region for the last month for which statistics are available, and the percentage of the total insured working population in each area which each figure represents; and if he will give the corresponding figures for February and March 1980.

I regret that statistics in the form requested are not readily available for Lancashire and Cheshire and could be extracted only at disproportionate cost. However, the following tables show the figures requested for the textile and clothing and footwear industries, for Macclesfield and Congleton employment office areas and for the North-West region:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that firms drawing temporary short-time working compensation scheme subsidies do not offer extended delivery terms to their customers having given the reason that they are unable to produce through lack of capacity.

Since the temporary short-time working compensation scheme does no more than reimburse the payments made to workers on short-time in place of redundancy, a return to full-time working is in the interests of both employer and workers, and it is open to the firm to revert to full-time working at any time during the life of the application in order to meet delivery dates.However, firms being aided under the scheme normally do not have enough work to support full-time working, and the available work will be spread out alongside periods of short-time working as a means of keeping the labour force intact. This is acceptable under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the industrial breakdown of payments from the redundancy fund for 1979 and 1980; and if he will compare the percentage of payments to private sector employees in relation to their overall numbers with that for public sector employees.

The number of statutory redundancy payments made in 1979 and 1980, analysed by industry order number, is as follows. The figures cannot be further broken down to distinguish the public and private sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvement and prohibition notices have been served upon zoos under the terms of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in each of the last five years; to which zoos such notices related; and what types of improvements were involved.

This information does not exist in a readily available form and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.However, the Health and Safety Executive is currently putting on computer information in the detail requested by the hon. Member and this will be available in future for periods from 1 January 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the rate support grant settlement in respect of the careers service in England and Wales since the implementation of the Employment and Training Act 1973, at November 1979 prices; what has been the actual amount spent on the careers service; and what number of additional posts would now be on the permanent strength of the careers service, excluding specially funded posts, if local education authorities had not underspent between 1979 and 1980.

For the financial years 1974–75 to 1979–80 inclusive, the forecast of expenditure on the careers service in England and Wales for rate support grant purposes, at November 1979 prices, was £184·2 million. Actual expenditure by LEAs over this period exceeded the forecast by £0·9 million. Because RSG is an unhypothecated block grant local authorities are free to determine their own priorities and to allocate the funds received under the RSG arrangements to individual services in accordance with their own policies and wishes from year to year. It is not, therefore, possible to determine the number of permanent careers service appointments which authorities might make in any particular year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the approved establishment by grade of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate as at 31 March 1981; and how many posts were unfilled at that date in each grade.

At 31 March 1981 attempts were being made to recruit inspectors to bring the strength of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate up to at least 102 made up of:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current salary scales in each grade for the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

The current national salary scales in each grade for the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers of serving members in each grade of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate whose principal qualifications are in physics and/or mathematics, chemistry, metallurgy or one of the main branches of engineering, respectively.

At 31 March 1981 the numbers of serving members in each grade of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate whose principal qualifications are physics and/or mathematics, chemistry, metallurgy or one of the main branches of engineering, respectively were as follows:

Chief Inspector (NI) (1) Engineering (1)

Senior Deputy Chief Inspector (NI) (1) Physics (1)

Deputy Chief Inspector (NI) (3) Physics (1) Engineering (2)

Superintending Inspector (NI) (14) Physics (2) Physics/Maths (2) Chemistry (1) Engineering (7) Other Sciences (1)

Principal Inspector (NI) (59) Physics (15) Physics/Maths (5) Chemistry (3) Metallurgy (2) Engineering (29) Other Sciences (6)

Inspector (NI) (14) Physics (3) Chemistry (3) Metallurgy (1) Engineering (6) Other Sciences (1)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the median length of service in each grade of the present serving members of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

The median length of service in each grade of the present serving members of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is as follows:

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1981, c. 465]: I am not aware of any other project similar to the Capital jobmate project.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he has taken or proposes to take, against employers who dismiss permanent employees and then take on young persons under the youth opportunities programme; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1981, c. 22]: Where there is abuse of schemes under the youth opportunities programme and the abuses cannot be rectified, the schemes will be terminated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set up special area boards of the Manpower Services Commission to control youth opportunities programme schemes in non-union shops and workplaces.

[pursuant to his reply. 5 May 1981, c. 23]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which operates the youth opportunities programme, that it is presently considering with the TUC and CBI various changes in procedures to deal with applications to sponsor schemes, including those in non-union shops and workplaces. The setting up of special sub-committees of the existing MSC area boards is one of the options being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce regulations to ensure that all applications for employers to take part in youth opportunities programme schemes have to be countersigned by trade unions in the workplace.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1981, c. 23]: It is already normal procedure for relevant trade unions to be consulted before schemes under the youth opportunities programme are approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the Exchequer cost of maintaining a 16 or 17-year-old person on the youth opportunities programme assuming that he or she is living in a family of four with a household income, excluding youth opportunities programme allowances, of £6,000.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 64]: The average gross cost of maintaining a young person on the youth opportunities programme is £38 per week. After taking into account the benefits that participants would otherwise have claimed and other tax and national insurance effects, the Exchequer cost is approximately two-thirds of this figure. All participants receive a flat rate allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disablement resettlement officers are employed in (a) the Northern region, (b) Durham county and (c) Bishop Auckland constituency.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 65]: Information is not readily available in the precise form requested. However, the information for the Manpower Services Commission's employment service division areas is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms in (a) the Northern region, (b) Durham county, (c) Bishop Auckland constituency are not employing their full three per cent. quota of registered disabled people.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c.65]: Information is not readily available in the precise form requested. However, on 1 June 1980, the latest date for which information is available, the figures were as follows in respect of the Manpower Services Commission's employment service division area which approximates closest to those in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men (b) women and (c) young

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 65]: Information is not readily available in the precise form requested. However, in April 1981, the latest date for which information is available, the figures for the Manpower Services Commission's employment service division areas were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of vacancies in each industrial classification in (a) the Northern region, (b) Durham county and (c) Bishop Auckland constituency.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 65]: The following tables give the numbers registered as unemployed and the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled analysed by order of the standard industrial classification at February 1981, the latest date for which the quarterly industrial analyses are available. The unemployment figures—table 1—relate to the industry in which the unemployed person last worked. The vacancy figures—table 2—relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and career offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the economy as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.