Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Monday 11 May 1981

Northern Ireland

Crime

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of crimes, committed since 1969, for which the Provisional and Official Irish Republican Army and the Irish National Liberation Army have claimed responsibility, shown separately for each.

The information is not readily available and could not he obtained without disproportionate cost.

Home Department

Mr Doug Wakefield

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department where Mr. Doug Wakefield is currently detained; what is the total period he has been on rule 43; if he is still segregated; if so, for what period on the most recent occasion and why; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wakefield is detained at Long Lartin prison. Since November 1975 he has been segregated under prison rule 43, in the interests of good order or discipline, for varying periods, amounting in all to 1,598 days. In addition he has spent two periods segregated under rule 43 at his own request, amounting to 13 days. He is now segregated in the interests of good order and discipline and has been so almost continuously since September 1978 following the death of a fellow inmate for which he was convicted of manslaughter. His segregation is justified in the interests of the safety of prison staff and other prisoners.

Remand Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held on remand who had not been convicted of any crime on 28 April 1981; how long each of these had been on remand; and if he will publish in the Official Report similar details in respect of previous years.

The only information that can be made available without disproportionate cost is given in the following table.

Prisoners awaiting trial on 31 March 1980 and 31 March 1981 in prison department establishments in England and Wales: by length of time since first remand in custody.
Length of time since first remand in custody^*	Estimated number of persons†
	31 March 1980	31 March 1981
Less than one week	600	700
One week and up to and including one month	1,300	1,400

Length of time since first remand in custody^*	Estimated number of persons†
	31 March 1980	31 March 1981
Over one month and up to and including three months	1,400	2,000
Over three months and up to and including six months	700	400
Over six months	300	300
Total	4,300	4,800
^* Including any time which may have been spent on bail.
† Rounded estimates: precise figures are not available.

Offences Against The Person

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West of 28 April, Official Report, c. 367. which of the districts mentioned in the reply cover the area of the London borough of Newham; and to what extent in this area the deployment of extra uniformed police has been or is to be carried out.

The London borough of Newham is covered by K district of the Metropolitan Police. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of he Metropolis that in the last 12 months an additional 20 uniformed officers have been assigned to K district.

Parliamentary Boundary Commissions

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the actual expenditure of the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England and Wales for 1980–81.

A final figure for the actual expenditure incurred by the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England and Wales in 1980–81 is not yet available. I understand, however, that it is likely to be approximately £241,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are now employed by the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England and Wales.

Sixteen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he expects the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England and Wales to submit to him the reports of their current reviews of constituencies as soon as those reviews have been completed, in each case.

My right hon. Friend is confident that they will do so.

Cannabis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were under sentence in prison department establishments on 1 January 1980 and 1 January 1981 for cannabis offences; and how many of these persons were under sentence for the offence of possession of cannabis and how many for cultivation of cannabis.

I regret that the available information does not enable such persons to be identified.

Prisoners

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many there were in prison at the latest available date; and what percentage of them were (a) sharing two to a cell and (b) sharing three to a cell.

On 10 April 1981 the prison population was about 43,900, of whom 24 per cent. were sharing two to a cell and 12 per cent. were sharing three to a cell.

Prisons (Capacity)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the official capacity for each prison in England and Wales, together with the numbers of prisoners each prison actually contained at the last date for which figures are available.

On 31 March 1981 the certified normal accommodation and population for each prison in England and Wales was as follows:-

	CNA	Population
Males
Remand Centres
Ashford	400	417
Brockhill	177	227
Cardiff	67	114
Exeter	44	60
Latchmere House	128	179
Low Newton	153	260
Norwich	60	65
Pucklechurch	115	136
Risley	453	711
Thorp Arch	173	212
Winchester	66	81
Local Prisons
Bedford	169	358
Birmingham	579	1,042
Bristol	583	585
Brixton	682	774
Canterbury	246	362
Cardiff	273	374
Dorchester	155	214
Durham	669	1,039
Exeter	289	366
Gloucester	193	340
Leeds	612	1,160
Leicester	201	418
Lewes	352	441
Lincoln	356	632
Liverpool	1,016	1,662
Manchester	873	1,571
Norwich	219	372
Oxford	137	240
Pentonville	876	1,052
Reading	177	323
Shrewsbury	170	239
Swansea	227	295
Wandsworth	1,258	1,410
Winchester	411	557
Wormwood Scrubs	1,224	1,360
Females
Askham Grange	137	102
Cookham Wood	56	74

	CNA	Population
Drake Hall	250	148
Durham	39	34
East Sutton Park	20	12
Holloway	253	337
Low Newton	36	22
Moor Court	76	85
Pucklechurch	56	61
Risley	85	103
Styal	204	255
Closed Prisons
Acklington	213	211
Albany	294	297
Aylesbury	295	319
Blunderston	418	411
Camp Hill	468	426
Castington	78	78
Chelmsford	250	313
Channings Wood	314	292
Coldingley	296	214
Dartmoor	550	538
Erlestoke	205	141
Exeter	45	45
Featherstone	485	478
Gartree	200	125
Grendon	294	171
Haverigg	520	522
Highpoint	301	279
Hull	318	262
Kingston	140	124
Lancaster	153	165
Long Lartin	420	380
Maidstone	543	529
Northallerton	143	212
Northeye	433	361
Norwich	104	103
Nottingham	207	255
Onley	420	412
Parkhurst	341	257
Preston	427	584
Ranby	488	472
Rochester	80	78
Shepton Mallet	169	239
Stafford	536	766
Standford Hill	177	177
Swinfen Hall	180	180
Verne	618	496
Wakefleld	798	660
Wymott	816	628
Open Prisons
Ashwell	400	406
Ford	528	495
Kirkham	608	511
Leyhill	331	315
Rudgate	378	343
Spring Hill	200	195
Standford Hill	357	357
Sudbury	384	382

Police Forces (Methods Of Detection)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an investigation into the methods of detection used by provincial police forces, with a view to establishing the best procedures available; and if he will make a statement.

The methods used in detecting crime are a matter for chief officers of police. We are sure that all chief officers are concerned that the methods used by their officers should be the best available.

Police Forces (Transmission Of Information)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the liaison facilities used to transmit information on criminal matters between provincial police forces; and whether he is satisfied that liaison is satisfactory.

Arrangements exist for liaison between police forces, where necessary, on criminal matters, and regional criminal intelligence offices have been set up for the collation and dissemination of information. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that, in general, these arrangements operate satisfactorily.

Convicted Persons (Publication Of Stories)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the purchase and publication by newspapers and television of stories associated with persons convicted of serious criminal charges; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering whether any legislation in this area would be desirable and practicable. It would present considerable difficulties of definition and enforcement, and I have not as yet reached any conclusion.

Wormwood Scrubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petitions have been received by his Department from prisoners serving sentences in D wing at Wormwood Scrubs prison concerning the conditions there since August 1979.

Twenty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners serving sentences in D wing at Wormwood Scrubs prison have made applications to the board of visitors in connection with the conditions there; and how many have made governor's applications in respect of the said conditions.

Since 31 August 1979 there have been 46 such applications to the board of visitors and about 400 to the governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for bringing the regime currently applicable in D wing at Wormwood Scrubs prison into line with the regime which applies in other dispersal prisons housing long-term prisoners, with particular reference to the matter of access to the gymnasium, association, hobbies, education and visits.

It is not practicable to achieve complete uniformity of regimes of all dispersal prison establishments. There has been a steady improvement in conditions in D wing at Wormwood Scrubs prison, and efforts to maintain this improvement will continue.

Prime Minister

European Assembly (Debates)

asked the Prime Minister whether she will propose to the European Economic Community Council that co-operation with the European Assembly should be withdrawn if the Assembly decides to debate specific internal United Kingdom matters not covered by the Treaty of Rome.

No. Under its rules of procedure the European Parliament may choose its own subjects for debate, but its conclusions are not binding on the Council or member States.

Microprocessors (Schools)

asked the Prime Minister what is the country of design and manufacture of any equipment other than computers being made available through the microprocessors in schools scheme.

The majority of the peripheral equipment of the two machines being made available through the "micros in schools" scheme is United Kingdom design and manufacture. The remainder is of Japanese or American origin.

Trade

Petrol Retailers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied that small retailers of petrol will not be eliminated by the activities of the major oil companies; and whether he will make a statement.

I am aware that the number of small petrol retailers continues to decline for a variety of reasons. Although the Director General of Fair Trading concluded on the basis of a review by his office last October that oil company ownership of retail petrol sites had not yet reached a level justifying a further monopoly reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission he is keeping the level under review. He has stated that he will not hesitate to use his powers under the competition legislation if he has evidence that the oil companies are abusing their market power.

Gatwick (Night Jet Movements)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the number of night jet movements at Gatwick each year for the last 10 years and the proportion that such movements bear to the total number of movements in each of these years.

The following table shows the total number of aircraft movements at Gatwick in each of the last 10 years, the number of night jet movements in each year for which figures are readily available and the percentage of the total which these movements represent. The number of such movements during other years cannot be extracted without undue expenditure of time and effort.

Year^*	Total movements by all aircraft	Total night jet movements	Night jet movements as percentage of total
1971–72	104,931	Not available	—
1972–73	106,918	7,373	6·89
1973–74	110,352	4,745	4·29
1974–75	105,406	4,586	4·35
1975–76	106,277	4,463	4·19

Year^*	Total movements by all aircraft	Total night jet movements	Night jet movements as percentage of total
1976–77	109,342	4,556	4·16
1977–78	111,208	Not available	—
1978–79	129,819	Not available	—
1979–80	143,483	Not available	—
1980–81	140,892	Not available	—
^*1 April-31 March.

Multi-Fibre Arrangement

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proposals he is to make in preparation for the renegotiation of the multi-fibre arrangement.

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

Education And Science

Art Galleries And Museums

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with current methods of financing art galleries and museums.

Many galleries and museums face financial problems, but these do not generally stem from the methods of financing which in my view are broadly satisfactory.

Light Opera (Support)

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the level of support which is available for light opera in the United Kingdom.

Every form of art could always use more support but it is for the Arts Council to decide how to distribute its grant most effectively and fairly.

Public Lending Right

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to have any further discussions on the subject of the public lending right scheme.

As soon as the draft scheme is ready I intend to have formal consultations with the local authority associations and the authors' representatives before laying it before both Houses of Parliament.

The Arts

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will initiate discussions with the Manpower Services Commission to determine if there are any schemes which can be arranged in the arts field to increase employment in the regions.

Such schemes already exist, but they are of course limited by the funds available. I understand that the Arts Council is already in touch with MSC.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the level of support for the arts from (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

I should always like to see greater support for the arts, whatever the source. However, I consider the present extent of Government support to be very reasonable in the circumstances, and the level of private sector support to be encouraging for the future, particularly the growth in business sponsorship.

Arts Council

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when last he had a meeting with the Arts Council.

I last met the chairman and secretary-general of the Arts Council on 1 May.

Capital Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) on 29 April, Official Report, c. 403, if he will list under major heads of expenditure his Department's actual capital expenditure, at 1980 survey prices, for each of the previous five years.

As set out in the Government's expenditure plans, Cmnd. 8175, the figures for capital expenditure by sector, for each of the five years previous to 1981–82, whether financed by central Government or local government were:

	£million 1981 Survey prices
	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81
Education
Schools
Under-fives	8	9	16	10	11
Primary, secondary, and other^*	520	404	329	314	256
Higher and Further Education
Universities	149	97	104	107	112
Non-university sector	95	78	72	77	76
Total (including miscellaneous items not listed)	786	600	533	525	462
Science†	53	47	59	61	50
Arts and Libraries
Central Government	19	9	16	10	7
Local Government	20	14	12	16	14
Total programme	878	670	620	612	533
^* These figures reflect a reduction in the value of new buildings started each year throughout the period as the basic need for additional places has fallen.
† Notional apportionment of total planned expenditure for science.

Employment

Disablement Resettlement Officers

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disablement resettlement officers are employed in (a) the North-West,(b) Merseyside, (c) Ormskirk, and (d) Kirkby.

The information requested is as set out below:

Area	Number of Disablement Resettlement Officers
(a) The North-West (comprising the whole of MSC's Employment Service Division Manchester and Merseyside employment Areas)	83
(b) Merseyside (comprising Birkenhead, Bootle, Liverpool, St. Helen's and Warrington districts of MSC's Employment Service Division Merseyside Employment Area)	24
(c) Ormskirk	^*1
(d) Kirkby	1
^* Part-time (based at Skelmersdale Jobcentre).

Disabled Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) young persons are registered as disabled in (i) the North-West, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) Ormskirk, and (iv) Kirkby; and of these how many were also registered as unemployed.

The information requested is as set out below:

Numbers of people registered as disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 in April 1981
	Men	Women	Young Persons
The North-West^*	60,521	13,827	209
Merseyside†	19,352	4,338	63
Ormskirk	232	35	0
Kirkby	632	197	4
^* Comprising the whole of MSC's Employment Service Division Manchester and Merseyside Employment Areas which extend to all of Lancashire, Cumbria and part of Cheshire.
† Comprising Birkenhead, Bootle, Liverpool, St. Helen's and Warrington districts of MSC's Employment Service Division Merseyside Employment Areas.

Table 1
Numbers unemployed at 12 February 1981
Standard Industrial Classification 1968	North-West	Merseyside Special Development Area	Kirkby Employment Office Area	Ormskirk Employment Office Area
Agriculture, forestry, fishing	2,145	396	36	45
Mining and quarrying	1,403	151	4	2
Food, drink and tobacco	12,100	5,782	455	30
Coal and petroleum products	512	297	7	3
Chemicals and allied industries	7,204	2,040	127	23
Metal manufacture	3,787	868	65	4
Mechanical enginering	12,780	2,251	308	85

Numbers of unemployed people registered as disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 in April 1981
	Men	Women	Young Persons
The North-West^*	11,941	2,347	72
Merseyside†	4,629	864	20
Ormskirk	40	11	0
Kirkby	125	22	1
^* Comprising the whole of MSC's Employment Service Division Manchester and Merseyside Employment Areas which extend to all of Lancashire, Cumbria and pan of Cheshire.
† Comprising Birkenhead, Bootle, Liverpool, St. Helen's and Warrington districts of MSC's Employment Service Division Merseyside Employment Areas.

School Leavers

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of school leavers currently unemployed in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk.

The following gives, for 9 April, the provisional figures of school leavers under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in the areas specified.

North-West	10,195
Merseyside Special Development	4,526
Kirkby Employment Office Area	292
Ormskirk Employment Office Area	18

The youth opportunities programme, which is aimed particularly at helping unemployed school leavers, will provide up to 82,000 places for young unemployed people in the North-West region in 1981–82.

Unemployment Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people unemployed and the number of vacancies in each industrial classification in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk.

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 I—relate to the industry in which the unemployed persons last worked. The vacancy figures—table 2—relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the economy. Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.

Standard Industrial Classification 1968	North-West	Merseyside Special Development Area	Kirkby Employment Office Area	Ormskirk Employment Office Area
Instrument engineering	578	108	8	—
Electrical engineering	7,629	2,128	292	22
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	1,907	1,621	44	1
Vehicles	6,750	1,986	146	54
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	8,839	2,674	257	28
Textiles	17,941	708	40	25
Leather, leather goods and fur	923	207	6	—
Clothing and footwear	8,389	1,248	95	7
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	3,777	640	42	9
Timber, furniture, etc.	4,149	1,145	255	60
Paper, printing and publishing	6,917	2,112	138	26
Other manufacturing industries	6,806	1,996	73	12
Construction	47,473	16,829	986	162
Gas, electricity and water	1,191	401	13	6
Transport and communication	17,013	7,442	402	87
Distributive trades	38,597	10,822	560	182
Insurance, banking, finance and business services	6,770	2,217	89	43
Professional and scientific services	10,840	3,257	89	85
Miscellaneous services	37,618	13,130	793	104
Public administration and defence	13,691	4,809	320	73
Not classified by industry (including school leavers)	62,020	22,198	1,243	208
Total, all industries and services	349,746	109,463	6,892	1,386

Table 2
Numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at 6 February 1981
	North-West		Merseyside Special Development Area		Kirkby Employment Office Area		Ormskirk Employment Office Area
Standard Industrial Classification 1968	^*	†	^*	†	^*	†	^*	†
Agriculture, forestry, fishing	24	7	1	—	—	—	—	2
Mining and quarrying	2	—	1	—	—	—	—	—
Food, drink and tobacco	153	5	61	—	3	—	—	—
Coal and petroleum products	26	—	21	—	—	—	—	—
Chemicals and allied industries	151	1	30	—	—	—	—	—
Metal manufacture	23	2	4	—	—	—	—	—
Mechanical engineering	250	17	36	—	1	—	—	—
Instrument engineering	37	—	7	—	—	—	—	—
Electrical engineering	162	4	35	—	—	—	—	—
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	16	—	2	—	—	—	—	—
Vehicles	75	—	8	—	—	—	—	—
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	108	6	34	—	1	—	—	—
Textiles	139	4	3	—	—	—	1	1
Leather, leather goods and fur	12	1	3	—	—	—	—	—
Cothing and footwear	163	11	12	—	—	—	—	—
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	27	1	4	—	—	—	—	—
Timber, furniture, etc.	72	5	13	2	6	—	1	—
Paper, printing and publishing	91	8	9	—	—	—	—	—
Other manufacturing industries	79	5	5	—	—	—	—	—
Construction	477	7	86	—	3	—	3	—
Gas, electricity and water	52	—	6	—	—	—	—	—
Transport and communication	168	11	26	—	2	—	—	—
Distributive trades	1,222	45	166	5	5	—	7	1
Insurance, banking, finance and business services	518	8	106	—	4	—	1	—
Professional and scientific services	921	41	306	—	1	—	1	—
Miscellaneous services	1,399	21	342	—	5	—	3	—
Public administration	1,375	32	812	8	16	—	3	—
Total, all industries and services	7,742	242	2,139	15	47	—	20	4
^* At Employment Offices.
† At Careers Offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were registered unemployed in the United Kingdom and Scotland, respectively, in each April of the past five years; and what were the corresponding number of males, females and young people; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, Vol 4, c. 64]: The following table gives the total numbers registered as unemployed, analysed by sex, in the United Kingdom and in Scot-land at April each year from 1977 to 1981 with percentage changes between years. It also gives the numbers of unemployed young people under 20 years of age where available. The age analysis from which the numbers of young people are taken is not yet available for April 1981 and was not made in April for years earlier than 1979.

United Kingdom
April each year	Males	Females	Total	Of which, young people under 20 years of age
1977	1,032,361	359,889	1,392,250	—
Percentage change	+3·8	+25·4	+8·7	—
1978	1,045,404	406,354	1,451,758	—
Percentage change	+1·3	+12·9	+4·3	—
1979	959,230	381,365	1,340,595	200,208
Percentage change	-8·2	-6·1	-7·7	—
1980	1,058,052	464,875	1,522,927	258,210
Percentage change	+10·3	+21·9	+13·6	+29·0^*
1981^*	1,813,735	704,223	2,517,958	—
Percentage change	+71·4	+51·5	+65·3	—

Scotland
April each year	Males	Females	Total	Of which, young people under 20 years of age
1977	119,587	50,581	170,168	—
Percentage change	+10·8	+34·4	+16·9	—
1978	123,490	57,372	180,862	—
Percentage change	+3·3	+13·4	+6·3	—
1979	117,693	57,897	175,590	32,039
Percentage change	-4·7	+0·9	-2·9	—
1980	131,660	69,407	201,067	36,166
Percentage change	+11·9	+19·9	+14·5	+12·9
1981^*	195,196	92,472	287,668	—
Percentage change	+48·3	+33·2	+43·1	—
^* Provisional
+ Part of the increase is due to the count being taken before Easter in 1979 but afterwards in 1980, in which year Easter school leavers were therefore included.

Youth Opportunities Programme

asked the Secretary of State for employment (1) if he will publish a breakdown of the youth opportunities programme into work experience, work preparation and community industry schemes;(2) if he will publish figures showing the breakdown by industry of work experience schemes within the youth opportunities programme.

On the 31 March 1981 there were some 143,000 approved work experience schemes and 3,000 approved work preparation courses in the youth opportunities programme.The following table shows a breakdown of work experience schemes by industry on a percentage basis:

Industry	Percentage of total
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	7·5
Engineering and Metal Industry	8·5
Other Manufacturing	8·0
Construction and Mining	6·5
Distributive Trades	28·5
Finance and Professional Services	6·0
Miscellaneous Services	24·5
Others not stated	10·5

Community industry (CI) is run separately from the youth opportunities programme although there are close links between the two. CI provides temporary employment for young people aged 16–18 who are socially or

personally disadvantaged. On 31 March there was a national complement of some 6,000 places on CI. This is being increased to 7,000 places for 1981–82.

European Community (Vocational Training)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the expenditure on vocational training in each member State of the European Community in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will express each figure in £ sterling per 1,000 population aged 16 to 65 years.

The information requested is not available.

European Community (Vocational Rehabilitation)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the expenditure on vocational rehabilitation of disabled people in each member State of the European Community in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will express each figure in £ sterling per 1,000 population aged 16 to 65 years.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.

Unemployment

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give the unemployment figures for 4 May 1979 and 4 May 1981.

Seasonally adjusted figures are not available for the dates requested. However, at 10 May 1979 the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 1,299,300. The figure for 14 May 1981 is to be published on 28 May.

Wolverhampton And West Midlands

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of persons unemployed, the percentage rate of unemployment, the total number of vacancies and the ratio of vacancies to unemployed for (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands as at April 1981.

	Unemployed		Vacancies
	Number	Percentage rate	At employment offices^*	At careers offices
Wolverhampton travel-to-work area	20,036	13·7	117	6
West Midlands Region	286,279	12·3	5,963	510
^* revised.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of unemployment of (a) men and (b) women for the Wolverhampton area in April 1981

At 9 April, the provisional rates of unemployment for males and females in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area were 16·4 and 9·4 per cent., respectively.

Temporary Short-Time Working Compensation Scheme

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 Wolverhampton area and (b) the West Midlands for the last month for which statistics are available, and the percentage of the total insured working population in each area each figure represents; and if he will give the same figures for the same month in 1979 and 1980.

The following tables show the figures requested:

	March 1981
	A	B
Area	Number of jobs stated as being at risk in original application	Column A as a percentage of all employees (employed and unemployed)^*
Wolverhampton	5,222	3·6
West Midlands	140,537	6·0

	August 1979†
	A	B
Area	Number of jobs stated as being at risk in original application	Column A as a percentage of all employees (employed and unemployed)^*
Wolverhampton	107	0·1
West Midlands	3,655	0·2

The following table gives, for April 1981, the numbers registered as unemployed, the percentage rates of unemployment and the numbers of vacancies remaining unfilled in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area and the West Midlands region. The figures are provisional. The vacancy figures relate only to those notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country. Because of this, and of possible duplication between the separate figures for employment offices and careers offices, the two series should not be added together and cannot be used to provide the ratios requested.

	March 1980
	A	B
Area	Number of jobs stated as being at risk in original application	Column A as a percentage of all employees (employed and unemployed)^*
Wolverhampton	460	0·3
West Midlands	10·815	0·5
^*Does not include members of HM Forces or the self-employed.
†Temporary Short Time Working Compensation scheme figures are not available for March 1979 as the scheme was not established until 2 April 1979 and statistics were not broken down below Regional level until August 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are registered disabled in the West Midlands area; if he will break these figures down into the areas covered by the various local jobcentres; and what percentage of the total unemployed for the area the figures represent.

At 12 March 1981, the latest date for which information can be broken down into the areas covered by local jobcentres and employment offices, there were 7,762 unemployed registered disabled people in the MSC employment service division's West Midlands area. The figures for the individual jobcentres and employment offices are as follows:

Jobcentre/Employment Office and unemployed registered disabled people
Aldridge	12
Aston	247
Bedworth	91
Biddulph	37
Bilston	133
Birmingham	158
Bridgnorth	28
Bromsgrove	29
Brownhills	71
Burslem	126
Burton on Trent	102
Cannock	211
Cheadle	24
Chelmsley Wood	154
Coventry	508
Cradley Heath	101

Droitwich	37
Dudley	258
Erdington	78
Evesham	30
Halesowen	44
Handsworth	134
Hanley	152
Hereford	180
Kidderminster	126
Kidsgrove	60
Kingswinford	19
Leamington	124
Ledbury	16
Leek	43
Leominster	46
Lichfield	68
Longton	136
Ludlow	47
Madeley	87
Malvern	64
Market Drayton	36
Newcastle	140
Northfield	196
Nuneaton	168
Oakengates	140
Oldbury	52
Oswestry	89
Pershore	33
Redditch	96
Ross on Wye	25
Rugby	95
Rugeley	38
Selly Oak	255
Shrewsbury	106
Small Heath	103
Smethwick	87
Solihull	34
Sparkhill	179
Stafford	60
Stoke	74
Stone	13
Stourbridge	87
Stourport	15
Stratford	29
Sutton Coldfield	98
Tamworth	168
Tipton	94
Uttoxeter	20
Walsall	265
Washwood Heath	260
Wednesbury	90
Wednesfield	44
Wellington	40
West Bromwich	134
Whitchurch	19
Willenhall	62
Worcester	237
Wolverhampton	300

The 7,762 unemployed registered disabled people represent 2·8 per cent. of the total unemployed in the West Midlands area.

Male And Female Employees

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) male and (b) female employees are employed on a (i) full-time and (ii) part-time basis, in England, at the latest date for which information is available.

The latest available estimates of employees in employment in England relate to December 1980 and give 10,688,000 male and 7,721,000 female employees. Of the females 4,502,000 were in full-time employment and 3,219,000 worked part-time.

The latest estimate for male part-time employment is from the June 1978 census of employment when there were 621,000 males in part-time employment out of a total of 11,281,000 male employees in employment in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) male and (b) female workers are unemployed in each English region at the latest date for which information is available.

The following table gives the provisional numbers of males and females registered as unemployed at 9 April in the areas specified.

	Male	Female
South-East	407,071	141,050
East Anglia	46,119	15,850
South-West	111,272	45,238
West Midlands	206,673	79,606
East Midlands	112,312	40,308
Yorkshire and Humberside	170,276	62,338
North-West	253,178	104,201
North	136,913	51,787

Liquefied Gas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Essex, South-East, on 30 April, Official Report, c. 431, what information he has as to the reasons why the recent trials on the behaviour of liquefied gases carried out by Shell Oil Co. at Maplin, were conducted without any discussion with the chief fire officer for Essex during the last six months; and if it is the practice to permit trials of this kind to take place without the full participation of the chief fire officer concerned.

I have no information on the reasons why there have been no discussions in the last six months between Shell UK Ltd. and the chief fire officer for Essex on the recent trials at Maplin. The trials finished on 10 November 1980. There is no obligation on the part of those conducting trials of this kind to involve local fire brigades and the degree of participation of chief fire officers is for consideration in each case.The Health and Safety Executive considered that satisfactory firefighting facilities for the Maplin trials were provided by the Minister of Defence proof and experimental establishment whose fire officer was fully informed throughout.

School Leavers (Northern Region)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of school leavers currently unemployed in (a) Northern region, (b) Durham county and (c) Bishop Auckland constituency.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 65]: The following table gives the provisional numbers of school leavers under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at 9 April in the areas specified.

Northern Region	6,143
County of Durham	987
Bishop Auckland Parliamentary Constituency^*	191
^* The Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle and Newton Aycliffe Employment Office Areas.

The youth opportunities programme, which is aimed particularly at helping unemployed school leavers, will provide 55,000 places in the Northern region for young unemployed people in 1981–82.

Doctors, Nurses And Teachers

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of persons unemployed who are qualified as doctors, nurses and teachers, respectively; and how these numbers compare with the figures for 1961, 1971, 1978 and 1980 in each case.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1981]: The present occupational analysis of the numbers unemployed was introduced in December 1972 and comparable figures are available only from that date. The following table gives the numbers of unemployed people registered at employment offices in Great Britain for employment in the occupations specified at December in each of the years 1972, 1978 and 1980, the latest date for which information is available.

	December 1972	December 1978	December 1980
Doctors
Medical practitioners	186	395	641
Nurses
State registered, state enrolled and state certified midwives	954	4,119	4,991
Teachers
Secondary, primary, pre-primary and special education	2,594	10,986	13,979

Unemployment Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimate of the average annual cost in terms of public expenditure of a man with a wife and two children dependent upon him, who becomes unemployed, taking into account his entitlement to unemployment and social security benefits, loss of tax revenue, national insurance contributions and additional payments in respect of welfare services, redundancy payments and other costs to the Exchequer.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 9 December which gives estimates of the financial cost to the Government of a married man with two children who becomes unemployed for the period December 1979 to November 1980.—[Vol. 995, c.

589–94.] Rebates to employers from the redundancy fund, which were not included in these calculations, were on average some £400 per employee in 1980.

National Finance

European Community (Disaster Relief)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums have been granted by the European Community for disaster relief both inside and outside the member States in each year since 1973; and if he will list the major areas within the Community which have received such relief.

Expenditure from the Community budget on aid for disaster relief in the period has been:

	million units of account	£ million
1973	0·8	0·3
1974	23·2	9·7
1975	0·5	0·2
1976	62·4	26·0
1977	4·8	2·0
1978	5·9	3·9
1979	41·3	26·7
1980^*	108·0	64·7
^* Budget provision.

In addition, the European development fund provides assistance towards disaster relief in the countries covered by the Lomé convention. Information on expenditure before 1976 is not available. Since then expenditure has been:

	million units of account	£ million
1976	47·8	29·7
1977	13·5	8·8
1978	25·1	16·7
1979	24·5	15·8
1980	35·1	21·0

Information on the areas within the Community which received assistance is not available for years prior to 1976. Since then the major areas which have received such relief are:

1976

Italy—Friuli—earthquake.

1977

Italy—Tuscany, Val d'Aosta, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy (floods).

France—South West (floods).

1978

France—Floods and "Amoco Cadiz" (coast of Brittany). Germany—Floods and earthquake.

Italy—Floods.

United Kingdom—Winter 1977–78.

1979

France (Overseas)—Martinique, Guadeloupe (tornado).

Italy—Umbria (earthquake), Lazio and Marche (earthquake).

United Kingdom—Orkney, Shetland and the Western isles (exceptionally bad weather winter 1978–79).

1980

Italy—(November 1980 earthquake).

Stamp Duty

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss of stamp duty revenue in 1981–82 for the implementation of each of the following changes (a) an increase of £5,000 in each of the thresholds for stamp duty applicable to house purchase (b) an increase of £10,000 in each of the thresholds for stamp duty applicable to house purchase (c) raising each of the four thresholds for stamp duty applicable to house purchase by an amount which would restore them to the same real value which they held in 1974, by comparison with (i) the retail price index, and (ii) the BSA/DOE house price index (d) replacing the present system whereby stamp duty is levied at the appropriate rate on that part of the purchase price which exceeds each threshold and (e) implementing both changes (c) and (d) together.

The thresholds apply to all transfers other than those of stocks and shares. It is estimated that if these changes applied to the whole fiscal year their implementation would reduce the revenue in 1981–82 from stamp duty on all such transfers–currently estimated at £420 million—by:

	£ million
(a)	70
(b)	120
(c)(i)	225
(ii)	190
(d)	205
(e)(i)	305
(ii)	290

The figures contain an appropriate adjustment for leases.

Trade Disputes (Tax Rebates)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of (a) single people without dependants and (b) people with dependants involved in a trade dispute received tax rebates during the dispute during the latest period for which information is available; and what was the average size of the rebate in each case.

I regret that this information is not available. The refunds in question are usually paid by employers and no central record of them is kept.

Mortgage Relief

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss of income tax revenue at outturn prices in 1981–82 which would result from each of the following changes to the existing £25,000 ceiling upon the amount of a mortgage loan for which the interest payments qualify for tax relief (a) raising the ceiling from £25,000 to £35,000 (b) raising the ceiling from £25,000 to £50,000 and (c) raising the ceiling from £25,000 to £60,000.

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

Agricultural Property (Tenancies)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to ensure that succession to a tenancy of agricultural property in Scotland for agricultural purposes shall not be a transfer of value unless it occurs for consideration in money or moneys worth when the amount of such consideration shall be charged as capital transfer tax as an asset on the estate of the deceased.

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

International Monetary Fund

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the previous Administration borrowing from the International Monetary Fund has now been repaid.

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

Profit-Sharing Schemes

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1981, c. 112]: 217 schemes have been approved by the Inland Revenue.

Pay Increases

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of a pay increase of (a) £1, (b) £5, (c) £10 and (d) £20 per week is kept by a full time worker with two children under 11 years of age receiving (i) the national average wage, (ii) three-quarters of the national average wage, (iii) two-thirds of the national average wage and (iv) one and a half times the national average wage, after deductions have been made for income tax, national insurance contributions and loss of any benfits (a) now, (b) in November 1981 and (c) for each of the last five years.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 59]: The figures are as follows:

	Percentage kept of increase
	Average Earnings 3¾ Average Earnings ⅔ Average Earnings	1½Average Earnings
Period	Increase of£l, £5, £10 or £20	Increase of£l, £5, £10 or £20
1981/82 (Currently and in November 1981)	62·2	70·0
1976–77^*	59·2	65·0
1977–78	60·2	66·0
1978–79	60·5	67·0
1979–80	63·5	70·0
1980–81	63·2	70·0
^* The figures for an increase of £20 in average earnings and 1½ x average earnings are 59·3 per cent, and 63·3 per cent, respectively.

The proportion retained of each of the increases does not normally depend on the amount of the increase or the precise earnings level. The amount deducted from the increases equals basic rate tax plus national insurance contributions for average earnings, three-quarters and two-thirds average earnings, and equals basic rate tax only at one and a half times average earnings—which normally exceeds the upper earnings limit for NIC.The exceptions noted in the table occur in 1976–77 where a £20 increase takes earnings above the upper earnings limit for NIC at average earnings, and into higher rate liability at one and a half times average earnings. The earnings figure used for these calculations is taken as the average over all occupations for full-time men in the new earnings surveys of April 1976 and April 1977.National insurance contributions are calculated at the not contracted-out rate.

Income (Indexation)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the levels of (a) tax-free income, (b) supplementary benefit level and (c) family income supplement for a married couple with two children under 11 years of age for November 1981 if indexation had been implemented and if benefits had been uprated fully in line with inflation.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 59]The figures are as follows:

	November 1980	November 1981 on the assumptions stated
	£ per week	£ per week
Tax-free income	50·75	58·05
Supplementary benefit level	61·80	68·00
Family income supplement prescribed amount	74·00	81·40

It has been assumed that the retail prices index will increase by 10 per cent. between November 1980 and November 1981.Tax-free income is equal to the married person's allowance—expressed at a weekly rate—plus child benefit. The November 1981 figure incorporates indexation of the married allowance in line with the provisions of section 24 of the Finance Act 1980 and a 10 per cent. increase in child benefit.The supplementary benefit level includes average housing costs, which are also increased by 10 per cent. in the calculation for November 1981.Family income supplement payable depends on earnings. The prescribed amount shown is the earnings level below which FIS is payable.

Unearned Income (Taxation)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the amount of tax payable on an unearned income of a single person, under 65 years, without dependants, where the annual income was £200,000, £300,000, £400,000 and £500,000 respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981,c. 60]The figures for 1981–82 on the basis of the Budget proposals, are as follows:

	Net earnings	Net earnings as a proportion of gross earnings	Net earnings per head
	£	per cent.	£
Single person	76·41	69·5	76·41
Married without children	80·85	73·5	40·42
Married with one child	80·85	73·5	26·95
Married with two children	80·85	73·5	20·21
Married with three children	80·85	73·5	16·17
Married with four children	80·85	73·5	13·47
Married with five children	80·85	73·5	11·55

Tax and national insurance contributions—calculated at the not contractedout rate—do not depend on the number

Unearned Income	Tax payable
£	£
200,000	143,225
300,000	218,225
400,000	293,225
500,000	368,225

It is assumed there are no reliefs other than the personal allowance.

Car Allowances (Nurses)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to reply to correspondence from the hon. Member for Bothwell regarding the taxing of community nurses' car allowances; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1981,c. 40] The hon. Member wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary about this matter on 28 April and a reply will be sent to him shortly. When I met a deputation last month from the Royal College of Nursing I undertook to look into the points which they had raised about the tax treatment of these car mileage allowances.

Value Added Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the total revenue raised from value added tax comes from traders registered for value added tax who have a turnover of less than £50,000.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1981,c. 41] In 1979 traders with turnover less than £50,000 who normally pay tax to Customs and Excise paid 4 per cent. of total gross payments. Traders with turnover less than £50,000 who normally claim repayments of tax received 7 per cent. of total repayments.

Earnings

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of earnings of £110 per week is available after tax and national insurance to (a) a single man and (b) a married man with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 children, both in absolute terms and also per head of members of the family.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1981, c. 41]: The figures for 1981–82, assuming the Budget proposals are implemented, are as follows:of children in the family. If child benefit were taken into account, the figures of the net income, including child benefit, of families with children would be higher.

Social Services

Ambulancemen (Pay Offer)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what pay offer has been made by the management side of the Whitley council for ambulancemen; and what is the maximum increase in money terms which would be payable in accordance with the Government's guidelines for the public sector.

Following rejection by the staff side of offers providing a flat rate increase in all basic rates, the management side of the ambulancemen's Whitley council on 29 April offered to increase all basic rates from 1 January 1981 by 7¾ per cent. together with an additional day's leave for the majority of staff for a 15-month settlement period. For leading ambulancemen and qualified ambulancemen existing weekly basic rates would be increased by £6·43 and £5·94 bringing average earnings to about £184 and £166 respectively in London and about £163 and £142 respectively elsewhere. It is for the various Whitley councils to determine the appropriate levels of settlement but I have made it clear that, if pay settlements are not reached within the limits of the 6 per cent. pay factor services will suffer. The management, side's offer could be contained within those limits and I hope it leads to a settlement.

Secure Accommodation

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average capital cost of a secure place in a community home.

Approximately £26,000 at current prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost, or the range of costs, of keeping a child in a secure place for a year.

The costs to local authorities of providing secure accommodation are not recorded centrally. Some of the rates charged represent the full cost; others are the average cost of residential places in the home as a whole, the local authority or the region. I am aware of annual charges ranging from £14,100 to £33,800.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many secure places for juveniles are in existence in England and Wales; and how many further places are planned or under construction.

There are 494 secure places for juveniles and a further 155 are under construction. Since May 1979, my right hon. Friend has approved three new applications from local authorities for secure units, of which only one, involving two places, has been taken forward to tender, and has approved the withdrawal from use of 32 secure places.

Geriatrics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric acute patients beds there are in North Manchester; and what are the recommended numbers of such beds.

At 31 December 1980, there were 325 beds for geriatric patients in Manchester North health district, of which 224 were classified as assessment, acute or rehabilitation beds. The Department issued advice to the NHS on numbers of geriatric beds in 1972, when it was recommended that, out of a total requirement of 10 beds per 1,000 population aged 65 and over, five beds would be required for assessment, acute treatment and active rehabilitation. Using this advice as a guideline, the North-Western regional health authority calculates North Manchester's need for assessment, acute and rehabilitation beds as 222.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total capital allowance for geriatric capital projects for the years 1974 to 1980; and what was the cost expressed in real terms, taking 1974 for comparison.

Capital allocations to regional health authorities are based on an overall assessment of relative health care need. Account is also taken of the quality and age of existing capital stock. The provision of service facilities for particular client groups is, therefore, a matter for health authorities to determine in the light of local and national priorities and available resources.

Medical Absences From Work

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a circular to general practitioners clarifying their position if they still consider that a patient of theirs should refrain from work after a contrary decision of his Department's regional medical officers; and if he will make a statement.

Decisions on incapacity for work are made by the independent statutory authorities, not by departmental medical officers.After seeking an up-to-date report from the claimant's general practitioner, a medical officer of the Department will give an opinion on the question of incapacity; a copy of this is sent to the general practitioner. If he disagrees with the opinion, he will doubtless advise his patient accordingly and no guidance from my right hon. Friend is necessary.

Nursing Staff (Back Injuries)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Eccles on 14 April, Official Report, c. 93, he will publish in the Official Report the information available to him from research projects he has funded at the universities of Surrey and Edinburgh of the incidence of back injuries to nurses.

The reports on these projects have not yet been submitted to the Department, although I understand that Dr. Stubbs of Surrey university may publish his interim findings shortly. When the information on both projects has been considered by the Department, consideration will be given to the possibility of circulating it in the Official Report.

Private Insurance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the extra approximately 8 million people covered through private insurance between December 1979 and December 1980 joined through group or occupational schemes.

During 1980 the number of persons covered by private health schemes rose by approximately 812,000. Information about how many subscribers at the end of 1980 had joined through group schemes, including occupational schemes, is expected to be published in July.

Supplementary Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that supplementary benefit is paid to persons who are employed in companies taken over by the Official Receiver in circumstances where the Official Receiver does not pay a salary and the employment is only nominal.

Decisions on claims for supplementary benefit are, of course, for the independent adjudicating authorities. A person is not eligible for supplementary benefit if he is engaged in remunerative full-time work within the meaning of the regulations, that is, work for 30 hours or more a week which is paid or done in expectation of payment. In addition, it is a condition of entitlement that a claimant under pension age is normally required to be registered and available for employment. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and would like to let me have the details, I will be pleased to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the inquiry of the supplementary benefit policy inspectorate into the operation of the new capital cut-off rule to be concluded; and if he will make its conclusions public immediately he receives the report.

The report of the supplementary benefit policy inspectorate into the operation of the capital rule is expected to be concluded by about the end of July. We will consider then how and when its conclusions should best be made public.

Rossendale General Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients were admitted to Rossendale general hospital in each of the last four years, showing the overall total, the number per specialty and the proportion and numbers of patients from both Burnley health district and Bury area health authority.

Information on patient admissions and origins of patients is not held centrally for individual hospitals. The table below shows deaths and discharges for Rossendale general hospital by specialty in the four most recent years for which this information is available:

Discharges and deaths
	1975	1976	1977	1978
General Medicine	865	1,065	912	1,048
Geriatrics	137	134	273	358
General Surgery	1,239	1,287	1,519	1,601
Gynaecology	176	239	309	284
Obstetrics	588	634	654	752
Mental illness	191	117	189	219
Pre convalescent	348	356	166	—
Total	3,544	3,832	4,022	4,262

The Lancashire area health authority may be able to provide the remaining information requested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many consultancy sessions were provided by consultants contracted to the Bury area health authority at Rossendale general hospital within the Burnley health district for each of the last four years; and how this compares with the number of consultancy sessions provided by the consultants contracted to Burnley health district;(2) how many

(a) mental illness, (b) geriatric medicine, (c) obstetrics and gynaecology, (d) general medicine, (e) general surgery and (f) out-patients services consultancy sessions were provided at Rossendale general hospital by consultants from the Bury area health authority; and how this compares with the number of consultancy sessions provided by Burnley consultants for each of the last four years at the same hospital in each specialty.

This information is not held centrally. The North-Western regional health authority, to which consultants who provide services in Bury and Burnley are contracted, should be able to provide the information requested by the hon. Member.

Cigarette Advertising

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why press and poster hoarding advertisements for cigarettes are still appearing without the new Government warning agreed under the voluntary agreement announced in November 1980.

The change to the first of the new warnings should have been completed by now, except for permanent signs which take longer to alter. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any examples of advertisements currently appearing with the old health warning, I should be pleased to make inquiries.

Vaccine-Damaged Children

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to introduce a further scheme for the long-term support of vaccine-damaged children.

We have no proposals for any further scheme of provision specifically for the vaccine damaged. It is our intention to introduce an improved system of benefits for disabled people generally when resources permit. In addition to the £10,000 payments, most vaccine damaged people qualify for other cash benefits under social security arrangements. The majority are also paid attendance allowance; a number also receive mobility allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will carry out an inquiry into the failure to provide compensation or long-term and short-term benefits to vaccine-damaged children and their parents by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the Department is operating the scheme provided for by the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 in the way that Parliament intended, and I do not consider that any specific inquiry is called for.2,704 claims have been made; very few further claims are now being received and only a handful await consideration. There are, however, 170 cases where, following disallowance, the claimant has asked for review by a tribunal but is not at present ready to proceed; 643 awards have been made.

We have made it clear that we do not have proposals for any further legislation specifically for the vaccine damaged, but we intend to introduce an improved system of benefits for disabled people generally when resources permit.

In addition to the £10,000 payments, most vaccine-damaged people qualify for other cash benefits under social security arrangements. The majority are also paid attendance allowance; a number also receive mobility allowance. Those over 16 are normally eligible for non-contributory invalidity pension. Where supplementary benefit is in payment, the £10,000 is disregarded entirely for a child. Once the child reaches 16 money held in trust and earmarked for a particular item can be disregarded temporarily in addition to the normal £2,000 capital disregard.

Drugs (Adverse Effects)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the drugs with adverse side effects which were discovered to have these effects initially as a result of anecdotal information; and if he will make a statement.

Some 22,000 medicinal products are currently licensed in the United Kingdom, any one of which may cause an adverse reaction in some patients. Some of these effects will originally have been identified over a period of many years as a result of clinical trials, research studies or, in many cases, the reports of reactions based on the clinical experience of individual doctors. I regret that it would be quite impracticable to attempt to identify the nature of the first information on every known adverse effect arising from a medicine.

Depo-Provera

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the new evidence published on the drug Depo-Provera which makes it safe for short-term and long-term use; why this drug has not been given a long-term licence previously; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many yellow card cases he has now received regarding the drug Depo-Provera; if his Department will accept financial responsibility for proven suffering and damage from this drug; and if he will make a statement.

Depo-Provera has been licensed in the United Kingdom for use as a short-term contraceptive in limited circumstances since 1978. It was not granted a licence for long-term use at that time because of questions arising from research findings that the active ingredient, medroxyprogesterone acetate, could cause tumours in beagle bitches. An international conference has since concluded that the beagle bitch is not a valid model for the carcinogenicity testing of progesterones and other contraceptive steroids. The Department is aware of no new published evidence relating to the safety of Depo-Provera. Data which are under consideration in respect of the application for a licence for long-term use of the product as a contraceptive are treated as confidential for commercial reasons.To date the Committee on Safety of Medicines has received 41 reports of suspected adverse reactions to Depo-Provera.

As the law stands, liability and compensation for injury alleged to have been caused by treatment with any drug including Depo-Provera are matters solely for the parties concerned, that is, normally the patient, his or her doctor and the pharmaceutical company responsible. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for the Department to intervene.

Cranage Hall Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the recommended minimum number of square feet per patient's bed-space at a hospital such as Cranage Hall; what is the actual figure at the hospital; what is the recommended maximum number of patients there; what measures are being taken to improve the sleeping accommodation; and if he is satisfied with the present general accommodation condition at the hospital.

The recommended minimum bed-space per patient in long-stay mental handicap hospitals like Cranage Hall is 50 sq. ft. night space and 30 sq. ft. day space; information is not held centrally on bed-space at Cranage Hall. The number of patients to be cared for in any hospital is a matter for local decision in the light of a number of factors, of which space is only one; also important are the staffing resources available to give an appropriate level of care, and in the case of Cranage Hall the hospital has 581 staffed beds. A number of improvements are planned in the ward environment. In particular alterations are being made, on grounds of safety, to accommodate on the ground floor certain non-ambulant patients currently located on the second floor. I am satisfied that the Cheshire area health authority has a proper appreciation of the present accommodation at the hospital and future needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients at Cranage Hall hospital do not attend a residential training area or other appropriate occupation; and how many staff would be required to offer appropriate occupational training.

On 1 November 1980—the latest date for which information is available—there were 128 patients not participating in day-time activities excluding those who are too old or are not able to take part because of their condition. It is not possible to say with any precision what staff would be required to provide activities for these patients as this would depend very much on the type and range of activites to be provided.

International Year Of Disabled People

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, during the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will improve speech therapy services in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement;(2) if, during the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will improve facilities in the National Health Service for the deaf and the blind; and if he will make a statement;(3) if during the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will improve geriatric facilities in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement;(4) if, during the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will improve facilities in the National Health Service for the mentally handicapped; and if he will indicate what measures have been taken thus far by his Department this year.

Decisions about the provision of services are for health authorities. The Government have given guidance on the main policies and priorities which they expect them to follow in "Care in Action" which was published earlier this year. I know that, within their limited resources, the authorities are anxious to do everything possible to further the aims of the international year.With respect to services for the mentally handicapped, progress is being made in the key areas set out in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 15 December 1980.—[Vol. 996, c.

40.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures have been taken specifically on behalf of blind and deaf children by his Department thus far during the International Year of Disabled People.

The Department has already taken some measures, and has others under consideration, for action to help blind and deaf people of all ages during the International Year of Disabled People. Measures which will particularly benefit children include the provision of new equipment in selected centres for the audiological testing of babies and a grant to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf towards the cost of a booklet on the hearing problems of children. Other measures specifically to benefit children are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, to mark the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will provide additional funds for the following disablement groups: Disability Alliance, Disabled Drivers' Motor Club, Disabled Living Foundation, Housebound Elderly and Disabled Support Scheme and Greater London Association for the Disabled;(2) if, during the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will provide additional research funds for the Association to Combat Huntington's Chorea;(3) if, during the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will provide additional research funds for the Parkinson's Disease Society;(4) if, during the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will provide additional research funds for the Friedreich's Ataxia Group;(5) if, to mark the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will provide additional research funds for each of the following organisations: Action Research for the Crippled Child, the National Association for the Deaf, Blind and Rubella Handicapped, the Society for the Prevention of Asbestosis and Industrial Diseases, the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association, the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association and the National Schizophrenia Fellowship.

In 1980–81, the Department of Health and Social Security made special grants totalling over £120,000 to voluntary organisations connected with disabled people to mark the international year, and further special grants will be made in 1981–82. These grants are additional to continuing support provided for many of the bodies mentioned by the hon. Member.

The Department's funds for research are normally applied to studies commissioned directly from universities and research institutes and not used for the commissioning of research by other bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, during the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will seek to increase public expenditure on research into heart disease and provide additional funds for heart pacemakers.

In my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 22 January—[Vol. 997, c. 215]—it was explained that this Department already encourages research in this field and that we were ready to consider whether additional research could be commissioned within the availability of financial and scientific resources. Within these constraints, any proposal for research into heart disease will be considered.As regards the question of additional funding for heart pacemakers, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to him on 12 January.—[Vol. 996, c.

469–70].

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, to mark the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will stop all closures of hospitals that treat those suffering from Huntington's Chorea, Parkinson's disease, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy and poliomyelitis; and if he will make a statement;(2) if, to mark the second half of the International Year of Disabled People, he will stop all closures of hospitals that treat the mentally handicapped, the deaf and the blind; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals for hospital closures originate with area health authorities and are made in response to changes in population, in patterns of illness, in medical practice and in social care. Some hospitals also need to be closed to make way for new developments. My right hon. Friend intervenes in these matters only where the AHA is unable to obtain the agreement of the local community to its proposals.

Kidderminster (Obstetric Services)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, at the time that the maternity services at Bromsgrove are transferred to the new district general hospital at Woodrow, Redditch, a consultant obstetric unit will be in operation at Kidderminster general hospital.

I understand from the West Midlands regional health authority that consultant obstetric services are likely to be transferred from Bromsgrove to Redditch before the new unit planned for Kidderminster is ready. The RHA and the Hereford and Worcester area health authority are, however, now considering alternative arrangements in an attempt to ensure the continuity of the current level of service to mothers in Kidderminster during any interim period.

Vaccine Damage Tribunals (Record)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why vaccine damage tribunal clerks unlike court clerks are not legally required to take down notes at a hearing; and whether, in the light of the difficulties caused by the absence of a proper record of the proceedings, he will take steps to require full notes to be taken of such proceedings in future.

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

Care Of The Elderly (Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his best estimate of the current average cost of placing an elderly person in a local authority welfare home and an acute bed in a hospital ward.

Provisional figures for the year ended 31 March 1980 indicate that the average daily cost of treating a patient in an acute hospital in England with more than 300 beds was approximately £55. This does not necessarily represent the cost of treating the elderly in acute hospitals, which is not known. The average cost of treating an elderly person in a geriatric hospital in 1979–80 was approximately £21 a day. The average daily cost of maintaining a resident in a local authority home for the elderly in the same year was £9.These figures exclude capital costs and certain administrative costs not separately identified, and take no account of income from charges. The figure for a local authority home for the elderly is based on information taken from "Personal Social Services Statistics 1979–80 Actuals" published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Leukaemia

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the national incidence of leukaemia among all age groups; and what is the figure for Berkshire.

Eight new cases of leukaemia per 100,000 population were registered in 1975 under the national cancer registration scheme in England and Wales. A comparable figure for Berkshire is not readily available, but the rate for Oxford regional health authority, of which Berkshire is a part, is 7 per 100,000 population.The corresponding rates for 1976 are estimated as 8 for England and Wales and 6·1 for Oxford regional health authority.

Unclaimed Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of the amount of unclaimed social security benefits; and if he will take additional steps to increase the take-up of benefits by people who are entitled to those benefits.

[pursuant to her reply, 16 April 1981, c. 290]: The only social security benefits with any significant take-up problem are family income supplement, supplementary benefit and one-parent benefit, formerly called child benefit increase. I will let the hon. Member have a reply on FIS as soon as possible.With regard to supplementary benefit, it is estimated that about £340 million may have gone unclaimed in 1977, the latest date for which information is available. This figure is from an analysis of the 1977 family expenditure survey. It is subject to a number of assumptions. The basis of these assumptions is described in the former Supplementary Benefits Commission's administration paper No. 7. A copy of that paper is available in the Library of the House. All retirement pensioners and widows are invited to claim supplementary benefit and all retirement pension books include a claim form. Unemployment benefit claimants receive an explanatory leaflet. Posters are displayed and leaflets are available in post offices, unemployment benefit offices and social security offices. We are also making a determined effort to improve and simplify our leaflets. The emphasis of the new supplementary benefit scheme introduced last November is on entitlement. It sets out claimants' rights in regulations for the first time. Claimants are now given a written notice of assessment, showing them how their benefit has been worked out. A handbook has also been published, which explains the new scheme in layman's terms.The latest estimate for one-parent benefit, based on 1979 data, is that about £20 million may not have been claimed in that year. Measures being taken to bring one-parent benefit to the attention of lone parents were listed in my reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Dr. Thomas) on 10 March.—[Vol. 1000, c.

291–2]. As I said then, I hope that the new name, in particular, will help lone parents to realise that this benefit is for them and that they will claim it, thus improving take-up. In addition, a letter about one-parent benefit will be sent as soon as possible to some 300,000 recipients of child benefit whose order book is issued in the name of one payee only.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

St Helena

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what steps are being taken to repair and improve facilities for freezing fish and vegetables at St. Helena;(2) what progress is being made in implementing the proposals of the St. Helena Fisheries Corporation for the development of the island's fish exports.

The fisheries corporation presented investment proposals to the St. Helena Government in Novemmber 1980. The St. Helena Government have accepted these proposals and are seeking finance for an additional blast freezer (which would also have capacity for vegetables) together with improvements to the landing jetty and associated premises. We are expecting to receive shortly details of these proposals which will then be evaluated as part of Her Majesty's Government's development aid programme to the territory.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what response there has been from St. Helenians to the prospect of work in the Falkland Islands advertised last year; how the scheme is progressing; and what steps have been taken to remove possible difficulties over the provision of return passages.

The Falkland Islands' Government have drawn up a draft memorandum of agreement and a draft contract of service covering a proposed pilot scheme. Both documents which make provision for return passages are under consideration by the St. Helena Government.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what improvements are planned in shipping services and bunkering facilities for St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

Investigations are currently being carried out into the possible re-routing of the RMS "St. Helena" to provide more frequent access to St. Helena and Ascension. The need for improved bunkering facilities has also been taken into consideration. Future shipping services to Tristan Da Cunha are also being reviewed in this context.

Cyprus

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the cost of the United Kingdom peacekeeping force in Cyprus; and when its necessity was last reviewed.

The non-recoverable 1981–82 cost of our contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus, estimated on a full-cost basis, is likely to be £20·05 million. The United Nations Secretary-General commissioned a thorough review of the force last year, as a result of which some economies in our contribution are being made. These will not affect the viability of the force or the stability of Cyprus.

International Authorities

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, pursuant to his support for the international sea bed authority, he will support an international Antarctica authority and an international space authority similarly constituted under the United Nations.

Her Majesty's Government have taken a position on the proposed international sea bed authority only in the context of negotiations at the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference. Different considerations apply to the Antarctic and to outer space.

Antarctic

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any new treaty is contemplated for the Antarctic; and what is the number and list of signatories to the existing conventions.

A new treaty for the Antarctic is not contemplated. The following were the original signatories of the Antarctic treaty: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, USSR, United Kingdom, United States of America. The following countries have acceded to the treaty: Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Uruguay. Papua New Guinea has succeeded to the treaty.In 1972 the original signatories to the Antarctic treaty negotiated and signed the convention for the conservation of Antarctic seals and, in 1980, together with Poland, the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democractic Republic, negotiated and signed the convention for the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources.

Palestine Liberation Organisation

asked the Lord Privy Seal, further to his reply to the question from the right hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Freeson) on 15 April, Official Report, column 147, whether any of the statements of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since the announcement of the Venice declaration have suggested that that organisation is now prepared to recognise the State of Israel.

We know of no clear public PLO statements since June 1980 indicating that it is prepared to recognise Israel. Indeed, there have been statements to the contrary. However, in addition to the private statements referred to in that reply, there has been at least one public indication that the PLO may be willing to live in peace with Israel. Yasser Arafat was reported in January this year to have told a group of American university professors that he would accept "United Nations force and superpower guarantees" to act as a buffer between a Palestinian State and Israel. We shall continue to press the PLO to accept publicly Israel's right to exist.

European Community

Foodstuffs And Wine

asked the Lord Privy Seal if there have been any recent changes in the policy of the European Economic Community regarding the export of subsidised surplus foodstuffs and wine to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and if he will make a statement.

The restrictions on Community agricultural exports to the Soviet Union imposed in January 1980 were in direct support of the United States partial grain embargo. The lifting of the United States embargo by President Reagan on 24 April removed the basis for the Community's action. The Community therefore concluded on 30 April that the Council decision of 15 January 1980 should no longer apply. Most of the restrictions have therefore been lifted.

Executives (Salaries)

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the policy of the Government with regard to the proposal of the European Economic Community Commission to reduce the numbers of top-paid executives of the European Economic Community, on salaries of £40,000 or more per annum.

The recent decision by the Commission on early retirements in the senior grades was made necessary by Greek accession and was not aimed at a reduction in numbers. The matter is entirely within the competence of the Commission acting in accordance with the staff regulations.

Energy

Strategic Nuclear Material

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why he has not yet answered the question from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick, which he was due to answer on 27 April; and when he intends to answer it.

I expect to be able to answer shortly.

North Sea Oil

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many companies have notified the Government that they are re-examining their development programmes in the North Sea, in view of the Government's current fiscal regime.

In general I would expect any company contemplating a North Sea development to ensure that it had been appraised in the light of the latest circumstances, including the current tax regime. Two licence operators representing 22 other companies have indicated to me that they are reviewing development plans for two specific projects since the current fiscal regime was announced on 10 March. The Government remain determined to maintain the momentum of activity on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

Natural Gas Liquids

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that a joint body involving the British National Oil Corporation and the British Gas Corporation and engaged in the marketing of natural gas liquids will make their products available at rates comparable with direct purchases from the producers on the continental shelf.

I expect commercial negotiations to produce equitable terms for the purchase of natural gas liquids, whether the seller is the partnership of the British National Oil Corporation and the British Gas Corporation or another licensee. Price will, of course, be only one element of complex contractual terms which may vary significantly according to the circumstances of the particular buyers and sellers.

Attorney-General

Births, Deaths And Marriages (Register Searches)

asked the Attorney-General if he will make provisions to facilitate general searches of statutory registers of births, marriages and deaths on a basis similar to that which exists in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Current legislation makes no provision for search by the public in the statutory records of births, deaths and marriages held by the Registrar General. Provision is, however, made for public access to the indexes to these statutory records.As the hon. Member is aware, my right hon. and learned Friend, the Attorney-General, has already indicated in his reply to him on 6 April—[Vol. 2, c.

681–2.]—that the whole question of the transfer to the

	Portsmouth		Devonport		Chatham
1 April	A	B	A	B	A	B
1970	9,689	·24	12,270	·19	6,853	·29
1971	9,413	·22	12,194	·20	6,879	·28
1972	9,186	·20	11,989	·17	6,593	·27
1973	9,006	·20	11,938	·18	6,686	·25
1974	8,912	·18	12,094	·17	6,558	·26
1975	8,420	·19	12,052	·17	6,241	·24
1976	8,190	·17	12,068	·15	6,177	·24

Public Record Office of the records of births, deaths and marriages which are more than 100 years old is awaiting the outcome of the review by the Lord Chancellor. Such transfer would require legislation. There are no plans to provide public access to records less than 100 years old.

In Scotland the general searches apply to the indexes, not to the statutory records themselves.

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Domestic Proceedings

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will take steps to make the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Court Act 1978 (Commencement No.3) Order 1979 (S.I., 1979, No.731) applicable and enforceable in Scotland.

I have been asked to reply.Those provisions of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 which relate to Scotland have already been brought into force in Scotland by a series of commencement orders, the final one being the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 (Commencement No. 2) (Scotland) Order 1980 (SI 1980/2036).

Defence

Dartmoor (Artillery Firing)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now in a position to announce the removal of all heavy artillery firing from Dartmoor.

I have set in hand a review of the requirement for artillery firing on Dartmoor which will consider in particular the FH70 and also the use of the moor by artillery units not based in the South-West. Pending the outcome of this review there will be no further FH70 firings on Dartmoor.

Royal Dockyards

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the statistics for the numbers employed at the individual Royal dockyards in the years 1970 to the present time, specifying in percentage terms the ratio between civilian and naval manpower.

The following statement shows the numbers employed in the Royal dockyards on 1 April of each year from 1970 to 1981 and the percentages of naval to civilian manpower:

	Portsmouth		Devonport		Chatham
1 April	A	B	A	B	A	B
1977	8,108	·16	12,177	·15	6,176	·23
1978	8,173	·17	12,534	·14	6,234	·24
1979	7,762	·17	12,802	·14	6,153	·21
1980	7,325	·18	12,458	·14	6,003	·23
1981	7,050	·13	12,109	·17	5,902	·22

	Rosyth		Gibraltar		All yards
1 April	A	B	A	B	A	B
1970	5,492	·44	1,409	·28	35,713	·26
1971	5,864	·32	1,433	·28	35,783	·24
1972	5,897	·31	1,418	·28	35,083	·23
1973	5,921	·25	1,403	·29	34,954	·21
1974	5,974	·22	1,392	·29	34,930	·20
1975	5,750	·24	1,382	·29	33,845	·20
1976	5,849	·24	1,364	·29	33,648	·19
1977	5,969	·17	1,379	·22	33,810	·17
1978	5,956	·18	1,304	·23	34,201	·18
1979	5,989	·15	1,338	·22	34,044	·16
1980	5,854	·17	1,337	·22	32,977	·18
1981	5,721	·12	1,353	·22	32,135	·16

Col. A = Total civilian and naval manpower.

Col B = Percentage of naval in relation to civilian manpower.

Transfers of civilian staff with their tasks to and from the dockyards accounted for a total net addition of 700 since 1 April 1970.

Missile Interoperability

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts are being made to make the new medium-range surface-to-air missile interoperable with those of other countries or to produce it in conjunction with other countries.

In collaboration with France and the Federal Republic of Germany we are currently undertaking a pre-feasibility study into a medium range surface to air missile system to replace the improved Hawk and Bloodhound systems. Work is being shared on an equal basis and the leading United Kingdom contractor is British Aerospace Dynamics. It is planned that a feasibility study will commence in June 1982 between the same three countries, and we hope this will lead to a development and production programme. Should other allied countries wish to participate in future phases of the programme they will be encouraged to do so.

Ferranti Ltd (Advertisement)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will set up an inquiry into how Ferranti Ltd. was enabled to advertise in the latest issue of "Defence" magazine mentioning three new nuclear-powered submarines which have not yet been announced by his Department;(2) if the names of the first three hunter-killer nuclear-powered submarines are to be HMS "Tactician", HMS "Tireless" and HMS "Torbay";(3) when he expects to announce the order for hunter-killer nuclear-powered submarines; and how many will be ordered.

The name of a Royal Navy submarine is not normally announced officially until construction has commenced in the vessel's building berth. I cannot therefore comment on the names of vessels which have not reached this stage. However, I am satisfied that the incident involving the Ferranti advertisement in the April edition of "Defence" magazine does not warrant an inquiry. Future orders of hunter-killer nuclear-powered submarines are currently the subject of discussion within the Ministry of Defence as part of the review of the overall warship building programme.

Small Vessels

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the Royal Navy's need for, ard the future supply position of, small vessels.

As indicated in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1981 (Cmnd. 8121-I) we are currently examining the overall defence programme. Pending the outcome of this examination we shall not be in a position to assess our future requirements for smaller vessels.

Hunter-Killer Submarines

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet decided where future hunter-killer nuclear-powered submarines are to be built; and if he intends to make payments to any such builder for the work necessary to outfit his yard for the purpose.

There are no plans at present to build hunter-killer nuclear-powered submarines other than at the Vickers yard.

Widows (Special Pensions)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many widows are now in receipt of special pensions as pre-1950 widows; and what is the current annual cost.

As at 8 May 1981, 16,631 awards had been made to widows eligible under the special widows pension scheme; the current annual cost is estimated at £6·2 million.

Belize (Peacekeeping Force)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what options are being considered for the form of a United Kingdom peacekeeping force in Belize.

I have been asked to reply.We have undertaken to make security arrangements appropriate to the circumstances in which Belize proceeds to independence. As I told the House on 17 March, we expect to negotiate treaties that will end Guatemala's territorial claim and thus do more than any other measure to ensure the future security of an independent Belize. Clearly the security requirements in these circumstances would be very different from those arising if there were no settlement.

Wales

Microprocessors (Schools)

13.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had about the installation of microprocessors in Welsh schools.

The purchase of microcomputers is a matter for individual education authorities and schools. Local education authorities in Wales and the local authority associations have been advised of the guidelines applying to the recently announced Government scheme to provide funds for secondary schools at present without microcomputers. The Welsh joint education committee is fully involved in all aspects of microelectronics education in Wales.

Council House Sales

14.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to promote the sale of council houses in Wales.

The sale of council houses under the right-to-buy provision is not a voluntary scheme which we would need to promote among local housing authorities. It is their clear statutory responsibility to implement this right. We have, of course, given wide publicity to the scheme. A booklet has been widely distributed, and the scheme has also been publicised on television and radio and in the newspapers.

Anthracite Mining

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the level of stocks of lower quality anthracite, he will raise with the National Coal Board in Wales the question of investment specifically to allow increased deep-mining of high quality anthracite.

The question of investment in specific projects is for the National Coal Board. It is already well aware of the desirability of producing high quality anthracite competitively.

Royal Regiment Of Wales

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions in the last year he has been invited in his ministerial capacity to attend an official regimental function of the Royal Regiment of Wales.

None.

A5 (Public Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report details of total expenditure in each year on the A5 in each Welsh county, indicating how many miles have been improved in each year; and what has been the total amount of public expenditure on improvements to the A5 since 1974.

It is not possible to provide this information except at disproportionate cost. Information on the more important AS schemes is available in "Roads in Wales 1978" and "Roads in Wales 1980", copies of which are available in the Library. The latter sets out in tables 7 and 8 the more important A5 improvement schemes scheduled to start before 1987.

A5 (Llangollen-Bangor)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects route studies being carried out to identify the best way of improving the A5 between Llangollen and Bangor to be completed; and if he will publish them.

The following road studies on the AS trunk road have been completed.

Llangollen and east of Corwen.

West of Corwen and Pentrefoelas.

Bettws-y-Coed and Llandegai.

The draft reports are being considered by the Department's highway engineers. It is not the intention to publish the reports.

A470 (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total expenditure on the A470 in each county in Wales in each year since 1974; and what is the projected expenditure in each county in each year up to 1987;(2) if he will publish in the

Official Report details of the length of miles of improvements on the A470 completed in each year since 1974;

(3) if he will publish in the Official Report the total public expenditure on improvement to the A470 since it was designated as a north-south primary route; and if he will express this per route mile.

It is not possible to provide this information except at disproportionate cost. Information on the more important A470 schemes is available in "Roads in Wales 1978" and "Roads in Wales 1980", copies of which are available in the Library. The latter sets out in tables 7 and 8 the more important A470 improvement schemes scheduled to start before 1987.

Assisted Firms (Receivership)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether any firms which have been financially assisted by the Welsh Development Agency, whether by grant or by loan, have been taken into receivership, or are about to be, since 8 May 1980; and, if so, whether he will list the relevant firms.

I have asked the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to write to my hon. and learned Friend.

New Hospital Construction

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will enumerate the major new construction carried out in Wales in the last 20 years and list the hospital sites with a contract value exceeding £1 million planned for completion by 1990.

Major new hospital construction projects completed in the period 1960–1980 were as follows:

Bronglais hospital, Aberystwyth
Bryn-y-Neuadd hospital, Llanfairfechan
Dewi Sant hospital, Pontypridd
Llanfrechfa Grange hospital, Cwmbran
Nevill Hall hospital, Abergavenny
Prince Charles hospital, Merthyr
Royal Gwent hospital, Newport (phases I-V)
Singleton hospital, Swansea
University hospital of Wales, Cardiff
Velindre hospital, Cardiff
West Wales general hospital, Carmarthen
Withybush hospital, Haverfordwest
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, Rhyl
Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor [to be completed by May 1981]

Schemes in future years have yet to be agreed but those currently in progress or due to start in 1981–82 having a contract value exceeding £1 million and due to be completed by 1990 are:

Bridgend DGH
Bryn-y-Neuadd hospital (laundry)
Mold community hospital
Morriston DGH (Phase I)
St. David's hospital, Carmarthen (upgrading)
St. Woolos hospital, Newport (development)
Singleton hospital (sterile fluids unit)
Tredegar general hospital (adaptations)
University hospital of Wales (remedial works)
Velindre hospital (development)
Wrexham DGH
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd (laundry)
Ysbyty Gwynedd (additional works)
County hospital, Griffithstown (improvements)
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd (sub-scheme)
Ysbyty Gwynedd (residential)
Ysbyty Gwynedd (central sterile supply department and area stores)
South Glamorgan area stores

Car Mileage Expenses

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many different systems for reimbursing car mileage expenses exist for members of Government-sponsored bodies in Wales; and how these scales compare with the systems applied to members of local authorities and water authorities.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

Employment Statistices

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) male and (b) female workers are unemployed in each region of Wales at the latest date for which information is available.

The latest available information is as follows:

Numbers registered as unemployed—March 1981
County	Males	Females
South Glamorgan	15,425	4,867
Mid-Glamorgan	18,810	9,073
West Glamorgan	16,021	7,252
Gwent	18,089	7,617
Dyfed	9,419	4,647
Powys	2,079	823
Gwynedd	7,774	2,997
Clwyd	16,102	5,786
Wales	103,719	43,062

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) male and (b) female employees are employed on (i) full-time and (ii) part-time basis in Wales at the latest date for which information is available.

The information, which derives from the Department of Employment's annual census of employment for June 1978, is as follows:

Employees in Employment—Wales
	Thousands
	Males	Females
Full-time	589·0	249·2
Part-time	25·5	152·0

Scotland

Fishing Boats (Cash Aid)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fishing vessels are based in each of Scotland's fishing ports; and how much of the Government's recent cash aid is being allocated to boats in the fleets of each of those ports.

The number of fishing vessels at each port is shown in table 38 of the published Scottish sea fisheries statistical tables for 1979. Aid under the fishing vessel temporary support scheme 1981 is not allocated to ports but will be paid on the basis of applications, which are now being received, from the owners of individual vessels. I cannot forecast how much aid will accrue to particular ports.

Employment Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) male and (b) female workers are unemployed in each region of Scotland at the latest date for which information is available.

The following table gives the number of people registered as unemployed on 9 April 1981 in each region and island authority area in Scotland.

Employees in Employment—Scotland
	Males	Females
Borders	2,121	835
Central	9,580	4,961
Dumfries and Galloway	4,396	2,447
Fife	10,268	5,993
Grampian	9,422	4,298
Highland	5,281	3,097
Lothian	23,523	10,100
Strathclyde	114,354	52,668

	Males	Females
Tayside	14,250	7,416
Orkney	404	151
Shetland	276	132
Western Isles	1,321	374

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) male and (b) female employees are employed on (i) full-time and (ii) part-time basis in Scotland at the latest date for which information is available.

The latest information in the precise form requested is given in the 1978 census of employment. It is possible to update this information for females and the total for males to December 1980.

	June 1978	December 1980
Male
Full-time	1,142	^*
Part-time	58	^*
All	1,200	1,129
Female
Full-time	553	537
Part-time	314	309
All	867	846
^* Not available.

Source:

June 1978 Census of Employment.

December 1980 Department of Employment Quarterly Estimates.

Hamilton College Of Education

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why, in the light of the continuing shortage of teachers in mathematics and physics in Lanarkshire

	Pay scales/rates applicable at:
Post and Equivalent Administration Group Grading	April 1979^*		April 1981
	Prior to Settlement	Post Settlement	Current
	£	£	£
Depute Clerk of Session and Justiciary
Senior Executive Officer	5,937– 7,032	6,471– 7,665	8,600–10,500
†Sherriff Clerk:
Glasgow
Assistant Secretary	10,043–12,273	10,947–13,378	16,500–19,500
Edinburgh
Senior Principal	9,057–10,809	9,872–11,782	14,000–17,500
Large Courts (7)
Principal	6,791– 8,729	7,402– 9,515	10,600–14,000
Medium-sized Courts (10)
Senior Executive Officer	5,937– 7,032	6,471– 7,665	8,600–10,500
Small Courts (16)
Higher Executive Officer	4,842– 5,718	5,279– 6,233	6,950– 8,555
Cleaner (part-time hourly rates)	1·017	1·132	1·33
Night Watchmen (weekly rates)	44·80	‡44·80	64·30
^1 April was the operative date for the initial stage of the 1979 Pay settlement for Non-Industrial Civil Servants but payment at the new rates was not implemented until after April 1979.*
†Sheriff Clerk posts are graded according to the relative size of their charges and the figures in brackets show the number of courts in each category.
‡This rate was not increased until 1 July 1979: Night Watchmen are industrial grades.

Civil Service Dispute

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average delay in making payments to former staff of colleges of education receiving

schools, he has refused to allow the one year secondary course to continue at Hamilton college of education in session 1981–82.

My right hon. Friend's decision to close Hamilton college of education does not affect the overall provision for the training of teachers of mathematics and physics. The shortages of teachers in these subjects are due mainly to insufficient applications for training and not to any lack of places in the college system.

Sea Fish Industry Authority

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to announce the names of the Scottish members who will serve on the new Sea Fish Industry Authority established by the Fisheries Bill; and if he will make a statement.

I am not yet in a position to announce names. In parallel with the other Fisheries Ministers, I shall shortly be inviting the principal organisations involved in the sea fish industry in Scotland to suggest the names of suitable people for appointment to the Sea Fish Industry Authority to represent the industry. The announcement of appointments to the authority will be made as soon as possible after the enactment of the Fisheries Bill.

Civil Service Pay

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the grades of pay applicable in April 1979 and April 1981 to the following posts within the Civil Service (a) depute clerks of justiciary, (b) sheriff clerks, (c) cleaners in sheriff houses and (d) nightwatchmen in sheriff court houses.

The information is set out in the following table:compensation as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what is the average delay in payments to dentists as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what is the average delay in the payment of farm outgoers as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(4) if he will list in the Official Report the payments being made on time through the use of the Scottish Office computer and those that are delayed as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(5) what has been the average delay in the payment of salaries and subsistence to Scottish Office Ministers as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(6) what is the average delay in making payments to students in receipt of grants from the Scottish Education Department as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(7) what is the average delay in making payments to suppliers to the prison service in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(8) what is the average delay in making payments to contractors holding accounts with the Scottish Office as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(9) what is the average delay in making payments to organisations receiving grants or other financial assistance from the Scottish Office as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(10) what is the average delay in making payments to farmers in receipt of grants or subsidies as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(11) what is the average delay in making payments to crofters in receipt of grants or subsidies as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(12) what is the average delay in making payments to retired teachers in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and the Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(13) what is the average delay in making payments to deceased teachers' dependants in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and the Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(14) what is the average delay in making payments to retired National Health Service employees in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and the Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(15) what is the average delay in making payments to deceased National Health Service employees' dependants in Scotland as a result of the present dispute between the Government and the Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(16) what is the average delay in making payments to ex-teachers in Scotland entitled to return of superannuation contributions as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;

(17) what is the average delay in making payments to ex-National Health Service employees in Scotland entitled to return of superannuation contributions as a result of the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement.

The payments that are being made on time or with only slight delay through the use of the Scottish Office computer are those to

Retired teachers

Deceased teachers' dependants

Farm outgoers.

Scottish Office salaries and wages, including those of Scottish Office Ministers, and the salaries and wages of staff in certain other Government Departments are also continuing to be paid.Payments of NHS pensions and payments to dependants of deceased NHS employees are also continuing, except for new claims.Schemes of payments normally made by the Scottish Office computer which are being delayed are those to

Former staff of colleges of education receiving compensation Dentists

Students in receipt of grants from the Scottish Education Department

Farmers in receipt of grants or subsidies

Crofters in receipt of grants or subsidies

Ex-teachers in Scotland entitled to return of superannuation contributions

Ex-National Health Service employees in Scotland entitled to return of superannuation contributions

Travel and subsistence payments to Scottish Office Ministers and civil servants and certain payments to contractors, including suppliers to the prison service, are also being delayed. A small proportion of the payments in respect of these schemes continues to be made manually. Payments not normally made by computer are being made in the usual way.

The length of the delay to which payments are subject will depend on the duration of the present industrial dispute. I regret very much the inconvenience which is being caused to firms and individuals by this industrial action.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what arrangements he has for an early meeting with Civil Service unions representing Scottish Office staff to discuss the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many times he has met representatives of Civil Service unions representing Scottish Office staff since the present dispute between the Government and Civil Service unions began; and if he will make a statement.

I am always ready to meet Scottish Office trade unions should the circumstances warrant it. The Scottish Office trade unions have had many meetings with management since the dispute began but they have not sought a meeting with me about the dispute. The present dispute on pay is a matter for discussion and resolution at national level with the Council of Civil Service Unions, and my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord President has made it clear that he is ready to meet it for further discussions about the proposals he put to it on 23 April, which in the Government's view offer a real basis for ending the present dispute.

Rents

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual average standard rent (a)for local authority houses in Scotland, and (b) for Scottish Special Housing Association houses (i) at 30 September 1979 and (ii) at the latest convenient date.

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

Health and Social Work Services
£ million at 1980 survey prices
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82
Current	1,010	1,003	1,014	1,046
Capital	69	65	64	68
Total	1,079	1,068	1,078	1,114

Industry

Special Development, Intermediate And Development Areas

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what criteria are used in designating special development areas, intermediate areas and development areas.

The criteria used in designating development areas and intermediate areas are laid down in the Local Employment Act 1972, section 1, as amended by the Industry Act 1972, section 13, and those for special development areas in the Industry Act 1972, section 1(4).

Sub-Post Offices

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps (a) have been taken in the last year and (b) he expects to take in the next year to generate additional business for sub-post offices.

The Government have introduced provisions in the British Telecommunications Bill to enable the Post Office to undertake business for a wider range of public sector customers across the post and sub-post office counter network. It is the responsibility of the Post Office to negotiate with potential users of the counter network, but I understand that in a number of areas there are prospects for growth of business from both new and existing customers.

Clothing Imports

the Secretary of State for Industry what was the level of imports of clothing in the last quarter of 1980; and how these figures affect clothing manufacture in the United Kingdom in the same quarter of 1980, compared with one year ago.

Imports of made-up clothing, defined as products classified to minimum list headings 441–449 of the standard industrial classification (revised 1968), in the fourth quarter of 1980 were £196 million, 8 per cent. lower than the level of £213 million in the corresponding quarter a year earlier.It is not possible to say how these affect clothing manufacture which is influenced by a number of factors,

Health And Personal Social Services (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the figures for expenditure on health and personal social services for the years 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82 as included in table 2.15 of Cmnd. 8175 exclusive of local authority expenditure and split between current and capital expenditure.

The information is as followssuch as the level of consumers' expenditure, exports and stocks, as well as imports. In the fourth quarter of 1980 estimated sales of clothing by United Kingdom manufacturers, including exports, were £674 million, 8 per cent. lower than the £734 million in the fourth quarter of 1979.

Industry Act 1972 (Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to ensure that, when industrial developments are undertaken with the aid of grants under the Industry Act 1972, the major part of the contract work is carried out by British companies.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1981, c. 33]: The United Kingdom's international obligations preclude assistance under the Industry Act 1972 being made conditional on the placing of contracts with British companies, although when assessing the level of selective grants account is taken of the net benefit to the economy of the project, including orders placed with United Kingdom firms. The final decision on the source of supply is, however, a matter for the commercial judgment of the company concerned.

Moss Morran Ethylene Plant

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what grants are being provided by his Department in connection with the Esso ethylene plant at Moss Morran, Fife; what steps he is taking to ensure that British process plant fabricating companies receive the orders in connection with this project; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, cols. 85–6]: No grants have yet been given for this project. Regional development grant may become payable but it is not yet possible to estimate the amount of assistance for which the project may qualify. All payments of regional development grant of £25,000 or more are published quarterly in "British Business". The Department has maintained close contact with Esso to ensure that British firms have had full and fair opportunities to compete, but the final decision on the placing of orders must rest on Esso's commercial judgment.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Drainage Schemes And Grants

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will restore lowland drainage grant rates to their previous levels in real terms, and exempt all drainage schemes from the ceiling on investment eligible for grant aid.

I do not think either course would make the best use of available resources. The present lowland drainage rate under the agriculture and horticulture grant scheme is already 66 per cent. higher than the standard rate for buildings and other works. Restoring it to its previous level whilst retaining present rates for other items would increase the differential to 122 per cent. Exempting drainage from the limit on grant aidable investment would place it in an even more favoured category than it enjoys at present and, although I recognise its great importance, I do not think this would be warranted.

Sea Fish Industry Authority

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is yet in a position to announce the composition of the membership of the Sea Fish Industry Authority established by the Fisheries Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Without prejudice to the need for the Fisheries Bill to complete its remaining legislative stages, the Fisheries Ministers intend shortly to consult the fishing industry on appointments of those members of the Sea Fish Industry Authority who are to be representative of the industry. The Ministers wish to appoint members of the authority as soon as possible after enactment of the legislation.

Fishing Industry (Southend)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the fishing industry in Southend about the activities of foreign fishing vessels within the 12-mile limit and, in particular, over the vessel "Golfe Breker" based in Zeebrugge; and if he will make a statement.

The South-East Fishermen's Federation which represents the interests of many fishermen from South-East England, including Southend, has made a number of representations expressing concern about the activities of foreign fishing vessels within the 12-mile limit. The federation has reported to me an alleged incident involving the vessels mentioned by my hon. Friend. Accordingly, vessels of the Royal Navy on fishery protection duties have been instructed, consistently with their other duties, to pay particular attention to surveillance in the area concerned.

European Community (Foodstuffs And Wine Exports)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions apply at present to the export of foodstuffs and wine from the European Economic Community to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Community restrictions are in force on refunds for exports of butter, butter oil, cream and concentrated and preserved milks to the Soviet Union and of butter mixes to any destination.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is possible to estimate the amount of subsidy paid by the European Economic Community in subsidies, rebates and other payments in respect of the export of foodstuffs and wine to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Eastern European bloc, respectively, in 1980.

As I explained to my hon. Friend in my reply on 8 December 1980, the costs of export subsidies for particular periods and destinations are not separately identified in Community statistics.

Transport

Heavy Vehicles (Spray Suppression)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the Southampton university and Transport and Road Research Laboratory report on spray suppression on heavy goods vehicles; if he will make a statement; and if he will study the experience gained by United Kingdom heavy goods vehicle operators in spray suppression systems when considering the report.

The Southampton university report is due for publication before the end of July. I will certainly take into account both controlled test and normal road use experience when considering possible future action on this problem.

Kibworth Harcourt (Manse)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will expedite the sale of the Manse at Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, announced last year; and what is the reason for the present delay.

We are anxious to dispose of this property but the district valuer's negotiations with the previous owners, the Congregational Church, have been delayed by changes in the trustees. He is now in discussion wih their agents as to the best method of proceeding to sale and we expect his report soon. I will let my hon. Friend know when arrangements for the sale have been agreed.

Driving Test Centre (St Andrews)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the driving test centre at St. Andrews will be re-opened.

I am afraid that the search is still continuing for suitable premises for a replacement driving test centre at St. Andrews. Tests are meanwhile being conducted from Cupar, 10 miles distant. The waiting period at Cupar is about 16 weeks compared with about 18 weeks for the Scottish (North) traffic area as a whole.

Toll Bridges

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many toll bridges there are in Great Britain; and if he will list them andgive the tolls charged for each.

My Department has information, confined to England, on 17 toll bridges, as shown on attached list:

	Goods Vehicles			Buses/ Coaches	Cars	Motorcycles without sidecars	Bicycles
	Heavy	Medium	Light
Severn Bridge	40p				20p	10p	free
Tamar Bridge	£l·40p	80p	40p	£l·40p	30p	free	free
(Tolls at Tamar are charged in one direction only, return journeys being free)
Itchen Bridge	£15	£1·60	40p	40p	20p,30p	10p	free
Dunham Bridge	20p, 30p, 40p				15p	5p	free
Selby Bridge	4p per ton				4p	free	free
Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge	Not permitted	Not permitted	up to 3 tons 63p	63p	27p	8p	4p
Shard Bridge	30p	15p	15p	30p	8p	4p	2p
Clifton Suspension Bridge	10p if permitted				10p	10p	2p
Rixton and Warburton Bridge	12½ if permitted			12½	5p	2½>	free
Whitchurch Bridge	5p if permitted			5p 12p (empty)	3p	free	free
Whitney Bridge	14p	11p, 12p	10p	or30p	7p	3p	2p
Aldwark Bridge	8p per ton				8p	4p	1P
Batheaston Bridge	10p if permitted			16p	5p	3p	2p
Cartford Bridge	15p if permitted		8p	15p	5p	3p	1P
Eling Bridge	Not known				5p	3p	free
Swinford Bridge	2p per 2 tons				2p	1P	free
Humber Bridge	£7·50 (4 or more axles)	£6·00 (3 axles)	£4·50 (2 axles)	£4·50	£1·00	50p	free

The Humber Bridge is expected to open shortly and the Bridge Board have announced that the above tolls will be charged.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many toll bridges have been built since 1945; and if he will list them, together with the building date, cost and estimated completion date for the repayment of debt in each case.

Crossing	Date opened to traffic	Cost	Estimated date debt repaid
Tamar Bridge	October 1961	Approx. £2m	Already paid
Severn Bridge	September 1966	£12·64m	2006
Itchen Bridge	June 1977	£12·3m	2025
Humber Bridge	1981	£87·882m	Up to 60 years from date(s) of borrowing

British Transport Hotels

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what were the losses or profits for the British Transport Hotels Group for each of the last five years;(2) if he will take steps to ensure that Parliament is informed if a disagreement should arise between British Railways Investment Limited and British Transport Hotels' financial advisers about the timing and method of disposal of those assets owned by British Railways Investment Limited and, in particular, its hotel group; and if he will make a statement;(3) what is the maximum percentage of shares he intends to allow British Rail Investment Ltd. to retain in the sale of the Gleneagles group of hotels belonging to British Transport Hotels;(4) whether he has yet received proposals from British Rail Investment Ltd. for the sale of the Gleneagles group of hotels; if not, when he expects to receive such proposals; how many hotels are involved; which they are; and what is their estimated value.

I understand that only four toll bridges have been built in England since 1945. The details requested are as follows, the estimated dates in the last column being those prescribed in the respective Acts governing the finances of these crossings.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

Environment

Public Conveniences (Minimum Standard)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to legislate to specify a minimum standard of provision of public conveniences, particularly for the disabled, in each local authority area.

Provision of public conveniences is rightly a matter for the discretion of local authorities. It is for them to ensure that the level of provision is adequate to meet the requirements of the public generally. When making new provision, authorities already have a duty under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to cater, as far as it is practicable and reasonable, for the needs of the disabled.

Local Authorities (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, for each local authority in England its total expenditure as defined in section 56(8) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 as implied by the calculated grant base position used in appendix I to annex G of the Rate Support Grant Report (England) 1980.

I am placing the figures for which the hon. Member asks in the Library. I should emphasise that these figures were projections made last autumn to be used in the calculation of rate support grant entitlements. They are not expenditure targets for individual authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, for all local authorities in England, in total, for 1981–82, (a) total expenditure as defined in section 56(8) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, (b) current expenditure which authorities are requested to reduce their expenditure to and (c) relevant expenditure as defined in section 54(5) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and if he will list the differences between each definition of expenditure, showing the money amount of each difference.

The figures and their derivations, which are contained in annexes A and B of the rate support grant report (England) 1980, are as follows:

	£ million (November 1980 prices)
(b) Current expenditure (volume)	15,159

	£ million (estimated 1981–82 outturn prices)
(bCurrent expenditure	16,180
Revenue contributions to capital outlay	+582
Loan charges	+1,674
Rate fund contribution to Housing
Revenue Account	+254
Interest receipts (addes back)	-267
(c) Total revenue expenditure	18,423
Net non-relevant expenditure^*	+160
Interest receipts	+267
Specific and supplementary grants	-1,868
(a) "Total" expenditure for block grant purposes	16,982
^* Assumed figure, not included in the Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the current expenditure for every local authority in England for 1981–82 budget estimate, in November 1980 prices, for which his Department had received figures on 1 May 1981, and list separately those authorities from which no return has been received.

By 1 May, my Department had received 411 out of 414 returns from English local authorities. Some of these contained errors which required investigation. As is customary, it is proposed to discuss the results with the local authority associations on 2 June. Thereafter. I will make the results available.

Industrial Infrastructure And Land Acquisition

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure and the total sums loaned by local authorities in 1980–81 on loans to industry and spending on industrial infrastructure and land acquisition; and what sums have been requested and allocated for these purposes for 1981–82.

This information is not available for 1980–81. For 1981–82, local authorities are free to aggregate their capital expenditure allocations into a single block and may use these allocations as they consider appropriate.

Land Reclamation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total expenditure by county councils and by metropolitan councils on land reclamation in 1979–80 and 1980–81; and what is the allocated expenditure for each of this purpose in 1981–82;(2) what was the total expenditure by local authorities on land reclamation in England in 1980–81; and what sums have been requested and allocated for this purpose in 1981–82.

Expenditure by county councils and metropolitan councils on approved schemes for derelict land reclamation in 1979–80 was as follows:

	£
Non-metropolitan countries	5,543,625
Metropolitan counties	4,545,982
Metropolitan districts	5,371,456

Information about expenditure during 1980–81 is not yet available. I will send it to the hon. Member in due course.The expenditure provision for derelict land reclamation in 1981–82 is £37 million. Under the new capital expenditure control arrangements, local authority expenditure on reclamation is included within the block 5 'Other Services" allocation. The resources available to local authorities for other services were split between types of authority by reference to relative population and past spending patterns. Allocations to individual authorities under this arrangement were determined according to the recommendations of the respective local authority associations, and local authorities are now entirely free to determine their own priorities for expenditure, including expenditure on derelict land reclamation.

Council House Sales

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the monthly rate of sale of council houses (a) in the last two years preceding 3 May 1979, (b) between 3 May 1979 and the operative date of the Housing Act and (c) since the operative date of the Housing Act.

Council house sales figures are available quarterly and it is therefore not possible to provide monthly rates of sales for the precise dates requested. The nearest equivalent information for England and 'Wales is as follows:

Monthly rate of council house sales completed: England and Wales
April 1977—March 1979	2,200
April 1979—September 1980	5,280
October 1980—December 1980	5,810

Housing Association Tenants

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain from the Housing Corporation and publish in the Official Report details of how many housing association tenants have applied to buy of lease their dwelling under chapter I of the Housing Act 1980; how many have had their right to buy accepted; how many sales have been completed; and what percentage each of these figures is of the total eligible stock.

I shall answer this question shortly.

Volume 4: debated on Monday 11 May 1981

Written Answers To Questions

Northern Ireland

Crime

Home Department

Mr Doug Wakefield

Remand Statistics

Offences Against The Person

Parliamentary Boundary Commissions

Cannabis

Prisoners

Prisons (Capacity)

Police Forces (Methods Of Detection)

Police Forces (Transmission Of Information)

Convicted Persons (Publication Of Stories)

Wormwood Scrubs

Prime Minister

European Assembly (Debates)

Microprocessors (Schools)

Trade

Petrol Retailers

Gatwick (Night Jet Movements)

Multi-Fibre Arrangement

Education And Science

Art Galleries And Museums

Light Opera (Support)

Public Lending Right

The Arts

Arts Council

Capital Expenditure

Employment

Disablement Resettlement Officers

Disabled Persons

School Leavers

Unemployment Statistics

Youth Opportunities Programme

European Community (Vocational Training)

European Community (Vocational Rehabilitation)

Unemployment

Wolverhampton And West Midlands

Temporary Short-Time Working Compensation Scheme

Male And Female Employees

Liquefied Gas

School Leavers (Northern Region)

Doctors, Nurses And Teachers

Unemployment Costs

National Finance

European Community (Disaster Relief)

Stamp Duty

Trade Disputes (Tax Rebates)

Mortgage Relief

Agricultural Property (Tenancies)

International Monetary Fund

Profit-Sharing Schemes

Pay Increases

Income (Indexation)

Unearned Income (Taxation)

Car Allowances (Nurses)

Value Added Tax

Earnings

Social Services

Ambulancemen (Pay Offer)

Secure Accommodation

Geriatrics

Medical Absences From Work

Nursing Staff (Back Injuries)

Private Insurance

Supplementary Benefit

Rossendale General Hospital

Cigarette Advertising

Vaccine-Damaged Children

Drugs (Adverse Effects)

Depo-Provera

Cranage Hall Hospital

International Year Of Disabled People

Kidderminster (Obstetric Services)

Vaccine Damage Tribunals (Record)

Care Of The Elderly (Costs)

Leukaemia