asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on discounts to retailers is to be published; and if he will make a statement.

The report is published today.The commission has carried out a wide-ranging investigation of the extent and effects of the preferential terms on which goods are supplied to some retailers. The investigation covers the nature and scale of the preferential treatment given, including price discounts and rebates; the relation between preferential prices and cost savings; and the effect of the practice on manufacturers, retailers and consumers. The commission finds that preferential treatment for large multiple retailers is substantial and widespread. Although cost savings on large transactions can be considerable, discounts are not closely related to these savings and often result primarily from the bargaining power of large retailers. The commission does not, however, consider that in general the practice has in recent years been harmful to the public interest. Price reductions have on the whole been passed onto consumers and the practice has encouraged competition among both manufacturers and distributors. The commission recommends against specific legislation to control the practice at present. It emphasises, however, that the scene is continually changing and that further concentration in retailing might give rise to concern. In some circumstances individual cases of discrimination may already be against the public interest and the powers under the Competition Act or the Fair Trading Act would be very useful and would permit individual investigations.The reference was made in July 1977 under section 78 of the Fair Trading Act 1973. This provides for a general investigation of the effect on the public interest of practices which appear to be uncompetitive or associated with monopoly situations. There are no powers of control flowing directly from such an investigation, but the commission may make recommendations for the Government to consider. The reference in this case required the commission to report on the supply of goods to some retailers at lower prices or with some additional benefit not provided to other retailers, where the price reduction or the value of the benefit cannot be attributed to savings in the suppliers' costs.The definition of the practice in the reference requires the commission to consider the differences in the terms and conditions for the supply of goods to retailers and whether those differences are justified by cost savings. For practical reasons—as suggested by the Government at the time of the reference—the commission's investigation concentrated on groceries and certain other products where discounts were thought to be significant, including toothpaste, beer, and paint. The commission found that a wide range of special terms were available, including discounts from published prices, retrospective rebates, favourable credit terms, special delivery services, and shelf-filling or price-marking services. The value of special terms varied from product to product, for instance, being high in the case of bread, biscuits, and paint, and relatively low in the case of cigarettes. The commission stresses the difficulty of measuring the average value of special terms, but gives certain illustrative figures. For 12 selected manufacturers the cost of special terms was 6·6 per cent. of total sales, while for their top four retail customers it was 9·2 percent.Cost savings to be set against the preferential terms included economies in distribution, in the cost of the sales network, in the administrative costs of handling large accounts, and sometimes in manufacture. The commission found that few firms attempted to measure these cost savings as a basis for pricing decisions, and the commission itself found it was not feasible to make a statistical analysis. Terms were decided by commercial judgment, taking into account overall marketing considerations and the relative bargaining strength of the parties. No clear line could be drawn between preferential terms reflecting positive commercial advantages to the manufacturer and those arising from the exercise of "muscle" by the retailer. From previous more detailed inquiries, however, and from a general assessment of the evidence and representations received, the commission concludes that discrimination beyond the level justified by cost savings is considerable both in prevalence and in degree. In assessing the effect of the practice on the public interest, the commission considers its impact on consumers, manufacturers, and retailers.The commission is satisfied that hitherto the practice has been to the benefit of consumers. Prices from manufacturers to retailers have in general been lower than they would otherwise have been, and effective competition in retailing has ensured that prices to consumers have also been lowered. The commission acknowledges that the reduction in the number of retail outlets has had disadvantageous consequences particularly to consumers whose mobility is restricted, but the contribution of discriminatory discounts to this development has been small.In relation to manufacturers, the commission considers that the bargaining power of retailers has encouraged competition and efficiency in concentrated industries where competitive pressures might otherwise be limited. The commission considers the possibility that pressure on manufacturing profits might discourage investment and research, but concludes that many other factors have contributed to the decline in profitability in recent years. There is little evidence that discounting practices have affected investment or research.There have been major changes in the distributive trade in the last 25 years. Large multiple retailers have expanded their share of the market at the expense of wholesalers and independent retailers. This is a result of many social and economic circumstances. In recent years the extent of price discrimination has been a contributory factor but not in itself a decisive one. Smaller retailers have, moreover, responded to competitive pressures by providing more specialised products, greater convenience, or by forming purchasing groups. Independent retailers will continue to exist. The commission expresses concern at the possibility that concentration might reach a point at which effective competition would be reduced, but finds no evidence that this point has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade who is responsible for appointing an official receiver for a company; what criteria are used in deciding to appoint an official receiver; and whether any procedure exists to examine the actions taken by official receivers.

Official receivers are officials of my Department. They are appointed to the courts of England and Wales by my right hon. Friend, and those courts may appoint them for the purpose of winding up individual companies under the terms of the Companies Act 1948. Any person aggrieved by the acts or decisions of the official receiver or of any other person appointed as liquidator by the court in a winding-up may apply to the court accordingly; and any creditor or contributory may complain to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the import and export figures for trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1979 and 1980; and what impact diamond trading had on the balance of trade.

The figures are given below. Trade in precious stones, including diamonds, had a negligible impact on the overall balance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he proposes any change in the rate of the aviation security levy before 1 April 1982.

Fresh estimates of income and expenditure have been prepared which suggest that the aviation security fund will accumulate a substantial surplus by the end of the present financial year if the levy is left at its present rate of £1·60. I have therefore decided subject to the approval of Parliament to reduce it to £1·50 from 1 August 1981. Draft amendment regulations will be laid shortly. I will consider in November, in the light of revised estimates, whether there is need for any further change in the levy from 1 April 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if his Department has studied the workings of centralised air traffic control in the United States of America; if he will consider the feasibility of such a scheme for the whole of Europe, including Turkey; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom, as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and of Eurocontrol, is taking part in studies by those organisations of improvements in the European air traffic system, including that in Turkey. Experience from the United States of America—which are much larger in area, have generally lower traffic density and quite different weather conditions—is taken into account. The member States of Eurocontrol, in preparation for the renewal of the Eurocontrol convention, examined thoroughly the possibility of unifying national air traffic systems in Europe under one executive authority. They concluded that apart from the considerable technical, financial and political difficulties involved, such an authority would not necessarily be more effective than the increased co-ordination of national air traffic systems which Eurocontrol expects to achieve in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set out the main elements of the Government's airports policy relevant to air transport licensing.

The Government's policy is to meet the growth in demand for air transport, first, by encouraging the fullest use of regional airports and, secondly, by providing additional airport capacity, as the traffic develops, based on the existing airports in the South-East, particularly Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. The Government support the provision of air services which enable passengers in the regions to fly from their local airport but reject a policy of seeking to divert passengers with origins and destinations in the South-East of England to other parts of the country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of value added tax levied in EEC countries on items relevant to the agricultural and horticultural sectors.

The rates are as follows:

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

[pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1981, c. 190]: The United Kingdom borrowed from the IMF SDR 700 million under the reserve tranche and SDR 700 million under the first credit tranche in 1976 and SDR 1,640 million under the 1977 standby arrangement. All the last Government's drawings under these credit tranches have now been repaid.There are still drawings of SDR 437·5 million outstanding out of the SDR 1000 million borrowed under the 1975 oil facility. This is scheduled to be repaid in seven quarterly instalments of SDR 62·5 million ending in January 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take action immediately to withdraw supplies of strontium 90 and all dangerous acids from schools in Northern Ireland.

No. Immediately after the recent theft of acids from some schools, a circular was issued to all schools and institutions of further education reminding them of the instructions already given on the storage of these substances, and, where appropriate, the level of stocks to be held. Instructions and guidance have also been given on the use and storage of strontium 90 in educational establishments.

asked the Secretary of state for Education and Science if his Department provides any assistance to any department of nursing in universities or any departments where nursing is the major subject.

Yes. Courses in nursing are offered by a number of universities in receipt of the Department's grants administered through the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of pupils in State schools taking modern languages study more than one such language.

This information is not collected by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which areas in the Principality suffer from a shortage of health visitors and district nurses, as referred to in paragraph 4.12 of "Care in Action".

"Care in Action" refers only to England. It is for health authorities in Wales to assess their own staffing requirements for health visitors and district nurses but they are aware of the high priority I attach to the domiciliary services.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of holdings over 65 acres under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1948, and the number of owner-occupied farms for the years 1970, 1975 and 1980.

The information in the form requested is not available.The total number of wholly rented holdings over 20 hectares in 1979, the latest year for which information is available, was 4,055. In addition, there were 1,540 holdings where 50 per cent. or more of the total area was rented.In 1970, 1975 and 1979 there were 18,502, 16,749 and 19,100 holdings of all sizes wholly owned and there were a further 4,541, 5,369 and 3,654 holdings respectively where the occupier owned 50 per cent. or more of the total area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for "succession" have been received by the Agricultural Land Tribunal in Wales; of this total, how many have been successful or unsuccessful; and what is the total of cases regarding "succession" which were settled before having come before the tribunal.

Between 1977 and 1980 the Agricultural Land Tribunal (Wales) received 183 succession applications under section 20(1) of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976; 46 were successful, 17 unsuccessful, 99 were withdrawn and 21 are being processed.I have no knowledge of agreements reached between interested parties without reference to the tribunal.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many agricultural holdings over 65 acres were let to tenants for each year between 1970 and 1981; and what proportion of lets for the period 1976 to 1981 was not made under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

From 1972 to 1979 the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will set up an inquiry into the cost of milk distribution in Wales.

No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 16 April 1981.—[Vol. 3, c. 224–25.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he will tabulate in the Official Report the gross and net cost of each of the "community schools" run by the European Economic Community in £ sterling at the current exchange rate and in ECUs, together with the number of pupils and teachers, full-time equivalents, at each school;(2) what is the cost of the community school at Culham expressed in £ sterling, including payments in other currencies calculated at the current exchange rate.

I have been asked to reply.These schools are not Community institutions but are estblished under the Statute of the European School. Information is not available in the form requested, but details are given below of the expenditure of each school in the calendar year 1980 and of the numbers of their pupils and full-time teachers in the school year 1980–81.The following table shows the budget expenditure of each of the European schools—other than the Culham European School—for the calendar year 1980, and includes the numbers of teachers and pupils at the schools for the current year 1980–81.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the international or European service community agreements relevant to the establishment and operation of the community school at Culham, together with any agreements made between the governors of the school and Her Majesty's Government concerning privileges to be accorded to the school or to members of its staff.

I have been asked to reply.The school at Culham is not a community school but was established by the Statute of the European School. No agreement has yet been concluded under article 28 of the statute between Her Majesty's Government and the board of governors of the European schools concerning privileges to be accorded to the school or to members of its staff.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the total number of pupils at the community school at Culham; how many are children of European Economic Community officials; how many are local children; how many staff there are; and how many of them are citizens of the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.There were 388 pupils at the beginning of the school year 1980–81, of whom 140 were entitled children whose parents work at the joint European Torus nuclear research project or are Community officials; the remainder come from homes in the surrounding area and include many whose parents are nationals of other States. Of the 41 teachers employed at the school, 16 are citizens of the United Kingdom.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement regarding the United Kingdom's proposed membership of the African Development Bank.

The president of the African Development Bank has informed me that the amended agreement establishing the bank, enabling non-regional countries to become members, entered into force on 16 February 1981. The president has now invited the United Kingdom to accede to the agreement in accordance with the general rules governing non-regional membership. I have informed him that the United Kingdom intends, subject to the approval of Parliament, to accede to the agreement. A copy of the agreement, as amended, will be laid before the House as soon as possible.Her Majesty's Government propose to subscribe to 10,832 shares, each of 10,000 bank units of account. This represents 6·19 per cent. of the new non-regional stock, which constitutes one-third of the increased capital stock of the bank. The cost of subscription to the shares will be £63,451,367. One-quarter of this sum, £15,862,842, will be paid-in and the rest callable. It is proposed to make payment in five equal annual instalments by the deposit of non-interest bearing, non-negotiable promissory notes. This capital subscription will be subject to the prior approval of the House of Commons under section 4 of the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980. A draft statutory instrument to authorise the payment will be laid before the House in due course. A draft Order in Council will also be laid before Parliament to provide for the necessary privileges and immunities to be conferred upon the bank with effect from our accession.The House will be aware that the United Kingdom has been a member since 1973 of the African development fund, which is an institution based on equal partnership between non-regional donor countries and the bank, set up to provide loans on concessional terms to its African member States for their economic and social development, and for the promotion of co-operation and increased international trade, particularly among such members.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress he has made in securing the release of funds due to Mr. C. E. Loveday of 17 St. Augustine's Avenue, Thorpe Bay, Essex, from Sri Lanka which have been delayed for a considerable period by exchange control in that country, details of which have been communicated to his Department.

The Sri Lanka authorities, with which this case has been discussed on several occasions, are well aware of our desire for an early decision. I shall let my hon. Friend know as soon as further information becomes available.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what advice the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is giving to passport applicants following the selective industrial action at the passport offices.

Passport applicants in Great Britain wishing to make short visits to Western Europe and Canada are being encouraged to obtain British visitor's passports from main Post Offices. In Northern Ireland British visitor's passports are obtainable from the Belfast Passport Agency. The public are also being advised to check in advance either by telephone or at a passport office before making applications for standard passports, particularly by post. Recently some passport offices have not been able to deal with postal applications and applicants wishing to travel abroad urgently are being advised to submit their applications by hand at a passport office. In certain cases, even this counter service is on a very limited scale.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will report on Her Majesty's Government's contribution to earthquake relief in Southern Italy.

The £0·5 million allocated by Her Majesty's Government for longer-term earthquake relief has been used to provide prefabricated units for social purposes in the villages of Serino and Solofra. They included an agricultural college, an old people's home, social centres, a school, and a community centre. The units were erected under the supervision of a small Royal Engineer management team. They were handed over to the Italian authorities on 9 May by Her Majesty's ambassador at Rome.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what further guidance he plans to give about the tape recording of questioning of suspects under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980.

While there are no plans to issue instructions specifically related either to tape recording of interrogations or to questioning under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980, my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and I are discussing with Scottish chief constables whether we should issue guidance on questioning and interrogation in general.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many representations he has received following the publication of the third report of the local radio working party; and how many of these supported the allocation of very high frequencies to community radio stations;(2) how many representations he has received supporting the allocation of very high frequencies to Radio Thamesmead and Greenwich Sound community radio stations;(3) when he expects to make a decision about the experimental allocation of very high frequencies to selected community radio stations; and if he will make a statement.

The third report of the local radio working party, which was published last December, contained recommendations for the expansion of BBC and independent local radio. It also examined in a preliminary way some of the issues involved in proposals for community radio, including the broadcasting policy issues and the question of frequencies. The report suggested that, if the Government wished to pursue the possibilty of community radio, further thoughts should be given to the question of a suitable regulatory framework and that this should be clarified before any experiments were set up.I have received over 500 representations and four petitions following the publication of the third report of the Home Office local radio working party in December. About 240 of the representations and the four petitions were in favour of some form of community radio development. Most expressed support for the allocation of frequencies to experimental community cable radio services. Until the replies have been analysed in detail I cannot say how many of the representations dealt with the specific question of the allocation of very high frequencies to community radio stations.I have received from Radio Thamesmead a petition with over 1,600 signatures in support of its application for a VHF allocation and a petition with over 3,800 signatures together with 34 letters indicating support for the allocation of a VHF frequency to Greenwich Sound.I am now considering the recommendations in the working party's third report in the light of the comments I have received, but I am not yet in a position to say when I shall announce my decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the convictions arising out of the unlawful possession or use of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, what percentage of the cases involved members of the West Indian community.

In 1979, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 10,535 convictions in the United Kingdom for the offence of unlawful possession of cannabis. Information is not available centrally for assessing the proportion of these convictions which involved members of the West Indian community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the following figures for Bedfordshire (a) the number of convictions for the unlawful possession or use of cannabis, (b) the age group in possession or using the same, (c) whether any particular ethnic group is involved and (d) of the suppliers who have been convicted, whether any ethnic groups have been involved.

In 1979, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were in the Bedfordshire police force area 45 convictions for the offence of unlawful possession of cannabis and five convictions for offences of unlawful supply of cannabis or possession with intent to supply cannabis unlawfully. Information on the ages of offenders could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information is not available centrally to assess the extent of the involvement of particular ethnic groups.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of experience in Bristol and elsewhere, it has been established that prohibiting the use of cannabis has been a source of tension between the police and the West Indian community.

The legal prohibition of the use of cannabis may well have been a source of tension between the police and the West Indian community, but chief officers of police are fully aware of the need to enforce the law impartially.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in staff training and discipline have been introduced at Dartmoor.

No changes in staff training arid discipline have been introduced at Dartmoor, but these matters, like other aspects of the management of all prison establishments including Dartmoor, are kept under continuing review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to improve record keeping at Birmingham prison.

As soon as a transcript of the remarks of the coroner during the recent inquest on Mr. Barry Prosser has been received it will be studied with a view to seeing what improvements can be made in record keeping. In the meantime, staff at the prison have reappraised and modified their records of treatment of prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake to restore the cuts made in prison officers' initial and in-service training in 1980.

No cuts were made in prison officers' initial training in 1980. As a result of industrial action by prison officers it was necessary to cancel a number of in-service courses at the prison service college in the last quarter of the year, as well as courses organised at regional and local levels. In-service training for prison officers is now functioning normally; every endeavour is being made by the prison department to deal with the backlog created by this disruption.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the approximate proportion of prison officers' training at the officer training schools devoted to security and control techniques, psychological and sociological aspects of imprisonment, and minimum use of force tactical intervention techniques for the use of force in riot control, respectively.

The prison officers' initial training at the officer training schools consists of a total of 297 sessions of 45 minutes each spread over eight weeks. Sixty-five sessions—22 per cent.—relate to security and control techniques, 21 sessions—7 per cent.—to psychological and sociological aspects of imprisonment and six sessions—2 per cent.—to minimum use of force tactical intervention—MUFTI—techniques for demonstration control.Officers also undergo development training at the training schools after 12 months service. On the development course 17 per cent. of the sessions are on security and control, and 14 per cent. are on psychological and sociological aspects of imprisonment. There is no MUFTI content.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has discussed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities the need to establish where water mains exist and the question of compensation to those who suffer from burst water mains; and whether he proposes new legislation affecting these matters.

Water authorities already know the location of their mains. As to compensation for bursts, I am in touch with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities following our commitment in another place to consider the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the length of time it will take to rehabilitate houses in Scotland which are below the tolerable standard at the present rate of progress.

It is not correct to assume that rehabilitation will necessarily be the appropriate treatment for all houses at present below the tolerable standard. However, the category of capital allocations from which local authorities make improvement grants has been increased by 13 per cent. in real terms since the Government took office.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent initiatives his Department has taken to promote Scottish exports.

My Department is in regular contact with Scottish exporters and is glad to give advice and assistance in conjunction with other Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends taking to reduce the perinatal mortality rate in Scotland.

I am glad to say that the provisional figures for 1980 confirm the continuing reduction in the perinatal mortality rate in Scotland. The rate has fallen from 21 per thousand in 1975 to 13 per thousand in 1980. In 1980 my right hon. Friend sent to health boards a report on perinatal care by the National Medical Consultative Committee, which he asked them to take account in their planning of the relevant services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of the cost of the assisted places scheme in its first full year of operation.

£800,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when next he expects to meet the Confederation of British Industry and the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss unemployment in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend and I have met representatives of both bodies on several occasions and have made it clear that we are prepared to meet them whenever this would be useful.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to make a statement on his conclusions on the Stodart report on local government in Scotland.

I hope to announce my conclusions before the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has completed his examinations of the responses to the consulative paper on road equivalent tariff to the Scottish islands; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has come to a decision about the application of the road equivalent tariff in determining assistance over sea transport costs; and if he will make a statement.

Consultations have brought out widely differing views on this complex matter. My right hon. Friend is giving the subject detailed and careful examination and will make a statement as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we have carried out our commitment to increase subsidies to island shipping services in real terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take further steps to alleviate unemployment in the age group 16-to-18 years and 18-to-25 years in the Dundee district.

Young people of these age groups in Dundee will benefit from the expansion of the youth opportunities programme and the introduction of the new community enterprise programme. The creation of new and permanent jobs is being encouraged both by the city's special development area status and by the activities of the Scottish Development Agency, which has instituted a major indstrial development programme there.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have come to Scotland since February 1980 to the present time; and how many jobs were lost in the same period.

Comprehensive information on job gains and losses is not available. However, selective financial assistance offered under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in the period February 1980 to March 1981 is expected to provide 16,810 new jobs over the next few years. The number of redundancies notified in Scotland in the same period was 70,260.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much unemployment has increased in North Lanarkshire since 1979; and what is the comparative national percentage unemployment level.

Over the period since April 1979, total unemployment in the North Lanarkshire travel-to-work area has increased by 11,900. The unemployment percentage rate in April 1981 was 18·5 per cent. compared with a rate of 12·7 per cent. for Scotland and 10·4 per cent. for the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many council houses have now been sold to sitting tenants under the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980.

The latest available information is that about 1,500 sales under the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 have already been concluded. Local authorities have received about 18,000 applications to purchase since the Act came into operation last October; the Scottish Special Housing Association and new towns have received about 1,240 applications. In addition to right to buy sales, a further 7,800 houses have been sold by local authorities, new towns and the Scottish Special Housing Association under the voluntary arrangements introduced before the passing of the Act and about 3,500 applications for voluntary sales are still being processed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the appointment of a new chairman for the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current state of the fishing industry in Scotland.

The long-term future of the fishing industry depends on the satisfactory negotiation of a common fisheries policy for which I and my right hon. Friend are continuing to work. In the meantime, the industry stands to benefit from the payment of aid totalling £25 million under the fishing vessel temporary support scheme 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect the Civil Service pay dispute has had on the administration of justice in Scotland.

A large number of courts were affected by absence of court staff on 9 March, 13 March, 1 April and 14 April; staff in the High Court of Justiciary. Court of Session and Aberdeen and Inverness sheriff courts were on strike for a week from 24 March; the work held over has been re-timetabled. At Glasgow and Edinburgh sheriff courts the strike has continued since 24 March, though a small number of staff remain at work at Glasgow. As a result of this action, only a limited amount of essential business is possible at Glasgow and Edinburgh sheriff courts and some summary cases are now time-barred. There has been some disruption to sittings of the High Court in Glasgow and Edinburgh and the authority of the High Court has been sought in a number of cases to extend the period during which a person can be held in custody after full committal. The position is being regularly monitored.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that business in the sheriff courts in Scotland can be carried on without disruption due to action by court staff; and if he will make a statement.

The withdrawal of labour by the specially trained and experienced court staff must adversely affect the disposal of court business and there can be no ready replacement. Arrangements have, however, been devised in Edinburgh and Glasgow sheriff courts, the only courts whose staff is on strike at present, for the sheriffs to sit unsupported. They are able to deal with emergency business and seek to dispose of such other work as they can, by arrangement with the parties; this very helpful contribution represents unfortunately only a very small proportion of all the outstanding work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discontinue the programme of test boring in Scotland; and if he will give an undertaking that no nuclear waste will be dumped there for 100 years.

The Government must ensure the continuation of a responsible long-term research programme in the United Kingdom into possible methods of disposing of high level radioactive waste of which geological disposal may be one. Meanwhile, there is no proposal to dispose of such waste in Scotland or elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consideration has been given to the report by Messrs Wilson and Gribble on the potential for a large coastal quarry in Scotland; and if he has reached any conclusion on possible sites.

The report has been sent to planning authorities and other interested bodies for their comments. I shall consider what further action to take once all the replies have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list the principal recommendations of the Scottish Council on Crime report, "Crime and the Prevention of Crime 1975", indicating which have been implemented and which have not; and what are the Government's intentions in regard to the latter.

The purpose of the Scottish Council on Crime's memorandum "Crime and the Prevention of Crime" was to identify and discuss the main issues involved in crime and its prevention rather than to produce specific recommendations for Government action. The memorandum does not therefore contain any general list of recommendations, but summarises the main issues in its final chapter. These issues and the action taken on them are as indicated below:

(1) the need for greater attention to the removal of opportunity for crimes of dishonesty: this is not primarily a matter for the Government, but for individual firms and members of the public;

(2) possible measures that might forestall certain crimes of violence were discussed. The council's main proposal here, that the police should be given the power to stop and search any person reasonably suspected of carrying an offensive weapon, was implemented in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 (the 1980 Act);

(3) the need for all those responsible for influencing public opinion to provide balanced information on the penalties imposed by courts and their consequences: successive Governments have taken appropriate action in this area;

(4) the need for any deficiencies in fines enforcement procedures to be dealt with: the Government have now legislated in the 1980 Act to improve procedures and are experimenting with the use of fines enforcement officers;

(5) the question of introducing a scheme of reparation by the offender to the victim of his crime: such a scheme was implemented by the Government under the 1980 Act, following the report of the Dunpark committee;

(6) the need to take certain groups of socially inadequate offenders out of the prison system; the Government have made provision in the 1980 Act to enable drunken offenders to be taken by the police to a designated place where their problems may be tackled, as an alternative to arrest.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of students from Scotland who are receiving grants from his Department to attend teacher training courses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Because of industrial action in the Scottish Office computer service, it is not possible at present to ascertain the number of such students. In session 1979–80 the number was 305.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1981, c. 217–18]: The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the average weekly earnings for agricultural workers; how these compare with workers in manufacturing and all industrial workers, respectively; and what were the corresponding figures for the past 10 years.

The most recent comparisons that can be made on a consistent basis are as below:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the average earnings for agricultural workers in each of the other member States of the European Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy herdsmen were made redundant in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

Information about redundancies in agriculture analysed by occupational class is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy producers ceased production in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. However, the table below shows the numbers of registered milk producers within the United Kingdom, at March in each of the last three years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor), Official Report, 5 May, c. 30, why he is not prepared to give details of commercial transactions involving the disposal of EEC butter; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the European Economic Community's intervention food stores headquarters in

No information is available for Greece. The most recent data from the statistical office of the European Communities giving average earnings on a comparable basis in other European Community member States relate to autumn 1979 and were as in column 2 of the following table:Great Britain will not divulge the names of grant-aided and independent schools which are taking advantage of the scheme providing subsidised food from their stores.

Because the identity of participants in these transactions is a matter of commercial confidence and because the cost of providing the information would be excessive.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting in Brussels on 12 May; and if he will make a statement.

Yesterday's meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers considered a number of points arising out of the price fixing negotiations.It was agreed, as a result of pressure from the United Kingdom, that the increase in the intervention price for raw sugar should be 7·5 per cent., one percentage point less than the price increase for white sugar. This will improve the margin of the United Kingdom cane refiner.The Council also discussed the arrangements for implementing a modification in the calculation of clawback on sheepmeat in intra-Community trade. We emphasised the importance of this to the United Kingdom and the urgent need to implement this element in the price fixing settlement. The Commission will be putting forward proposals as soon as possible. Despite French queries about their legality, the Commission confirmed that it was satisfied that its proposals would be within its powers.The Council also discussed the use of hormones in food producing animals. No final decisions were taken But the Council accepted in principle that the use of stilbenes and thyrostatic substances, whether as growth promoters or for therapeutic purposes, should be banned throughout the Community. The use of thyrostatic substances is already prohibited in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will list the percentage increases in pay during the last two years for each of the professional and technology grades (PTOs) in the Civil Service.

The following table lists the cumulative percentage increase in basic pay from the last two years' pay settlements for each grade in the professional and technology group:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will list and explain the disparities in the percentage increases in pay during the last two years for different employment groups within the Civil Service.

The following table gives the cumulative percentage increase in basic pay for each of the main non-industrial Civil Service employment groups from the last two years' pay settlements. The increases were negotiated on the basis of evidence about the rates paid for comparable work outside the Civil Service. They accordingly reflect variations in the pay of different employment groups outside and the differences in increases for individual grades within each group are embraced by the overall figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department spent on research and development in the year 1980–81; and how much it intends to spend in 1981–82.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the comparative figures per thousand civilian working population between Walsall travel-to-work area, the Black Country travel-to-work areas and the West Midlands of people unemployed for more than a year at the latest available date.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1981]: The latest date for which a duration analysis of the numbers unemployed is available is 15 January. In the following table the numbers registered as unemployed for over 52 weeks are expressed per 1,000 of the total numbers of employees—employed and unemployed—in the respective areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the numbers of unemployed in the (a) Walsall travel-to-work areas, (b) Black Country travel-to-work areas and (c) West Midlands on a monthly basis from March 1980 to March 1981.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1981]: The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed for the areas and dates specified. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give details of those locum consultant gynaecologists employed by the Kent and Sussex hospital in Bishops Stortford who are in receipt of salaries of £250 or more per week; and what hours per week are worked for these salaries.

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the Herts and Essex general hospital. Details of consultant contracts at this hospital are not held centrally, but, at current rates, a locum consultant whose contract is for at least eight sessions—notionally of 3½ hours each—will be paid £250 or more per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to conclude his review of the retirement arrangements for general practitioners.

The collection of information and review of its implications will take some time; I am not yet able to give a firm date for the conclusion of the exercise, but it is being pursued as quickly as resources permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what specified medical conditions now exempt sufferers from prescription charges under the National Health Service.

The list of specified medical conditions which confer exemption from prescription charges are:

• Addison's disease and other forms of hypoadrenalism,
• diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism,
• diabetes mellitus,
• hypoparathyroidism,
• myasthenia gravis,
• myxoedema;

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what change there has been in the number of prescriptions being taken up by the public following the increase in prescription charges to £1.

In the three months from September to November 1980, there were 81·0 million prescriptions dispensed in England and Wales and this rose to 81·9 million in the three months following the increase in the prescription charge from 70p to £1 on 1 December. Judging from trends over a five-year period, seasonal factors have often produced a greater increase in numbers of prescriptions dispensed but it is not possible to estimate what part of the change in numbers is due to the increase in prescription charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to restore to family practitioner committees the right of executive councils controlling their own budgets in order to emphasise general practitioners' independent contractor status.

The Government fully support the independent contractor status of general practitioners and have no plans to vary it.My right hon. Friend has recently issued a consultative paper on arrangements for the administration of family practitioner services. The paper discusses a number of options for the future organisation of family practitioner committees, including the option of giving them full employing authority status such as the former executive councils enjoyed. We shall consider carefully views expressed on this and alternative ways of securing effective collaboration between family practitioner committees and the new district health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the conditions covering unemployment benefit for share fishermen, having regard to the situation which arose in February where fishermen who could not work because of their skipper's dispute with the Government were not paid unemployment benefit.

No. The additional conditions in the Mariners' Benefit Regulations 1975, which share fishermen have to satisfy in order to be entitled to unemployment benefit, have been in existence for many years and I am satisfied that in general they operate fairly, given the special circumstances under which share fishermen work and claim unemployment benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government relating to the packaging of analgesics and the anticipated recommendations from the International Standards Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Regulations require all solid dose forms of aspirin and paracetamol, intended for retail sale, to be in opaque or dark tinted child-resistant containers. 'The containers are required to be either unit packages—bubbles, blisters, or other sealed units—selected with a view to their resistance to opening by children, having the dosage units separately enclosed, or reclosable containers complying with British Standard 5321 as amended by AMD 2077. The British standard relates to the methods of testing for child safety.The regulations allow pharmacists to supply the products in conventional containers if specially requested.Pharmacists and dispensing doctors are encouraged to supply all solid dose dispensed medicines in child-resistant containers, unless the patient particularly requests a conventional container or if he is likely to have difficulty in opening and reclosing a child-resistant variety, or where the manufacturer's original pack is so designed that transfer to a child-resistant container would be unnecessary.It would be unwise to anticipate any recommendations from the International Standards Organisation, but it may be that a standard for the testing of the child resistance of unit packaging will be proposed. The British Standards Institution is already considering the sort of testing which might be possible in drawing up a British standard.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of those currently being treated for unlawfully using drugs, including cannabis, are members of the West Indian community.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the recently published evidence that 10 per cent. of foetal malformations are the result of over consumption of alcohol by the mother during the first six weeks or so of pregnancy, he will undertake a study to examine this matter.

The Department has asked the Medical Research Council to consider as a priority the funding of research into the relationship between drinking in pregnancy and foetal harm. The Department and the Health Education Council currently advise women to keep alcohol intake to a minimum during pregnancy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider providing technical apparatus where appropriate to children below school leaving age to overcome sensory handicaps; and if he will make a statement.

In addition to those types of apparatus, with which the hon. Member will be familiar, which are provided from central funds, both health and social services authorities have powers to provide technical apparatus for individual use, both children and adults, where it is meeting a health or welfare need.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department will undertake to provide equipment of all sorts which enable handicapped children to obtain a normal education; if he will consider placing technical aids for communication and learning in the same category as spectacles and hearing aids; and if he will make a statement.

The contribution which technical aids may make in overcoming a communication handicap in children, particularly a speech impairment, requires careful assessment by a multi-disciplinary team, including professionals from both the health and education service. I am satisfied with the present position whereby, apart from equipment provided from central funds to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member today, provision through the National Health Service is determined locally according to the circumstances of each child's needs. Equipment necessary for purely educational purposes is a matter for the local education authority or school concerned and in either case costs arising must be met out of existing resource allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the period of time which now normally elapses in issuing entitlement to retirement pension after notification of intention to retire by the client.

Where a person intends to retire at pension age, there is normally no delay in putting pension into payment by the date of retirement. A person who retires after pension age is normally paid pension at an interim rate as soon as he retires and the calculation of the extra pension earned by deferred retirement does not usually take more than a few weeks.However, I regret, that as part of the Civil Service trade unions' campaign of industrial action, the contribution computer at the Department's Newcastle central office is inoperative. Whilst people currently reaching pension age and retiring are generally receiving their pensions at the proper time, in the case of those who have deferred their retirement beyond pension age it is not possible to calculate the extra pension due to them. The current arrangements provide for them to continue to receive interim payments of pension until their full entitlement can be calculated and paid together with arrears due to them.I greatly regret that the industrial action within my Department is having this effect. We are, of course, keeping the position under review from day to day and will take whatever action is practicable to protect the position of pensioners and other beneficiaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much his Department spent on research and development in the year 1980–81; and how much it intends to spend in 1981–82.

Expenditure on research and development in 1980–81 is expected to have been £39·8 million and for 1981–82 provision has been make for expenditure of £32·3 million. The 1980–81 figure included £13·8 million in respect of commissioned researh by the Medical Research Council which will be borne by the Department of Education and Science in 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth on 14 April, Official Report, Volume 88, column 95, indicating that 18,110 total hip replacements were carried out in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales in 1978, what are the reasons why figures for 1979 and 1980 are not yet available; and why information on the ages of patients is not readily available from central statistics.

The source of the information on total hip replacement given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 14 April—[Vol. 3, c. 95–6]—is the hospital in-patient inquiry. This inquiry is based on a 10 per cent. sample of in-patient records which are processed by regional health authorities before submission to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for validation, processing and summarisation. The nature of the records being analysed and the various stages which must be gone through mean that there is an inevitable time lag between the end of any one calendar year and the date by which final figures for that year are available.Tabulations routinely produced from the hospital in-patient inquiry are necessarily limited. These tabulations contain information on the ages of patients undergoing surgery for all forms of arthroplasty but not for the individual operation of hip replacement. Such information could be obtained only by producing a special tabulation at considerable cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth on 14 April, Official Report, Volume 88, column 95, stating that 82·8 per cent. of urgent cases awaiting hospital orthopaedic treatment in England were cases waiting more than one month, why statistics are not available centrally of the number of urgent cases awaiting treatment which have been waiting more than one year;(2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth on 14 April,

The Department's guidance is that health authorities should aim to admit within one month all patients on hospital in-patient waiting lists whose admission is described as "urgent" and to admit within one year all other waiting list patients. The statistical return from which the figures quoted are derived was designed to assess how far these specific objectives were being achieved; in order to limit the volume of statistics which authorities have to produce, only the information necessary for this purpose is collected.For this reason, I am unable to provide the precise information requested. The full breakdown of the total of 126,917 patients awaiting admission in the specialty of traumatic and orthopaedic surgery on 30 March 1980 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he is satisfied that the liaison between community services, voluntary services and all health authorities is adequate to make possible the earlier discharge of orthopaedic patients from hospital; and if he will make a statement;

I have made known to all health authorities my general support for the recommendations in the report of Professor Duthie's working party on tackling the problems of long waiting times for orthopaedic out-patient appointments and in-patient treatment. Authorities are responsible for deciding, in collaboration with the clinicians and all others concerned, including the community and voluntary services, what practical steps can appropriately be taken within the resources available locally. I expect them to make the fullest use of the working party's advice in reaching these decisions. I am encouraged by the welcome given to the report by the British Orthopaedic Association, which has supplied all its members with copies and has arranged meetings to discuss it with the chairman of regional orthopaedic sub-committees. I shall take a continuing interest in the response to the working party's report and will be considering in due course whether more specific guidance need be given to health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, following the identification by the Duthie report of the need for more complete and comparative statistical information to help health districts in assessing their own performance, if he will report on any proposals which his Department has for ensuring the availability of more complete and comparative statistical information.

A joint NHS/DHSS steering group under the chairmanship of Mrs. E. Körner, vice chairman of South-Western RHA, is at present reviewing health services information systems in the light of the needs both of the NHS and the Department. The steering group is giving priority to a review of information about hospital activity, including waiting times. The recommendation in the Duthie report about health districts' statistical information needs has been brought to its attention. It is expected that proposals will be published later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what public expenditure will be incurred in promoting his Department's campaign to motivate teenagers to seek contraceptive advice; and through which agencies such expenditure is to be chanelled.

The campaign will be run by the Health Education Council which has earmarked £170,000 for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what grants his Department is making to the Brook Advisory Centre in the current financial year; and for what purposes.

This is currently under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish his conclusions on the recent review of the Royal dockyards.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dunfermline (Mr. Douglas) on 17 March.—[Vol. 1, c. 86.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts are being made to salvage parts of phased-out equipment and recycle old material.

It is the normal practice of the Ministry to recover parts from phased-out equipment and to recycle old material whenever it is cost-effective to do so and there is a clear future need.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 6 May, Official Report, c. 87, that there have been contacts between his Department and a number of private sector companies about the future of the Royal ordnance factories, whether these contacts have discussed the separate sale of individual factories to the private sector; whether the contacts have mentioned the future of the Blackburn Royal ordnance factory; whether the private companies concerned have included Ferranti, Thorn-EMI, GEC, or Racal, and, if so, which of these; and if he will name any other private companies involved.

Private sector companies have naturally shown an interest in those ROFs which reflect the nature of their own present activities. Any such informal contacts should remain confidential

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 6 May, Official Report, c. 87, when the report of the study group on the Royal ordnance factory organisation will be published.

It has not been our normal practice to publish the reports of study groups. As I said in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 6 May—[Vol. 4, c. 87]—I hope to put forward proposals on the Royal ordnance factories before the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the fact that background information on the consultative document "Assistance with Housing Costs" is only available in the current month, he will extend the consultation period on the document and announce a new closing date for responses.

The additional information requested by the local authority associations on the Government's proposals set out in the consultative document "Assistance with Housing Costs" has been sent to them today. Copies of this information have been placed in the Library and made available generally. Although the associations may not be able to submit comments on the document by 15 May as requested, I hope they will be able to do so by the end of this month.Further checking and work on the estimates used to provide this additional further information on those who would lose and those who would gain if the Government's proposals were implemented show that minor corrections are needed to the tables of gainers and losers in Annex A, C and D of the consultative document.The revised figures are: