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

As I told the House on 13 May—[Vol. 4, c. 279–80]—the United Kingdom intends, subject to the approval of Parliament, to accede to membership of the African Development Bank. This decision was taken on the understanding that the amended agreement establishing the Bank, enabling non-regional countries to join, had entered into force.However, during the recent annual meeting of the bank's board of governors, held in Lomé from 11 to 15 May, the president of the bank told representatives of non-regional countries, including the United Kingdom, that ratification by the required number of regional members necessary to amend the bank's articles so as to allow non-regional countries to join, and to subscribe to its capital stock, had not in fact yet been completed. The president hoped that these would be completed soon so that non-regional accession could proceed.In the light of this, Her Majesty's Government will therefore await confirmation that the amendments have entered into force before asking parliamentary approval for the draft statutory instrument and the draft Order in Council referred to in my previous reply.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the 1980 annual report and accounts of the Commonwealth Development Corporation have been published; and if he will make copies available to hon. Members.

The report and accounts were published on 28 May and copies were laid before the House. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of both Houses.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the outcome of the European Community Development Council in Luxembourg on 28 April.

The Council adopted a resolution on world hunger, reaffirming its determination that the Community should contribute actively to the resolution of the problem. The Council agreed the Community's food aid programme for 1981 and discussed a draft framework regulation on food aid policy and management. It also agreed to undertake periodic evaluations of Community aid programmes. There were exchanges of views on North-South issues, on the forthcoming Paris conference on the least developed countries, and on Community aid to refugees, in the light of the outcome of the recent United Nations conference on assistance to African refugees.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what international steps the Government supported at the recent ministerial World Food Council to solve the problem of world hunger; and what conclusions the council reached.

In my speech I strongly supported the IMF's decision to introduce compensatory financing for cereals imports, the conclusion of an effective new wheat trade convention, with special provisions for developing countries, an extended food aid convention and a more assured international emergency food reserve with additional contributions from new donors, the more effective use of food aid to support the agricultural sector, and greater help for food and agriculture from the multilateral lending institutions. I am glad to say that all these steps, together with detailed proposals for national action by developing countries, were commended in the final conclusions of the council. I am placing copies of these conclusions, and of what I said, in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade on what grounds and on what evidence he has based his proposals for changing the present criteria on which the Registrar of Companies can refuse to register a company name.

Section 17 of the Companies Act 1948 provides that

"no company shall be registered by a name which, in the opinion of the"

"is undesirable."

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how may liquidations were declared during the year May 1979 to May 1980; what figures are available for the first quarter of 1981; and if he will break these figures down as between (a) compulsory liquidations and (b) voluntary liquidations, giving separate figures for England, Wales and Scotland.

Numbers of company liquidations are given in the table below. I regret that figures for England and Wales separately are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the activities of the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, of which the United Kingdom is a member.

Copies of the seventeenth annual report of the Eurocontrol Organisation, summarising its activities during 1979, have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Attorney-General, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Jarrow, 12 May 1981, Official Report, column 231, in which years there were more applicants than magistrates required; what method was used to determine the final list; and whether precautions were used to ensure that applicants did not wrongly assume that they had been turned down on the grounds of unsuitability.

In each of the three years 1978, 1979 and 1980 there were more applicants than new magistrates required for the South Tyneside bench, the number of appointments being respectively seven, nine and seven. It is the function of the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee to select for his consideration those candidates thought after interview to be the most suitable to fill the vacancies on the bench having regard to their personl qualities and the need to maintain reasonable balances of age, sex, occupation and geographical spread. It is made clear to candidates when they are interviewed that they will be considered among others and that, as the number of justices is limited, and the selection is influenced by the balances sought to be maintained, many who may be qualified and otherwise suitable cannot be recommended to the Lord Chancellor for appointment. Candidates are told that failure to gain appointment does not necessarily imply personal unsuitability.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the work in compiling the data for the public servants' Pay Research Unit review was fully completed or not.

The Civil Service Pay Research Unit has completed its work for the 1980 review, but following the suspension of the operation of the pay agreements the data it had collected were not delivered to the parties or processed by them under the normal procedures.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how much time in terms of total man-hours and as a percentage of total man-hours available has been spent by staff in each Department on work for each Select Committee in the last year for which figures are available.

This information is not available. Records do not exist in all Departments of the staff-time each one has spent on work for each of the Select Committees with which it has dealt.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements, for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 2 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 June.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the Sultan of Brunei.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Poland.

I have no present plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to meet leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what proportion of the Civil Service receives annual increments; and what the average value of increment is as a percentage of average Civil Service pay.

All but 1½ per cent. of non-industrial civil servants are on incremental scales, and about half are due for an annual increment during this financial year. On average increments are worth about 2·3 per cent. of total basic pay but the net cost this year allowing for savings from wastage and replacement by staff on lower incremental points is expected to be about ½ per cent. of the non-industrial pay bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether she expects population matters to be taken as a separate item on the agenda at the forthcoming Mexico summit.

The agenda for the Mexico summit in October will be discussed at a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of all participating countries in early August. It is not possible to forecast the outcome.

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to visit Wales.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

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

One and some 400.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young people under 18 years of age are unemployed in Northern Ireland at the most recent date; what plans he has to reduce this figure; and if he will make a statement.

On May 1981, 8,799 young people under 18 years of age were registered as unemployed. This included 6,665 school leavers who had not been previously employed. The total number of unemployed school leavers this year may be expected to follow the usual yearly pattern with substantial increases this month and in the next two months, followed by a gradual decrease thereafter.The Government are expanding the youth opportunities programme in Northern Ireland in 1981–82 to provide 10,000 places for unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds. This is an increase of 3,000 places on the level of provision in 1980–81, and is additional to other special employment measures and support for industrial development.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) soldiers, (b)policemen and (c) civil servants have been killed on duty in Northern Ireland in the last 10 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1981, c. 179]: Records are not kept in such a way that those soldiers and police officers who were killed whilst on duty can be readily identified: such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the total number of soldiers killed during the period 1 May 1971 to 31 May 1981 is 449; two of these were also civil servants. During the same period 145 police officers were killed. In addition to the two civil servants mentioned above, 11 others were killed whilst on duly during the same period. The figures do not include persons employed by statutory agencies of the Government in the Province; nor prison officers—none of whom has been killed whilst actually on duty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much, in the most recent convenient year, was expended by his Department in commissioning studies and reports by outside organisations or individuals.

Estimated expenditure in 1980–81 totalled £1·6 million, including £1 million on police scientific and technical support services and £0·35 million on law services research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on the reasons why the assistant commissioner of police of the Metropolis took until 13 May (Ref. No. TF 167/79/483 (BI)) to send a formal acknowledgement of the letter of the hon. Member for Newham, North-West of 24 April, which contained only the information that the letter's contents had been noted; what action has been or is to be taken on the matters raised; when a full reply will be sent; and whether he will arrange for such letters to be replied to more promptly.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students entered universities, polytechnics and other institutions of higher education, respectively, to study modern languages in the latest year for which figures are available.

The following information is in respect of entrants to study modem foreign languages in 1979–80 and the full-time figures cover both home and overseas students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what percentage the student to staff ratio has increased since May 1979 in British universities; and to what extent this has reduced the cost per student.

The provisional student to staff ratio in universities in Great Britain for the academic year 1979–80 is unchanged from its 1978–79 level of 9·3. The latest available recurrent unit cost comparison is for the financial years 1978–79 and 1979–80; in each case the figure was £4,175 at November 1980 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what factors his Department took into account in its decision to increase student grants by 7 per cent.

In coming to his decision to increase student grants for 1981–82 by an average 7 per cent. over the rates for 1980–81 my right hon. and learned Friend took into account the expected rise in living costs for students but he also allowed for an abatement of about 3 per cent. as a contribution to the Government's policy of restraining public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has given to the research councils about buying British goods.

Public purchasing policy is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry. The policy has been set out in a memorandum issued on 4 March 1981 by the National Economic Development Council. Officers of my Department have brought the policy to the notice of officers of the research councils by letter and in discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the Natural Environment Research Council has decided to have its new replacement vessel built in a Norwegian shipyard and not in a British one.

No decision has been made by the Natural Environment Research Council on the acquisition of a replacement vessel, nor on where the contract for such a vessel might be placed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what would be the net cost to the Exchequer of a 10 per cent. increase in participation in full-time education of 16 to 19-year-olds, taking into account savings in youth opportunity programme expenditure;(2) if he will estimate the marginal cost of a 10 per cent. increase in participation in full-time education amongst 16 to 19-year-olds, taking into account the use of capacity released by falling rolls.

No simple calculation is possible, because spare capacity is unevenly distributed throughout the country and not all will be suitable for the needs of those in the age group currently not participating in full-time education.On the assumption that the 50,000 additional students were distributed as at present between schools and further education, and the staffing ratios implied in current public expenditure plans were maintained for the whole of the age group, and that the expansion took place entirely in areas where appropriate spare physical capacity existed, the cost of expansion might be of the order of £65 million in a full year, 1982–83.It is not possible to give any estimate of possible compensating savings under the youth opportunities programme. Whilst an increase in staying on in full-time education would probably have some effect on the level of youth unemployment, the effect on the need for provision under the youth opportunities programme is not at all easily quantifiable, and could vary greatly as between areas of the country and types of opportunities available, with consequent unpredictable financial effects. Moreover, any savings would depend on the extent to which young people could be encouraged, in the absence in most cases of any financial incentives, to take advantage of additional educational provision in preference to a place on the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total cost to local eduation authorities in England and Wales of educational maintenance allowances for 16 to 19-year-olds participating in full-time education; and what will be the estimated costs for the next three years.

Educational maintenance allowances to school pupils over 16 in England and Wales under section 81 of the Education Act 1944 amounted to £3·7 million in the financial year 1979–80 at outturn prices. Figures of expenditure on discretionary grants to students in further education are not available separately for specific age groups. Estimates of expenditure for the next three years are not available centrally but the Government's expenditure plans allow for relevant provision per pupil-student to be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the total gross costs to local education authorities in England and Wales of paying to 16 to 19-year-olds currently participating in full-time education an educational maintenance allowance equivalent to the level of (a) supplementary benefit and (b) youth opportunities programme allowance.

About £485 million and £735 million annually respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average and gross cost per student in full-time education beyond the age of 16 years in (a) school, (b) sixth form college and (c) a college of further education.

Separate figures are not available for the different kinds of sixth form provision. Average apportioned figures for all over-16s in maintained secondary schools and further education are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive the report of the Cockcroft inquiry into the teaching of mathematics in schools.

This summer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received, and what response he has given, concerning the status of the Commercial Bank of Wales.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received many representations expressing concern that the present status of the Commercial Bank of Wales is threatened by the Bank of England's decision to grant it a deposit-taking licence rather than recognition as a bank under the Banking Act 1979. In reply the relevant provisions of the Banking Act have been explained together with the fact that the Bank of England's decision does not prevent the Commercial Bank of Wales from providing banking services or carrying on its existing business. In addition, the replies have explained that the Commercial Bank of Wales has appealed to the Chancellor under section 11 of the Banking Act against the Bank of England's decision, that the Chancellor has appointed the persons to hear this appeal on his behalf and that in these circumstances it would obviously not be right for him to comment on the Bank's decision until he has received the appointed persons' report. However, the representations received will be referred to the appointed persons so that the appointed persons can take them into account, as appropriate, in their report to the Chancellor.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider tax relief for all parents investing in the full-time education of their children as an alternative to the assisted places scheme.

No. Those who benefit most from the assisted places scheme are the least likely to benefit from tax relief.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many traders registered for value added tax have an annual turnover of £30,000 or less.

About 650,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of how much revenue would be lost if he were to raise the value added tax registration threshold from his proposed £15,000 to £30,000.

It is estimated that, if (i) the deregistration limit also was raised to £30,000 taxable turnover over a year and (ii) the proportion deregistering of those eligible to do so was similar to the proportions when the limit was raised in the past, the revenue loss would be about £60 million in a full year. Such a large increase in the limits could, however, cause such a change in the nature of the tax as to result in a substantially larger loss of revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the reason for the delay of the refund of £2,428·37 of value added tax alleged to be due to Mr. Gareth Rose, trading as Reflex Windows at 6A Bird Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, value added tax registration No. 307336867; and if he will indicate the date by which any refund due will be made.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 May 1981, c. 187]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar) on 6 April.—[Vol. 2, c. 186.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him regarding the payment of interest on outstanding value added tax owed to the farming industry; and whether he will ensure that, where sums of money are owed on value added tax repayments, other tax demands will be offset until the Government manage to repay these moneys.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 May 1981, c. 187]: Representations have been received from the National Farmers Union, the Confederation of British Industry and three hon. Members on behalf of farmers in respect of interest on outstanding repayments of VAT.As regards the last part of the question, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar) on 6 April 1981.—[Vol. 2, c. 186.1

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current value of United Kingdom gold and currency reserves.

At the end of May the United Kingdom official reserves stood at $26,487 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table illustrating the distributional effect between husbands and working wives of a change to independent taxation proposed in the Green Paper in taxation of husbands and wives in terms of the numbers gaining or losing under schemes 1 to 4.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the net extra yield of doubling the tax on one-armed bandits in clubs and public houses in the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1981, c. 128]: It is estimated that doubling the rates of licence duty on gaming machines, including those in clubs and public houses, would yield about £15 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer given on 12 June 1979, Official Report, c. 181–82, to the hon. Member for Birkenhead on the Inland Revenue anti-avoidance work.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1981, c. 128]: There are at present 311 staff employed in the inquiry branch, boards investigation office and the special offices—this figure includes 20 secretarial support staff at inquiry branch not included in the answer given to the hon. Member on 12 June 1979. The second London special office was opened in September 1979 and the sixth special office opened in Sheffield in June 1980. A seventh is due to be opened in Croydon this month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take powers to intervene with the charging policies of the clearing banks and other financial monopolies.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1981, c. 128]: No. In general, the Government look to competition to protect the interests of the consumer and do not believe in interfering with commercial decisions taken in the competitive marketplace. Powers to investigate monopolies and abuses of market position are already available under the Fair Trading and Competition Acts. I would, however, hope that given the importance of the clearing system in providing means of payment, the clearing banks would give reasonable notice of any changes in their tariffs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the current rate and scale of payment of (a) petroleum revenue tax and (b) corporation tax by the major companies operating in the North Sea.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 June 1981]: Yes, after the Budget proposals for changes to taxes on oil production.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether, in the survey of agricultural marginal land areas in Wales, all of those counties are being surveyed which presently contain areas designated under the European Economic Community less favoured areas directive;(2) if the Welsh Office Agriculture Department in its survey of agricultural marginal lands has survyed or intends to survey, land classified as grade 4 and 5 on the agricultural land classification map on Anglesey in the county of Gwynedd;(3) when, following the survey of possible additional areas to be included within the European Economic Community less favoured areas directive, a case for these additional areas is likely to be presented to the European Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Welsh Office Agriculture Department in its survey of agricultural marginal land has surveyed or intends to survey all land classified as grade 4 and 5 on the agricultural land classification map which lies outside the areas designated under the European Economic Community less favoured areas directive in the country of Gwynedd.

The survey has been completed in the "old counties" of mainland Wales all of which contain areas designated under the European Community's less-favoured areas directive. All land classified as grades 4 and 5 on the agricultural land classification map was included in the survey. The position of Anglesey is being considered as a separate but related issue. The Government have not given any undertaking either that the present less-favoured areas will be extended or that if they are, extra public funds will be available. Any case for extending the less-favoured areas in the United Kingdom as a whole could be ready for submission to the European Commission by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stockport, North on 21 May, Official Report, c. 173, what information he has as to when consultations on access to the Arans in Mid-Wales are likely to be completed.

We understand from the Snowdonia national park authority that proposals for public access to the Arans have been put to the Aran Society, and that the authority is awaiting a response.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the powers of the district auditor in relation to the Welsh water authority.

The powers of the district auditor when auditing the accounts of the Welsh water authority

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much of their single block housing investment programme allocations for 1980–81 each of the Welsh districts spent; and what was the distribution of Welsh districts of the recent extra allocation for 1981–82 made in addition to the initial allocation of £79·3 million.

Final expenditure by each Welsh district authority on housing in 1980–81 is not yet known. On the question of the supplementary allocations, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Anglesey (Mr. Best).

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, further to his answer of 18 May regarding district heating schemes, Official Report, c. 15, where these schemes are in operation; by whom they are run; and what assessment has been made of their effectiveness.

The information is as follows:are described in sections 154 to 167 of the Local Government Act 1972, which are applied to water authorities by virtue of paragraph 39 of schedule 3 to the Water Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those countries in the European Economic Community where coal is mined on a commercial scale, indicating in each case whether or not the owners or operators of the coal mines are liable for all mining subsidence damage, including consequential loss and depreciation in value of property.

Four countries, other than the United Kingdom, produce coal on a commercial scale in the European Economic Community: France, Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland. The regime governing liability for mining subsidence damage in each of these is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the historic cost for the initial fuel charge on each reactor, (b) the year or years in which the payments were made in each case and (c) the date when the initial fuel charge was loaded for each reactor for each of the following nuclear stations: Dungeness B, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinckley Point B, Dungeness A, Sizewell, Hinckley Point A, Oldbury, Trawsfynydd and Wylfa.

This is a matter for the CEGB.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of 15 May, Official Report, c. 381, regarding hydroelectric power stations in Wales, what are the five possible locations for (a) hydroelectric plants and (b) pumped storage schemes which are being reviewed; what is their respective potential installed generating capacity and electricity output; and whether the cheap energy produced will be used primarily for the benefit of the local community by promoting industrial development through the use of electricity.

Five potential locations for hydroelectric stations were examined in the early 1950s, in addition to Rheidol. I am informed by the CEGB that the sites were on the Conway Dwyryd, Glaslyn, Mawddach and Nant Ffrancon rivers. Of these, the scheme based on the Dwyryd was subsequently developed as the Ffestiniog pumped storage scheme. On the basis of these earlier estimates the potential installed capacity of the scheme at Nant Ffrancon was assessed to be of the order of 35 MW and that of the other three schemes of the order of 50 MW each.With respect to the Bowydd and Croesor pumped storage projects, generating capacities of over 2,000 MW were tentatively ascribed by the board to each scheme, but no need is seen at present for additional pumped storage capacity. Should any of these projects be developed, they would be fuly integrated into the national grid for the benefit of all consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the Government have decided to introduce oil production cuts.

No decision has been taken to impose production cuts. I shall review the position in the autumn and I shall give the industry proper notice of my intentions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to develop the role of the voluntary organisations in promoting energy conservation.

I am pleased to announce that the Department of Energy proposes to spend £104,500 in 1981–82 to stimulate the activities of voluntary organisations in promoting energy conservation. I believe that the voluntary sector can make an important contribution in this area.This expenditure is in three parts. First, the Department of Energy and the Manpower Services Commission will each contribute £11,500 this year towards the costs of the neighbourhood energy action programme. This has been set up by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, to develop community energy projects the purpose of which is to make available information and advice on practical self-help in energy saving, and to sponsor home insulation schemes. Secondly, I have allocated £18,000 for seed-corn grants, to encourage the establishment of new home insulation projects, through regional workshops and conferences, and the training of project leaders. Thirdly, up to £75,000 is available for project grants to meet the starting-up costs of particular insulation schemes sponsored by voluntary organisations, mainly using the long-term unemployed under MSC schemes. It is intended that these schemes should principally be of help to the elderly and disabled and others on low incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many jobs he envisages would be lost in the event of British Gas being divested of its entire retailing activity.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 June 1981]: The Government are currently considering the British Gas Corporation's role in the retail of domestic gas appliances, following the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of domestic gas appliances. No decisions have yet been taken. The numbers employed in the corporation's retailing activities are a matter for British Gas, and I will ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ensure that the safety and standards of servicing and installation work on gas appliances will be maintained in the event of British Gas having no role in such work if it lost its retailing activity.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 June 1981]: The Gas Safety Regulations 1972 lay down safety standards which must be complied with by all installers of gas appliances.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the involvement of British Gas in retailing activity; and if he will state what its future role should be.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 June 1981]: The Government are considering the British Gas Corporation's role in the retail of domestic gas appliances in the context of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of domestic gas appliances. No decisions have yet been taken. We have no plans to restrict any of the BGC's other retailing activities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the foods which contain Tartrazine.

Tartrazine is used in a wide range of manufactured foods, including breakfast cereals, biscuits and flour confectionery, chocolate and sugar confectionery, ice cream and ice lollies, dessert products, table jellies, dried and powdered food mixes, canned soups and vegetables, meat and fish products, pickles and sauces, preserves, snack foods and soft drinks. The colour is used only in some products in each of these categories, not all.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will require all food manufacturers to indicate on labels when Tartrazine is used in the product.

No. The Government's independent advisory committees have classified this additive among those acceptable for use in food. The committees are however reconsidering the labelling of additives generally.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has for the statement made by one of his officials in a letter of 28 October 1980 that food manufacturers, who are well aware of reports of reactions to Tartrazine, are usually very helpful in advising people who need to avoid it that the ingredient is present in their product.

My Department is constantly in touch with all interests concerned with the food industry as producers, manufacturers, sellers, or consumers and is therefore familiar with trade practice. In connection with the case the right hon. Member refers to, confirmation was obtained from a number of major food manufacturers that they would supply the information on request.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the costs of labelling the presence of specific additives in food.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the names of the additives used in food in the United Kingdom.

Most classes of additives are controlled by regulations made under the Food and Drugs Act 1955, specifying the additives which may be used and, as appropriate, the foods in which they may be used and the conditions of use.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the main reasons why generic terms, rather than specific additives, are permitted in the ingredient listing of food.

The regulations on food labelling have been made in the light of advice by the Government's independent advisory committees on what is necessary or desirable. The committees are at present reconsidering the labelling of additives.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the recommendation of the Food Additives Committee, that no colours be permitted in food specially prepared for infants and young children, has been fully accepted; and if colours are now excluded from all such foods.

The Food Additives and Contaminants Committee has been considering representations by all interested parties on this and the other recommendations made in its interim report on the review of the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations. We expect to issue proposals for new regulations after the completion of the committee's consideration. The majority of baby foods sold in the United Kingdom do not contain added colours, and the committee took the view that their use was not necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that section 1 of the Food and Drugs Act 1955 is being fully observed.

Enforcement of section 1 of the Food and Drugs Act 1955 is the responsibility of the local food and drugs authorities, but I have no reason to believe that it is not generally being observed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in London compared with May 1979.

At 14 May 1981 the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in Greater London was 270,590, compared with 134,050 at 10 May 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimate of the number of people under 25 years unemployed in the Greater London travel-to-work area.

At 9 April, the latest date for which an age analysis is available, the number of people under 25 years of age registered as unemployed in Greater London was 91,652.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he plans to appoint the ninth member of the Health and Safety Commission.

The commission as presently constituted is working well and the Act does not require the appointment of a ninth member. The local authorities already have two seats, and although one can see the arguments for appointing a ninth member with professonal and/or scientific experience, it would be difficult to find one who would adequately represent the great number of fields involved. In any event it is the Government's view that the interests of special groups are better covered by the commission's various advisory committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what funds the European Community has made available for the promotion of training in computer skills in the United Kingdom.

In 1980, allocations under the European social fund to the United Kingdom which can readily be identified as specifically for training in computer skills amounted to £689,697. In addition, a proportion of the fund's overall allocation goes towards computer skill training which forms part of other, more comprehensive training schemes. However, it is not possible to identify these further sums separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what timetable he has in mind regarding individual training boards, following the enactment of the Employment and Training Bill.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive the report of the Manpower Services Commission on future training arrangements in July. We will take and implement decisions on the future of individual industrial training boards as soon as possible after that, subject to progress on the Employment and Training Bill. The timing of any orders affecting individual boards will vary with the circumstances of the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that training centres operated by industrial training boards are not closed down as a result of the current slump in manufacturing industry.

It is mainly up to industry itself to ensure that sufficient training centres are maintained to cater for future skill needs. However the 25,000 places for apprentices and other long term trainees being supported under the Manpower Services Commission's training for skills programme help to preserve a considerable number of training facilities. Training centres operated by industrial training boards are also being used by the commission under its youth opportunities programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when next he plans to meet the chairman of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to discuss future developments in wage bargaining.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of ACAS from time to time to discuss a range of industrial relations issues. He has, however, no present plans to meet Mr. Lowry to discuss this specific matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what the number of days lost due to industrial disputes was in the second two months of 1981 compared with the same period in 1979.

The provisional estimate of the number of working days lost through industrial stoppages in March and April 1981 is 1·2 million compared with 2·2 million in the corresponding period in 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce a universal two-year training programme for young people at the age of 16 years who are not in full-time education.

A major objective of the proposals for new training initiatives published on 21 May is to move towards a position where all young people under the age of 18 who do not continue in full-time education have the opportunity of entering training or a period of planned work experience combining work-related training and education.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the provisions of the Employment Act 1980 relating to the closed shop.

The closed shop provisions of the Employment Act 1980 and the code of practice on closed shop agreements and arrangements have only been in effect since 15 August and 17 December 1980 respectively. When representative bodies in industry have commented upon the Green Paper on trade union immunities Cmnd. 8128 we will be in a better position to assess the overall impact of these measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to prevent the extension of the closed shop without reference to the opinions of employers concerned through restrictive clauses inserted into invitations to tender.

The Government deplore the practice of compelling non-union employees to become trade union members by restricting invitations to tender to firms employing union labour only. This is one of the areas for possible further legislation discussed in the Green Paper on trade union immunities. Consultations on the Green Paper are due to end on 30 June and I hope that everyone with direct experience of these practices will let me have his views.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received to date concerning the Green Paper "Trades Union Immunities"; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) and for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the changes in employee productivity in manufacturing industry in the current recession 1980–81 compared with that of 1974–75.

In the first quarter of 1981 output per head in manufacturing industries was nearly 6 per cent. below its average 1979 level. Between the peak and trough of the previous recession in 1973–75 it fell by nearly 5 per cent. Figures for output per man hour are not available, because no comprehensive information on hours worked exists which covers both manual and non-manual employees. However, the average weekly hours worked by an operative in manufacturing industries in the first quarter of 1981 was nearly 6 per cent. below its average 1979 level, a similar fall to that in output per head. The fall in average hours worked by an operative in the previous recession was just over 4 per cent., slightly less than the fall in output per head.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the picketing provisions of the Employment Act 1980.

We have had very few representations on the picketing provisions of the Employment Act. But it is clear that the vast majority of people believe that it was right to restrict lawful picketing to a picket's own place of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people at work, giving the proportion of the population of working age at work for years at convenient intervals over the past 35 years.

Following is the information readily available:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.

The visit, from 12 to 15 April, provided an opportunity to see West German vocational training facilities; to talk to those in the Federal Ministry of Labour and the Federal Labour Institute who administer the vocational training system; and to discuss matters of mutual interest with Dr. Ehrenberg, the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what means are available to apprentices made redundant by their firms to continue their training and obtain the necessary technical qualifications.

The main responsibility for helping redundant apprentices lies with the industry concerned assisted by the appropriate industrial training board. In the majority of cases continued training with another employer leading to the necessary technical qualifications is arranged. Where the industry's efforts are unsuccessful the Manpower Services Commission considers the provision of financial support to preserve the continuity of training. This support can take the form of grants to encourage placement with an employer or stopgap training whilst an employer is sought.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been declared by firms engaged in the engineering industry within the metropolitan borough of Stockport between May 1979 and May 1981.

There are no comprehensive statistics of redundancies. The number of redundancies in the engineering industry^*, involving 10 or more employees, so far reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in the metropolitan borough of Stockport† between May 1979 and April 1981 inclusive is 762‡.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made so far in the Manpower Services Commission's programme to persuade employers to employ more registered disabled workers.

The Manpower Services Commission's "Fit for Work" campaign is designed to create awareness amongst employers of the abilities and potential of disabled workers, and thus to encourage the provision of more and better employment opportunities for all disabled people including those not registered as disabled. The campaign therefore encourages employers to retain, train, and promote and develop their disabled employees as well as to recruit disabled workers.It is not possible to establish a direct link between the campaign and the figures for disabled people in jobs because of the many other factors involved. But I nevertheless believe that there will be a continuing need for campaigns like "Fit for Work" to ensure that disabled people obtain equal access to the opportunities available. It is for that reason that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend the Minister of State were both pleased to participate recently in a joint initiative launched by the Manpower Services Commission and BBC radio where programmes in one week focused on the need to encourage employers to consider the abilities of disabled people in all aspects of their employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the 3 per cent. disablement quota is being properly met on Merseyside, Ormskirk and in Kirkby; and what further steps he proposes to take so as to ensure that disabled people find employment.

In the areas in question the proportions of employers subject to a quota who employed 3 per cent. or more registered disabled people on 1 June 1980, the latest date for which information is available, were as follows: Merseyside 40·2 per cent., Ormskirk 48·4 per cent., Kirkby 62·8 per cent. The comparable figure for Great Britain was 35·1 per cent.The Manpower Services Commission is currently reviewing the quota scheme. I look forward to receiving the commission's recommendations soon on a future strategy for helping disabled people whether registered or unregistered to get and keep suitable jobs.I am not convinced that enough is being done generally to provide equality of opportunity for disabled people in all aspects of employment. The Government therefore fully endorsed the Manpower Services Commission's "Fit for Work" campaign on behalf of disabled people, which encourages employers to consider abilities first, rather than disabilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of anxieties regarding the future provision of employment for disabled people, he is satisfied that a two-year period will be adequate for the new committees for employment of disabled people to be tried out adequately; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration is being given to increasing the budget of community industry.

The overall size of the community industry scheme and its budget will be reviewed by the Government later this year as part of their general review of special measures for the unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent restrictive practices in British industry have diminished during the last two years, and whether he will make a statement.

There are difficulties about defining restrictive labour practices and measuring their incidence and my Department does not attempt to collect statistics on this subject. There is however some evidence that awareness is increasing on both sides of industry of the need to review existing practices in order to improve competitiveness. We have consistently urged managers to improve communications with their work force in order to create a greater understanding of the need for such changes.