asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will announce his programme for consultations with all sectors of the British gas industry, including consumers, prior to making any decisions on the findings of the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission published on 29 July 1980 under the title "Domestic Gas Appliances".

The Government have already consulted a wide range of organisations representing consumers, appliance manufacturers and retailers, the gas industry and its employees about the report. We shall take full account of the results of these consultations in making our decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to announce the Government's policy following the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the gas industry.

A statement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will seek to amend the Copyright Acts so that educational institutions may make recordings of audio visual television broadcasts without infringing copyright where the recordings are solely for educational use.

A comprehensive review of the whole of copyright law is now nearing completion and I expect to publish within the next few months a consultative document setting out our views and inviting public comment. The document will deal with the general problem of audio-video recording in the light of technological developments.

asked The Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister is she will list her public engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

asked The Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 4 June.

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

asked The Prime Minister whether she will take steps to ensure full co-ordination between those Government Departments responsible for policies that have a particular relevance to rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

I am satisfied with the present arrangements whereby, in England, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment takes the lead in monitoring the total effect of our policies on rural areas, consulting colleagues as necessary. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland the respective Secretaries of State fulfil a similar role.

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

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Mjinister when she next intends to meet the President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked The Prime Minister whether she will now pay an official visit to Israel, following her recent visit to Arab Gulf States.

I have no plans to visit Israel at present.

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.

I have had no such meetings since 2 June.

asked The Prime Minister how many public appointees will be paid more than (a) her expected emoluments, and (b) her potential pensionable emoluments as set out in the Official Report of 15 May.

Of those appointments made by the Government, including the National Health Service, some 314 people are paid more than the emoluments I will actually draw if Parliament approves the proposals set out in my announcement of 15 May and some 15 people are paid more than the total salary attached to the Office of Prime Minister. Figures for local authority appointments are not available centrally.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 4 March, Official Report, c. 116, if she is now able to give details of the new award to stimulate better use by British businesses of engineering and scientific talent at universities and polytechnics.

We have now decided to launch this award in the new academic year, with an announcement which will set out the full details, including the evaluation procedure. It is important to ensure that this announcement is co-ordinated with other possible initiatives in this field.

asked The Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the recent discussions at the Civil Service Department with representatives of the Civil Service trade unions.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State in reply to oral questions yesterday.—[Vol. 5, c. 922–26.] Discussions with the Civil Service unions are being continued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timing he anticipates for the implementation of the Boundary Commission's recommendations.

My right hon. Friend intends to lay the reports of the Boundary Commissions before Parliament as soon as practicable after receiving them. In the case of the commission for England, I understand that it is likely to have completed its review of all parliamentary constituencies by the end of 1982. The commission for Wales has only recently begun its review and is not yet able to say when it is likely to have completed it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on the present basis of known costs, what is the cost of imprisonment of a man serving 30 years in prison under conditions of maximum security.

During 1979–80, the latest year for which figures are available, the cost of keeping a male prisoner in a maximum security prison in England and Wales was £15,818. To project this cost over 30 years would require assumptions about the management of the prison system and of prisoners and future inflation rates that could only be speculative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what penalty he is considering introducing to ensure that importers of approved citizens band radio equipment comply with Home Office specifications;

The manufacture or importation of 27 MHz. radio-telephonic equipment will be permitted only if it conforms to the relevant specification, and meets the interference limits laid down in regulations. Manufacture or importation of equipment which does not conform to the specification will constitute, as now, an offence under wireless telegraphy legislation; and imported equipment will be liable to seizure and forfeiture as prohibited goods under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. It will be open to the Home Secretary to issue a notice under section 12 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 banning the sale of equipment which fails to meet the prescribed interference standards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will consider specifying in regulations governing the importation of citizens band radio equipment the application of manufacturers' serial numbers to the front of equipment and the application of such numbers at the point of manufacture as against at the point of distribution;(2) whether specification approval marks to be applied to the front of approved citizens band radio equipment can be of a type which is included in the process of manufacture as against a type that can be applied at the distribution stage.

In order to comply with the specifications issued by my Department equipment will need to carry a clear indication of its type number and name of manufacturer. A mark stamped or engraved on the front panel will indicate compliance with the relevant specification, and we would expect this marking to be carried out at the time of manufacture.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether arrangements being made to ensure that imported citizens band radio equipment meets specifications laid down by the Home Department include regular sample inspection procedures of import shipments at the point of entry.

It would not be feasible to arrange regular technical inspections. However, this equipment will be subject to normal Customs examination procedures and if there were grounds to suspect that equipment marked as complying with the Home Office specification did not in fact meet it, the goods would be detained pending technical inspection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take action against users of unlicensed pocket radiophones; and if he will make a statement.

The Post Office, acting as our agent in this field, does what it can to detect unlicensed radio transmitters of all descriptions. Its first priority is, however, to take action against those illicit activities which are a source of interference to authorised radio services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward measures to allow police forces to recover the total police costs associated with football matches from the clubs involved and to levy extra charges where the provision of large numbers of police is felt to be necessary to maintain order; and if he will make a statement.

No. The organisers have to meet the cost of providing police officers inside the ground, but the police have a general duty to preserve order in public places.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his replies to the horn. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 8 December 1980, Official Report, column 462, and 2 March 1981, Official Report, column 14, if he is yet able to make a statement on the future function, organisation, staffing and the financing of grants for research of the Home Office research unit.

No, but I hope to be able to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the total of 141,000 deaths followed by a post mortem examination were persons who were regularly receiving treatment for the condition from which that examination showed that they had died.

This information is not kept centrally, and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the replies to the hon. Members for Keighley and for Bradford, South (Mr. Torney) of 1 June, if he intends to publish the results of the Sutcliffe inquiry, or a summary of the results; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the review carried out by Mr. Byford will not be published, but it is my intention to make a statement about the outcome of the review when it has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current strength and establishment of the Special Patrol Group in the Metropolitan Police.

The current strength is 268 against an establishment of 281, which includes the increase in supervising officers following the review of the role and organisation of the group made by the deputy commissioner last year.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in the light of the behaviour of some British supporters at the England versus Switzerland football match, he will take steps to prevent those convicted as a result of these distubances, or any persons generally who are convicted of violent offences overseas, from travelling abroad for a period by removing passport facilities and other associated documents; and if he will make a statement.

No. I have every sympathy with the hon. Member's objectives, but the withdrawal of passport facilities in these circumstances would be unprecedented. In his exercise of the Royal Prerogative on passport issues the Secretary of State confines refusals to certain well-defined and exceptional circumstances. Extension to include persons convicted of certain crimes overseas would be difficult to confine.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, in the light of his reply of 20 May, Official Report, column 277, if he will institute an inquiry to determine how the Salvadorean army had access to ammunition made in Great Britain which was used in recent actions in El Salvador; and if he will give the last date on which licences were approved for the export of ammunition to El Salvador.

We have seen reports that an ICI 7mm Mauser ammunition label was found in El Salvador. ICI has not made ammunition under the ICI brand name since 1962, when its then subsidiary Imperial Metal Industries (IMI) was formed and took over ammunition manufacture. IMI last made ammunition of this type in April 1966.To the best of our knowledge the Salvadorean army is no longer equipped with weapons of this calibre, though it is possible that some may remain in service with territorial units, or have been captured by guerrilas.Approval was last given for the export of ammunition to El Salvador in July 1978 for 22 rim-fire small bore target ammunition for the El Salvador olympic committee.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement on the decision of the Crown Agents to make available £1·53 million for the early retirement of its staff.

This is a matter for the board of the Crown Agents. I understand however that the Crown Agents, in order to improve their efficiency, have been and are taking steps to restructure their administration and reduce staff costs. Staff reductions, which totalled some 10 per cent. in 1980 with a further 9 per cent. expected in 1981, have been achieved by a combination of natural wastage and early retirement. £1,533,000 has been set aside by the Crown Agents in their 1980 accounts to meet the cost of lump sum and annual compensation payable up to 1988 to employees who voluntarily accepted early retirement in 1980.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what response Her Majesty's Government are making to an appeal by the International Committee of the Red Cross for refugee relief in El Salvador.

I am glad to inform the House that we propose, subject to parliamentary approval, to contribute £100,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross for their relief work in El Salvador. Provision will be sought in the Summer Supplementary Estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has undertaken any investigations into the effect of sparsity of population on the cost of provision of health services for the purposes of distribution of financial resources to the various area health authorities in Wales; and what are the conclusions of any such study.

A research study into the effects of sparsity on the costs of providing health services in rural areas of Wales is being commissioned from the medical sociology research centre at University College, Swansea. It will commence shortly and will take two years to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department is prepared to give financial assistance to area health authorities for the publication of health education literature for schoolchildren through the Welsh language.

I have no plans to do so. Each area health authority is free to decide in the light of its own assessment of local priorities how much of its resources to devote to publication of health education literature in the Welsh language.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what latest estimate he has made of the number of married women in full-time employment in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The latest estimate of the number of married women in full-time employment in Wales, derived from the European Community labour force survey 1979, is 139,000 and relates to May 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many new firms started up in Wales during the last year; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The number of new manufacturing establishments employing at least 11, known to have opened in each of the years in question and which are still in operation, is as follows:

Year	No.
1970	50
1971	51
1972	45
1973	70
1974	54
1975	51

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his assessment of the factors causing the level of unemployment among construction workers in Wales to be 10 per cent. higher than in England and 8 per cent. higher than in Scotland.

The level of unemployment in the construction industry, which fluctuates significantly between regions at different points in time, is related to the health of the economy as a whole. The Government's policies are designed to reduce unemployment by restoring the economy to a position of sustained long-term growth.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ask the Certification Officer for trade unions and employers' associations to state separately in his annual report the number of union members in each union who have contracted out of contributing to the political levy, as well as, as at present, the total number who are exempt from contributing.

I am informed by the Certification Officer that information about the political funds of trade unions is contained in an appendix to his annual report. This shows, for each union with a political fund in excess of £10,000, the total number of trade union members and the number of members contributing to their union's political fund. It also provides information on the total number of union members and the number contributing to political funds for all trade unions with political funds. It is, therefore, already possible to determine from the Certification Officer's report the number of trade union members who are not contributing to political funds.This figure may include members who are exempt from contributing to a political fund because they have completed an exemption notice under the Trade Union Act 1913 as well as those who do not contribute to their union's political fund for other reasons. But no detailed analysis is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many homes of the elderly, poor and handicapped have been insulated under the Manpower Services Commission's special temporary employment programme and community enterprise programme; and if there are any plans for the extension of this scheme.

The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost to both the Manpower Services Commission and to sponsors of schemes that have undertaken insulation work under these programmes. About 40 schemes employing just under 600 people were sponsored under the special temporary employment programme. The community enterprise programme has been operating only since 1 April. It is not known how many insulation schemes are supported under it though we have asked the Manpower Services Commission to give special emphasis to schemes of this nature, and it is part funding a National Council of Voluntary Organisations initiative designed in part to promote suitable community enterprise programme schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of (a) all 16-year-olds, (b) all 17-year-olds, (c) all 18-year-olds and (d) all 16 to 19-year-olds are either (i) registered unemployed or (ii) youth opportunities programme students.

The information is not available in the form requested, but on 9 April, the latest date for which the quarterly unemployment by age analysis is available, there were the following numbers of young people registered as unemployed in Great Britain:

Age group	Number registered as unemployed	Unemployment rate
Under 18	148,738	17·4
18	112,952	17·2
Under 20	390,230	17·7

The unemployment rate expresses the number unemployed in that age group as a percentage of the estimated number of employees—both employed and unemployed—in that age group. While these figures are expressed to one decimal place, they should not be regarded as implying precision to that degree.It is estimated that at the end of April there were some 135,000 young people aged under 19 on the youth opportunities programme. This represents about 8 per cent. of the estimated number of employees—both in employment and unemployed—and those on the youth opportunities programme in that age group.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider transferring Her Majesty's Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate back to the Department of Environment as recommended in the fifth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution 1976.

The Government are considering the recommendations of the fifth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution including those relating to Her Majesty's Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate and a response will be given as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the 13-week restriction on pre-training opportunities programme courses is not preventing a large number of people who are unable to meet the required standards within the 13 weeks from progressing to further training opportunities programme courses.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 June 1981]: The training opportunities programme preparatory courses are not intended to cater for those who need intensive or protracted periods of remedial education. The courses provide basic language, literacy and numeracy training for those who can make best use of such training to gain entry to employment or further training. Following a recent review, literacy and numeracy courses are now shorter and more work related. Trainees are accepted for 13 weeks, with a facility for extension if necessary. By providing shorter courses the Manpower Services Commission has been able to maintain the number of preparatory course trainees at about 3,500 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is yet able to make a further statement on the future of the quota scheme for disabled people.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 June 1981]: I have not yet received the recommendations of the Manpower Services Commission on the future of the quota scheme. I am informed by the MSC that it will be reporting to me soon on the outcome of its review. No final decision on this issue will be taken until the recommendations have been given very careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons have been unemployed in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area for up to three months, up six months, up to nine months, up to 12 months, up to 18 months, up to two years and over two years.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 June 1981]: The following table gives for 9 April, the latest date for which the information is available, the numbers of people unemployed in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area who had been on the register for the lengths of time specified.

Up to 13 weeks	5,954
Over 13 and up to 26 weeks	4,173
Over 26 and up to 39 weeks	3,266
Over 39 and up to 52 weeks	2,178
Over 52 and up to 78 weeks	1,969
Over 78 and up to 104 weeks	902
Over 104 weeks	1,632

asked the Attorney-General whether he will take action to stop the practice of plea bargaining in serious criminal and murder cases.

No. The term "plea bargaining" is frequently used by those who do not understand the various possibilities which arise when a defendant expresses a willingness to plead guilty to a "lesser" offence to that with which he has been charged. In such circumstances the prosecution has the duty of deciding whether it is in the public interest that such a plea should be accepted. For example, where a defendant is charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm contrary to section 18 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, for which the maximum penalty is imprisonement for life, and is charged in the alternative with assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to section 47 of the same Act, for which the maximum penalty is five years imprisonment, a plea to the lesser offence could be accepted, subject to the agreement of the court, if the likely sentence would be no more than five years, whatever the verdict, in the knowledge that the court would reflect the seriousness of the harm done in the sentence imposed. No question of plea bargaining arises where the charge is murder and the evidence of diminished responsibility which can be adduced by the defence and is agreed by the Crown would clearly support a verdict of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. In such circumstances it would be wrong as a matter of course to forbid the prosecution to accept a plea to manslaughter.

asked the Attorney-General to what extent his decision to accept the plea on the claim of the defence in the Peter Sutcliffe murder trial of diminished responsibility was due to the advice offered by the Director of Public Prosecutions; and whether he will make a statement on the matters pertaining to this trial.

The Director of Public Prosecutions was aware that the defence were not proposing to contest that Sutcliffe killed the victims but that it was proposed to plead to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. I asked the director to discuss with me the medical evidence of four doctors. The director and I, with prosecuting counsel, conferred with two doctors instructed by the prosecution as to the effect of the medical evidence. As a result I agreed that it would be right to accept a plea to manslaughter principally because

(a) the medical evidence of all four doctors of diminished responsibility was unanimous;

(b) on a plea to manslaughter the judge would be able to pass a sentence of life imprisonment and the doctors were agreed that in their view, whether Sutcliffe was convicted of murder or manslaughter he should remain in custody for the rest of his natural life;

(c) it would spare the families of the victims many days of extensive press coverage and detailed knowledge of the horrifying injuries.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to ensure that all outstanding amounts of maintenance payments are dealt with by a court when considering arrears of maintenance payments under the summons procedure.

If the hon. Gentleman is referring to plans to amend section 32 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, there are at present no such plans under consideration. If the hon. Gentleman has some other proposal in mind perhaps he would be good enough to write to me or the Lord Chancellor with particulars of the proposal he has in mind.

asked the Attorney-General what method and criteria were used to determine the final list of magistrates on the Keighley magistrates' bench for the last three years.

The local advisory committee on justices of the peace considered in each of the last three years the requirements of the Keighley bench, and following the interviewing of the candidates decided on those they considered to be the most suitable to recommend to the Lord Chancellor for appointment. The primary consideration in the selection has been that the chosen candidates should be personally suitable in

Occupational Category	Nominated		1978 Candidates Rejected		Deferred
	M	F	M	F	M	F
1. Teachers	2	1	—	1	—	—
2. Other Professionals	4	2	3	1	1	—
3. Civil or Local Government Servants	2	—	1	—	—	—
4. Directors of National or large companies	—	—	—	—	—	—
5. Directors of small companies, managers, self-employed	2	—	2	—	—	—
6. Supervisory Staff	1	—	1	—	—	—
7. Other employees	1	1	—	1	—	—
8. Other categories	1	—	—	—	—	—
9. Housewives	—	5	—	—	—	3
Nominations received from all sources	13	9	—	—	—	—
Appointments made	6 male 3 female

Occupational Category	Nominated		1979 Candidates Rejected		Deferred
	M	F	M	F	M	F
1. Teachers	5	2	4	1	—	1
2. Other Professionals	3	2	1	2	—	—
3. Civil or Local Government Servants	—	—	—	—	—	—
4. Directors of National or large companies	1	—	1	—	—	—
5. Directors of small companies, managers, self-employed	1	1	1	—	—	—
6. Supervisory Staff	1	1	—	1	—	—
7. Other employees	—	3	—	2	—	—
8. Other categories	1	2	1	—	—	1
9. Housewives	—	3	—	—	—	1
Nominations received from all sources	12	14	—	—	—	—
Appointments made	4 male 5 female

Occupational Category	Nominated		1980 Candidates Rejected		Deferred
	M	F	M	F	M	F
1. Teachers	3	2	2	2	—	—
2. Other Professionals	2	1	—	1	—	—
3. Civil or Local Government Servants	1	—	—	—	—	—
4. Directors of National or large companies	—	—	—	—	—	—
5. Directors of small companies, managers, self-employed	2	2	1	1	—	—
6. Supervisory Staff	1	—	1	—	—	—
7. Other employees	—	—	—	—	—	—
8. Other categories	1	—	—	—	—	—
9. Housewives	—	3	—	3	—	—
Nominations received from all sources	10	8	—	—	—	—
Appointments made	6 male 2 female

asked the Attorney-General how many nominations were received from all sources by the secretary of Keighley magistrates' bench in each of the last three years; and if he will indicate the occupation and sex of the nominees and give the number rejected in each category.

The following table gives the information requested.

asked the Attorney-General if he will take steps to monitor the additional cost to public funds arising from the decision to close the smaller county courts like Fakeham in Norfolk.

Fakeham was closed in 1969. No decision to close a county court is taken without full and careful consultation, and detailed consideration of the probable effects of closure from both financial and other points of view. It is not considered that an automatic review in each case after closure would justify the use of public resources entailed. Factors other than finance enter intimately into all these decisions. If the hon. Gentleman has any other particular case in mind his representations to myself or the Lord Chancellor will be carefully considered.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the number of occasions when salaries of hon. Members have been adjusted in view of a committee's report; in how many of these cases the report's recommendations were implemented immediately and without adjustment; and in how many cases the report's recommendations have been delayed or amended prior to implementation.

I have been asked to reply.Since remuneration of MPs from public funds was introduced in 1911 there have been three reports on Members' salaries by Select Committees of the House of Commons, a report by a committee chaired by Sir Geoffrey Lawrence and five reports by the Review Body on Top Salaries—TSRB. Of these reports three were implemented in full, three were partially implemented, one was staged and one did not recommend an increase because of the existing economic climate. The most recent report of the TSRB has still to be debated by the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of reference of the current review of the effect of full-cost fees on overseas students; what opportunities interested educational organisations will have for participating in this review; and when he expects to complete it.

My Department, in conjunction with other Government Departments, is collecting and analysing data on overseas student enrolments over a period of years by type of institution, level of course and country of orgin. Preliminary data on enrolments last autumn have already been supplied to hon. Members and further data will be published in due course. Any review of the full cost fees policy would have to take into account these and subsequent years' data.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many and what percentage of (a) all 16-year-olds, (b) all 17-year olds, (c) all 18-year -olds and (d) all 16 to 19-year-olds are employed without part-time day education, not counting youth opportunities programme students.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his previous question on 30 April; no more recent or more detailed information is available.—[Vol. 3, c. 447.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the degree of autonomy or independence students unions will enjoy under the new arrangements.

That must depend on local circumstances. My right hon. and learned Friend did say, however, when announcing the new arrangements on 5 February 1980:

"I would expect that within the requirements of these new arrangements institutions will continue to afford their unions freedom in the management of their affairs".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in the light of the fact that the Middlesex polytechnic students union has decided to send a substantial sum to an organisation connected with the Provisional Irish Republican Army in order to indicate solidarity to the hunger strikers, he will introduce legislation to restrict the categories of expenditure of such bodies.

The decision was taken at a meeting attended by some 50 members of the union whose rules prescribe a quorum of 300 members. The decision was overwhelmingly rejected by a subsequent and properly constituted meeting of the union. Meanwhile, the High Court granted an application from the president-elect of the union for an injunction to stop the payment.I see no present need for legislation. The original decision of the Middlesex polytechnic students' union was ultra vires. I consider that the new arrangements for financing student unions, which will be introduced next term, should be an additional deterrent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his replies to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 27 November 1980, Official Report c. 159, if any further examples have been brought to his attention where teachers' salaries are being paid for partly or wholly by parental contributions; and, if so, if he will give details.

No further cases have been brought to the attention of my right hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the total current annual cost to local education authorities of teachers' salaries.

In 1979–80, the latest financial year for which information is available, total expenditure by local education authorities in England on teachers' salaries—including lecturers in further education establishments—was £3,811 million at outturn prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 29 January, Official Report, c. 498, if he is yet in a position to announce his consideration of the review of the functions of the Schools Council.

As my right hon. and learned Friend informed hon. Members on 5 March—[Vol. 997, c.449]—Mrs. Nancy Trenaman, principal of St. Anne's college, Oxford, has been asked to review the council's functions, constitution and methods of work, and to make recommendations. It is hoped that the review will be completed by the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the percentage of passes achieved by pupils sitting O and A level examinations in (a) sixth form colleges, (b) sixth forms in comprehensive schools and (c) sixth forms in grammar schools for the last year for which figures are available.

The A-level pass rates for English school leavers in 1979–80 from sixth form colleges, comprehensive schools for pupils up to age 18, and from grammar schools were as follows:

	'A' level pass rate per cent.
Sixth form colleges	76
Comprehensive schools up to 18	72
Grammar schools	79

These rates include the best result achieved in each subject attempted by the time of leaving school. No information is readily available on O-level results achieved in the sixth form.

asked the Chancellor of the Excehquer what is the current interest paid to investors in (a) premium bonds, and (b) index-linked retirement certificates; and how much money was spent promoting each of these investments in March 1981 and April 1981.

No interest is paid on either. The premium bond prize is equivalent to 7 per cent. of the value of the eligible bond, and the index-linked retirement certificates qualify for a bonus of 4 per cent. of the purchase price after five years.In March about £130,000 was spent promoting premium savings bonds and some £750,000 on the second index-linked issue of national savings certificates. The corresponding estimates for April are £13,000 and £450,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made within the International Monetary Fund on discussions about the creation of a substitution account.

The interim committee in Washington last September agreed to continue study of the subject of the substitution account. The fund intends to reexamine the technical aspects of a substitution account later this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the Government's review of capital taxation.

The review announced in the Budget Statement of 1979 evoked a widespread response and has helped to determine where changes can most usefully be made. This year, for example, representations have led to the introduction of a number of measures to help small firms, and next year legislation will be introduced on settled property. My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to make further progress when economic circumstances permit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the progress of the Government's policies in reducing inflation.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average annual rate of inflation since May 1979; and how this compares with the average annual rate of inflation between October 1951 and September 1964 and between June 1970 and February 1974.

The average annual rate of increase in the general index of retail prices between May 1979 and April 1981 was 17·1 per cent. The average annual rates for the two earlier periods were 3·2 per cent. and 9·5 per cent. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the rate of inflation over the next 12 months.

The forecast published at the time of the Budget was that the retail prices index might be 8 per cent. higher by mid-1982 than in mid-1981.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the current rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Government's policy is aimed at a continuing reduction in the rate of inflation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the total revenue flow into the British economy from North Sea oil operations, including tax revenue to the Exchequer for the financial years 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85.

The Government's latest estimate of the direct contribution of North Sea oil and gas to GNP were given in the March 1981 issue of Economic Progress Report, published by the Treasury. Estimates of Government revenues from North Sea oil and gas for the years to 1983–84 are also given there. The direct contribution of oil and gas to GNP is estimated to reach 5 per cent. by 1984, and total North Sea revenues are expected to account for about 6 per cent. of total general government receipts by 1983–84.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest estimate of all revenues from North Sea oil for the current financial year.

The latest estimate of all Government revenues from North Sea oil and gas for 1981–82 is £5,880 million. The composition of this figure is shown in table 19 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report and its footnotes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to make further cuts in public expenditure.

The annual survey of our plans for public expenditure has only just begun. It is at too early a stage for any proposals to have been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further public expenditure cuts he anticipates making in the current quarter.

We do not anticipate making any cuts in the Government's public expenditure plans in the time scale envisaged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered the tax implications of the report by the Occupational Pensions Board on transfer of benefits.

The Government will be giving careful consideration to all the implications of the report, including those affecting taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the current rate of economic growth.

I am satisfied with the progress being made towards establishing and improving the conditions necessary for sustainable economic growth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he now proposes to ensure a reduction in minimum lending rate.

The timing of changes in minimum lending rate will depend on continued progress in reducing inflation and on monetary and financial developments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his assessment of the outlook for mimimum lending rate over the next 12 months.

It is not the practice to forecast interest rate movements. Further reduction in interest rates must depend on further progress in reducing inflation and monetary growth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list the specific factors currently preventing a further reduction in minimum lending rate.

I described in my Budget Statement the factors which influence decisions about short-term interest rates. Further reductions in interest rates must depend on further progress in reducing inflation and monetary growth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the yield of income tax, corporation tax and value added tax respectively, in the financial year 1981–82.

I refer my hon. Friend to table 19 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report. In addition to the sums shown there for 1981–82, some receipts of income tax and VAT due in March 1981 have been delayed beyond 1980–81 as a result of industrial action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to increase the level of industrial building allowances for hotels and associated buildings; and if he will make a statement.

The level of capital allowances for hotels and associated buildings will be included in the forthcoming corporation tax review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will place in the Library a copy of his speech on pensions to the National Association of Pension Funds conference in Birmingham on 7 May.

A copy of the speech has been placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the gross domestic products of the United States of America, Japan and the European Community in the most recent convenient year.

Provisional OECD figures show that in 1980 the gross domestic product of the United States was $2,557 billion, in Japan it was $1,046 billion and in the European Community as a whole it was $2,790 billion. National figures have been converted into dollars at the average exchange rates for 1980.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now the total amount paid by the United Kingdom to the EEC since 1973; and what has been the total amount received in grants and subsidies.

The United Kingdom gross payment to the EEC between 1 January 1973 and 31 March 1981 amounted to £7,260 million. Receipts from the EEC between 1 January 1973 and 31 March 1981 amounted to £4,461 million. The figures for receipts include £336·5 million paid in the first quarter of this year under the supplementary measures scheme and £210·5 million paid in January 1981 under the financial mechanism.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest assessment of the prospects for the level of industrial production.

Recent months have seen a much slower decline in industrial production than during last year. This, together with indications of a generally more favourable business outlook, as evidenced for example by business opinion surveys, augurs well for the future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in cases where the collection of PAYE is not practicable, employers may make special arrangements with casual employees under regulation 50(1) of the Income Tax (Employments) Regulation 1973 without prior consultations with the Inland Revenue.

No. The special arrangements referred to in regulation 50(1) can be made only by the Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it took him until 27 May to send in effect a formal acknowledgement of the communication sent to him by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 25 April enclosing a letter from Kinsella &Co. concerning taxation of car allowances; what was contained in this note which could not have been sent earlier; and whether he will in future expedite both his acknowledgements and eventual replies to correspondence sent to him by hon. Members and their constituents.

An acknowledgement was sent for the hon. Gentleman's letter of 25 April on 28 April, and a further interim reply was sent on 27 May informing him that I was not yet in a position to reply substantively. The matter about which the hon. Gentleman wrote to me is still under consideration, and I will send him a full reply as soon as I am able.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total tax burden as a proportion of gross national product on 1 April in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981; and what is now the estimated figure.

Figures for the total tax burden are available only on an annual basis. Estimates of the tax burden for the financial years 1978–79 to 1981–82 were given in the written reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 23 March 1981—[Vol. 1, c. 232.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his latest estimate of the amount of revenue which would be forgone if value added tax were not to be levied on repairs to listed buildings.

I regret that information from which to make an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will urgently seek to pay dispensing chemists their value added tax entitlements in view of the cash flow problems being experienced by them; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost of the Civil Service dispute so far caused by delay in receipt of Government revenue and other costs.

At the end of May the cumulative backlog of revenue delayed by the Civil Service dispute was estimated at £3 billion to £3½ billion. This delay in collecting the revenue is estimated to have cost approximately £40 million by way of interest so far.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any proposals on the business start-up scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. The Government beleive that the scheme will make a major contribution to the financing of new business start-ups. In response to representations which I have received. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary is tabling today a number of amendments which will ensure that the benefits of the scheme extend over as wide an area as possible, consistent with the basic objectives of the scheme and the view of priorities which it reflects. The following is a statement issued by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer today:

I announced the Business Start-up Scheme in my Budget as a new and effective incentive, to meet difficulty which people starting up their own company often face in attracting sufficient risk capital to finance it during its critical early years—sometimes called the "equity gap".

It is designed to encourage the outside investor (as distinct from the entrepreneur himself) to put up the risk capital necessary (in addition to the entrepreneur's own equity) in a new business (before it can hope to have established a track record), in a wide range of manufacturing, service and other activities and to achieve this in a cost-effective way.

Investment of this kind is inevitably risky. I have therefore designed the new incentive to shift the existing odds dramatically in favour of the investor—to cushion the risk of loss and to multiply the opportunity of profit. The scheme will give relief at the investor's full marginal tax rate, including the investment income surcharge. Where the investor subscribes for £10,000 of shares in any one year, the Exchequer will repay up to £7,500. Where the investor subscribes for £30,000 over the 3 years of the scheme, the Exchequer will repay up to £22,500. And this will be in addition to the normal tax reliefs available as the money is in turn invested by the company.

Since the scheme is designed to give this very generous new tax incentive for a precisely defined purpose, rules are needed, and complication is unavoidable. But when all the details are finally settled and understood, I am sure that investors and their professional advisers will see that we are putting on to the Statute Book a tax incentive unparalleled in any major Western country.

I have considered very carefully the many suggestions which have been made for extending the scope of the scheme. In many cases these would be inconsistent with the objectives that I have set. I have considered sympathetically a range of ideas designed to strengthen the operation of the scheme. Today, the Government have tabled a number of amendments and will be prepared to accept the intention behind some already on the Order Paper. Some of them are essentially technical. But others will ease some of the basic ground rules. And my colleagues will of course listen very carefully to the views expressed, when the clauses are debated in Standing Committee shortly.

The most important changes will be:

• relief will be available for the first 5 years (previously 3 years) of the life of the new business; relief will be available on up to 50 per cent. (previously 30 per cent.) of the ordinary share capital of the company;
• relief will be available where the company has one or more 100 per cent. owned subsidiaries, each of which would also qualify under the scheme; relief will be available for investment in more than one class of ordinary shares;
• relief will be available even though a company has fixed rate preference shares;
• relief will be available where a brother or sister is the investor;
• there will be some relaxation of the rules about circumstances in which relief can be withdrawn and in the corresponding interest provisions;
• relief will not be prejudiced where the investor receives fees from the company in his capacity as a professional man or trader.
• These amendments add to the attractiveness of the scheme and will, I am sure, lead to a good take up.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received from individuals and companies concerning the provisions of clause 34 of the Finance Bill; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 June 1981, c. 264]: We have received a substantial number of representations. These have in general recognised the problem which the clause seeks to meet, but have expressed a number of reservations about the likely effect of the proposals. In view of this, we have decided to withdraw the clause from this year's Finance Bill; we shall be undertaking consultations with the representative bodies involved, with the aim of bringing forward revised proposals next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent human placenta may be used satisfactorily in research as a substitute for live animals.