asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much oil is refined, and electricity generated per head of population in Wales; and what percentages these consist of total United Kindom production in oil, gas and electricity.

Refinery throughput of crude and process oil in Wales in 1980 amounted to 20·1 million tonnes whilst eletricity generated by the public supply sytem was 23·4 TWh. These are equivalent to 7·2 tonnes and 8·4 MWh per head of population in Wales. The refinery throughput was equivalent to 25 per cent. of United Kingdom indigenous production of crude oil, including condensates and petroleum gases derived at onshore treatment plants, whilst the electricity generated constituted 8·8 per cent. of total public supply generation in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of total fixed investment in the United Kingdom coal industry has been financed by loans from the European Coal and Steel Community or the European Investment Bank.

Over the last five years loans received from the European Coal and Steel Community have represented the followiong proportions of total investment expenditure by the National Coal Board:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain whether or not the most recent generally applied increase in the retail price of petrol was justified.

No. Retail petrol prices are set by the retailer, taking account of his individual circumstances including costs. Higher wholesale prices, reflecting changes in published schedule prices and removal of selective price support, are a commercial matter for the oil companies who have been reporting substantial losses on their product marketing operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of offshore supply work in 1980 went to (a) British-registered companies and (b) British-owned companies.

The United Kingdom share of orders placed in 1980 was 71 per cent. as noted in the Secretary of State for Energy's report to Parliament,

"Development of the oil and gas resources of the United Kingdom 1981".

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take action in respect of the British National Oil Corporation to investigate the employment of British workers from tax haven companies.

Details of the arrangements made between the British National Oil Corporation and its contractors are a commercial matter for the Corporation, and I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy in what ways his Department carries out the provisions of section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968.

In exercising my statutory powers relating to energy projects involving the development of land, I have full regard to representations made at public inquiries and by interested parties in other ways, including any views I may receive from the Countryside Commission and the Nature Conservancy Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in view of the statement, Official Report, 17 June, column 1071, that £2 million has been used by the British Gas Corporation in its campaign against the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the sale of domestic gas appliances, if he will reconsider the appointment of Sir Dennis Rooke as chairman of the British Gas Corporation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made on the CHP/DH feasibility programme.

On 12 March 1981 I announced the nine locations where more detailed work under the CHP/DH feasibility programme will be undertaken. This work will include market and engineering surveys to be carried out by consultants. The Department has appointed Research Surveys of Great Britain Ltd. to carry out the market survey work in all locations, and subject to the satisfactory conclusion of contractual negotiations, intends to appoint the following consultants to carry out the engineering studies:

• Belfast—Pell Frischman and Partners
• Edinburgh—Douglas MacKenzie and Partners
• Glasgow—CHP Group Consultants
• Leicester—NIFES
• Liverpool—CHP Group Consultants
• London (East/Central)—Orchard Partners
• Manchester—Donald Smith, Seymour and Rooley
• Sheffield—NIFES
• Newcastle/Gateshead—Merz and McLellan

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of the Inland Revenue have been involved in disruptive action during the current Civil Service pay dispute; and what percentage of total staff this figure represents.

About 54,900 Inland Revenue employees, or 72 per cent. of total staff, have been involved in industrial action during the current dispute. Most cases involved absence for one or two days only but at 11 June 2,149 Revenue employees, or 3 per cent. of total staff, were on indefinite strike or had been temporarily relieved from duty without pay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give figures for the United Kingdom's tax take to date in the North Sea for the United Kingdom continental shelf oil and gas production as a percentage of (a) gross turnover of oil and gas and (b) profits recorded by the operating company;(2) if he will provide, in respect of oil and gas takes for the United Kingdom continental shelf, estimates for

I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure the renegotiation of double tax agreements, for example with the Netherlands, to ensure that North Sea supply companies registered from countries such as the Netherlands Antilles will become liable to tax under section 38 of the Finance Act 1973.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the value of North Sea supply contracts placed with foreign-registered companies liable for tax under section 38 of the Finance Act 1973.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of man hours lost in the Inland Revenue over the past six months by the attendance of staff at union meetings organised during working hours; and what are the rules governing attendance of staff at such meetings.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 June 1981]: An estimate of the time spent by Inland Revenue staff at union meetings could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.Under the provisions of the agreement on trade union facilities managers of offices in the Inland Revenue may allow staff time off for the purpose of attending meetings held to conduct union election business. Time off for other purposes may be allowed with the authority of senior management in the Department. Such authority is given only when it is in the interests of the Department and where attendance contributes to good industrial relations. Pay is stopped when staff attend meetings in working hours without permission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the ratio of exports to gross domestic product in the United Kingdom in each year since 1960.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 June 1981]: Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Mr. John Ewen and Mr. Mike Hansen on the proposals for a community service for young people made by Youth Call; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill on 8 June, Official Report, column 6, whether the Scottish Home and Health Department intends to take any steps to increase the number of specialist posts in rheumatology in Scotland.

Such decisions rest with health boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the current arrangements for the mentally handicapped in Scotland; and if he will undertake a review of accommodation, staffing and financing in respect of their care.

The Peters report on services for the mentally handicapped in Scotland, entitled "A Better Life", published in 1979 as one of a series of reports from the programme planning group on mental disorder set up jointly by the Scottish Health Service Planning Council and the Advisory Council on Social Work, dealt thoroughly with the current arrangements for the mentally handicapped in Scotland, and I do not think a further review is necessary. Relevant recommendations were also made in the reports of the committees of inquiry into mental handicap nursing and care—the Jay report, Cmnd. 7468—and into the education of handicapped children and young people—the Warnock report, Cmnd. 7212—presented to Parliament in March 1979 and May 1978, respectively. The Government have urged that priority should be given to the accommodation and care of the mentally handicapped in the community rather than in large hospitals, but this is a matter for health boards and local authorities to determine jointly having regard to the resources available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in respect of teachers in Scotland, he will state for each year from 1975–76 to 1980–81 (a) the contribution of (i) employees and (ii) employers to pension funds in respect of the future basic benefits of serving staff, expressed as a percentage of total annual salaries paid to such employees of the stated years and (b) the contribution of the employer or Exchequer for the pension increases attributable to index linking of the current pensioners for the stated years, expressed as a percentage of total annual salaries paid for the stated years to employees contributing to pension funds in respect of the future basic benefits of serving staff.

The rate of contributions paid by employees under the Scottish teachers' superannuation scheme for the years in question was 6 per cent. of pensionable salary. The rates paid by employers were 8·7 per cent. for the years 1975–76 to 1979–80 and 8 per cent. for the year 1980–81.Pensions increases are met by the Exchequer. The cost, expressed as a percentage of total annual pensionable salaries, was as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 June.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including one with the Iraqi Minister of Trade. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet the United Kingdom NATO partners at Heads of Government level.

No date has been fixed for a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government.

asked the Prime Minister what recent assessment has been made of the effect of the Government's economic policies on the employment opportunities for young people.

The Government's policies seek to achieve a sustained improvement in the economy through a reduction of inflation and the promotion of enterprise and initiative. Inflation is being reduced and industry is beginning to tackle fundamental problems that have long been neglected. It will take time before the benefits are apparent in terms of lower unemployment and meanwhile we are protecting those hardest hit, particularly young people, through the special employment measures.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will consider the appointment of one or two extra Parliamentary Under-Secretaries to the Welsh Office so that the treatment of the Principality is nearer to that being given in administration for Scotland.

I see no need to expand further the size of the ministerial team at the Welsh Office which was, of course, increased by one in the mid-1970s. The Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for a wider range of functions, covering a larger population.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish the Central Policy Review Staff study on main line electrification or its conclusions.

No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has already made a statement to the House giving the Government's decisions on main line electrification. The joint report by officials of the Department of Transport and the railways board on this subject has already been published. It would not be appropriate to publish the confidential advice given to Ministers by the CPRS.

asked the Prime Minister whether she proposes to correct her answer, Official Report, 2 June 1981, col 773, on the proportion of the population in work in European countries; and whether she will give the figures for all European countries, including Sweden, Switzerland and the East European countries.

In answering the right hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Foot), I was referring to the countries of the European Community. The full figures for those countries are as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to allay public disquiet arising from the attribution to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales by the Mayor of New York of certain remarks relating to Northern Ireland.

I understand that the Mayor of New York was reporting that the Prince of Wales looked forward to the day when it would be possible to reduce substantially the number of British troops in Northern Ireland. I know that this is a goal shared by the vast majority of Members of this House.

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 not met any hon. Member to discuss a specific factory closure since 18 June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much psychotherapy or other treatment is provided at Wakefield, Gloucester and Maidstone prisons; what kind of treatment is given; and how much research has been undertaken to assess its effectiveness at these special units.

All three prisons are visited by consultant psychiatrists. The number and the hours for which they are employed vary according to the need of the establishment and is regularly reviewed. The psychiatrist decides whether the patient referred to him would benefit most from individual or group counselling and both methods may be used. Psychotherapy is a conventional treatment commonly in use in medical practice and research is not being undertaken into its effectiveness in these prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what type of régime is provided in the special units at Wakefield, Gloucester and Maidstone prisons; and for how long prisoners are allowed out of their cells on weekdays and at weekends.

The régimes of the rule 43 special units at Wakefield, Gloucester and Maidstone prisons are designed to maximise opportunities for the inmates to live in association: emphasis is placed on work, education services, recreational activities and exercise. Inmates at these establishments are allowed out of their cells for approximately 11, 13 and 13½ hours respectively on weekdays and 12½, 9½ and 11 hours at weekends.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action to implement the recommendations of the fifth conference of directors of prison administrations at Strasbourg that specialist prison staff should, in addition to dealing with prisoners, hold frequent exchanges of view with prison staff, and that staff should receive in-service training in order to undertake specialist tasks such as group counselling.

Specialist and non-specialist prison staff frequently exchange views both about individual prisoners and about broader penal issues.Where operational circumstances allow, prison staff are encouraged to undertake social work and counselling tasks and are given the training and support necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether steps are now being taken to find alternatives to the LD 50 test which the Advisory Committee on the Administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1976 was asked to investigate in 1977.

The advisory committee, which reported on this test in 1979, said that

"at the present time for the proper safety evaluation of new substances some acute and chronic toxicity tests must be carried out on whole live animals"

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy regarding the use of police dogs in demonstrations; and what guidance has been given by his Department regarding the use of police dogs in demonstrations.

The use of police dogs is a matter within the operational discretion of chief officers of police. Some guidance is contained in the Home Office consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many jobs his Department estimates have been created in the United Kingdom, excluding the oil industry since 1973 through inward industrial investment in the United Kingdom from: the United States, Japan, and other European Community member States.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much has been spent by the European Community on research and development work in each year since 1975;

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in what ways his Department carries out the provisions of the Countryside Act 1968.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the recommendation in the alternative rural services report that transport to main surgeries needs considerable improvement to prevent a deterioration in medical services; and if he will make financial assistance available in badly affected areas.

Problems of access to doctors' surgeries and other health facilities are best dealt with locally where, as the report suggests, a number of ways of making improvements already exist. I do not regard central financing arrangements as the answer; it is for the local health authorities to judge the extent to which they should use resources to improve access to health care.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the light of the fact that self-employed

The data requested, except for the breakdown between research sectors, are given in the following table. All expenditure figures have been expressed in millions of pounds sterling. The request for expenditure by the European Community has been answered in terms of appropriationsR J 2–10 allocated to research and development by the Commission of the European Communities. An analysis by objectives is provided in table 6 of Eurostat publication "Government Financing of Research and Development", issues 1977, 1978 and 1980, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library, from which the figures in the table have been derived.persons, who have discontinued trading and have no income, are required to submit accounting evidence from an accountant or solicitor and that as a consequence delays can be experienced before benefit is payable, whether, to avoid hardship, he will review the arrangements to enable interim benefit to be paid subject to repayment if evidence of discontinuation of business is not received or is unsatisfactory.

Where a self-employed person ceases trading, the Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Regulations provide that he is treated as continuing in remunerative full-time work for a further period of 14 days and is not, therefore, eligible for supplementary benefit. This rule is the counterpart to the rule for employed people who cease employment, who are treated as continuing in full-time work for a period equal to that covered by their final earnings.Decisions on claims for supplementary benefit are made by the independent adjudicating authorities, the benefit officer in the first instance. After the 14-day period mentioned above, a self-employed person would be eligible for supplementary benefit, subject to the normal rules—for example, the requirement to register and be available for work. The benefit officer may need to see accounting evidence of the state of the business, for example, to determine when self-employment actually ceased and to establish the value of any capital assets of the business. Where any delay occasioned by the need to obtain this information would result in hardship, payment of supplementary benefit may be made in urgent cases under the Supplementary Benefit (Urgent Cases) Regulations.If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and would like to let me have the details, I shall be pleased to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will cause to be printed in the Official Report details of any proposals to pay social security benefits on a monthly basis.

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's statement on 12 May.—[Vol. 4, c. 617–627.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will specify the circumstances in which special hardship allowance, once awarded, can continue to be paid to somebody who leaves employment and is receiving (a) sickness benefit, (b) invalidity benefit, (c) unemployment benefit and (d) retirement pension.

Provided the conditions set out in section 60 of the Social Security Act 1975 continue to be satisfied, the receipt of sickness benefit, invalidity benefit, unemployment benefit or retirement pension does not affect entitlement to special hardship allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish for the United Kingdom a document comparable to "Swedish Plans and Programmes" for the International Year of Disabled People;(2) if he will publish for the United Kingdom a document similar to "Handicap Policy in Sweden", and if he will make a statement.

I have studied these books with great interest but would not feel justified in commissioning similar works for the United Kingdom. We have made clear our general policies for disabled people in "Care in Action" and elsewhere, and much of the detailed implementation of those policies is a matter for local and health authorities or other agencies at a local level, rather than for centrally promoted action.The response to the International Year of Disabled People, both nationally and locally, is so extensive that any report could only be very selective. We have already placed a list of Government activities for the Year in the Library and the Voluntary Organisations Committees has had great success in securing wide publicity both for the aims and objectives of the Year and of specific events and themes linked to it. I hope that these Committees will produce a report listing the major achievements, which will assist the process of taking stock of policies and practice. But that cannot be done until after the end of the Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the size of the New Commonwealth and Pakistan ethnic community of working age.

According to estimates from the Labour Force Survey taken in the period March-May 1979, the number of persons in Great Britain of working age—16–64 for males and 16–59 for females—who described themselves as being of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, West Indian or African ethnic origin was about 940,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has now received about the future of the rheumatology and rehabilitation wards at St. Mary's hospital, London W.9; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from hon. Members and from interested organisations and individuals and I have met a deputation from the local community health council. I am still considering this proposal and am not yet in a position to make a decision.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she will give, at the latest and most convenient stated date, the number of peers of the realm who held full-and part-time public appointments where expenses or payments were made.

No. This information is not held centrally.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the cost of answering a parliamentary question.

The current estimated average cost is £50 for oral answers and £30 for written answers.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will take steps to ensure that emergency aid in the form of money, food and medicines is sent from the United Kingdom to El Salvadorean refugee camps both within El Salvador and other neighbouring Central American countries.

Her Majesty's Government have recently pledged £100,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross for relief work inside El Salvador to include food, medicine, clothing and utensils. Assistance for refugees in neighbouring Central American countries is being provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to whose funds we also contribute. I understand that some voluntary agencies are assisting with private funds as they are free to do.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what ways his Department carries out the provisions of section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968.

In all their statutory and advisory functions which relate to land, my officials take full account of the desirability of conserving natural beauty and amenity in the countryside, as required by section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968, and balance this against the needs of agriculture as required by section 37 of the same Act.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much plutonium is allowed to be dumped into the sea from Windscale; and what are the comparable discharges allowed by the United States of America, Japan and West Germany.

Plutonium is not specifically identified in the discharge authorisation for Windscale. All alpha discharges to the sea are, however, subject to a maximum discharge level of 2,000 curies of alpha activity in any consecutive period of three months with an overall limit of 6,000 curies in any one period of 12 consecutive calendar months. This maximum level is set to take account also of discharges of plutonium-241, a beta emitter which decays fairly quickly to an alpha emitting radionuclide. Within these limits discharges must also be kept as low as is reasonably achievable. Details of actual discharges of plutonium from Windscale are included in the annual surveys of radioactive discharges in Great Britain, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House.I do not have authoritative information about authorised levels of discharges in other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are at present on youth opportunities programme schemes.

At the end of May 1981 there were some 146,000 young people on the youth opportunities programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Preston, North on 30 March, Official Report, column 11, concerning the Preston skillcentre, how many questionnaires were sent out; how many were returned; and how many employees were working for local firms.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Colvin) on 8 June, Official Report, column 19, he will list the trade unions referred to and the purpose of the ballot for which application has been made.

I am informed by the certification officer that the six unions referred to in my reply of 8 June, and the purposes of the ballots for which the applications were made, are:

• Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association, for election of officers of the union;
• British Association of Occupational Therapists Ltd, for elections to the union's principal committee;
• British Medical Association, for elections to the union's principal committee;
• Guinness Brewing Staff Association (UK) for amendments to rules and for the election of an officer of the union;
• Professional Association of Teachers, for the election of an officer of the union; and
• Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom, for amendment to rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the monthly percentage figures for the rate of unemployment including school leavers, since January 1978.

The information up to and including April 1981 and for the United Kingdom is published in table 2.1 of the labour market data section of the May 1981 issue of Employment Gazette. The unemployment rate for May 1981 was 10·6 per cent. and the provisional figure for June 1981 is 11·1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the cost to the Manpower Services Commission of operating jobcentres in Billericay and Wickford on the basis of the proposals made by the Basildon district council and considered by the commission.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people are registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 for (a) the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) the Northern region and (c) Bishop Auckland constituency for each year since 1974; how many in each case are unemployed; and what percentage of the registered disabled the unemployment represent.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men aged 45 years and over are

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the total cost of education allowances for placing their children at schools (a) in Brussels and (b) elsewhere in Europe paid to British Members of the European Parliament; what proportion of this sum is met directly or indirectly by United Kingdom taxpayers; if he will seek to obtain information as to the number of British Members of the European Parliament who benefit from such allowances; and if he will publish this information in the Official Report.

None. There is no such allowance.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make representations to the Government of El Salvador on behalf of the 125 political prisoners held in Tecla prison, La Libertad, El Salvador, to ask the Government to observe article 5 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I have no information about the prisoners referred to by the hon. Member. We have nevertheless made it plait that we look to the Government of El Salvador to take all possible steps to protect the Salvadorean people from violations of basic human rights. We have no formal locus standi to intercede with the Salvadorean Government on matters concerning its citizens.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose that a delegation from the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva should visit El Salvador, in view of the murder of 18,494 civilians there between 1 January and 5 April 1981.

We have already—on 11 March 1981—supported a resolution passed at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva, caling for the appointment of a special representative to investigate allegations of human

[pursuant to his reply, 22 June 1981]: The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed by age and by duration of unemployment in January, April, July and October. Following is the information for April in each of the years 1979, 1980 and 1981.rights abuse. We would not expect to take any further action until the representative, Professor J. A. Pastor Ridruejo, has made his report.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by each authority in Wales in the last financial year to improve facilities in and access to hospitals and other buildings used by disabled patients and their visitors.

This information is not held centrally. In a letter dated 9 March 1981 I asked the chairmen of health authorities in Wales to consider what improvements might be made in facilities for disabled people such as access to hospitals and car parks.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to place the health education organisation for Wales on the same basis as that for Scotland.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement as to whether it is to be proposed policy for general practitioner beds in community hospitals to be taken over by consultant geriatric physicians.

The Welsh Medical Committee is looking at the question of the use of beds in community hospitals. My right hon. Friend will be considering the current policy in the light of its advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult interested local authority departments before he makes any statement on the future of services for the mentally handicapped in Wales.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 June 1981.—[Vol. 6, c. 466.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what directions have been given by the Welsh Office to local authorities in Wales to provide sheltered housing accommodation for mentally handicapped persons as part of a programme to integrate the maximum proportion possible of such persons into the general community rather than maintaining them in institutional care.

None. I hope to have discussions shortly with local authorities on how best we can carry forward a joint plan for the development of services for the mentally handicapped in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what changes to the structure of area health authorities in Wales he is considering; and whether he has yet reached conclusions.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Anglesey (Mr. Best) on 17 June 1981.—[Vol. 6, c. 381–83.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what compensation has been paid out in each of the past five years by his Department to persons making claims for injury and damage for which his Department was responsible.

The total amounts of compensation paid out by the Welsh Office in the past five financial years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which of the countries of Latin America have members of their armed forces either being trained or taking courses in the United Kingdom.

Overseas students who are now under training at Service establishments in the United Kingdom include members of the armed forces of Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Guyana, Peru and Venezuala.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the McDonnell Douglas AV8B aircraft meets the specification of Air Staff target 409 sufficiently closely to be ordered for the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make a statement about Anglo-American co-operation on the AV8B project.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to make a statement about the Harrier replacement for the Royal Air Force.

A decision is expected shortly on the aircraft to meet the RAF's requirement for an improved version of the Harrier.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Armed Forces are currently serving in Northern Ireland.

There are just over 19,500 members of the Armed Forces serving in Northern Ireland. This figureincludes some 10,900 regular soldiers, 7,500 UDR soldiers, 150 sailors and just over 900 airmen.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving in his current review of the United Kingdom's future defence needs to the innovative role of defence purchasing upon British industry.

Industrial and technological considerations are and will continue to be taken into account, along with all other relevant factors, in seeking to obtain the best defence attainable within the means available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to the reply given to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby), Official Report, 2 June, c. 328, what factors are preventing his Department from completing its assessment of the options for the Royal Navy's new heavyweight torpedo.

The assessment is proceeding to plan and, as I said to my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 2 June—[Vol. 5, c. 328]—is not due to be completed until later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to meet his counterparts in NATO; and what subjects he proposes to raise.

The next collective meeting of NATO Defence Ministers is expected to be the nuclear planning group in the autumn. No firm dates or agenda for this meeting have yet been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what new initiatives his Department is taking to promote British Aerospace products overseas, with particular reference to the Hawk, the Harrier and Nimrod AEW; and if he will make a statement.

The Government will continue to take every opportunity to assist British Aerospace in promoting all their products overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United States Secretary of Defence has yet sought consultations with him concerning the development of neutron weapons.

The development of enhanced radiation weapons was discussed some time ago by the NATO Allies. The new United States Administration have made it clear that their Allies would be fully consulted before any decision were taken to deploy these weapons in Europe. No such proposals have yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in considering plans for scaling down the United Kingdom's defence programme.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove and Redditch (Mr. Miller).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been made of the possible savings in defence expenditure of reducing the forces at present deployed in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The level of our forces in Germany is governed by treaty but reorganisation within these commitments is one of the options being studied as part of our review of the future allocation of resources. The objective is to see if we can make a more effective contribution at a lower cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Plessey AR radar system is in service with the British forces.

Various Plessey AR radar systems are in service with the British Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his assessment in the current defence review on the future of the Royal naval dockyards.

As I have already said, I hope to make a statement on Thursday.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in examining proposals to cut defence expenditure.

I know of no such proposals. The Government remain committed to the NATO aim of continued real growth in the region of 3 per cent. a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why members of the Inspector of Establishments Department are permitted to refuse accommodation offered in the messes of the barracks of the units which they are inspecting in favour of accommodation at local hotels; and if, in the light of his policy of increasing cost effectiveness in the Armed Forces, he will review this practice.

This is a subject which has arisen and been examined on a number of occasions during the last 30 years. I am once again reviewing this and I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to site nuclear weapons in Northern Ireland.

It has been the policy of successive Governments, for security reasons, neither to confirm nor to deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any particular location at any given time.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities for amphibious exercises will remain following the phasing out of HMS "Bulwark"; and whether an amphibious force is envisaged in any contribution to the proposed rapid deployment force.

As the hon. Member will be aware, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is hoping to make an announcement soon on the future defence programme. Until then I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said in the defence debate on 19 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last authorised the bringing of a submarine nuclear reactor to its initial critical state in Barrow-in-Furness docks; and whether he has given consideration to whether such authorisation should be given in future if a gas condensate plant and a British Nuclear Fuels Limited trans-shipment terminal for irradiated nuclear fuel flasks are operating in the immediate vicinity.

The answer to the first part of the question is July 1980. As to the future, I do not foresee any special difficulties, but any change in circumstances is taken into account before an authorisation is given.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department abides by section 3(i) of the National Joint Consultative Committee code of procedure for selective tendering in which are laid down recommended numbers for varying sizes of contract; and if he will make a statement.

The Property Services Agency of the Department of the Environment undertakes building work required for defence purposes and it would handle tendering and the placing of contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost for 1978, 1979 and 1980 of the Hydrographic Service.

The net yearly cost of the Hydrographic Service calculated for the financial years in question was as follows: