asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what percentage of recoverable oil in the Scottish sector of the North Sea is owned by the British National Oil Corporation on an equity basis;(2) what proportion of recoverable oil in the Scottish sector of the North Sea is owned by

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) on 11 July 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many drilling companies in the Scottish sector of the North Sea are United Kingdom or foreign owned.

There are currently 18 drilling companies on the United Kingdom continental shelf, including oil companies drilling in their own right. Of these, six are either wholly United Kingdom owned or companies in which there is a substantial United Kingdom equity interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many drilling rigs, barges and support vessels in the Scottish sector of the North Sea are United Kingdom or foreign owned, respectively.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on Friday 6 March—[Vol. 1000, c. 215–161— giving an analysis in terms of flag registration.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether action has been taken, by licensing or otherwise, to restrict United Kingdom registered companies from subcontracting oil-related work to non-United Kingdom parent or sister companies.

No. However, the Offshore Supplies Office of my Department constantly seeks to ensure the maximum involvement of United Kingdom sub-contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in each of the last five years, what was the value of North Sea oil contracts going to companies which are foreign-owned and foreign-registered or foreign-owned but United Kingdom registered; how many companies fell into each of the two definitions; and how many foreign and United Kingdom nationals, respectively, they employed.

The value of orders placed for offshore oil and gas development on the United Kingdom continental shelf is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether oil-related work contracted to United Kingdom registered companies is defined as a "United Kingdom contract", whether or not the work or part of the work is subsequently subcontracted to non-United Kingdom parent or sister companies.

The United Kingdom share of orders, in respect of United Kingdom continental shelf activity, represents orders placed with companies which through employment, manufacturing or subcontracting, make a substantial contribution to the United Kingdom economy and is not an indication of orders placed with United Kingdom registered companies. The United Kingdom content of orders is assessed as far as is possible at the time of placing the main contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the numbers employed by the petroleum division of his Department in each year since 1973 and show where they were located.

Staff in post in the petroleum production and petroleum engineering divisions on 1 April each year since the Department of Energy was created in January 1974 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the numbers employed by the Offshore Supplies Office in each of its divisional offices in each year since its formation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether Oceanic Contractors of Brussels and Schlumburger Offshore Services of the Netherland Antilles are regarded as United Kingdom contractors.

These companies are not United Kingdom owned or registered, but account is taken of the benefits to the United Kingdom economy through employment or subcontracting where they are engaged in the provision of services on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will sell British Gas Corporation oilfields at market prices to third party purchasers or assign them to the British National Oil Corporation at valuation comparable to that which covered the transfer of the National Coal Board North Sea assets to the corporation several years earlier.

The Government are still considering the future of the British Gas Corporation's offshore oil interests. With regard to its interests in onshore fields, I have laid a draft direction under section 7(2) of the Gas Act 1972 before Parliament which would require the corporation to dispose of its 50 per cent, share in the Wytch Farm licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many foreign nationals are employed on oil rigs working on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

In 1979, the Department of Energy conducted a survey of the work force employed on offshore installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf. This showed that 7·9 per cent, of that work force were non-United Kingdom citizens.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the complaints being

The staff in post in the Offshore Supplies Office on 1 April each year were as follows:made by the public, police, judges, and so on at the present difficulties regarding complaints against the police and in the light of the Countryman inquiry, he will now move to appoint a very high ranking Select Committee to investigate complaints against the police, such a committee to be similar in status to the House of Commons Privileges Committee.

No.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement outlining the steps he has taken to co-ordinate the activities of the information services on publishing the facts on the European Economic Community; and, in particular, if he will specify the information supplied to hon. Members in pursuance of this policy.

The Government continue the practice of previous Administrations by holding regular meetings to co-ordinate information on all aspects of Government policy. Information on specific aspects of United Kingdom membership of the Community is made available to right hon. and hon. Members as required.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make provision in the precincts of the Palace of Westminster for the parking of bicycles used by visitors to the Houses of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Facilities for the parking of bicycles in the precincts of the Palace of Westminster are limited and already fully used by Members and staff. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to make provision for visitors as the hon. Member requests.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to improve the access to the Palace of Westminster for the disabled.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 26 January. The Services Committee's consideration of these matters is nearing completion.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service is she will list the additional grants and benefits—or their financial equivalents—available to civil servants in the course of their employment.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 16 June 1981.—[Vol. 6, c. 296.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many staff at each United Kingdom high commission in the Indian Sub-continent carry out interviews for entry certificates; when their numbers were last increased; and by how much their numbers would have to be increased to reduce the average waiting time to six months.

The current establishments of entry clearance officers at posts in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are: New Delhi 4, Bombay 5, Calcutta 1, Islamabad 17, Karachi 2, Dacca 14. Madras ceased to deal with entry clearance work in March 1980. Numbers were last increased in India—Bombay—in 1980; Pakistan—Islamabad and Karachi—in 1975 and Bangladesh—Dacca—in 1978.At most posts applicants for temporary admission are seen without delay and settlement applicants granted priority interviews—about 60 per cent. in Bangladesh and India and 50 per cent. in Pakistan—are usually seen within six months. A calculation of overall average waiting times would consequently not be meaningful. To reduce the maximum waiting time for interview to six months it is estimated that a further 26 entry clearance officers would be required.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many applications for visas to travel to the United Kingdom have been refused by the British embassy in Chile since the closing of the special visa programme for refugees.

Ninety-four.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will seek to raise in the United Nations Commission for Human Rights the persecution of Iran's 300,000 indigenous members of the Baha'i faith.

The United Nations Commission for Human Rights next meets in early 1982. We are opposed to all persecution on grounds of belief and will continue to uphold this principle during the autumn session of the United Nations General Assembly. We are at the moment considering with our partners among the Ten what we could usefully do to help the Baha'i community in Iran. There is a danger that a public Western intervention on behalf of the Baha'is in Iran could worsen the difficulties they face.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the cost and duration of the recent visit by the Minister of State to the Falkland Islands.

My last visit to the Falkland Islands, in company with two officials, was from 22 to 29 November 1980. The total cost of the visit was approximately £7,440.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will review their policy on participation at meetings of the Council of Ministers in light of the appointment of members of the Communist Party to ministerial posts in the French Government; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement setting out the calculations on which the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary based his statement to the Japanese Government that the imbalance of manufactured trade was resulting in the loss of thousands of British jobs; and if he will make a similar assessment of the impact on United Kingdom jobs of the imbalance in manufactured trade with Germany.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave my hon. friend on 5 May.— [Vol. 4, c. 39.]

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her public engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her public engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her public engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend is taking part in the meeting of the European Council in Luxembourg.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied that the funds allocated to the Department of Health and Social Security are adequate to meet that Department's programmes and responsibilities.

I have been asked to reply.I am sure that all of us could find deserving causes on which to spend more money but present allocations are all that we can afford.

asked the Prime Minister when next she plans to meet the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to visit the new Taoiseach.

I have been asked to reply.The Irish Parliament is electing a Taoiseach today. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister looks forward to meeting him soon but clearly no date can yet be fixed.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Edinburgh.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to make a further visit.

asked the Prime Minister what are her current criteria for making a ministerial broadcast.

I have been asked to reply.There has been no change in the published criteria.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the impending closure of the Nypro Works, South Humberside, she will take steps to increase employment opportunities in the area.

I have been asked to reply.I understand that no final announcement has been made on the closure of the company's plant at Flixborough. Firms investing in the Scunthorpe travel-to-work area are eligible for a wide range of regional incentives following its upgrading to development area status last year.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the performance of the nationalised industries.

I have been asked to reply.There is always room for improvement.

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 been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend had no such meetings since 25 June.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will cause an investigation to be made into how and why the Crown Agents failed to put in their objections to the lifting of bankruptcy against Mr. William Stern until one day after the last time for opposing the lifting of these restrictions. necessitating a postponement and costs being awarded to Mr. Stern; and what are the costs involved in this failure to take action in time.

No. These are matters for the Crown Agents' holding and realisation board, but I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the steps taken by the Government over the past two years to ensure effective competition and fair pricing policies; and which of these measures were taken in conjunction with reviewing the work of the Monopolies Commission and the Office of Fair Trading.

Following our review of the working of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, the Office of Fair Trading and the Price Commission, we introduced the Competition Act 1980. This provides for investigation of anti-competitive practices in both the public and private sectors, and for the scrutiny of efficiency in public sector industries. An active programme of investigations and subsequent action under these powers continues.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the balance of payments in manufactured items less precious stones between the United Kingdom and the rest of the world, excluding the European Economic Community, for each of the past seven years; and if he will divide each figure by the then value of output for each worker in United Kingdom manufacturing industry.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many Japanese-owned companies have production units in the United Kingdom; how many people are employed in these units; and how this compares with the numbers employed by Japanese enterprises in the other member States of the Community.

I have been asked to reply.The Invest in Britain Bureau knows of 21 companies which are Japanese-owned or in joint ventures with production facilities in the United Kingdom; between them they employ about 5,500 people. This excludes a further small number of Japanese companies who have announced firm plans to set up manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom. Similar information in respect of other member States of the European Community is not available from official sources. I understand, however, that in no other EC country is manufacturing employment in Japanese-owned establishments at anything approaching the level in the United Kingdom; total employment in Japanese-owned establishments in all other member States is unlikely to be greater than 7,000 to 8,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the value of imports and exports to and from the United Kingdom of alcoholic drinks for the years 1970–71 to 1980–81 and include his estimate for the current financial year.

[pursuant to her reply, 29 June 1981]: The available information is as follows. I prefer not to venture an estimate of trade in the present financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what current income tax concessions for pensioners with earned income cost the Exchequer.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the higher tax allowances granted to people aged 65 or over. For those elderly people who have income from employment, the cost of these allowances, over and above the ordinary allowance levels, is about £120 million in a full year at 1981–82 income levels. Pensioners cannot readily be distinguished, but most taxpayers in this age group have some pension, either State of occupational.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people over retirement age are currently paying income tax; and how many have no taxable emoluments.

A breakdown of income tax payers by age is not available. However, tax records do distinguish single people over 65 and married couples with at least one partner over 65, it is also possible to distinguish single women, but not widows or married women, aged 60 to 64 who have a retirement pension. Amongst these groups, there are about 3 million single people or married couples paying tax, of whom about 2 million do not have any income from employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for each year from 1977, how many submissions of suspect gold, silver and cupro-nickel coins were made to establish whether they were counterfeit or not; what was the result of the examinaions; what were the metals used in the counterfeit pieces; and the result of the examinations; what were the metals used in the counterfeit pieces; and for each year how many prosecutions took place under the Coinage Offences Act 1936.

I regret that this information cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the current estimates of coin in circulation by denomination in the United Kingdom.

The following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the special report on the data, dates and numbers of coins struck in respect of coins and medals is to be published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

It is providing more difficult than expected to extract all the information and obtain permission to publish figures from the individual countries for whom the Royal Mint strikes coins. However, work is well in hand and it is expected that the data for 1976–77 will be ready for publication in September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for each year since 1977, on which days the annual Trial of the Pyx took place; for each occasion, what coins of which country were presented for examination; and what were the verdicts.

The information is as follows:UNITED KINGDOM

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how jurymen are selected and called for the Trial of the Pyx; and what their duties are.

The jurors are selected by the Prime Warden and wardens of the Goldsmiths Company from freemen of the company in accordance with a precept issued by the lords commissioners under the Trial of the Pyx Order in Council 1871 as amended by the Trial of the Pyx Order in council 1901 and the Trial of the Pyx Order 1969. The duties are as laid down in the Trial of the Pyx Order 1969.

the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Maundy coins of each denomination and date have been struck and issued since 1977; and what was the silver fineness of each.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of value added tax repayments not made as a result of the Civil Service pay dispute.

I regret the information is riot available because repayment claims cannot be processed during the strike. Under normal circumstances about £120 million a week is repaid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken to increase the capital of the European Investment Bank; and if he will make a statement.

At its meeting on 15 June 1981, the board of governors of the European Investment Bank decided to increase the capital of the Bank from 7,200 million ecus to 14,400 million ecus. The board of governors also decided that member States shall pay in 7·5 per cent. of the amount of this increase in eight equal half-yearly instalments, the first instalment falling due on 30 April 1984. In the case of the United Kingdom the payments will amount to about 29·5 million ecus, or about £16 million at the current rate of exchange in each of the financial years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88. Payments will be charged to the Consolidated Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance is given to senior management in his Department regarding the definition of union meetings at which attendance by employees of his Department is permitted; and whether the criteria cover attendance at meetings called to decide on whether to disrupt the work of his Department.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 June 1981]: Senior management is given full general guidance, arid, where necessary, specific guidance for handling particular situations. Meetings whose only outcome can be disruption of the work of the Department are not authorised, but meetings at which a decision might lead to the abandonment or reduction of industrial action may qualify for approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the measures taken by the Government over the past two years to help create the economic conditions necessary for the creation of modem, secure and better-paid jobs in Scotland.

Our national economic strategy is designed to bring about the conditions necessary for the creation of modern, secure and better-paid jobs. In Scotland, regional and industrial policy contribute to this strategy by encouraging existing industry and by the attraction of new jobs from overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures to show the number of notified redundancies in Scotland since May 1979 and the number of new jobs notified to jobcentres and other offices of his Department since that time.

There are no comprehensive statistics of redundancies. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of redundancies involving 10 or more employees notified to it as due to occur between 1 May 1979 and 31 May 1981 was 112,965. During the period, 524,561 vacancies were notified to jobcentres and employment offices but, as this figure could include a number of vacancies notified on more than one occasion, it does not represent an equivalent number of jobs. It is not possible to identify those vacancies which related to new jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of new jobs, excluding youth opportunities and other short-term provisions, which the Government have created directly in Scotland since 3 May 1979.

Comprehensive information on jobs directly created is not available. However, 28,000 new jobs were associated with offers of selective financial assistance made under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 for projects in Scotland in the period 1 May 1979 to 31 May 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the actions taken by the Government in the past two years to revive the economies of those areas in Scotland which have suffered from the decline of traditional industry; and what resources have been made available to ensure that the decaying inner city areas of Glasgow are revitalised.

Areas affected by a decline in traditional industries benefit from our general regional policy, which concentrates assistance on areas with the most serious economic and structural problems. The Scottish Development Agency has substantial programmes in a number of areas, including Dundee, Leith and Glasgow. We have continued the development of the new towns and the Garnock Valley task force and taken special initiatives such as the proposed enterprise zone at Clydebank. Locate in Scotland is actively promoting inward investment.In the inner city area of Glasgow both the region and the district receive assistance under the urban programme for approved projects to improve the social fabric of the city; and the Scottish Development Agency, Scottish Special Housing Association and Housing Corporation have committed substantial resources for factory building, environmental improvement and house building and rehabilitation, particularly in the area of the Glasgow eastern area renewal project.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been successfully placed in jobs through the Dundee jobcentre in the past year.

Information is not available in the precise form requested but, in the year to 6 June 1981, 4,391 placings were made by the Dundee jobcentre.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the employment prospects of those who will graduate from teacher training colleges in Scotland in the current year.

The employment prospects of students qualifying as primary and secondary teachers from the colleges of education this summer will depend on the recruitment policies adopted by individual education authorities for session 1981–82. I understand, however, that there are unlikely to be enough vacancies available at the beginning of the session for all newly qualified teachers, and this is one reason why my right hon. Friend has thought it right to reduce the intake of students to training for the coming year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to check that statements of income in connection with the assisted places scheme can be verified by the Inland Revenue.

An application for an assisted place must be accompanied by documentary evidence of parental income. Where income is derived from salary or wages a copy of form P60 or similar document supplied by employers must be submitted. In other circumstances a tax assessment under schedule E or schedule D is required. If no tax assesment is made, a letter from Her Majesty's inspectors of taxes or from qualified accountants may be accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many working days are estimated to have been lost in Scotland in the past year through (a) short-time working, (b) unemployment and (c) industrial action.

The number of working days lost in Scotland in the first half of 1980 due to industrial stoppages was 474,000; figures for the second half of the year and 1980 as a whole will be published in the Employment Gazette of 30 July. Comparable information on short-time working and unemployment is not available. Hours lost through short-time working are recorded only for operatives in manufacturing industry: the average weekly number of hours lost in Scotland during 1980 was 291,600 and involved 17,275 operatives. During 1980 the monthly average of numbers unemployed was 225,700.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the numbers of employees in Dundee Currently employed in the following sectors: (a) manufacturing, (b) services, (c) construction and (d) primary ; and how this compares with the previous year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a percentage breakdown by sex of (a) the number of presentations for O-grades and highers and (b) the number of passes, in the A, B, C band, in each of the past three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive a report from the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland on the new constituencies covering Tayside region.

I understand that the commission expects to complete its final report, relating to all Scottish constituencies, before the end of 1982.

The latest available information for all sectors of industry requested is from the 1977 census of employment. Later information on changes in manufacturing employees derived from the Scottish Manufacturing Establishments Record suggests a fall of 8·7 per cent. between 1979 and 1980.

The latest years for which figures are available are sessions 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80. The relevant figures are shown in the tables below. Full information about SCE examinations is given in the annual reports of the Scottich certificate of education examination board, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the employee activity rate for women, men and both combined in Scotland for each year since 1975.

The latest estimates of civilian economic activity rates, which include both employed and unemployed, are set out below. Information is not available for 1976 and 1978, nor for the period since 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he received any representations from industry in Scotland regarding the number of apprenticeship places to be made available for 1981–82; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received no representations from industry but he has received a number of representations from hon. Members and individuals about the number of apprenticeship places to be made available in 1981–82, both generally and in particular sectors of industry.Both the Government and the Manpower Services Commission are concerned at the prospect of a reduction in industry recruitment of apprentices in 1981–82 and we are jointly considering the need and scope for action to supplement the efforts of employers and to increase the number of apprenticeship places.

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

With the publication on 16 June of its proposals for parliamentary constituencies in Strathclyde region, the Boundary Commission's provisional recommendations for Scottish constituencies are now complete. These will in many cases be the subject of local inquiries by assistant commissioners. Against a requirement to produce its final report by April 1984, I understand that the commission expects to do so before the end of 1982. It will be the Government's intention to bring the necessary orders giving effect to the reports of all four commissions before the House as soon as possible after all the reports have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the sea transport services between Gourock and Dunoon.

These services are at present operated by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd., a fully-owned subsidiary of the Scottish Transport Group, and Western Ferries Limited, a private operator. Traffic is not sufficient to sustain two competing operators and a heavy loss on MacBrayne's services, amounting to £800,000 in 1980 alone, is borne by the taxpayer. A heavy loss is expected to continue on an annual basis and after careful examination of the position, I have informed the Scottish Transport Group and Strathclyde regional council of my intention to cease to subsidise MacBrayne's service.I also intend, subject to the approval of Parliament, to enter into an undertaking with Western Ferries Ltd. under the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act 1960. 1 would propose to use these powers to offer Western Ferries a capital grant not exceeding £300,000 towards providing another vehicle ferry to operate between McInroy's Point and Hunters Quay, Dunoon. In order, to cater for the needs of the commuting public, Western Ferries is prepared at my request to provide a high-speed pedestrian passenger service between Gourock pier and Dunoon pier. I hope that it will be possible for this service to begin on 1 October, and if necessary I am prepared to underwrite this service by some financial support, but only for its first full year of operation. Thereafter, if the service is commercially viable, Western Ferries undertakes to continue it. If for any reason Western Ferries is unable to continue the Highland Seabird service, pedestrians will be taken on a through bus between Gourock and Dunoon by way of McInroy's Point and Hunters Quay.The Scottish Transport Group has indicated its intention to give public notice of the withdrawal of its service. Its decision will, in terms of the legislation, lead to the consideration of this matter by the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Scotland, which may put forward recommendations to me. It is my intention to consider the recommendations of this committee before any undertaking with Western Ferries is put into effect.I have no proposals to withdraw subsidies from any other Caledonian MacBrayne service which I am now assisting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that three students scaled the walls of Buckingham Palace gardens and spent the night therein, and were not apprehended, and the police have decided to take no action against them, he will cause a thorough investigation to be made into all aspects of this matter.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is consulting the palace authorities about the possible need for changes in security arrangements in the light of this incident. He is satisfied that the motives of the three young men, who believed they were in Hyde Park, were wholly innocent and that there were no grounds for taking action against them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give a list of the 100 most senior ranks in the Metropolitan Police and their salaries; and, out of these 100 appointments, how many are at present held by women and coloured persons, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any communication from the leader of the Greater London Council requesting a change of existing arrangements for controlling the Metropolitan Police.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted murderers are currently in prison.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with security arrangements at Buckingham Palace and at other royal residences.

The arrangements are kept under continuing review. In consultation with the authorities at the palace, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is paying particular attention to the physical security measures there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) of 22 June on citizens band radio, he will consult those manufacturers who attended the Land Mobile Specification Committee to establish which of them is still interested in producing citizens band equipment in the United Kingdom, and what volume of production they foresee.

The Land Mobile Specification Committee has completed its consideration of the citizens band radio performance specifications which have now been published. Contacts with those who have expressed an interest in producing citizens band equipment in this country suggest that that interest is continuing. It is not for me to say what volume of production is foreseen by the firms concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the actual, or proposed, annual remuneration of a member of the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority; and whether any sums have yet been paid by way of such remuneration.

The annual remuneration of a member of the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority is £2,500 for an expected average of one day a week. The members were appointed on 22 January 1981, and the remuneration which they have received has been back dated to that date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why, in view of his earlier financial support for the South Wales anti-poverty action centre, he has now no plans for funding it further;(2) why his voluntary services unit has made substantial annual increases in its grants to the South Wales anti-poverty action centre since the Government took office.

The South Wales anti-poverty action centre was funded jointly by the Voluntary Services Unit and the European Community as one of a number of pilot projects. The programme formally ended on 30 November 1980 but although the VSU does not normally continue funding beyond the completion of the experimental work, a limited extension to 31 March 1981 was arranged to provide more time for alternative sources of funding to be found if the organisation was to continue beyond that date.Annual increases in the grant to SWAPAC mainly reflected the movement in pay and prices and enabled the originally agreed level of experimental work to be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual remuneration of the chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Wales as chairman of the council; and whether such remuneration is additional to any which he may receive as one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's board of governors.

The BBC's national governor for Wales, like the other BBC national governors, receives al present an annual salary of £5,000. This takes into account his work as the chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide a comparison of the main regulations controlling Sunday trading in each country in the European Economic Community and in the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with, and how many convicted of, offences on board ferries sailing to or from United Kingdom ports in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will specify in each case the nature of the offence.

The information requested is not available because information collected centrally on court proceedings does not generally indicate the circumstances or the location of the offence. The data available for 1979 on offences of drunkenness on board ships, not necessarily ferries, are given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have set up special firearms units; and if he will make a statement on this practice.

All police forces have a proportion of officers especially trained in the use of firearms. Many have specialist units consisting of officers who have additional training, including the tactical use of weapons, in handling major incidents where such skills are required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of policemen receive weapons training; and what forms this takes.