asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether he will give, at the latest and most convenient stated date, the numbers of peers of the realm who hold any appointment sponsored by his Department; what situation or appointment each one holds; how many hours per week are given to the work connected with it; what are the salaries or expenses paid; and how the latter figures compare with May 1979.

None.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects that a final decision regarding capital aid grants No. 75/1 and No. 77/2 to Tanzania will be made; and if he will make a statement about continuing support for technical co-operation projects in that country.

No decisions are outstanding in respect of the United Kingdom/Tanzania grant—No. 1—1975. We shall reply shortly to the Government of Tanzania's request to extend the final contracting and final disbursement dates for the—No. 2—1977 grant. We expect to spend about £6 million on our technical cooperation programme for Tanzania in 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the total number of employees of each of the eight counties of Wales (a) in 1974, (b) in 1978 and (c) at present.

Joint Manpower Watch survey data in respect of individual authorities are available only for the period since December 1978. The following figures relate to the number of full and part-time employees in each authority in December 1978 and in March 1981, the latest date for which information is available. Those employees engaged in the law and order services are excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report those public bodies for which his Department has responsibility, dividing the list into those which are of a consumer or advisory nature and those which have other functions.

The non-departmental public bodies for which I am responsible are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for the number of council dwellings left empty pending repairs; and how this compares with the previous year.

At April 1980 there were 1,294 council dwellings empty awaiting repair. The corresponding figure a year earlier was 991.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will review the proposed new regulations with regard to untreated milk with a view to removing the obligation placed upon farmers selling such milk to do so in bottles with the names of their farms printed upon them, while retaining the obligation to imprint the name and address of the producer or retailer of such milk on the caps of all bottles in which it is sold.

The new regulations on untreated milk did not change the position regarding the name and address of producer-retailers. So long as the address at which the untreated milk is bottled appears on the bottle cap, there is no requirement for it also to appear on the bottle itself. Provision as to the inclusion of the licence holder's name remains optional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to empower the courts, among other penalties, to withdraw the driving licence of anyone convicted of taking part in or aiding and abetting a disturbance.

The Crown court already has power to disqualify an offender from driving when a motor vehicle has been used for committing or facilitating the commission of an offence punishable on indictment with imprisonment of a term of two years or more. A wider use of this sanction has not hitherto been considered appropriate, but I shall consider the right hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of the Home Department whether, when giving consideration to proposals to restrict the manufacture, import and distribution of replica guns, he will also consider banning other items which, if misused, can cause difficulties for the police when controlling crowds.

I am not persuaded of the value of extending the review in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the cost in a full year of a pay rise to the police of (a) 13 per cent. and (b) 6 per cent.

About £140 million and £65 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received about criminal activity by so-called skinheads in areas of high Asian population in various parts of the United Kingdom; what consultations he is having with chief constables as a result; and if he will make a statement.

This is one of the matters being examined in the course of my study into the incidence of racial attacks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of known attacks that have been made against Asian people in the Greater London Council area in each of the last five years.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the available information is as given in the following table. Information for 1976 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have to date been charged with offences, following the recent riots in Toxteth, Liverpool; and whether further arrests are anticipated.

By 8 July, 166 people had been charged. I understand from the chief constable of Merseyside that further arrests may result from current police enquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have to date been charged with offences following the recent riots in Southall; and whether further arrests are anticipated.

By 8 July, 24 people had been charged. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that further arrests may result from current police inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in his study of the disturbances which occurred in Liverpool, he will take special account of the involvement of people under the age of criminal responsibility and the role of their parents.

I shall take particular note of anything the chief constable may say about this in his report on the disturbances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with the operation of his Department's functions concerning the licensing of mobile radio equipment retail dealers;

Suppliers of land mobile radio equipment are not licensed. Under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, users are licensed to operate only equipment which meets the relevant Home Office specifications, and licences are granted only if the proposed equipment has been type approved by this Department. Under the type approval system, manufacturers, suppliers or modifiers of equipment submit one item from a particular model range for testing. This system of indirect control over equipment standards is kept constantly under review and does not impose unreasonable constraints on suppliers.Case radiation limits have been set to bring specifications into line with internationally agreed standards and with standards applied to other types of electrical equipment such as household electrical appliances: their purpose is to protect other radio services from interference. The case limits we are proposing for citizens band radio equipment are much more stringent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that the leader of the Unification Church in the United States of America, Dr. Mose Durst, is planning a visit to the United Kingdom, if he will consider whether or not his entry to the United Kingdom is desirable.

The immigration rules apply to a visit by any person subject to immigration control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men, convicted for the manslaughter of their wives, were given suspended sentences in the years 1976 to 1980.

The information available is given in the following table; information for 1980 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities were consulted regarding Exercise Hard Rock; how many have refused to take part; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the Home Office letter dated 12 May to chief executives of county councils, the director general of the Greater London Council and other local authority executives.

Chief executives of county councils in England and Wales, the director general of the GLC and the town clerk, City of London, were consulted in a Home Office letter dated 12 May. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.Two county councils have indicated that they will not take part in the exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement following the third report of the local radio working party.

The third report of the Home Office local radio working party, which was published on 18 December last year, put forward proposals for the further development of BBC and IBA local radio and explored in a preliminary way some of the issues involved in community radio—that is the development of low-powered local radio services operating outside the scope of the BBC and the IBA. There has been a very substantial response to my invitation for comments on the report.The proposals in the report for the continued expansion of BBC and IBA local radio services have been generally welcomed.I have decided in the light of the comments to give my approval in principle to the BBC's plans for a total of 38 local radio services in England, each of approximately countywide coverage. There was public support for an additional BBC service in Buckinghamshire. I am informed that the BBC will consider the possibility of establishing a contribution studio in Aylesbury to give fuller coverage of the affairs of Buckinghamshire.I have also given my approval in principle to an MF assignment to enable the BBC to provide a localised service in Clwyd. As the working party recognised, the full implementation of the BBC's plans for localised opt-out services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland depends on the introduction of new VHF networks in the national regions. The BBC's proposals for new networks are being considered in the context of preparations for an international frequency planning conference to be held in 1982–1984 for VHF band II and decisions on them will depend on the outcome of that conference.I have also given my approval in principle to independent local radio services at 25 locations mentioned in the report with two provisos. There has been public support for additional ILR services in the Isle of Wight and in Doncaster and I have asked the IBA to investigate the economic and engineering possibilities of providing such services. However, the provision of a service for Doncaster could have implications for other approved ILR development in the area, in particular the ILR service for Barnsley, which I approved following publication of the working party's second report. I have therefore asked the authority, in considering Doncaster, to look at the development of ILR in South Yorkshire as a whole, carrying out such local consultations as it considers necessary, and to make further proposals to me.All the new services which I am approving today will have both MF and—subject to the reservations mentioned in the third report—VHF assignments.The timing of introduction of local radio services in the areas approved today will be a matter for the BBC and the IBA in the light of their individual circumstances. Full implementation of the proposals would, however, take a number of years and there may need to be a degree of flexibility about the most suitable and practicable way of bringing a service to a particular area in the light of developments in the economy generally and in the context of frequency planning following the VHF band II conference. In addition, I have received some representations which suggest that a particular area should be included within the coverage of a particular local radio service. I am asking the broadcasting authority concerned to see in such cases whether and if so to what extent, these representations can be accommodated in its planning.About half of the replies I received have dealt with community radio, the great majority expressing support for some form of community radio development, though only a few of those addressed themselves directly to the question of a suitable financial and regulatory framework. I agree with the working party that community radio raises important issues of broadcasting policy and difficult problems of resources, both inside and outside government. I propose to give further consideration to this matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on her discussions with the European Economic Community Commission President, Gaston Thorn, held on Friday 26 June.

M. Thorn came to see me on 26 June as part of a round of visits in preparation for the European Council and to present the Commission's report on the Community budget problem. We had a short discussion about the report, and the likely course of discussion at the European Council.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her public engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

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

asked the Prime Minister whether she will set up a formal review of the relationship between nationalised industries and the Government.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 9 July, in which I said that a review is already in process. I do not think it necessary to set up a public review.

asked the Prime Minister when next she expects to meet the President of France.

I expect to meet the President of France at the Economic summit in Ottawa on 19 to 21 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to pay a further visit to Rugby.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have had no such meetings since 9 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the recent meeting of the European Economic Community Council of Ministers.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 1 July.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects that the Government will have completed their consideration of the report of the Scott inquiry into the value of public sector pensions; and if she will make a statement.

The Government hope to be able to reach initial conclusions this summer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he gave consideration to the effect on employment in the tobacco industry in determining a further increase in tobacco duty.

In considering duty changes all consequences, including the likely effects on employment, are taken into account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to restore the purchasing value of the £ sterling to that obtaining in May 1979.

A reduction in the general price level of more than 26 per cent. would not be a realistic or sensible objective of policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many individuals and companies formerly paying United Kingdom taxes have, in each of the last five years, moved to the jurisdiction of the Channel Islands and Isle of Man tax authorities;(2) what the common services and defence contribution of the Isle of Man under the Act of 1956 is for 1980–81 and 1981–82;(3) if he will estimate how many companies registered in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man trade in the United Kingdom; and what proportion of these earn over 50 per cent. of their turnover and/or profits in the United Kingdom;(4) if he will introduce legislation to make United Kingdom citizens resident in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man liable to United Kingdom taxes;(5) if he will state the number of taxpayers who had, in any of the last five years, taxable income of more than £25,000; and if he will estimate how many of these have since settled in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and the consequent estimated loss of revenue caused thereby to the revenue in 1980–81, assuming such persons would have been liable to tax on their highest taxable income over any of the last five years;(6) if he will estimate the net outflow of funds from the United Kingdom directly attributable to the ending of exchange control regulations; how much of this went to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man; and how much of this was in the hands of companies and of individuals;(7) if he will publish a table showing the income tax payable for 1980–81 in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Channel Islands, respectively, of a (i) single person earning £5,000, £10,000, £50,000 and £100,000 per annum, and (ii) married couple with two children under 16 years earning £5,000, £10,000, £50,000 and £100,000 per annum.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any explanatory material is to be made available to right hon. and hon. Members to assist their consideration of the Friendly Societies Bill at Second Reading.

Yes. Notes on clauses and a Treasury press notice are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) Official Report, 9 June, c. 110, showing the effect on tax bills of husbands and working wives of a switch to independent taxation, if he will now publish similar figures assuming that the wife is not earning.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1981]: The estimates of the effect of the switch to independent taxation under schemes 1 to 4 of appendix 6 of the Green Paper apply to the liability to tax on the total income of a married couple taken jointly, and cannot easily be subdivided between husband and wife. The estimates given in the answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) were therefore based, as explained in the answer, only on the income currently separately attributed for tax purposes, which is confined to wife's earnings in the case of the wife. The attribution between husband and wife of the effect on the couple's total income thus excludes the effect of switching from the husband to the wife the liability to tax on any investment income of the wife and—in the case of the elderly—on any national insurance retirement pension received by the wife on account of her husband's contribution. On this basis, for couples where the wife was not earning, all the couple's income would continue to be attributable to the husband. Thus, apart from scheme 4, where the 2·9 million non-earning wives with children would gain from the increase in child benefit, there would be no effect on non-earning wives.As regards the husband, on this basis, under schemes 1 and 4—non-transferable allowances—all 4·7 million taxpaying husbands with non-earning wives would lose; under schemes 2 and 3—fully and partially transferable allowances—they would all gain. These figures—like those in the previous answer—exclude elderly taxpayers over 65.Information on the net effect on the total income of the married couple, taking account of the switch of any wife's investment income or pension to her tax bill, is contained in the second background paper for the Green Paper, "Distributional Effects of a Change to Mandatory Independent Taxation", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the number and ranks of his Department's civil servants who have accepted hospitality and entertainment offered by BAT Ltd., Watney Mann and Truman or any other stated business organisation to attend the Wimbledon championships or tennis tournaments or other stated forms of entertainment; and whether, in each case, the person accepting carried out the rules governing the acceptance of hospitality by civil servants, as laid down in paragraphs 9882–9893 of the Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1981]: I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs) on 9 July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of mortgage tax relief to owner-occupiers at the latest convenient date; and what are the comparable figures for the same date in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1981]: The information is available only for financial years. Estimates are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration has been given to allowing tax relief for those people following Open University courses in respect of their fees and unavoidable expenses such as for books.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1981]: I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion, but it would mean a further narrowing of the tax base and this would conflict with our goal of limiting the total tax burden.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the annual gross revenue raised through the unit trust instrument duty since 1970–71 and the annual cost to the Inland Revenue of collecting this revenue.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1981]: The yield from unit trust instrument duty for the years 1970–71 to 1980–81 was as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will pay special regard to the burdens of the debt repayment on future Governments and taxpayers in assessing the amount of index linked Government stock and savings certificates to be issued.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July]: Careful regard to the future burden of debt servicing and repayment is given before any new debt is issued, whether index-linked or not.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the effect of his proposals to increase duties and fees on bingo and gaming machines for working men's clubs; and whether he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1981]: Registered clubs may legally provide bingo only under conditions which carry exemption from duty, and should therefore not be affected by the increase in bingo duty. If they have gaming machines, the maximum additional duty will be between £25 and £200, a small proportion of average takings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations with organisations representing working men's clubs took place before he announced his duty and licence fee increases on bingo and gaming machines; and whether he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1981]: There were no formal consultations with these organisations before my right hon. and learned Friend's announcement, but he is aware from previous representations of their views with regard to gaming machine licence duty. The change in bingo duty on 27 July should not affect working men's clubs; their views would be welcomed on the review of bingo duty exemptions which is to be undertaken by the commissioners of Customs and Excise.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to assist the milk and intensive livestock industries in the Province out of the £10 million which he announced on 27 March was to be allocated to the agricultural industry.

I am conscious of the special difficulties being faced by dairy farmers and the intensive livestock sector, and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland will shortly be introducing two schemes aimed at improving returns in these sectors during the 1981–82 financial year. The first will enable payments totalling some £20 million to be made to operators of licensed pig and poultrymeat processing plants and egg packing stations related to their share of employees' national insurance contributions. The second will take the form of a milk consumer subsidy which will enable the Milk Marketing Board to charge up to 1½p per pint more for milk going for liquid consumption without Northern Ireland consumers having to pay more than consumers in Great Britain. The estimated cost of this scheme is £3·7 million.Initially expenditure will be met by advances from the Northern Ireland civil contingencies fund. Supplementary Estimates will be presented to the House in due course. The arrangements to assist both the intensive livestock industries and milk producers were notified in accordance with article 93(3) of the Treaty of Rome to the EC Commission who have not raised any objections.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is prepared to restore full intermediate area status to Keighley prior to August 1982; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is now in a position to publish the Government's reply to the report by the Select Committee on Industry and Trade on Concorde.

In accordance with arrangements foreshadowed in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Industry to my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 22 June—[Vol. 7 c.3–4]—I have today presented to Parliament a command paper (Cmnd. 8308) giving the Government's substantive reply. Copies have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to increase the range of training opportunities at present available to school leavers, in both manual and non-manual skills.

Yes. there are plans to increase the quality and quantity of training made available to participants on the youth opportunities programme. The Government have made available increased resources for the unified vocational preparation programme for school leavers entering employment which will enable provision to rise from the current 3,500 places to 20,000 by 1983–84. The Government are considering whether increased resources should be made available for the youth opportunities programme and for apprentice training in the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the training opportunities available to school leavers aged between 16 and 18 years of age in other European Economic Community countries and the numbers taking advantage of them, compared to those available to those leaving school in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, out of how many office locations the officials of his Department monitor the activities of the new enterprises training programme.

The Manpower Services Commission's new enterprise programme and small business courses are monitored from the commission's head office. Assistance is provided by nine regional offices and 22 district offices as a normal part of their functions in relation to the training opportunities scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many officials of his Department monitor or record the activities of the new enterprises training programme.

For the four Business Schools which run the new enterprise programme, three people in the Manpower Services Commission's head office and three people in each of the four regions in which the courses are run play some part in monitoring and recording the programme, as a small part of their general duties.For the small business courses, which are run at about 18 centres throughout England, Scotland and Wales, the staff of the district offices of the commission associated with the providers of training monitor these courses as a normal part of their duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will ensure that any proposals which he introduces to deal with the closed shop will apply to all workers and their appropriate organisations and particularly those connected with the legal and medical professions.

The law on the closed shop applies to all employees and their appropriate organisations covered by union membership agreements as defined by section 30 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 as amended in 1976.

The latest available data for the European Community (excluding Greece) are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the sectoral review of the industrial training boards, being carried out by the Manpower Services Commission will be completed; and when he expects to be able to make a statement upon it.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive the Manpower Services Commission's report towards the end of this month, and hopes to announce how we intend to proceed before the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the effect on the retail price index if domestic rates were abolished.

Domestic rates (net of rebates) account for about 2·8 per cent. of household expenditure in the United Kingdom (3·6 per cent. if water, sewerage and environmental charges are included). The effect on the retail price index of their abolition would depend upon the extent and nature of any alternative measures to make good the lost revenue.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has been informed of impending redundancies at Smiths industries in Cricklewood, as a result of the purchase of car instruments from France by British Leyland.

Information given to the Department under the redundancy handling provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975 is given in confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of persons aged (a) 16 to 18 years, (b) 18 to 25 years, (c) 25 to 40 years and (d) 40 to 65 years who are unemployed in the Keighley travel-to-work area.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of redundancies notified to his Department in the Keighley travel-to-work area for the months of June and July to the most recent practicable date.

There are no comprehensive statistics of redundancies. The provisional number of redundancies in the Keighley travel-to-work area, involving 10 or more employees, so far reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in June 1981 is 124, with a further 29 due to occur in later months.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of persons in the Keighley travel-to-work area who have been unemployed for (a) over 12 months and (b) over two years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of jobs currently supported by the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in the Keighley travel-to-work area.

There were 1,037 potentially redundant jobs covered in applications that were current under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in the Keighley employment office area in May 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that there are adequate supplies of Girocheques available at the Cannock unemployment benefit office in order that local unemployment benefit can be paid promptly; and if he will make a statement.

There are already adequate supplies of Girocheques available at Cannock as at other unemployment benefit offices. As part of their industrial action over civil service pay, seven staff in the statisitics division of the Department of Employment at Watford are on official strike. Despite picketing at Watford to prevent the distribution of Girocheques that are being used by benefit offices to make unemployment benefit payments, supplies are being maintained.The unions have now advised their members in benefit offices to refuse to handle girocheques that have reached offices since the strike at Watford began. In most benefit offices staff are not following this advice, but in a number of offices staff are refusing to maintain the payment of benefits to unemployed people. Those staff have been warned that if their refusal continues they will be temporarily relieved from duty. In four offices staff are either on strike or have been temporarily relieved from duty; in two of those offices no payments are being made. I deplore the unions' actions, which will inevitably cause hardship to unemployed people in the areas concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 7 May, c. 126, what changes have been recommended in procedures to deal with applications to sponsor schemes, including those in non-union shops and workplaces under the youth opportunities programme.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1981]: The proposed changes will be made known when they have been fully discussed and agreed by all the parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the misuse of the job opportunities scheme as cheap labour; and on how many occasions he has taken action to prevent this type of abuse.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1981]: The Manpower Services Commission has received representations from a variety of sources including trade unions, employers associations and individuals. The information requested on how many occasions action has been taken to prevent abuse is not available in statistical form, but the commission takes every step necessary within staff constraints, and keeps all procedures under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many placements were made by the professional and executive recruitment division of the Manpower Services Commission during each of the last three years.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1981]: In each of the last three years the number of placings recorded by professional and executive recruitment was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost to the National Health Service budget for the treatment of the harmful consequences of teenage sexual intercourse.

It is not possible to estimate the cost of the harmful consequences of teenage sexual intercourse. Financial costs to the NHS of the three major consequences—abortions, illegitimate births and sexually transmitted diseases—are not separately identified. The personal and social costs of unwanted teenage pregnancies are, however, well recognised and are a cause for particular concern. That is why the Department has asked the Health Education Council to put a special effort into this field later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware of any health authority in England which is experiencing difficulties in getting places for trainee general practitioners in general practice or hospital posts for training.

While I am aware that some doctors may be experiencing difficulties in getting particular places or posts, I have no reason to think that there are not sufficient available over the country as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report those public bodies for which his Department has responsibility, dividing the list into those which are of a consumer or advisory nature and those which have other functions.

Following are the public bodies for which I am responsible:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he has received from the British Medical Association to the proposal that doctors should leave the towns for the countryside during a war to look after casualties of nuclear attack in the country areas.

None, although I am aware that the BMA's annual representative meeting has voted to inquire into the medical effects of nuclear war. In addition, I should point out that I am unaware of the source of the proposal—it does not come from this Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give, at the latest and most convenient stated date, the numbers of peers of the realm who hold any appointment sponsored by his Department; what situation or appointment each one holds; how many hours per week are given to the work connected with it; what are the salaries or expenses paid; and how the latter compare with May 1979.

The following is the information available centrally, relating to seven peers:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the incidence of multiple sclerosis in England.

Information is not centrally available about the incidence of multiple sclerosis in England. However, it is estimated that in 1978, the latest year for which information is available, 7,660 people with a main diagnosis of multiple sclerosis were discharged from hospital. This represents a rate of 16·5 per 100,000 population in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what assessments of the effect of exposure to mono-vinyl chloride on the male reproductive system are available to him; and from what sources.

Although the toxicity of mono-vinyl chloride is well-established and its use closely regulated, the Department's medical advisers are not at present aware of any studies on exposure which provide evidence of direct effects on the male reproductive system.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which countries now ban or place restrictions on the use of the contraceptive drug Depo Provera

The United Kingdom licensing authority does not hold detailed information about the availability of medicinal products in other countries. However, I understand that Depo-Provera is licensed for use as a long-term contraceptive in about 80 countries and for short-term contraceptive use or other indications in nine countries, including Ireland, Italy and the United States in addition to the United Kingdom. I understand that, some time ago, the product was withdrawn from use by the regulatory authorities of Egypt and Jordan.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many day care centres for the mentally handicapped and disabled there are in Dorset; and how this figure compares with the national average per head of population for social service authorities.

The number of places available is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the names of all the nationalised industries for which he is the sponsoring Minister, all the subsidiary companies of those nationalised industries and the names of all companies in which his Department, or bodies answerable to his Department, have a majority or minority interest.

I do not sponsor any nationalised industry, nor does my Department, or bodies answerable to it, have a majority or minority interest in any company.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will reconsider the position of vaccine damaged children who reach the age of 16 years to enable their parents to keep and invest the £10,000 payment and still be eligible for supplementary benefit and the free services associated with that benefit.

We are reviewing the operation of the general arrangements for the treatment of capital under the revised supplementary benefit schemes, including that of vaccine damage payments. I take note of my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I can give no commitment as to the outcome of the review or as to any preferential treatment for particular forms of capital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the annual cost of (a) paying 16 to 17-year-olds in receipt of supplementary benefit the adult rate of benefit, and maintaining the present distinction between householders and non-householders and (b) paying 16 and 17-year-olds in receipt of supplementary benefit the adult rate of benefit, and paying all those in receipt of benefit at the householder rate.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the non-availability of Girocheques to make unemployment benefit, sickness, supplementary benefit and other social security payments; what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of these Girocheques; and if he will make a statement.

There is no problem about either the availability or the supply of Girocheques in this Department and I have received no representations. The supply of Girocheques to pay unemployment benefit is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the Rayner scrutiny team on the validation of national insurance contribution records.

The scrutiny team of three officials from the Department submitted their report to me and Sir Derek Rayner, who endorsed their conclusions, at the end of March. The team made 82 recommendations for streamlining and improving contribution recording and checking procedures. I welcome the main thrust of the team's approach, but have not yet taken final decisions on their detailed recommendations. I considered that it would be right to publish the report before doing so, so that I could take into account any comments by hon. Members and others.I have accordingly published the report today. It is essentially in the form in which the scrutiny team submitted it to me. The recommendations in the published report, together with those omitted to prevent evasion, would result in a saving of some £14 million a year, including a saving of about 1,670 Civil Service posts. I have placed a copy of the report in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much additional land will be taken over by the Ministry of Defence for the purpose of extending the Coulport base for Trident; how much land is presently owned by his Ministry at Coulport; and if he will express the figures in hectares.

The present Royal Navy armament depot at Coulport comprises 128 hectares. It is estimated that a further area of 939 hectares would be needed for the new Trident depot, of which 397 hectares are at present used to provide Army training facilities. The land requirement for Trident would be larger than that for Polaris mainly because Trident with its larger rocket motor requires larger buildings spaced further apart, and on the Rosneath peninsula, it has been decided to contain safety distances within defence land.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the effects of the cuts in university education with particular reference to higher education facilities in Scotland.

Details of grants to universities in Scotland were included in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee) on 2 July. Higher education in Scotland other than the universities is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the effect of reductions in grants to universities on the output of graduates in engineering and technology.

The effect of the reduction in grant to universities on the output of graduates in any subject depends on decisions taken by individual universities in the light of advice from the University Grants Committee. The target numbers which the Committee have set for 1983–84 provide for a increase in numbers in engineering and technology compared with the numbers in 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the financing of the universities.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee) on 2 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effect he estimates that the planned reduction in university spending over the next three years will have on the total number of students.

In its allocation of grant to universities for 1981–82 and its provisional indications for the following two years, the University Grants Committee has assumed that the total number of home and EC full-time students will be about 249,000 by 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he expects the proposed reduction in financial provision for universities in England and Wales to lead to a reduction in the number of doctors, dentists, pharmacists, technologists, engineers and scientists trained; and, if so, what reduction he expects there will be in each of these categories by 1986.

The number of students who will be trained in particular disciplines over the next few years will depend, inter alia, on decisions taken by individual universities in the light of the views of the University Grants Committee. Compared with the position in 1979–80, the committee's allocation of recurrent grant for 1981–82 and its provisional indications to 1983–84 provide for the number of medical students to increase, of dental students to remain unchanged, and of pharmacy students to fall.The total number of science-based students is expected to fall, but within this overall reduction the committee has provided for an increase in the number of students of engineering aid technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if Sir Derek Rayner has reported on the school meals service.