asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any payment from public funds was made to an informer or informers in connection with the recent abortive prosecution of Messrs. William Press; and, if so, how much and to whom.

No such payment has been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the failure of the prosecution of Messrs. William Press Ltd. and the comments of the trial judge with regard to the commencement and conduct of those proceedings, he will now institute a full inquiry into the circumstances in which this prosecution was initiated.

The power of the Board of Inland Revenue to order criminal proceedings is a matter within the terms of reference of the Committee on the Enforcement Powers of the Revenue Departments, chaired by Lord Keith.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance held by the national debt office on behalf of the national insurance fund at the end of each month since January and at the latest available date; what other interest-bearing assets were held on behalf of the national insurance fund at the same date; and what was the income on an annual basis to be expected from them.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what interest charges have been incurred in each month on money borrowed to cover the taxes not collected as a result of the Civil Service dispute.

The Civil Service dispute is estimated to have cost by way of interest on extra borrowing £15 million in April, £25 million in May and £30 million to £40 million in June. The amount in March was small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland of 2 July, Official Report, c. 477, why he does not think it would be a practical proposition to exempt from value added tax petrol and diesel sold in the Scottish islands.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the best estimate of the loss of revenue under a scheme of mandatory independent taxation due to the reduction in the tax due from investment income of married couples if (a) no transfers of capital between spouses were made and (b) optimum transfers were made by all married couples to minimise tax liability; and what (i) increase in investment income surcharge or (ii) lowering of the investment income surcharge threshold would be necessary in order to recover a sum equal to that under (a) and under (b), respectively.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total current expenditure on all services administered by Government Departments in the United Kingdom in each year for 1956 to 1979 at constant prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 July 1981]: Central Government total current expenditure and current expenditure of goods and services in the United Kingdom at 1975 prices for the years 1963 to 1979 was as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if the will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 July.

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

asked the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit Market Harborough.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will recommend to her ministerial colleagues that when making offical reference to strikes in a non-industrial context they should avoid the use of the term "industrial action" and apply specific and accurate descriptions of the type of disruption caused.

I think it best to leave Ministers to use their own language when making offical statements, although I have a lot of sympathy with the point of my hon. Friend's question.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an offical visit to Warrington.

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 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if, instead of sending additional civil servants to propagate Her Majesty's Government's position on Northern Ireland to the United States of America, she will now consider inviting a senior, articulate and experienced politician to continue this task.

The Government's position is explained on a regular basis in the United States by our ambassador and his staff. All Ministers visiting the United States are asked to make a special effort to put across our viewpoint.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give the reasons why she will not dismiss Professor Alan Walters.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 9 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in addition to her proposed visit to Toxteth, Liverpool, she will also visit the scenes of other disturbances at Bristol, Brixton, Finsbury Park, Forest Gate, Wood Green, Woolwich, Fulham, Moss Side, Manchester and Lewisham.

I have recently visited Liverpool and Brixton, and have had a meeting with community leaders from Southall. I have no immediate plans to visit the other are as listed by the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the areas where riots have occurred which she has visited since they occurred; what similar areas she proposed to visit; and when the previous occasion was when she paid a visit to these areas.

I respect of Liverpool, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange (Mr. Parry). I have also paid a brief visit to Brixton, and I have a meeting with community leaders from Southall. I have no immediate plans for visits to other areas where there have been disturbances recently, althouth I shall take account of these events in planning my visits around the country.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her visit to Liverpool.

I paid a useful visit to Liverpool on Monday 13 July, in the course of which I had meetings with the lord mayor and representatives of the local authorities, the chief constable and other senior police officers, community leaders and church leaders. I found the discussions valuable and was pleased to meet so many different groups.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing new measures to deter those responsible for the more criminal offences against the person.

Heavy penalties are already available for the more serious offences against the person. My right hon. Friend will be glad to consider any suggestions for new measures that the hon. Member may have.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of complaints, in the Metropolitan Police area in particular, at the lack of police being seen on the beat and while numerous police are engaged on the work connected with private business functions, such as the Wimbledon tennis tournament, Ascot races and Test matches, whether he will ask the commissioner to cut down the use of police for private functions in favour of having police on the beat.

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 18 June 1981, how many persons were remanded in custody untried by magistrates' courts for the most convenient recent period; how many of them were subsequently bailed before trial or committal; and after how many remands such persons were bailed;(2) how many persons who were tried by magistrates' courts were remanded in custody untried, and subsequently bailed before trial, for the most convenient recent period; and after how many remands such persons were bailed;(3) for the most convenient recent period, how many persons were committed fur trial, and how many of them were remanded in custody untried and subsequently bailed before committal; and after how many remands such persons were bailed.

The information available about untried person remanded in custody by magistrates is given in table 1. The information available to me about the number of remands in custody before release on bail comes from an analysis of a sample of persons first remanded in the period May-October 1978 and is given in table 2. This information is not available separately for those dealt with by the magistrates and for those committed for trial. The number of persons committed for trial in 1979, the latest year for which figures are available, is published in table 8.5 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1979"—Cmnd. 8098.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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 refer my hon. Friend to the nineteenth report of the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Horserace Totalisator Board, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the changed circumstances since the Bristol riots, following the incidents at Forest Gate, Finsbury Park, Toxteth, Southall, Wood Green and elsewhere, he will give further consideration to the police being issued with sprays containing non-toxic indelible dye, such as permanganate of potash, or similar, to enable the police to identify, after the event, people present at the riots.

The working group on protective clothing and equipment for the police is considering this. The use of such sprays is an operations) matter for chief officers of police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has that under-age drinking was a factor in the riots in Toxteth and Moss Side; and if he will make specific and careful inquiry into this aspect of the disturbances.

I am asking the chief constables of Merseyside and Greater Manchester for reports on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what compensation can be claimed by shopkeepers who are not insured for damage arising from street disturbances; whether he has information as to the length of time the police will take to deal with claims; and if he will consider special payments being made in the case of non-insurance where the individual owner of a shop which has been damaged shows that such help is needed to continue trading.

The Riot (Damages) Act 1886 sets out the conditions in which compensation may be paid for damage to shops and their contents. The time taken for payment will depend on the circumstances of each case, but the local authorities concerned are aware of the importance of giving sympathetic consideration to making payments on account in proven cases of need.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what local authority areas there were riots in the two weeks prior to 16 July.

Since 3 July the areas in which disturbances of differing degrees of seriousness have occurred include Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Cleveland, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Greater London, Hampshire, Humberside, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Merseyside, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the disturbances in Brixton on 10–11 July are to be treated as a riot for damages purposes.

It is open to members of the public to submit claims for damage which they consider may fall within the terms of the Act. But it is for the receiver of the Metropolitan Police district to determine whether claims satisfy the statutory conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Departments in the light of the recent civil disorders, what provision he is making for extra places in (a) detention centres, (b) borstal and(c) remand centres; and when he expects these extra places to be ready.

I have taken immediate action to redistribute the prison population to provide wherever possible adequate plans for remand prisoners.I am making additional detention centre accommodation urgently available at Lowdham Grange open borstal, near Nottingham, and at Erlestoke House prison, Devizes, Wiltshire. They should be ready for occupation in the next few days. They will together provide 190 places for detention centre trainees.I am ready to take what other action is necessary to provide accommodation for those sentenced to prison or borstal training as a result of the disturbances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were injured in the recent rioting in Liverpool; and what was the nature of the injuries.

I understand from the chief constable of Merseyside that 468 police officers incurred injuries of varying degrees of seriousness. On 14 July, 164 were still absent from duty, including seven detained in hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in security category A were considered for parole in each of the last five years; and how many of them were granted parole.

All prisoners in security category A who have served a long enough period in custody to be eligible for parole and have not declined to have their cases reviewed are considered for parole; but the number of such prisoners considered for parole within a particular period is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. No one who has been released on parole was in category A at the time of release.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken by the Government in pursuit of the first 14 recommendations of the report entitled "Youth in Multi-racial Society", published by the Commission for Racial Equality in March 1980.

Following the publication of this report, Ministers met representatives of the Commission for Racial Equality on several occasions to discuss their findings. The commission has been invited to prepare certain further material on the basis of which the development of its proposals could be considered. Earlier this year the Government instituted a review of the youth service, in the course of which the needs of ethnic minority youth and the role of the youth service in meeting those needs will be examined. The review group will also consider the findings and recommendations of the commission's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure adopted by the police in deciding on an application under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886.

Claims for compensation under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 are the responsibility of the appropriate local authority or the receiver for the Metropolitan Police district. They consider whether any claim satisfies the statutory conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average amount of time between a successful application order the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 and the time the money has been paid to the applicant.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been paid under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 since (a) 1945, (b) 1960 and (c) 1970.

Comprehensive information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how, when his Department offers money for the return fares and other payments to persons wishing to return to their homes of origin, a check is kept to ensure that such recipients do not use these moneys and return again to the United Kingdom; whether these payments are in any way limited; or if a person from any country can live in the United Kingdom and after a time return to his country of origin at public expense.

Under the scheme operated on behalf of this Department by International Social Service, assistance is limited to persons subject to immigration control who, having failed to settle in this country, wish to return to their country of origin but lack the means to do so. Assistance is provided in the form of tickets and a contribution towards baggage costs. Those who and thus assisted are not forbidden to seek to return to this country. If at some later stage they sought to do so, they would need to satisfy the immigration service that they were entitled to re-enter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce legislation to repeal the Children and Young Persons Act; and how many approved school places it is his intention to pro vide by the legislation replacing it.

My right hon. Friend hopes to introduce legislation soon to give effect to the Government's proposals for strengthening the powers of the courts which were set out in the White Paper on young offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in the Official Report those criteria he employs to decide, in cases of miscarriage of justice, whether to refer the matter to an assessor for an ex gratia payment; and what general guidelines he gives to the assessor about levels of compensation.

My policy and that of successive Home Secretaries has been to give sympathetic consideration to an application for an ex gratia payment from public funds to a person who has been granted a free pardon or whose conviction has been quashed after his case has been referred to the Court of Appeal under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968. Exceptionally, payments have been authorised in other cases where the circumstances were compelling and there has been some misconduct or negligence on the part of some public authority. I do not give any guidelines to the assessor, who is independent and applies principles analagous to those governing the assessment of damages for civil wrongs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the level of protection from criminal damage which the police are able to give.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that chief officers of police are continuing to develop and employ all practicable and appropriate protective measures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to make parents responsible for the criminal activities of their children.

We have plans, as set out in the White Paper on young offenders, Cmnd. 8045, to strengthen and clarify the powers of the courts to make parents pay financial penalties imposed on their children, and to increase the amount of the recognisance which parents can be ordered to enter into when bound over to take proper care and control of their children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the effects of showing on television programmes involving violence, riots and looting.

These issues were among those studied by the Annan committee on the future of broadcasting, which reported in 1977. Since then the broadcasting authorities have reviewed their guidelines on the portrayal of violence on television, and they are continuing to keep them under review. We know that the broadcasting authorities are keenly aware of their responsibilities in this field and we do not believe that the institution of a further inquiry is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of staff in the Welsh Office's agriculture department are Welsh speaking; and if he will make a statement.

46 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the present market return to beef producers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Yes; the latest average market price—end June—for fat cattle was 8 per cent. higher than for the corresponding period last year.

asked the Secreatry of State for Wales how much has been paid to his Department on account of national insurance contributions to the National Health Service for each week since 1 February.

The amounts are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why, notwithstanding his reply of 24 June, Official Report, column 104, promising a written reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West's letter of 18 June, no such reply had been received by 10 July; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made into the maladministration of his Department.

I replied to the hon. Member's letter of 18 June on 9 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied that, following the high investment in modem competitive capacity, the British coal industry will be able to sell coal at a price competitive in the European market.

It is clear that investment in modern capacity, by increasing the coal industry's productivity and reducing costs, can improve the competitive position of United Kingdom coal at home and abroad. I naturally hope that the board will make every effort to reap the greatest possible benefits from the very substantial investment in the industry in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy 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.

There are no peers of the realm on my Department's direct pay roll, nor holding remunerated appointments in any of the bodies whose costs are borne directly by my Department. The information in relation to statutory corporations sponsored by my Department as at 1 July 1981 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy 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 a minority interest.

The list is as follows:

• The British Gas Corporation^*
• The National Coal Board^*
• The Electricity Council^*
• The Central Electricity Generating Board and Area Boards^*
• The British National Oil Corporation^*
• British Nuclear Fuels Limited
• Amersham International Limited
• The National Nuclear Corporationt†
• ^* The Report and Accounts of these bodies give details of their subsidiary companies and other companies in which they have an interest.
• † Shares held by UKAEA.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal is imported for under-boiler heating by the private sector.

The available statistics do not identify separately imports of coal for under-boiler heating in the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what part his Department played in securing a European Economic Community loan for the British Gas Corporation's slagging gasifier at Westfield, Fife; and what is the specific purpose and what are the terms of the loan.

British Gas made its application for aid direct to the Commission in response to an invitation for proposals in the field of coal gasification and liquefaction published in the Official Journal for 12 April 1980, pages C91/3, 91/4. That invitation also contained details of the Community's alternative energy demonstration scheme under which the aid would be made available. British Gas Corporation's application, together with all others made, was considered by the Commission in the light of the adv ices of an advisory committee on which Her Majesty's Government are represented, which advice was favourable to the British Gas Corporation's application.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration the International Energy Authority has given to the commissioning by the National Coal Board of the 80 Mw coal-fired pressurised fluidised bed combustion plant.

Whilst the 80 Mw thermal experimental pressurised fluidised bed combustion project is under the auspices of the International Energy Agency, it is controlled by an executive committee of the participants, from the United Kingdom, United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany. The National Coal Board is the United Kingdom participant, and received financial support from my Department. A wholly owned subsidiary of the National Coal Board—NCB (IEA Grimethorpe) Ltd. —is the operating agent for the participants.Both the IEA and my Department are kept fully informed on the progress of the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the United Kingdom will implement the recommendations arising from the study of the energy research and development which has taken place under the auspices of the International Energy Agency; and what energy saving could be secured by the United Kingdom from the application of these findings.

My Department takes into account recommendations and conclusions reached within the IEA when developing the Government's strategy on the sponsorship of energy research and development.It is impossible to assess the direct benefit to the United Kingdom from the implementation of recommendations on energy research and development made by the IEA since this benefit arises from the actions of very many organisations and individuals. Energy research and development is not itself a determinant of energy saving, but provides more options for possible economical application.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the activities of his Department and oil companies operating in the United Kingdom in respect of the International Energy Authority energy phasing system; and if he considers that the arrangements made are both equitable and in the national interest.

My Department, with advice and co-operation from the oil companies, plays an active role in the development of the International Energy Agency's energy sharing system and in tests of its effectiveness. I consider that the arrangements made are equitable and in the national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his discussions with the political leaders in Northern Ireland.

On 2 July I announced to the House my intention to form a Northern Ireland Council and outlined my proposals for its composition and range of functions. I also told the House that I would consult the Northern Ireland political parties about the details of these proposals before inviting the House to approve them. This process has begun.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of people out of work in Northern Ireland on 1 July.

On 11 June 1981, the latest dale for which this information is available, the total number of people registered as unemployed in Northern Ireland. was 103,833.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what royalty payments have been received from the De Lorean Company to date; and what information he has regarding the progress of sales of this company's product in the United States of America.

A royalty payment of £205,350 relating to the quarter ended 30 June 1981 has been received. 1110 cars have been dispatched to America from Belfast. The next shipment of some 525 cars is expected to leave tomorrow.I understand that, so far, about 450 cars have been forwarded to dealers.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to make further charges in the conditions pertaining in Northern Ireland prisons.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 Dapartment, or bodies answerable to his Department, have a majority or minority interest.

The only nationalised industry for which I am responsible is the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. For details of this company and its subsidiaries, I refer the hon. Member to the company's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.Although it is not strictly a nationalised industry the hon. Member may also wish to know that I am responsible for the Northern Ireland Electricity Service. The companies in which my Department, the Northern Ireland Development Agency or the Local Enterprise Development Unit have a majority or minority interest are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid to his Department from central funds on account of national insurance contributions to the National Health Service for each week since 1 February.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the totals of British export in high technology goods to the Soviet Union for the last five years, compared with those of other member States of the Western European Union.

The available statistics relating to trade with the Soviet Union do not identify exports of high technology goods. I regret that I am unable therefore to provide the information requested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British companies have applied for protection under the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980.

Section 1 of the Act provides powers under which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may prohibit persons carrying on business in the United Kingdom from complying with measures taken by overseas countries which damage the trading interests of the United Kingdom. Section 2 provides powers for my right hon. Friend in certain circumstances to prohibit persons in the United Kingdom from passing to authorities of an overseas country commercial documents which are not within the territorial jurisdiction of that country or commercial information. There is no requirement for persons in the United Kingdom to apply for protection under the Act. These powers are discretionary and my right hon. Friend exercises them in the national interest. He, however, expects persons whose interests appear to be prejudiced by actions of overseas countries to consult the Department of Trade. Such consultations occur from time to time and are confidential.Other provisions of the Act form part of the general law and are not exercisable by ministerial discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present position in respect of the draft Ouse and Foss Pilotage Order following his consent that it be published by the trustees of the Ouse Navigation.

The draft order was published in December last and 18 objections were received by the Secretary of State and put to the trustees for their comments. I understand that the trustees are still considering their response: there is no statutory time limit on this stage of the procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the United Kingdom balance of trade in manufactured goods, other than oil, with the original European Economic Community six countries in 1980 and in the first half of 1981.

Details of the United Kingdom's trade with the European Community countries in 1980 are given in the latest issue of "United Kingdom Trade with European Countries". For 1981, United Kingdom data are published only for January and are given in Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, January 1981. Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the proposed merger between Swain and Company and Lancashire and Cheshire County Newspapers.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) on 14 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many firms in the Coventry travel-to-work area went into liquidation during 1979, 1980 and to date in 1981.

I regret that figures of company liquidations are not available by area. Bankruptcy cases in the Coventry travel-to-work area are dealt with by the Coventry county court and cover individuals and partnerships including employees as well as the self-employed. The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the findings of his Department's inquiries into reported breaches of the safety code for emergency stand-by vessels attending offshore installations.

My Department has investigated reports that stand-by vessels attending offshore installations habitually exceeded the limits on station recommended in the stand-by vessel code. These inquiries were principally concerned with the examination of the official log books of 87 stand-by vessels representing 900 voyages undertaken during a period of approximately two years ending in May 1981.The code recommends a maximum continuous period on stand-by duty of 21 days or 28 days in certain circumstances. The investigation disclosed that of the total voyages made during the period in question 40 per cent. were 21 days or less on station; 51 per cent. between 22 and 28 days and 5 per cent. of 29–30 days. The maximum periods on station revealed were two voyages, of 44 and 46 days respectively. In four ships the logs were not completed and the relevant information could not be checked. Overall, of 900 voyages covered in the investigation, 78 per cent. were strictly within, or only marginally exceeded, the guidance in the code and 91 per cent. of all periods on station were of 28 days or less. In a relatively few instances observance of the code's recommendations was below an acceptable standard, but with regard to safety and operational standards generally there is no evidence that the code is being flouted or widely disregarded by operators to the detriment of safety. I am, none the less, concerned to ensure that the code reflects the highest practicable safety standards and is responsibly observed in all aspects. With this in mind my Department will be discussing with the stand-by vessel operators and charterers further modifications to the code and also improved monitoring arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has yet responded to the application he has received from the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux for an increase in their grant-in-aid.

I have now written to the NACAB, and have placed a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, if he will publish a table showing the exports to and imports from Japan and Germany, respectively, in each of the most recent three year period from which figures are available in respect of cars, light commercial vehicles, consumer electronic products and advanced machine tools.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1981]: The available information for the period 1978 to 1980 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are unemployed in each

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled people are unemployed in each region; and what steps he is taking to assist them.

On 11 June 1981, the latest date for which statistics are available, the numbers of registered disabled people unemployed within each Department of Employment statistical region were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken this year to promote the employment of disabled people; to what extent their position has improved or worsened as a result of increasing levels of unemployment; and if he will make a statement assessing the effectiveness of his policies in achieving the employment objectives of the International Year of Disabled People.

The Government fully support the employment objectives of the International Year of standard region of Great Britain; how these figures compare with the figures for May 1979; and if he will express each figure as a percentage of the respective work forces.

The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed and the percentage rates of unemployed at May 1979 and June 1981 for the areas specified. The figures exclude school leavers and are seasonally adjusted.Disabled People. We are therefore continuing to provide the assistance which disabled people need in the employment field, and in promoting the "Fit for Work" campaign, which aims, in common with the employment objectives of the International Year, to promote the full integration of disabled people into the normal working environment.The shortage of job opportunities of course affects disabled people like jobseekers in general, but it is notable that unemployment amongst disabled people has risen more slowly over the last year than unemployment generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will describe his Department's policy for prescribing, providing and maintaining high technology equipment to enable disabled persons to work; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will describe the role of the medical and paramedical professions in providing advanced technology, communication and other aids for disabled people to work, by his Department; what conditions are imposed upon the receivers and suppliers of such equipment; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 July]: I recognise the potential of high technology equipment to increase the number and range of employment opportunities for disabled people.The Manpower Services Commission is able to prescribe and provide such equipment on permanent free loan under its special aids to employment scheme to registered disabled people who need the equipment in the performance of their work. The Manpower Services Commission accepts full responsibility for the maintenance and repair of equipment lent under this scheme though disabled users may be asked to meet the cost of minor repairs—under £5. No special conditions are imposed upon the suppliers of such equipment. Disabled people are asked to return equipment to the Manpower Services Commission when it is no longer required for employment purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many organisations involved with the support, creation or development of small businesses within England are financially aided by his Department; and if he will list them.

It is the responsibility of the Departments of Industry and Environment, rather than Employment, to provide financial support of this kind. General assistance for the work of organisations involved with the support, creation and development of small businesses is given by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission, for example through training programmes, which are in some cases specifically designed to help new enterprises.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the total number of full-time employees in the tobacco industry for each year since 1970.

Employment estimates distinguishing full-time and part-time employees separately are available at June each year from 1971 to 1978. In subsequent provisional estimates these categories are combined. The following table gives the available information for the tobacco industry in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies were notified in the Blackburn travel-to-work area in the periods June 1979 to May 1980 and June 1980 to May 1981: and, of those persons, what estimate is made of the number earning less than £80 per week at the time their redundancy was declared.

There are no comprehensive statistics of redundancies. The number of redundancies, involving 10 or more employees, reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in the Blackburn travel-to-work area between June 1979 and May 1980—inclusive—is 1,608; between June 1980 and May 1981 the number so far reported is 4,267, including provisional figures for April and May.An estimate of the number earning less than £80 per week is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what moneys have been paid into the redundancy funds and the maternity pay fund for each week since 1 February.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of (a) the number and (b) the percentage of youth unemployment, including those on youth opportunity programmes among the young working population nationally and regionally; and if he will evaluate the effect on these figures of summer school leavers.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 June 1981, c. 255]: The following table gives for 9 April, the latest date for which information is available, the numbers of young people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed nationally and regionally. It also gives the percentage rate of unemployment for this age range which is available only on a national basis. This figure does not include those on the youth opportunities programme. The numbers of young people on the programme at the end of April, as notified to me by the Manpower Services Commission, are shown in the final column of the table. It is too early to assess the effect of summer school-leaving on these figures.The Government's special employment measures exist to help unemployed young people with training, work experience and temporary employment designed to help them get jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total of young people who have registered at careers offices in each of the travel-to-work areas in Cumbria in the last month for which statistics are available.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1981]: The following is the provisional information for 11 June 1981:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry 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.

At 1 July 1981 appointments were as follows. Only two of them — marked^* — were salaried.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many organisations involved with the support, creation or development of small businesses within England are financially aided by his Department; and if he will list them.