asked the Secretary of State for Industry what assistance has been provided within the past five years under the terms of the Civil Aviation Act 1949 in support of sales financing arrangements for aircraft, including helicopters, other than the airbus.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much square footage of publicly funded industrial space is currently under construction.

As at 30 June 1981—the latest information available—1·069 million square feet of publicly funded industrial space was under construction in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what occasions and for how long members of the Armed Forces have been used inside the United Kingdom under the Emergency Powers Act 1920; and what were the numbers deployed on each occasion;(2) on what occasions and for how long members of the Armed Forces have been used inside the United Kingdom under Emergency Powers Act 1964; and what were the numbers deployed on each occasion;(3) on what other occasions and for how long members of the Armed Forces have been used inside the United Kingdom in instances not covered by the Emergency Powers Acts 1920 and 1964; and what were the numbers deployed on each occasion;(4) on what occasions and for how long members of the Armed Forces have been placed on standby for use inside the United Kingdom; and what were the numbers involved in each instance.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the use of the Armed Forces in support of the civil authorities in the United Kingdom; either under the various Emergency Powers Acts and defence regulations or outside them. From the records readily available, Service personnel have been used under the Emergency Powers Act to maintain supplies and services essential to the life of the community on the following occasions:

Occasion	Date	Relevant EPA(*)
Coalminers' Strike	1921	EPA 1920
General Strike and Coalminers' Strike	1926	EPA 1920

Occasion	Date	Relevant EPA(*)
Dock Strike	1946	DR 1939
Coal Transport Crisis	1947	DR 1939
Haulage Drivers' Strike	1947	DR 1939
Dock Strike	1948	DR 1939
Dock Strike	1948	EPA 1920
Porters' Strike	1948	DR 1939
Dock Strike	1949	DR 1939
Dock Strike	1949	EPA 1920
Power Station Strike	1949	DR 1939
Dock Strike	1950	DR 1939
Porters' Strike	1950	DR 1939
Gas Industry Strike	1950	DR 1939
Oil Distributors' Strike	1953	DR 1939
Seamen's Strike	1960	DR 1939
Seamen's Strike	1966	EPA 1920
Dock Strike	1970	EPA 1920
Local Council Refuse Workers' Strike	1970	EPA 1964
Dock Strike	1972	EPA 1920
Firemen's Strike	1973	EPA 1964
Ulster Workers Council Strike	1974	EPA 1926
Local Council Refuse Workers' Strike	1975	EPA 1964
Firemen's Strike	1977–78	EPA 1964
Oil Tanker Drivers' Strike (Northern Ireland)	1979	EPA 1926
Ambulancemen's Strike	1979	EPA 1964
Prison Officers' Dispute	1981	EPA 1964
Ambulancemen's Strike	1981	EPA 1964
(*) EPA 1920 Emergency Powers Act 1920.
EPA 1926 Emergency Powers (Northern Ireland) Act 1926.
DR 1939 Defence (Armed Forces) Regulations 1939 under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939.
EPA 1964 Emergency Powers Act 1964.

Information on the numbers deployed on each occasion and for how long, and for the numbers placed on standby, is not readily available, apart from the figures contained in the Statement on the Defence Estimates for 1981—Cmnd. 8212-II—table 7.3. Military assistance to the civil authorities can also include aid to the civil police—for example in Northern Ireland since 1969, during the Princes' Gate seige in May 1980 and bomb disposal teams—on various occasions. Assistance is also given to the civil community under the MACC scheme—for example, help during emergencies, and a wide variety of other tasks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he contemplates taking measures to safeguard the security of supply of strategic imported resources such as uranium.

The safeguarding of the security of supply of imported materials in general for British industry is a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry. It has been the practice of successive Governments not to divulge measures that may be taken in connection with the supply of special nuclear materials, including uranium, used in the Defence programme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average weight at birth of various breeds and crosses of potential veal calves.

The average weight at birth of calves of those breeds most commonly used for veal production is as follows:

	Kilograms
Friesian	43
Holstein	43
Hereford x Friesian	39
Charolais	46

Source: Meat and Livestock Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the staff to student ratio for each Scottish university in each of the past two years.

Figures for 1979–80 were provided in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrewshire, East (Mr. Stewart) on 6 July. Comparable information 1978–79 is as follows. Each university teaches a different mix of subjects. Student-staff ratios vary greatly between subjects.

	Total Student load	Total full-time academic staff	Student-Staff ratios
Aberdeen	5,358	696	7·7
Dundee	3,001	421	7·1
Edinburgh	10,264	1,149	8·9
Glasgow	10,082	1,195	8·4
Heriot-Watt	2,866	272	10·5
St. Andrews	3,329	325	10·2
Stirling	2,709	249	10·9
Strathclyde	6,655	727	9·2

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on how many occasions in the last year he or his ministerial colleagues have met the University Grants Committee or visited universities in England and Wales.

In the past year my right hon. and learned Friend and I have had one meeting with the University Grants Committee. Ministers of the Department have had several meetings and discussions with the committee's chairman and have made 11 visits to universities or university institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what explanation he has received from Surrey county council of the fact that its forecasts of future pupil numbers in support of the proposed closure of the Queen Elizabeth II and Sheerwater county secondary schools in Woking were not based on Office of Population, Census and Surveys statistics, although it is the authority's normal practice to rely on such statistics; and if he will make a statement.

I understand the the Surrey local education authority obtained statistics of live births in Woking from both OPCS and the district health authority. The authority has informed my right hon. and learned Friend that it based its forecasts of future demand for secondary school places on the DHA statistics because these could be compiled for areas corresponding to the catchment areas of the related primary schools, and because for as far ahead as demand could be predicted from actual births they produced the higher forecasts.In reaching his decision on Surrey's proposals my right hon. and learned Friend will take full account of the available statistical information and other relevant factors, including the views of objectors to the proposals.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will request the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to allow the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families and other Christians in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to emigrate to countries where they will be able to practise their religious beliefs.

Since the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families have taken refuge in the United States embassy in Moscow, this is primarily a matter for the United States and Soviet authorities. The Government will, however, continue to press for an end to abuses of human rights in the Soviet Union, particularly with regard to freedom of movement and freedom to practise religious belief.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if it is his policy that the grant of future United Kingdom aid to a newly independent Namibia should be conditional on the full implementation of United Nations resolution 435; and if he will make a statement.

With our partners in the Five, we continue to work for a peaceful and internationally recognised settlement of our Namibia problem based on Security Council resolution 435. It is too soon to decide on our aid programme to Namibia after independence.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he contemplates any new initiative to resolve the present stalemate over Namibian independence.

We are in touch with our partners in the Five about the next steps to be taken as a result of the recent visit by the United States Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Clark, to southern Africa and subsequent contacts between the United States and South African Governments.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many overseas students and visitors the British Council handled or placed in the past three years, on cultural and arts studies programmes in Great Britain; and if he will show how these were allocated to institutions or programmes in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively.

The number of students was as follows:

	Students
1978/79	1,478
1979/80	1,387
1980/81	1,419

asked the Lord Privy Seal what commissions were paid to the British Council in the past three years for handling or placing overseas students and visitors on courses and study tours in Great Britain; and if he will show what amounts came from United Nations-funded, from Overseas Development Administration-funded, from Government-funded and from otherwise funded programmes.

In the three years to March 1981 the British Council received from the Overseas Development Administration £11,040,000 and from the European Commission £184,839 as contributions towards the cost of managing and administering overseas students and visitors in Britain. The figures for overseas Governments and other agencies—for example, development banks—are not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Overseas Development Administration contribution includes the cost of British Council posts overseas which select and administer the students in their own country and placement and welfare services in Britain. No administrative charges were made to United Nations agencies before 1 April 1981.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what were the total course and placement fees paid by foreign students and visitors handled by the British Council in the past three years for (a) general management courses, excluding industrial training, (b) cultural and arts studies programmes and visits and (c) fisheries related courses; and if he will show how these fees were shared, in each case, between institutions in England, Wales and Scotland;(2) what total course fees were paid by overseas students handled by the British Council in the past three years; and if he will show how these fees were allocated to institutions in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively.

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

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether under the draft convention on the law of the sea the International Sea Bed Authority will be responsible for authorising the placement of radioactive waste at sea in deep ocean storage.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief is granted to owner occupiers on mortgage payments in Scotland (a) at basic rate and (b) at each of the higher rates of taxation.

The estimate of total tax relief on mortgage interest payments for Scotland is £95 million in a full year at 1981–82 income levels, assuming that the recommended interest rate remains at 13 per cent. throughout the year. Over the United Kingdom as a whole approximately 7½ per cent. of the cost is attributable to relief in excess of the basic rate; no separate figure is available for Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, according to his calculations, will be the effect on employment in the tobacco manufacturing industry of the latest increase in taxes on tobacco.

Future employment in the tobacco industry depends on decisions to be taken by manufacturers in the light of many factors including changes in both their domestic and their overseas markets. The duty increase on 8 July is expected to reduce consumption of tobacco products in the United Kingdom in 1981–82 by about 1½ per cent, below what it would otherwise have been.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1981.]: This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what common services and defence contribution of the Isle of Man under the Act of 1956 is for 1980–81 and 1981–82.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1981]: The latest estimates of the common services and defence contribution of the Isle of Man for 1980–81 and 1981–82 are £702,000 and £803,000 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1981]: Records are not kept in a form that would enable such an estimate to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to make United Kingdom citizens resident in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man liable to United Kingdom taxes.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1981]: United Kingdom citizens resident in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are within the charge to United Kingdom tax on income arising within the United Kingdom. We have no plans to introduce legislation that would bring into charge income arising outside the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the income tax payable f or 1980–81 in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Channel Islands, respectively, of (i) a single person earning £5,000, £10,000, £50,000 and £100,000 per annum, and (ii) a married couple with two children under 16 years earning £5,000, £10,000, £50,000 and £100,000 per annum.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1981.]: A direct comparison of tax payable for 1980–81 is not possible because the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man have a tax year ending in April whereas Jersey and Guernsey use the calendar year. The following figures are for the nearest comparable periods:

Earnings	United Kingdom	Isle of Man	Jersey	Guernsey
£	£	£	£	£
i. Single Person
5,000	1,087	490	600	725
10,000	2,587	1,465	1,570	1,770
50,000	24,050	9,465	9,570	9,770
100,000	54,050	19,465	19,570	19,770
ii. Married Couple with two children under 16*
5,000	856	297	NIL	270
10,000	2,356	1,293	1,165	1,540
50,000	23,588	9,293	9,165	9,540
100,000	53,588	19,293	19,165	19,540
* The United Kingdom, Jersey and Guernsey no longer give tax allowances for children.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 July 1981]: It would be difficult to confine any such scheme of relief from VAT to the Scottish islands ahead of similar claims from other remote areas of the United Kingdom—including some rural mainland areas. To concede all, or even many, of such claims would lead to distortion in the pattern of trade and encourage evasion and abuse. It would have serious implications for the policing of the VAT system.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state (a) the total savings effected by Sir Derek Rayner so far and (b) the total savings envisaged during the lifetime of the present Parliament as a result of Sir Derek Rayner's activities; and if she will express both as a percentage of total current Government expenditure.

Savings from firm decisions so far taken by Ministers on the results of scrutinies and reviews carried out in 1979 and 1980 by Departments with the help of Sir Derek Rayner are around £100 million a year and £28 million once-for-all. Of the recurrent savings, £39 million will be achieved in 1981–82. Further savings of around £110 million a year are dependent on decisions yet to be taken by Ministers and the outcome of consultations. The total of savings decided and still to be decided is equivalent to 0·2 per cent. of Government current expenditure, and nearly 3 per cent. of the provision in 1981–82 Supply Estimates for Civil Service pay, superannuation and supporting services. Savings from future scrutinies cannot be predicted.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will remove the Alkali Inspectorate (Industrial Pollution Inspectorate) from the Health and Safety Executive pursuant to the recommendation of paragraph 260 of the fifth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution, Cmnd. 6371, and restore it to the Department of the Environment.

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

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster at Haltemprice on 11 July on aspects of Government policy represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will arrange to collect and publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the persons known to be from the ethnic groups who have been appointed to the various Government committees, non-departmental public bodies or the representative bodies since May 1979; and if she will instruct all Ministers and Government Departments that each of these committees must include a percentage of persons from the ethnic groups.

This information could be collected only at disproportionate cost. Ministers will continue to appoint people from all sections of the community to Government committees and public bodies on the basis of their ability to contribute to the work of that committee or public body.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his assessment of the number of patients awaiting transplant of organs; if he will separate this figure into categories of operation; and what is the policy of his Department towards the development of facilities for such transplants.

The number of patients in the United Kingdom who were awaiting kidney transplants on 30 June 1981 was 2,079. Waiting list figures for corneal grafts are not collected centrally. Two patients at Papworth hospital and five at Harefeld hospital have been accepted and are waiting for a heart transplant. Liver and pancreas transplantations are not as yet widely established procedures. Very few such operations are carried out at present and there are no central figures for patients awaiting them.The Government are anxious to encourage the transplantation of kidneys and corneas. The main constraint at present is the availability of sufficient suitable organs. I hope that the new donor cards which I introduced recently will help to increase the numbers becoming available. So far as heart transplants are concerned, the current programme at Papworth hospital is, as my right hon. Friend stated in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Rhodes James) on 13 March 1980, intended to provide a basis for assessment and the determination of future policy.—[Vol. 980, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider instituting and financing a comprehensive investigation into the effects of using for seven years inter-uterine devices as a contraceptive on the future difficulties of women becoming pregnant.

The Department will certainly consider any research applications put to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the total annual cost to the National Health Service arising from cases where private patients whose doctors are not also on the National Health Service require tests under the open access scheme and are, at the discretion of the area health authority concerned, obliged to see a registered medical practitioner on the National Health Service before receiving such tests.

This must be very small indeed, but records would not distinguish between private out-patients and NHS patients of general practitioners, so no estimate could be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence exists that bathing in water contaminated by sewage is a health hazard.

Notified vacancies remaining unfilled at 8 May 1981
	Halifax employment office area*		Calderdale Metropolitan District†
	At employment office	At careers office	At employment office	At careers office
Food, drink and tobacco	—	—	4	—
Chemicals and allied industries	—	—	1	—
Metal manufacture	—	—	1	—
Mechanical engineering	2	—	5	—
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	2	—	6	—
Textiles	2	3	7	3
Clothing and footwear	5	1	8	1
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	1	—	1	—
Timber, furniture, etc.	8	—	13	—
Paper, printing and publishing	1	—	2	—
Other manufacturing industries	—	—	6	—
Construction	11	—	14	—

A report, following a six-year study, on sewage contamination of coastal bathing water in England and Wales produced for the Medical Research Council by a committee of the public health laboratory service in December 1959 concluded that there was negligible risk to health from such water unless so heavily fouled as to be aesthetically totally unacceptable. Our closely integrated infectious disease control and public health laboratory services have found no subsequent evidence to cast doubt on this conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his Department's announcement in December 1980 of £1 million in matching funds for schemes to help mentally handicapped children to leave hospitals, if he will now issue the guidelines for such schemes.

Draft guidelines have been sent to a few representative bodies for comment by the end of this month. I hope to issue the final version very shortly afterwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of job vacancies in each industrial classification in (a) Halifax and (b) Calderdale.

The following table gives the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled in the areas specified at 8 May, analysed by orders of the standard industrial classification. Vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn during the preceding month, which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the past year 4,177 people were placed in employment by employment offices in the Calderdale metropolitan district. 2,067 of them were placed by the Halifax employment office. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of placings.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now consider doubling the Manpower Services Commission's youth opportunities programme allowance of £23·50; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) on 30 June 1981.—[Vol. 7, c. 685.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the industries in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) the Ormskirk travel-to-work area and (d) Kirkby, in which there have been increases in unemployment since May 1979; and what was the percentage increase.

The following table gives the percentage increases between May 1979 and May 1981 in the numbers registered as unemployed in the North-West region and the Merseyside special development area. The figures are analysed according to the industry orders of the standard industrial classification in which the unemployed person last worked. The extra work involved in calculating corresponding increases for the Ormskirk travel-to-work area and for Kirkby could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

Percentage increase in the numbers registered as unemployed between May 1979 and May 1981
	North-West Region	Merseyside Special Development Area
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	74·9	35·4
Mining and quarrying	16·1	22·1
Food, drink and tobacco	67·5	49·5
Coal and petroleum products	54·0	44·5
Chemicals and allied industries	113·0	69·1
Metal manufacture	115·5	103·0
Mechanical engineering	194·5	122·0
Instrument engineering	89·5	3·9
Electrical engineering	136·5	24·3
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	38·7	29·8
Vehicles	145·5	33·4
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	124·8	54·7
Textiles	184·0	27·2
Leather, leather goods and fur	54·9	13·3
Clothing and footwear	149·6	52·2
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	108·9	35·7

	North-West Region	Merseyside Special Development Area
Timber, furniture, etc.	123·4	61·0
Paper, printing and publishing	173·6	167·7
Other manufacturing industries	70·2	0·2
Construction	124·7	73·7
Gas, electricity and water	29·1	34·2
Transport and communication	90·0	71·5
Distributive trades	89·2	46·6
Insurance, banking, finance and business services	94·6	47·4
Professional and scientific services	76·0	49·7
Miscellaneous services	89·6	52·1
Public administration and defence	51·1	31·6
Not classified by industry (including school leavers)	51·7	20·5
Total	92·2	46·2

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men and (b) women were registered as unemployed on 1 July in the boroughs of Wandsworth, Lambeth, Merton, Fulham and Hammersmith.

Precise figures for London boroughs are not available. The latest unemployment statistics are for 11 June and these are given in the following table for the employment office areas which correspond most closely to the London boroughs of Wandsworth, Lambeth and Merton.

	Male	Female
Wandsworth (Clapham Junction and Tooting employment office areas)	8,213	2,878
Lambeth (Brixton, Streatham, Stockwell and West Norwood employment office areas)	10,449	3,611
Merton (Mitcham and Wimbledon employment office areas)	3,320	1,202

It is not possible to provide figures approximating satisfactorily to the borough of Fulham and Hammersmith.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many building and construction workers were registered as unemployed at the latest available date; and what was the figure for one year ago and in May 1979.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Merseyside.

On 10 July I launched an industrial training scheme, designed to train manufacturing and commercial managers, and opened a leisure and training facility at the Neston site of Marconi, one of the major employers in that part of Merseyside. This was preceded by a tour of the factory.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average quota compliance under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 of firms employing (a) fewer than 100 employees, (b) 100 to 500 employees, (c) 500 to 2,000 employees and (d) more than 2,000 employees at the latest date for which figures are available.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, on 1 June 1981 the average level of fulfilment amongst all employers subject to the quota was 1·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, amongst the registered disabled work force, how many unemployed disabled people are out of work for the following periods of time (a) nil to two weeks, (b) three to four weeks, (c) five to eight weeks, (d) nine to 13 weeks, (e) 14 to 26 weeks, (f) 27 to 52 weeks and (g) over 52 weeks at the latest available date for which figures are available.

The information is as follows. It relates to 9 October 1980, the latest date for which figures showing the duration of unemployment are available.

Number of weeks	Number of registered disabled people unemployed
(a) Two or less	2,648
(b) Over 2 and up to 4	2,320
(c) Over 4 and up to 8	4,028
(d) Over 8 and up to 13	4,395
(e) Over 13 and up to 26	8,421
(f) Over 26 and up to 52	10,538
(g) Over 52	32,548
	64,958

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 4 June, Official Report, c. 389, if he has yet received the recommendations of the Manpower Services Commission on the future of the quota scheme for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now take steps to ensure that Corporate Management Planning Ltd., Norwich Union Buildings, High Street, Sheffield, operating as receiver, repay the wages owed by Ternatest, which ceased trading on 19 January, to Mr. White of 12 Keddleston Road, Worksop, in view of the Under-Secretary's letter of 7 D,/lay to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw stating that payment would be made in a few days.

My Department is investigating the delay in processing Mr. White's claim, and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

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-towork area.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1981]: The following is the information for the age ranges nearest to those specified in the Keighley employment office area at 9 April 1981—latest available:

Age	Number
Under 18 years	9*
18 to 24 years	938
25 to 34 years	374
35 to 44 years	494
45 years and over	1,023
* The preceding does not include 197 young people registered at the Keighley careers office for whom a separate age analysis is not available. It is likely, however, that most are under 18 years of age.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1981]: This information is compiled every three months, and the latest figures available relate to April. These were included in my reply to the hon. Member on 15 May.—[Vol. 4, c. 354–55.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for new firearms certificates were received during 1980 and how many were refused; how many appeals were lodged with him; and how many appeals succeeded in the same period.

The information is as follows:

(a) Applications received	4,362
(b) Certificates refused	294
(c) Appeals lodged	202
(d) Appeals allowed	16

(e) Cases reconsidered by Royal Ulster Constabulary after receipt of appeal and certificate granted before appeal heard	33
(f) Appeals refused	150
(g) Withdrawn by appellant	3

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will list the achievements of his Department since May 1979; and if he will make a statement on the extent to which such achievement resulted from the United Kingdom's membership of the European Community.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) by my predecessor on 11 July 1980 and by me on 14 July 1981.Membership of the European Community is an integral part of my Department's policy. Our trade has the opportunities of a free market of 270 million people, and the open competition within the Community which the Treaty of Rome seeks to ensure.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade 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.

At 1 July 1981 appointments were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the names of all the natianalised 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.

The Department of Trade sponsors the following nationalised industries:

• British Airports Authority (BAA)
• British Airways.

BAA has one subsidary, British Airports International Ltd. British Airways have a number of subsidiary companies. These are set out on page 66 of the board's annual report and accounts for 1979–80, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.The Department has a majority interest in two companies concerned with marine navigation in the Middle East:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the concern felt by those connected with the City's financial administration at the extent to which unqualified persons are able to establish themselves as financial advisers and obtain moneys from the investing public under doubtful conditions, whether he will give consideration to introducing legislation to control such organisations.

I see no scope for legislation on this subject in the present Parliament, but my Department is considering the implications of current investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he is taking to protect the textile industry in Dundee.

The Dundee sector of the industry is essentially concerned with jute. Arrangements were concluded in 1980 between the European Community and India and Bangladesh to limit imports of a range of jute products. These arrangements run for four years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by place and by date those disturbances which have taken place in 1981 which have been treated as riots for the purpose of the Riot (Damages) Act.

It is for the compensation authority to determine whether a claim in respect of a particular incident satisfies the conditions of the Riot (Damages) Act.The receiver for the Metropolitan Police district has accepted certain claims for the disturbances in Brixton on 11 to 13 April 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to write to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West concerning the cost to the taxpayer of operating one armoured Jaguar police car and of providing drivers for one such vehicle.

I have now written to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan Police vehicle involved in a collision with a Peugeot estate car on 8 July on Park Lane was carrying any passengers; and, if so whom.

The Metropolitan Police vehicle involved in this incident was carrying one passenger who was receiving police protection. It is not the practice to give information relating to such protection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is carrying out the inquiry into the circumstances of the collision between a Metropolitan Police vehicle and a Peugeot estate car at the junction of Park Lane and Stanhope Gate, W. 1. at 11 am on 8 July; when he erects the inquiry will be completed; and whether he will then supply details of the inquiry to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West.

The inquiry is being undertaken by a senior officer of the Metropolitan Police. It is not possible at this stage to say how long the inquiry will take as this depends upon such matters as the availability of witnesses. I shall communicate further with the hon. and learned Member when the inquiry has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is assessing the cost of the damage to the Metropolitan Police vehicle which was involved in a collision with a Peugeot estate car on Park Lane at 11 am on the 8 July; when he expects this assessment will be completed; and whether he will then supply details to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West.

The cost of repairing the police vehicle is being assessed by the chief engineer of the Metropolitan Police. He expects to complete this assessment within a matter of days. A note of claim has, however, been received from the insurers of the other vehicle involved in the collision and it would not be appropriate, whilst these matters are under discussion, to disclose the costs of the damage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West on 13 July, who is the official of the Palestine Liberation Organisation who is in the United Kingdom on a long-term basis.

The official concerned is the London representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were prosecuted in England and Wales for illegally burning heather or moorland in the most recent period for which figures are available; what is the maximum fine for such an offence; and when the level of fine was last increased.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1981]: The latest records available to me for 1979 show one person proceeded against in England and Wales for burning grass without a licence contrary to section 20 of the Hill Farming Act 1946.However, because some prosecutions may have been brought other than by the police, this information may be incomplete. The maximum fine, by virtue of section 31 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, which was brought into effect in July 1978, is £25.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 30 June 1981]: On 31 December 1980 there were in prison department establishments in England and Wales 1,255 persons serving sentences for murder. Of this total, 36 had been previously released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to exempt mini-buses with over 10 permanent seats owned by local education authorities and used for educational trips or visits to Europe from European Economic Community tachograph regulations; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider taking steps to make public transport free for those people who have retired early under the job release scheme and who are also disabled.

No. Free transport for any group of people increases fares for the remaining passengers or increases rates and taxes for the general public or threatens services by making them less economic. It is always difficult to define any group of people which is actually a fair assessment of need and the beneficiaries of free transport schemes tend to be those in the group who happen to live near to services and find them convenient rather than those most in need.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the student claims for rent allowance under the Housing Act 1980 for those paying rents over £13 a week.

Providing they meet the statutory criteria under the current housing legislation there is no bar on students applying for rent allowances. This has been the position since a national system of rent rebates and allowances was introduced in 1972.However, if a student is statutorily eligible for a rent allowance, his entitlement, which relates to the occupational rent only—that is, excluding services, rates, furnishing and board—is reduced by a deduction in term time representing the element for rent in student grants. This deduction currently is £10 per week. Proposals for an increase in this deduction in respect of 1982–83 will be put before the House in an order shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now decided to implement the measures recommended by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for the Severn-Trent water authority; and, if so, when he expects to take action.

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the Severn-Trent water authority and the East Worcestershire and South Staffordshire waterworks companies raises a large number of issues—most of them directed to the water undertakings themselves. I am following them up with all the regional water authorities and also with the Water Companies Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what evidence he has available to him of the extent of sewage pollution at bathing beaches in the United Kingdom;(2) if he will list the seaside resorts whose beaches he has designated as being within the limits of bacteriological pollution set by the European Economic Community directive on traditional bathing areas;(3) what steps he is taking to reduce the extent of sewage and industrial waste pollution affecting bathing beaches and to ensure that standards comply with those laid down in the European Economic Community directive on the subject.

My hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Fox) announced the list of waters which have been identified as falling within the definitions contained in the EEC directive in answer to the question on 14 December 1979 from my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson)—[Vol. 975, c. 818.] The large majority of these waters already comply fully with the standards laid down in the directive. Where improvements are needed water authorities are considering what has to be done to ensure compliance, either by the date set in the directive or, in exceptional circumstances, through a plan of management as provided for in article 4.3 of the directive. The quality standards set by the directive are mainly designed to reflect amenity considerations. Health surveillance extending over many years does not point to any practical health risk from bathing around our coastline. Expenditure on further improvements to coastal discharges must therefore be a matter for local discretion in the light of local considerations of need and priority. Information about the water quality in individual bathing areas is a matter for the appropriate water and local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to take steps to take clean bathing beaches in accordance with the relevant European Economic Community regulation; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave today to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what progress is being made towards meeting the EEC bathing water directive announced in 1976; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will list those resorts which were included on his Department's list to the EEC in response to its request for a list of beaches where swimming was traditionally practised by a large number of bathers.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave today to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce the results of the initial feasibility study on the siting of a new prison at Woolwich Arsenal.

The report of the initial feasibility study should be available for discussion between my Department and the Home Office next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is given to local authorities concerning the administration and control of purchasing consortia which have been established by a number of authorities in different parts of the United Kingdom.

None. Such questions are wholly within the responsibility and competence of the member authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that where local authorities have established purchasing consortia that member authorities always obtain the best value for public funds by seeking supplies from the widest range of sources.

The purchasing policies of local authority purchasing consortia are for the member authorities to determine. I would expect them to satisfy themselves that the procedure's followed provide participating bodies with the best value for their money.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what stage the inquiry into the proposed third London airport at Stansted has reached.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 9 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. Haselhurst).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the annual receipts from, and expenditure related to, each of the 24 catering concessions operated by his Department during each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Expenditure figures for the Department's catering concessions are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Concession payment figures mean little on their own but they are set out as follows for information. There are in fact 25 catering concessions operated by the Department.As my hon. Friend knows from recent correspondence, the Department provides catering facilities at historic sites, museums and in the Royal parks as a service to the visiting public rather than specifically to raise revenue for the public purse. Care is, however, taken through competitive tendering to obtain the most satisfactory concession holders in terms of quality of service and financial return to the Department.

Concession payments from catering concessions operated by the Department of the Environment at Historic sites, Museums and in Royal Parks for period 1978–81
	1978–79 £	1979–80 £	1980–81 £
Audley End	1,774	1,991	1,470
Carisbrooke Castle	4,971	5,231	5,413
Dover Castle	5,721	3,610	6,858
Fountains Abbey	440	703	578
Greenwich Park	6,828	7,773	3,723*
Ham House	5	5	5
Hampton Court	28,008	29,597	27,923
Hurst Castle	No Service		713
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens	80,090	13,305†	107,905
Imperial War Museum	3,716	3,697	2,220‡
Kew, Royal Botanical Gardens	21,746	20,733	8,000‡
National Gallery	9,843	11,069	6,333‡
National Railway Museum, York	6,576	5,990	2,448‡
Natural History Museum	17,721	21,088	10,674‡
Osborne House	12,549	12,072	11,976
Osterley Park Mansion	816	957	1,192
Pembroke Lodge, Richmond	17,471	20,178	19,525
Regent's Park	28,592	28,414	35,988
Richmond Park Golf Course	6,782	6,894	8,326
Science Museum	10,574	6,533	**
St. James' Park	52,833	72,013	65,837
Stonehenge	17,019	17,245	18,676
Tower of London	33,645	23,933	18,263‡
Victoria and Albert Museum	24,346	22,404	**
Wrest Park	20	20	Nil
* Closed part year for works.
** Figure not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of the Government's review of the role and future funding of the Development Commission will be published.

My right hon. Friend is now consulting colleagues about the study and its publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities continue to dump their sewage raw into the sea; and now many do so through short outfalls.

Detailed information about the disposal of sewage by individual water or local authorities and the methods they employ is not kept centrally. No doubt the appropriate water authority will be able to supply this information to the hon. Member in respect of any particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the standard of cleanliness of beaches in Great Britain; and if he will publish the results of any national survey that has been undertaken.

The standard of cleanliness of individual beaches is a matter for the local authority concerned.The Keep Britain Tidy group is conducting a programme of research into marine litter, including shoreline surveys. The report of the first survey entitled "Litter on the Beaches of the British Isles" was published in November 1980 and the group is in touch with the Government about its results. Information about pollution of the coastline by oil is contained in the annual survey published by the advisory committee on pollution of the sea.I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) about the pollution of beaches by sewage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many bricks are needed to build an average-sized three-bedroom house.

This will vary depending on the design.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the grant under the urban aid programme made to the central London community law centre was made subject to the condition that it would use it in accordance with the Lord Chancellor's guidelines.

In January 1981 local authorities, including those responsible for this project, were told that urban aid was contingent on the Lord Chancellor's guidelines being observed over the operation of law centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conditions were placed on the grant made under the urban aid programme to the central London community law centre.

That the Lord Chancellor's guidelines be observed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discontinue the grant to the central London community law centre under the urban aid programme.

I am looking into the circumstances of this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of bricks stockpiled at the latest convenient date; and what are the comparable figures for the same period in 1949, 1960, 1970, 1975 and 1979.

The figures are as follows:

Stocks of Bricks at end May: Great Britain
Year	Total Brick Stocks (millions)
1949	342
1960	100
1970	977
1975	834
1979	763
1981	1,125

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each region of the United Kingdom the total square footage of (a) empty industrial property under 5,000 sq. ft., (b) empty industrial property over 5,000 sq. ft. and (c) empty warehousing.

I regret that comprehensive information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place a copy of MINIS 2 in the Library.

I did so on 1 July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has made to effect the transfer of the Hydraulics Research Station to the private sector.

The Hydraulics Research Station was set up in 1947 to provide a research capability to serve the civil engineering industry. It was transferred to the Department of the Environment in 1971 as part of the Department's responsibility for the building and civil engineering industry. But only 20 per cent. of its research is carried out for the Department; the remainder is for repayment customers in the private sector and in central and local government. This is a clear example of an organisation which would benefit from the freedom which transfer to the private sector would bring in terms of ability to respond to market forces and to the needs of industry.The Government, therefore, propose that the HRS should be constituted as a company limited by guarantee and be registered under the Companies Act. I have set up a shadow board under the chairmanship of Sir Alan Harris to act on behalf of the prospective company.Its main responsibilities will be to define the conditions necessary to secure the viability of the prospective company, to draft its memoranda and articles of association, to seek suitable guarantors, and to represent the company in discussions with the Government and the staff on the terms and conditions of asset and staff transfer.I believe that the station's commercial prospects are good, that it will benefit from the challenge and the discipline of the private sector and that within a very few years it will become fully self-supporting, both on capital and on current account.Meanwhile, I recognise that the station is not at present earning sufficient revenue to finance capital investment or to provide working capital. I therefore propose limited support by the Government during the period immediately following the transfer to the private sector. In addition to the transfer to the new organisation of the land, buildings, and equipment of the existing station, I propose the making of grants to cover the cost of certain major capital items and to provide working capital. Furthermore, my Department will maintain a minimum level of support for research at the station during the transitional period. The Estimates for 1981–82 already make provision for the change of status of the station. Revised and more detailed Estimates, and a Treasury Minute, will be laid before the House when the details of the transfer have been settled.As an interim measure and to provide continuity it is proposed to second the present staff of the HRS to the new company. This will give them and their representatives time to negotiate satisfactory terms of employment for those transferring permanently to the company.