asked the Prime Minister what percentage of research and development spending by the Government has been devoted to defence in each of the past three years; and how this compares with other NATO countries.

The share of Government research and development spending which was devoted to defence was about 52 per cent. in 1977–78, about 53 per cent. in 1978–79 and, based on provisional figures, about 55 per cent. in 1979–80. These figures reflect the fact that private industry spends much less on research and development in the defence field than in the civil field and, conversely, the Government effort is concentrated on defence. The table below gives information published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for certain NATO countries. But the means of organising and financing research and development and the methods of defining and collecting the statistics differ between countries; thus the proportions quoted cannot be treated as strictly comparable.

Country	Year	Defence R & D expenditure as a percentage of total Government R & D expenditure
Belgium	1979	0·1
Canada	1979–80	7·8
Denmark	1979–80	*0·5
France	1979	35·4
Germany	1979	11·6
Italy	1979	3·2
Netherlands	1979	3·0
Norway	1979	4·5
US	1979	*48·5
* excludes most or ail capital expenditure.

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made in the discussions on a European convention for the protection of laboratory animals.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office, to the hon. Member for Halifax (Dr. Summerskill) on 9 June 1981.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will give consideration to the establishment of a Government-sponsored institute for the study and development of alternatives to live animal research.

No. Alternative techniques to the use of live animals are best developed by scientists in the course of their own research Every year the Home Office sends advice to all licensees under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 urging them to give thought to the possibilities of developing new alternatives.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many universities and colleges in Great Britain have been subsidised by the Overseas Development Administration for the purpose of creating programmes of study for students from developing countries; and if he will give the name and location of each, and the amount of subsidy.

Many universities and colleges have in the past been willing, with the encouragement of my Administration and its predecessors, to organise study programmes for students from developing countries. There has in general been no element of direct subsidy; fees for the courses, related to their running costs, have been paid from the aid programme for students sponsored by ODA, and charged to other students. Where necessary to help institutions establish new courses ODA has been prepared to underwrite a proportion of the places available but the ODA guarantees have been little called upon. Calls in 1980–81 totalled about £36,000.It has not been possible in the time available to compile a complete list of courses set up with ODA encouragement but I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how much aid the Government are currently giving to the Falkland Islands.

British aid to the Falkland Islands in 1981–82 is expected to amount to about £1·2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates during the past two years, the Police Commissioner has visited the various areas of the Metropolitan Police area where the recent riots have taken place to discuss matters with the local community relations leaders, elected leaders and councillors of the borough councils concerned.

The extent and frequency of his contacts with community leaders and local elected representatives is a matter for the commissioner. I know that he takes every opportunity to develop and strengthen links with all sections of the community within the Metropolitan Police force area and has personally met very many local Members of Parliament, local councillors and community spokesmen both at Scotland Yard and during visits to local police districts and non-police activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons to date have been charged with offences following the recent riots in Manchester; whether further arrests are anticipated; and to date what has been the maximum penalty imposed on any convicted person.

Two hundred and twenty-seven by July; yes; six months' imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons to date have been charged with offences following the riots in various parts of London on the nights of 9 and 10 July; whether further arrests are anticipated; and to date what has been the maximum penalty imposed on any convicted person.

Four hundred and sixty-one by 16 July; inquiries which might lead to further arrests continue; 28 days' imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give an actual or estimated breakdown of the total costs to public funds of the damage to property and life and the compensation for same as a result of the riots at Bristol, Brixton, Fulham, Finsbury Park, Forest Gate, Wood Green, Toxteth, Moss Side and Manchester, Woolwich and Lewisham and any other such disturbance or happening since January 1981.

Information will not be available for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the erection of a British Broadcasting Corporation television mast in the neighbourhood of Cerrig-y-Drudion, Clwyd, and designed to serve the whole of the Uwchaled area, he will take steps to improve television reception in Llangwm and the surrounding district.

The primary responsibility for extending and improving the coverage of the UHF television services rests with the broadcasting authorities, who are currently undertaking phase II of the UHF engineering programme which is designed to extend UHF coverage to communities with permanent populations of 500 or more. In a reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Sir P. Wall) on 20 May 1980, I announced my approval to a further phase of the programme, known as phase III, which is intended to extend coverage to groups of less than 500 wherever it is reasonably practicable for this to be done.I understand that the new relay station at Cerrig-y-Drudion, which is being provided under phase II, will not be able to serve the Llangwm area because of intervening terrain. I also understand that the unserved population at Llangwm will be too small to make the provision of a separate relay station practicable under phase II or III. In these circumstances the possibilities open to the people of Llangwm are a wired distribution system or, if this is not practicable or economic, a 'self-help' transmitter. The arrangements for 'self-help' transmitter schemes were also set out in my announcement on 20 May 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions during the last two years the special patrol group has been operating in Wandsworth; on what dates; what was the evidence which prompted each request for their help; what were the results of each operation; how many arrests were made on each occasion; how may convictions resulted; and if he will give a breakdown of each figure for white and black persons, respectively.

One unit of the special patrol group was deployed on 2 and 8 August 1980 to assist in tracing witnesses to a murder on Clapham Common; on 12 December 1980 to search premises in connection with an attempted murder; on 16 January 1981 to prevent a fight between members of two youth clubs; on 19 February 1981 to prevent damage to property by a crowd; and on 28 March 1981 to assist in a search for stolen motor cycles and drugs. No arrests followed. A unit was also deployed intermittently from 3–28 February 1981 to assist in combatting a high level of burglary, street crime and vandalism. As a result, 11 white and six black people were arrested, 13 of whom were subsequently charged. Four cases have been dealt with by the courts and three black people have been convicted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will discontinue the grant to the Southall youth movement as a result of its members' involvement in recent rioting.

No. We believe the work of the Southall youth movement is generally constructive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which existing prison building or repair projects are in progress or planned and estimated to cost over £1 million, over £5 million and over £10 million respectively; and if he will give in each case the estimated cost, the eventual increase or decrease in prison accommodation and facilities and the dates of commencement and expected completion.

The information is not available in the form requested but I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give as much information as may be readily available of the recruitment to the special constabulary services generally and in the areas where riots have recently occurred; and what action he has taken or intends taking to increase recruitment to the special constabulary service generally and in those areas.

The special constabulary is not a national force. Special constables are recruited by each police force on local initiative and no information is held centrally about recruitment. The Government give every encouragement to local efforts to recruit more special constables, who provide valuable support for the regular police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, in view of the considerable pressure placed on the resources of the Metropolitan Police during the Royal Wedding and the need to maintain at a fully adequate level the policing at Brixton, Finsbury Park, Forest Gate, Woolwich, Wood Green and those other areas in and around London which have recently experienced serious disturbances, he will ensure that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has readily at his disposal on 29 July sufficient manpower drawn from other forces to fulfil the demands made upon them;(2) whether he is able to give his assurance in the light of the several riots which have occurred recently in a number of areas of Great Britain that the police will be able satisfactorily to police the Royal Wedding procession areas and the areas where riots have occurred.

Yes. If circumstances make it necessary, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis can obtain assistance from other police forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in deciding whether to prosecute people making illegal use of citizens band radio equipment.

All reports of suspected illicit use of citizens band radio submitted to the Home Office are considered with a view to prosecution. Except in the case of juveniles, the only criterion used in deciding on the institution of proceedings is the likelihood of securing a conviction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any further representations from users of model aeroplanes about the arrangements he has made for allocation of a wave band to citizens band radio operators.

Since I announced my final conclusions on this matter on 24 June in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Sir P. Wall) I have received three letters from model aircraft enthusiasts. No authorised service does or will conflict with the 27 MHz sub-band at present allotted to model control, and in addition model aircraft enthusiasts already have two other frequency bands available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ensure that representatives of prospective British manufacturers and importers of citizens band equipment who were members of the Home Office specification committee on citizens band radio are appointed as members of the Advisory Committee on Radio Interference established under section 9 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 to make regulations under section 10 of the same Act.

Under section 9(2) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, my right hon. Friend is required to exercise his powers so as to secure that the committee is sufficiently representative of persons whose interests are likely to be affected. He is satisfied that the panel of persons already nominated by the president of the Institution of Electrical Engineers will enable him to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has issued any instructions on allowing (a) all persons and (b) juveniles held in custody on charges arising from the civil disturbances in London to communicate with persons reasonably named by them in accordance with section 62 of the Criminal Law Act 1977;(2) whether the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has issued any instructions about the holding of juveniles in custody following their arrest following civil disturbances.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has not issued any such instructions concerning the treatment of those arrested in the recent disturbances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what protection against the unauthorised removal of antlers in velvet exists for deer kept in zoos, wildlife and safari parks and other land not classified as agricultural land which are outside the scope of the Agricultural (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 as amended by the Welfare of Livestock (Deer) Order 1980; and whether he will list the legislation providing protection for such deer.

The Removal of Antlers in Velvet (Anaesthetics) Order 1980 prohibits the removal without anaesthetics of the antlers in velvet of any live captive or domestic deer in Great Britain, except as first aid or when authorised for scientific purposes. Since the introduction of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (Schedule 3 Amendment) Order 1980 no one in the United Kingdom other than a qualified veterinary surgeon is allowed Ito remove the antlers in velvet from any live deer, except as first aid. Protection is also given to captive deer by the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1912 and to feral deer, although not in regard to the removal of antlers in velvet, by the Deer Acts 1963 and 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list in the Official Report the number of persons (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for offences under the following laws in each of the last five years; (i) section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824, (ii) section 28 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, (iii) section 54 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 and (iv) section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936; and how many prosecutions were brought against individuals accused of nudity in public by private prosecution and how many convictions resulted.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many objections have been received to the Boundary Commission proposals to redraw Liverpool's parliamentary boundaries; and when the public inquiry into these objections is to be held.

These are matters for the Boundary Commission. I understand, however, that it has received a number of representations about its provisional recommendations for Merseyside, including the city or Liverpool. The question of an inquiry is for the commission to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will consider amending the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 to forbid any live animal experiment if the object could be achieved by alternative means;(2) if he will provide funds for research into the development of humane alternatives to live animal experiments;(3) if he will consider introducing legislation to prohibit the use of animals in experiments solely for the purpose of testing a cosmetic preparation or making any test in the course of the development of a cosmetic preparation.(4) what information his Department has of new alternatives being developed to replace the use of live animals in experiments; and if he will give details.

No. It would not be right to deprive the public of the safeguards which these experiments are designed to afford. It is the Government's view that alternative methods of experiment should be developed whenever possible but that this can best be done by scientists in the course of their own research progammes. I have no proposals to provide funds in this field. The attention of all licensees under the Cruelty of Animals Act 1876 is, however, regularly drawn to the importance of taking every reasonable step to confirm, before using live animals, that their investigations cannot be effectively carried out by any alternative means; and they are urged to give thought to the possibilities of developing new alternatives. My Department is aware, mainly from scientific literature, of the development of new alternatives but identification and provision of the details could be done only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the meetings he has had with trade unionists in the Merthyr Tydfil area over the last year.

None; however my right hon. Friend is always ready to meet the Wales TUC when appropriate and expects to do so on 23 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, when the Bridgend north bypass will now be opened; and why the date forecast by him of June 1979 has not been achieved.

I expect the road to be opened in September this year. This is consistent with the answer given to the right hon. and learned Gentleman on 11 March 1981.—[Vol. 1000, c. 341.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when the Baglan Lonlas motorway is to be started; when it is expected to be completed; and in the meantime what proposals he has for easing summer traffic on the Jersey marine bridge.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of all the necessary preparatory work, the scheme is currently scheduled to be started in the period 1984–87, and should take about 3½ years to build. Long traffic delays are not anticipated on the Briton Ferry viaduct and the River Neath bridge and any future maintenance work on these, which will include the painting of the Neath River bridge shortly to be undertaken will be so organised that any interference with traffic is kept to a minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, pursuant to his answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 601, he is able to give figures for the changes in the numbers of students from poor countries as a result of the introduction of full cost fees.

In colleges of further education in England and Wales the total number of overseas students from the "least developed" countries listed by the OECD fell by about 9 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1980–81. The available information for the universities relates solely to new entrants and for undergraduate and postgraduate courses together these fell by 13 per cent. over the same period. Both figures are provisional. The reductions in numbers are not necessarily solely on account of the introduction of full cost fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the number of university mathematicians in Great Britain in the 35 to 45 years age group showing separately lecturers, senior lecturers, readers and professors;(2) what is the estimated number of university mathematicians that would be left in mathematics faculties if there were compulsory retirement of such staff in the 25 to 35, 35 to 45 and over 45 years age groups, respectively.

The numbers by age group of full-time teaching and research staff in universities in Great Britain whose main teaching department was mathematics in 1979–80 was

Up to 34	566
35 to 44	982
45 and over	693
Total	2,241

Of those aged 35–44, 63 were professors, 191 readers or senior lecturers and 728 lecturers or assistant lecturers. The figures relate to staff wholly supported from general university funds and include research staff or equivalent grades. Staff qualified in mathematics but based in other departments are excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the length of time that has elapsed since the Robbins committee reported, he will consider the setting up of a Royal Commission on higher education, to achieve a measure of rationalisation as between institutions and subject disciplines.

No. The Government are shortly to issue a consultative document on the future management of higher education outside the universities in England. One of the major objectives of any new arrangements will be to promote rationalisation between institutions both within this sector of higher education and, in consultation with the University Grants Committee, between it and the university sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the Official Report the text of his letter dated 9 July to the hon. Member for Melton regarding departmental progress in implementing the Government's policy programme.

The text of my letter is as follows:Michael Latham Esq MPHouse of CommonsLONDONSW1A 0AA9 July 1981Dear Michael,

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West, on 8 July, if he will list in the Official Report the status of each of the schools listed, whose closure has been approved by his Department in each of the last three years.

The further information requested by the hon. Member is set out below:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total sum in respect of educational maintenance allowances paid in the London borough of Haringey for each of the last two years for which statistics are available.

Maintenance allowances to pupils over 16 in Haringey under section 81 of the Education Act 1944 amounted to about £41,800 in the financial year 1978–79 and £46,200 in the financial year 1979–80, at November 1980 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide estimates of the total number of teachers employed by local authorities in England and Wales in 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980; if he will express such figures as percentages of all employed persons; if he will express the cost of their salaries and wages as percentages of gross national income.

Information on teachers salaries and wages is not readily available for 1950 and is not yet available for 1980. Figures are given below for 1952, 1960, 1970 and 1979.

	England and Wales Teachers and lecturers
	Numbers employed by local authorities*	Percentage of all employed persons*	Salaries and wages in nearest financial year as percentage of estimated gross domestic product
	(000s)	per cent.	per cent.
1952	286	1·6	1·1
1960	373	1·9	1·4
1970	554	2·8	1·9
1979	693	3·4	2·3
* Counting part-timers in full

Figures may not be completely comparable for all years and contain elements of estimation. They should therefore be treated mainly as indicators of trends.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish his proposals for the future of higher education; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend will very soon be announcing to the House the publication of the Government's consultative document on the future management of higher education in England outside the universities. Copies will be made available in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to promote industry in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area.

The Government's role generally is to help create conditions in which competitive and enterprising industry can develop in all parts of the country, including Portsmouth. I recognise, however, that the rundown of employment at the dockyard will present special problems for the area; as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made clear in the recent defence debate, Ministers in the relevant Departments are already assessing what practical steps might be taken to remove obstacles to the investment needed to provide alternative job opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has received any representations on his policy towards price conciliation arrangements in the steel industry.

Price conciliation arrangements are a matter for negotiation between the producers themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the current extent of Government funding by his Department for the British Aerospace industry.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his question of 22 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects an upturn in the total output of United Kingdom manufacturing industry.

I expect industrial output to show some recovery over the next year or so. However, an increase in industrial activity cannot be sustained unless United Kingdom industry improves its international competitiveness through wage moderation, good management and co-operative working practices.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has now been made in merging the National Enterprise Board and the National Research Development Corporation.

I have accepted Sir Frederick Wood's proposals, which have been unanimously endorsed by members of the NEB and NRDC boards, to integrate the operations of the two organisations under their existing statutes. To this end I have appointed a combined board under Sir Frederick Wood comprising the non-executive members of each board. I have also approved the appointment of a common chief executive, Mr. Brian Willott, the chief executive of the NEB and of Dr. Jim Cain, the managing director of the NRDC, as deputy chief executive. Both will sit on the combined Board.By collaborating together the two organisations should be able to carry out their existing functions more effectively and economically. This experience will also help me consider the introduction of legislation to set up a new merged body. In the meantime, although the two bodies will remain separately accountable and retain their existing names, I have agreed that they may operate in partnership under the joint name of the British Technology Group.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the state of the engineering industry.

Provisional figures for new orders and orders on hand in April suggest that the position of the engineering industry is improving. It is encouraging that this improvement seems to be spread over both home and export markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied, from the current level of labour productivity in manufacturing industry, that the Government's industrial strategy is on target.

Output per man in manufacturing industry, which fell during 1980, improved in the first quarter of 1981, although it is still way below the level of our main international competitors. No Government can directly influence the level of productivity but our strategy is to create the right climate for industry itself to improve its performance and competitiveness.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his Department will undertake a study of the adverse effects of high level subsidies for major United Kingdom vehicle manufacturers on the small independent car makers in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The Government take into account the many possible implications when considering any proposal to support industry with public funds. We do not consider a special study, or a statement, to be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied that recent Community policies and decisions will not prove disadvantageous to the steel industry in the United Kingdom.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 30 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Beaumont-Dark).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will obtain from British Telecommunications, and issue quarterly, the number of telephone installations outstanding and the average length of time it is taking to meet requests for new installations.

I would welcome publication of this information but it is a management matter for BT.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on progress of the British Steel Corporation since the appointment of Mr. Ian MacGregor as chairman, with particular reference to capital investment and operating losses during the past 12 months.

BSC has made considerable progress over the past 12 months in reducing excess capacity, improving productivity and working practices. These improvements have resulted in a significant reduction in BSC' s operating losses in recent months.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the expected outturn level of Government support in the current financial year for the British Steel Corporation.

We expect that BSC will remain within its external financing limit for 1981–82 of £730 million announced on 24 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is confident that the British Steel Corporation has sufficient capacity to satisfy increased demand should there be an upturn in economic activity.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the progress made by the chairman of the British Steel Corporation to bring the corporation closer to profitability.

Considerable progress has been made, but neither the Government nor Mr. MacGregor will be satisfied until the corporation has returned to profitability.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what new proposals he has to attract industry to the Northern region.

New investment in the Northern region—as elsewhere—will be attracted mainly by the initiative, enterprise and productivity displayed by management and workers there. But I am sure the hon. Member is aware that expenditure per head on regional industrial assistance is higher in the Northern region than in any other.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress is being made in the operation of measures to assist industrial development in the Northern region.

The Northern region continues to have available to it a wide range of measures to assist industrial development. I hope to visit the region, including Consett, again later in the year to review progress there.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he proposes to announce further proposals for the promotion of the use of robotics by British industry.

The Government are currently providing support for awareness, research and development, consultancy, use and manufacture of robots. In addition, we are combining with certain banks and financial institutions to offer a leasing facility. We are currently concentrating on making a success of these measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what have been the effects of the Government's policy on the output of British manufacturing industry.

The fall in output is the result of many years of uncompetitiveness in British industry due to overmanning and restrictive labour practices, patchy management and high wage settlements without matching productivity improvements, coupled with a period of world recession. The Government's policies, which are directed to reducing inflation and restoring the incentive to enterprise, are creating the necessary environment for a return to competitiveness and an increase in industrial output.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the current level of industrial activity in the West Midlands.

The level of industrial activity in the West Midlands region can only be raised through the efforts of management and workforces in the Region to increase productivity and to return industry there to full competitiveness. The Government's role is to help to create the right environment for firms to undertake this task, and our policies are designed to that end.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with present European Economic Community arrangements to secure an orderly development of the United Kingdom steel industry.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 30 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Beaumont-Dark).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to complete his review of British Shipbuilders' corporate plan.

In the early autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the regional aid system.

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's speech in the House during the recent debate on regional policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the Council of Ministers of the European Space Agency last met.

The council of the European Space Agency last met at Ministerial level on 14 and 15 February 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, when he next meets the chairman of British Leyland, he will discuss the prospects for disposal of parts of the business to the private sector.

BL, with the Government's approval, is continuing its policy of disposing of major non-mainstream interests, of which the sale of Alvis for £27 million is the most recent example, and I expect that this will be one of the topics discussed when I next meet the chairman of BL, as it has been during our meetings in the past.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to complete his conversations with interested bodies on the implementation of the Finniston report.

Our consultations are now substantially complete. As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member for Dunfermline (Mr. Douglas) recently, he hopes to make an announcement on the engineering council before the summer recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has any plans to meet the chairman of Lucas Aerospace to discuss Government funding of the firm under the Industry Act.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will specify the occasions on which Staffa Products Ltd. of Argall Avenue, Leyton, London E.10, has inquired about the possibility of assistance obtainable through his Department to stay in London.

Discussions about and applications for assistance are a matter of commercial confidence between the Department and the company concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will tabulate in the Official Report the volume and value of steel consumed in this country so far in the current year, by grade, respectively, and in total, indicating how much has been imported, how much supplied by the private sector of the steel industry, how much by the public sector and how the position compares with the same period in 1980;(2) if he will tabulate in the

Value information of the kind requested for consumption and production is not generally available, nor, for commercial reasons, is a split between the public and private sector. Further, the range of information available for 1981 has been affected by the unavailability of detailed trade data beyond January, due to the Civil Service dispute. In addition, figures for 1980 were affected by the effect of the steel dispute. Appropriate information as is available for 1981 is given below, together with the corresponding figures for 1980 and, to provide a more meaningful comparison, for 1979.In respect of consumption, the provisional estimate of total finished steel consumption for the first quarter of 1981 is 3·01 million tonnes (seasonally adjusted). This compares with 3·02 million tonnes in the first quarter of 1980 and 3·64 million tonnes in the corresponding period of 1979.In respect of production, the provisional estimate of United Kingdom crude steel production in the first half of 1981 is 7676 thousand tonnes

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the measures he has taken to reverse the decline of the manufacturing sector in Birmingham since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the results of these measures.

The recent decline of the manufacturing sector in Birmingham, and elsewhere, is primarily the result of the current world-wide recession but a significant feature too is the country's legacy of widespread uncompetitiveness made even more destructive of jobs by the very high settlements of 1980 unaccompanied by any increase in productivity and which can be reversed only by the efforts of management and workforces. The Government's role is to help provide a climate on which enterprise can once again thrive and the decline be reversed by the growth of a strong, healthy and competitive manufacturing sector in Birmingham and throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to respond to the report of the working party on the cutlery and flatware industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister for Trade and I met separate delegations from the Cutlery and Silverware Association (CSA) and the Federation of British Cutlery Manufacturers (FBCM) earlier today. We discussed both the report of the Working Party and also a separate report on table cutlery put forward by the FBCM, who had dissociated themselves from the Working Party's Report. The points of view of the two Trade Associations wer put to us.In turn we explained to them that, under the rules of the Community and the GATT, there was no sustainable case for import controls in this instance. We are more dependent upon exports than most other countries, with about one third of our manufacturing output going into exports, and any action taken outside the GATT and the EC would provoke retaliation against United Kingdom exports placing thousands of jobs in manufacturing industry at risk.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress there has been in consultations with Nissan about the manufacture of its cars in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the differential between the prices paid for fuel by the British and Dutch glasshouse industries has widened due in the United Kingdom to the increase in product prices offsetting the £5·5 million special adaptation aid announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his statement during the Committee stage of the Finance Bill on 30 April, Official Report, c. 932.

Assessed on a thermal equivalent basis the differential between heavy fuel oil prices in the United Kingdom and gas prices to Dutch horticulturists has been reduced when account is taken of the adaptation aid which I announced on 30 April.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will specify the breeds of birds, types of systems and size of units included in the production cost data study by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in its review of production costs between extreme and other egg production systems; what is the period covered by the data; and when and in what form the results of the study will be published.

In carrying out the study of cost differences in commercial egg production, the Ministry's agricultural development and advisory service covered four production methods—battery cages at three stocking densities, deep litter, straw yard and free range. Each system covered 10,000 bird units. No specific breeds of birds were used. The comparisons were based on costs in the 1979–80 financial year. The information was made available to the House of Commons Select Committee on Agriculture on 15 January 1981 and will be published later this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to discuss the position of the African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar industries when he next meets with the other farm Ministers of the EEC in Brussels.

At its meeting on 20–21 July, the Council of Agriculture Ministers is to decide what position the Community should adopt when discussions between the ACP countries and the EEC Commission on the minimum guaranteed prices for ACP sugar for 1981–82 are resumed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress his marketing advisers have made in their examination of the marketing of fish.

My marketing advisers have now completed their study of the marketing of fish. Their conclusions and recommendations, which were drawn up after consultation with a number of trade associations and individuals from all sectors of the fishing industry, are set out in a report which they are publishing today. This report is forthright and contains some interesting recommendations. I am grateful to those concerned for the effort they have put into preparing it.Copies of the report are now going to the industry and have been placed in the Library. I hope that it will stimulate a constructive debate about how best to go about the task of improving the marketing of fish which will help the industry and the Sea Fish Industry Authority when it is established to develop a positive programme for action.

asked the Attorney-General what considerations he bore in mind when deciding to adopt the case of Barrs and others v. Bethell and others.

I gave my consent to relator proceedings in the case of Barrs and others v. Bethell and others because only the Attorney-General can sue on behalf of the public for the purpose of preventing public wrongs. The ratepayers in this case did not have sufficient locus standi to bring the action in their own right.

asked the Attorney-General if he will increase the subvention to the Adamsdown law centre to enable the staff to be paid at the same salary levels as those employed at the North Kensington law centre; and what are the reasons for the present difference in salary levels.

Average basic salary levels for grant aid purposes at North Kensington law centre are about £750 per annum greater than at Adamsdown. The difference is mainly attributable to a "weighting" element for London. Staff complements and salary levels at law centres assisted through the Lord Chancellor's Vote are matters to be determined by the individual management committees under whose control the centres operate. Additional subventions to one of the seven centres at present funded by the Lord Chancellor's Department could only be made at present at the expense of others, and every effort is made to ensure that a fair share of the total resources is made available to each.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish a Green Paper on reform of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have at present no proposals to publish a Green Paper on this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will move to appoint a Select Committee to consider whether an hon. Member suspended from the House should forfeit his parliamentary salary and allowances during the period of such suspension.

I have no such proposal to make to the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the mileage allowance claimable by hon. Members was last increased; what price of petrol was taken into account when this was calculated; how much the price of petrol has increased since then; and if he will calculate the value of the allowance based on this amount.

The mileage allowance for hon. Members is linked to the highest rate of Civil Service mileage allowance. The current rate of 19·1p per mile was introduced on 1 April 1980, and included an element for petrol costs based on a petrol price of £1·35 per gallon. Petrol prices around the country vary, but the approximate average increase since then has been 30p, giving a total petrol price of £1·65 per gallon. The value of the allowance, if this increase were taken into account, would be 20p per mile.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures the Government have taken since coming into office to support and expand the development of the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

The Government attach special priority to the development of the Highlands and Islands. We have fulfilled the undertakings given in our manifesto by appointing my noble friend the Earl of Mansfield as Minister of State with special responsibilities for co-ordinating policy in the Highlands and Islands, and by bringing the Islands of Cumbrae within the Highland Board area. Wt.' have also increased the level of financial support to the board. Grant-in-aid provision in 1981–82 is £23·6 million, an increase of £3·6 million (18 per cent.) over the previous year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much financial assistance his Department has given to the Scottish Pre-School Playgroups Association in each of the past three years; and if he will also express the figures at constant prices.

The information is as follows:

	Grant paid	Grant revalued to constant (November 1979) price base
	£	£
1978–79	43,200	48,100
1979–80	67,700	68,700
1980–81	65,100	58,300

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a study to examine whether there is a relation between the average annual number of unemployed and the number of suicides in Scotland since 1970.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will carry out a study into whether there is a connection between unemployment and the number of prescriptions issued for sedatives, anti-depressants and hypnotics based on the figures available since 1970.

No, but I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 1 July 1981 about possible research work on the relationship between unemployment and health.—[Vol. 7, c. 402.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage of households in Scotland and the four Scottish cities which are (a) public sector, (b) owner-occupied and (c) privately rented.

Reliable figures are available only for dwellings, not households. The basis of the available figures is however not uniform in relation to Scotland and each city; in the following table, housing association dwellings are included in the Scotland and Glasgow figures under privately rented, whereas in the other three cities they are included under public sector:

Dwellings by Tenure—31 March 1980
Percentages
	Public Sector	Owner-Occupied	Privately Rented (includes other tenures)
Aberdeen	51	40	9
Dundee	62	26	12
Edinburgh	35	55	9
Glasgow	65	25	10
Scotland	54	36	10

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider establishing a school of physiotherapy at Ninewells hospital, Dundee.

If an additional Scottish school of physiotherapy is found necessary the possibility of establishing it in Dundee will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have been found to be in default of their statutory duties since regionalisation; and if he will list the total number of instances.

I know of one such instance. The city of Dundee district council was found earlier this year to be in default of its statutory duties under part I of the Tenants' Rights Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of day care places available in Tayside and in Scotland.

The number of daycare places available at 31 March 1980 was as follows:

	Tayside	Scotland
Places for the mentally handicapped	212	4,778
Places for the physically handicapped	71	1,173
Places for the multiple handicapped	146	318
Places for the elderly	36	3,625
	465	9,894

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current average weekly rent for a Scottish Special Housing Association house in Dundee and Scotland; what it was in the previous year; and what has been the percentage change in both cases.

Following is the information:

SSHA average standard rent/week	Scotland £	Dundee £
From July 1981	9·12	8·15
At 30 September 1980	7·21	6·42
	%	%
Percentage change	+26·5	+26·9

SSHA rent increases in 1980 and in 1981 took place at the beginning of July in each case. The 1980 average rent is shown for September to correspond with figures published in "Scottish Housing Statistics".

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current allocation to the Scottish Special Housing Association for capital and modernisation work in Dundee and Scotland; what it was in the previous year; and what has been the percentage change in both cases.

Following is the information:

SSHA capital expenditure on new building and modernisation work	Scotland £million	Dundee £million
Allocation for 1981–82 at outturn prices	45·2	1·2
Expenditure in 1980–81 at outturn prices	47·8	3·3
	%	%
Percentage change	-5·4	-63·6

The 1981–82 Dundee figure is the SSHA's estimate of the city's share of their capital allocation this year. The variation from last year is due to the timing of the programme; seven schemes in Dundee were during 1980–81 at a stage where very substantial capital spending was taking place, and these will be completed or nearing completion during 1981–82 with a consequent reduction in the actual capital spending this year. Three further schemes are to start in Dundee in 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nursery schools in Dundee have fewer teachers than the number recommended in the Scottish Education Department report "Before Five".

Education statistics for Tayside are collected on a regional basis and statistics for individual schools are not readily available in my Department. If the hon. Member wishes to obtain information about the provision of nursery education in Dundee, I suggest he might approach Tayside regional council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names of incoming firms developing in Dundee in the past year; and how many jobs have been created.

Comprehensive information is not available. Since mid-1980, however, four offers of selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972, associated with 296 new jobs, have been made to manufacturing firms new to the area. Details of offers of selective financial assistance of £5,000 or more are published in British Business after the first payment has been made to the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received on the cut in numbers of intake at teachers training colleges for session 1981–82.

No representations about the overall levels of intake to teacher training courses have been received since my right hon. Friend announced his decisions for session 1981–82 on 30 April.—[Vol. 3, c. 424–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current average rent in the privately rented sector; and by what percentage it has risen in the latest available year.

Information of this kind on mean registered rents is published quarterly in "Scottish Housing Statistics" (SHS), copies of which are available in the Library. The latest available figures, which cover the fourth quarter of 1980, are given in table 28 of No. 12 in the SHS series. The figures given relate in all cases to rents registered rather than to those actually charged, which in many cases will be lower.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now authorise Her Majesty's Inspectorate in the Scottish Education Department to carry out a report on the effects of local authority expenditure policies upon the education service in Scotland similar to the one carried out by the Department of Education and Science in England.

The effects of local authority expenditure policies upon the education service in Scotland are kept under regular scrutiny by my Department. I do not at present see any need for a special investigation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current waiting list for each hospital in Tayside health board for each category of operation; and how this compares with 1979.

The information requested is not readily available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total number of cases made known to police forces in each of the past five years; what has been the detection rate; and if he will provide a similar breakdown for the following categories (a) crimes against the person, (b) crimes against property with violence and (c) crimes against property without violence.

In 1980, a new classification of crimes and offences was introduced and statistics were no longer collected in the categories requested. The table below gives figures for 1980 in the categories of the new classification covering broadly the same crimes and offences as those requested and for earlier years reworked to the new categories.

Crimes and offences made known to the police, Scotland
	All crimes and offences		Non-sexual crimes of violence against the person		Crimes involving indecency		Crimes involving dishonesty
	Number	Per cent. cleared up	Number	Per cent. cleared up	Number	Per cent. cleared up	Number	Per cent. cleared up
1976	598,320	62·0	9,729	52·8	4,290	58·9	254,880	29·5
1977	641,336	57·5	10,040	50·0	4,368	57·9	290,245	27·0
1978	640,759	61·4	9,949	54·2	4,653	55·8	262,576	28·3
1979	673,955	62·0	10,025	56·9	4,673	56·4	269,193	28·8
1980	724,671	64·1	11,090	63·2	5,244	62·1	279,793	31·4

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of home helps per 1,000 of the retired population in Scotland and in each regional and island authority.

The information requested is as follows:

Region/Island authority	Number of home help staff per 1,000 of persons of pensionable age (whole time equivalent)
Borders	5·3
Central	10·2
Dumfries and Galloway	12·9
Fife	10·4
Grampian	7·7
Highland	7·3
Lothian	14·7
Strathclyde	13·2
Tayside	7·5
Orkney	20·3
Shetland	16·5
Western Isles	22·0
Scotland	11·8

The figures used are those for persons of pensionable age, i.e. men aged 65 or over and women aged 60 or over.The information about home help staff relates to 31 March 1980 and that for population to 30 June 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much financial assistance his Department is giving to the Timex Factory, Dundee, in respect of the production of the Nimslo 3-D camera.

As reported in British Business on 14 March 1980, my Department has offered selective assistance of £1·8 million to Nimslo Limited to support the manufacture of the Nimslo 3-D camera at the Timex factory in Dundee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what research work in Scotland is being carried out into the foetal alcohol syndrome; and if his Department is sponsoring such research.

My Department's information is limited to medical research projects supported from funds allocated by the Secretary of State. None of these relates to the foetal alcohol syndrome and no applications for research support have been submitted in this field. Any such application would be considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the National Union of Students (Scotland) on the Government's proposals to charge overseas students for their use of the facilities of the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

The National Union of Students (Scotland) has expressed its opposition to the Government's proposals. I refer the hon. Member to the Government statement made on 30 June by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney).—[Vol. 7, c. 368.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of Monday 13 July to the hon. Member for Dundee, East, what is his estimate of the number of students domiciled in Scotland who were accepted for teacher training in England each year over the past five years and who returned to teach in Scotland after completing their courses; what trends are apparent; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what funds were allocated by the Mersey regional health authority to (a) the Cheshire area health authority and (b) Macclesfield district health authority (i) in the last financial year and (ii) in each of the previous three years.

Allocation of resources within the region to areas is the responsibility of the Mersey regional health authority. Within Cheshire responsibility for allocation to districts is that of the area health authority. My hon. Friend may care to contact these authorities for the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the allocation of funds for the second phase of the Macclesfield district general hospital; and when he expects that work on the second phase will commence.

I understand that at their meeting on 2 June 1981, the Mersey regional health authority decided to bring forward the second phase of the development of Macclesfield district general hospital. Preliminary work is now scheduled to commence in 1984 and building work should start in 1986. The estimated capital cost of phase 2 is £8 million at current prices and expenditure is expected to fall as follows:

	£000s
1984–85	250
1985–86	300
1986–87	1,010
1987–88	2,270
1988–89	2,600
1989–90	1,480
1990–91	90

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how long is the hospital waiting list for the Macclesfield area (a) for orthopaedics, (b) for gynaecology and obstetrics, (c) for general surgery and (d) for general medicine.

Following are the numbers waiting in Macclesfield district at 31 March 1981:

Orthopaedics	590
Gynaecology	372
Obstetrics	NIL
General surgery	1,144
General medicine	NIL

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider introducing soft cervical collars, support tights, maternity support tights and Dextrostix and disposable syringes and needles into the drug tariff.