asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take initiatives during the Presidency of the Council of Ministers to promote the reduction of the cost of air fares within the European Economic Community.

In June 1980, at our initiative, the Council invited the Commission to examine scheduled air fares in the Community and we have also pressed the Commission to put forward a draft directive to liberalise the regulation of air fares. We understand that the Commission has now released its report but has not yet put forward a draft directive. During our Presidency we shall aim to make as much progress as possible in this important area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade which countries in Europe other than France make use of mixed credits to foster overseas trade.

The following European countries other than France have mixed credit or similar aid facilities:

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, German Federal Republic, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much aid is currently administered under section 3 of the Export Guarantees and Overseas Investments Act 1978 and how much through the Ministry of Overseas Development.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department has not made any use since 1965 of its statutory powers to guarantee new loans for the purpose of rendering economic assistance for other countries, although approximately £92 million remained outstanding at the end of 1980 on loans made before 1965. Responsibility for overseas aid since 1965 now rests with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office—Minister for Overseas Development.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a study of the advantages of administering official overseas aid through the Export Credits Guarantee Department under a modified Export Guarantees and Overseas Investment Act 1978.

I have no current plans for such a study. Responsibility for overseas aid since 1965 now rests with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office—Minister for Overseas Development.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he plans to take any initiatives to follow up the British Agricultural Export Council's trade mission to Mozambique and Angola.

The British Agricultural Export Council, whose mission was supported by the British Overseas Trade Board, will be advising its members of the opportunities for agricultural exports that were identified. The Government's export services and our posts in Angola and Mozambique are ready to assist exporters to the maximum extent possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce a system of clearly identifying the origin of both cloths and finished garments, to assist customers who wish to buy British-made goods.

I made it clear in the debate in Standing Committee on 1 April that a legal requirement for marking the origin of fabric in clothing would present formidable difficulty, but that I hope the woollen textile and garment industries will consider the possibility of a voluntary marking scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average price per ton of domestically produced coal sold in the United Kingdom; what is the average price per ton of domestically produced coal sold for export; and what is the average price per ton of imported coal.

In 1980 the average price of coal delivered to the electricity industry in the United Kingdom was £31·84 per tonne and the price delivered to large industrial consumers in the United Kingdom was £35·04 per tonne. This difference in price largely reflected variations in coal quality and delivery charges. Over the same period the average price of imports delivered inland was £34·23 per tonne.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the progress being made on drift coal mining development at Selby, Yorkshire.

Progress on the Selby development is a matter for the National Coal Board.I understand that the development is progressing satisfactorily towards full production of 10 million tonnes a year by the end of the present decade, in line with the board's plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total expenditure by the Central Electricity Generating Board and South of Scotland Electricity Board on fuel (a) for fossil-fueled power stations and (b) for nuclear stations in the last year for which figures are available.

On a replacement basis the fuel consumed by the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1980–81 has been valued at £3,124 million for fossil-fired power stations and £198 million for nuclear stations, including the cost of reprocessing. These figures reflect the current cost accounting methods that will be adopted in this year's CEGB annual report and accounts. Power stations in Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, if he will estimate the effect on the National Coal Board finances of an increase of 5 per cent. in multiples of 5 per cent. up to 25 per cent. in miners' pay.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board. I have asked the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what electrical capacity will be required by the Central Electricity Generating Board to meet its commitments under section 28 of the Electricity Act 1957 (Obligation to Supply Electricity to the Railways).

Existing Central Electricity Generating Board supplies to railways accounted for a system maximum demand from British Rail in 1980–81 of 550 MW that is less than 1 per cent. of the capacity of the board's power plant. This figure is not expected to change significantly in the short term.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the amount of extra heat energy required to maintain a house in Dundee at a given temperature compared with an identical house in Glasgow taking into account differences in air temperature, wind exposure, rain and sunshine.

Although heat requirements vary substantially it is estimated that a typical three-bedroomed house in Dundee, maintained at a given comfort temperature, requires about one-eighth—12·5 per cent.—more heat than the same house in Glasgow, similarly sited and at the same temperature, after taking account of differences in temperature, wind and sunshine.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how often the United Kingdom's nuclear facilities have been inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Since October 1968 inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency have made 50 visits to the United Kingdom to carry out formal inspections at nuclear facilities in accordance with safeguards agreements with the agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department carries out contingency planning for the eventuality that certain sources of uranium will become unavailable.

Procurement of uranium is a matter for the British Civil Uranium Procurement Organisation. In the longer term the policy of BCUPO is to diversify sources of supply. I am satisfied with the measure of protection which stocks of uranium currently held provide against the interruption of any particular source in the shorter term.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment is made of the security of supply of uranium ore from Namibia.

I have no reason to expect any interruption in supply. As I have explained in my answer to my hon. Friend's earlier question today, I am satisfied with the measures taken to protect against any such risk.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to publish the Severn barrage committee report.

Volume 1 of the Severn barrage committee's report, containing the committee's main findings and its conclusions and recommendations, is being published today as one of my Department's energy papers. Volume 2, which consists of technical material for specialist readers will be published as soon as it is available. I have arranged for a copy of volume 1 of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.The Government welcome this very thorough report as a basis for the consultation about the complex issues involved that must now be undertaken. It looks forward to receiving, during the next few months, comments from interested parties on those issues. Decisions, for example, about the further studies recommended in the report, will then be taken in the light of such a public debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is able to make a statement about the terms of reference for the Sizewell B pressurised water reactor inquiry.

In considering whether the proposed power station should proceed I shall take into account the economic, environmental and safety aspects which would be involved, as well as planning aspects. On the information so far available to me it appears that the following points will be relevant:

(a) the Central Electricity Generating Board's requirement for the power station in terms of the need for secure and economic electricity supply and having regard to the Government's long-term energy policy;

(b) the safety features relevant to the design, construction and operation of the station and in particular the views of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate as the licensing authority;

(c) the arrangements for waste management, in the light of the views of the authorising Departments;

(d) the implications of the proposed development (including both construction and operation) for:

(1) agriculture and fisheries

(2) local employment

(3) water supply and disposal

(4) transport requirements

(5) coast protection

(6) housing and public services generally

(7) local amenities and in particular areas of special landscape value or nature conservation interest

As further decisions about the inquiry are taken, further announcements will be made as appropriate.I am pleased to announce that I am appointing Sir Frank Layfield QC to act as inspector at the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Ordnance Survey.

My aim is to see the Ordnance Survey flourish as an efficient and cost-effective organisation, and to minimise its call on public funds while maintaining the quality of its work, which is widely acclaimed.The proposals which follow are made against the background of the report of the Ordnance Survey review committee—the Serpell committee—and I am much indebted to it and to all those who contributed to its work.The previous Government assumed that OS would remain a Government Department, so the Serpell committee report considers no other structural possibilities. My own view is that we should consider the long-term future of the survey against the full range of possible structures, whether inside the Civil Service or wholly or partially outside it, paying particular attention to its relationships with Government and to ways of involving the private sector in its activities. These possibilities are still being studied and I will in due course announce my conclusions, which will be the subject of consultation with all those concerned. In the meantime, the first step must be to give OS the chance to operate effectively as a free-standing trading organisation, whose performance can be judged in a commercial framework. I therefore propose, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that a trading fund should be set up for OS with a published trading account. An order to put this into effect will be presented to Parliament as soon as practicable. Under the trading fund, the cost of all that work which Government commission from OS in the national interest and which is not chargeable to individual users—public or private—would be financed by way of a contract between OS and the Department of the Environment, instead of by the OS Vote Account as at present. As a basis for the contract OS will prepare, for my approval, a programme specifying in detail the work to be undertaken and the non-Government revenue which it expects to receive. I shall expect the programme prepared by OS to have regard to the recommendations of the Ordnance Survey review committee.The trading fund proposals will not affect OS' primary function as a national mapping agency, or the Director-General OS' continuing responsibility for advising me on all matters relating to topographic surveying and mapping in Great Britain.Pending parliamentary approval to the trading fund, I have given the Survey a new financial and operating remit for the immediate term, to replace the present revenue-expenditure objectives which were set in 1977. OS will seek to achieve the following targets:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the public sector borrowing requirement of the United Kingdom, Japan, and each European Economic Community country per head of population in £ sterling.

The public sector borrowing requirement, a measure of the public sector's call on financial markets, is not generally compiled by other countries and the data are not available from international sources. The most similar measure available on a consistent basis for most of the countries in question—but not for Belgium and Denmark—is, in United Kingdom terminology, the general government financial deficit—general government being central Government plus state and/or local authorities. The latest figures for this aggregate are given in National Accounts of OECD countries 1961–1978 Volume II—line 31 "net lending" in table 9 of each country's section.The relevant exchange rates are given in Financial Statistics, table 13.1. The relevant population data may be obtained from the United Nations Monthly Bulletin of Statistics, table 1.All these publications are available in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it has been the practice for assessments under section 66 of the Finance Act 1976, which provides for assessment to a notional benefit for a director to whom a loan has been made by a company, to be raised in all cases, even when the loan has been subsequently repaid although tax had been paid under section 286 of the Taxes Act 1970 in respect of the loan period; and how many assessments under section 66 have been made in each year.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1981, C. 42]: Yes, provided that the cash equivalent of the benefit from the loan for the year exceeds £200. The number of assessments made is not known.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, having regard to her reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 1 July, Official Report, c. 387, that no central records are kept on acceptance of hospitality by civil servants, how Departments satisfy themselves that the rules governing the acceptance of such hospitality are being observed.

	1974/75	1975/76	1976/77	1977/78	1978/79
Great Britain	2·9	3·1	3·5	3·7	4·7
France	*	*	9·5	*	*
West Germany	*	0·8	1·0	*	*
Italy	1·2	1·5	2·7	*	*
Belgium	*	*	4·0	5·0	*
Netherlands	*	0·9	1·3	*	*
Luxembourg	*	*	*	*	*
Denmark	4·1	*	2·6	3·2	*
Republic of Ireland	*	5·1	5·9	5·4	*
Greece	*	9·5	9·5	*	*
* = Not available.

The rules governing the acceptance of hospitality as laid down in paragraphs 9882–9883 of the Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code are readily accessible to staff and if there is any doubt about the propriety of a particular invitation being accepted, these rules provide for the departmental establishment officer to be consulted. If the hon. Member has any evidence of a breach of the rules I will see that this is investigated.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will make a statement about the Government's response to the Holdgate review of the Scientific Civil Service.

The Government have today published a detailed response to the many recommendations of the Holdgate review. As the impact of science and technology on the community increases the Government regards the contribution of scientists to policy formation as of particular importance and rightly a central theme of the report. They accept the conclusion of the review in paragraph 8.2 that

"the limiting factor in securing the development sought is likely to be the supply and career development of individuals of outstanding quality; and that this can be improved by using the existing management tools more effectively".

I have arranged for copies of our response to be placed in the Library. I am also sending a copy to the Institution of Professional Civil Servants because of its particular interest in the Review. Copies are available to the public through my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of those graduating with engineering degrees in Great Britain in each of the past five years were female; and how these figures compare with other European Economic Community countries.

The percentages of engineering/ technology first degree graduates who were women in Great Britain, compared with EEC figures for the latest five years where available are tabulated below:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has now made an assessment of the effects of the recent rate support grant settlement on educational standards.

The public expenditure White Paper published last March—Cmnd. 8175—outlined the implications for the education service of the Government's expenditure plans, as reflected in the 1981–82 rate support grant settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what basis he estimates that a decline in the 18-year-old population is to take place within the next few years.

The following information, published in Population Projections 1979–2091—pp 2 No. 11—(HMSO), relates to 18-year-olds in England and Wales as at mid-years.

Year	(000's)
1981	813
1982	832
1983	832
1984	813
1985	811
1986	782
1987	787
1988	756

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now undertake a review of the Government's policy with regard to overseas students.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 4 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proportion of (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18, and (d) 19 year-olds remaining at school beyond school leaving age in the Northern region and England for the latest available date and for the last five years.

The percentage of pupils aged 16, 17, 18 and 19 years in January who remained at maintained schools other than special schools in the Northern region and England for the years 1975 to 1980 are given below.

	Age (years) in January*
	16 %	17 %	18 %	19 %
Northern region
1975	18·7	15·4	5·2	0·3
1976	19·2	15·7	5·3	0·3
1977	19·2	15·8	5·6	0·3
1978	18·5	15·5	5·4	0·3
1979	18·8	15·2	5·1	0·3
1980	19·8	15·5	5·5	0·3

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the areas where riots have occurred which he has visited since those riots occurred; what similar areas he proposes to visit; and when the previous occasion was when he paid a visit to these areas.

I have recently visited Brixton, Liverpool and Manchester. I have no immediate plans to visit other areas. I previously visited Liverpool on 30 January and Manchester on 22 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers, (b) ambulance men, (c) firemen and (d) members of the public involved in disturbances have been injured in civil disturbances so far in 1981.

The available information is that 1,157 police officers, 24 firemen and three ambulancemen have been injured in civil disturbances this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set out the following information (a) for each of the 10 most significant riots and (b) cumulatively for all riots, since 1 July, the location, the estimated numbers involved, the predominant race involved, the numbers of police committed, the estimated number of petrol bombs thrown, the number of police injuries, the number of injuries to members of the public, including rioters, the value of damage to property, the estimated value of goods stolen, the number of arrests, the numbers since charged, the numbers who have so far appeared in court, the sentences of imprisonment over one year, between six months and one year, between three and six months, under three months, the numbers sent to detention or borstal, the numbers committed to care, fines over £1,000, fines between £500 and £1,000, fines between £100 and £500, fines between £50 and £100, fines under £50 and the numbers sentenced to penalties, other than fines or custodial sentences.

I have already reported, in my statement to the House on 6 July, on the violence on 3 July in Southall, London, and on 4–5 July in Toxteth, Liverpool, and in my speech in the debate on 16 July on civil disturbances generally. The further detailed information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received a request from the chief constable of the West Midlands for the banning of the proposed march on Friday by the National Front through Walsall.

I have given consent to an order made by Walsall borough council prohibiting from noon on 17 July to midnight on 26 July all public processions in Walsall other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether citizens band radio was used by rioters and looters during the recent civil disorder; and if he will make a statement.

Chief officers of police are investigating reports that citizens band radio was used to assist offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake a study of the methods of using police manpower and publish the results, together with the guidance offered to chief constables on the matter.

Methods of using police manpower are kept under constant review by chief officers and receive close attention from Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary, and the results of related Home Office research are brought to the notice of chief officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make all police forces accountable to Parliament in the same way as the Metropolitan Police.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made by British police as a result of receiving information supplied by Interpol for each major category of crime and for each year from 1973 to the present.

I understand that the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost of maintaining Interpol facilities at Scotland Yard; and what contribution is made annually to the cost of running the international operations and maintaining the international headquarters of Interpol.

The cost of maintaining the national central bureau of Interpol at New Scotland Yard in 1981–82 is estimated to be £934,000; and the annual contribution to Interpol' s headquarters costs for 1981 was £224,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the strength of police forces over each of the last five years; and what has been the recruitment over the same period.

The figures for England and Wales are as follows:

Police Service in England and Wales
Year	Total Strength at 31 Dec.	Recruitment
1976	109,476	10,042
1977	108,201	8,003
1978	109,075	8,045
1979	113,309	10,475
1980	117,423	9,686
1981	118,550 (31 May)	3,020 (to 31 May)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given to chief constables on the use of policemen on the beat rather than patrol cars.

The increase of some 7,000 in the strength of the police service in England and Wales since May 1979 has enabled chief officers to put many more officers on the beat. I have encouraged them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the police investigation of the criminal acts which occurred during a concert at the Rainbow club, Finsbury Park on 13 July.

I understand from the Commissioner that a young man appears to have been murdered at the Rainbow theatre, Seven Sisters Road on 13 July. No arrest has been made at present. Police inquiries into this incident are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the name of the London representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

Mr. Nabil Ramlawi.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the study into racial attacks to be completed.

I expect to be in a position to report to Parliament in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to make any changes in the rates of additional payments made by the television programme contractors of the Independent Broadcasting Authority following the agreement between that authority and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority as to the amount that will be made available to the latter Authority for the period up to 31 March 1983; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the finances of the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority, and about any consequential levy relief for the independent television companies under section 16 of the Broadcasting Act 1980.

I have been informed by the chairman of the IBA and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority—Awdurdod Sianel 4 Cymru—that the authorities have agreed that the sum to be paid for the period to the end of the financial year 1982–83 to meet the reasonable outgoings of the Welsh Fourth Channel—S. 4C.—under section 15(1) of the Broadcasting Act 1980, will be £20 million. The Welsh Fourth Channel Authority will be enabled on this basis to plan ahead and to commission programmes in preparation to start broadcasting in November 1982. The two authorities are considering the position for subsequent years.Section 16 of the 1980 Act enables me in deciding whether, and if so by how much, to vary the rates of the additional payments—the levy—under section 26 of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act 1973, as amended, to have regard to the increased payments to be made by the programme contractors to the IBA in respect of the cost of the fourth channel in Wales. With my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and after consultation with the IBA, I have decided to lay an order before Parliament during the next session which will have the effect that, as from 1 April 1982, the profits of each programme contractor which would not be subject to levy would be increased to £650,000—instead of £250,000—or 2·8 per cent.—instead of 2·0 per cent.—of advertising receipts, whichever is the greater. I believe that this adjustment is fair and takes appropriate account, in the context of the present estimates of the likely revenue and expenditure of the programme contractors in 1982–83 which have been made available to me by the IBA, of the increased costs of Welsh language broadcasting which will fall upon them in respect of the requirements of part III of the 1980 Act.My intention is that this adjustment should last for one year in the first instance and the position will therefore be reviewed in the course of 1982–83 in the light of the more up-to-date information on the financial position of the programme contractors and the reasonable outgoings of the fourth channel in Wales which will by then be available.I should also make it clear, however, that if there were to be a marked improvement in the financial position of programme contractors in 1982–83 as compared with the present estimates, I should need to consider with my right hon. and learned Friend and after consultation with the IBA, proposing further adjustments to the levy, to take effect on or after 1 April 1983, to recoup any income unjustifiably forgone by the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is in a position to announce his decision in relation to any further applications for a licence to conduct a pilot scheme of subscription television over cable.

In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher) on 10 March 1981—[Vol. 1000, c. 285–86]—I said that I had decided to license five broadcast relay operators to provide subscription television services in 11 areas for an initial period of two years and that I was considering applications for services in London, Sheffield and Wellingborough I have now decided to license British Relay Ltd. to provide a service in parts of London. The subscription service will be available, to those able and wishing to subscribe it, in part of the City of London and in parts of north central, south central and south-east London. The BBC will be associated with British Relay Ltd. in providing most of the programme material for the service.The application for a service in Sheffield has been withdrawn. The application for Wellingborough is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of working days lost in the United Kingdom in the past year as a result of unemployment.

An estimate would require several assumptions—for example, about the nature and timing of flows on and off the register of unemployed; the length of working weeks which would otherwise have been worked; holidays; other causes of lost time, such as sickness, which might have come into effect; individual decisions about job-seeking which might otherwise have been made. The range of possible alternative figures implied would call into question the value of any figures that might be arrived at.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the Coventry travel-to-work area are currently on short-time working; and how this compares with the same time in 1980.

I regret that the information is not available.Statistics of short-time working are available nationally and regionally but not for parts of regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the Ripon, Otley and Ilkley areas are currently on youth opportunities programme schemes; and how many of those eligible for such schemes are unemployed.

Information is not available in the form requested. However, the numbers of young people who entered the programme between the beginning of April and the end of June 1981 in the appropriate local authority districts were as follows: 200 in Harrogate, which includes Ripon, 750 in Leeds, which includes Otley, and 840 in Bradford which includes Ilkley. At 9 April the number of people under 20 registered as unemployed at the Ripon and Otley, which includes Ilkley, employment offices were 64 and 92 respectively. In addition, there were 27 young people registered at the Ripon careers office, and 28 at the Otley careers office, which includes Ilkley, for whom an age analysis is not available, but the majority of whom can be assumed to be under 20.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the results of the survey carried out by the Manpower Services Commission in March on a sample of January entrants to the youth opportunities programme regarding off-the-job training; and if he will compare the results of this survey with previous surveys.

A report giving the results of the 1981 survey of off-the-job training received by entrants to the work experience components of the youth opportunities programme is now available and contains comparisons with previous survey results.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost of the advertising campaign currently being mounted by the Manpower Services Commission in the national and provincial press in order to publicise the youth opportunities programme; and if he will assess the effect that this is having.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1981 c. 55]: The cost of the advertising campaign is £500,000. The campaign is to help recruit industrial sponsors to provide high quality places on the programme for unemployed young people. The commission has already had over 2,000 inquiries, many from large firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people have participated in the industrial training board schemes since May 1979.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of his Department's fraud investigation teams have been used in the Crewe district and travel-to-work area in the period 1979 to 1981; how many cases have been investigated; how many people have had their benefits withdrawn; and how many have subsequently been restored on appeal.

The investigation of unemployment benefit fraud in the Crewe area is normally carried out by staff based at Crewe unemployment benefit office. In the period February 1979 to date a total of 160 cases have been investigated. In 61 of these claimants have been disallowed benefit and in no case has benefit subsequently been restored on appeal.In addition, a special exercise was carried out in the Crewe area in February and March 1981 by investigators from the Department's Manchester regional office. Fifty five claimants were investigated of whom 20 have had either unemployment or supplementary benefit disallowed. In no case yet has this been restored on appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people do not have entitlement to unemployment benefit because they are registering for part-time work only; and how many of these are married woman.

Information is not available on how many people are in this category.However, during 1980 11,591 claims for unemployment benefit were disallowed by insurance officers under regulation 7(1)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the employee population he estimates are currently paid wages below those approved by the wages council; and how this figure compares with the position in 1974.

It is not possible to make a valid estimate of the proportion of the employee population paid below the wages council minima because the only information available is derived from establishments inspected and these do not form a representative sample. Inspections tend to be most concerned with areas where underpayment is most likely to be found.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the number of wages inspectors that are employed; and how this compares with the number in May 1979.

The number of wages inspectors employed at 1 July 1981 was 123. The number employed in May 1979 is not readily available, but 154 inspectors were employed at 1 April 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the average weekly earnings of (a) women, (b) men, (c) lone mothers, (d) lone fathers, (e) heads of two-parent families, (f) married women with dependant children, and (g) married women without dependant children.

The latest available information on average weekly earnings is as follows:

New Earnings Survey
	Average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees whose pay was not affected by absence
	Women* £	Men† £
April 1979	63·0	101·4
April 1980	78·8	124·5
April 1981‡	88·9	141·3
Notes:
* Aged 18 and over.
† Aged 21 and over.
‡ Provisional estimate based on survey results for April 1980 extrapolated by the trend of average earnings shown in the monthly index of average earnings.

Family Expenditure Survey
	Weekly averages during 1979
	Wages and salaries per head of household*	Total income per head of household†
		Households consisting of:
One adult with children‡	32·1	76·1
Two adults with children	92·9	113·8
Notes:
* Covering both full and part-time employment and those not employed.
† Including social security benefits, investment income and imputed rent from owner occupation.
‡ The amounts shown include those attributable to children and absent parents.

Comparable information from the Family Expenditure Survey for 1980 will become available during September 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions there have been in Wales for offences under the Wages Council Act 1959 since it came into law.

There have been two prosecutions in Wales under the Wages Councils Acts since 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been allocated for use under the scheme of capital grants to employers for workplace adaptations necessary to accommodate disabled people; and of the total, how much money has been disbursed and on how many projects for each year since its inception.

The information requested is as follows:

Year Ending 31 March	Allocation £	Amount Disbursed £	Number of projects
1977–78*	500,000	11,040	26
1978–79	300,000	39,196	48
1979–80	330,000	50,090	53
1980–81	381,000	64,233	83
1981–82	150,000	† 16,349	122
* 8 months only
† to 31 May

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers and percentages of (a) young people (b) men (c) women and (d) disabled people as a whole who are registered under section II of tie register under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 July 1981, c. 75]: The information requested, as at 9 October, 1980, the latest date at which young people within section II can be separately identified, is set out below. The numbers classified as section II have been expressed as a percentage of all unemployed disabled people.

Disabled people classified as Section II
	Number	As percentage of all unemployed disabled people
(a) Young people	401	5·2
(b) Men	9,010	7·3
(c) Women	2,413	9·8
(d) Total	11,824	8·1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average duration of unemployment among those registered under section II of the register under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 July 1981, c. 75]: It is not possible to calculate a true average duration of unemployment from statistics available. However, the following table gives an indication at a given time of the numbers and percentages of disabled people classified as section II within specified periods of unemployment. The information is as at 9 October 1980, which is the latest date available.

Number of weeks unemployment	Section II disabled people	As percentage of total
Two or less	202	1·7
Over 2 and up to 4	191	1·6
Over 4 and up to 6	161	1·4
Over 6 and up to 8	156	1·3
Over 8 and up to 13	417	3·5
Over 13 and up to 26	916	7·7
Over 26 and up to 52	1,320	11·2
Over 52	8,461	71·6
	11,824	100

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of places in sheltered employment and the number of registered disabled people under section II of the register under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 for the latest available date and for each year since 1976: and what is the projected number of places to be offered in sheltered employment schemes for the next three years.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 July 1981, c. 75]: The numbers of severely disabled people working in sheltered employment on 31 March 1980, the latest available figure, and on the same date in each of the four preceding years, are given in the following table 1. Table 2 shows for March 1981 and the five preceding

Table 2.
Numbers of severely disabled people who were unemployed, in March, in the following years:
	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981
Registered severely disabled people*	11,634	11,425	10,367	8,709	7,944	7,796
Unregistered severely disabled people†	‡	‡	4,094	3,799	3,658	3,890
* "Registered" indicates people who are registered as disabled under section 6 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.
† "Unregistered" indicates those severely disabled people who choose not to register in this way.
‡ Records not maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish for the latest available date the numbers of workers unemployed and percentages of unemployed amongst registered disabled people and the total United Kingdom work force who have been unemployed (a) up to 2 weeks, (b) over 2 and up to 4 weeks, (c) over 4 and up to 6 weeks, (d) over 6 and up to 8 weeks, (e) over 8 and up to 13 weeks, (f) over 13 and up to 26 weeks, (g) over 26 and up to 52 weeks and (h) over 52 weeks.

Number of weeks unemployed	Number of registered disabled people unemployed	Percentage of total	Number of the total Great Britain work-force unemployed	Percentage of total
(a) Up to 2 weeks	2,648	4·1	170,168	8·6
(b) Over 2 and up to 4	2,320	3·6	158,724	8·0
(c) Over 4 and up to 6	2,209	3·4	151,297	7·7
(d) Over 6 and up to 8	1,819	2·8	111,711	5·7
(e) Over 8 and up to 13	4,395	6·8	252,017	12·8
(f) Over 13 and up to 26	8,481	13·1	431,841	21·9
(g) Over 26 and up to 52	10,538	16·2	318,565	16·1
(h) Over 52	32,548	50·1	378,559	19·2
	64,958	100	1,972,982	100

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what has been the ratio of unemployed claimants in careers offices to the number of careers officers in (a) the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) the Northern region and (c) each local education authority in the Northern region for the latest available date and for each year since 1976; and what has been the percentage change in ratio of claimants to staff for each year since 1976; years, the numbers included in the list of unemployed severely disabled people—also known as the "Section II Register"—which is maintained by the disablement resettlement service.

Table 1.
Numbers of severely disabled people working in sheltered employment as at 31 March in the following years:
1976	13,755
1977	13,345
1978	13,311
1979	13,899
1980	13,666

[pursuant to his reply, 21 July 1981, c. 75]: The information is not available for the United Kingdom as a whole. However, the numbers unemployed and the unemployment percentages amongst registered disabled people and the total workforce in Great Britain within the periods requested are as follows. The informtion relates to 9 October 1980, the latest date for which comparative figures showing the duration of unemployment are available.(2) what has been the number of careers officers in

The available information is in the following three tables. The official statistics do not distinguish unemployed claimants from non-claimants and the ratio given is of the two combined per careers officer. The national comparison shown is with Great Britain as separate arrangements apply in Northern Ireland.

Number of careers officers (note (a)) in Great Britain (note (b)) on 1 April each year (note (c)). The number in brackets is the number of careers officers specifically designated to help handicapped young people (note (d))
	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981
Great Britain	2,798	2,872	3,120	3,336	3,428	3,520
	(99)	(108)	(111)	(138)	(147)	(150)
Northern Region	203	205	214	230	257	261
	(6)	(6)	(7)	(9)	(10)	(10)
Cleveland	38	39	40	42	51	53
	(—)	(—)	(—)	(—)	(1)	(1)
Cumbria	24	24	24	25	27	25
	(—)	(—)	(—)	(—)	(—)	(—)
Durham	31	31	32	35	38	40
	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Gateshead	15	15	15	18	20	20
	(1)	(1)	(1)	(2)	(2)	(2)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	27	27	30	33	36	36
	(1)	(1)	(2)	(2)	(2)	(2)
North Tyneside	15	15	15	16	17	17
	(—)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Northumberland	16	17	18	18	20	21
	(1)	(—)	(—)	(1)	(1)	(1)
South Tyneside	12	12	14	15	16	16
	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Sunderland	25	25	26	28	32	33
	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Notes:
(a) Total of the number of careers officers on the establishment of the regular Careers Service plus the number of careers officer posts allocated under the scheme to strengthen the Careers Service in areas of high unemployment (100 per cent, funded by direct Government grant).
(b) Separate arrangements apply in Northern Ireland.
(c) Detailed infarmation about the staffing of the Careers Service is only collected once per annum, on 1 April.
(d) Not all these officers are employed full-time in helping handicapped young people.

Number of young people registered as unemployed at careers offices (notes (e) and (f)) per careers officer in April of each year (rounded)
	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981
Great Britain	20	31	31	17	27	38
Northern Region	25	45	47	24	38	44
Cleveland	29	49	54	31	47	53
Cumbria	21	37	36	22	43	51
Durham	24	48	60	22	41	42
Gateshead	30	43	46	23	33	40
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	28	48	46	26	37	42
North Tyneside	15	33	33	19	28	42
Northumberland	23	40	35	23	30	36
South Tyneside	31	61	55	28	33	33
Sunderland	26	45	45	16	38	41
Notes:
(e) The count date is the second Thursday in the month.
(f) The figures collected do not distinguish between claimants and non-claimants.

Percentage change in ratio of registered unemployed per careers officer (rounded)
	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81
Great Britain	+57	—	-45	+53	+43
Northern Region	+79	+5	-49	+61	+24
Cleveland	+70	+ 12	-43	+53	+12
Cumbria	+79	-3	-39	+92	+19
Durham	+100	+25	-64	+88	+3
Gateshead	+44	+7	-50	+43	+22
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	+73	-4	-43	+40	+16
North Tyneside	+118	—	-43	+49	+49
Northumberland	+71	-13	-35	+31	+21
South Tyneside	+100	-10	-50	+ 18	—
Sunderland	+77	—	-64	+ 132	+9

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the number of disablement resettlement officers employed in the Manpower Services Commission for the last five years; and what is the latest available estimate of the projected staffing levels of disablement resettlement officers for the next three years.

Between 1976 and 1980 the disablement resettlement officers in post numbered around 520. During 1980 there were about 530 disablement resettlement officers in post. Both these figures include full and part-time officers.The commission is undertaking a review of its assistance for disabled people at present. There will be no change in the number of disablement resettlement officer posts during that review.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the statement made by the Manpower Services Commission in the consultative document "A New Training Initiative" that continued financial support will not be provided for first-year apprentice training unless industry agrees to support the whole plan of action as set out in the document is Government policy.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1981, c. 55]: Yes. The Government fully support the commission's intention progressively to align all its programmes so that they make the maximum contribution to the achievement of the strategy set out in the consultative document.In the case of apprentice support measures, to which the Government have committed £40 million both this year and next, it will be necessary to find ways to encourage the changes in skill training set out in the document without unduly jeopardising the volume of training by employers, and the commission will be discussing this with organisations concerned with industrial training.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how the Manpower Services Commission determines its financial priorities when assessing what funds should be used for the support of apprenticeship training as compared with money to be allocated for the support of unemployed young people via the youth opportunities programme.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1981, c. 56]: The Manpower Services Commission's priorities for expenditure are determined in the light of overall labour market needs and are set out in its draft corporate plan for the four years ahead. The draft plan is submitted to me and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales in the autumn of each year.The commission's corporate plan for 1981 to 1985, which I approved on 30 March 1981, included a commitment to offer to as many as possible unemployed school leavers a place on the youth opportunities programme by Christmas 1981, and to move towards the ultimate target of making an offer of a suitable youth opportunities programme opportunity within three months to all 16 and 17-year-olds who have been registered as unemployed for more than three months.The corporate plan also indicated the commission's anxiety about the level of support which would be necessary to maintain the recruitment of apprentices in the face of the accelerating rate of redundancies among apprentices and the major reduction in apprentice intakes which was then in prospect. The plan made it clear that without additional resources it would not be possible to support more than 22,000 to 24,000 first-year apprentices in 1981–82 and proposed to enter into discussion with the Government about how increased support could be achieved. I am considering the representations the commission has since made to me on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to avoid substantial council house rent increases in 1982.

The level of council house rents in 1982 is a matter for local authorities to decide following the determination of reckonable income under section 100 of the Housing Act 1980. The determination for 1982–83 will be made later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what advice or directions he has given to the Welsh Development Agency modifying the guidelines issued by him to that agency on assuming office.

No formal advice or directions have been given to the Welsh Development Agency modifying the guidelines on site development and factory building and on industrial investment which came into force on 15 May 1980 and on 30 June 1980 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current target rate of return on capital investment which his Department requires the Welsh Development Agency to achieve on its industrial investment.

The financial duties relating to the investment functions of the Welsh Development Agency from 1 April 1981 are currently under consideration. The existing duties were made known to the House by the then Secretary of State for Wales on 3 August 1978.—[Vol. 955, c. 661–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the nature of the previous employment of those people currently registered as unemployed in Wales, indicating the number of unemployed people in each such category.

The following is the latest comprehensive information available:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated number of unemployed men in Wales who are over the age of 60 years.

On 9 April 1981, the latest date for which comprehensive information is available, 11,278 men aged 60 and over were registered as unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the registered unemployed persons in Gwynedd were previously employed in the construction industry.

On 14 May 1981 the figure was 2,556.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide a breakdown of those unemployed in Wales by standard industrial classification order.

The latest figures available relate to May 1981 and are as follows:

Standard Industrial Classification	Order No	Registered Unemployed on 14 May 1981
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing	I	2,012
Mining and Quarrying	II	2,638
Food, Drink and Tobacco	III	3,026
Coal and Petroleum Products	IV	288
Chemicals and Allied Industries	V	1,784
Metal Manufacture	VI	13,903
Mechanical Engineering	VII	3,823
Instrument Engineering	VIII	349
Electrical Engineering	IX	2,850
Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering	X	343
Vehicles	XI	2,491
Metal Goods not elsewhere specified	XII	3,960
Textiles	XIII	1,555
Leather, Leather Goods and Fur	XIV	177
Clothing and Footwear	XV	2,537
Bricks, Pottery, Glass, Cement etc	XVI	1,051
Timber Furniture etc	XVII	1,342
Paper, Printing and Publishing	XVIII	1,252
Other Manufacturing Industries	XIX	3,297
Construction	XX	26,265
Gas, Electricity and Water	XXI	555
Transport and Communications	XXII	5,360
Distributive Trades	XXIII	12,246
Insurance, Banking, Finance and Business Services	XXIV	2,221
Professional and Scientific Services	XXV	5,521
Miscellaneous Services	XXVI	12,630
Public Administration and Defence	XXVII	7,535

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many young persons in Wales have been unemployed for six months or more.

On 9 April 1981, the latest date for which comprehensive figures are available, 8,539 persons aged under 20 years had been registered as unemployed for over six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many school leavers are expected in Wales, West Glamorgan and the Port Talbot travel-to-work area during July; and how many are expected to find employment.

Details of school leavers by month of leaving are not available. Estimates, however, suggest that for the summer term as a whole figures will be in the region of 40,000, 5,000 and 2,500 respectively.As to employment prospects, for those not looking to pursue a course of further education it is not practicable to forecast future employment and unemployment levels. Many variable factors have to be taken into account. Opportunities for training and work experience will continue to be available on an increasing range and scale under the youth opportunities programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been lost in the Port Talbot travel-to-work area since May 1979; and how many new jobs have been provided.

Comprehensive information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons on youth opportunities programmes in Wales in the period May 1979 to March 1980 are now in employment; and how many are unemployed.

Detailed information is not available from the Manpower Services Commission in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State far Wales (1) how many apprentices are being taken on in Wales this year; and how many were taken on in each Of the previous three years;(2) how many apprenticeships have been discontinued this year in Wales before their completion; and what steps were taken to provide alternative facilities.

Comprehensive statistics on apprenticeship entry and completion are not available Apprenticeship training is primarily the responsibility of industry and industry training boards, but the Government already make substantial funds available, through the Manpower Services Commission and the industry training boards, to support apprenticeship training, including adoption grants, to encourage employers to take on redundant apprentices. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Employment, announced yesterday—[Vol. 9, c. 73–74]—that, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the grant-in-aid to the Manpower Services Commission will be increased by £9·6 million in 1981–82 and £11·0 million in 1982–83 for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was spent by the European Economic Community in the first half of 1981 in subsidising food exports to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

This information is not available. The amounts of export subsidies for particular destinations are not separately identified in Community statistics.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he is doing to promote energy saving projects in the tomato growing industry.

We are continuing to give substantial support to the glasshouse industry for energy saving projects. Grants are available under the agriculture and horticulture development scheme and the agriculture and horticulture grant scheme towards the cost of thermal screens, glasshouse insulation, including double cladding, permanent thermal insulation, vapour sealing and gas sealing, and improvements to glasshouse heating systems, including boiler conversions.An extensive research and development programme is being undertaken with priority being given to developing techniques aimed at reducing energy requirements and, in particular, heating costs. These include ways of reducing heat losses through the application of alternative cladding materials and thermal screens, the installation of accurate environmental control equipment, the investigation of the optimum air and plant root temperatures and the further development of the use of reject heat from power stations.Free advice is available to growers from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service of my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the new financial package offered to Dutch glasshouse growers to meet fuel price increases is likely to have on the United Kingdom complaint pending before the Commission.

Whilst the increase in Dutch gas prices is a movement towards remedying the distortion which the Commission identified, it in no way eliminates it. We shall continue to press with the utmost vigour for the removal of all distortion and we shall support the legal action which the Commission have started against the Dutch Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his intention to make a new hop wilt order; if so, when he will do so; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Following consultations with hop growers and their representatives on problems relating to progressive verticillium wilt disease, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I propose to make an order amending the Progressive Wilt Disease of Hops Order 1978. The main provision of the order will give statutory force to the gentleman's agreement which has hitherto prevented the planting of resistant varieties of hops on uninfected land in Hereford and Worcester.We hope to be able to lay the proposed order before the House in the very near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many notifications of the disease progressive verticillium wilt have been made in the county of Hereford and Worcester during the last 12 months for which figures are available and the previous two 12-month periods; how many were confirmed in each period; and how many acres and how many holdings were affected by the disease.

Suspected progressive verticillium wilt was reported in Hereford and Worcester on eight holdings in 1978, on three holdings in 1979 and on three holdings in 1980. In each of those years the disease was confirmed only on the same two holdings. So far this year suspected infection has been reported on ten holdings—including the two holdings on which PVW was confirmed in previous years. Results of tests are awaited. on the two holdings in Hereford and Worcester on which PVW has been confirmed a total hop yard area of 0·93 ha was grubbed in 1978, 6·18 ha in 1979 and 10·79 ha in 1980.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the circumstances in which the meat stored in Lancashire under EEC intervention rules was offered for sale despite being contaminated; and whether he will ban this and any similar sales.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 13 July 1981.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting in Brussels on 20–21 July; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 20 and 21 July.

This was the first meeting of this Council under the United Kingdom Presidency with my right hon. Friend as the Chairman of the Council. I, therefore, represented the United Kingdom.Agreement was finally reached for controlling the use of hormones in animal husbandry and medicines. This provides for a ban on the use of stilbenes and thyrostatic substances in animal husbandry and for further detailed scientific examination to be undertaken of five other hormonal substances.We secured agreement under which our traditional way of presenting poultrymeat for sale is safeguarded. There will be further discussions over the next year on this and other related veterinary matters.In his opening statement to the Council my right hon. Friend emphasised the need to tackle the problems over State aids to agriculture. I pressed the Council for more urgent action to remove the distortion to competition which is resulting from the Dutch gas pricing arrangements for horticulture. I was supported in this by a number of other member States.I also asked the Commission to report on the action that it is taking over the national aids which France gives to its agriculture industry. The Commissioner said that the French Government had not yet replied to all the Commission's inquiries and that unless a response was received within a few days further action would be taken by the Commission. It is clear that our concern about this is shared by other member States.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government have made any representation to the Syrian Government about infringements of human rights in Syria, including long-term detention of hundreds of political prisoners as detailed in the latest Amnesty International report; and if so what was the outcome.

No such representations have been made, but the Syrian Government are well aware of Her Majesty's Government's views on and close interest in questions of human rights.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the progress made in discussions with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies on the question of multinational nuclear disarmament.

At the ministerial meeting of the NATO Council on 5 May, the United States Government announced their intention to begin negotiations with the Soviet Union on long range theatre nuclear force arms control by the end of the year. As foreseen in the communiqué issued at the meeting, the NATO bodies concerned are now preparing for these negotiations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal which Ministers from his Department have visited the British Broadcasting Corporation external services at Bush House during the past year.