asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he is satisfied that after the closure of the Grimsby marine office the ports of (a) Boston, in view of its location considerably south of Hull, and (b) Immingham, in view of its size, will be satisfactorily served by Hull; and if he will make a statement;(2) what are his intentions regarding the future of the staff of the Grimsby marine office, due to close on 2 October.;(3) if he will publish details in the

With effect from 2 October 1981 the Department's marine survey and mercantile marine offices in Grimsby will be closed and their functions transferred to the marine district office in Hull: the fishing vessel office will, however, be retained in Grimsby. The opening of the Humber bridge, the need to notify the industry and management considerations influenced the timing of the closure. It is my Department's intention to continue to provide a satisfactory service on marine safety matters throughout the East of England marine district, which includes the ports of Boston and Immingham. My Department has very carefully considered representations from the industry and other interested parties but the proposed transfer of functions to Hull is part of a necessary general reorganisation and rationalisation of survey and mercantile marine offices throughout the United Kingdom which is expected to result in more effective use of resources and overall savings in costs. The position of the staff in Grimsby affected by the closures is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the number of bankruptcy cases dealt with by county courts in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands for each of the last five years; and what has been the percentage change in each year for both areas.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, before he reached his decision to require the British Gas Corporation to divest itself of its retailing activities, any survey was made, either nationally or for any area, of the alternative provision of local retailing facilities for gas appliances and other services; if he will conduct such a survey in the North Thames Gas area having particular regard to the area covered by the high street, Harlesden and the high street, Wembley showrooms; and if he will review his decision in respect of any areas where it can be shown that inadequate alternatives exist.

Without making individual street surveys the Government took account both of the alternative facilities for gas appliance retailing that already exist and of the interest expressed by private sector retailers in starting or expanding sales of gas appliances.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many cases of alleged insider dealing have been referred to him by the Stock Exchange in the past 12 months; how many of these have resulted in prosecution; if he is satisfied with the system of self-policing by the Stock. Exchange; and if he is considering any new measures to counter insider dealing.

The insider dealing provisions of the Companies Act 1980 have been in force since 23 June 1980. Since then the Stock Exchange has referred to my Department information about dealings involving the securities of 16 companies. None of this information has yet led to a prosecution; but some of it is still under investigation. My Department is in close contact with the Stock Exchange, which plays a valuable part in the enforcement of the statutory provisions by making preliminary enquiries into unusual movements in the prices of listed securities, and in appropriate cases referring the results to my Department. It would be premature to consider new measures to counter insider dealing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade European Economic Community if he will list the figures for imports into the European Economic Community from newly industrialising countries over the past 10 years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has received an application from the Association of Cost and Executive Accountants to be approved by him for the purpose of auditing company accounts; what has been his response; and if he will make a statement.

The Association of Cost and Executive Accountants has sought a change in the law which would permit its members to audit the accounts of small and medium-sized companies. I do not believe that it would be right to require different levels of auditors' qualifications according to the size of the company whose accounts were to be audited. If the association makes an application for recognition under the existing law, as a body whose members are eligible to audit the accounts of any company, I shall of course consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the United Kingdom's export figures since 1965 in oil, manufactured goods and food, respectively, with (a) the European Economic Community, (b) North America and (c) the rest of the world.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the effective margin of spare capacity in the electricity generating industry, assuming that all possible steps had been taken to meet the demand and that the pattern of demand was the same as it was in 1973; by how much revenue would increase if the capacity was fully utilised on this basis; and by how much the consumption of oil and coal would be increased to generate the electricity required.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much is spent annually on telephones in the Houses of Parliament.

For the financial year 1980–81, the telephone account for the Palace of Westminster was £1,245,062·80.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements on Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 July.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others including the President of Cyprus, the Prime Minister of Barbados and Mr. Rajiv Ghandi. In addition to my duties in the House I shall have a meeting later today with the President of the Federal Republic. of Germany. This evening I shall attend a supper given by Her Majesty the Queen on the eve of the marriage of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to the Lady Diana Spencer.

asked the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit Greater Manchester.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the practice of combining current and capital financial requirements in the figures for the public sector borrowing requirement.

Yes. The public sector borrowing requirement measures the net financing need of the public sector, after taking account of its surplus on current account, capital expenditure and receipts. The appropriate balance between taxation, expenditure, internal financing of the trading corporations and borrowing are the essence of fiscal policy. Within total public expenditure, we aim to maximise worthwhile capital expenditure.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the Government's progress in implementing the proposals contained in the Queen's Speech.

Good progress continues to be made with the objectives and policies set out in the Gracious Speech. In particular, of the 20 Bills foreshadowed in the Speech, 10 have so far been enacted and a further eight should become law before the end of the Session. The remaining measures—the Petroleum and Continental Shelf Bill and the legislation to provide for an employers' statutory sick pay scheme—will now be included in the legislative programme for the next Session.

asked the Prime Minister when she next intends to meet the leaders of the Confederation of British Industry.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government intend to buy from British Railways the Woodhead tunnel for defence purposes or for the disposal of nuclear waste.

There are no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the reasons why he will not request the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to cut down on the large numbers of police being supplied to private and business ventures such as the Wimbledon tennis tournament, Ascot races, the test matches and similar functions.

Decisions on the deployment of manpower in the Metropolitan Police district are a matter for the Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Minister of State's reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 16 July about repatriation, whether he will take steps to refuse re-entry to the United Kingdom to those who have been assisted to return to their country of origin.

No; but a person would have to qualify for re-entry under the immigration rules. The rules already provide that—except as regards Commonwealth citizens settled here when the Immigration Act 1971 came into force—previous residence is not a qualification for re-entry if a person received assistance from public funds towards the cost of leaving.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have retired from the police force as a result of injuries sustained in the course of their duty so far in 1981; and what was the compensation paid to each police officer sustaining such injuries.

I regret that this information is not available centrally and cannot be obtained without dispropotionate cost. Benefits are payable under the police pensions regulations when an officer has to retire as a result of injury on duty. As to these and to awards under the criminal injuries compensation scheme, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his earlier question on this subject on 5 December 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences have been granted by the Metropolitan Police to individuals who are not full-time hackney carriage drivers; how applications are checked; and if there is any evidence of abuse of the system whereby full-time employees in outside industries work extra hours in private hire vehicles.

The information requested in the first part of the question is not available. The application procedures for cab drivers licences are set out in the London Cab Order 1934; the checking of applications is a matter for the licensing authority. Private hire vehicles in London are not licensed and no information is available about whether their drivers are full-time or not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give his estimate as to the number of illegal 27 MHz AM citizens band sets now operating in the United Kingdom.

The available information is not sufficient to form a reliable estimate, but present indications are that the number of illicit users of 27 MHz AM citizens band equipment is now significantly higher than the figure given in the reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate) on 7 May.—[Vol. 4, c. 256.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an estimate as to the length of time before he is in a position to authorise the use of the lower end of the 26 to 28 MHz band for citizens band radio users.

I regret that this is not possible at this stage. My first priority must remain the introduction of a viable legal service in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now announce his decision on the proposed derating of citizens band radio aerials.

This matter is still under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the date for the introduction of a legal citizens band radio service.

I have nothing to add at this stage to the answer I gave in reply to a question by my hon. Friend on 24 June.—[Vol. 7, c. 104.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 6 May, if he is yet able to make a statement on changes in the guidance issued to prison staff about suicides and attempted suicides.

We are discussing revised guidance with the trade union side and we hope to be able to issue a circular instruction shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to bring into force the provisions in the Broadcasting Act 1980 relating to the independent local radio levy.

I intend shortly to make a commencement order which will bring section 26 and schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Act 1980—which provides for a levy on the profits of the independent local radio contractors—into effect on 1 October 1981.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact he expects the increased petrol and derv prices to have upon employment and upon employment in the textile and clothing and paper and board industries in particular.

I regret that it is not possible to make an accurate estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will agree to waive interest due on outstanding tax when, by reason of the industrial action now being taken by civil servants, the taxpayers concerned have not received value added tax repayments equal to or greater than the tax withheld.

Collectors of taxes are refraining from pressing businesses for payment of taxes where they are in financial difficulty as a result of the interruption of VAT refunds. In certain cases this could have resulted in interest charges on overdue amounts. Accordingly a new clause moved by the Government was introduced in the Finance Bill on 14 July. The clause will give businesses exemption from interest on overdue tax where payments of corresponding amounts from Government Departments have been delayed by the Civil Service dispute, except to the extent that payments of non-interest bearing PAYE and NIC liabilities have been withheld.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the measures he has taken during the life of the present Government to encourage private risk capital into British businesses of all types; and if in further pursuit of risk capital he will seek to grant the same income tax concessions to direct investment in the equity of British business as are enjoyed by investors in pension schemes.

Specific measures have included the business start-up scheme, the venture capital scheme, a reduction in the small companies rate of corporation tax and abolition of the apportionment rules for the trading income of close trading companies, extension of relief for interest on borrowings to invest in close companies, partnerships and industrial co-operatives, and others. We have also taken more general measures, including reductions in marginal rates of income tax, and the abolition of dividend, pay, price and exchange controls. We have increased the threshold for the investment income surcharge and increased the capital gains tax exempt allowance. All these have a part to play in increasing the rewards from risk investment. We have also taken steps to arrange the return to the private sector of public sector activities. I have noted the suggestion made by my hon. Friend in the second half of his question, but in my view the specific measures that we have already taken will prove to be the most helpful way of using the limited resources available to encourage investment where it is most needed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it has cost to run the Houses of Parliament (a) in the last 12-month period and (b) in the last three years.

(a) £51 million (provisional) for 1980–81 (b) £128 million (provisional) for 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81.These figures include administration and computers, Members' and Peers' salaries and allowances, accommodation and the cost of printing and publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many 50p coins have been minted in each year since the coin was introduced, including an estimate for 1981; and if he is satisfied that the demand for these coins is being met.

The number of 50p coins minted each year since the coin was introduced in 1969 is listed below:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the nominal exchange rate between the £ sterling and each of the currencies of the main manufacturing countries since 1973 and since the fourth quarter of 1976; to what extent this reflects the increase in relative prices; and if he will account for the change in each case.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the additional revenue which the Government would collect in a full financial year as a result of an increase of 10 per cent. in the price of oil in (a) current conditions and (b) when the industry has exhausted tax reliefs, on the basis of current output, together with the additional cost to manufacturing industry and the whole economy in current circumstances of oil and imported raw materials as a result of a 10 per cent. appreciation of the dollar.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table similar to the reply to the hon. Member for Kensington, 15 July 1981, and for the same family types, distinguishing where appropriate between the tax allowance and the child benefit component and including two-earner married couples, showing the weekly value in £ sterling of (a) current supplementary benefit scale rate, (b) current tax thresholds or tax-free incomes, and (c) tax thresholds or tax-free incomes under schemes 1 to 4 put forward in Cmnd. 8093, "The Taxation of Husband and Wife";(2) if he will publish a table similar to the reply to the hon. Member for Kensington on 15 July 1981 comparing tax allowances with supplementary benefit entitlement levels for 1981 under the existing system and under the main options proposed in Cmnd. 8093, "The Taxation of Husband and Wife", but including figures for two-earner married couples; and if he will include a further column showing tax threshold or tax-free incomes as percentage:; of supplementary benefit entitlement level under the existing system.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate for 1981–82, at 1981 cash prices, of total United Kingdom public expenditure on housing, including mortgage tax relief.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer haw much pay-as-you-earn income tax was written off as unrecovered debt in the accounting year ending 31 October 1980.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the additional cost to the Government for each additional man who becomes unemployed, assuming that he has a wife and two children and was previously earning the average industrial wage.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the borrowings of Cable and Wireless Ltd., other than for short-term finance, and its profits, are included in the public sector borrowing requirement.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the net new investment overseas by Unted Kingdom institutions in the years 1979–80, 1980–81, and so far in 1981–82.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 16 July 1981, c. 434.] The hon. Member does not specify which scheme of mandatory independent taxation he has in mind. The loss of revenue arising from the taxation of a wife's investment income as her income was calculated in very broad terms at 1980–81 income levels for each of the four schemes described in appendix 6 of Cmnd. 8093 "The Taxation of Husband and Wife". In these calculations it was assumed that no transfers of capital were made, and that husband and wife would have a serprate threshold for the investment income surcharge at the same level as that for a single person. These results are given in table 18 of Background Paper No. 2 to Cmnd. 8093 and are in column 1 in the following table.Very broad estimates of the increase in the investment income surcharge required to provide an equivalent yield are shown in column 2. These are calculated on top of the assumption that each new scheme of taxation had been adopted and that the increase would apply to everyone, not married couples alone. I regret that a reliable estimate of the equivalent reduction in the threshold, and the information requested in part

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the estimate he gave of the revenue saved from the abolition of the married man's tax allowance in his reply to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richards), Official Report. 31 March 1981, column 62, included the savings that would result from the abolition of the additional personal allowances; and what this saving would be.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1981, c. 42]: No. The abolition of the additional personal allowance would save about £90 million in a full year at 1981–82 income levels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many responses he has had to his Green Paper on the taxation of husband and wife, if he will list the organisations who have replied, and when he will be in a position to bring forward proposals.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1981, c. 42]: So far over 400 individuals and organisations have submitted comments on the Green Paper to the Inland Revenue. The organisations that have commented include:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will initiate action in the light of the recent court of appeal judgment in R. v. Grossman to the effect that the Inland Revenue has no power to investigate bank records in the Isle of Man; and if this judgment will affect efforts by United Kingdom authorities to prevent tax avoidance by the use of the Isle of Man as a tax haven.

[pursuant to his reply, Tuesday 21 July 1981, c. 92]: The Inland Revenue is studying the implications of the Court of Appeal's judgment in Regina v Grossman; it is too soon to assess its effects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to permit the Inland Revenue to allow licences for short-term tenancies of small business premises to benefit from the provisions of the Capital Allowances Act 1968, in line with the recommendations of the Department of Industry's report on small business premises.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 July 1981]: I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the components of the index of wholesale price inputs of materials purchased by manufacturing industry, showing in particular fuel and materials which are wholly or mainly imported.

I have been asked to reply. Detailed information is published once a month in British Business, for example in the 23 July 1981 issue. Detailed figures for a run of years were last published in the 1 May 1981 issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make a statement on further proposals for assistance to shipping services to the Scottish islands.

The Government are committed to the survival and prosperity of the Scottish island communities, and recognise that the cost of sea transport to the islands is an important factor.Since taking office the Government have increased the total assistance to Scottish shipping services from £4·3 million in 1979–80 to around £9·5 million in 1981–82. This increased assistance has restricted the increases in charges which would otherwise have been necessary on Caledonian MacBrayne's West Coast services, and on the services of the Orkney Islands Shipping Company. It has also enabled the introduction of substantial rebates on charges on the main P and O services to Orkney and Shetland, and on almost all bulk cargoes to the Scottish islands. These arrangements have been widely welcomed by local industry and commercial interests.We issued in March 1980 a consultative paper on the structure of assistance to island shipping services This examined the implications of moving towards an operating cost RET system of charges. Responses have stressed the importance of sea transport costs to the islands' economies and agree that these should be lower. A number of responses, in particular those from Strathclyde regional council, Western Isles islands council and Shetland islands council, suggested that any strict application of RET would lead to a disproportionate and indeed inappropriate amount of any extra aid going to the shorter ferry crossings. There was also a preference for an RET system based on running costs rather than operating costs.My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State visited Norway late last year to examine its ferry charging policy. We are grateful for the kindness and courtesy which was extended on that occasion. It is clear that, although Norway has a standard, mileage-related tariff for shipping fares—which is very low—this is not a road equivalent tariff since it does not relate to vehicle operating or running costs. The Norwegians do not have a ready-made charging formula which could be considered for application to Scotland.The responses to the consultative document suggest a need for a system of distributing assistance which is more flexible and more easily understood than the present arrangements. The Government stand by their manifesto pledge to move towards RET. For expenditure reasons, changes will inevitably depend on the extent to which additional resources can be made available over the years ahead.The Government accept that they should aim for the adoption of running costs RET as opposed to operating costs RET. This is the logical system since the haulier continues to have to bear standing charges during the vehicle's transport by sea.A number of responses from the more remote islands pointed out that a rigid applicaton of RET to the longer sea routes would produce higher fares than those now being paid. It is therefore the Government's intention to modify the RET principle for the longer routes to take this into account.To provide for running costs RET on the basis outlined in this statement Government financial assistance would have to be doubled. This is clearly not possible at the present time and it will therefore, be necessary to phase in any increases. We therefore aim to introduce a system from the 1982–83 financial year leading towards an RET basis for charges and distribution of assistance among the Scottish routes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make a statement on the changes to be made in the forestry grant-aid and felling controls systems, as foreshadowed in the statement made to Parliament on 10 December 1980.

Yes. In the light of the comments received on the Forestry Commission's consultative paper the Government have decided to introduce the following arrangements.A new forestry grant scheme will be started on 1 October 1981 aimed at encouraging private forestry to undertake a greater share of future planting, as envisaged in our December policy statement. The scheme has been designed to retain the practical advantages of the earlier grant arrangements whilst reducing costs by simplifying the administrative and legal procedures. It will offer a range of planting grants as set out in Table 1. These will be reviewed periodically by the Forestry Commission having regard to the average costs of establishing private woodlands, as indicated by the surveys carried out by the Universities of Oxford and Aberdeen. The first such review will take effect from 1 October 1982 and subsequent reviews will be carried out at two-yearly intervals. We have also decided that grant payments should be made on the basis of self-certification, subject to a system of spotchecks by the Commission.The new scheme will cater for individual areas of 0·25 hectares and over and will be open to both owners and tenants. Applications will be subject to approval by the Forestry Commission after consultation, as before, with the appropriate statutory authorities on land use and environmental considerations. As with the basis III dedication scheme, applicants will be required to undertake to enter into discussions, if requested by the local authority, with a view to negotiating an access agreement; this undertaking will not, however, bind the applicant to conclude any such agreement.Under the dedication schemes, owners do not require a licence to comply with felling prescriptions in a plan of operations approved by the Forestry Commission, and provision will shortly be made by order for a similar exemption for those working to a plan of operations under the new scheme. As in the case of earlier schemes, woodlands grant-aided under the new scheme will not be subject to the application of tree preservation orders under the terms of the Town and Country Planning Acts except with the consent of the Forestry Commission.Fuller details of the forestry grant scheme are set out in an explanatory leaflet available in the Vote Office and from Forestry Commission offices.The new scheme supersedes the dedication basis III and small woods schemes which were closed to further applications from 1 July 1981. Existing contracts with the Forestry Commission under those schemes, and the earlier basis I and basis II schemes which were closed in 1972, will continue but any applications for the inclusion of additional areas will be dealt with under the new scheme. In order to save administrative costs, however, opportunities will be taken whenever possible to reduce the number of dedicated estates. Owners will accordingly be encouraged to transfer to the new scheme, and on a change of ownership of dedicated land on or after 1 August 1981 the Forestry Commission will decline to enter into a fresh deed or agreement with the new owner. These changes are in accordance with recommendations made after a Rayner study and will lead in due course to administrative savings of the order of £250,000 per annum at 1980 survey prices.A review of grants under dedication II and III and the small woods schemes has now been completed and we have agreed to revised rates being introduced from 1 October 1980 as set out in table 2. These represent substantial increases over the existing rates. We have also agreed to reduce the period between reviews to two years; the next review will therefore fall due in October next year.Any future grant adjustments, whether under the old or the new schemes, will of course need to be contained within agreed cash limits and take account of the economic circumstances at the time.Final decisions have yet to be taken on the changes in the felling control system proposed in the consultative paper, and these will be the subject of a separate statement. When they have been announced, the Forestry Commission will enter into discussions aimed at simplifying and speeding up the consultative procedures in the light of the comments already received.The changes I have announced today are tangible evidence of the importance we attach to the continuing expansion of forestry and our wish to see private interests playing a larger part in it. The new grant scheme, with its simplified procedures and realistic grant levels, will allow private forestry to look to the future with assurance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards the construction of nuclear shelters in Scotland; how many have been built; and how many are currently the subject of planning applications.

I share the view taken by successive Governments that national provision of purpose-built nuclear shelters would not be justified, but I am concerned to ensure that advice is readily available to the public on how best to provide practical protection in their own homes. Guidance on the design and construction of shelters has been issued in the publications "Domestic Nuclear Shelters" and "Domestic Nuclear Shelters—Technical Guidance". Information is not available centrally on the numbers of shelters which have been built or are the subject of planning applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many survey meters and dosimeters have been issued to each regional council in Scotland for training for war emergencies; and when they were last tested.

The following survey meters and dosimeters were issued on loan to regional councils during the period since 1 January 1980:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the action of German vessels fishing for herring in United Kingdom waters.

On 10 July 1981 the fishery protection vessel "Jura" of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland detected the two West German trawlers "Kiel" and "Hannover" fishing for herring approximately eight miles north of the Butt of Lewis.Both vessels were escorted to Stornoway where the skippers were brought before the sheriff court on Monday 13 July, for prosecution under the West Coast Herring (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1981. They were found guilty. The sheriff ordered that the catch, of approximately 102 tonnes, should be confiscated. It was not physically possible, however, for the vessels to be berthed at Stornoway because of their size and the court therefore sold the catch back to the owners of the vessels.There were exchanges with the Germans at ministerial and official level in London and in Bonn, in which we made clear that we saw no reason to change our view that herring fishing remained illegal in the area concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the average earnings of Scottish agricultural workers as a percentage of Scottish manual earnings in each of the past three years.

The best estimates of average earnings of full-time adult male workers produce the following percentage:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the value of Exchequer subsidies and rate fund contributions, separately, to local authority housing revenue account dwellings per dwelling for the years 1975–76 to 1981–82 at 1980 survey prices, plus the number of local authority housing revenue account dwellings on which the estimates are based for Scotland.

The average amounts per local authority housing revenue account dwelling are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the proposals for a special grant scheme for those involved in herring processing.

The Herring Buyers' Association, on behalf of the herring processing industry throughout the United Kingdom, has sought special aid towards re-equipping factories to cope with the expected resumption of major herring fisheries. Officials of my Department met the association to discuss its case and requested further information. This has now been received and the association's request is being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the present statutory position with regard to the inspection of religious education in Scottish schools.

At present section 66(2) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 prohibits Her Majesty's inspectors from inquiring into religious instruction in Scottish schools. This provision, which dates from 1872, was clearly designed to prevent the Government exercising undue influence over the content of religious instruction, and has been the basis for the long-standing tradition that I do not concern myself with the teaching of religious subjects in schools.In recent years, however, there has developed a general view that religious education should no longer be treated as a subject set apart from other subjects in the curriculum. In accord with this growing view, the then Secretary of State set up the Millar committee in 1968 to review the practice of non-denominational schools with regard to moral and religious education and to make recommendations for its improvement. Subsequently, one of the important recommendations of the Millar committee, that a Teaching Qualification (Secondary Education) in religious education should be available, was implemented, as was the recommendation that the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum, my principal advisory body on the school curriculum, should take over responsibility for curriculum development in the field of moral and religious education. I currently have under consideration the further issue of an examination in religious studies following a recommendation to me by the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum and the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board that such an examination should be introduced.In the light of these developments and of representations made to me by the Churches and other interests about the state of religious education in schools, I have reached the conclusion that the long-standing bar on the inspection of religious subjects is no longer appropriate and that the opportunity of the Education (Scotland) Bill, currently being considered in another place, should be taken to repeal section 66(2) of the 1980 Act, so that religious subjects may in future be treated on the same footing as other subjects in the curriculum and may be open to review by Her Majesty's inspectors on my behalf as necessary. My Department has today asked the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Scottish Churches and other interested bodies for their views on this proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the value of Exchequer subsidies and rate fund contributions, separately, to local authority housing revenue account dwellings per dwelling for the years 1975–76 to 1981–82 at 1980 survey prices, plus the number of local authority housing revenue account dwellings on which the estimates are based for Wales.

The information is estimated to be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the reduction in the livestock sector in Wales, he will take steps further to assist the Welsh milk producing industry, in order to alleviate unemployment of ancillary workers.

Higher yields have generally sustained the level of Welsh milk production and I am not aware that ancillary employment has been affected by the small reduction in the dairy herd.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has been approached in regard to the current industrial dispute affecting Laurence Scott Electromotors Ltd. at Openshaw, Manchester.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, and to what, extent the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has been involved in finding a solution to the dispute at Laurence Scott (Manchester); and if he will make a statement.

I understand that ACAS has on several occasions during this dispute been in contact with the company, union representatives and the local engineering employers's association and the parties are aware that ACAS's conciliation services are available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received on the Green Paper on trade union immunities.

I have so far received almost 300 representations on the Green Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to announce his proposals for the reform in of the law governing trade union immunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to be in a position to respond to the representations he has received on the Green Paper on trade union immunities.

The period for receiving comments on the Green Paper on trade union immunities has now ended but the vast majority of written observations have arrived only within the last few weeks. I cannot yet say when our assessment of them will be complete. However, my right hon. Friend has always made it clear that the timetable for consultations must allow for the possibility of further legislation in the next Session of Parliament if that is shown to be necessary and desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trade unions have so far made representations on the Green Paper on trade union immunities.

So far I have received representations on the Green Paper from 16 trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in Wolverhampton are currently on youth opportunity programmes.

The information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of young people who entered the programme in Wolverhampton local authority district between the beginning of April and the end of June 1981 was some 900.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his review of the adequacy of the allowance to trainees on the youth opportunities programme.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) on 30 June.—[Vol. 7, c. 685 and 686.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the training received by those young persons participating in the youth opportunities programme and work experience on employers' premises schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Schemes under the youth opportunities programme are approved by the Manpower Services Commission only if they offer opportunities that will improve the young person's employment prospects by providing a realistic introduction to working life. Every effort is made to ensure that the work experience provided is varied and likely to equip young people with basic skills.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people entered youth opportunity programmes from April 1978 to April 1979 in (a) Great Britain and (b) Scotland.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 July 1981]: Between April 1978 and end March 1979, some 162,000 young people entered the youth opportunities programme in Great Britain of whom 23,600 entered the programme in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people are under the age of 25 years; and how this compares with the position in May 1979.

At April 1981 the number of people under 25 years of age registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 917,161 compared with 451,371 at April 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of those who are registered unemployed in the United Kingdom.

At 9 July, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,851,623.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

At 9 July, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,851,623.I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of hitherto registered unemployed leaving the register during the last month for which figures are available.

The average number of people in Great Britain leaving the register at employment offices each month in the three months ending June was 286,000, seasonally adjusted. Employment offices cover about 9(1 per cent. of the unemployed excluding school leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of unemployment for Durham county, the Northern region and the United Kingdom as a whole.

At 9 July, the provisional rates of unemployment for the county of Durham, the Northern region and the United Kingdom were 15·8, 15·6 and 11.8 per cent., respectively. The figure for the Northern region is in part estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the numbers and proportion of the working population unemployed; how these figures compare with May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

At 9 July, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, was 2,582,300 and the unemployment rate was 10·7 per cent. The corresponding figures at 10 May 1979 were 1,312,000 and 5·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total increase in the number of unemployed persons between May 1979 and the present month.

Between May 1979 and July 1981 the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, increased by 1,270,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of unemployed and the percentage which this represents of the total working population for each employment area in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, respectively, for the present and for 10 July 1980.