asked the hon. Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee), as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list the income of the Church Commissioners for each financial year from 1960; and if he will also represent these data in real terms and as an index with 1960=100.

The commissioners' income for the: period 1960 to 1980, excluding trust income and money contributed by dioceses and parishes which passed through the commissioners' accounts was as follows:

Year	£ million	Index of Church Commissioner's income adjusted by RPI
1960	13·4	100
1961	14·8	108
1962	15·3	107
1963	16·1	110
1964	16·8	113
1965	18·9	121
1966	19·9	123
1967	20·4	122
1968	20·6	119
1969	21·7	118
1970	22·9	118
1971	23·7	112
1972	25·4	112
1973	26·8	109
1974	28·4	102
1975	30·1	89
1976	33·4	82
1977	36·9	77
1978	40·0	77
1979	46·2	81
1979	*41·7	64
1980	59·3	79
*9 Months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, whether he has received any representations on the level of Japanese exports of cars and vans to the United Kingdom since the meeting between the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Japanese Automotive Manufacturers Association; and if he will make a statement.

I have discussed this matter with representatives of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders who were reasonably satisfied with the outcome of their talks with the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association. The levels of these imports from Japan are expected to fall significantly; my Department will continue to monitor progress closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he plans to place the cost escalation cover scheme on a permanent basis.

Representations to this effect have been made by industry and will be fully considered in the review now taking place of the scheme's future when the power to operate it expires next March. The conclusions of this review will be announced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of United Kingdom exports of manufacturers are being sold at or below the cost of production and sale.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of United Kingdom imports of manufactures have not been reduced in price fully in line with the appreciation of the £ sterling since 1978.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the average rate of increase in the volume of imports and exports of manufactures, respectively, from and to the European Community Six in the periods 1959 to 1972 and 1972 to 1979.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) why a system of rationing permits for searches at the Companies Registry, Cardiff has been instituted; and on what criteria allocations for searches have been made as between company registration agents;(2) why

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade in what way failures to maintain standards on (a) small ships and (b) foreign ships are discovered other than by general discretionary surveys.

In addition to random general inspections by Department of Trade surveyors, defects and deficiencies are sometimes brought to the attention of the Department through complaints by individual members of crew, and their national or international representative organisations, or through reports from other Administrations and port authorities. In addition, the investigation of a marine casualty may also bring to light a failure to maintain standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what response he has made to the urgent request made on 21 July for a meeting between unions and the official side on the proposed closure of the Grimsby marine survey office.

I have not myself been approached by the trade union side. My officials will be responding to the request for a meeting addressed to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many vessels have been detained with serious defects in (a) Boston and (b) Grimsby in the last 10 years.

From 1975 to date four ships have been detained at Grimsby, and one at Boston. Figures for earlier years are not readily available and could only be extracted with disproportionate effort.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 28 July 1981]: The information is as follows:

Imports into the European Community* from the Newly Industrialising Countries†
	$ billion
1971	11·5
1972	14·5
1973	21·9
1974	30·7
1975	30·9
1976	37·3
1977	42·2
1978	48·2
1979	58·0
1980	65·4‡
Notes:
* Including Greece.
† As defined in government Economic Service Working Paper No. 18 but excluding Greece (now a member of the European Community) and Malta for which information is not readily available.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further aid is being offered to Jordan by Her Majesty's Government.

A new loan of £8 million has been offered to the Government of Jordan, to be used during the period of its next five-year-plan.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 July.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having meetings later today with the Prime Ministers of Australia and Guyana. This evening I am giving a dinner for a number of visiting Heads of State and Government.

asked the Prime Minister if she will undertake a major review of the economic policies of her Administration.

I have nothing to add to the speeches made on behalf of the Government in the debate last Monday.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement outlining the main priorities for action by her Majesty's Government, other than economic policies, for the remainder of the present Parliament.

Forthcoming legislative proposals will be set out in the Gracious Speech at the beginning of the next parliamentary Session.

asked the Prime Minister when last she met the leaders of the Confederation of British Industry.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 23 July.

asked the Prime Minister what total amount of gold reserves in the name of the United Kingdom Government is held in the United States of America.

It is not Government practice to disclose information on the distribution of the gold reserves.

asked the Prime Minister if she will estimate the total costs involved in the visit to Liverpool made by the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Minister of State, Home Office, and the officials concerned.

The investigation by the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Minister of State, Home Office, and their small official supporting team is not complete. I cannot yet give a firm estimate of the expenses which will be incurred during their extended visit to the area, but they are making use of the existing facilities of the regional offices and the Merseyside urban development corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to appoint psychogeriatrics as an independent specialty in order to meet the increasing numbers of the elderly needing specialist geriatric treatment.

I do not propose to take steps to designate psychogeriatrics as an independent specialty. Health authorities already have the power to appoint to approved posts consultant psychiatrists with a special interest in psychogeriatrics.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of (a) the total number of men over 60 years of age and (b) the total number of women over 60 years of age, who are currently in employment in Wales; how many of these are employees and how many self employed.

The latest available information on employees by age is based on the Welsh Housing and Dwelling Survey and relates to April 1979. The estimated number of men aged 60 and over in employment at that time was 51,600, the total being made up of 39,700 employees and 11,800 self-employed. The corresponding figures for women were 19,500, 16,200 and 3,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total number of persons currently unemployed in Wales who were previously employed in the construction industry.

26,265 on 14 May 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for the years 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81 the weighted average rate of return on capital employed by the Welsh Development Agency in manufacturing industry, in line with the guidelines issued by his Department announced in the Official Report, 3 August, 1978, Vol. 955, columns 661–63; whether he still expects the agency to achieve this target rate of return by the end of the financial year 1981–82 as originally stipulated; and, if not, what plans there are to vary the target rate of return.

The Welsh Development Agency has, in accordance with its existing financial duties published the weighted average rate of return for all companies in which the agency has held or holds investments in its annual reports for 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81.As I told the hon. Member on 22 July the financial duties to be effective from 1 April 1981 are currently under review.—[Vol. 9, c. 148.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish a statement on his policy towards the place of Welsh in schools.

I have today published a statement entitled "Welsh in Schools". Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. The document takes account of comments made on the consultative paper "Welsh in the School Curriculum" published last year. It provides guidance to local education authorities and schools in Wales and is complementary to the guidance contained in "The School Curriculum" which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I published earlier this year.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to repeal section 2(4) of the Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act 1948, as recommended by the Pearson Report.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the current percentage rate of total and male unemployment in Scotland compares with other European Economic Community countries.

Information is not available in the form requested. On 14 May 1981 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Scotland was 12.3 per cent. and the comparable rate for male unemployment was 14·5 per cent.The following table shows the percentage rates for total and male unemployment in the United Kingdom and other member countries of the European Economic Community for May 1981, the latest month for which information is available. These rates are not comparable with the Scottish seasonally adjusted rate since they have been partially standardised.

	Percentage unemployment rates
	Total	Male
Belgium	10·5	7·0
Denmark	7·8	8·5
France	7·2	5·8
Germany	4·2	3·4
Greece	0·8	0·8
Ireland	10·1	10·8
Italy	8·4	6·7
Luxembourg	0·8	0·6
Netherlands	6·5	6·4
United Kingdom	9·8	11·7

Note: Table compiled by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. Definitions and methods of compilation of statistics vary between countries and therefore the figures are not fully comparable; in some cases they may vary from the standard national figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the survey into the less favoured areas in Scotland has yet been completed; and when he expects to publish the results.

The survey work in Scotland is nearly completed, but the results will have to be correlated with those for the other parts of the United Kingdom and supporting economic and demographic data assembled and tested against the criteria in the less-favoured area directive. My right hon. Friends and I expect to decide before the end of the year whether a case should be put to the European Commission for an extension of the United Kingdom less-favoured areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he uses when determining whether to set up a planning inquiry commission under section 45 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972; how many have been set up since 1972; and what were the subjects of these commissions.

The criteria for referring a planning matter to a planning inquiry commission are set out in section 45(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972. No planning inquiry commissions have been constituted since 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the introduction of the measures contained in part V of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 has brought about any improvement in behaviour at football matches; and if he will make a statement.

I am most encouraged by the reports which I have received from the football authorities and from the police which indicate clearly that the new measures, which have been in effect only since 1 February 1981, have led to a marked improvement in behaviour at sports grounds throughout Scotland. There is less evidence of drunkenness and of drink-related offensive behaviour both at designated grounds and on coaches travelling to and from those grounds.It is imperative that this good start be maintained during the forthcoming season. If spectators continue to co-operate so readily with the police, the football authorities and the clubs themselves, I am sure that we can look to further success in these efforts to bring about a return to civilised behaviour at football matches.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has reappointed the consultative committee on freshwater fisheries to advise him on proposals for protection orders under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976.

I am pleased to say that Mr. I. A. Duncan Millar, whom I have asked to serve as chairman, and the following members have accepted my invitation to serve on the reconstituted consultative committee:

• Mr. John Reid
• Mr. A. E. Campbell
• Mr. W. Brown
• Mr. K. Burns
• Mr. T. E. Mathie
• Mr. A. V. Tokely
• Mr. I. A. Lyall
• Mr. J. R. Little

The appointments will be for a three-year period from 24 June 1981. In order to keep the committee as small as possible, I have decided not to continue the appointment of panels of regional members.In reappointing the committee, I am conscious that the 1976 Act has been the subject of some criticism, both because of the principle of protection for freshwater fishings which it introduced and because its procedures have resulted in relatively slow progress in the making of protection orders. This in large part reflects the Act's attempt to hold a balance between those who want protection for their fishings and those who want access to those fishings.A review of the administration of the Act has been taking place as part of the current wider review of salmon and freshwater fisheries. While I do not rule out the possibility of legislative changes in the future, the first priority is to ensure that the procedures under the present Act work more smoothly and speedily. To this end I have already indicated that I am prepared to consider, consistent with their practicable administration, applications for protection orders in respect of smaller areas than whole river catchment areas or large parts of such catchments.I have also asked the chairman to review the committee's present procedures under the Act as soon as possible with the smaller committee which I have appointed in order to develop a more flexible approach to proposals, which would afford both proposers and potential objectors an informal opportunity to resolve differences at an earlier stage and so shorten the time necessary for reaching a decision. I am also asking the committee to consider the extent to which those seeking protection orders are required to advertise their proposals. The committee will also consider the desirability of preparing general guidance for the benefit of potential applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to publish this year the annual reports on education and social work in Scotland.

I have decided to discontinue the publication of the annual reports on education and social work as a contribution to economies in staffing and administrative costs. Much of the information in those reports will still be available in the White Paper on public expenditure, in statistical bulletins and in other departmental publications. The Scottish Education Department issues a regular list of current departmental circulars and memoranda, covering both education and social work, which will in future also include details of other departmental publications; a copy will be placed in the Library. I shall continue to make an annual report to Parliament on the working of community service orders, as required by section 11 of the Community Service by Offenders (Scotland) Act 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will legislate to prevent local authorities from seeking information from potential contractors on contributions they may have made to political parties; and if he will make a statement.

I know of only one local authority—Lothian regional council—which has sought such information, and I hope that it will not be necessary to legislate solely on its account.The selection of contractors for inclusion on an approved list for tender purposes should be made solely on the basis of an appraisal of their likely ability to carry out the required work within the tender price, up to specification, within the law and on time. The information requested by Lothian regional council seems to me to be entirely irrelevant to the assessment of such questions of technical capacity.I understand that many companies have refused to provide it and I believe that this response is justified. I hope that when the regional council considers the matter again it will agree to drop its ill-advised request.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will enter into guarantees sufficient to facilitate an immediate start on a gas-gathering pipeline from the North Sea.

Work on the North Sea gas-gathering pipeline project was started last year by the members of the organising group—British Gas, BP and Mobil—and is continuing. On financing, the organising group is examining the responses of oil companies invited to consider participation in the project.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the statement made by the Minister of State, Home Office the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) on 7 May that he hoped to make a statement about the Sunday trading laws before the Summer Recess, he is now in a position to do so.

I regret that my right hon. Friend is still not in a position to make this statement, but aims to do so after the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the gaseous sensory irritants, lacrimators and sternutators available to the police in controlling riots, together with their primary actions and the prolonged atoxic effects which they could have on innocent bystanders.

The only such material available to the police at the present time is CS-orthochlorobenzylidene malononitrile. A detailed assessment of the medical and toxological aspects of the use of this agent is contained in the "Report of the enquiry into the Medical and Toxicological aspects of CS", Cmnd 4173 and 4775.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the party political activities of the chairman of the Parole Board, he will dismiss him from office.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total grant to the Voluntary Services Unit in 1980; what organisations he supported; and by how much.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question by the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson) on 6 March and to the reply to a question by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 8 April. In addition, the Voluntary Services Unit administers grants-in-aid to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. Grant-in-aid to WRVS was £3,576,000 and to NCVO £663,000 in 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement setting out the procedures followed by the Metropolitan Police concerning the retention of fingerprint and photographic records, respectively, affecting persons who have been released following arrest or acquitted of the charge in respect of which the arrest took place.

Fingerprints and photographs are retained by the Metropolitan Police if criminal proceedings are instituted and result in a conviction. Subject to the following three exceptions, they are destroyed in all other circumstances. First, fingerprints and photographs taken under the provisions of the Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 are retained. Secondly, the photographs—but not the fingerprints—of a person charged with an offence under section 6(3) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 or section 22 of the Theft Act 1968 are retained for a limited period in the event of his acquittal. Thirdly, if a case on indictment is ordered by a court to remain on the file, not to be proceeded with without leave, fingerprints and photographs are retained for five years, unless the circumstances of the case justify their earlier destruction, if a plea of not guilty has been entered, and retained indefinitely otherwise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost to public funds of a whole council election (a) in a non-metropolitan district, (b) in a non-metropolitan county, and (c) to the Greater London Council.

The cost of local elections is not recorded centrally and the information could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communications he has received from the European Economic Community or interested parties in the European Economic Community on the subject of citizens band radio.

The European Commission has received a complaint alleging that our plans for introducing a legal citizens band service constitute a barrier to trade under the Treaty of Rome, and has asked us for our comments. We have also been asked to take part in a survey of practices within the member States of the Community carried out by a firm of consultants on behalf of the Commission. At an earlier stage, the European Citizens Band Federation, whose membership I understand to extend beyond the Community, urged me to adopt a specification which it favoured and which was well outside that recommended by CEPT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of illegal citizens band radio sets in use in the United Kingdom at present.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to a question by my hon. Friend on 28 July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what manufacturers will be able to supply frequency synthesis circuits for the legal 27MHz citizens band service within six months of the legalisation of this service.

We understand that several companies plan to have available in quantity CB sets conforming to the legal specification in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that following his announcement that United Kingdom citizens band radio was to use 27MHz many importers have bought 27MHz antennae for sale in the United Kingdom which are to be illegal under his proposed regulations, if he will reconsider his proposals for vehicle antennae since interference from high-gain antennae does not involve mobile stations.

I have the question of aerials for CB equipment under review, and hope to announce my decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the 27MHz sets in illegal use at present can be easily converted to the new legal FM frequency.

My responsibility is only to ensure that proper specifications for equipment are made for the protection of other users of radio.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he was consulted before the police activity in Railton Road on 15 July.

No. This was properly a matter under the operational control of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the report of the departmental scrutiny under the guidance of Sir Derek Rayner into the handling of applications for citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies; and whether he will make a statement.

I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses, together with a note of the action taken as a result of the report.The report made a number of detailed recommendations. A large proportion have been implemented or agreed. Others are still being pursued. In addition, every effort is being made, in the spirit of the report, to improve and simplify further the procedures followed in the processing of applications for citizenship.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Northampton, North, on 22 July, whether any police were present at the Rainbow theatre at the time a young man was murdered there on 13 July; and, if so, what action they took.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no police were present inside the Rainbow theatre on 13 July. There were police outside the theatre for the purpose of controlling traffic and crowds. On learning of the incident involving injury to the young man they entered the theatre and commenced their investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the discussion in the: Police Advisory Board for England and Wales on 15 July about the procedure for investigating complaints against the police.

As I explained at the time of the publication on 18 March of the report of the Plowden working party, I intended, in the light of that report, and against the background of the general considerations mentioned in the Police Complaints Board's triennial review report, to examine further, in consultation with the Police Advisory Board, what changes, if any, might be necessary in the present arrangements. On 15 July the board, which includes representatives of the local authority associations as well as of the police representative bodies, considered two papers. The first dealt with the main recommendations of the triennial review report and the Plowden working party report, and the second dealt with a number of subsidiary complaints and police discipline matters, some of which had been put to the Police Advisory Board before. Having discussed the issues briefly, the board decided they would all benefit from a further study by a sub-group of the board under the chairmanship of my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State.Accordingly, in consultation with the bodies represented on the board, I propose to set up a working group with terms of reference requiring it to consider the matters before the board on 15 July and report upon them to the board. I hope that this further period of study will help secure a greater measure of agreement amongst board members about the future development of complaints procedures. It remains my view that it is vital to maintain public confidence in the complaints system. Accordingly I look forward to the working group producing a report as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what measures he intends to take in respect of the postal monopoly after enactment of the British Telecommunications Bill.

In my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 16 July 1980 he set out the Government's intention to remove certain categories of mail from the scope of the postal monopoly. The British Telecommunications Act also contains provisions which give the Secretary of State the power to make further relaxations to the monopoly in certain circumstances.After consultation with all interested parties, including the Post Office, I now propose to take the following measures to remove certain categories of mail from the scope of the monopoly:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he intends to implement the recommendations in Professor Beesley's report on the British Telecommunications network; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I gave earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the proposed Engineering Council.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry has sent the Lord President of the Council a draft Royal Charter which would establish the Engineering Council, and has recommended that the Privy Council advise Her Majesty The Queen to grant that charter. I have placed a copy of the draft charter in the Library of the House.I am very pleased to announce that Sir Kenneth Corfield has agreed to become chairman designate of the Engineering Council.The draft charter provides that the objects of the council would be to advance education in, and to promote the science and practice of engineering—including relevant technology—for the public benefit and thereby to promote industry and commerce in the United Kingdom. The council's task would, therefore, be to advance what the Finniston report called the "engineering dimension"—to help to harness this country's engineering expertise into the production and marketing of internationally competitive products and into wealth creation.For this purpose the Government see the need for the close involvement of employers and senior managers in industries in which engineers and technicians play an important part; of those in the various sectors of the education system concerned with the preparation of engineers and technicians; and of engineers and technicians themselves and their representative bodies.The proposed Engineering Council is intended to be a focal point with which and through which all can co-operate in the national interest. The council would promote the development of academic courses and industrial training programmes for new entrants to engineering. Even more important in the short term, as the Finniston report recognised, would be the task of updating and developing the existing stock of engineers. The Government would look to the council to ensure that opportunities are available by part-time study and continuing education for engineers and technicians to obtain and enhance their levels of qualification and to update their knowledge. By involving all those concerned the council would seek to ensure that engineers and technicians were better equipped to deal with rapidly changing technologies and that their skills were effectively used to improve the performance of industry.The draft charter would require the council to establish a national register, open to anyone meeting the council's standards and criteria, with three sections: professional engineers; technician engineers; and engineering technicians. Within each of these sections, registration would be at three stages: stage 1 for those who had achieved appropriate standards of engineering education; stage 2 for those who had also achieved appropriate standards of engineering training; and stage 3 for those who had acquired appropriate experience as engineers or technicians.I am confident that the council would attach high priority to determining, in collaboration with all those concerned, the standards and criteria for admission to its register. The draft charter provides that the council should endeavour to complete this task as soon as practicable and at most within two years.Under the draft charter it would be the council that controlled the accreditation of academic courses, industrial training programmes and arrangements for experience satisfying its standards and criteria. But the council would use as its agents, to the maximum extent possible, engineering institutions and other bodies which it nominated for this purpose. The transition period mentioned above would enable those bodies wishing to seek nomination to make any necessary changes in their arrangements.Many engineers are already registered by the Engineers Registration Board. The draft charter would safeguard their position by providing that they shall be admitted at stage 3 of the appropriate section of the council's register. The charter also provides for the council to admit to its register members of other bodies which the council is satisfied meet the appropriate standards.In view of the widespread interest which has been expressed, I should explain what is envisaged would happen to the title of "Chartered Engineer". At present this is granted by the Council of Engineering Institutions under its Royal Charter. The discussions with the leaders of the profession have been on the basis that the title should be made available to the Engineering Council at the end of the transition period, although this change would require a petition to The Queen which would have to be approved by the membership of the CEI. Once the title was available to the Engineering Council anyone on its register as a professional engineer at stage 3 would then be able to call himself a "Chartered Engineer" provided that he was a member of a nominated chartered engineering institution or an affiliate; or, if there was no such body for the branch of engineering concerned, of a body affiliated to the council. This latter possibility would cater for new disciplines emerging as a result of new technologies. Any such person who did not wish to join such a body would still be able to indicate that he was a registered professional engineer at stage 3.The draft charter requires that the membership of the council should provide a reasonable balance amongst those having experience and knowledge of the major areas of industry, the significant engineering disciplines and their learned societies, and those concerned with the education and training of engineers and technicians.To facilitate the council's establishment, under the draft charter my right hon. Friend would be responsible for making appointments to the council for the first three years: he would make such appointments as individuals and not as representatives of any particular interest group. It is envisaged that Sir Kenneth Corfield's appointment as chairman would run until the end of that period.After the initial three years, the chairman and other members—between 15 and 24 in number—would be selected by the council in accordance with its byelaws. At least one half of the membership would have to have experience as employers or managers of practising engineers and engineering technicians; and the chairman and at least two-thirds of the other members would have to be chartered engineers, selected from a list of names put forward by employers' organisations, educational institutions or nominated chartered engineering institutions.The Government would help finance the council's initial running costs, but the firm intention is that the council should become financially independent as soon as possible.The draft charter is the result of consultation with employers' organisations, educational interests, the engineering institutions, trade unions and others. For the council to be a success, it needs the broad support of the interests concerned. I am confident that everyone would now wish the council well and that it would be able to depend on their support in order to achieve the improvements in our engineering practices which are so vital to the national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the capital per employee expressed in thousands of £. sterling at constant prices in (a) textile manufacturing and (b) chemicals in the United Kingdom in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981.

The information is as follows:

Gross Capital Stock at 1975 replacement cost per employee
£000
	Textiles Industries	Chemicals and Allied Industries
end 1978	14·6	33·9
end 1979	15·5	35·3
end 1980	18·5	39·1

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the current level of manufacturing capacity and the level each year since 1970, based on 1970=100, the corresponding level of output as a percentage of capacity, and his estimate of the amount by which output could be increased in 1982 and 1983 if a market could be found for everything that industry could produce;(2) whether he will publish a table in the

The information requested is not available. Some indication of the extent of the under-utilisation of manufacturing capacity is given by the published analyses of the responses to the survey by the Confederation of British Industry on industrial trends, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the reduction in output per head in manufacturing industry since May 1979.

Estimates of output per head are published quarterly. Output per head in manufacturing industry fell by 7½ per cent. between the second quarter of 1979 and the first quarter of 1981. However, because of changes in the number of hours worked, this is not indicative of changes in productivity.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table showing for each of the last five years the average rate of return on capital invested in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has received British Shipbuilders' annual report and accounts for 1980–81.

My right hon. Friend today, in accordance with sections 17(9) and 18(6) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977, has laid before each House copies of British Shipbuilders' annual report and accounts for 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has yet taken a decision on the future of the Post Office pension fund.

I have sent the following letter to Sir Henry Chilver, the chairman of the Post Office.

You wrote to Keith Joseph on 26 January with the Post Office Board recommendation that the present pension fund should be split into two following the creation of British Telecommunications. Your letter also contained other possible solutions for the future of the Fund. Since then, Bryan Stanley of the POEU, has written to Keith reflecting the views of five of the unions involved and Sir Daniel Pettit wrote on behalf of the Trustees. We have also had letters from Kenneth Glynn of SPOE and the pensioners organisations, and either Michael Marshall or I have held meetings with all interested parties so that everyone has been able to explain their views. The whole subject of pensions has also been debated in both Houses of Parliament on a number of occasions during the passage of the BT Act.

This is a complex problem, and one that is rightly viewed as one of the most important decisions consequent on the reorganisation of the Post Office. I have been greatly helped in understanding the issues involved by the meetings that I have had with you, the Trustees and the unions. Pensions affect the lives of all who work in the Post Office and British Telecommunications, and the need to safeguard the position of all pensioners and members of the fund is reflected in the BT Act. As you know, section 33(3) requires the Secretary of State to amend any order which would otherwise place any individual in a worse position than he would have been in if the order had not been made.

I would very much have preferred to use the powers in the Act to implement a solution which had the consent of all parties but my discussions have shown that is not possible. It is clear to me, as I think to everyone else, that there will be a need to maintain discrete accounts of the pension liabilities and assets relating to the staff and pensioners of each corporation. That will be necessary to meet the requirements of the Inland Revenue. Having given very careful thought to all the arguments that have been advanced I also believe that the unions and management of each corporation should be free to consider pensions and related benefits without being obliged by the pension arrangements themselves to have reference or regard to the other corporation.

For these reasons, I think there should be separate pension schemes for BT and the Post Office, each with its own trust deed and separate body of trustees. To my mind, and without prejudice to the nature of the investment arrangements, this implies that there should be scope for the two sets of trustees to adopt different investment policies, should they wish to do so. The Trust Deed for the Post Office will remain substantially unchanged but a new deed will have to be prepared for BT. I need hardly say that I would not, indeed could not, approve any new scheme for BT which did not embody the same level of pensions and other benefits and the same level of funding arrangements as the present Post Office scheme. I would be grateful if you could begin the preparation of such a scheme and the associated trust deed in consultation of course with the unions.

This does, of course, leave open the question of the investment arrangements for the two schemes, and in particular whether there should be a common investment organisation and fund. The arguments here seem finely balanced and I have an open mind. In any case I should much prefer the question to be resolved by those most directly involved, that is the trustees, members of the scheme, and the corporations who carry the onus of making good any deficiencies. I hope, therefore, that you can begin consultations with the unions and the present trustees on the investment arrangements for the two schemes.

I think it important that the uncertainty about the future investment arrangements should be removed as quickly as possible. I would like to see the period within which the interim measures operate kept to a minimum and the new arrangements in force, if at all possible, within a year from the appointed day. This points to an early decision on the investment arrangements and I would be grateful if you would report the results of your consultations before the end of September.

I would be prepared to give effect to any reasonable agreed solution and the Lords amendments to the previous pensions clause were designed to make sure that all likely options are indeed possible.

I am copying this letter to the General Secretaries of the unions and to Sir Daniel Pettit, and also to Sir George Jefferson and Ron Dearing.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when next he expects to meet the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ireland.

The Irish Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Dr. Kelly, is acting Foreign Minister until the Foreign Minister designate, Professor Dooge, has his appointment confirmed by the Irish Parliament. I expect next to meet them at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 14–15 September.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has had any recent contacts with the United States Government on matters arising from the hunger strike in Her Majesty's prison, Maze.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to the proposal by Israel to build a canal linking the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea.

The project as planned is contrary to international law, as it involves unlawful works in occupied territory and infringes Jordan's legal rights in the Dead Sea and neighbouring regions. No official support will be given by Her Majesty's Government in respect of the project.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the comments on language training in the Diplomatic Service made by the Foreign Affairs Committee in its recent report.

The Committee's recommendations will be studied carefully. Its views on language training in the Diplomatic Service are generally helpful. But certain percentage figures as presented in this report may be misleading.The most important question in this field is whether those Diplomatic Service staff whose official duties bring them into regular contact with foreign Governments have the knowledge of the local language they need. In Paris and Bonn, to which the Committee refers, all such staff have these linguistic skills. The staff who do not are among those whose work does not bring them into regular contact with the French and German Governments.Many of the Diplomatic Service linguists are very fluent. We are well served by them.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will announce details of the United States of America's plans to expand their facilities on Diego Garcia.

As I told the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 17 June 1980, the previous United States Administration consulted us about plans for a programme to expand the facilities on Diego Garcia. This programme involves numerous construction projects extending over several years. They include improving the services and utilities on the island, including refuelling arrangements, expansion of storage, warehousing, maintenance and wharf installations, and the upgrading of runway and other airfield support facilities to a standard which will allow use of the facility as required by a wide range of heavy aircraft including B52s. We have agreed to these plans.The present United States Administration have confirmed that they intend to proceed with this development programme and are now seeking budgetary authority to set work in hand. Projects expected to start in 1981–82 include the construction of a new airfield taxiway and parking apron to B52 specifications and the construction of extra accommodation for United States personnel. The Government welcome these plans to improve the facilities on Diego Garcia which fills an important role in the protection of Western interests in the area.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

No meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for August, and at present seven meetings of the council are scheduled for September and October. The usual written forecast was deposited in the House on 28 July.The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 14–15 September and 26–27 October.The September Council is expected to carry forward work on the 30 May mandate and discuss arrangements for low-cost textile imports from the Community's preferential suppliers and for outward processing of textiles. The Council is also expected to discuss North-South issues, with particular reference to the forthcoming summit meeting in Mexico, arrangements for trade with Cyprus for 1982–83, and a proposal to improve the procedures for administering the Community's food aid programme. Ministers may also consider whether the Community should join the international tin agreement.The October Council is expected to discuss a Commission mandate to negotiate voluntary restraint arrangements covering exports of steel from certain Yhird world countries to the Community in 1982; post-1981 arrangements for low-cost textile imports, including renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement; the outcome of the North-South summit meeting and draft guidelines on the European Regional Development Fund. Ministers are also likely to discuss economic aspects of the Euro-Arab dialogue and preparations for the ministerial meeting proposed for later in the year; continue discussion on the 30 May mandate; give further consideration to whether the Community should join the international tin agreement and continue the negotiations with Spain on her accession to the Community. The Council is also expected to approve a new method of calculating staff pay and may be asked to approve directives on rights of establishment for transport auxiliaries and an amending directive on rights of establishment for the medical professions.The Finance Council is expected to meet on 17 September and 19 October. The September Council is expected to discuss a Community position in preparation for further negotiations on changes to the international consensus on export credits and continue consideration of the draft non-life insurance services directive and the new Community instrument. The October Council is expected to discuss the Commission's proposals for restructuring the Community budget contained in the Commission report on the 30 May mandate.The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 28 September to discuss various commodity, structures and animal health matters. It will meet again on 19–20 October when it is expected to discuss the Commission's report on the 30 May mandate as well as a range of other matters.The Fisheries Council is expected to meet on 29 September to discuss proposals for a revised common fisheries policy and relations with third world countries.

asked the Paymaster General if he will now take steps to ensure that public service pensioners can obtain their pensions from post offices or other Government Departments during the present Civil Service dispute.

Details of emergency arrangements for the issue of public service pensions have been published in the national press and displayed in post offices. These include the issue of an advance to pensioners, in case of need, who write to my office at Crawley. Weekly paid pensioners should apply to their usual post office for emergency payments. I regret that it is impracticable for the emergency issue of pensions to be made through other Government Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the issue of season tickets for travel in the Greater London area between home arid Westminster to hon. Members over the age which qualifies for free travel on London Transport will now cease.

The issue of permits for free travel on London Transport to persons of pensionable age is subject to a number of conditions, one of which precludes travel before 9.30 am on weekdays. Such a restriction is unlikely to be acceptable to hon. Members generally, but it is of course open to any hon. Member who is prepared to accept this limitation to make personal application to a post office for a permit and to surrender his season ticket to the Fees Office so that a refund may be obtained.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the annual cost to public funds of the broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings.

For the financial year 1980–81 expenditure incurred by the Department of the Environment on the sound broadcasting of parliarnentary proceedings totalled £43,520. In addition, the cost of the transcription of evidence and the fees and expenses of specialist advisers to the Select Committee on Sound Broadcasting totalled £1,166. That Committee also has the part-time services of one Clerk and one personal secretary. The parliamentary sound archives are staffed by three full-time members and one part-time member of the House of Lords Record Office, all of whom have general duties in that office in addition to their work on the archives. Details of the costs borne by the broadcasters are matters for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will summarise reactions during the consultation period to the report "Payments of Benefits to Unemployed People"; and if he will announce the Government's decisions on the report's recommendations.

The three major proposals in the report were that registration for employment at a jobcentre should no longer be a pre-condition of entitlement to benefit; that administration of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for unemployed people should be centred on one office; and that abuse of the benefit system should be measured and more resources devoted to combating it. The report was published on 20 March and comments invited. Some 70 organisations and individuals responded, most of them concentrating on the three main proposals.As far as making registration for employment voluntary is concerned, comments have varied widely between those who oppose it, generally on the ground that it may reduce the help given to unemployed people, including those who are disabled. Concern has been expressed that the need in present circumstances for controls against possible abuse of benefits should not be exaggerated and the positive role of the public employment service be given insufficient emphasis.In the light of these varied comments, the Government have decided to accept the recommendation that for those aged 18 and over registration for employment should no longer be a condition for receipt of unemployment and supplementary benefits. Legislation will be introduced with the aim of implementing the recommendations in October 1982. The Government consider that this change will bring advantages both for the employment service and for unemployed people, while at the same time making useful economies through the elimination of unnecessary procedures.The Government have also decided to accept the recommendation that, as part of the move to voluntary registration, there should be a test of availability in benefit offices when a claim is first made and amendment of the rules on restricted availability. The precise changes to these latter rules have still to be decided and proposals will be put to the social security advisory committee in due course.On further consideration, the Government have decided to increase the number of unemployment review officers in the Department of Health and Social Security by 50, instead of the 300 recommended in the report, and to allocate 250 staff to the public employment service to provide additional help to longer-term unemployed people in finding jobs, working in co-operation with the UROs.As regards unemployed disabled people, the Government intend, under voluntary registration, to give them particular encouragement to use the services available to them in jobcentres publicising these services fully at both unemployment benefit and social security offices.The consultations have reflected widespread agreement with the principle that unemployed people should have to deal with only one office for their benefits, but some concern that, while unemployment benefit offices are the appropriate contact point for unemployed people, assessment of supplementary benefit for unemployed people should remain in DHSS offices linked to the main social security system. In their initial response to the report, the Government accepted the principle of the recommendation, but set in hand further work to see how this principle might best be achieved. The results of this further work are now being considered and the Government's decision will be made known as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Government will be going ahead with a number of procedural changes which, while they would be achieved as part of the one office proposal, could also be made independently.The comments have tended to reflect the Government's own doubts about the statistical accuracy of the report's estimate of the level of benefit fraud and to agree on the need for more soundly based estimates. At the same time these is concern that genuine claimants—the vast majority—should not suffer. The Government have carefully considered, in the light of the comments made, how best to obtain more soundly based estimates of the level of benefit fraud and have concluded that it would be wrong to investigate for this purpose unemployed people where there is no cause for suspicion. Investigations under the exercise will therefore concentrate on cases where the papers held by the Department of Employment or the Department of Health and Social Security give some grounds for thinking that the claim could be fraudulent. Full details of the exercise have still to be worked out.As regards the report's recommendation that more staff should be engaged in special reviews of cases in areas of high fraud risk, 30 additional staff will be employed on this work in the Department of Employment as a first step. In the Department of Health and Social Security some 150 existing fraud specialists will be redeployed to this work.Some recommendations in the report require further study, taking account of the comments. There are, however, many procedural changes with which progress can be made, and the Government intend to move on these as quickly as possible. Overall, the change to voluntary registration and the procedural recommendations in the report which the Government have already decided to implement will lead to staff savings of around 1,650, representing an annual saving of some £13 million. In addition, the procedural changes which the Government are pursuing independently of the one office proposal could, depending on the outcome of further work, save about an additional 2,000 staff, representing an annual saving of £15 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of (a) the total number of registered disabled persons who are currently in employment and (b) the number of such persons who are registered unemployed.

The number of registered disabled persons who are currently in employment is unknown. The register of disabled people, at 21 April 1981, the latest date available, totalled 460,178. At 11 June 1981 there were 72,742 registered disabled people unemployed. The remaining 387,436 registered disabled people included not only those who are in employment, but also others who are sick or no longer in the employment field.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, for the latest available date, the numerical and percentage change in the numbers of (a) registered, (b) unregistered and (c) total disabled people who have been unemployed since May 1979.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 July 1981]: The information requested on the number of disabled people unemployed, as at 10 May 1979, and 11 June 1981, the latest date for which the information is available, is as follows:

	Registered Disabled People	Unregistered Disabled People	Total
10 May 1979	61,801	72,155	133,956
11 June 1981	72,742	106,986	179,728
Change	+10,941	+34,831	+45,772
Percentage change	+17·7	+48·3	+34·2

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many were unemployed at the latest available date in the construction industry and also in the brick, timber, glass and furniture industries, respectively; and what were the corresponding figures two years earlier.

The following table gives for May 1979 and May 1981, the latest date for which the information is available, the numbers registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom who last worked in the industries specified. The analysis is based on minimum list headings (MLHs) of the 1968 standard industrial classification.

	May 1979	May 1981
Construction (MLH 500)	174,656	381,285
Bricks, fireclay ard refractory goods (MLH 461)	2,483	5,342
Glass (MLH 463)	3,277	8,746
Timber (MLH 471)	3,546	8,300
Furniture and upholstery (MLH 472)	5,185	12,671

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the travel-to-work areas in Great Britain in descending order according to the latest percentage unemployment rate in each; and in each case if he will give the designation in terms of qualification for Government assistance.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unemployment level in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, excluding the European Economic Community; and how this compares with the level in the European Economic Community.

The latest available information published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, based on national definitions, relates to the first quarter of 1981. The rate including member countries of the European Community was 7 per cent.; a rate excluding European Community countries is not available. For the same period the corresponding rate published by the Statistical Office of the European Community for the 10 European Community countries was 7·5 per cent. The rates are not directly comparable because of national differences in coverage, concepts and methods of compilation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people working in the United Kingdom paper and board industry were made redundant in 1980; and how many have been made redundant so far in the current year.

There is no comprehensive statistics of redundancies. The number of redundancies, involving 10 or more employees, reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in the paper and board industry—SIC minimum list heading 481—in Great Britain in 1980 is 5,271; in 1981 up to and including June the number so far reported is 3,153^* including provisional figures for May and June.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the proportion of operatives to other workers in manufacturing industry; what has been the increase in productivity in each case since May 1979 in terms of output per head and output per person hour; and whether he expects the increase in productivity of non-operatives to catch up with that of the operatives and over what period.

In October 1980, the latest date for which figures are available, operatives made up 70 per cent. of all employees in manufacturing industries. Since it is not possible to apportion output between operatives and other workers, the productivity of the two groups cannot be compared.

Wall asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total number of registered job vacancies in Beverley and provide a breakdown by standard industrial classification.

The following is the information for the Beverley employment office area at 8 May, the latest date for which an industrial analysis is available.

Standard Industrial Classification 1968	At the Employment Office	At the Careers Office
Mechanical engineering	1	—
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	1	—
Construction	2	1
Gas, electricity and water	2	—
Transport and communication	4	—
Distributive trades	7	1
Insurance, banking, finance and business services	2	1
Professional and scientific services	9	—
Miscellaneous services	16	—
Public administration	4	—
Total	48	3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which is the largest employer in the area of Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council under the work experience scheme.

The employer providing the largest number of work experience places under the youth opportunities programme in the area of Newcastle-under-Lyme is the Staffordshire county council.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will announce decisions to abolish those industrial training boards which are no longer required in order to end uncertainty about future training arrangements.

I have received from the Manpower Services Commission the report on its sector by sector review of arrangements for industrial and commercial training, which is published today. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. I welcome the Commission's thorough discussion of the needs of each sector, and the views of those involved. I shall need to study the report carefully, and to consider representations from those concerned. However, it is now very important to end uncertainty, and to announce decisions as soon as is consistent with giving proper consideration to the issues involved. Those who wish to express views on the report, or to put forward or develop proposals for alternative training arrangements, are requested to do so during September to me and the Commission, so that I can be in a position to announce decisions early in the new Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the staffing of the careers service will be further strengthened in view of the expansion of the youth opportunities programme announced by the Prime Minister on 27 July.

Yes. In agreement with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales I am arranging for a further 125 posts to be made available under the Government's scheme to strengthen the careers service. The Government will be considering the staffing implications for the careers service of further changes to the youth opportunities programmme in 1982–83.

Howell asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will bring up to date the table on one-parent families' spending power given in a written answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report,3 July 1980, columns 730–32, under the same assumptions but with work expenses at (a) £16·50, (b) as in the tax-benefit model tables and under the assumption that free school meals entitlement (c) is linked only to family income supplement and (d) operating as on the pre-Education Act 1980 scales.

The information requested is set out in the following tables. The figures are based on the assumptions indicated by my hon. Friend. If the figures are quoted, it will, of course, be necessary also to quote the assumptions.

Table 1
Net weekly spending power (£) of a lone mother, with two children aged 4 and 6, receiving supplementary allowance (ordinary rate) and earning £6 (net) a week
	£
Supplementary allowance	39·10
Child benefit and one parent benefit	12·50
Net earnings	6·00
Rent	11·05
Rates	4·25
Free school meals	2·25
Free welfare milk	1·30
Net weekly spending power	45·85

Table 2
Net weekly spending power (£) of a lone mother, with two children aged 4 and 6, receiving supplementary allowance (long-term rate) and earning £6 (net) a week
	£
Supplementary allowance	44·95
Child benefit and one parent benefit	12·50
Net earnings	6·00
Rent	11·05
Rates	4·25
Free school meals	2·25
Free welfare milk	1·30
Net weekly spending power	51·70