asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, further to Cmnd. No. 8187, "Statement on the 1981 Community Budget", he can now provide estimates of member States' net contributions and receipts in respect of the European Community budget for 1981.

The Commission has produced the following estimates for net contributions (-) and receipts, before taking account of the settlement of 30 May last year, which gave the United Kingdom net refunds in respect of 1981 of 1410 million ecus.

	million ecus
Germany	-1647
France	624
Netherlands	223
Belgium	388
Denmark	302
Luxembourg	282
United Kingdom	-1505
Italy	619
Ireland	591
Greece	123

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will outline the outcome of the European Community Development Council meeting in Brussels on 3 November.

The Council adopted a resolution on aid to agricultural production and food aid, setting out new and welcome guidelines to improve the effectiveness of Community aid in this sector and to avoid the negative effects of food aid. I am placing a copy of this resolution in the Library. The Council also considered proposals for a plan of action against world hunger: it agreed that the Community should provide help to developing countries in adopting and implementing food strategies and also, as a special immediate measure, additional food aid for the least developed countries.The Council approved new procedures designed to enable the Community to respond quickly with help in emergencies. It considered draft guidelines for the 1982 programme of aid to non-associated developing countries and confirmed that the programme should be directed towards assisting the poorest countries and the most needy sections of the population.The Council had an exchange of views on recent developments in the North-South dialogue. It agreed to undertake further work on the energy needs of developing countries, trade promotion, and the role of women in development.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the precise terms upon which assistance from public funds has recently been granted to an official of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to institute defamation proceedings; and, in particular, to what extent the Department will be reimbursed for actual expenditure from any damages which may be awarded to the official.

No assistance from public funds has been granted to enable an official of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to institute defamation proceedings. Mr. Kirby's decision to sue Private Eye was his alone and no promise or other indication of financial help was made to him before he took the decision.The terms of the financial support offered to Mr. Kirby are, in substance, that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has agreed to reimburse him his reasonable costs as a result of his legal action. However, certain elements must be referred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before they are agreed.It is not envisaged that there will be any actual expenditure from public funds before the completion of the proceedings, so no question of reimbursement is expected to arise.If damages were awarded to Mr. Kirby in excess of his costs, obviously no payment would be made to him from public funds.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any military equipment is being made available to the indigenous population of Afghanistan to enable them to combat the occupying Soviet forces; and if he will make a statement.

It is important that the Afghan Resistance should have the arms it needs. Arms appear to be getting through, but it is not helpful to discuss sources of supply. Her Majesty's Government have made clear many times their unqualified support for the people of Afghanistan in their struggle against the occupation by some 85,000 Soviet troops.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in view of the recent judgment of the European Court, when he proposes to introduce proposals for the reform of homosexual laws in Northern Ireland.

The Government are currently studying the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Jeffrey Dudgeon, and I shall be making a statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government are considering any plans to seek to re-draw the boundary between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many convicted remand or other prisoners who have escaped from custody in Northern Ireland or the British mainland are now believed to be living in the Republic of Ireland;(2) in how many cases terrorist attacks on the security forces and civilians, including attacks on business premises have been launched from, or supplied from, the Republic of Ireland;(3) in how many instances the security forces believe that terrorists escaped capture by crossing the border into the Republic of Ireland.

[pursuant to his replies, 9 November 1981]: These are not matters for which reliable statistical information can be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the commencement day for the British Nationality Act 1981.

We hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are any proposals to use riggalysers to monitor citizens band radio.

No. The radio interference service of British Telecom already has adequate equipment for detecting the use of illicit citizens band radio.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry into the Yorkshire Ripper investigation conducted by a member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Police; and what plans he has to publish all or part of the report.

I expect to receive the report at the beginning of December. When I have received and considered the report I shall make an announcement about its findings and recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will consider publishing in whole or in part, when it is completed, the Byford report dealing with the inquiry into the conduct of the investigations into the case known as the Yorkshire Ripper murders;(2) when he expects to make a statement to the House on the Byford report dealing with the inquiry into the conduct of the investigation into the case known as the Yorkshire Ripper murders.

I expect to receive the report at the beginning of December. When I have received and considered the report I shall make an announcement about its findings and recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the salary scales for all grades within the prison chaplaincy service, together with any benefits in kind.

The information is as follows:

	Annual Salary Scales £
Chaplain General	15,010, 16,080, 17,418, 18,755
Assistant Chaplain General and Senior Roman Catholic Chaplain		12,710
Regional Chaplain and Assistant Senior
Roman Catholic Chaplain		11,693
Chaplain I		10,336
Chaplain II	8,935	9,258	9,641
Assistant Chaplain (Trainee)		8,113
Part-time Chaplain*	7,980	8,269	8,611
* Individual salaries are assessed as 1/42nd of these rates for each hour of average weekly attendance.

In addition, the grades of chaplain I, chaplain II and assistant chaplain (trainee) receive environment allowance of £374 a year and a rent-free house or rent allowance—ranging between minimum of £52 a year, maximum of £1,300 a year depending on individual circumstances. Members of these grades serving at establishments classified as inconvenient receive an inconvenience of locality allowance ranging from £32·36 to £144·07 a year.Full-time chaplain grades serving in the London area receive London weighting at the following rates—if living in official quarters £756 pa (inner London), £310 pa (outer London): if living in own accommodation, or if in a non-quarters entitled grade £1,016 pa (inner London), £424 pa (outer London). These rates are at present under review.Full-time chaplains are reimbursed the cost of replacement cassocks. Part-time chaplains may be loaned cassocks for use, or reimbursed half cost if they purchase their own.All full-time chaplain grades are superannuable under the principal Civil Service pension scheme.Visiting ministers, and substitutes for full-time and part-time chaplains, are paid a fee of £3·65 an hour, and travelling expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to reduce expenditure on the prison chaplaincy service; and if he will ensure that prisoners of all denominations receive adequate spiritual and pastoral care.

There may be marginal reductions in expenditure arising from changes in staffing arrangements but these changes have been designed to ensure that there is no reduction in the spiritual and pastoral care available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to make more information on civil defence available to the public.

The Government are publishing today a pamphlet which answers some of the more commonly asked questions on civil defence. Supplies have been despatched to local authorities, police forces and voluntary organisations. and in addition are available by direct request to the Home Office emergency services division. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the current number of persons awaiting interview for admission to the United Kingdom at the High Commissions in Delhi, Bombay and Dacca, respectively, and the comparable figures for 1980 and 1979.

Information for the three missions is given in the following table. the figures for each country of the Indian Sub-continent are published in the quarterly Home Office statistical bulletin on "Control of Immigration: Statistics"—table 6 of issue 19/81.

Entry clearances for immediate settlement: Number of persons awaiting decision on applications at 30 June*
	1979	1980	1981
New Delhi	1,670	1,770	1,500
Bombay	1,770	1,760	1,630
Dacca	14,100	14,830	12,380
* Includes people who have been interviewed but whose applications remain undetermined.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many shorthold tenancies have been registered in Wales to the latest available date.

At mid-August 1981, 112 fair rent registrations were identified as shorthold. This figure does not include those new shorthold tenancies of properties for which rents had been registered in some other context over the preceding three years, and should therefore be used with caution.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied that the advisory services for small businesses are adequately coordinated to give the maximum and speedy help to small businesses and those wishing to establish a small business; and whether he has any plans for further improving those services.

Advisory services to small businesses in Wales are provided by a number of bodies including my industry department's small firms centre, the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales. A very comprehensive and quickly responsive service is provided. The business opportunities programme, launched earlier this year, is intended amongst other things to make more widely known the services available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many outbreaks of sheep scab were confirmed in Wales during 1981; and if he will make a statement.

Eleven to date. The compulsory dipping reintroduced this year will, I trust, lead to a reduction in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the state of the pig industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Over the past year both the Welsh pig breeding herd and Welsh market prices increased by about 6 per cent., reflecting an improving confidence in that sector of the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out in the Official Report his estimates of the amounts of value added tax paid by each area health authority in Wales for the years 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82.

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent the use of private contractors has increased in the cleaning, laundry and maintenance services in National Health Service hospitals; and if he will make a statement of his policy in this matter.

I know of no appreciable increase in the use of private contractors in the cleaning, laundry and maintenance services in the National Health Service in Wales. It is my policy to encourage health authorities to make more use of commercial contracts which, under properly controlled conditions, could lead to greater efficiency and free money for patient care.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the provision of routine and emergency ambulance services available in each of the health authorities in Wales; how many centres have been closed down and not replaced during the past 12 months; and what changes there have been in the personnel establishment.

Yes. During the past 12 months no ambulance centres have closed and 41 more staff have been recruited.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether there are any areas in Wales which are still giving cause for concern because of badger tuberculosis; and what steps his Department have taken.

There is still cause for concern within the old counties of Carmarthen and Pembroke. The Department is carrying out investigations into badger activity where bovine TB has been identified in herds. In the few areas where badgers have been found to be infected the setts are gassed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make available the speech he made at the conference on services for mentally handicapped people in Wales in Cardiff on 3 November.

I have today placed copies of my speech in the Library of the House. My Department is circulating the speech to all the organisations represented at the conference and to other interested bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in implementing the European Community directive on shellfish waters.

A report listing the waters designated by the United Kingdom for the purposes of this directive has been sent to the European Community Commission. 27 shellfish waters capable of meeting the water quality standards in the directive, totalling some 314 square kilometers in area, have been designated in the initial round. Of these, six stretches of water have been designated in the Anglian water authority area, one in Northhumbria, two in Wessex, three in the South West, five in the Southern water authority area and 10 in Scotland. A list giving further details will be placed in the Library. It is expected that further designations will be made in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which housing authorities in England instruct independent private practice solicitors and valuers to convey and appraise council house sales under the right-to-buy provisions of the Housing Act 1980; and what is the average time taken in such instances from the initial service of form RTBI by the tenant to legal completion;(2) for each housing authority in England, what is the average length of time taken to

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now bring up to date the statistics in the document on council house sales placed in the Library in connection with the written reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick, on July 1981, Official Report, columns 212–13.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households were officially registered as homeless for each of the last 10 years to the latest available date.

I refer my hon. Friend to a series of documents "Homeless Households Reported by Local Authorities in England", copies of which are available in the Library. The series gives statistics from 1975 to the first half of 1980 collected by my Department and summary data for earlier years compiled by the DHSS. The basis on which the statistics are compiled has changed twice since 1970 and a consistent series for the last 10 years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of those countries that will not allow a foreign national resident abroad to own property for renting; if he will establish an inquiry to review the renting of property in London by foreign nationals resident overseas or who operate through a company based overseas; and if he will make a statement.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will examine the complaints arising from the operation of paragraph 15 in schedule 19 to the Housing Act 1980, and seek to repeal this provision.

If my hon. Friend has specific evidence of problems arising from the operation of this provision, I shall examine it carefully. The tenants whom it excludes from the protection of schedule 19 to the Housing Act 1980 are separately protected by having a fair rent registered under the Rent Act 1977. This cannot rise between rent registrations irrespective of increases in expenditure incurred by the landlord in the provision of services. In addition, section 59 of the Housing Act 1980 requires landlords applying for the registration of a fair rent which includes a service charge to produce evidence of expenditure on services, and this can be challenged by the tenant before the rent is registered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the increasing number of cases of harassment, particularly in inner London, he will carry out a review of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, with a view to giving better protection to tenants from all forms of harassment.

We are not at present convinced that a review of the Act is needed. If my hon. Friend has evidence of significant problems with the operation of the Act, I should be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when part III of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 will come into force, particularly the provisions of section 51.

I hope to bring into force by mid-1982 the provisions in part III which relate to definitive maps of public rights of way—including clause 51—and public path orders. The miscellaneous provisions in clauses 54 to 56 and 58 to 60 will come into force at the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the fall in construction output in the first quarter of 1981 of 5 per cent. lower than in the previous quarter, and 15 per cent. below output in the same quarter of 1980, he will take urgent measures to increase employment prospects in the construction industry.

We have already taken a number of measures which will benefit the construction industry and those employed in it. We have, for example, set up urban development corporations in Docklands and on Merseyside, together with the 11 enterprise zones. We have streamlined planning procedures, improved the supply of land and made changes in the industry's tax regime. We have also introduced a major low-cost homeownership programme. We have brought in measures to help small firms and encourage the construction of small factories. We will continue—within the overriding need to restore the economy to a sound footing—to take every opportunity to help the industry. In this respect I am encouraged by the latest new orders figures: total new orders for the three months from June to August were 21 per cent. higher than in the same period in 1980 with private commercial orders up by a third. Housing starts were 15 per cent. up on the same period last year, with private sector starts up no less than 43 per cent. over the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend present legislation on planning so that permission must be sought from the local authority for change of use of business premises into sex shops.

Planning permission is already normally required to change the use of non-retail business premises to use as a shop, but not generally to change the use of any one type of retail shop to another. My right hon. Friend does not think that extending planning controls over sex shops would provide an effective solution to the problem of sex shops because planning permission for them cannot be refused on moral grounds. However, the Government have expressed support in principle for a proposal by the Greater London Council for legislation to introduce licensing control over sex shops in London. The question of more general legislation is being kept under review by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has concluded his review of rent assessment panel procedures.

I have today placed in the Library a copy of the report of the working, party on rent assessment panel procedures. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has decided to accept the working party's recommendations and the necessary regulations have been laid before the House. The working party's report examines rent assessment committee and rent tribunal procedures, and recommends measures to streamline them. The report follows a similar one by a working party on rent officer procedures that was published and implemented last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the Anglo-French ministerial discussions on aeronautical cooperation which took place on 29 October.

Under arrangements made onthe occasion of the recent Anglo-French summit, I met M. Charles Fiterman, French Minister of Transport, on 29 October to discuss matters relating to Concorde, the proposed A 320 Airbus project, and engine co-operation. For the Concorde discussion I was accompanied by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade. The results of the meeting were set out in a joint communiqué, of which a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people have been employed annually by the British Steel Corporation during the last 20 years; and what has been the output of steel per annum.

The British Steel Corporation was set up in 1967. The information requested on employment levels and steel output since that year is contained in the corporation's annual reports and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether there are any plants in the United Kingdom or the European Community which manufacture or contemplate the manufacture of methyl tertiarybutyl ether.

I am advised that there are no plants in the United Kingdom which manufacture methyl tertiary butyl ether, but there are eight in the EEC in operation or under construction. In the United Kingdom outline planning permission is being sought for one plant.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his Department's estimate of the level at which output per man hour in manufacturing industry will have grown by the end of 1981.

No such estimates are available. However, recent developments are encouraging. Output per man hour in the second quarter of 1981 is currently estimated to have been 1 to 2 per cent. above its level in 1979, the previous peak year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the matters connected with a separate international access and interconnection with British Telecom for the Mercury consortium to operate the second telecommunications network have yet been resolved.

Not yet. The Department has initiated discussions which are now under way between British Telecom and Cable and Wireless on both international access for Mercury and interconnection with the public network.

asked the Attorney-General if he will prosecute Mr. B. E. Calvert, of Sheffield, in connection with the non-payment of public funds given to him as liquidator for meeting insolvency claims.

This matter has not been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions and it would not be right for me to comment further at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade which countries were granted export licences for British military equipment in 1980; and what was the number and total value of contracts for British military equipment signed in 1980 in the case of each country for which a relevant export licence was granted in that year.

It has been the normal practice of successive Governments not to disclose the destinations of goods covered by export licences or the volume of defence sales to particular countries. Export licences are in fact issued to firms rather than countries. Many are not taken up in the same year as they are issued, or in the year when the relevant order was secured.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is yet in a position to state his decision on the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the future of non-discrimination in the use of credit cards.

The Government has had widespread consultations and has now nearly concluded its consideration of the complex issues arising from this report. A decision will be announced as soon as possible:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, following non-payment of sums provided to Mr. B. E. Calvert, the liquidator appointed in the case of Brinley Davies Bakery, he will use his powers to investigate Corporate Planning Management Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

Officials of my Department were appointed on 27 October 1981 under section 109 of the Companies Act 1967 to make confidential inquiries into the books and papers of Corporate Management Planning Ltd.I am unable to make any further statement because of the restriction on disclosure of information obtained in such inquiries imposed by section 111 of the same Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in the light of the case of Mr. B. E. Calvert, appointed as liquidator in respect of Brinley Davies Bakery, he will seek powers to regulate the appointment and conduct of liquidators in cases of voluntary liquidation.

The selection and appointment of a liquidator in a case of voluntary liquidation are proper matters for the members and creditors of the company to decide. Whether such appointments should, in addition, be subject to regulation, and the conduct of the liquidator similarly controlled, are questions to which the Insolvency Law Review Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Kenneth Cork, has given much attention. The final report of the committee is expected early next year. It will be published. In the light of such recommendations as the committee makes and the ensuing public debate the Government will be better able to determine what steps are necessary and desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give an estimate of the number of redundant workers that have been retained as a result of the payments from European Economic Community funds;(2) if he will give an estimate of the number of new jobs created in the United Kingdom since May 1979 as a result of European Economic Community funds.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. However, it is clear that European Community funds make a significant contribution to the level of training and employment in this country.The European social fund provides grants towards training and employment schemes. The European Coal and Steel Community provides reconversion loans for projects which will employ redundant coal and steel workers, and readaptation grants for redundancy payments and retraining schemes for former coal and steel workers. The European Investment Bank and the European regional development fund provide finance—in the form of loans and grants—for investment and development projects in the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new factory inspectors have been recruited in each of the last six months.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that no new factory inspectors were recruited in the last 'six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors are now employed; and how this compares with one, two and three years ago.

The number of factory inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive at 1 October 1981 was 915. The number of factory inspectors employed in each of the last three years was:

1 October	Number
1978	926
1979	977
1980	973

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs will be lost if the industrial training boards are reduced.

My right hon. Friend will make a statement about industrial training boards shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated number of vacancies that could be created for young people if a scheme of voluntary early retirement of those over the age of 60 years of age was introduced.

Retirement ages are agreed between employers and their employees and many male employees over the age of 60 years already choose to retire before the age of 65.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to ensure payment of the sums owed to employees of Brinley Davies Bakery under the insolvency provisions of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978, following the non-payment to them of sums he had provided to the liquidator, Mr. B. E. Calvert, for this purpose.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his letter of 30 October to the right hon. Member, arrangements are being made for officials to make direct payments as soon as possible to those employees who have not been paid by the liquidator.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will name the 14 companies other than Brinley Davies Bakery, mentioned in his letter PO 3207/1981 to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, in respect of which Mr. B. E. Calvert was appointed liquidator.

Of the 15 companies known by my Department to have had a member of Corporate Management Planning Ltd. appointed as liquidator or receiver, Mr. B. E. Calvert was the appointed officer for thirteen. In addition to Brinley Davies Bakery Ltd. of Glamorgan these were:

• Cale Slingo Northern Jigs Ltd. (Leeds)
• Fenpark Ltd. (Birkenhead)
• Fred Lovett (Tailors) Ltd. (Sheffield)
• Hamblegate Ltd. (Nottingham)
• Higton Engineers Ltd. (Huddersfield)
• Mason Brothers Haulage and Storage Ltd. (Rotherham)
• Maynor Engineering Ltd. (South Wirral)
• Swains Transport Ltd. (Manchester)
• W. Teakle and Co. Ltd. (Wokingham)
• Ternatest Ltd. (Worksop)
• Vantel Ltd. (Barnsley)
• Wrights Pram and Toys Fair Ltd. (York)

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give details of her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements on Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 November.

This morning I held meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with President Burnham of Guyana. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects next to visit Washington.

I have no plans at present to visit Washington in the near future.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit the North-West region of England.

I hope to visit the North-West region in the new year.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will pay an early visit to Preston.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement concerning the case of Mr. Leo Long.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Prime Minister whether she will place in the Library a copy of the transcript of her official press conference in Kuwait on 27 September regarding the Palestine Liberation Organisation and its association with terrorism.

I did so on 5 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will initiate discussions with other developed nations, following the Cancun summit conference, with the aim of encouraging the giving of aid to, and the facilitating of trade with, the poorer nations according to their means and needs, respectively.

Discussions with the other developed countries about aid and trade take place constantly in the European Community and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Perivale, Ealing.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit Warrington.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister why discrimination on grounds of sex is omitted from the reference in the Gracious Speech to equal rights and opportunities.

The Government have consistently expressed their opposition to discrimination, whether on grounds of race or sex. The statement in the Gracious Speech reflects the Government's particular concern to encourage good race relations following the events of the past few months.

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

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when she plans to chair a meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

I expect to do so in the new year.

asked the Prime Minister how many hon. Members she has seen on matters relating to factory closures since the end of the last session of Parliament; and how many jobs are expected to be lost in the closures discussed.

Two and some 770.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Dundee.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will consider introducing measures to allocate North Sea Oil revenues to specific purposes.

I am not convinced it would he helpful to allocate North Sea oil revenues to specific purposes.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if she will make a statement about the person whose name has been given to her by the hon. Member for Hartlepool; and refer the issues raised by that case to the Security Commission;(2) what steps she has taken since November 1979 to ensure greater accountability to Her Majesty's Government of the security services.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Prime Minister if, before considering changing the quota scheme for the employment of disabled people, the Government will conduct a special campaign to persuade Government Departments, local authorities, public corporations and nationalised industries to double their percentage of disabled employees; to what extent such action would help them to reach the 3 per cent. quota level; and if she will make a statement.

The Government consistently seek to ensure that all employers, including those in the public sector, are fully aware of their responsibilities as regard the employment of disabled people. There are no plans, however, for the sort of campaign proposed by the hon. Member. As only 1·9 per cent. of the working population are registered as disabled the chances of all public sector employers being able to meet a 3 per cent. quota are remote.I can assure the hon. Member that we will continue to leave employers in the public and private sector in no doubt of the need to promote the employment of all disabled people and to improve the quality of employment opportunities available to them.

asked the Prime Minister, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, of 29 October 1981, Official Report, column 396, how many extra or fewer persons are employed in each Government Department (a) since May 1979 and (b) during the last year for which figures are available.

Figures are not held centrally for May 1979. The following table shows the staff in post at 1 April 1979, 1 October 1980 and 1981 in each main Department or groups of departments and the changes (a) since 1 April 1979 and (b) during the 12 months ended 1 October 1981.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to commit themselves to expenditure plans for 1982–83 in excess in real terms of the likely outcome for 1981–82.

We are still considering the plans for public expenditure in 1982–83. In future we shall be announcing our decisions in cash terms. The relationship in real terms between the planned total in that year and the likely outturn in 1981–82 will depend not only on the forecast of the latter but on the increase in costs in the public sector between the two years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bacon curing factories there are in Great Britain; what were the corresponding figures for the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

At the end of October there were 155 plants in Great Britain curing bacon compared with 163 plants earlier this year and 169 in 1980, 184 in 1979 and 197 in 1978.The figures reflect the gradual reorganisation of the industry rather than any significant reduction in bacon production.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the privatisation of Royal ordnance factories.

Consultations are continuing in accordance with the policy declared by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 25 June—[Vol. 7, c. 163–64.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reconsider the withdrawal of HMS "Endurance" from its duties in the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many casualties have been received by military personnel which have been caused by terrorist attacks over the past 12 years.

Since 1969, 461 Servicemen have been killed and 3, 710 have been injured as a result of terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland. Information about casualties outside Northern Ireland for the same period is not readily available. However, in 1981, 8 soldiers have been injured, all in the bomb attack on the Irish Guards in London and the Commandant General Royal Marines was similarly attacked.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of SS 20 nuclear missiles possessed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the other Warsaw Pact countries.

About 250 SS 20 nuclear missiles are currently deployed by the Soviet Union, approximately two-thirds of which are capable of striking targets in Western Europe.