asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied that the proposed increase of 41,500 in National Health Service staff between 1980 and 1982 at an extra cost of £106 million is in accordance with the tight monetary policy which she has been pursuing.

As indicated in Cmnd. 8175, the Government's plans for public expenditure, which are formulated within our overall economic policy, have specifically provided for some growth in hospital and community health services expenditure—about 75 per cent. of which is attributable to staff costs—in order to meet rising costs associated with demographic changes and improvements in medical techniques, and so on.The manpower figure quoted by my hon. Friend derives from a comparison between the total number of staff—in whole-time equivalent terms—employed in the NHS in Great Britain in September 1979–939,700—and a tentative estimate of likely staffing levels in September 1981–981,200—based on the expenditure plans for the NHS in Cmnd. 8175. These allowed for an increase in current expenditure on hospitals and community health services from. £5,407 million in 1979–80 to £5,635 million in 1981–82, at 1980 survey prices, an increase in real terms of just over 4 per cent. over the two financial years. The projected increase in NHS manpower over the same period is broadly in line with the planned increase in total revenue expenditure. The manpower figure cannot meaningfully be related however to the figure of £106 million which appeared in the Supply Estimates. This was derived for a different purpose and covered one financial year, as the Financial Secretary explained in his letter of 14 September to my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will now indemnify county councillor Trevor Brown, an employee of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, who did not disclose any information but was severely reprimanded and retired seven years early.

No. Mr. Brown has exercised his right of appeal under normal departmental procedures. He has had every opportunity over a quite considerable period to submit any and all representations which he felt relevant, and he has done so. His appeal has been rejected, and the reasons have been explained to him in detail and in writing. I see no basis on which to justify reconsideration of his case.

asked the Prime Minister what representation she has received from the director of the Spastics Society acting on behalf of the Reform VAT Group; what reply she is sending; whether she proposes to take any action; and if she will make a statement.

The director of the Spastics Society wrote to me on behalf of the Reform VAT Group on 4 November. I expect to reply shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government have obtained or sought from the Government of the Irish Republic acknowledgement or acceptance of Her Majesty's Government's position that the whole of the waters of Lough Foyle are within the United Kingdom.

The Government of the Republic of Ireland are aware of the position of Her Majesty's Government on this matter, namely, that Lough Foyle falls within the United Kingdom. The Government of the Republic of Ireland dispute this claim.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current level of the United Kingdom North Sea oil revenue.

Government revenues—comprising royalties, supplementary petroleum duty, petroleum revenue tax and corporation tax before ACT set-off—from North Sea oil and gas production for 1981–82 were estimated at the time of the Budget to be £5,880 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing an amendment to schedule 4, group 3 to the Finance Act 1972 to ensure that publications of a pornographic character are fully rated for value added tax.

No. I have considerable sympathy with the feeling that has prompted my hon. Friend's suggestion. I regret to say however, that in the absence of a clear and objective definition of "pornographic" in the law, it would not be a practical possibility to ensure that publications of a pornographic character are fully rated for value added tax while other publications are zero-rated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the procedure for authorising the Royal Mint to produce medallions or plaques bearing the effigy of Her Majesty the Queen.

The procedure for authorising the Royal Mint to manufacture medallions or plaques bearing the effigy of Her Majesty depends on whether it is an official United Kingdom issue, or is to be produced for one of the Royal Mint's other clients, in this country or overseas.Designs for all official United Kingdom medallions and plaques are submitted to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, the selected design then being submitted by the Master of the Mint to Her Majesty for approval. Designs for all other issues are primarily the responsibility of the Royal Mint's client, but in cases involving the use of Her Majesty's effigy the Royal Mint invariably seeks confirmation that no objections have been raised by any of the interested parties before proceeding with a commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated loss of revenue in a full year of a reduction in the present 15 per cent. rate of value added tax to 12½ per cent.; by how much such a reduction would decrease the retail prices index; and whether, and to what extent, he estimates that this would facilitate employment growth.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual take-up of Government securities if, as a condition of gaining full tax relief on pension contributions by employers, 50 per cent. of total pension contributions were required to be invested annually in Government loans.

No. There is no question of imposing such a requirement on employers or pension funds. This would be an undesirable restriction on their freedom to invest pension contributions to the best advantage of beneficiaries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated yield from (a) a 10 per cent. and (b) a 20 per cent levy on all advertising expenditure, presently allowable as a deduction from corporation tax liability by corporate bodies, based on the returns for the most recent year.

I regret that the data are not available from which to estimate a yield.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of interest on Government borrowings in each of the past three years; and what percentage of total Government spending in each year each figure represents.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the oil companies' profit the Government take in taxes.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 November 1981, c. 12]: The taxes on UKCS oil production will dominate United Kingdom tax paid by oil companies. Since profits are calculated in different ways for each tax, the profits returned by companies for each tax will vary according to the tax for which the return is made and will in any case differ from the measure of profits shown in the accounts. Thus it would not be meaningful to express Government revenues as a percentage of profit.About 45 per cent. of gross revenues from North Sea oil and gas production will be taken in royalties and taxes in 1981–82. This figure will tend to rise as companies work through tax allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use is made of section 41 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, allowing remand hearings to be transferred to a court nearer the prison where the prisoner is held; and whether he will take steps to increase its use, in the light of the overcrowding in Brixton and other remand prisons.

Section 41 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 has now been superseded by section 130 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980. A recent survey has shown that it is used "quite often" by only a small number of courts. Magistrates' courts are encouraged to use the provision where the journey from the prison to court would otherwise be lengthy or inconvenient or where it could involve a significant security risk. The results of the survey are being examined to see whether further guidance could usefully be given to courts but the use of the section must be limited by the availability of time in courts near to prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds the number of assistant commissioners to the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England was recently increased from 35 to 43.

The increase was made at the request of the commission, which considered such action to be necessary if it was to complete the holding of all local inquiries into its provisional recommendations and its general review of parliamentary constituencies by the end of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the 1981 electorates of the parliamentary constituencies proposed for Greater London in the revised recommendations of the Boundary Commission for England published on 8 October.

I understand that under the commission's revised recommendations for Greater London the names or boundaries of 37 proposed constituencies differ from those included in the provisional recommendations. The 1981 electorates for all 84 proposed constituencies are as follows:

London Borough	Constituency	1981 Electorate
Barking & Dagenham	Barking*	53,690
	Dagenham*	63,839
Barnet	Chipping Barnet	58,578
	Finchley	55,555
	Hendon North	54,363
	Hendon South	54,447

London Borough	Constituency	1981 Electorate
Bexley	Bexleyheath	59,745
	Erith & Crayford	55,295
	Old Bexley & Sidcup*	50,776
Brent	Brent East	61,143
	Brent North	63,186
	Brent South	63,007
Bromley	Beckenham	59,008
	Chislehurst*	54,968
	Orpington*	58,454
	Ravensbourne*	58,990
Camden	Hampstead & Highgate*	68,428
	Holborn & St. Pancras	71,370
Croydon	Croydon Central	56,579
	Croydon North East*	63,035
	Croydon North West*	58,248
	Croydon South	64,748
Ealing	Ealing, Acton*	61,246
	Ealing, North*	66,785
	Ealing, Southall*	70,233
Enfield	Edmonton	†63,942
	Enfield North	†67,246
	Enfield, Southgate*	†64,272
Greenwich	Eltham	55,473
	Greenwich	52,532
	Woolwich	55,945
	Hackney North & Stoke
Hackney	Newington*	66,082
	Hackney South & Shoreditch*	70,494
Hammersmith & Fulham	Fulham*	52,646
	Hammersmith*	47,098
Haringey	Hornsey*	73,853
	Wood Green & Tottenham*	79,810
Harrow	Harrow East	80,091
	Harrow West	73,379
Havering	Hornchurch	62,333
	Romford	56,445
	Upminster	67,087
Hillingdon	Hayes & Harlington	57,405
	Ruislip-Northwood	56,056
	Uxbridge	61,539
Hounslow	Brentford & Isleworth*	71,886
	Feltham & Heston*	80,807
Islington	Islington North*	60,129
	Islington South & Finsbury*	60,482
Kensington & Chelsea	Chelsea	54,982
	Kensington	51,268
Kingston-upon-Thames	Kingston-upon-Thames	57,728
	Surbiton	46,802
Lambeth	Norwood*	55,847
	Streatham	61,339
	Vauxhall*	64,188
Lewisham	Lewisham, Deptford*	59,443
	Lewisham East*	61,574
	Lewisham West*	63,615
Merton	Mitcham & Morden	63,107
	Wimbledon	64,754
Newham	Newham North East*	64,499
	Newham North West*	51,060
	Newham South*	51,931
Redbridge	Ilford North	61,076
	Ilford South	59,175
	Wanstead & Woodford	57,680
Richmond-upon-Thames	Richmond & Barnes*	56,532
	Twickenham	64,101
Southwark	Dulwich	57,414
	Peckham	59,063
	Southwark & Bermondsey	56,698
Sutton	Carshalton & Wallington*	68,868
	Sutton & Cheam	63,434
Tower Hamlets	Bethnal Green & Stepney	54,243
	Bow & Poplar	56,912
Waltham Forest	Chingford	56,892
	Leyton*	58,886
	Walthamstow*	49,309

London Borough	Constituency	1981 Electroate
Wandsworth	Battersea	66,134
	Putney	64,099
	Tooting	68,804
Cities of London & Westminster	Westminster North*	72,216
	The City of London & Westminster South*	71,809
* Name and/or boundary change.
† 1980 Electorate. 1981 figures not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the rate of increase of the alien registration fee.

The fees prescribed under the Immigration (Registration with the Police) Regulations and payable at the time of registration are intended to recover the administrative costs involved in the registration process. The large increases between 1975 and 1980, from 25p to £19, eventually achieved this end; the smaller increase to £21 in May this year maintained it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in respect of table 2.8, classification numbers 28 to 31 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1980", what is the average value of property recovered for each classification.

The average value of property recovered per offence in which property was stolen can be calculated from the figures given in the first, second and fourteenth columns of table 2.8, "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1980", Cmnd. 8376. The average value of property recovered per offence for which some property was recovered could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, because the number of offences for which property is recovered is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the present position of the new prison development proposed for the Woolwich Arsenal site.

The London borough of Greenwich has formally objected to the proposal by the prison department of the Home Office to use some of the Ministry of Defence land at the Woolwich Arsenal east site for prison purposes. On the receipt of those objections, the prison department brought the matter to the attention of the Department of the Environment in accordance with paragraph 14 of D.O.E. circular 7/77. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has decided to hold a non-statutory local public inquiry as provided for in paragraph 15. It is expected that the arrangements for this inquiry will be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to announce the conclusions of his review of the arrangements under which the police report to his Department the convictions of persons liable to deportation.

Revised guidance to the police is contained in Home Office circular 104/1981, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. It continues to be necessary for the Home Office to receive reports in appropriate cases of the convictions of persons subject to immigration control so that my right hon. Friend is aware of cases in which he would wish to make a deportation order on the grounds that this would be conducive to the public good but where the convicting court made no recommendation as to deportation. As from now the police are asked to make reports only in the following circumstances:

(a) in respect of a person who is settled in the United Kingdom and has been here for at least five years, whether or not his stay has at any time been subject to conditions, a conviction should be reported only if it results in an immediate or suspended sentence of imprisonment—or a hospital order;

(b) in respect of a person whose stay in the United Kingdom is still subject to a time limit or of a person who has been here for less than five years, a conviction should be reported for any offence punishable with imprisonment, irrespective of the sentence.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions and referrals for offences which involved solvent abuse there were in 1980.

I indicated to the hon. Gentleman on a previous occasion—[Vol. 2, c. 953–54]—that there is no separate register kept by procurators fiscal of the numbers of prosecutions for offences involving solvent abuse, as solvent abuse is itself not illegal. The charge libelled in any prosecution where an accused has inhaled solvent will depend on the circumstances. In most cases, I understand, these circumstances merit proceedings in the district court on a charge of breach of the peace. I am unable to supply information concerning referrals involving solvent abuse.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what consultations he held prior to the doubling of the summary jurisdiction limit.

The increase in the upper financial limit in the summary cause was effected by an Order in Council, the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 (Summary Cause) Order 1981, S.I. 1981/842. Before this order was made, a draft of it was laid before Parliament and was approved by a resolution of each House.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many criminal prosecutions have been dropped as a result of the recent industrial action in the Scottish sheriff courts.

The industrial action taken by civil servants was confined to Glasgow and Edinburgh sheriff courts. As a result of this disruption, it is estimated that some 10,000 summary criminal prosecutions have been dropped.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his Department's estimate of the consequences of the Government's cuts in 1981–82 and the planned Government spending cuts in 1982–83 on the non-advanced further education colleges in Wales; and, particularly, how many colleges it is estimated will have to close and how many teaching posts will be lost;(2) what is his Department's estimate of the possible consequences of the Government cuts on polytechnics and colleges in Wales which offer degree courses, particularly with regard to the possibility of closure of some colleges and the number of teaching posts which will be cut.

The Government's expenditure plans published in Cmnd. 8175 implied a reduction of about 500 lecturers in further and higher education in Wales during the period 1979–80 to 1982–83. Since then, the Prime Minister has announced that additional money will be provided in 1982–83 to enable more young people to stay on in school or college. In Wales this will be an extra £3 million. Each local education authority is responsible for deciding its expenditure priorities including the number of lecturers in its maintained colleges and the level or work on which they are employed. I am not aware of any proposal to close a polytechnic, any other college offering a degree course, or any college offering non-advanced further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make provision for those teenagers who left school in the current year and are still without jobs who prefer to return to school rather than to take a youth opportunities programme course, with full-time education, to improve their knowledge, efficiency, and work experience, particularly in the new technologies; and if he will compensate them financially as if on a youth opportunities programme or on a training opportunities programme course.

An additional £3 million will be made available in 1982–83 to enable young people in Wales to stay on in school or college. The Government are keeping arrangements for financial support for 16–19-year-olds in full-time education under review but have no plans at present for changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department has figures for Wales on the effect of high unemployment on ill health.

The Government have sponsored research into several aspects of the relationship between unemployment and ill-health and further research is under consideration. Existing statistics do not demonstrate a precise relationship.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the numbers of intensive care cots with mechanical ventilatory respiratory support available in each of the major obstetric centres of health authorities in Wales; and if he will list the hospitals where such cots are located giving the numbers in each case.

The information requested is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children qualify for free school meals in Wales; what were the corresponding figures for the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available in the Welsh Office.

(£ million 1981 prices)
	1975	1976	1977	*1978	1979	1980	†1981
Central Government Cash Ceiling	—	640	629	682	656	639	675
Central Government PSO payments*	648	571	552	591	640	639	644
Passenger services paid by Passenger Transport Executives	42	48	55	59	59	61	64
Level crossings grant	20	19	17	17	17	17	17
Total	710	638	624	667	716	717	725

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will refuse his authorisation to the Greater London council for the erection of traffic signs on the roads leading into London reading "You are now entering a nuclear free zone"; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, if we receive any such request, although no requests to authorise signs of this kind have been made to us. Traffic signs should not be used for political slogans.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to have funds available to place orders for the overdue Royal Naval Reserve minesweeper (medium).

I have nothing to add at this stage to the statement on this subject in Cmnd. 8288.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many vacancies for (a) skilled and (b) unskilled industrial staff at the QAD (Ordnance) Woolwich Arsenal remain unfilled at the most recent available date.

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

The sheepmeat regime has improved producers' returns and thereby restored confidence. The Welsh breeding flock now stands at a record 4·05 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total public service obligation grant to the British Railways Board, in constant prices, since 1975; and how this has compared with the cash ceiling imposed since 1976.

The information requested is shown in the table below:

In the course of running down to the approved overall manpower target for 1 April 1982, about 10 vacancies for industrial staff are likely to occur at the QAD (Ordnance) in Woolwich. It is not possible to distinguish between skilled and unskilled at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many redundancies have occurred or are likely to occur as a result of the introduction of contract cleaning and catering services at defence establishments in the Woolwich and Greenwich areas.

Two cleaning contracts in defence establishments in the Woolwich and Greenwich area began earlier this year. As a result, a total of 55 part-time cleaning staff were declared redundant, of whom 29 were subsequently engaged by the incoming contractors.The possibility of introducing contract cleaning or catering at some other defence establishments in the area is being or will be examined, case by case. I cannot at this stage forecast the likely number of redundancies if all these examinations resulted in decisions to contract the work out. In the area at present, about 150 full-time and about the same number of part-time civilian staff' are employed on cleaning and catering work which might be contracted out, but even if all the establishments concerned did change to contract for these tasks, the number of staff actually declared redundant as a result would probably be less than these figures, because of transfers to alternative Government employment, retirements, and other factors. Based on experience, many of those made redundant could expect to be offered jobs by the incoming contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the estimated period during which it will be unsafe for (a) human beings and (b) animals to land on Gruinard Island;(2) what is the estimated cost of decontaminating Gruinard Island from anthrax spores.

A survey of the island was undertaken in 1979 to establish the level and extent of continuing contamination. The results are expected to be published soon. In the light of the survey the likely duration of contamination, methods of decontamination, their potential effectiveness, and their cost are being intensively reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it will be necessary to make any Service personnel redundant in order to achieve the reductions in the strength of the Armed Forces set out in "The United Kingdom Defence Programme: The Way Forward", Cmnd. 8288.

Most of the planned reductions of 8,000–10,000 in the Royal Navy and about 7,000 in the Army will be effected by natural wastage. But some redundancies are likely to be necessary, some of them in 1983. Redundancy terms have been agreed, and applications for redundancy will be invited. No redundancies are expected to be necessary in the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will supply a detailed breakdown of the annual cost of operating HMS "Endurance".

The estimate average cost of running HMS "Endurance" is about £2 million a year at current prices. In addition, it costs some £2 million a year to refit the ship.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if his figures on the size of SSN fleet contained in "The United Kingdom Defence Programme, The Way Forward", Cmnd. 8288, included HMS "Dreadnought", and when he expects to announce details of her planned refuelling and refit.

As we have explained, we aim to achieve the planned rise in the numbers of nuclear submarines—SSN—announced in Cmnd. 8288 by the end of the decade. HMS "Dreadnought" is not included in this figure, since, as our oldest SSN, she is expected to have paid off by then. Her planned work programme and refuelling are still under consideration and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state by name or type the number of destroyers and frigates he expects to have in commission or in reserve, respectively, in 1984–85 in addition to HMS "Bristol", 14 Type 42, seven Type 22 and eight Type 21 together with eight Leanders in the standby squadron.

No final decisions have yet been taken about the detailed shape of the surface fleet in 1984–85. By the mid–1980s, however, we expect to have in service about 50 destroyers and frigates, some 20 of which will be Leanders.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the operations and expenditure undertaken by his Department at Mellen Charles, Loch Ewe, Wester Ross; what is the purpose of the installation and operation being undertaken on the loch; what is the number of staff employed; what was the last time any operational use was made of this installation; what use is made of the facilities by naval personnel for holiday or vacational use; and what was the cost of making the accommodation acceptable for holiday and leisure activities.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Royal Navy establishment at Mellon Charles, Aultbea, Loch Ewe. It is regularly used by the Royal Marines and also by the Army as a base for resource and initiative training. The only maintenance carried out is the minimum required to keep a number of huts wind and weatherproof. No staff are employed at the camp; personnel using the facilities for training purposes do so on a strict self-help basis. Six caravans are located at Aultbea for holiday use by Royal Navy personnel. These caravans were purchased, and are maintained, from nonpublic funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has received from the Falkland Islands Government for the use of Royal Naval Lighter 0852 for supplying fuel to vessels using Port Stanley; what examination he has made of the commercial advantages of so doing; and if he will make a statement.

A proposal to use the Royal Navy fuel depot at Port Stanley and its associated lighter to refuel visiting vessels was raised by His Excellency the Governor of the Falkland Islands at the beginning of this year. My hon. Friend also raised the proposal by letter with my right hon. Friend on the former's return from a visit to the Falkland Islands. The scope for such use of the fuel depot is dependent upon the future of the depot, which will be surplus to Royal Navy requirements following the planned paying off of HMS "Endurance" next spring. The matter is under consideration, and I shall write to my hon. Friend when the position is clearer.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many minutes each year, from 1965 to 1980, have been spent on the Floor of the House on Scottish business.

The information requested is as follows:

Session	Total time	Average per sitting day
1965–66	7 hours 23 minutes	7 minutes
1966–67	46 hours 12 minutes	11 minutes
1967–68	38 hours 32 minutes	13 minutes
1968–69	45 hours 9 minutes	17 minutes
1969–70	22 hours 9 minutes	11 minutes
1970–71	42 hours 16 minutes	12 minutes
1971–72	37 hours 53 minutes	13 minutes
1972–73	57 hours 19 minutes	21 minutes
1973–74	8 hours 9 minutes	8 minutes
1974	9 hours 8 minutes	6 minutes
1974–75	67 hours 14 minutes	20 minutes
1975–76	67 hours 40 minutes	21 minutes
1976–77	154 hours 37 minutes*	1 hour 2 minutes
1977–78	180 hours 16 minutes†	1 hour 4 minutes
1978–79	18 hours 30 minutes	13 minutes
1979–80	79 hours 50 minutes	20 minutes
1980–81	82 hours 34 minutes	30 minutes
* of which 134 hours 9 minutes is accounted for by the Scotland and Wales Bill.
† of which 161 hours 28 minutes is accounted for by the Scotland Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any complaints about timesharing tenancy schemes; and if he has any proposals to amend the law as this relates to tenancy rights.

My hon. Friend the Member for Chelsea (Mr. Scott) expressed concern about the planning aspects of a particular scheme in his constituency, and if existing planning controls are shown to be inadequate, we shall consider whether any amendment would be justified. Tenants in blocks of flats for which a time-sharing scheme is proposed enjoy rights under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 and under the terms of their agreement with the landlord. Moreover, those who are regulated tenants also have full security of tenure under the Rent Act 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate has been made by the Property Services Agency of the likely cost of building a new prison at Woolwich Arsenal;(2) whether he has yet authorised a full feasibility study by the Property Services Agency on the proposed new prison at Woolwich Arsenal; and when he expects a detailed report.

A full feasibility study is in progress and I am hoping to receive its report next summer. This report will include a preliminary order of cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the sale of surplus Woolwich Arsenal land adjacent to Beresford Square, SE18, following the result of the site investigation.

It has not been possible to reach agreement to offer for sale as one site the adjacent surplus land owned by the Crown, the Central Electricity Generating Board and the London borough of Greenwich. The disposal of the land owned by the Crown is being reviewed urgently in the light of this; the discovery of contaminants in the soil; and the possibility that a new Ministry of Defence headquarters building might be constructed on part of this site, permitting other land at the Arsenal to be declared surplus instead.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in appointing members of private sector accountancy firms as additional district auditors to audit the accounts for 1981–82 of certain local authorities in England.

I have today appointed the following as additional district auditors. The names of the authorities with which they will be concerned are given in brackets.Mr. D. M. Booth of Messrs Price Waterhouse (Tyne and Wear County Council)Mr. R. Harbottle of Messrs. Deloitte Haskins & Sells (Durham County Council)Mr. A. Pinkney of Messrs. Coopers & Lybrand (London Borough of Kingston)Sir Douglas Morpeth of Messrs Touche Ross & Co. (Westminster City Council)Mr. T. A. J. Bedford of Messrs Robson Rhodes (Oldham Borough Council)I shall announce further appointments shortly

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the sale of Heveningham Hall.

Last year I announced my decision to sell Heveningham Hall and its estate into private ownership, provided a suitable owner could be found. I said then that my inclination was to sell the freehold of the house and the estate, but to retain ownership of the furniture and seek the agreement of a new owner to keeping it in its setting and allowing some public access.I have now completed the arrangements for sale of the hall along these lines. I am pleased to announce that the new owner, Mr. A. A. Al-Ghazzi, has indicated his intentions to rehabilitate the hall, complete the restoration of the orangery and continue the landscaping of the park. He has covenanted to permit public access on at least 30 days per annum to the principal ground floor rooms of the hall, where he will display the important furniture which remains in the ownership of the Department. The hall will be open to the public again from next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any decision has yet been reached on the future of the scheme under which State aid is available for ecclesiastical buildings in use.

I have decided to extend the trial period for the scheme to March 1986. This will allow time for the discussions currently continuing with the church authorities about procedures for the alteration and demolition of ecclesiastical buildings to be brought to a conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider erecting on a suitable site in London a memorial to the victims of concentration camps; and if he will consult with appropriate organisations and individuals to this end.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has put forward a proposal, and this is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the catering equipment contract for hospitals, worth £1 million, which for the last three years has been awarded to the firm of Dawsons in the Penistone constituency, has now been given to an Italian manufacturer.

The three-year period contract for catering equipment previously held by Dawsons expired on 29 September 1981. A new three-year period contract has not been given to an Italian manufacturer. It has been divided between Dawsons and another United Kingdom manufacturer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to replace part IX of the Public Health Act 1936 by legislation within the Housing Acts in order to establish and enforce standards for emergency hostel accommodation in line with modern housing provision; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities have wide powers under successive Housing Acts for improving standards in hostel accommodation and other houses in multiple occupation. Those powers offer a more satisfactory framework than part IX of the Public Health Act 1936. Local authorities are aware of their powers under the Housing Acts and I do not at present envisage further legislation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he now sees any scope for Her Majesty's Government to assist the Government of Portugal in seeking a peaceful settlement to the situation in East Timor; and whether any steps are being taken in this regard.

We believe it is primarily for the Indonesian and Portuguese Governments to bring about the conditions for a settlement of the East Timor question and that both desire a peaceful settlement. We would be prepared, naturally, to do whatever we usefully could to help, if the two parties felt this would assist their efforts.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress is being made by the Western Contact Group in bringing about a peaceful conclusion to the problem of Namibia; and whether it is intended to present a further demarche to South Africa if progress continues to be unsatisfactory.

The meeting of the Five Foreign Ministers on 24 September gave the Five's efforts renewed impetus. Officials of the Five visited a number of African countries, including South Africa, in October-November, and the Five remain in close touch with all the parties and Governments most closely concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much public money has been paid by his Department to the firms of Rootes, Chrysler and Talbot since the beginning of the Rootes car factory in Linwood, in the forms of grants of all kinds, set out in the various categories, and outstanding loans.

Under the agreement signed between the Government and Chrysler in 1976 a total of £64 million was paid to the company in the form of loss subvention grants. Loans totalling £50 million were also made to the company, of which £22 million has now been repaid, leaving £28 million outstanding. Particulars of assistance to individual companies under the Industry Acts 1972 and 1980 are generally regarded as confidential between the Department of Industry and the applicant. However, since 1 October 1974 regional development grants in excess of £25,000 and offers of selective assistance in excess of £5,000 have been published on a quarterly basis in British Business—formerly Trade and Industry. Fourteen payments of regional development grants totalling some £2·4 million to Chrysler Scotland Ltd. in respect of its Linwood premises have been published in this way.Information relating to assistance given to Rootes Ltd. or under the Industrial Development Act 1966 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the Scottish economy.

The Scottish economy is going through an extremely difficult period and many businesses face great problems. There are some indications, however, that, unusually, Scotland has been suffering somewhat less severely than many other parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards the settlement of a common fisheries policy; and whether he will make a statement.

Useful progress was made in these difficult negotiations at the Council meetings in September and October. This included agreement on marketing and interim structure measures and fishing arrangements in Faroese waters, all of which are of importance to Scottish fishermen.I very much hope that the Council to be held at the end of this month will see further substantial progress towads a fair and acceptable solution of the remaining issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has reached a conclusion on the form of assistance to be offered to island communities over freight costs and transport.

Since making my statement on sea transport to the Scottish islands on 28 July I have received further views from interested parties. I am now considering these and will make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many redundancies were declared in Scottish new towns during 1980–81; how many new jobs were created; and if he will make a statement.

For the year ended 31 March 1981, 12,788 jobs were lost and 4,933 were created. In the face of the world recession this demonstrates that the new towns are still able to attract and develop new employment opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will agree to a public planning inquiry into the Trident project to be located in the Lochside area of West Dunbartonshire.

Proposals for development by Government Departments are referred to my Department by the developing Department if objections put forward by the planning authority cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the two parties. If the proposals for the Trident development are so referred, my right hon. Friend will consider by what means the issue might best be resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with progress on trunk road improvements in Fife.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement about his decision to withdraw the subsidy from Caledonian MacBrayne on the Dunoon-Gourock car ferry route.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given earlier to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will reconsider the unanimous advice of the Scottish Transport Users Consultative Committee to retain the passenger-vehicle ferry service operated by Caledonian MacBrayne between Gourock and Dunoon.

I have accepted the STUCC's main criticism of the arrangements that were originally proposed for foot passengers. I am now considering with the Scottish Transport Group the best way forward on this matter. In the meantime, and until a satisfactory solution is arrived at, the existing Caledonian MacBrayne service will of course continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements exist for students at Scottish universities who do not get their full parental contribution.

In assessing a student's award my Department takes account of the sum which parents can reasonably be expected to contribute to his or her maintenance, and notifies the student accordingly; but no arrangements exist for supplementing the award if no such contribution is made.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Scotland who was present at the recent dinner which he hosted at Edinburgh Castle on the occasion of the visit to Scotland by the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the European Communities; how much the reception cost; and whether the cost was met out of his own departmental budget.

Thirty-three people were present at the dinner I gave on 9 October to mark the visit to Scotland of the Deputy Permanent Representatives and their wives: the party numbered 22. The others present, in addition to my wife, myself and my private secretary, were three senior officials of the Scottish Office and the Scottish representative of the Commission in Scotland, with their wives. The total cost was £942·01, which was met by the Scottish Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will report on the discussions between the Scottish Office and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities over future local authority spending levels in Scotland and the clarification of the rate support grant formula and distribution to individual authorities.

My right hon. Friend has held three meetings with the convention this year on these matters and he is considering the convention's views. His proposals for the rate support grant settlement for 1981–82 will be conveyed to the convention at a further meeting and will be reported to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Borders regional council and Lothian regional council about their cash guidelines for 1980–81 and 1981–82.

Borders regional council has made representations about the adequacy of guidelines. Lothian regional council has made no direct representations about guidelines but has repeatedly sought to justify higher levels of expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is prepared to consider a review of the level of financial commitment included in the Education Authority Bursaries (Scotland) Regulations, and in particular those bursaries which come into the AA category.

The levels of both category A bursaries—for students under 18—and category B bursaries—for students of 18 and over—and the related parental contribution scales, are reviewed annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take on the proposals submitted by the hon. Members for Kilmarnock (Mr. McKelvey), Central Ayrshire (Mr. Lambie) and South Ayrshire on the future potential of Prestwick airport.

My right hon. Friend has recently had discussions about Prestwick with the chairman of the British Airports Authority. We have also now offered Strathclyde region financial assistance for costs associated with electrification of the Ayr line. We shall continue to give what practical assistance we can to ensure a secure and successful future for Prestwick airport.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to issue his consultation document regarding legislation to clarify the three-mile fishing limits.

A consultative paper was issued to the fishing industry on 4 November seeking comments on proposals for revision of the Scottish inshore fisheries legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the numbers for the last five years, including the most up-to-date figure for 1981, of the perinatal mortality rate in Ayrshire and Arran and the causes of the deaths.

The information requested is as follows. Information on causes of death is readily available only for 1977 and 1979.

1. Perinatal Deaths and Mortality Rates per 1,000 Births (Live and Still) Ayrshire and Arran Health Board Area 1976–81
	Number	Rate
1976	108	22
1977	88†	19
1978	89	18
1979	94†	19
1980	96	19
*1981	30	12
* January-June.
† The total numbers of deaths differ because the Registrar General includes multiple birth, the perinatal mortality survey covers single births only.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of persons indulging in solvent abuse in Scotland for the latest convenient period; and what further action he plans to take to combat the practice.

Detailed information about the number of persons involved in solvent abuse is not available centrally. I am aware of the concern of hon. Members and the public on this matter and I propose to have further consultations with those concerned on possible approaches to the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest figures of unemployed people in Scotland.

On 8 October, seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland stood at 302,200 or 13·4 per cent. I share the right hon. Gentleman's concern about the current high levels of unemployment. The Government are firmly committed to continuing their efforts to bring about a lasting reduction in unemployment; this can only be done by controlling inflation, restoring competitiveness to industry and creating the right conditions for the creation of new, viable jobs through economic growth. In the meantime, we shall continue to help those groups and individuals who are hardest hit through our programme of special employment and training measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new initiatives he intends to take to reduce youth unemployment.

The youth opportunities programme has been substantially expanded this year. In July the Government announced that additional funds would be made available to enable the Manpower Services Commission to meet its undertaking to offer all unemployed school leavers this year a suitable place on the programme by Christmas. Decisions on the programme of special employment and training measures for 1982–83, including pro vision for young unemployed peoplee, will be announced later this year.For the longer term, the Government are giving consideration to the introduction of a comprehensive new training scheme for the young unemployed, arising from the consultations on the new training initiative consulative document published earlier this year, and I expect that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment will make an announcement about this around the turn of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the National Farmers Union of Scotland concerning the hill livestock compensatory allowances for 1982.

Both my noble Friend the Minister of State and I have had meetings with representatives of the union.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now instruct Her Majesty's Inspectorate to carry out a special investigation into nursery education being provided by Tayside region (a) in Dundee in general and (b) with particular reference to the Dryburgh, Menzieshill, Buttar's Loan and Charleston areas of Dundee.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the statistics of neonatal deaths in Scotland in each of the last 10 years; and how they compare with those of England and Wales, Sweden, France, Austria, Switzerland and West Germany.

The available figures are as follows:

Neonatal Deaths, Scotland, Selected Countries, Rates, 1971–1980
Year	Country
	Scotland	England and Wales	Sweden	Austria	Switzerland	West Germany
1971	13·5	11·6	8·8	19·0	9·9	17·9
1972	12·4	11·5	8·7	18·7	9·0	17·0
1973	12·7	11·1	7·8	17·9	9·4	16·5
1974	12·8	11·0	7·1	17·1	8·4	15·3
1975	11·8	10·7	6·4	15·4	7·4	13·8

Year	Country
	Scotland	England and Wales	Sweden	Austria	Switzerland.	West Germany
1976	10·3	9·7	6·2	12·7	7·3	11·9
1977	11·3	9·3	5·8	11·9	6·5	10·3
1978	8·8	9·7	5·5	10·8	6·0	9·3
1979	8·7	8·2	NA	NA	NA	NA
1980	7·8	7·7	NA	NA	NA	NA

Neonatal deaths are deaths in the first 4 weeks of life.Rates are calculated per 1,000 live births.Directly comparable figures for France are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what experience and qualifications, and in particular what technical training, has the new director of the Health and Safety Executive, Mr. John Rimington.

Mr. Rimington has not been appointed as director of the Health and Safety Executive but as the under-secretary in charge of a group of policy branches. This post, like others in the Health and Safety Executive, is open to people from a wide variety of backgrounds including administrators, inspectors and scientists. Prior to his appointment Mr. Rimington was a senior executive in the Manpower Services Commission and he has had a wide and varied career in the Department of Employment, the Board of Trade and in the Office of the United Kingdom Representative to the EEC.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvement or prohibition notices concerned solely with noise have been issued by the Factory Inspectorate since 1974.

Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate issued 242 improvement notices and two prohibition notices in respect of noise, from the beginning of 1975 to the end of 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors are at the moment undergoing training; and how many will receive training in each of the next two years.

There are at present 34 factory inspectors undergoing probationary training. This number includes 15 specialist inspectors.The number of inspectors who will be under training during the next two years will depend on the pattern of recruitment. Although some recruitment is intended in the next two years it is not at this stage possible to say how many inspectors this might involve.

asked the Secretary of State for Employ merit whether it is intended to extend the operations of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme.

The future of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme is currently under review. At present it is open for applications until 31 March 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the cost of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme and the number of employees that have been involved.

From the inception of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme on 1 April 1979 to 30 September 1981 £589·3 million had been spent.Because the scheme allows applicants to spread short-time working throughout the work force and to alter the pattern or the extent of short-time working as circumstances change, it is not possible to give the cumulative total of all employees who have ever received any compensation under the scheme.In September 320,000 people were on short-time working, saving approximately 180,000 jobs stated by applicants to be potentially redundant.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for a survey to be conducted of the number of males over the age of 60 years who would accept voluntary early retirement and of the level of remuneration such persons would expect.

My Department already has some information available and further proposed research will yield additional information on employee reactions to early retirement options.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of employed males aged 60 years or over.

It is estimated that in June 1979, the latest date for which information is available, about 1·2 million men aged 60 years or over were in employment in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list, for each year since 1974, the number and percentage of firms not fulfilling the requirement to employ 3 per cent. of registered disabled people (a) to whom permits had not been issued during the previous 12 months and (b) to whom permits had been issued during the previous 12 months; and, of these latter firms with permits, what were the numbers and percentages of the firms that had been issued with bulk permits;(2) if he will list, for each year since 1974, of the firms that had been issued with bulk permits during the previous 12 months, the number and percentage of firms

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures in (a) the Greater London area and (b) the Brent travel-to-work area; if he will give the average period of unemployment and the age breakdown in each case; and what were the figures in May 1979.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 November 1981, c. 16]: The numbers registered as unemployed in Greater London at May 1979 and October 1981 were 134,050 and 339,084, respectively. There is no Brent travel-to-work area but figures are available for the Kilburn, Wembley an Willesden employment office areas which together closely correspond to the London borough of Brent. The numbers registered as unemployed at these offices taken together were 4,517 in May 1979 and 14,293 in October 1981. For Greater London, the median length of time unemployed for those on the register at October 1981 was 23 weeks. The corresponding figure at April 1979—not available for May—was 20 weeks. The attached table gives an age breakdown for these dates. Corresponding information for local areas could be provided only at disproportionate cost.There is likely to have been a substantial number of vacancies in the area not notified to the employment offices and jobcentres. Nationally, the Manpower Services Commission has estimated from a 1977 survey that about a third of vacancies are notified to it.Following is the table:

Numbers registered as unemployed in Greater London
Age	April-1979	October 1981
Under 18 years	5,676	33,183
18 years	4,638	17,089
19 years	5,319	17,843
20–24 years	25,368	68,796
25–29 years	19,649	44,507
30–34 years	14,505	32,988
35–44 years	20,068	44,247
45–49 years	8,997	19,304
50–54 years	9,160	19,160
55–59 years	10,570	20,713
60 years and over	13,189	21,254
Total, all ages	137,139	339,084

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by trade and occupation the registered vacancies in (a) the Greater London area and (b) the Brent travel-to-work area in May 1979 and at the latest available date in 1981, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 November 1981, c.16]: The following table gives an analysis by broad occupational groups of the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled in Greater London at June 1979 and September 1981. The figures which are available quarterly, relate to vacancies notified to employment offices but not to careers offices. Corresponding information for local areas could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office who have worked in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office earlier in their careers.

On 1 November 1981, there were six civil servants at the Northern Ireland Office who were on secondment from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and a further eight who had worked at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office earlier in their careers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he now intends to reduce the higher education fees for overseas students from developing countries in the light of the communiqué and the approved consultative document emanating from the meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Governments held in Melbourne recently.

The policy of full-cost fees for overseas students is an integral part of the Government's policy of reducing public expenditure. The Government are currently deliberating on the communiqué and the consultative document emanating from the Melbourne conference, including the issues raised about the contribution made by student mobility and educational interchange within the Commonwealth to national development.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to appointing a representative of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers to the Burnham Further Education Committee in view of the fact that it has nearly 2,000 members employed full-time and in further education and 12,000 members employed part-time in further education.

My right hon. Friend will shortly discuss this matter with the associations general secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria he uses in appointing members to the Burnham Further Education Committee; and if he will make a statement.

The main criteria are the numbers of teachers in England and Wales who are in membership of the various associations seeking representation on the Burnham committees, and the extent to which those associations represent distinctive groups of teachers. But my right hon. Friend would not wish to exclude any other relevant considerations which might be brought to his attention.