asked the Attorney-General how many Commons Commissioners his right hon. and noble Friend has appointed; how many are currently in post; and whether he intends to appoint any more.

The normal complement is four, including the Chief Commissioner, and four are in post. It is not intended to appoint more at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the totals in real terms of Government expenditure, including that on local government and the National Health Service, in 1978, 1979 and 1980; and what is his forecast for 1981.

Estimates of public expenditure in constant prices for financial years were given in the White Paper Cmnd. 8175. Table 1.1 showed estimates for total local government expenditure, and table 2.11 showed estimates for the National Health Service. But the Government now plan in cash.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the association of the United Kingdom with the controlling mechanism of the European monetary system incurs liability to contribute to any losses incurred by that system in currency dealing; and if any liabilities have been incurred since May 1979.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council how long the temporary railings have been installed in Westminster Hall; and what he estimates would be the cost of replacing them with a design such as that prepared for the Services Committee.

The railings were installed in 1972. The estimated cost of replacing them to the design prepared by the Department of the Environment is £7,000.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about her inquiries into the possible exemption from prescription charges of mothers of stillborn children.

When the hon. member for Rochdale brought this question to my attention in June I asked the Minister for Health to review the position and I am now pleased to announce that we have decided to extend exemption. Arrangements are in hand to amend the regulations from 1 January 1982 so that a woman who gives birth to a stillborn child may be exempt from prescription charges in the same way as one whose baby lives.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including the President of the European Commission. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament. This evening I shall attend the annual diplomatic reception given by Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Prime Minister if she will consider the direct representation of small businesses on the National Economic Development Council.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has recently appointed Mr. Jeremy Pope, chairman of the CBI Smaller Firms Council, to the National Economic Development Council.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will take fresh initiatives on unemployment, urban decay and social deprivation, following the visit of the Secretary of State for the Environment to Merseyside and the disturbances in a number of British cities during the summer; and whether she will make a statement.

Following my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's visit to Merseyside in July, I announced on 9 October that he would be taking a special interest in that area for a further 12 months, assisted by a new task force. I also announced that over 20 financial institutions had agreed to second managers to work with the Government to find ways of improving co-operation with the private sector on inner city problems. These arrangements are intended to point to new ways of tackling the economic, environmental and social problems of both Merseyside and other similar conurbations. More generally, I announced on 27 July a substantial widening of the programme of special employment and training measures designed to help the young unemployed in particular. We shall consider in due course what further measures may be needed in the light of the outcome of all these initiatives, and the forthcoming report from Lord Scarman on the civil disturbances.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Cheshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what consideration she has given to the United Kingdom joining the European monetary system.

The United Kingdom is already a member of the European monetary system. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer told the House on 11 November, the question of sterling's participation in the EMS exchange rate mechanism is kept under constant review.

asked the Prime Minister when she next proposes to meet President Reagan.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

One and 300.

asked the Prime Minister what steps she proposes to take to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

Additional prison accommodation will be provided over the next decade by the programme of prison building and redevelopment to which the Government are committed. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will be proposing measures to supplement the welcome trend towards shorter prison sentences for certain categories of offence. It is that trend that offers the best prospect of achieving a sustained reduction in the level of the prison population.

asked the Prime Minister, if, as a response to President Reagan's proposal to limit nuclear weapons in Europe, Her Majesty's Government will negotiate with the Government of the United States of America with the aim of securing the closure of the United States Polaris submarine base in Holy Loch.

No. President Reagan's proposals on long range theatre nuclear weapons in Europe, involving the zero option, do not relate to Poseidon strategic missiles deployed in United States Polaris submarines or to equivalent Russian submarine-launched systems. These weapons would be covered by President Reagan's second proposal for talks on reductions in strategic weapons. Any unilateral action in advance of balanced and verifiable agreements to achieve such aims would serve only to undermine the collective security of the Alliance on which our peace and freedom depends.

asked the Prime Minister if she will transfer responsibility for the control and regulation of pesticides from Government Departments to the Health and Safety Executive.

No.

asked the Prime Minister when she next proposes to meet the President of France.

At the meeting of the European Council on Thursday.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at Caxton Hall, London, to the Conservative Friends of Israel on Monday 2 November on Britain and Israel represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his reply to the hon. Member for West Lothian on 16 November, what preliminary discussions he has had or is having with the British National Oil Corporation and with other oil companies prior to the introduction of his proposed legislation on the British National Oil Corporation; and what subjects have been discussed.

I am in regular touch with the corporation over the range of issues connected with the proposed legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what effect on the public sector borrowing requiremet will occur as a result of the removal of income from the profits of those parts of the British Gas Corporation which are to be privatised.

It is not possible to give a specific answer at this time. The PSBR would benefit not only in the short term from the proceeds of privatisation—which cannot be quantified until that event takes place—but in the longer term by savings in the expenditure BGC would have incurred had it continued to own the assets. The precise size of the potential income stream from the assets to be privatised turns on a number of uncertain variables, including the price of oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will reduce the profit requirement placed on British. Gas to ensure that industrial gas prices are not increased from 1 March 1982; or, if not, by how much he expects such prices to increase from that date.

I have no plans to change the present financial target for the British Gas Corporation of an average pre-tax return of 3·5 per cent. on average net assets at current cost, which expires on 31 March 1983. Detailed pricing decisions within the overall financial framework set by the Government are a matter for the corporation. British Gas has said that it will apply any increases in industrial contract prices that might be necessary after the present freeze expires on 1 March 1982 in a gradual and phased manner, and taking into account market conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy by what proportion the electricity costs borne by the French and West German steel industries are greater than those paid by the steel industry in the United Kingdom.

I regret that this information is not available on an industry-wide basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in the light of the action taken in Italy which is designed to subsidise the production of steel by electric arc furnace at the cost to Italian national funds of £32 million in a full year, he will take comparable action to improve national support.

I am keeping the position of large users of electricity under review. It is, however, relevant that according to the figures in the NEDC report on industrial energy prices, the Italian concession would not take Italian electricity prices to electric arc furnaces below the range identified in the report for England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the prices paid by industrial users of electricity requiring over 40 megawatts per year in Belgium, West Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and in the United Kingdom.

The most recent available information—as at 1 October 1981—is contained in the report of the National Economic Development Council on industrial energy prices. A copy of this has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has considered the conclusions of the study of energy prices carried out on behalf of the steel industry which has been accepted by the NEDO iron and steel sector working party; and what action he proposes to take as a result of that consideration.

This report supports that of the NEDC task force in showing a substantial improvement during the year in the position of large energy users in the steel industry. I am keeping under review the position on electricity, where significant disparities still remain with France and Germany, but it would be unrealistic to expect major price reductions, given the costs faced by the supply industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the draft law of Guernsey, entitled the Housing (Control of Occupation) (Guernsey) Law 1981, does not breach the European Convention on Human Rights; and how long he expects to take in considering whether the draft law should be approved.

In 1978 the European Commission of Human Rights ruled that Guernsey's existing housing laws do not contravene the European Convention on Human Rights. Consideration of the 1981 draft Law, which is based on the existing legislation but with some amendments, will have regard to the requirements of the European Convention and is proceeding as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Ormskirk on 27 October 1981, Official Report, col. 725, he will make a statement on the further consideration he has given to the matter of defusing explosive devices when the only danger is to property, and of his discussions with the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis.

I shall write to the hon. Member when my consultations with the Commissioner have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested as being illegal immigrants in each month since January 1981; for each monthly figure how many were discovered as they passed through customs points at United Kingdom ports and airports; and how many were arrested having been resident in the United Kingdom for more than one day.

The number of illegal entrants detected is published quarterly in the Home Office statistical bulletin, "Control of Immigration Statistics", copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. The figures for the first two quarters of this year were 330 and 230 respectively, and those for the third quarter will be published today. The information requested in the second and third parts of the question is not available, but people who are detected at ports and airports attempting to enter the United Kingdom illegally are refused leave to enter and are not treated as illegal entrants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission on 1 November 1981.

The number is 166, of whom 22 were part-time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed by the Commission for Racial Equality on 1 November 1981; and how this figure compares with the figure for 1 November 1980.

On 1 November 1981, 207 staff were employed of whom three were part-time. This compares with 218½ staff on 1 November 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about bullying in young offender establishments, and its effects on the bullies and their victims; whether any research or other investigation is in progress; and whether inmates are given any information as to action they can take if they become the victims of bullying.

The staff of young offenders' establishments is alert to the problem of bullying and continous efforts are made to prevent and control it. Reports of bullying have been made from time to time, and problems at particular establishments have been investigated. An assessment is being prepared of the nature and extent of bullying in young offenders' establishments, in the light of which the need for further preventive action or further investigation or research will be considered. Young offenders received into custody are advised during their induction period of the risk of bullying amongst young people in institutions, and they are encouraged to report any bullying so that staff can investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders under 21 years of age in institutions are in segregation for their own protection; and what information is available about their ages and the length of time they have spent in segregation.

Statistics are not held centrally, but the information available indicates that about 50 young offenders are segregated in their own interests, of whom a few are aged under 17. About 20 have been segregated for one month or less and a small number for more than six months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in Buckley Hall detention centre, what is the certified normal accommodation, the current population and the highest population in the current year; how many present inmates are medically or mentally unfit; and how many such boys were received in the last period for which figures are available; how many present inmates are receiving remedial education and how many are assessed as requiring it.

The certified normal accommodation is 139, the population on 18 November was 137, and this year's highest population was 150. On 18 November 17 inmates were in hospital or excluded from certain activities on the direction of the medical officer; and 80 inmates have been subject to such directions in the current year. Twenty-one inmates were assessed as requiring, and were receiving, remedial education.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the establishments under Government control which experiment upon animals in the United Kingdom; which species of animals are experimented upon at each establishment; and how many animals, listed by species, died while being experimented upon at these establishments during 1980 and so far in 1981.

A list of places registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 is placed annually in the House of Commons Library; The latest list was so placed in September 1981. To identify all the establishments on that list which are under Government control would involve disproportionate cost.Statistics of experiments on living animals under the Act, by species of animal, are presented to Parliament annually. Statistics are available only for the number of experiments started in any particular year; the latest are for experiments started in 1980—Cmnd 8301. Analyses by type of registered place are given in tables 12, 13 arid 20. It is not the practice to give information about the work of individual establishments; as explained in paragraph 6 of Cmnd 8301, licensees submit their returns in confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of transferring prisoners to remand hearings before magistrates by private transport in 1980–81.

The information is not available in the form requested. In 1980–81 £2·9 million was spent on the private hire of vehicles for the transport of prisoners, but that included journeys to other courts besides magistrates' courts, inter-prison transfers, visits to hospital, and so on. Sometimes a single journey serves several purposes. It is intended to undertake some analysis of the hire costs for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department carried out of day centres for young offenders and discharged prisoners in England and Wales; if he will publish these; what conclusions have been drawn; and if he will make a statement.

A survey of day centres and their use by courts and the probation service has recently been completed. I am arranging for a copy of the report—Home Office research unit paper 4—to be placed in the Library of the House. The survey shows that the number of day centres is increasing; it describes the range of facilities offered and the way in which they are used. We welcome the development of this method of dealing with offenders in the community. Further research is planned into the effectiveness of day centres when used by courts as an alternative to imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many day centres there are for young offenders and discharged prisoners in England and Wales; and if he will show the numbers in each region and the populations they are expected to serve.

The latest available information shows that in February this year there were 79 day centres managed by the probation service or voluntary organisations which were open at least three days a week and which catered for offenders, including young offenders, and for discharged prisoners under after-care supervision. I am writing to the hon. Lady about the geographical distribution of these centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in accordance with procedures laid out in the Civil Service Department's guide on non-departmental public bodies, he has recently carried out checks on staff numbers and gradings in the Equal Opportunities Commission; and whether these have enabled him to identify areas for savings in expenditure and manpower in either the commission or his Department.

The Equal Opportunities Commission is subject to periodic staff inspections in the same way as Home Office departments and I am satisfied that these arrangements are adequate. The first review of the Commission on the basis of the procedures set out in the Civil Service Department guide is provisionally arranged for 1982.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received a copy of the memorandum prepared by the Food Manufacturers Federation, entitled "The European Economic Community Economy and the United Kingdom Food Industry"; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received a copy of the Food Manufacturers' Federation's memorandum and have discussed it with its President. I complimented the Federation on producing a valuable and interesting document. I made clear the importance I attach to the wellbeing of our food processing industry and welcomed the fact that the Federation's thinking on the common agricultural policy is broadly in line with the Government's own.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she will give, at the latest and most convenient stated date, the total number of top civil servants in each of the 12 highest paid grades and their salaries; and how many of these come from the various stated ethnic groups.

The numbers of staff in each of the 12 highest paid general service grades and their salaries are given in the following table. Information on the ethnic origin of staff is not recorded.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total cost of newspapers and periodicals supplied to the Civil Service.

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total cost of running libraries within the Civil Service.

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the criteria controlling the provision of Government hospitality; and how often a review of the criteria is carried out.

The role of the Government hospitality fund is to provide certain facilities for distinguished non-British visitors from Foreign and Commonwealth countries, of at least ministerial status, who have been invited to the United Kingdom as official guests of Her Majesty's Government. The fund also organises for overseas visitors of similar status or rank.The rules for the administration of the fund have in essence remained unchanged since 1921, although in 1963 amendments were made to provide for the inclusion of limited hospitality arrangements to be made for Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conferences in the United Kingdom, and later it was decided that from 1972 expenditure in respect of State visits would fall to the fund.The rules approved by Parliament are set out in the Supply Estimates (Central management of the Civil Service) class XIII, 12, main note, section V, Government hospitality fund.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the annual cost of Government hospitality for each of the last five years at constant prices.

Government Departments are responsible for their own expenditure on hospitality. Details of this expenditure are not held centrally and could not be obtained except at a disproportionate cost. However, the annual cost of the Government hospitality fund in cash terms and at constant 1980–81 prices is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children and young adults are diagnosed as suffering from cystic fibrosis.

It is estimated that 15 children a year in Northern Ireland are diagnosed as suffering from cystic fibrosis. The annual incidence is 54 per 100,000 live births.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade in view of difficulties encountered by the Office of Fair Trading in being voluntarily furnished with all necessary information by the British Antique Dealers' Association and the Society of London Art Dealers for the purposes of investigation into the alleged collusion by Christie's and Sotheby's in connection with the introduction in 1975 of the buyers' premium, whether he will introduce legislation to provide that the Office of Fair Trading may require the provision of such information.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for legislation at present, although he continues to keep the working of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade further to the letter from the Minister for Consumer Affairs to the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde of 12 November 1981, if he will elaborate on the efforts referred to by the right hon. Lady to increase the publicity of consumers' rights under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

The Office of Fair Trading published leaflets for the guidance of both traders and consumers in 1977 when the provisions of the Act relating to credit references came into operation. Since then, the OFT has conducted an extensive publicity programme through widely distributed consumer leaflets, shoppers' booklets, posters and contacts with local radio and newspapers aimed at increasing public awareness of these statutory provisions. This programme is continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will consider amendment of the Trade Descriptions Acts to bring advertisements for press bingo within their scope.

I am not aware of any need for new legislation in this area, but I will of course consider carefully any representations made to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether Her Majesty's Government have formally invited the United Nations negotiating conference on a common fund under the integrated programme for commodities to locate the headquarters of the common fund in London.

It was formally recorded at the fourth session of the interim committee of the United Nations negotiating conference on a common fund in April 1980 that the United Kingdom Government hoped and wished that the headquarters of the fund would be based in London. The subsequent agreement provides for the governing council of the fund to decide the location of its headquarters and any other offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much coal was imported during the first nine months of 1981 by country of origin; and what was the average price per tonne of coal imported from each country.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 November 1981 c.17]: The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of United Kingdom exports went to Commonwealth countries in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 November 1981, c. 266]: United Kingdom exports to the Commonwealth, expressed as a percentage of total exports in the years requested, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what evidence he has that a plastic spinning toy imported from Taiwan and costing £1 is dangerous; how many have been imported into the United Kingdom; how many accidents have been reported; and if he will ban any further imports.

[pursuant to her reply, 23 November 1981, c. 275]: I have at present no evidence that any plastic spinning toys imported from Taiwan are dangerous and no figures for imports of such goods are available. However, my Department has been concerned for some time at reports of toys described sometimes as "Space Saucers" breaking into pieces in use and scattering fragments of the plastic casing. Some of these were said to be imported from the Far East. The Department accordingly advised the trade associations representing United Kingdom manufacturers and importers how these toys could be strengthened to prevent shattering and some specimens appear to have been modified accordingly. Very recently a few accidents involving injury from "Space Saucers" have been reported in the media, but none reported as due to those made in Taiwan. I understand that as a result of one of these accidents a United Kingdom manufacturer has recalled his products with a view to manufacturing a safer version. Some specimen "Space Saucers" from Taiwan are to be examined by the Department and I understand a local authority is also examining such products from various sources. I shall consider what further steps may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will use his powers to prohibit the supply of cosmetic make-up kits bearing the brand names (a) Aroma, (b) Prince, (c) Rohn, (d) Fashion Blender, (e) Meyssa and (f) Bouodir originating in Taiwan, in view of the South Yorkshire county council consumer protection department's finding that these products contain dangerous concentrations of lead.

[pursuant to her reply, 23 November 1981, c. 275]: In the last few days my Department has received reports of cosmetic make-up kits on sale, including the six brands in question, and originating in Taiwan, that contain lead contrary to the Cosmetic Product Regulations 1978. Enforcement of the regulations is a matter for local authorities and I understand that the South Yorkshire county council consumer protection department has the matter in hand, as have some other local authorities. My Department is taking steps to alert local authorities generally and is publishing a press notice to warn the general public.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate as an anti-competitive practice the contract negotiated between Sportsworld Travel, the Spanish Football Association and the Federated International Football Association for the supply of tickets for the World Cup series.

[pursuant to her reply, 23 November 1981, c. 275]: I understand that the Director General of Fair Trading has already looked into this matter. But as the decision to award exclusive franchises was taken in Spain by the Spanish authorities, he has concluded that he has no powers to take any action under United Kingdom competition legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how long the appeal by Wooton Roadstone Ltd. against the West Glamorgan county council's refusal to grant permission for the extraction of sand and gravel from a site at Llansamlet, Swansea, has been pending; and when he expects to announce his decision.

The company made two appeals in respect of proposed development of this site; one on 1 November 1979 and one on 4 February 1981. The first was held in abeyance at the company's request until November 1980 and both appeals are now being considered together by way of written representations.The exchanges of the parties' representations were completed in August 1981; an inspector visited the site on 22 September and his report is now being considered. A joint decision will be issued as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent staff shortages in his Department are delaying decisions on planning appeals.

The sections of the Welsh Office concerned are fully staffed and appeals will continue to be dealt with as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average time that a patient diagnosed as needing a hip replacement has to wait for admission for the operation in each of the main centres in Wales where such operations are carried out; and what is the waiting list for each hospital mentioned and for each orthopaedic surgeon where more than one surgeon carries out hip replacement.

This information is not centrally available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place the Wales Council for the Deaf on the list of organisations that receive annual grants from the Welsh Office.

We are not satisfied that the council has made a case to justify financial assistance from Government funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether, in accordance with procedures laid out in the Civil Service Department's guide on non-departmental public bodies, he has recently carried out checks on staff numbers and gradings in the Welsh Water Authority; and whether these have enabled him to identify areas for savings in expenditure and manpower in either the authority or his Department;(2) whether, in accordance with procedures laid out in the Civil Service Department's guide on non-departmental public bodies, he has recently carried out checks on staff numbers and gradings in the Sports Council for Wales; and whether these have enabled him to identify areas for savings in expenditure and manpower in either the council or his Department;(3) whether, in accordance with procedures laid out in the Civil Service Department's guide on non-departmental public bodies, he has recently carried out checks on staff numbers and gradings in the Wales Tourist Board; and whether these have enabled him to identify areas for savings in expenditure and manpower in either the board or his Department;(4) whether, in accordance with procedures laid out in the Civil Service Department's guide on non-departmental public bodies, he has recently carried out checks on staff numbers and gradings in the Welsh Development Agency; and whether these have enabled him to identify areas for savings in expenditure and manpower in either the agency or his Department;(5) whether, in accordance with procedures laid out in the Civil Service Department's guide on non-departmental public bodies, he has recently carried out checks on staff numbers and gradings in the Development Board for Rural Wales; and whether these have enabled him to identify areas for savings in expenditure and manpower in either the board or his Department.

A programme of comprehensive and periodic reviews of the Welsh Water Authority, Sports Council for Wales, Wales Tourist Board, Welsh Development Agency and Development Board for Rural Wales has been planned according to the procedures for reviews of executive bodies set out in section 7 of "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: a Guide for Departments". In addition, there are arrangements to monitor the staffing levels of these bodies through staff inspections and/or regular returns of manpower statistics. Savings have been achieved wherever possible both in the bodies concerned and in my Department, and I shall look to the periodic reviews to identify any further scope for reductions. The Welsh Water Authority is being reviewed this year: in July I published a consultation paper in which I set out my proposals for a reduction in the size of the authority which would lead to savings in expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the potential export sales of a Sea Wolf surface-to-air anti-missile missile incorporating the VM40 tracker radar.

It is too early to make any reliable estimate of export sales for the improved Sea Wolf system.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his policy to allow the public access to the beach through his Department's land at Mellon Charles, Loch Ewe, Wester Ross, Scotland.

Any request for access to the beach through the land at the Royal Navy establishment, Mellon Charles, would be considered. There may be occasions when, for security or safety reasons, such a request could not be granted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals for asking questions about racial origins at unemployment benefit offices.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 13 November—[Vol. 12 c. 203]—to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what leakages of radioactive iodine have been reported to the Health and Safety Inspectorate under regulation 7 of the Ionising Radiations (Unsealed) Regulations during the last six months.

None. One case of a release of radioactive iodine, from the British Nuclear Fuels Limited site at Sellafield, Cumbria, was reported to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive on 6 October 1981 under separate arrangements which exist for the notification of incidents at nuclear installations. The circumstances of this release were described by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Energy in reply to the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) on 19 October—[Vol. 10 c. 80–81].

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the names of bodies who are independent of the Manpower Services Commission and are in receipt of funds from the Commission and the amounts and purposes of their funding.

The Manpower Services Commission funds a very large number of bodies independent of it, and for a variety of purposes. These include local authorities and voluntary bodies providing sheltered employment for severely disabled people, colleges of further education providing training for adults under the training opportunities scheme, and the many sponsors providing places for unemployed young people under the youth opportunities programme. It would not be possible to list the names of these bodies, and the amounts and purposes of their funding, except at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage of the total work force employed in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom for each year since 1977.

In the following table the numbers of employees in employment in manufacturing industries in the United Kingdom at June each year are expressed as percentages of those in all industries and services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been made redundant in the cane sugar refining industry in the United Kingdom in each year since the United Kingdom entered the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

There are no comprehensive statistics of redundancies and the available data do not separately distingusih redundancies in the cane sugar refining industry from those in the sugar processing industry generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) from which areas his Department has received reports that some unemployed people are refusing to take work offered them because the wage offered was less than £120 a week; and if he will make a statement;(2) what surveys the Manpower Services Commission is undertaking of the numbers of people in different areas who are allegedly refusing the offer of work because the pay does not exceed £100 a week;(3) which towns in Great Britain have been earmarked for special investigation by officials because of suspicions that people drawing unemployment benefit are refusing work because they consider the pay not to be high enough.

My Department has received no reports that some unemployed people are refusing to take work because the wage offered was less than 120 per week, nor is the Manpower Services Commission undertaking any surveys into the number of people refusing an offer of work because the pay does not exceed £100 per week. No towns have been earmarked for special investigation for people refusing work because they consider the pay too low.Social security legislation provides that anyone who refuses, without good cause, a suitable job can be disqualified from receiving benefit for up to six weeks. The legislation does not define "suitable", and people are disqualified for refusing jobs with wages considerably less than £100. In the 12 months from January-December 1980 approximately 9,000 disqualifications for refusing suitable work were imposed.From October 1982 registration for employment at jobcentres will be voluntary and the testing of a person's availability for work will become the responsibility of the benefit authorities. This is a considerable administrative change which will need testing, and so from January 1982 an initial availability test will be piloted in 15 selected offices. This test will involve asking all new claimants, at the beginning of their claim, whether they would take any full-time job they can do. If they reply "No" they will be required to complete a fuller questionnaire designed to find out whether the restrictions, for example, hours, pay, they are putting on the work they would take, are reasonable. Cases which appear unreasonable will be referred to the independent adjudicating authorities who decide all questions of entitlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the cost of the addition of a further 20,000 school leavers on to the employment register in one year.

No single estimate can be made of the costs of additions to the numbers of unemployed school leavers. Estimates would require assumptions to be made concerning a large range of factors including the nature of the activities which would have been undertaken by the school leavers had they not been unemployed. The results would be highly dependent upon the assumptions used and would yield a range of figures so wide as to be virtually useless.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the comparative figures for each European Economic Community member country, including the United Kingdom, with regard to the use of social fund money for the occupational and professional retraining of women and girls; by whom such courses are conducted; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that the information requested is not available, although there is no doubt that the European social fund makes a significant contribution to the training of women and girls throughout the Community.Social fund assistance goes towards training programmes for both men and women without discrimination under the fund's various fields of intervention, in addition to the relatively small section of the Fund specifically concerned with schemes for women over the age of 25. Substantial numbers of women and girls are therefore included in applications to the fund, from all member States, for schemes which are open to both sexes—such as the youth opportunities programme and the training opportunities programme in the United Kingdom. In its annual report concerning the social fund in 1980, the European Commission estimates that just over 30 per cent. of all beneficiaries under the social fund were women. Although precise figures are not available, the proportion in the United Kingdom was probably higher.In 1981, the United Kingdom has secured assistance worth 141 million from the social fund—25·1 per cent. of total allocations. This allocation is in respect of schemes operated by the Manpower Services Commission, the Department of Manpower Services in Northern Ireland, other Government Departments, local authorities, nationalised industries, private firms, voluntary organisations and other bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Manpower Services Commission has examined blind homeworkers schemes; who is giving evidence to the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Disabled People working party; when the report is expected; and if he will make a statement.

The blind homeworkers schemes are currently being examined by a working party established by the National Advisory Council for the Employment of Disabled People. The working party's terms of reference cover the provision of homeworking facilities for severely disabled people generally and are not limited to schemes for blind workers.The working party has met twice and heard evidence from the MSC and Remploy Ltd. Invitations to give evidence have been sent to 19 other bodies who are directly involved in the existing schemes or known to have an interest, and a press notice has been issued inviting any other interested persons or bodies to make their views known to the working party. It is expected that the working party will report to the National Advisory Council about the middle of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the criteria for the appointment of disablement resettlement officers and blind persons' resettlement officers and the arrangements that are made for their training; whether he is satisfied with them taking into account the increasing difficulty that blind and disabled people face in obtaining work at a time of high unemployment and the fact that technological advances have increased the range of special aids that are available to assist blind and disabled people in their work; and if he will make a statement.

The Manpower Services Commission appoint disablement resettlement officers and blind persons' resettlement officers from staff who have already demonstrated during their time as employment advisers that they have the personal qualities and abilities to undertake the additional demands of this work.Disablement resettlement officers all receive basic training as employment advisers. In addition to this basic training they receive seven weeks' specialist training designed to equip them to interview disabled people and assess their employment capacity; encourage employers to employ disabled people; and publicise the assistance the Manpower Services Commission provides for disabled people. Further on-the-job training is provided on an individual basis by senior disablement resettlement officers.Blind persons' resettlement officers who have been trained as disablement resettlement officers also receive additional on-the-job training. Further specific training in helping visually handicapped people is given, including visits to a wide a range of organisations concerned with helping the blind.The Manpower Services Commission keeps training needs of disablement resettlement officers and blind persons' resettlement officers under review in order to ensure that they are kept abreast of technological and other changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what representations he has received about the dilution of the disablement resettlement officer and blind persons' resettlement officer services; if he will list the organisations which have expressed concern about such dilution; if he is aware of the possible hardships such dilution will cause to disabled people seeking employment; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many full-time disablement resettlement officers and blind persons' resettlement officers have been employed by the Manpower Services Commission each year since 1970; whether the staffing levels of these specialist placing services are related to the numbers of blind, partially sighted and disabled people seeking employment, whether registered disabled or not, and to the general level of unemployment in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the organisations responsible for safety on the youth opportunities programme.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many schemes there are in operation similar to the index project training scheme run by Pilkington Ltd.; if he will encourage the establishment of further such schemes; and if he will make a statement about their effectiveness.

The index scheme is funded under the youth opportunities programme and offers induction, work experience and training to unemployed young people. Detailed information on the numbers of such schemes is not available and they may be organised in different ways. The Government and the Manpower Services Commission are, however, keen to encourage more schemes offering a comprehensive preparation for working life.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether in accordance with procedures laid out in the Civil Service Department's guide on non-departmental public bodies, he has recently carried out checks on staff numbers and gradings in the Manpower Services Commission; and whether these enabled him to identify areas for savings in expenditure and manpower in either the commission or his Department.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the new training board for the offshore industry will be responsible for the financing of the Fort William underwater training centre; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 November 1981. c. 299]: No. The future of the underwater training centre is, and always has been, dependent upon industry's need for and use of the facility and its willingness to finance it, and not on any new statutory arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to change the contract arrangements for the Fort William underwater training centre.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 November 1981, c. 299]: Discussions with industry on the future of the underwater training centre have reached an advanced stage. I expect to be able to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will include small and medium-sized farm and horticultural businesses in his programme of aid to small industrial manufacturing businesses.

The farm and horticulture sector benefits from almost all the measures we have introduced for small businesses together with other longer established forms of financial assistance for the sector. The loan guarantee scheme launched this year is not available for agriculture and horticulture, for which a similar Government supported scheme has been operated for many years by the Agricultural Credit Corporation Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what regard he had to the 13·6 per cent. increase in unemployment in Halifax during the last year in reaching his decision not to resore Calderdale's assisted area status after 1982.

In taking decisions about assisted area status my right hon. Friend is required by the Industry Act 1972 to take account of a number of factors. One of these is the state of unemployment. The latest available figures show that the unemployment rate in Halifax is below that for the country as a whole, as was the average rate there for the whole of last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will report on the results so far of the loan guarantee scheme for small businesses and co-operatives, in terms of the number of ventures assisted and amount of money guaranteed.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on Monday 9 November to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page).—[Vol. 12, c. 292.]

the Lord Privy Seal whether he will outline the factors which led the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs not to deliver page 13 of his typed speech to the Conservative Friends of Israel in London on 2 November; and whether that page is also to be taken as representing the official policy of his Department.

My right hon. and noble Friend omitted one page from the typed version circulated beforehand for reasons connected with the overall shape of the speech. The authorised text of the speech is the text delivered. However, the page omitted is fully in accordance with Government policy.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if the Foreign Secretary's recent statement, made immediately prior to his Middle East tour, about United Nations partiality toward the South West Africa People's Organisation marks any significant change in United Kingdom foreign policy regarding Namibia.

No. Her Majesty's Government, together with partners in the Western Five, continue to work for a peaceful settlement in Namibia on the basis of the United Nations plan endorsed by Security Council resolution 435.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, when the internal parties of Namibia and the South West African People's Organisation offer themselves for election in 1983, any controls will be imposed on the scale of funds and scope of activities at the disposal of those parties.

Under the United Nations plan for a Namibia settlement, regulations for the conduct of the elections are a matter for decision by the Administrator General, subject to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General being satisfied as to the fairness and promptness of all measures affecting the political process at all levels of administration before such measures take effect.