asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 December.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including one with the Brazilian Foreign Minister. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen, after which I shall attend a dinner given by Mr. Speaker.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the responsibilities of the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) as Under-Secretary of State for the Environment.

My hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) assists the Minister for Housing and Construction on housing; construction industries; new towns; and the Property Services Agency. He also has special responsibilities for energy conservation and the Palace of Westminster.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the situation in Northern Ireland, and the measures being taken to uphold law and order in the Province.

Since my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made his statement to the House on 16 November two members of the UDR, one a former member, one a member of the RUC and one civilian have been murdered by terrorists. In addition, three policemen, two soldiers and a civilian have been injured, and a policeman and a civilian,, shot earlier by terrorists, have died of their injuries.The Army's Spearhead unit has been sent to Northern Ireland to provide additional military support for the RUC, particularly in border areas. The RUC has concelled all leave and training, and administrative duties have been reduced to a minimum to release more police for operational duties. Everything possible is being done to protect those most at risk, including part-time members of the security forces. But a good deal inevitably depends on the vigilance of such persons themselves.The security forces are doing their utmost to prevent further terrorist attacks and to bring the attackers to justice. Recent successes bear witness to the effectiveness of these efforts. The Government firmly believes that the right response to terrorist outrages is for the RUC, with the full support of the Army and the UDR, to continue to apply impartially the rule of law and bring the guilty to justice. The Government are absolutely committed to that aim. Any form of divisive action in the community will only make the task of the security forces more difficult and private armies will not be allowed to take over the work of the security forces.

asked the Prime Minister when next she proposes to meet the President of the United States of America.

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.

I have had no such meeting since 24 November.

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to meet the leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to tie the British Gas network into the European grid.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to collect information as to the numbers and percentage of helicopter-landing officers currently employed offshore who have attended the Scotans course at Aberdeen.

No. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to provide that trade unions should have the statutory right to nominate safety representatives to the appropriate safety committees on offshore installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea.

It has been agreed in principle that the requirements of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations 1977 (SI 1977 No. 500) which provide for the nomination of safety representatives by trade unions, should be applied offshore. This is proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether checks are made to ensure that all personnel concerned with safety in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea are fluent in English.

Such checks are not made. However, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 imposes a duty on every employer to ensure the safety of his employees. This would include a duty to ensure proper communication.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the risks involved, he will take steps to prohibit the practice of transfer of personnel by basket offshore, unless under emergency conditions or where a specific exemption has been sought.

No. My Department has already issued guidance on the use of personnel baskets. This indicates that baskets should be used only where there is no practical alternative.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that there is adequate provision of immersion suits at all times for personnel working on installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea.

The provision and value of immersion suits is under consideration by my Department in the light of the report of the Norwegian commission of inquiry into the loss of the "Alexander L. Keilland".

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to increase the number of safety inspectors available for the monitoring of offshore safety, and to provide that they should have access to offshore installations without prior notice to the operators.

No. The number of inspectors is at present adequate to discharge my Department's offshore responsibilities.Access to offshore installations without prior notice to the operators is not practicable.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about United Kingdom assistance to Baluchistan.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 31 July.—[Vol. 9, c. 576.] Since that reply, the £5 million grant for purchase of goods from Britain, to benefit Baluchistan, has been the subject of a formal exchange of letters. As a result of the grant, work has started on extension of electricity transmission lines between Qila Saifullah and Zhob—formerly Fort Sandeman—in northern Baluchistan. My officials are exploring the possibility of supporting new projects in Baluchistan.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the supply of European Economic Community surplus milk to Vietnam has been cut off; and for what reasons.

Food aid, including dairy products, to the Government of Vietnam from the European Community was suspended in July 1979 as a result of widespread concern at the large numbers of refugees forced to flee the country to avoid persecution.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has any evidence that subsidies given in foreign countries are reducing the cost of paper imports.

This issue, among others, has been thoroughly examined during the past year by a joint working party of officials of the Departments of Trade and of Industry and representatives of the British Paper and Board Industry Federation. With due regard to the equally important interests of British users of paper, my Department will continue to pursue with the European Commission any evidence of foreign subsidies unfairly distorting trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the month of September at an annual rate the deficit on the United Kingdom's visible trade with the European Economic Community Six in the case of (a) manufactures less precious stones and (b) total trade less crude oil and precious stones.

The figures are (a) £4·8 billion and (b) £5·7 billion. However, these figures should be treated with some caution as monthly trade data can be quite variable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will bring up to date the figures published in the Official Report on 31 July 1981 in reply to a written question from the hon. Member for Grimsby concerning the terms of trade and relative volume.

Information available is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with Japan's modification of her import and export policies with regard to the United Kingdom and that voluntary restraint understandings with the United Kingdom are being observed by Japan, particularly in the case of light commercial vehicles and cars; and if he will make a statement.

Voluntary restraint by the Japanese has in general worked reasonably well, though there has been cause for concern in the vehicles sector in 1980 and early in 1981. We now expect the share of the United Kingdom car market taken by Japanese manufacturers in 1981 as a whole to be significantly less than in 1980. Shipments of light commercial vehicles from Japan to the United Kingdom since the end of July have fallen sharply by comparison with the corresponding period in 1980, and this trend is expected to continue into 1982. I welcome this response to our representations. Both bilaterally and through the European Commission we shall continue to press the Japanese Government to take further steps to bring a more balanced trading relationship.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many company bankruptcies there were in August, September and October 1981; and of these, how many in each case were in manufacturing industries.

Figures for bankruptcies—of all individuals and partnerships—and company liquidations were published in British Business 20 November, page 536.Reliable monthly figures of company liquidations for the second and third quarters of 1981 are not available owing to the industrial action in the Civil Service. The monthly average for this period was 606 and the figure for October was 960. The corresponding figures on a seasonally adjusted basis are about 650 and 725.No industrial breakdown is available on a monthly basis; a breakdown for the second and third quarters together will be published in January.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will seek to introduce regulations requiring manufacturers or importers of household products containing solvents to make them in some way obnoxious so as to discourage the dangerous habit of glue-sniffing.

No. I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 17 November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider introducing proposals to provide that a percentage of the total rates paid shall be treated as an allowance against income tax.

The Government will shortly be publishing a Green Paper on alternatives to the present system of domestic rates. My hon. Friend's suggestion will be borne in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the total amount set off against profits in each of the past five years by (a) all firms and (b) manufacturing for investment in, respectively, increased stocks, plant and machinery and total investment.

This information has not hitherto been available. However, I hope that it will be possible to provide some estimates in the forthcoming Green Paper on corporation tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is considering making chambers of commerce liable for corporation tax and value added tax on documentation services provided by them.

I have no plans to alter the present corporation tax treatment of profits made by chambers of commerce or the value added tax treatment of documentation services which they provide. If my hon. Friend has a particular problem in mind, perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider taking value added tax off the hire purchase of cars leased under Motability.

No. Motability already benefits from a substantial VAT concession in that, exceptionally, input tax is deductible on cars which are bought for leasing through the organisation to disabled people. I could not justify giving additional VAT relief on the hire purchase or leasing of cars by Motability.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps further to encourage the installation of double glazing; and if he will ensure that it will continue to be zero rated.

The treatment under value added tax of the installation of double glazing, in common with that of building work generally, remains under review by Customs and Excise, particularly in the light of recent and pending court and VAT tribunal cases. I am not able to say what the outcome will be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the European Community Budget Council on 24 November.

The Budget Council on 24 November considered the amendments adopted by the European Parliament to the draft amending and supplementary budget No. 2 for 1981, established by the Finance Council on 19 October; the Council also considered the amendments and modifications by the Parliament to the draft 1982 budget, established on 23 July and amended on 19 October. I chaired the Budget Council, and my hon. Friend at present the Minister of State, Treasury represented the United Kingdom.The Council was preceded on 23 November by a constructive meeting with a delegation of the European Parliament, the members of which explained the Parliament's reasons for many of their amendments and modifications; Ministers responded with explanations of their Government's general attitudes to the Parliament's proposals. There was also a useful discussion on the difference of view between the Council and the Parliament on the classification of items within the Community budget as between the two categories of obligatory and non-obligatory expenditure, to which differing treaty provisions affecting the relative budgetary powers of the two institutions apply. There will be further discussion on this matter in due course.The Council rejected an amendment proposed by the Parliament to the 1981 amending and supplementry budget designed to add 62 million ecus—about £32 million at the rate of £1 equals 1·9118 ecu which I shall use for conversions in this statement—for a contribution to the ECSC for social measures in connection with restructuring of the steel industry, replacing this by a token entry accompanied by a declaration reaffirming member States' commitment to the agreement reached at the 24 June Steel Council and their determination to reach agreement of financing the measures needed to alleviate the social consequences of restructuring the European steel industry. This declaration would also apply to provision for this purpose in the 1982 Budget. The Council modified an amendment by the Parliament that would have increased by 10 million ecus—about £5 million—the special provision for food aid to Poland. The council decided that this sum should, like earlier sums, be provided from existing provision for the EAGGF guarantee section.For the obligatory expenditure in the 1982 draft budget, the Council considered the Parliament's proposal to delete from the 1982 draft budget, as amended, provision of 372 million ecus (about £195 million) for the consequences of monetary adjustments in October. The Council agreed to reduce the provision in the draft budget to 150 million ecus—about £78 million. The Council accepted a modification to reduce by 33 million ecus—about £17 million—the provision for aid for skimmed-milk powder for use as feed for calves, and rejected a proposal to add a similar sum to provision for the premium for suckler cows. The Council rejected eight proposals by the European Parliament which would together have added 79·11 million ecus—about £41 million—to the provision for food aid, but agreed to increase it by 15 million ecus—about £8 million—in the reserve chapter of the Budget.The Council had a prolonged discussion on the provision for non-obligatory expenditure. As indicated by my right hon. Friend the Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson), in his statement to the House on 31 July on the outcome of the Budget Council on 23 July 1981, the draft budget contains increases totalling 4·3 per cent. for commitment appropriations, and 14·5 per cent. for payment appropriations, above the level of corresponding provision in the 1981 budget. The European Parliament thereby had a margin, on the Council's classification, of 10·25 per cent.—425·8 million ecus, about £223 million—on commitments and 7·25 per cent—210·5 million ecus, about £110 million— on payments. The amendments that the Parliament had adopted totalled 1,070·3 million ecus—about £560 million—in commitments and 571·6 million ecus—about £299 million—in payments, representing increases on the draft budget of 24·7 and 17·2 per cent. respectively.The Budget Council decided not to increase the Parliament's margin on commitment appropriations; but the Council did agree to an increase of 30 million ecus—about £16 million—in the Parliament's margin for payments, which would result in a total margin for payments of 240·5 million ecus—about £126 million.Within this framework the Council adopted positions on the European Parliament's individual amendments to the 1982 draft budget. Among these were increases of 157 million ecus—about £82 million—in commitments, and 95 million ecus—about £50 million—in payments, for the regional fund, 174 million ecus—about £91 million—in commitments and 121 million ecus—about £63 million—in payments, for the social fund.The Council also agreed to increases of 30 million ecus—about £16 million—in commitments and 9 million ecus—about £5 million—in payments for microelectronics, and an increase of 25 million ecus—about £13 million—in commitments for co-operation with non-associated developing countries. The Council agreed to other small, amendments totalling 14·3 million ecus—about £7 million—in commitments and 5·6 million ecus—about £3 million—in payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the income tax age allowance.

The cost of the assessment of the age allowance in excess of the ordinary personal allowance is £400 million in a full year at 1981–82 income levels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief in total was given on covenants to charity in each of the last five years (a) in cash terms and (b) at constant 1980–81 prices; and if he will state for each year the basic rate of income tax.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide figures for the past year on (a) sterling lending by the banking system to the United Kingdom private sector and (b) sterling lending by banks to the personal sector, distinguishing between lending for house purchase and for other purposes.

The latest published figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in which public-sector occupations employees are eligible for any free medical service as part of their negotiated conditions of service.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 November 1981, c. 372.]: Employees in the Civil Service and National Health Service are not generally eligible for free medical services as part of their negotiated conditions of service unless they lack access to National Health Service facilities through working overseas, in which case they are provided with comparable facilities. Because of the special health requirements of military service, the Armed Forces receive free prescriptions and free dental treatment in addition to the same range of free services as is provided under the National Health Service. Whether this is relevant to the level of their pay is a matter for the Armed Forces Pay Review Body to consider in formulating its recommendations. My hon. Friend would need to approach the employers concerned for information on practice elsewhere in the public sector.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce proposals for increasing taxation on the private health sector.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1981, c. 431]: No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much total revenue is increased for each percentage point rise in the rate of inflation above the forecast in the last public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 8175).

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1981, c. 430]: The effect of an increase in the rate of inflation on total revenue depends on how the change arises and how the rest of the economy responds to the change in both the inflation rate and revenue. However, neglecting any second-round effects and assuming that nothing changes apart from an increase in all prices by 1 per cent., it is possible to estimate the direct effects on North Sea taxes, VAT, and car tax, which together account for the majority of revenue derived from price sensitive taxes. On this basis and given the forecasts for 1981–82 provided in the 1981 FSBR, there was no inflation forecast as such in the public expenditure White Paper, revenue from these sources would be estimated to rise by about £200 million in 1981–82, for each percentage point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the number of higher-rate taxpayers for each year since 1978–79;

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she will make a statement on the report by the team led by Sir Geoffrey Wardale on posts in the Civil Service at under-secretary level and above.

I have today arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.The review team examined a sample of senior administrative posts. Its report concludes that all the existing grade-levels are necessary, but that, judged by the principles that it has proposed, a number of senior posts can and should be removed. It recommends that there should be no presumption that all grades should be used in any one chain of command; that certain criteria should be met before a management level is justified; and, most important, that there should be regular reviews of senior posts, including examination by the Treasury.The Government accept the report's main conclusions and recommendations. All Departments are being asked to undertake a rigorous assessment of their senior Civil Service posts. Treasury officials and outside consultants will assist with the reviews. Sir Derek Rayner will also be associated with them. Decisions will be taken, including the setting of any targets and the period needed for rundown after the departmental reviews have been completed and assessed in the first half of next year. Thereafter there will be regular reviews as proposed in the report.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is conducting a similar review of senior diplomatic service posts in London. Senior officers of the Armed Forces will be included in the review made by the Ministry of Defence.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1981, c. 430]: The information required to update table 1.2 which includes estimates of the number of higher rate taxpayers for each year since 1978–79, is given in the following table:Many senior Civil Servants carry a heavy burden of work in the service of the nation. Neither the report nor this response by the Government call that into question. The issue to be examined is how far the work can be organised more economically and flexibly, with greater delegation of authority, in order to secure the better use of the high abilities of a smaller number in the top ranks of the Service.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the average cost involved in answering each individual oral or written parliamentary question.

The current estimated average cost is £56 for oral answers and £34 for written answers.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what representations he has received from the London borough of Hillingdon requesting that officials of the council should have access to Crown premises in the borough to carry out food hygiene inspections; when he expects to be able to reach a decision; and if he will make a statement.

The London borough of Hillingdon have asked to be given access to Crown premises in the borough to carry out food hygiene inspections under the Food and Drugs Act 1955. I am sorry that this has taken so long, but I expect a decision to be reached very soon and I shall then write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average annual increase in the price of (a) sugar, (b) milk, (c) bread and (d) beef to the consumer since 1973; and what have been the comparable increases in the guaranteed price for producers of (i) sugar, (ii) milk, (iii) wheat and beef.

It is not possible to supply the information in the form requested because United Kingdom guaranteed prices were phased out following accession to the Community. Since 1973 the retail food price index has increased by approximately 205 per cent., whereas the all products index of agricultural producer prices has increased by approximately 140 per cent. The average annual increase in consumer prices and in agricultural producer prices for the products listed are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Food and Drink Industries Council; and what matters are expected to be discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish tables showing the number of unemployed in Dundee by age group, sex, and, where appropriate, standard industrial classification of last employment.

I meet the chairman frequently. The next occasion will be on 9 December when I speak at the Food and Drink Industries' Council seminar on "The Future for Food". Aspects of that subject are likely to be the main topics of discussion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet the president of the Dairy Trades Federation; and what matters are expected to be discussed.

I do not at present have any meetings arranged with the president of the Dairy Trades Federation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many companies have ceased operations in Dundee since May 1979 and how many jobs have been lost; how many additional firms have notified redundancies; and how many jobs were involved.

Comprehensive information on redundancies and closures is not available. Between 1 May 1979 and 31 October 1981, 24 instances of redundancy involving 10 or more people and resulting in factory closure have been notified to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in Dundee, with the loss of 903 jobs. In the same period, another 52 firms have notified redundancies affecting 6,381 workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers unemployed in Dundee and Scotland on a percentage basis as follows: (a) up to one year, (b) one to two years, (c) over two and under three years and (d) three years and over.

The following table gives an analysis by duration of unemployment of the numbers registered as unemployed in Dundee and Scotland on 8 October 1981, the latest date for which information is available.

Analyses of the unemployment register by age group and by standard industrial classification are undertaken quarterly, but in different months; it is not possible, therefore, to compare the two analyses directly. The following table shows the numbers registered as unemployed in Dundee, analysed by age group and sex, on 8 October 1981, the latest date for which this information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average domestic rate payment per week for ratepayers in Dundee paying rates to Dundee district and Tayside region in 1979–80; and what is the current average payment.

The average weekly domestic rate payment, excluding water rate, in Dundee was £2·36 in 1979–80 and £4·59 in 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the registered number of vacancies by standard industrial classification order in Dundee.

On 6 November 1981 there were 325 vacancies notified to the employment office and one notified to the careers office in Dundee remaining unfilled. The following table gives an analysis by standard industrial classification of the vacancies notified to the employment office. The figures do not purport to be a measure of all vacancies in Dundee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total annual number of complaints about doctors made to the Scottish health boards; how many complaints are upheld; and how much compensation has been paid out to patients who have legitimate complaints against doctors.

In 1980 there were 80 complaints investigated by health boards of possible breaches of general practitioners' terms of service; in eight of these the complaint was upheld. The statutory regulations do not provide for compensation to patients; but it would be open to a complainer to take action for negligence at common law in order to claim damages.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will designate Dundee as an educational priority area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in tabular form in the Official Report the value of livestock support mechanisms in terms of the amounts of the following commodities the total subsidy pertaining to a 100 hill cow herd assuming a 90 per cent. calving rate would purchase in the years 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981, and the projected figures for 1982: (a) average quality hay, (b) hill cow cobs, (c) tractor diesel oil, (d) lime (delivered and spread) and (e) 15–15–21 fertiliser.

The following information is as close to that requested as can readily be produced:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has reached conclusions on his consultations about the reduction of accommodation in list D schools; and if he will make a statement.

In the light of my consultations with interested parties on the current position in the list D

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in tabular form in the Official Report the value of livestock support mechanisms in terms of the amounts of the following commodities the total subsidy pertaining to a 1,000 hill ewe flock, all eligible for the higher rate, would purchase in the years 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and the projected figures for 1982: (a) average quality hay, (b) hill cow cobs, (c) tractor diesel oils, (d) lime (delivered and spread) and (e) 15–15–21 fertiliser.

The following information is as close to that requested as can readily be produced.schools, where there is a large and continuing over-provision of approved places, I have concluded that I should not meantime withdraw my certificate of approval from St. John Bosco's school, Aberdour, or from Tynepark school, Haddington, but that I should withdraw my certificate of approval from St. Ninian's school, Gartmore. The managers of the schools are being informed, and I am asking the managers of Tynepark to discuss the future function of the school with Lothian regional council.I should like at this time to acknowledge the high standard of care and education which St. Ninian's school has provided for children who have sent to it in the past.I recognise that, even with the withdrawal of the certificate of approval from St. Ninian's School, there will remain a substantial excess in the number of places in the list D schools for boys as against present demand, particularly in the schools in Grampian and Tayside. I have accordingly decided that the number of approved places at certain schools should be reduced. The managers of the schools concerned are being informed. As regards in particular Balgay and Balgowan schools in Dundee, I am grateful for the efforts already made by the managers to work towards a merger of the two schools, and my Department will give every possible assistance to the Managers in carrying their plans forward: my aim is to secure a reduction in the combined provision of the two schools from 125 places to about 50.The overall effect of these changes will be to reduce the number of approved places in the list D schools from a total of 1,548 at present to about 1,220.I shall continue to keep under review the scale of provision in the list D schools in the light of demands being made upon the services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places in list D schools were approved by him; how many pupils were on the rolls of the schools at the latest convenient date; and if he will indicate the highest and lowest occupancy of the schools during 1981, with comparable figures for 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.

The position on 1 November 1981 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to announce a decision on the lightweight radar tracker system to be used in the Seawolf point-defence missile system.

Evaluation of the two alternative tracker radars is taking rather longer than anticipated. But I expect that a decision will be announced within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will estimate the number of mothers in the South-West region who, following the birth of their child, register as unemployed in order to qualify for benefit;(2) if he will estimate the number of occupational pensioners such as teachers, civil servants and local government employees who retire at 60 to 64 years and who register as unemployed in the South-West region;(3) how many men who are legally separated from their families or divorced are registered as unemployed in the South-West region;(4) how many men and women have moved into the South-West from other areas and registered as unemployed in the last year.

The information is not available. It is not possible to distinguish from records held at employment offices, on which the unemployment figures are based, the particular characteristics requested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons now unemployed have been on the unemployment register for, respectively, one, two and three years in each of the past five years.

The following table gives information for the United Kingdom for October 1979, October 1980 and October 1981. Comparable information for earlier years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons (a) male and (b) female (i) over 18 years and (ii) under 18 years of age were registering for employment at the most recent convenient date in each of the regions of the United Kingdom.

The following table gives the numbers of unemployed males and females in the age group specified who were registered at 8 October in each region of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest numbers of unemployed persons in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands; how these figures compare with those for April 1979, showing a breakdown between males and females in each of the following age groups (i) under 18 years, (ii) under 25 years, (iii) over 55 years and (iv) over 60 years, respectively; and how many in each of these age groups (a) have never had a job and (b) have been unemployed for over a year.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the real and (b) the percentage increase in unit labour costs in manufacturing since May 1979 and the corresponding figures for the increases in earnings; whether he will include the corresponding figures for the decade ending in 1973; and if he will account for the differences, if any, in each case.

Estimates of unit labour costs in manufacturing are available only for calendar years, but over short periods a reasonable proxy is wages and salaries per unit of output. An indication of increases in costs in real terms can be obtained by a comparison with the retail prices index. The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on which issues he expects progress to be made during the British Presidency in the Social Council.

The European Community's Council of Ministers—Labour and Social Affairs—will meet in Brussels on 8 December. I hope we shall be able to make progress on a draft directive concerning the protection of workers from metallic lead, to consider the Commission's proposals on the social integration of disabled people and to agree amendments to Social Security regulations concerning migrant workers. There will also be a discussion of the forthcoming review of the European social fund and of European social policy. In addition, I hope that the Council will note progress on a draft directive concerning the protection of workers from asbestos and will accept the annual report on the social fund.Under the United Kingdom Presidency the Community has also started to discuss the social effects of technological change and the nature of the Community's response. Detailed proposals are not yet ready for Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech made on behalf of the Presidency to the Social Affairs and Employment Committee of the European Parliament.

Yes. I made the speech to the Committee on 9 November, describing the main items of work with which the United Kingdom Presidency was currently concerned in the social affairs field. A copy will be deposited in the Library shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his answer of 13 November to the hon. Member for West Flint, if he will list in the Official Report the contribution made in each year since 1973 by the European social fund to financing (a) the youth opportunities programme, (b) the training opportunities scheme, (c) the training for skills scheme, (d) work experience projects and (e) schemes for training in Northern Ireland.