asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the equivalence in useful fuel in terms of coal of 20,000 tonnes of depleted uranium and 12 tonnes of plutonium used in fast reactors.

20,000 tonnes of depleted uranium will, if fissioned in a fast reactor, produce the same amount of electricity as would be produced by burning 40,000 million tonnes of coal. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 3 March 1980 for information on the significance of the United Kingdom plutonium stock.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set up an inquiry to investigate the pricing of oil and petrol in the United Kingdom.

No. Neither the 1979 Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on petrol wholesaling, nor the February and November 1981 reports of the NEDC energy task force, found evidence of a failure of competition in the United Kingdom oil products market.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek powers to impose a ban on the export of crude oil from the North Sea; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list the participation agreements between himself, the British National Oil Corporation and the oil companies, indicating (a) the oilfields concerned in each of the agreements, (b) the date of the agreements and (c) the nature of each of these agreements.

Details of the companies with which participation agreements have been concluded were provided in my reply to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 26 October. A statement and summary of each agreement have been laid in the House under the certification procedure provided for in section 1(1) of the Participation Agreements Act 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how electricity prices to large industrial consumers in the United Kingdom have increased in 1981 compared with other European countries.

The recent report by the National Economic Development Council's energy task force indicated that since January electricity tariff increases had been higher in almost all other European countries. Actual increases depend on the consumer's pattern of consumption. The following are the percentages increases between 2 January and 1 October 1981 for consumers, in such industries as chemicals, glass, paper and textiles, with maximum demands of 2500kW and 60 per cent. load factor as indicated by the figures in tables 12 and 12A of the NEDC report:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the Scarman report, he will now review the need for resettlement grants as part of Her Majesty's Government's repatriation scheme.

We have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken by his Department and other enforcement authorities to stop illegal AM and single side band transmissions which cause serious interference on other domestic appliances as well as on the legal FM bands.

Within the limitations on manpower and resources, the radio interference service of British Telecom, which acts as our agent in these matters, is doing everything possible to trace users of illegal CB sets with a view to prosecuting them. The importation of CB sets which do not meet the requirements of the legal service is prohibited, and large numbers of such sets are seized by Her Majesty's Customs. We are considering the need for legislation to strengthen the existing enforcement powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet made a decision on the grant to the Voluntary Services Unit for 1981–82; and, if so, how much is to be allocated for this purpose.

The VSU as a division of the Home Office does not itself receive a grant, but at the discretion of Ministers is authorised to make grants to eligible voluntary organisations. Grants to the total of £2,625,291 have so far been authorised in 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he intends to legalise AM transmission on the 27 metre band, or any other frequency, in either the normal or single side band mode;(2) if it is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government to confine citizens band radio to FM transmissions and to exclude the possibility for the foreseeable future of amplitude modulation—AM—transmission.

Amplitude modulation is permitted in certain services where it will not cause widespread interference, but it is not an appropriate method of modulation for citizens band radio. We have no intention of authorising the use of AM for the citizens band service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to allocate additional bands to the 40 already allocated on the legal FM system to alleviate the overcrowding already becoming apparent in some parts of the United Kingdom.

No. We have no reason to suppose that the 40 channels allocated are insufficient. They represent the highest number allocated in the 27 MH2 Hz band anywhere in the world.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he takes steps to monitor the attitude of the West Indian community to voluntary and assisted repatriation; and if he will make a statement on any evidence he has collected in this regard.

I have no plans to undertake such monitoring or to review the Government's existing voluntary repatriation schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Metropolitan Police, division L, Lambeth, was excluded from special study by the Home Office study "Racial Attacks".

The areas for special study in the Metropolitan Police district were selected in early May to provide a reasonable cross-section. It would not have been right to have imposed any additional burden on the police in L district at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in his Department, with what rank and position in each case, were engaged on the Home Office study which was published in the report "Racial Attacks".

A large number of Home Office officials were engaged on this study at its different stages. There were six principal members of the study team: two assistant secretaries, and a principal from the police department, and an assistant secretary, principal and HEO(A) from the community programmes and equal opportunities department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 27 November, Official Report, column 477, what factors he took into consideration in deciding not to publish the evidence for the statements in paragraphs 62 and 74 of the Home Office study "Racial Attacks" relating to hon. Members and prominent public figures.

Information about individuals was given in confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet reached a decision on the publication of the report prepared by Mr. Gibson, the regional director of the south-east region of the prison department, on the incident at Her Majesty's prison, Wormwood Scrubs, on 31 August 1979.

I understand that the Director of Public Prosecutions has now indicated to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no criminal proceedings are justified against any person following the investigation by the Metropolitan Police into allegations by inmates against staff concerning the incident in D Wing at Wormwood Scrubs on 31 August 1979, and subsequent events. Following this conclusion, I have decided that the report prepared by Mr. Gibson should be published, together with a full account setting out the background, circumstances and action subsequently taken. This will be done as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 8 December.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Prime Minister whether she plans to initiate any discussions at ministerial level between the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

There have been several discussions at ministerial level between the United Kingdom and Malaysia recently. I am naturally disturbed at recent developments and hope that United Kingdom-Malaysian relations can soon be restored to their normal excellent level. It has been agreed with the Malaysian Government that my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs should visit Kuala Lumpur in early February when he will, of course, hope to discuss all this with them.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in accordance with United Kingdom support for human rights, Her Majesty's Government have made any representations on the subject to the Government of Pakistan.

No. The Pakistan Government are well aware of Her Majesty's Government's position on human rights, which has been made clear in the United Nations and elsewhere.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has received from the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany regarding the content of his discussions with President Brezhnev, in so far as those discussions dealt with Western defence policy; and what reply she has sent.

Chancellor Schmidt gave an account of his conversations with President Brezhnev in Bonn to the European Council on 26 and 27 November. The Chancellor described his discussions with President Brezhnev on disarmament, including the negotiations on long-range theatre nuclear forces which opened in Geneva on 30 November. I warmly welcomed Chancellor Schmidt's presentation and the opportunity which President Brezhnev's visit afforded the Chancellor to explain the full range of shared Western policies.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that wage rates in the nationalised industries should be in line with those paid by the private sector.

Much of the private sector has been under very considerable pressure recently, and this has been visible in many pay settlements. The Government have consistently stressed the need for nationalised industries similarly to hold down all their current costs, including unit labour costs.

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 Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the level of output in the economy.

The Government's policies are laying the foundations for sustainable economic recovery. Latest statistics show that output is now rising. Progress will largely depend on the extent to which we continue to improve competitiveness through more effective control of domestic costs.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will consider reducing the membership of the National Economic Development Council in order to make it a more effective body.

No. It is important to have an adequate range of interests represented on the council and I believe the present membership is about right.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to wind up the English Industrial Estates Corporation.

No, but I am very ready to listen to suggestions about how EIEC's operations can better help industry to prosper.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Littledown, Bournemouth.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to meet Mr. Brezhnev in the near future.

I have at present no plans to do SO.

asked the Prime Minister what proposals Her Majesty's Government intend to put forward at the United Nations special session on disarmament in 1982.

The Government see the special session as an important opportunity for the international community to review progress in disarmament. It will not itself be a forum for negotiation. A comprehensive programme of disarmament will be one of the principal subjects for discussion. In July this year, the United Kingdom, together with Australia, Belgium, West German and Japan, tabled a draft in the Committee on Disarmament which proposes a framework for arms control and disarmament negotiations involving a step-by-step approach.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move in the House a new Standing Order to require Select Committees to adjourn their meetings when a Division takes place in the Chamber and when important ministerial statements are being made.

No. These seem matters best left for Select Committees to decide for themselves.

asked the Lord President of the Council if, in view of the demands made on right hon. and hon. Members' time, he will re-consider the benefits or otherwise to the House of retaining the Select Committees.

No. Whilst I recognise that Select Committees make considerable demands on the time of hon. Members, they are an essential part of our proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people (a) in total, (b) males and (c) females were employed in the United Kingdom in July 1979 and July 1981.

Estimates of total employment are available quarterly, relating to March, June, September and December of each year. The following are seasonally adjusted estimates of the employed labour force in the United Kingdom as at June 1979 and June 1981. The employed labour force comprises employees in employment, the self-employed and Her Majesty's Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by age and type of disability the numbers of (a) registered and (b) unregistered disabled people who are unemployed.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each of the last 24 months for (a) registered disabled people and (b) unregistered disabled people (i) the number of placements by disablement resettlement officers, (ii) the unemployment rate and (iii) the number of placements as a percentage of unemployed.

The following table sets out, for each of the latest available two months (i) the number of placements of registered and unregistered disabled people by the Manpower Services Commissions resettlement staff, (ii) the unemployment rate for registered disabled people only and (iii) the number of placements of registered and unregistered disabled people as a

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent discussions he had with the Trades Union Congress and union representatives on contract cleaners; and whether he intends to take action as a result.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, Central (Mr. Grant) yesterday. —[Vol. 14, c. 288.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies currently are notified for the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area.

There are no comprehensive statistics of redundancies. The numbers of redundancies in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area, involving 10 or more employees, reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in the past four months are as follows.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will increase the amount of income which is disregarded for the purposes of a married couple obtaining the higher rate under the job retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement.

This matter is under consideration as part of the Government's annual review of their special employment and training measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in his plan for training unemployed young people, he intends to provide for the withdrawal of supplementary benefit from those who are eligible for such training.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland told the Select Committee on Employment on 20 May this year-questions 1465 and 1469—and the House on 24 June—[Vol. 7, c. 255] I hope to make a statement soon on training, including the training of young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will arrange for an independent review of the employment service operated by the Manpower Services Commission to see whether changes are needed so as to give maximum value for money.

The Manpower Services Commission has agreed to a request from my right hon. Friend's predecessor that one of its programme of scrutinies in consultation with Sir Derek Rayner should examine the general employment service of the commission. This scrutiny began last week and two of the team of four conducting it are from companies in the private sector.The terms of reference are:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report an estimate of the effect which the fall in United Kingdom output since May 1979, combined with the decline in the United Kingdom's share of the volume of world trade in manufactures, has had on employment and output in the British shipping and civil aviation industries.

It is not possible to estimate the effect on the shipping and civil aviation industries of the two factors mentioned. The earnings of the United Kingdom shipping industry from carrying United Kingdom imports and exports are not directly related to the level of United Kingdom output and world trade in manufactures, as the share of trade carried by the United Kingdom shipping industry can also change. The United Kingdom industry earns a considerable proportion of its revenue from carrying goods between foreign countries and from chartering; and this income is not dependent on the United Kingdom share of world trade. Major factors effecting earnings of the United Kingdom shipping industry are world trade conditions, particularly in the tanker markets; and the competitiveness of the industry. Similarly, a number of factors have affected both employment and output in the United Kingdom civil aviation industry. The fall in the rate of growth of the United Kingdom airlines is comparable with that of other international airlines, reflecting the impact of world oil prices, and international economic conditions. Recent and planned reductions in

The review will consult and take into account the views of the Trade Unions representing MSC staff."

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) males and (b) females in each of the last three years for which figures are available completed training opportunities programme scheme courses; how many in each case did so through skillcentres, further education courses or by other means; and what was the approximate cost to public funds.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 December 1981, c. 260]: The information is as follows:employment in civil aviation are also essential to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the United Kingdom industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about the discussions which have been held with the Airfields Environment Federation and the Aerodrome Owners' Association concerning guidelines for aerodrome consultative committees, other than those related to airports managed by the British Airports Authority.

Guidelines for consultative committees for aerodromes designed under section 8 of the Civil Aviation Act 1968 have been agreed with the Aerodrome Owners Association and the Airfields Environment Federation, and a copy has been placed in the Library, together with a list of the aerodromes concerned. The guidelines are not mandatory, but are a voluntary code which has been drawn up with the aim of improving relations between aerodrome management and users on the one hand, and local authorities—where they do not have the management of the aerodrome—and organisations representing local interests on the other, in those areas where difficulties and mis-understandings have arisen. It is not the intention that the existing harmonious relations should be disturbed. The guidelines can also be adopted for consultative arrangements at any non-designated aerodrome.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he proposes to change the rate of the aviation security levy in 1982.

Yes. Revised estimates of income and expenditure suggest that if the levy is left at its present rate of £1·50 the aviation security fund will accumulate a substantial surplus of nearly £7 million by the end of the present financial year, and that the surplus will persist at about this level throughout 1982–83. In order to run down the surplus quickly, I have decided subject to the approval of Parliament to reduce the levy rate to £1·10 from 1 March 1982 until 31 August 1982, when it will revert to £1·50. It is estimated that this will reduce the fund's surplus to less than £1 million at the end of 1982–83. Draft amendment regulations will be laid shortly.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if the present airport in Hong Kong is large enough to cope with the increased traffic of the 1980s; what study is being made of the possibility of the construction of a second airport; when he anticipates decisions will be reached; and if he will make a statement.

The present airport should be able to handle increased traffic until the mid eighties. The Hong Kong Government have commissioned studies of one site for a replacement airport and are also exploring the possibility of an alternative site. Decisions are not expected before the first half of 1983.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about the progress towards the independence of Namibia.

The Five are still discussing with all those concerned their suggestions for constitutional principles as guidelines for the constituent assembly. As soon as there is agreement on these, the Five will move on to the second phase of confidence-building measures.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will give the current Civil Service retirement pension payable to a man now aged 63 years of age who had been employed as head of chancery in a European British embassy in 1961.

Pensions awarded to civil servants on retirement are based on length of service and pay at the time of retirement. The rate of pension payable in the case quoted would therefore depend on the individual's length of service and salary on retirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied that the criteria applied in the United Kingdom by existing legislation for the receipt of loans by the European Investment Bank do not place prospective borrowers at a disadvantage compared with the criteria applied in France.

The purposes for which the European Investment Bank may provide loans are set out in article 130 of the Treaty of Rome. The criteria against which loan applications are assessed are a matter for the bank, and all applications are treated on a common basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much in percentage terms are (a) the United Kingdom and (b) France eligible for loans from the European Investment Bank.

There are no restrictions on the volume of EIB lending to individual member States. In 1980, the United Kingdom took 25·5 per cent. of loans for projects within the Community; France took 7·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what his Department is doing to encourage new businesses in industry to start up, relocate or expand in areas where the public sector of the nationalised steel industry is closing down plants.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 December 1981, c. 299]: In response to the most recent major plant closures implemented by the British Steel Corporation the Government have introduced a number of measures designed to encourage businesses in industry along the lines my hon. Friend requests. I refer my hon. Friend to the announcements made in relation to Corby and Shotton on 7 November 1979—[Vol. 973, c. 451–52]—and 13 November 1979—[Vol. 973, c. 1156–58]—and in 1980 in relation to Wales—in particular Port Talbot and Llanwem—and to Consett and Scunthorpe on 4 February 1980—[Vol. 978, c. 40–43]—and 19 June 1980—[Vol. 986, c. 1784–85]—by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Wales and the former Secretary of State for Industry. Firms in these areas are also able to benefit from low cost EIB and ECSC loans. In addition to these specific measures, our general economic policies are designed to create the right economic conditions for new businesses to start up or expand in all parts of the country, including those areas where steel plant closures have occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to give specific assistance to marginal land farmers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The Government can give no commitment to provide specific assistance to marginal land farmers in Wales. The area which has been identified as meeting the land quality criterion of EEC directive 75/268 is now being subjected to the economic and demographic tests required by the directive. We are in the later stages of this part of the exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates, respectively, for each social class where babies were born into married households in Dyfed in each of the last five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates, respectively, for each social class where babies were born into married households for 1979 and 1980.

The information for 1979 is given in the following table. Figures for 1980 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the housing investment programme allocations in Wales for 1981–82; and how they compare in real terms with the allocations for the previous two years.

Details of the housing element of the 1981–82 single block capital expenditure allocation for each district council in Wales as amended on 6 August 1981 are in the Library of the House.Because of the different range of activities covered by housing finance allocations in the years preceding 1981–82, it is not possible to compare the allocations in real terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many new houses were started, and how many completed in Wales in the first half of 1981; and how this compares with the same periods in each of the last four years.

The information is contained in the following table:

Because of the very small numbers of perinatal and infant deaths, the rates at county level are calculated only for periods of two years and should be used with caution. The figures for 1975–76 and for 1977–78 are given in the following table. Figures for 1979–80 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses were started, and how many completed (a) in the private sector and (b) in the public sector in Wales in each year since 1973.

This information is available in "Local Housing Statistics", a Stationery Office publication, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for each local education authority in Wales the ratio of pupils to teachers in primary schools and in secondary schools, respectively, for the latest period for which figures are available; and how these figures compare with each of the five previous years.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell) on 16 November 1981.—[Vol. 13, c. 23–24.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many households have been accepted by district councils in Wales as homeless or threatened with homelessness in each of the last three years.