asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of trading check services is to be published: and if he will make a statement.

The report is being published today.The commission's main findings were that scale monopoly situations existed in favour of Provident Financial Group Limited—Provident—and that a complex monopoly situation existed in favour of Provident, Cattle's (Holdings) Limited—Cattle's—Compass Paget Limited—Compass Paget—and those other suppliers of trading check franchise services which employed a "no discrimination" policy whereby they excluded or restricted a retailer's freedom to charge, on presentation of trading checks, vouchers and bonds, prices different from those charged in the case of cash or other means of payment.The commission did not find that Provident's scale monopoly operated against the public interest; but They concluded that the complex monopoly situation operated against the public interest in as much as it had the effect of preventing a retailer from competing with other retailers by offering different prices to users of referende services and other customers, so depriving customers of an important choice in purchasing goods or services and, in some cases, possibly leading to increased prices generally to all a retailer's customers.The commission also found that Provident's practice of including in its agreements with some retailers a restriction on dealing with other trading check suppliers operated against the public interest because, although Provident might not actively have enforced the restriction, it might have been regarded by retailers in whose agreements it appeared as still binding upon them and so have the effect of leading them to restrict their use of the services of other trading check suppliers and reducing competition in the supply of trading check franchise services.The commission made two recommendations. It recommended that Provident, Cattle's, Compass Paget and other suppliers of trading check franchise services should be obliged to abandon the "no discrimination" policy, that the terms of any existing contracts between suppliers and retailers providing for this should be declared unenforceable, and that it should be illegal to include such terms in any new contracts. It also recommended that Provident be asked to give an appropriate undertaking to the Director General of Fair Trading that the provision restricting retailers from dealing with other trading check suppliers would not appear in new retailer agreements—except agreements with "scheme operators"—and that all the company's existing retailers—apart from "scheme operators"—would be formally notified that the provision was no longer effective.The commission also made two suggestions. First, it suggested that consideration be given to what means could be used to ensure that retailers gave customers adequate notice of any difference between prices charged for trading check and other sales. Second, it suggested that, when sufficient time had elapsed for a proper assessment to be made of the effect of the advertisements and quotations regulations under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 on the practices of the check trading business and the use of credit by customers, the Department of Trade and the Office of Fair Trading should consider whether a more extensive disclosure of annual percentage rates of the total charge for small amounts of credit would be in the public interest, and whether it might be prudent to avoid raising above £30 the present limit exempting certain credit agreements from the legislation.The commission found parallelism in the charges made to customers by the principal companies and considered that this limited to some extent price competition between them. However, it made no recommendation on this issue in view of the likelihood that competition from other forms of credit would increasingly modify the restrictive effect. It also found that charges to customers were higher than charges for most other forms of consumer credit, but, in view of the difficulty of allocating costs accurately between franchises and consumers, could not judge whether the charges were excessive.The commission found that the discount rates chrged to retailers were high. Retailers were prepared to accept the rates mainly because in most cases the charges made in any one year were relatively low, and because they acknowledged that the service was costly to the trading check companies, mainly owing to the arrangements for collection of payments from customers' homes.Finally, the commission found that the profitability of the check trading companies compared favourably with that of other finance companies, but it concluded that profits were not excessive, even in the case of Provident, which was the largest and, until 1979, the most profitable of the trading check companies.My right hon. Friend has carefully considered the commission's conclusions and recommendations. He accepts the commission's recommendations that Provident should not include in new retailer agreements—except agreements with "scheme operators"—a provision restricting retailers from dealing with other trading check suppliers and should formally notify all the existing retailers—apart from "scheme operators"—that the provision is no longer effective. He is asking the Director General to seek an appropriate undertaking from Provident.My right hon. Friend has decided against taking action to require suppliers of trading check franchise services to bring to an end the arrangements whereby they exclude or restrict a retailer's freedom to charge, on presentation of trading checks, vouchers and bonds, prices different from those charged in the case of cash or other means of payment.In reaching this decision my right hon. Friend accepts the commission's analysis of the market and acknowledges the possibility that some traders, in order to recover the cost of the charges payable to the trading check companies, could increase their marked prices to all their customers and that such cross-subsidisation might, if it occurred on a significant scale, be undesirable. He has, however, taken a number of other factors into account. Trading checks and vouchers are used as a means of payment for a relatively small and declining proportion of retail sales, and there are a variety of more significant pressures on the retail prices of the sort of goods trading checks are mainly used to buy. There is not therefore likely to be any perceptible increase in the general level of retail prices for these goods resulting from the "no discrimination" policy in respect of trading checks. In addition, trading checks are mainly used by less well-off members of the community who have few alternative means of obtaining credit for the purchase of the larger essential items in the family budget and who would therefore be particularly vulnerable to surcharging. They would not know at the time they obtained their trading checks whether or to what extent they might be surcharged and would be confused by differing arrangements for surcharging in different establishments.My right hon. Friend has concluded, in the light of all these considerations, that action to end the no discrimination policy would not be warranted. The effect of this decision is that it will continue to be a matter for the trading check companies and retailers whether the arrangements between them allow retailers any freedom to surcharge.My right hon. Friend has noted the commission's suggestions regarding more extensive disclosure of annual percentage rates for small amounts of credit and whether it would be prudent to avoid raising the relevant £30 limit for certain small credit agreements and will take them into account in his current review of monetary limits in the Consumer Credit Act. The Director General will also take them into account in carrying out his general duty to keep under review the working of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has decided to follow the recommendations in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on credit card franchise services; and if he will make a statement.

The commission made two recommendations. First, it recommended that the Joint Credit Card Company—"Access"—Barclays, American Express, Diners Club and other suppliers of credit card franchise services should be obliged to abandon the "no discrimination" policy, under which they excluded or restricted a traders' freedom to charge different prices for goods or services purchased by credit card from those charged for by other means of payment, and that the terms of the existing contracts providing for this should be declared unenforceable and future introduction of such provisions made illegal. Secondly, it recommended that both the Joint Credit Card Company and Barclays should give assurances to the Director General of Fair Trading that they would not in future discuss matters which were likely to lessen the degree of competition between them in supplying reference services.My right hon. Friend has decided against action at this time on the first of these recommendations. Action has been taken on the second. I should make clear the effect of this decision. At present, differential pricing, and in particular the imposition of surcharges for credit card users, is a matter for arrangements between traders and the credit card companies. As the commission reported, most credit card companies have arrangements with traders which do not allow traders any freedom to surcharge. The effect of my right hon. Friend's decision is to leave those arrangements unchanged.In taking this decision my right hon. Friend has carefully considered the report's findings and recommendations. He accepts the analysis in the report; and, as regards surcharges, he has considered the undoubted case made in the report for removing the restrictions currently placed on traders' freedom to surcharge. Much of this case rests on arguments about the efficient use of resources in the economy, and about price distortion through cross-subsidisation between cash and credit card customers. At the moment the distorting effect of the "no discrimination" rule is minimal, because the proportion of traders' sales represented by credit card payments is generally very small. But my right hon. Friend recognises that the risk of distortion is greatest where the proportion of trade is greatest, although even in the petrol sector the proportion is relatively small.Against the economic argument my right hon. Friend has had to weigh consumer convenience. Bearing in mind the possible effects on tourism, my right hon. Friend has also had to consider international practice. Since the report was published, surcharging, while mainly prevalent in the petrol sector, has spread into others leading to a wide measure of confusion and inconvenience to consumers. Any general requirement that traders should display information about surcharges would impose undue burdens on traders, be difficult to enforce, and probably still leave consumers confused. My right hon. Friend believes the evidence shows that the absence of surcharges makes for general convenience; and he has, on the balance of the arguments, reached his decision accordingly.My right hon. Friend recognises that the Government's decision will come as a disappointment to petrol retailers, who have made representations about the impact of the credit card companies' charges on their profit margins if they were unable to impose surcharges. The Government would be taking steps to keep themselves informed of the progress of any improved arrangements made between the card companies and the petrol retail trade.But the report clearly points to the need for the credit card industry to reconsider existing patterns for charging for the services they offer. The two principal United Kingdom credit card companies—operating Access and Barclaycard—have stated that they are taking steps to do so. My right hon. Friend hopes that they will be ready to act on the evidence in the report and the commission's observations, and he will take careful note of the steps which they take both now and in the future.I must make clear that, while not acting on the commission's main finding, my right hon. Friend intends to maintain pressure for greater competition and a fair charging structure in the credit card market as it develops. In accordance with the report's suggestion, he is asking the Director General to keep this market under review. The Director General will consider in due course whether to make a further reference to the commission, covering the companies' services to traders and cardholders, as the Monopolies and Mergers Commission suggested in its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in order to identify opportunities for the United Kingdom, he monitors measures taken by Governments of developing countries to stimulate the flow of private sector investment; and if he has detected any trends in this respect.

The Government are anxious to encourage developing countries to stimulate the flow of private investment so as to increase the pace of economic development. There are signs that an increasing number of developing countries are aware of the importance of private investment in the development process and are concerned to create a suitable climate for such investment—for example, through the necessary fiscal and legal provisions, and the signing of investment protection agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report the principal imports to the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community from the Philippines, stating each separately, and giving their description and amount; and if he will make a statement.

The information is given in the following table. It relates to 1979, the latest year for which comparative data are readily available. For the United Kingdom and European Economic Community the imports shown accounted for 56 per cent. and 60 per cent. respectively of total imports from the Philippines.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the Office of Fair Trading has acceded to the request of the British Antique Dealers' Association and Society of London Art Dealers to suspend until 30 December its inquiries into the alleged collusion between Sotheby's and Christie's over the introduction in 1975 of the buyers' premium.

The conduct of investigations under the restrictive trade practices legislation is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading and my right hon. Friend is not in a position to comment on the progress of individual inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent the 35 per cent. increase in the terms of trade for motor cars between 1975 and September 1981 was the result in the change in price competitiveness and to what extent a change in the composition of (a) imports and (b) exports.

Although it is not possible to eliminate completely the effect of composition changes, the import unit value index now incorporates a recently introduced improvement. The change in the terms of trade index of passenger motor cars can therefore be regarded as the result of a change in price competitiveness. However, too much importance should not be attached to just one month's figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will take steps to arrange for an investigation by either the Director General of Fair Trading or the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into the continuing price rises of torch and transistor batteries to ascertain whether or not the increases are fair and reasonable.

No. My right hon. Friend can require the Director General to carry out an investigation under section 13 of the Competition Act only if he is satisfied that the particular price in question is one of major public concern. He is not so satisfied in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to be able to make a statement on proposals put to him by the local authorities co-ordinating body on trading standards concerning compliance with safety standards in the case of imported products.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the total value of United Kingdom exports to each of the other European Economic Community member countries in each of the last 10 years;(2) what was the total value of imports to the United Kingdom from each of the other European Economic Community countries in each of the last 10 years.

The information is published in tables B17 and C23 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics" available in the House Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the total value of motor vehicles imported by the United Kingdom from each of the European Economic Community countries in each of the last 10 years;(2) what was the total value of motor vehicles exported by the United Kingdom to each other European Economic Community country in each of the last 10 years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will initiate a further investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into petrol, with particular reference to the position of licensees and tenants and their insecurity of tenure on petrol company-owned filling stations.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many independent petrol retailers have closed since 1971; and what percentage that figure is of the total.

It is estimated that, from 1971 until the end of 1980, 9,000 independently owned petrol retail sites were closed. This represents about a third of the total number of such sites in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to publish the report of the national meteorological co-ordinating unit, as required by section 9(1) of the Weights and Measures Act 1979.

The first report, covering the period from October 1979 to March 1981, has been published today. I have arranged for copies of the report, which includes the audited statement of accounts, to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether any restrictions have been placed on the sale of Rolls-Royce engines on airbus A300/A310 aeroplanes to Libya.

[pursuant to the reply, 9 December 1981, c. 412.]: An export licence is required-for the export of all aero engines from the United Kingdom to any destination.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy towards the practice of plea bargaining in the Scottish courts.

The practice of plea adjustment is set out in paragraph 21.02 of the second report of the Thomson committee which was set up to examine criminal procedure in Scotland. It reads:

"There is no statutory authority for plea adjustment but it is accepted as proper practice for either the accused's legal adviser or the prosecutor to approach the other and negotiate the acceptance of a partial plea. Normally such an approach comes from the defence but it is perfectly proper for the prosecutor to intimate to the defence that he would be willing to accept a plea of guilty to some of the charges in an indictment or complaint and drop the others or to accept a plea of guilty to less than the full extent or any particular charge. An offer of this sort, made by either the prosecutor or the defence, cannot be founded upon by the other if not accepted."

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has considered the information that Leyland Vehicles invested in subsidiary and ancillary motor vehicle industry companies in advance of his approval of its corporate plan which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Nuneaton; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Industry gave him on 7 December 1981.—[Vol. 14, c. 298.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the capital per employee in thousands of pounds sterling at constant prices in (a) manufacturing and (b) chemical industries in the United Kingdom in 1980 and 1981.

Gross capital stock at 1975 replacement cost per employee was £17,000 for manufacturing industry and £39,000 for the chemicals industry at the end of 1980.Capital stock estimates are compiled only for calendar years; figures for 1981 will not be available until the latter half of 1982.Estimates of gross capital stock are on an ownership basis and therefore do not include assets held by manufacturers on lease from the service industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money has been invested by the National Enterprise Board in Nexos; what will be the shareholding of the National Enterprise Board in the joint venture Nexos Gestetner; and what is the total of the losses incurred to date by Nexos.

The NEB has invested a total of £29,553,000 in Nexos Office Systems Ltd. and Nexos Office Systems (Holdings) Ltd. The NEB's discussions with Gestetner about the possible establishment of a new joint venture are a matter for the board. The latest available figures for Nexos' total operating losses—before tax—were £17·4 million to 30 June 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will announce the membership of the Engineering Council.

The Royal charter to establish the Engineering Council was granted on 27 November. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry has now formally appointed Sir Kenneth Corfield as chairman of the council until 31 December 1984.My right hon. Friend has also appointed the following as Members until 31 December 1983:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the alleged offences of each of the 10 persons who have been held on remand in custody for more than two years.

The estimate of 10 persons first remanded in custody more than two years earlier, given in my reply to a question from the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Cunningham)—[Vol. 13, c. 287]—was based on the identification of nine persons who on 30 September 1981 stood charged with the following offences:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the criminal charges against each of the 26 persons detained and charged between January and September under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976.

The following table shows the principal offences with which those persons were charged. The figures differ slightly from those obtained by comparing the latest available information relating to the period 29 November 1974 to 30 September 1981 published in tables 4 and 5 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 25/81 with the corresponding information for 29 November 1974 to 31 December 1980 published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 1/81 because the principal offence charged may change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motor cyclists were charged with failing to wear a crash helmet in the last 12 months; how many cases were not proceeded with; and what were the results where cases were proceeded with.

The information available on offences of driving or riding on a motor cycle without protective headgear relates to the numbers of prosecutions brought. In England and Wales in 1980, the latest year for which figures are available, 16,233 such prosecutions were brought; information on findings of guilt and sentences given is published in table 4, page 17 of "Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, 1980, Supplementary Tables", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the baggage allowances as part of Her Majesty's Government's repatriation scheme were last revised; and when next he intends to revise them.

The baggage allowances under the scheme administered by International Social Service of Great Britain are within the discretion of ISS which last reviewed the allowances in 1978, and is currently reviewing them again.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many individuals have taken early retirement on job release since May 1979 in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk.

Since the inception of the job release scheme in 1977, 16,978 people have taken job release in the North-West. I regret that the other information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest unemployment figure; and if he will estimate the additional number of those employed on temporary employment schemes who would otherwise be unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences for 27 MHz sets and 934 MHz citizens band sets, respectively, have now been issued.

The CB licence covers both use at 27 MHz and 934 MHz. 62,542 licences had been issued by 27 November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to bring the British Nationality Act 1981 into force.

Subject to the necessary preparatory work being completed in time, 1 January 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are on (a) short-time working, (b) community industry, (c) youth opportunities programmes and (d) all other temporary employment schemes in (i) the North-West, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) Kirkby and (iv) Ormskirk.

The information is set out in the following table:

At 12 November the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,953,340.At the end of October it was estimated that the special employment and training measures in Great Britain had a direct effect on the unemployment register of about 355,000. This figure depends on a number of uncertain assumptions and is the Department of Employment's best estimate of the direct effects only. It takes no account of any indirect effects of financing expenditure on special measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are likely to be removed from the total of unemployed persons, as a consequence of the Department of Health and Social Security circular urging all men over 59 years of age who have received 52 weeks' benefit to remove their name from the unemployed register.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on Monday 30 November. —[Vol. 14, c. 11–12.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he expects to need to make further cuts in public expenditure in higher education in the next financial year; and on what scale such reductions will be.

My right hon. Friend will make a statemente app in due course about the detailed implications for higher education of the Chancellor's statement on 2 December about public expenditure in the next financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures for expenditure on the universities for each of the years from 1974 to 1981.

Expenditure on universities supported via the University Grants Committee between the financial years 1974–75 and 1980–81 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many mentally handicapped young people between the ages of 16 and 19 years are currently receiving full-time education.

The only information collected by the Department relates to special schools. In January 1981, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 4,400 educationally subnormal pupils over compulsory school age attending such schools in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will make a statement on the operation of the Victoria and Albert museum shop;(2) if he will make a statement on the staffing of the Victoria and Albert museum shop.

The shop is situated just inside the main entrance of the museum and is open when the museum is open to the public. It sells the museum's catalogues, and books, reproductions, post cards and so on produced on behalf of the museum by HMSO. There is also a selection of related material produced commercially. It is staffed by a manager, four full-time sales assistants, five part-time sales assistants and three part-time week-end sales assistants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many new applicants for courses at institutions of further and higher education there have been in the current year and for the past five years.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the level of polytechnic funding so far planned for the year 1981–82; and if he will publish the figures for the individual polytechnics in those cases where he has that information.

Polytechnics are funded by the local authorities which maintain them. The Department is concerned only with allocations to local authorities from the advanced further education pool. I regret therefore that I do not have available the precise information which my hon. Friend seeks. I will, however, refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Dr. Boyson) to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 9 February of this year—[Vol. 998, c. 1292–4]—which lists allocations made from the advanced further education pool in 1981–82 to those authorities which maintain a polytechnic.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce the grant to the National Heritage memorial fund, and for acceptances in lieu of tax for 1982–83.

I am pleased to announce, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, a joint grant of £3 million to the fund and £2 million for acceptances in lieu in the financial year 1982–83, subject to Parliamentary approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about the cost to the Exchequer of higher education students from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

I am pleased to announce that officials of the Department and the Home Office have reached provisional agreement with the island authorities that a contribution equivalent in real terms to two and a half times the 1981–82 home undergraduate tuiton fee will be paid to the Department in respect of island students in higher education in the United Kingdom. This is an extension of the present arrangement whereby a contribution is paid in respect of teacher-training students. The new arrangements will come into effect for first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students and all teacher-training students from the academic year 1981–82. The home rate of tuition fee will also be paid direct to the institutions. The increased income has been taken into account in the Department's expenditure plans for higher education.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish a list of her official engagements for 10 December.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today. Later I shall leave for a visit to Shropshire.

asked the Prime Minister if she will set up a survey to establish the trends there have been in standards for university admission between 1945 and 1981 and the projected standards until 1985.

No. Information on the qualifications of home accepted candidates to universities has been published by the Universities Central Council on Admissions since 1963. Over the next few years it is likely that entry standards will rise as the universities reduce this intake by about 5 per cent. as compared with 1979–80 to meet the student numbers targets set by the UGC for 1983–84 or 1984–85.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give the method of payment of the delayed increase in State retirement pension to be paid from November 1982; and what amount is involved.

The rate of inflation between November 1980 and November 1981 will be known later this month. It will exceed the 10 per cent. forecast which was used in the calculation of the increase in State retirement pensions payable from November 1981 probably by some 2 per cent. This shortfall will be made good in assessing the uprating of State retirement pensions payable from November 1982. The Government's detailed proposals will be announced in the spring.

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

Not this year.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will consider introducing further measures to encourage participation and share-ownership by employees at their place of work.

In last year's Finance Act we took significant steps to stimulate the introduction of employee share-ownership schemes. Employee participation is best achieved voluntarily, but we will continue to encourage management to make progress in this field.

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 meetings since 8 December.

asked the Prime Minister if, following her meeting with the Portuguese Prime Minister on 9 December, she will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Portugal's accession to the European Economic Community.

I confirmed to Senhor Balsemao the Government's firm support for the early entry of Portugal into the European Community. I expressed my hope that the time table for accession envisaged by Portugal, namely, accession on 1 January 1984, could be met.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what response Her Majesty's Government are making to an appeal by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for funds to assist the many displaced persons from El Salvador now living elsewhere in Central America.

We propose, subject to parliamentary approval, to contribute £100,000 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for relief work in the neighbouring countries to El Salvador.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what total grants received by the rating authorities for 1979–80 and 1980–81 in respect of rebates under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978 have been paid to (a) private households and (b) institutions.

£2·2 million and £3·4 million have been paid to local authorities in respect of rebates granted during 1979–80 and 1980–81, respectively, under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978. These are not final amounts for the years in question since audited claims have not yet been received from all rating authorities. No record is held centrally of the classes of recipient to whom rebates are paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures to show what, if any, is the margin of advantage of nuclear over fossil fuel generation in Scotland.

Comparative costs of generating electricity in the area covered by the South of Scotland Electricity Board are provided on page 15 of the board's 1980–81 annual report. Further details of generation costs are provided in appendix VIII to the report. As the hon. Member will be aware, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board has no nuclear power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the average waiting period for the 202 adult patients waiting for cardiac surgery in the Royal infirmary, Edinburgh, referred to in his letter of 11 November to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South;(2) if he will make a statement on the average waiting period for those adults in Scotland in need of cardiac surgery.

The average waiting period for adult patients awaiting cardiac surgery in Scotland as a whole is 15 weeks; and for adult patients awaiting cardiac surgery in the Royal infirmary, Edinburgh it is 17 weeks. Emergency cases are of course dealt with immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make provision for the inclusion of a statement of the occupations of parents applying for an assisted places scheme on the relevant application form.

The application form already in use calls for a statement of the occupations of both parents.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) for each year since 1975, in what percentage of families with annual incomes within 40 per cent. above supplementary benefit level, the head of household has worked for (a) 48 or more weeks, (b) 27 to 47 weeks, (c) 1 to 26 weeks and (d) not at all;(2) for each year since 1975, in what percentage of families with annual incomes at the supplementary benefit level or below, the head of household has worked for

I regret that information is not available on (a), (b) and (c); and could be obtained on (d) only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of families in the following groups have incomes within 20 per cent. above supplementary benefit level (a) elderly single people, (b) elderly couples, (c) single adults, (d) couples without children, (e) couples with children, and (f) single-parent families;(2) what percentage of families in the following groups have incomes at supplementary benefit level or below

I shall let the right hon. Gentleman have further information when estimates for 1979 become available in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated erosion in the real value of the following benefits between November 1981 and November 1982: child benefit, short term unemployment benefit, long term unemployment benefit, retirement pension and basic supplementary benefit.

The latest forecast, under the Industry Act 1975, is that the annual increase in the retail price index over the next year will be about 10 per cent. The Government have already said that national insurance and other social security benefits will be increased in November 1982 in line with the forecast movement of prices between November 1981 and November 1982. The detailed changes will be announced in the spring. Of the benefits listed by the right hon. Member, retirement pensions and supplementary pensions paid to people over pension age are two of the benefits covered by the further pledge to make good at the November 1982 uprating the short fall—probably about 2 per cent.—between the actual movement of prices in the 12 months to November 1981 and the 10 per cent. forecast on which the uprating in that month was calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many females are employed full-time in manufacturing; and how many of these are opted-out married women and widows.

1,300,700 females were employed full-time in Great Britain in June 1981 in manufacturing industries. 3,347,614 married women and widows were recorded as paying reduced rate contributions in the 1979–80 tax year, but I regret that the number in manufacturing industries is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied with the workings of the social security legislation and in particular section 7(1)(c) and 7(2) of the Social Security Act;(2) whether he is satisfied with arrangements under the social security legislation by which unemployed men and women are debarred from benefit if they have small part-time jobs.

I think that the hon. Member has in mind regulation 7(1)(e) and (2) of the Social Security (Unemployment, Sickness and Invalidity Benefit) Regulations 1975—SI 1975 No. 564. This provides, broadly speaking, that a claimant who does not normally work on every day in a week does not get unemployment benefit for a day on which he does no work if he does his normal amount of work in the week concerned.Such provision has existed since the start of the national insurance scheme. It is a safeguard against benefit becoming in effect a supplement to wages and an encouragement to people to settle down to part-time work plus benefit. The application of this rule to the particular facts of an individual case is of course a matter for the independent statutory authorities which decide claims for benefit, and there are the usual rights of appeal. If the hon. Member is concerned about a particular case, perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the numbers of people in receipt of State benefits who will not have the shortfall restored in November 1981.

The average number of recipients at any one time of each of the benefits specified is estimated to be as follows in 1981–82:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of certain local authority social service departments seeking to reduce the waking hours of elderly people in residential care homes, he will take steps to seek a minimum level of provision; and if he will make a statement.

In deciding the pattern of daily living in residential homes, local management has to take account of the particular needs of the elderly residents. In the White Paper "Growing Older", we reiterate that, to preserve individuality, dignity and privacy, the residential environment should enable a pattern of life which, so far as is practicable, resembles that led by elderly people elsewhere in the community.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of prescribing valium and librium on the National Health Service for each of the past five years.

Information about the prescribing of individual drugs is of commercial value and it has not been the practice to divulge it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost of claims for sickness, invalidity and injury benefit due to conditions of the back in Great Britain for the year ended 31 May 1980.

It is estimated that the total amount of benefit paid for incapacity due to conditions of the back in the financial year ended 31 March 1980 was approximately £140 million. The conditions included are those covered by the International Classification of Diseases—1975—numbers 720–724 and 846–7.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the success of chiropractics in the treatment of back pain and other debilitating conditions, he will now recognise chiropractics for all National Health Service purposes.

No. In view of the implications for medical practice, we should be prepared to consider this only if the profession of chiropractic had been registered under the provisions of the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act. I am aware that an application by the British Chiropractic Association for registration under the Act was rejected by the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine in 1975. It is open to the association to make a fresh application if it chooses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will look into the case of Miss B. of Stockport, details of which have been supplied to his Department, who applied for a single payment for a cot, beds and bedding in July for supplementary benefit, was refused, appealed and won her appeal in October, but who has still not received any payment, because the Department is considering an appeal; and if he will ensure that Miss B. is now paid, irrespective of any decision by the Department in connection with the appeal on the question of principle.

I have looked into the case to which the hon. Member refers. I understand that arrangements have now been made to pay for the items which were the subject of appeal, and that the chief supplementary benefit officer has decided not to appeal against the tribunal's decision to the social security commissioners in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 21 October, Official Report, c. 158, if he is yet in a position to bring forward proposals to relax the conditions under which unemployed people may continue to receive benefits while doing voluntary work.

I have at present nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 21 October.—[Vol. 10, c. 157–58.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make use of regulations under section 30(4) as related to sections 12 to 14 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 with regard to clinical waste.

I have been asked to reply. Regulations under section 30(4) will be made when it is decided to implement sections 12 to 14. On implementation of these sections, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, pursuant to his answer of 30 November on numbers employed by overseas companies, Official Report, c. 2, he will list the companies concerned.

A list of manufacturing firms in Wales with overseas associations is published in the Industrial Directory of the Development Corporation for Wales, the 1981 edition of which is in the Library. I understand the list was compiled towards the end of last year and therefore includes some companies which have closed but omits recent arrivals.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many persons are employed in Wales in the manufacture of washing machines; and if he will estimate the likely job loss resulting from the import of 400,000 machines from Italy;(2) how many persons are employed in Wales in the manufacture of electric light bulbs; and if he will estimate the likely job loss resulting from the import of 27 million light bulbs from the Tungsram factory in the Republic of Ireland.

There are only two major manufacturers of washing machines and one of electric light bulbs in Wales. Precise employment is obtained in confidence, but I feel sure the hon. Member will know how many are employed by Hoover and Thorn Lighting in his constituency. Hotpoint in North Wales is undertaking a substantial expansion. I can make no estimate of the employment consequences in Wales of possible future imports of washing machines from Italy or light bulbs from the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, West, (Mr. Ross) Official Report, 19 October, column 9, why information is not available of the number of persons in Wales with Down's syndrome.

A reliable estimate of the prevalence of Down's syndrome in Wales would require an extensive survey and there has been no such survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which publicly owned forests in Wales it is intended to sell to private enterprise.

So far four blocks of woodland near Machynlleth totalling 178 hectares have been offered for sale in Wales under the new disposal powers contained in section 39 of the Forestry Act 1967 as amended by section 1 of the Forestry Act 1981. Details are available in the Library of the House, where the sales particulars of other significant areas will be lodged as they are put on the market. The selection of such areas of land and plantations for sale is the responsibility of the foresty commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions he has met the Wales TUC since May 1979; and if he will give details of the discussions or of agreements reached.

I have met representatives of the Wales TUC on six occasions since May 1979 and I am arranging to do so again in the new year. Our discussions have been primarily on economic and industrial matters concerning Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of present legislation to control sheep-worrying dogs in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 will be strengthened in the near future by the implementation under section 12 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, of a general requirement that dogs be kept on a lead or under close control in fields and enclosures in which there are sheep.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many child minders are registered with local authorities in Wales; and what are the numbers of children for which they are registered.

The information is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the present differential between electrical tariffs paid by bulk industrial consumers in the United Kingdom, France and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The most recent available information, as at 1 October 1981, is contained in the updated report of the National Economic Development Council task force on industrial energy prices considered at the meeting of the council on 11 November. A copy of this has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made of the present amount of usable proven oil reserves for which oil production equipment is either installed or planned, in billions of barrels.

Based on the Secretary of State's latest report to Parliament, "Development of Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom"—The Brown Book 1981—the remaining proven recoverable oil reserves for which oil production equipment is either installed or planned is 8·069 billion barrels of oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the numbers and types of multi-purpose emergency support vessels at present available in the five sector club areas of the North Sea, together with their owners and operators and the dates when they came into service and the anticipated dates of delivery of vessels at present on order, indicating any differences between their delivery dates and those given when such vessels were ordered.

I am advised that there are three multipurpose emergency vessels currently in service in the North Sea with a further two on order. The details are as given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) industrial and (b) non-industrial staff of his Department are to be compulsorily retired at the age of 60 during the present financial year; and what is his estimate of the number of such compulsory retirements during 1982–83.

Civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence retire at a variety of ages between 60 and 65 depending upon the grade or class to which they belong, existence of suitable vacancies, continued efficiency and fitness for work and length of pensionable service. Of those whose required retirement date is 60, we expect 770 non-industrials to be retired this year and 730 in 1982–93. MOD industrial staff are normally allowed to continue in employment, if they so wish, up to the age of 65 provided they are in good health, perform their duties satisfactorily and occupy an approved post. Records of their actual age of retirement are not kept centrally, but numbers of 60-year-olds affected are low.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the total cost of constructing shelters for military aircraft at Marham, Wattisham, Coningsby, Leuchars, Lossiemouth, and Stornoway; and if he will make a public announcement before work on these or any similar shelter is begun.

The cost of constructing hardened shelters for military aircraft at Marham, Wattisham, Coningsby, Leuchars, Lossiemouth and Stornoway is estimated to be about £74 million. It is expected that NATO will contribute about £58 million of this sum. A public announcement about particular projects will only be made if the circumstances warrant it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence research establishments and bases there are in Wales; and what is the purpose of each and the number of people employed in each.

There are two defence research establishments situated in Wales, at Aberporth and Llanbedr. Both are outstations of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. They provide the facilities required for the proving of the flight and performance of missiles, both guided and unguided; and carry out trials for airborne equipment evaluation. RAE Aberporth employs about 550 staff including about 400 industrial staff. RAE Llanbedr employs 10 MOD staff including industrial staff and serving officers; however, the operation at Llanbedr is conducted on the Department's behalf by Airwork Ltd. under the supervision of staff from RAE, and the bulk of the work force is formed by employees of the company.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps the Hong Kong Government have taken to help Hong Kong students studying in the United Kingdom in view of the substantial increases in their tuition fees.

The Hong Kong Government have set up a loan scheme to assist Hong Kong students in the United Kingdom. To date, about 2,000 students have received loans totalling 28 million Hong Kong dollars.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the present situation of Andrei Sakharov and Anatoly Shcharansky; and what action the Government have taken.

It has been reported that Academician Sakharov's step-daughter-in-law, Lisa Alexeyeva, was told on 9 December by a Soviet official that she would be allowed to emigrate and that, on hearing of this decision, Academician and Mrs. Sakharov had ended their hunger strike. We understand that Lisa Alexeyeva will be allowed to visit the Sakharovs in Gorky in a few days' time. These reports, if confirmed, are a matter of deep satisfaction. The Foreign Ministers of the Ten member States of the European Community had issued a statement on 8 December urging the Soviet Government to allow Lisa Alexeyeva to leave the Soviet Union. There are also reports that Anatoly Shcharansky has been sentenced to a further term of three years and returned from his labour camp to a closed prison. The Government deeply regret the continued ill-treatment of Mr. Shcharansky. At the Madrid review meeting and in bilateral contacts with the Soviet authorities, we have repeatedly raised his case and the cases of many others suffering for their beliefs in the Soviet Union.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in the light of the deadlock in the Security Council over the appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the United Kingdom will now support the Chinese proposal for the extension of the term of Kurt Waldheim for two years with an assurance that a Third world candidate will not be vetoed by the West thereafter.

The Chinese proposal is not now under consideration as the Security Council expects shortly to start voting on a wider range of candidates.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will raise in the United Nations Security Council the possibility of some form of United Nations assistance to tiny countries, especially islands, threatened or attacked by foreign mercenaries with the connivance of other States.

It is always open to any member State of the United Nations to bring to the attention of the Security Council any situation affecting its interests which endangers the maintenance of international peace and security. We would not normally consider it necessary or appropriate to seek to do so on another State's behalf.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of subsequent statements made by spokesmen of the United States Government and the Israeli Government, Her Majesty's Government's policy on the involvement of British troops in the Sinai remains as announced by him on 23 November.

Yes.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the legislation in force in Hong Kong to supervise and control financial institutions is sufficient to ensure the same standards of disclosure as would apply in the United Kingdom.