asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many bankruptcies and liquidations there were, respectively, in each of the last three years; and how many in each case were small businesses.

In the year ending October 1981, there were 5,189 bankruptcies and 8,923 company liquidations in Great Britain compared with 4,059 and 6,725 respectively in the previous 12 months, and 3,702 and 4,720 in the 12 months to October 1979. No analysis by size of business is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what would be the effects on trade of the United Kingdom joining the European monetary system currency mechanism.

This would depend on the terms of our membership and especially on what one thinks would otherwise have happened to sterling.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied that there will be sufficient young civil pilots with all the relevant qualifications available to satisfy the needs of the British civil airlines throughout the current decade.

I am satisfied that the supply of pilots should be sufficient to meet British civil airlines' needs for the foreseeable future, but I will monitor the position as time goes by.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied with the current balance of trade; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement on the latest trade figures.

The visible trade balance continues to show a surplus. This is an encouraging position reflecting the fine achievements of our exporters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent European Council working party discussions attended by officials of his Department, in respect of the draft right of establishment directive for hairdressers.

A wide measure of agreement has been reached and discussions are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what dumping, tariff, quota, or other trade restrictions are imposed in the import of steel from the United States of America into the United Kingdom.

Imports of steel from the United States of America are subject to import duties at the rates specified in the common external tariff. There are no special duties, dumping duties or quota restrictions on such imports, but as in all such cases action is available should unfair competition develop.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the ministerial meeting of Eurocontrol, of which he was chairman, on 19 November.

A wide range of subjects was considered at this meeting. For example, agreement was reached on charges for 1982–83, calculated on the basis of forecast operating accounts with a temporary reduction of 5 per cent; consideration was given to the future of the Maastricht centre; and the investment and operating budgets for 1980 were approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received about differential pricing of cars in the United Kingdom and on the Continent.

There have been many representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade further to his answer of 28 October, what information he has as to whether cars exported by BL Ltd. to other European Economic Community countries are priced at a lower rate than in the United Kingdom, allowing for sales and other taxes.

BL's prices in particular markets are a matter for the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to prevent increasing numbers of children being poisoned from dangerous household products such as bleach and disinfectant.

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Dr. Thomas), on 12 November 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, for the latest annual period for which figures are available, how many motor cars were imported into the United Kingdom from Czechoslovakia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan.

Information for the period March 1980 to February 1981 may be derived from table III of the relevant issues of Overseas Trade Statistics under S1TC (R2) Group 781.0. Consecutive information for later periods is not currently available owing to the effects of the Civil Service dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has taken any steps to seek the removal of customs duties applied by certain European Free Trade Area countries on spirituous beverages produced by the United Kingdom.

The free trade agreements between the European Free Trade Association provide for duty-free trade in industrial goods, but not in spirituous beverages nor indeed in the majority of processed agricultural products. The Community is currently considering the possibility of extending the coverage of the agreements, so as to include spirituous beverages and a number of other products, but it is too early to predict the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether Her Majesty's Government have made formal representations to the new Government of Greece about the profit margin controls which discriminate, inter alia, against imported alcoholic beverages.

These controls affect a wide range of goods imported from all sources, and there is no special discrimination against British Alcoholic beverages. The United Kingdom has nevertheless expressed its concern to the Greek authorities, and formal representations, with particular reference to alcoholic beverages, were made as recently as October. They will be renewed at the earliest appropriate opportunity.It is the responsibility of the Commission to put a stop to any breach of European Community law. We, and other Member States also, have therefore referred the matter to them; and since they first took it up there has been some progress in respect of the control that relates to alcoholic beverages: in August the allowable profit margin was raised by 5 per cent., and the profit limit per bottle abolished. The Commisson is now actively pursuing the matter with the new Greek government.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied that the price and profit margin measures announced by the French Government on 5 October 1981 do not discriminate against imported products.

The French price and profit margin controls are not confined to imports, although they include a three-month freeze on importers' profit margins. They form part of a temporary package of economic support measures introduced following the realignment of EMS currencies. We are watching the situation closely, but it is primarily for the Commission to ensure that there is no discrimination contrary to European Community law.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether retaliatory action is contemplated against imported alcoholic beverages produced in France if the National Assembly of France decides on continued discrimination in taxation against spirituous beverages produced in the United Kingdom.

No. If obligations under the Treaty of Rome are not fulfilled, it is the responsibility of the Commission to take appropriate action under article 169.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has taken any action to alleviate the import and excise duty discrimination faced by Scotch whisky in Argentina and also the discriminatory treatment faced by imported spirits in regard to the permitted period of deferment for the payment of duties.

Representations were made earlier this year. We shall continue to urge as appropriate that the Argentine Government adopt non-discriminatory measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has taken any action to alleviate the restrictive import policy and discriminatory taxation faced by Scotch whisky in Brazil.

My right hon. Friend took the opportunity afforded by the recent visit of Dr. Camilo Penna, Brazilian Minister for Commerce and Industry, to register our continuing interest in seeing an improvement in the trading conditions governing the import and sale of Scotch whisky in Brazil.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, following the meeting of Ministers of Eurocontrol on 19 November, and the agreement of a new convention for Eurocontrol, what he expects to be the new role for the Maastricht centre, and of other international air traffic control centres set up by Eurocontrol.

The future role of Maastricht is primarily a matter for the four States directly involved (Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and the Federal Republic of Germany) but a final decision will be taken by the Permanent Commission of Eurocontrol, in which the United Kingdom takes an active part. Two international centres were planned by Eurocontrol in addition to Maastricht: that at Shannon is fully under Irish control and the Federal Republic of Germany is in the process of finalising arrangements to take over Karlsruhe.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, following the Eurocontrol Ministerial meeting on 19 November, and in view of the United Kingdom's membership of the European civil aviation conference, what steps he is now taking to improve air traffic planning and management schemes, with the aim of reducing fuel consumption; and how this action is being co-ordinated.

The United Kingdom is a member of the European Civil Aviation Conference working group on aviation fuel supplies which is developing recommendations on fuel conservation. Moreover, Eurocontrol is concerned in the development of a European system of flow management and are carrying out other studies to improve air traffic planning and management that should result in a reduction in fuel consumption. There are adequate international mechanisms for co-ordinating the work of the various bodies concerned. Within the United Kingdom the national air traffic services are continuously reviewing their systems and carrying out research and development with a view to improving air traffic management which would result in airlines' fuel costs being reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the anxiety to the employees of Sealink (UK) Ltd. caused by the delay in announcing the findings of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, in respect of European Ferries' bid for Sealink (UK) Ltd., he will now publish the report.

The report was published on 8 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what estimate he has made of the effect on the British air transport industry of the proposed increases in charges levied by the British Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement.

The increases in charges proposed by the British Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority are still being discussed with the airlines and no formal proposals will be put to me until this process of consultation is completed. It would not be practicable to estimate the effect of any increases on the British air transport industry as a whole because these charges affect individual airlines in different ways, depending on the airlines' patterns of operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what items are covered, over what period and with what value, and what is the volume of trade concerned, in the memorandum of understanding signed with Brazil on 26 October.

The projects covered by the memorandum are as follows:

	Approx value ex UK US $ million
Ships (4 roll on roll off and 2 container ships)	219
Santa Cruz power station (oil to coal conversion)	141
Prospera mine	68
Equipment for corvettes and naval training ship	130
Recife urban transport system	70
Offshore oil services	54

Trade in Motor Vehicles with other Countries of the European Community, 1971–80
£ million
	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
IMPORTS, CIF
Country whence consigned:
France	50	89	115	91	138	218	287	350	555	406
Belgium-Luxembourg	12	16	19	12	21	76	117	146	178	212
Netherlands	6	16	27	27	21	31	38	46	82	88
Federal Republic of Germany	57	98	128	122	129	289	508	679	1,043	795
Italy	24	39	46	42	67	94	159	205	246	177
Irish Republic	2	2	3	6	8	12	18	15	48	67
Denmark	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1
Greece	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

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.

[pursuant to her reply, 10 December, 1981, c. 450.]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to a suggestion made by the local authorities co-ordinating body on trading standards (LACOTS) that importers be required to notify their local authority when they import, from suppliers outside the European Community, any new product which is subject to consumer safety regulations. This I understand might help local authorities to prevent at source the marketing of imported goods that do not comply with the regulations rather than waiting until they reach the shops and have been sold to the general public.Like the local authorities, I am concerned that potentially dangerous goods may be imported in large numbers without an early check on their safety. Under consumer safety legislation the supply of goods is illegal if they do not comply with safety regulations, but there are no powers to check goods for safety upon importation. Nor are there powers to require importers to provide local authorities with information about new products. It has, therefore, been suggested to LACOTS that we might co-operate on a voluntary pilot scheme for import notification on a product range that LACOTS has been asked to propose.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 December, 1981, c. 451]: The information is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to purchase British goods wherever possible in public sector purchasing.

Her Majesty's Government purchase goods made in Britain—whether by British or foreign-owned companies—whenever they are competitive, which is the case in the great majority of contracts. I hope that the improvement in the competitiveness of British industry which is now taking place will result in an even greater proportion of Government purchases being met from British suppliers.

asked the Prime Minister what further representations she has received from the Manchester chamber of commerce and industry; what action she is taking on its call for reconsideration, first, of the Government's decision to withdraw assisted area status from Manchester with its implication for European Economic Community grants, secondly, of the policy of the Government in respect of the development of a third large airport in the South-East of England to the detriment of further development of Manchester international airport, and, thirdly, of the sharp cut in grant to Salford university; and if she will make a statement.

The president of the Manchester chamber of commerce and industry wrote to me on 24 November referring to the three topics the right hon. Member has raised. With regard to the assisted area status of Manchester I would refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him of 9 December. The provision of additional airports capacity in the South-East of England is the subject of public inquiries, the outcome of which I would not wish to prejudge, but the right hon. Member will know that the Government's expenditure provision on regional airports in the next financial year includes a substantial sum for the continued development of Manchester international airport. The allocation of resources to individual universities is, by long standing and respected convention, decided by the University Grants Committee.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has had sent to her about scientific studies in the United Kingdom and abroad indicating that alcohol is a teratogen; what action she has taken or will be taking; and if she will make a statement.

I received a leaflet from the Handicapped Children Fund. I refer the right hon. Member to the replies given today to his questions on pregnancy and alcohol consumption by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Prime Minister if she will now publish the Central Policy Review Staff's report on alcohol; and if she will make a statement on the report.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list those industries and companies which are State-owned, or in which the Government own shares, giving the percentage stake where appropriate.

The information requested is set out as follows. Details of the subsidiaries, associated companies or minority interests of each of these industries, companies and other bodies are given in their published annual reports and accounts. The list excludes companies in receivership, liquidation or no longer trading in which the Government own only non-voting shares.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases motorists have refused to pay the fixed penalty parking fine; what action has been taken in each instance; and how many of those who refused to pay their fines have been imprisoned;(2) whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the total numbers of fixed penalty parking fines that have been issued, the numbers of occasions where the fines have been paid in the required time, and the numbers of fines that have remained and are remaining unpaid for stated periods of time.

The information available relates to the outcome of the issue of fixed penalty notices for all offences for which such notices may be issued. Figures for 1979, the latest year for which information is available, are published in table 21 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. Information is not separately available on numbers of persons sentenced to imprisonment for non-payment of a fine imposed by a court as a result of a finding of guilt for an offence for which a fixed penalty notice was issued and not paid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homicides were recorded (a) for 1980 and (b) in 1981 up to 1 June; and how these figures compare with those for the preceding 10 years.

The numbers of offences recorded as homicide in 1980, the latest year available, and in the preceding 10 years are published in table 4.1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1980" (Cmnd. 8376). Information for 1981 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of serious offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in 1980; what percentages of these offences were of theft, of handling stolen goods and of burglary; to what extent these figures increased or decreased compared with the previous five years; and during this period what was the rise or fall in the numbers of police and in expenditure on the police service.

The total number of serious offences recorded by the police in 1980 and earlier years is published by offence group in table 2·1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1980" Cmnd 8376 and the percentage distribution for the latest year is given in figure 2·1. Further details of the numbers of offences of theft, and handling stolen goods and of burglary are to he found in tables 2·9 and 2·7.The most recent White Paper on the Government's expenditure plans (Cmnd 8175) contained the following figures for current expenditure on the police (including central government expenditure on police support):

Financial year	£ million at 1980 survey prices
1975–76	1,394
1976–77	1,460
1977–78	1,451
1978–79	1,430
1979–80	1,496
1980–81	1,559

The total strength of the police service during this period was:

At 31December	Total Strength
1975	107,138
1976	109,476
1977	108,201
1978	109,075
1979	113,309
1980	117,423

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were found guilty or cautioned for indictable offences in 1980 and in each of the previous 10 years; and how these figures compare (a) on an age basis between the younger and older parts of the population and (b) on a basis of sex.

The information requested is published in table 5.18 of the "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1980" (Cmnd. 8376), a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to requiring hotels to possess a licence for every individual television set on the premises; and if he will make a statement.

The working party on the administration of the broadcast receiving licence system has recommended that hotels should pay additional licence fees for television sets installed in the private rooms of guests. As I indicated on 1 December in reply to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley), I am considering how that proposal might be implemented.—[Vol. 14, c. 140.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much has been paid out by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years as ex-gratia payments arising out of claims for compensation made by members of the public against the Metropolitan Police for damage to property and also for injury to the person;(2) how much has been paid out by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years for damages in cases settled out of court where a member of the public has sued for compensation for damage to property and also for injury to the person;(3) how much has been paid out by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years for damages ordered to be paid by a court in a civil action for compensation against the force.

Most claims for compensation under section 48 of the Police Act 1964 for a wrongful act are settled by negotiation without recourse to litigation. Information before the financial year 1974–75 is not readily available, and records do not distinguish payments, ordered by a court, from settlements. The sums paid out of the Metropolitan Police fund for the financial years 1974–75 to 1980–81 in respect of claims or civil actions, for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault or trespass to the person, injury and damage arising from road traffic accidents, damage to or loss of property, and employers liability matters are shown in the following table; figures in brackets denote claims for injury and damage arising from road traffic accidents.

Financial year	Total payments from Metropolitan Police fund
	£	£
1974–75	159,427	(118,492)
1975–76	140,362	(99,885)

Financial year	Total payments from Metropolitan Police fund
	£	£
1976–77	295,229	(136,312)
1977–78	262,414	(125,208)
1978–79	296,907	(202,275)
1979–80	387,377	(282,135)
1980–81	495,562	(315,534)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sum of money has been included in the estimates for the current financial year for the Metropolitan Police for damages, compensation and exgratia payments for claims made by members of the public for damage to property and also for injury to the person.

Estimates for the financial year 1981–82 include the sum of £540,000 for payment of claims which may arise under section 48 of the Police Act 1964. That sum includes £398,000 for possible claims in respect of injury or damage arising from road traffic accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number and value of disused properties is held by his Department or by the Property Services Agency on his behalf; and what plans he has for their disposal or future use.

In accordance with the procedures for disposing of properties for which there is no future need, arrangements are in hand to sell Stocken Hall in Leicestershire and Swinfen Hall in Staffordshire. Their valuation is a matter for the district valuer. Eynsham Hall in Oxfordshire will be given up later this month when its lease expires. Some 1,000 prison staff quarters in various parts of the country are being offered for sale in the open market: they are averaging approximately £15,000 in price.We are reviewing Morton Hall in Lincolnshire, which was at one time a borstal institution and has been used recently for housing Vietnamese refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has any plans to introduce a monitoring system to ensure that all the LD50 tests undertaken on animals in connection with research are strictly necessary;(2) whether he will ask his advisory committee on the administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 to examine methods of ensuring that animals subjected to the LD50 test do not suffer unnecessary pain.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for such action. The Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 requires that every painful or potentially painful animal experiment must be performed with a view to the advancement by new discovery of physiological knowledge or of knowledge which will be useful for saving or prolonging life or alleviating suffering.All LD50 tests currently licensed satisfy one or more of these criteria and the Act gives no power to impose further restrictions on the purposes for which such experiments may be performed. The advisory committee, which reported on the LD50 test in 1979, made recommendations for the additional protection of the

animals, which, as outlined in my reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 27 November have been acted upon.—[Vol. 13, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he expects orders to be laid before Parliament implementing the proposals on parliamentary seats of the Boundary Commission for England and Wales.

Section 2(5) of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949 requires the Secretary of State to lay the report of a boundary commission together with a draft order giving effect, with or without modifications, to its recommendations, as soon as may be after the report is submitted. I understand that both the English and Welsh Commissions hope to complete their reviews by the end of 1982 and to submit their reports as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the continuing deaths directly attributable to fires involving polyurethane foam, he will now take steps to publicise the dangers of such fires as proposed in the debate in the House on the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations; and if he will review the effectiveness of preventive measures in this field.

So far as the question of publicity is concerned, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the written answer I gave on 11 December to his earlier question on the dangers of polyurethane foam. In November 1978 a technical sub-committee of the central fire brigades advisory councils for England and Wales and for Scotland reported on the precautions which need to be taken to meet the potential hazard presented by the use of new materials. The report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, made a number of helpful recommendations which the Government have accepted, and my right hon. Friend sees no need for a further review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will initiate an investigation to establish the circumstances in which Trevor Hardy, currently serving a series of life sentences for murder, was able to communicate with the father of one of his victims to the distress of the constituent of the right hon. Member for Manchester, Openshaw, and to his family.

There is no record at Hull prison that the letter referred to was sent out through approved channels. Inquiries already made by the Governor suggest that it may have been smuggled out of the prison and posted by one of Mr. Hardy's visitors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make provision for refunds of television licence fees in respect of the unexpired period of all surrendered licences.

No. The grounds on which refunds may be given must be limited if the licensing system is not to become unmanageable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a statement on the Byford inquiry into the Yorkshire Ripper investigation by the West Yorkshire police force.

Mr. Byford submitted his report to me on 7 December. I intend to make a statement as soon as I have completed my consideration of it. This may not be before the Christmas recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any evidence of the vexatious use by local authorities of the powers available to them under the Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many factory closures there have been since May 1979 in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk travel-to-work areas; and how many jobs have been lost in each area;(2) how many factory closures are pending and how many jobs are involved in

There are no comprehensive statistics of closures or redundancies. The available information on closures and redundancies, involving ten or more employees, reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in the requested areas is given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is considering measures, including legislation, to ensure that farmer employers keep the protective guards on their power machinery in a safe, undamaged state, in view of the recent report by the Health and Safety agricultural section that nearly 50 per cent. of such protective guards were unsafe and deficient.

No. No further measures are considered necessary to ensure that farmer employers keep protective guards on their power machinery in a safe undamaged state.In the case of power take off (pto) shaft guards, the subject of the report to which the hon. Member refers, adequate provisions concerning their safe use and maintenance are provided in the Agriculture (Power Take Off) Regulations 1957. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 also provides for enforcement action including improvement and prohibition notices to be issued by the Health and Safety Executive's agricultural inspectorate when these requirements are not complied with.The report sets out the results of a survey on the causes of shaft guard damage and its sample includes operational guards as well as obsolescent and damaged ones; some guards classified as damaged were not necessarily unsafe or deficient. The report is now being considered by the inspectorate to determine what changes can be made to improve guard durability.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement concerning the decision of the Council of Ministers on 8 December on the European Commission's proposals "Social Integration of Disabled People: A Framework for Development of Community Action".

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each year since 1960 the total number of registered port workers in the area covered by the London docks labour board, together with the numbers made redundant or taking severance in each year and the total costs to public or private bodies of those severances.

The National Dock Labour Board has supplied the information given in the table below.

asked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent there has been a reduction in real terms in the overseas aid budget since May 1979; and if he will give the figures for the years 1978–79 and 1980–81.

In real terms, that is all in 1978–79 prices, the figures for net aid are £723 million in 1978–79, £706 million in 1979–80 and £709 million in 1980–81. In cash the figures for 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81 were £723 million, £788 million and £888 million respectively.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made on the accord reached at the Cancun summit relating to official aid to developing countries.

There was no discussion at Cancun of a formal accord on official development aid. There was, however, broad agreement that aid should be concentrated on the poorest countries.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what payments or repayments of capital, interest, dividend and tax have been made to Her Majesty's Government by the Commonwealth Development Corporation in each of the last five years.

The Commmonwealth Development Corporation has no equity capital, and no dividend payments are therefore made to Her Majesty's Government. Repayments of capital, and payments of interest and tax to Her Majesty's Government were as follows (the figures are given in thousands to the nearest thousand pounds on the basis of Government financial years; the CDC's own financial year is the calendar year):

£000s
Financial year	Capital repayment	Interest payment	Tax paid (net)
1976–77	3,009	8,409	554
1977–78	9,464	12,498	3,303
1978–79	3,964	12,376	(657)*
1979–80	6,247	7,379	90
1980–81	14,035	14,421	467
* Credit.

The capital repayment figures for 1977–78 and 1980–81 are higher by some £5·7 million and £7 million respectively as a result of early repayments agreed at the CDC's request. The interest payment in 1979–80 was affected by a consolidation of outstanding loans leading to some of the interest originally due in 1979–80 being paid in 1978–79.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what conclusions he has reached on the review of the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

The essence of the reply is that, subject to review of the CDC's actual financial requirements in each of the next three years, the Government will permit the CDC to borrow in foreign currency up to £15 million a year, and, with Parliamentary approval, would make advances from the aid programme of £34 million (cash) in 1982–83 with a planning figure of £37 million (cash) in 1983–84. The information is as follows:

1. An interdepartmental group of officals, including representatives of the Commonwealth Development Corporation, has undertaken a comprehensive review of the CDC's role and activities in the light of the Government's general aid policy. The Government endorse the review's conclusion that the CDC plays a valuable developmental role and will continue to have a particular part to play in helping bring about progress in the natural resources sector of poorer countries. The Government and the CDC have also agreed that it should exercise greater flexibility, within the objectives laid down in the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act, in the allocation of its investments among the countries and economic sectors in which it is empowered to operate though it will aim to make not less than half its new commitments in poorer developing countries and also not less than half in renewable natural resources projects.

2. Subject to normal review of the CDC's actual financial requirements for each year, the provision of finance for the CDC: will be as follows. There would, with Parliamentary approval, be an increased level of advances from the aid programme on concessional terms of £34 million (cash) in 1982–83 compared with £30 million in the current financial year. I propose a planning figure of £37 million (cash) for 1983–84. In each of the next three financial years the Government would also permit the CDC to borrow in foreign currency on approved terms with a Government guarantee within a limit of £15 million a year for on-lending in foreign currency.

3. The total financial resources thus available to CDC, including a certain number of disposals and other self-generated funds, should enable it to invest in real terms at a level comparable with that it achieved for most of the 1970s. The Government believe that the resources available will enable CDC to continue a substantial investment programme for the benefit of developing countries.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will report progress on preparatory work to set up the common fund for commodities, following discussion at the Cancun summit.

The fourth meeting of the preparatory commission for the establishment of the common fund for commodities will take place in May next year. In the meantime, working parties set up by the preparatory commission will continue to draft the working regulations of the fund.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether there is to be a reduction in the level of the aid programme for 1982.

Overall resources available for expenditure on overseas development in 1982–83 will be only slightly below the level previously planned for that year, and the gross aid programme for 1982–83 will continue to be over £1 billion. The net aid programme will be £950 million. This is a reduction of just under £20 million below the previously planned figure, plus a further reduction of £6 million to compensate for an over-spend of the same amount in 1980–81. But I am announcing separately Government permission to the CDC for it to borrow abroad up to £15 million in each of the next three years.

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff are at present employed to service Select Committees; and what were the comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and to date.

The number of staff of the House who are at present engaged full-time in the servicing of select committees is 83. Comparable figures for 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1980 were 59 and 78. In addition, a small number of permanent staff assist select committees on a part-time basis. Details of the number of specialist advisers appointed since May 1979 were given to the hon. Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 12 November—[Vol. 12, c. 153–5]. Since most specialist advisers are appointed for an indefinite term, it is not possible to break these numbers down by years.

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what visits have been made by the Employment Committee since its inception; and if he will publish in the Official Report the place of meeting and the cost of the visit.

Following is the information requested:

		£
Manpower Services Commission—London	16 January 1980	40
Manpower Services Commission—London	23 January 1980	55
Manpower Services Commission—London	30 January 1980	—
Manpower Services Commission—London	6 February 1980	40
Health and SafetyCommission—London	5 March 1980	31
Northern Ireland Office—London	6 March 1980	—
Wick, Dounreay and Thurso	6 May 1980	1,246
Newcastle	20–21 May 1980	653
Liverpool	3–4 June 1980	714
Exeter, Falmouth and Plymouth	14–18 July 1980	1,372
Northern Ireland	12–14 May 1981	1,191
Livingstone	10 June 1980	583
Newcastle, Liverpool	21–24 June 1981	209
Overseas visits:
Canada	10–18 June 1980	11,025
Brussels and Bonn	30 March-2 April 1981	1,016
Norway and Sweden	23–25 June 1981	4,050

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the cost of the Committee on Welsh Affairs to date; how many visits outside the House have been held; and what was the cost of these visits.

The total expenditure since 1979 on the Committee on Welsh Affairs, including staff salaries, is £92,591. Two visits outside the House have been held, costing £472·00 and £866·00

asked the Attorney-General when the Bristol courts family conciliation service may expect a decision on its application for grant aid in 1982.

The Government appreciate the need for an early decision. Consideration of the application is proceeding as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will estimate the size of the market to 1982 for sales of volume-produced tractors in Great Britain.

No official estimates are available. New registrations of agricultural tractors were 30,000 in 1979. and 22,000 in 1980. Registrations in the first nine months of this year are 7 per cent. below the corresponding period of 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the current position of Dorman Long Ltd.; and whether a change in the stake of the British Steel Corporation is contemplated.

Redpath Dorman Long Limited is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Steel Corporation. I understand that the BSC wishes to reduce its interests in RDL, in line with the corporation's policy for reducing its involvement in activities which are not part of its main-line iron and steelmaking businesses.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the present total of redundancy money paid out to former employees of the British Steel Corporation; what is his estimate of the total that will be reached by 31 December 1981; and what are the criteria by which redundancy pay levels are fixed.

I understand from the BSC that the corporation's expenditure of closures and redundancies for the half-year to September 1981 was £98 million. No estimate of the amount to be paid to December 1981 is available, but the latest estimate of such payments for the full year ending March 1982 is £209 million. The criteria by which non-statutory redundancy payments are determined are matters for the corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether he is satisfied that, given the higher rate of utilisation of capacity within the British Steel Corporation, the corporation will be fully capable of meeting the demand for steel which would arise if the Government were to proceed with the development of the BR-SNCF project for a cross-Channel link; and if he is additionally satisfied that, if a contract were to be awarded for this particular development, existing United Kingdom or overseas customers of the British Steel Corporation would be fully protected against either refusals to supply or inability to supply by the British Steel Corporation;(2) whether in the event of the award of a contract for the construction of a Channel link, be it the CTD 81 project, the BR-SNCF proposal or Euroroute, he will take steps to ensure that the iron and steel requirements will not be met by additional imports and that additional demands placed on United Kingdom iron and steel producers will not lead to additional imports to secure continuity in the supply of iron and steel products for existing customers of either the British Steel Corporation or its private sector United Kingdom competitors;(3) whether he is satisfied that, given the higher rate of utilisation of capacity within the British Steel Corporation, the corporation will be fully capable of meeting the demand for steel which would arise if the Government were to proceed with the development of the CTD 81 project for a cross-Channel link; and if he is additionally satisfied that if a contract were to be awarded for this particular development, existing United Kingdom or overseas customers of the British Steel Corporation would be fully protected against either refusals to supply or inability to supply by the British Steel Corporation;(4) whether he is satisfied that, given the higher rate of utilisation of capacity within the British Steel Corporation, the corporation will be fully capable of meeting the demand for steel which would arise if the Government were to proceed with the development of Euroroute for a cross-Channel link; and if he is additionally satisfied that if a contract were to be awarded for this particular development, existing United Kingdom or overseas customers of the British Steel Corporation would be fully protected against either refusals to supply or inability to supply by the British Steel Corporation.

Each of the various schemes which are under consideraton for a fixed Channel link would take about five years to construct. Current estimates of the annual requirement for steel from United Kingdom sources for each scheme range from 3,500 to 100,000 tonnes depending on the size of the project and the steel-intensity of the construction technique. Tonnages of this order

Production and Exports of Cars in certain major countries
Units: Numbers in '000ss
	1979		1980		January to June 1981
	Production	Exports	Production	Exports	Production	Exports
United Kingdom	1,070	410	924	359	491	†l61
West Germany	3,933	2,283	3,521	2,108	1,823	943
France	3,220	1,535	2,939	1,373	1,365	739
Italy	1,481	647	1,445	511	758	232
Spain	966	424	1,029	492	451	231
USA	8,434	793	6,376	617	3,572	*147
Canada	988	651	847	613	465	‡
Japan	6,176	3,102	7,038	3,947	3,552	2,128
* January to March.
† United Kingdom manufacturers' export allocation of production.
‡ Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of the £50 million allocated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the conversion of boilers for coal is expected to be spent in 1981–82; and how many additional tons of coal are expected to be consumed as a result of those schemes approved in 1981–82.

So far, 28 offers of grant totalling £1·2 million have been made under the coal-fired boiler scheme. Only a proportion of this is likely to be spent during the 1981–82 financial year. The scope and coverage of the scheme is currently being reviewed. It is anticipated that some 400,000 tonnes of coal should be burnt annually as a result of the application received and approved in 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the response of charitable organisations to the liberalising of restrictions on the delivery of Christmas cards.

A number of inquiries have been received from charities wishing to take advantage of the concession, nearly all of whom envisage operating on a local basis. The development of any system for wider distribution will necessarily take some time to establish, and I think it will be a year of two before charities are ready to take full advantage of the concession.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing production and exports of motor cars in the United Kingdom and the principal producing countries in 1979, 1980 and the first half of 1981.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been made, and of these how many have been approved, by firms in Wales wishing to convert to coal under the scheme announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer; what grants in total have been made to firms in Wales; and whether he has any information as to the total amount of Welsh coal likely to be consumed by schemes approved in respect of firms in Wales.

Six applications have so far been received from companies in Wales for grant assistance under the coal fired boiler scheme. Two offers of grant have been made. I have no information of the amount of Welsh coal likely to be consumed as a result of projects receiving grant under this scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what loans from Her Majesty's Government to Talbot or to Peugeot, or guarantees in respect of such loans, are at present outstanding; at what rates of interest; with what repayment dates; in what circumstances and under what terms the loans were made; and whether the money was for any particular purpose.

There is at present outsanding from the United Kingdom company a loan of £28 million, guaranteed by PSA Peugeot Citroen. The rate of interest is fixed at 11·9 per cent. and the loan will be repaid in half-yearly tranches of £2·8 million, the first to be paid on 31 December 1985 and thereafter on 30 June and 31 December each year. The loan was made under the agreement between the Secretary of State for Industry and PSA Peugeot Citroen dated 16 December 1978. The terms and conditions of this agreement together with a copy of the declaration of intent by PSA Peugeot Citroen have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much has been made available under the Industry Act to British Leyland in respect of its Bathgate factory; and what steps he is taking to recover money made available by way of grant or loan to British Leyland in respect of its Bathgate factory.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 December 1981, c. 300]: The general government funding for BL provided since 1975, advanced either via the NEB or, since 31 March 1981, direct to the company, totals £1,700 million. These funds have been provided for BL's investment and restructuring programmes generally, and have been used by BL as part of its general funding. It is not possible to state how much of this funding—as opposed to private sector loans—has been used at Bathgate. Since all this funding constitutes the Government's shareholding in BL, repayment would only be possible if the shares were sold.The only assistance provided to BL under the Industry Act 1972 has been in the form of regional development grants made in respect of the Bathgate premises as a whole. The sum of such grants paid during the period 1 October 1974 to 30 June 1981 (excludng any grants worth less than £25,000, and any grant paid before than, details of which could only be obtained at disproportionate cost) is £3,047,000.The Department is maintaining contact with the management at BL's Bathgate plant and will take steps to recover the appropriate amount of regional development grant when final details of transfer or disposal of grant-aided assets are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply on 13 July, Official Report, columns 310–312, for how many appointments to these bodies he is responsible; how many appointments he has made to these bodies since June 1979; and if he will give details of the backgrounds of the persons he has appointed to each body.

My reply of 13 July to the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) listed 271 bodies. Between that date and 1 September 1981 (the latest date for which information is held centrally) the committee on museums and galleries in Scotland reported and has been disbanded.At 1 September, I had sole responsibility for 3,919 appointments to 261 bodies; joint responsibility for 66 appointments to five bodies, and responsibility for making recommendations to Her Majesty to 37 appointments for four bodies.In the period from 3 May 1979 to 1 September 1981, I have made 1,111 sole appointments, 31 joint appointments and have made 12 recommendations to Her Majesty. The number of appointments made to the 56 justices of the peace advisory committees and to membership of the 12 children's panels is not included in these figures: this information is not held centrally and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.If the hon. Member has a specific point to raise about the background of those appointed, perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dwellings in the public sector have been given improved insulation under the 1978 programme; and what has been the cost to date.

From April 1978 to the end of November 1981, 236,798 uninsulated public sector houses were provided with insulation at a cost of £11·471 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate (a) of the number of public sector houses below accepted standards of insulation and (b) of the average cost of insulating a four-apartment house to accepted standards.

Approximately 400,000 public sector houses with loft spaces have less loft insulation than the current Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations requirement of 50mm (two inches). The average cost of providing loft insulation in a typical four-apartment house is about £100.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the sewerage system in Scotland is over 100 years old; what proportion is in need of serious repairs and renovation; and what proportion of repair or renovation can be carried out over the next five years on estimated capital expenditure authorised.

Full information about the age and condition of the sewerage system in Scotland is not at present available, but a national sewer survey co-ordinated by the water research centre will be completed next year. It is for regional and islands councils to decide, within the capital allocations made to them, how much should be invested in repair and renovation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount spent on roads in Scotland by category in the last two years.

At outturn prices, the information requested is as follows:

	Trunk roads £ million	Non-trunk roads £ million	Total £ million
1979–80	85·7	196·4	282·1
1980–81(provisonal)	93·1	*	—
*Figures not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the relative priorities of the Auchinleck/Cumnock, New Cummock and Maybole bypasses in the trunk road programme; and if he will give an approximate date for the expected start of each part of the process, including construction.

Preliminary reports have been received for all these schemes. Otherwise, they are in a very early state of technical and procedural preparation, and it is unrealistic to predict now dates for the various stages of the preparatory work and procedures. Existing commitments on major strategic routes suggest that a start of work before 1985 is unlikely.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the chief constable of Lothian region in relation to stolen and damaged vehicles at Edinburgh airport car park; and what new measures will be introduced.

The chief constable's attention was drawn to this matter when the hon. Member raised it on 24 June 1980 but there have been no consultations. The policing of this area is a matter for the Chief Constable and it is for him to determine what measures should be employed on this task.—[Vol. 987, c. 103.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cars were reported stolen in Edinburgh airport car park in each month of 1981; and, for the same period, how many cars were broken into.

The information is as follows:

1981	Stolen	Broken into
January	—	—
February	2	—
March	1	—
April	—	—
May	1	1
June	—	2
July	4	5
August	1	2
September	2	4
October	3	1
November	5	2
	*19	17
* 5 were cars hired at Edinburgh airport but not returned.

	1975 (from 16 May)	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
(a) Complaints alleging assault	358	540	614	681	*627	604
(b) Cases which led to prosecution	12	17	7	8	†13	‡15
(c) Percentage of total (b) to total (a)	3·35	3·15	1·14	1·17	2·07	2·48
{d) Convictions	**6	9	2	3	††1	2