asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received from the hon. Member for West Lothian about Government policy on biomedical electronics; if she will set up an inter-departmental study of the need for co-ordinated Government policy in this area; and if she will make a statement.

I have received a letter from the hon. Member enclosing a copy of a memorandum by Dr. C. W. Smith of the University of Salford. The responsibility for central Government policy on biomedical electronics rests, as to different aspects of policy, with several Departments, particularly the Departments of Education and Science, Health and Social Security, and Industry.I am satisfied that there is adequate policy co-ordination, between the Departments concerned, in the area of biomedical engineering, which includes biomedical electronics, and I see no need to set up an interdepartmental study. I shall be placing information about present activities in biomedical electronics in the Library of the House shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government are now in a position to make a statement on the level of the death grant.

No. The arrangements for paying death grant, which has been at its present level since 1967, are still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much estimated tax revenue will be brought in in 1982–83 and in a full year by the taxation of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for the unemployed.

On the basis of 1981–82 levels of unemployment, income, benefits, tax rates and so on the latest estimate of the yield would be of the order of £300 million in 1982–83—assuming that the benefits are brought into tax on 5 July 1982—and of the order of £475 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in order for net weekly spending power to be maintained over the year May 1980 to May 1981, what would the rise in gross weekly earnings for households receiving 60 per cent. of average male earnings need to have been for (a) a single person, (b) a married couple, (c) a couple with one child, (d) a couple with two children, (e) a couple with three children and (f) a couple with four children.

During the period specified the retail prices index rose by 11·7 per cent. The following rises in gross earnings would have increased net income by that percentage:

	per cent.
Single person	15·5
Married couple, no children	16·5
Married couple, one child	16·0
Married couple, two children	15·4
Married couple, three children	14·8
Married couple, four children	5·0
It should not, however, be assumed that net incomes would have been maintained in real terms if earnings in the economy as a whole had in fact increased at the rates shown above.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will propose limiting redundancy payments and gratuities on retirement for all people to a maximum of two years' salary.

I can be concerned only with the tax treatment of such payments and in that respect I cannot anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the savings which would result if tax relief on mortgage interest were limited to the standard rate of income tax.

The increased tax yield in a full year at 1981–82 income levels is estimated at about £155 million. The estimate takes into account the rise in mortgage interest rates in November 1981 and assumes no further changes will occur before the end of the financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Financial Secretary has not yet replied to a letter dated 16 November 1981 from the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury concerning grossing up for tax purposes of education allowances paid to Armed Services officers.

I am very sorry for the delay which has occurred. I have now written to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated gross cost to the Exchequer of increasing all the present personal reliefs of income tax by a percentage equivalent to the increase in the retail price index between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1981.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley), Official Report, col. 304, what is the estimated 1981–82 income in each of the following income categories and what is the total anticipated income tax payable by each category on that income (a) below £5, 000 a year, (b) between £5, 000 and £10, 000 a year and (c) above £10, 000 a year.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 January 1982, c. 224]: Provisional estimates for the year 1981–82 are:

Range of Total Income	Total Income (£ billion)	Income Tax (£ billion)
Under £5, 000	31	3¾
From £5, 000 to £10, 000	68	12¾
Over £10, 000	57	14¼

The information relates to tax units, that is counting married couples as one and combining their incomes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in receipt of London weighting allowance are not regularly working in London.

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total level of European Economic Community expenditure for each of the latest three years; and what proportion in each case is spent on (a) central administration, (b) administration of individual programmes and (c) overall administration.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1982, c. 173]: Total provision in the budget of the European Communities for the years in question was:

	million ecus	£ million
1979	14, 447	9, 333
1980	16, 182	9, 667
1981	18, 437	10, 186

The proportion of the total provision allocated to administration was:

	Percent.
	1979	1980	1981
Administration of which:	5·95	5·76	5·52
Commission (staff pay)	2·63	2·43	2·29
Commission (other)	1·39	1·35	1·32
European Parliament	0·99	1·10	1·08
Council of Ministers	0·71	0·67	0·61

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many local tax districts club musicians have been transferred from schedule D to PAYE; and in how many this action has not been taken.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1982, c. 173]: Central records of this are not kept. I have taken steps so that, in due course and in all districts, club musicians will be brought within PAYE where appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the performance of British Leyland.

Yes. There were some encouraging signs of progress in 1981. BL's share of the domestic car market in 1981 was 19·2 per cent., which was an increase over the previous year. Productivity has also shown a marked improvement in the cars group. These factors were important in our consideration of BL's 1982 corporate plan and the decision to confirm the funding already agreed for 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made on the Teletext project.

All sections of the industry—the broadcasters, the manufacturers and the retailers—joined the Government to promote Teletext. Culminating in "National Teletext Month" last October, Teletext sets have almost trebled from about 100, 000 at the beginning of the year to around 300, 000 by the end and, with continuing growth, are expected to reach one million by the end of 1982. The significant progress of Teletext is also helping to achieve the aims of Information Technology Year 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are his Department's plans for the greater co-ordination of services for smaller businesses.

We plan to achieve greater co-operation in providing services for small firms by encouraging the local private and public sector organisations to work more closely together. I have chaired two meetings in different regions of England to date on this subject. We are also undertaking an experimental scheme in three areas for joint management of the advisory services of the small firms service and COSIRA.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much was spent under the microprocessor awareness programme to increase the use of information technology in 1981.

Just over £40 million of the £55 million allocated to MAP was committed by the end of 1981. Of this, £19·8 million had actually been spent, £9·2 million of it in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will reconsider the position regarding special development area status of the Girvan area in the light of the increase in unemployment.

As I have stated, the Government are always prepared to consider the designation of areas in the light of changing circumstances. However, the unemployment rate is only one of the considerations that is taken into account. At present I am satisfied that development area status remains appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make available to business men and industrialists, a level of assistance with the costs of leasing factory space, commensurate with the availability of assistance for purchase or utilisation thereof by other means.

I have no plans to add to what is already available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the response from industry to the Government's robotics scheme.

Since April 1981 we have received some 1, 150 general inquiries from companies about the scheme. Eighty firm applications for assistance have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many of the 3, 000 potential jobs in Consett that his right hon. Friend announced in reply to the hon. Member for Consett on 22 June, Official Report, c. 9, have materialised; and how this proportion compares with jobs created as a result of industrial development in the Northern region over the same period.

The 3, 000 potential jobs to which my right hon. Friend referred were those associated with all industrial inquiries being dealt with by the Derwentside industrial strategy committee at the time. Since then the expansion of existing companies and jobs from new companies have together given rise to 1, 000 firm job commitments over the next three years, of which 350 were on the ground at the end of December. In the calendar year 1981, there were a total of 1, 683 job commitments, with 600 in place by the end of the year. Comparable figures for the whole of the Northern region are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has had any recent discussions with the chairman of the British Steel Corporation concerning investment plans for the industry.

The investment plans for BSC. will be discussed as part of its new plan for 1982–85, which is currently being reassessed by the corporation in the light of a number of recent adverse factors, including antidumping action by United States manufacturers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a further statement on the future of the steel industry.

I shall be making a speech about the current situation and prospects during the debate on steel which is to take place later today, and I expect my right hon. Friend will make a further statement when the current reassessment of the BSC corporate plan has been completed and the plan has been considered by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he has taken to promote consideration of the scheme, under section 8 of the Industry Act 1972, announced by him on 14 December, for the private sector of the steel industry; and what response he has had so far.

Details of the private sector steel scheme have been sent to potentially eligible companies. To date, we have received one firm application for assistance and have had preliminary discussions with several other companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in view of the continuing rise in unemployment, especially male unemployment, he will consider classifying the Bridlington travel-to-work area as a development area.

The Government are, of course, concerned about the rise in unemployment in Bridlington, but taking into account all the relevant factors it would not be appropriate to alter the grading of Bridlington as an intermediate area at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what response he has had from the recent initiative called the business opportunities programme.

Response to the business opportunities programme has been very encouraging, both in numbers attending and the generally favourable reactions. Eleven major conferences and 48 smaller ones have taken place to date, attracting a total audience so far of well over 5, 000 small business men and their advisers. A further five major conferences and eight smaller ones will take place before the close of the programme on 18 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards extending public sector assistance to companies in difficulties.

It is the Government's policy that selective assistance should be offered only to companies which are judged to be viable.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the estimated steel production of the British Steel Corporation and the private steel producers, respectively, in 1981.

Provisional figures for crude steel production in 1981 indicate that the British Steel Corporation produced 13·2 million tonnes and the private sector 2·3 million tonnes.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what further proposals he has to encourage British industry to use the latest techniques of computer-aided design more widely.

The primary responsibility for ensuring that techniques for computer-aided design and manufacture are introduced into industry rests with those who sell them and those who use them. The Department is encouraging a wider appreciation of the benefits that these techniques can bring to a number of manufacturing industries with a three-year awareness campaign which began this month.Financial support for relevant research and development and pre-production orders is also available within existing schemes. The Department will continue to review the need for further ways of assisting industry in using CADCAM techniques.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether Her Majesty's Government will press for the establishment of a European public procurement agency to which all Community States could subscribe, for the more effective use of Government's purchasing power in order to sustain a high technology and industrial base.

The effective use of public purchasing has a vital role to play in encouraging innovation in high technology industries. The commission has tabled a communication on industrial policy which, among other things, canvasses the idea of a European public procurement agency. While I am prepared to study this, I am not convinced that it is the best way forward at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his current assessment of the value to British industry of satellite projects wholly or partly funded by Her Majesty's Government.

Information on this basis is not maintained centrally. However, I understand from the principal companies in the space industry that orders of some £120 million are current on satellite projects to be part funded, directly or indirectly, or purchased by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will call for a report from the National Enterprise Board about the financial difficulties of the Nexos Computer Company in Bristol and the acquisition of its assets by International Computers and Logica Vts with a loss of 300 jobs.

No. The NEB has kept me fully informed about its efforts to negotiate with ICL and Logica Securities a satisfactory solution to Nexos's financial difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied that section 50 of the British Telecommunications Act 1981 provides adequate safeguards in relation to the release by British Telecom of information relating to the telephone records of individuals to third parties.

Section 50 of the British Telecommunications Act 1981 does not relate to the confidentiality of telephone records which, however, is covered by the Official Secrets Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies in the Barnsley travel-to-work area have received loans through his Department from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Investment Bank, giving the total value of loans from each source, the total number of jobs to be created and the comparable figures for South Yorkshire and the United Kingdom as a whole.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will indicate the number and value of applications for job creation grants under the office and service industries scheme which have been approved for firms in South Yorkshire since August 1979, together with the number of jobs involved; and if he will provide comparable figures for West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Humberside and the United Kingdom as a whole.

Offers of job creation grants under the office and service industries scheme—section 7 of the Industry Act 1972—since August 1979 were made as follows:

	Number of Offers	Offer Value £'000	Number of Jobs
Great Britain	119	14, 586	7, 269
South Yorkshire	2	297	201
West Yorkshire	7	253	287
Yorkshire and Humberside	16	1, 034	730

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the supply and availability of industrial premises for small businesses engaged in service industries.

I am satisfied that there has been a significant increase in the stock of small industrial premises as a result of measures taken by this Government, especially the 100 per cent. industrial buildings allowance. I am aware of my hon. Friend's views on the allowance in relation to service industries and I have noted his suggestions.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what effect he estimates that the new General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade multi-fibre arangement will have on the prospects for the British textiles and clothing industry.

It is too early to make any such estimate. The Community's bilateral agreements to implement the new multi-fibre arrangement will be negotiated with our suppliers during the course of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will extend the scheme granting incentives to industry to switch from oil-fired to coal-fired boilers to non-manufacturing industry and to furnaces and kilns.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in view of the fact that industry has not taken up all of the £50 million allocated to convert boilers from oil-firing to coal, he will now accept applications from firms engaged in the distributive trades.

These suggestions will be considered in the current review of the scope and coverage of the coal-fired boiler scheme.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he has figures, conveniently available, to show the approximate number of tractors purchased with money given by way of overseas aid.

Details of numbers are not readily available. The amount of British bilateral capital aid spent on non-road tractors in 1979 was £3·3 million and in 1980 £2·1 million. This does not include any purchases out of budgetary aid, out of aid money given to multilateral aid organisations, or out of Government contributions to the voluntary agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes that the private sector should have freedom to construct gas pipelines to locations on the Continent if commercial considerations warrant, or whether the British Gas Corporation or local marketeers serving industrial sites in the United Kingdom will retain first option over supply.

The level of supplies from existing fields is inadequate, as it is, to meet all the demands of British industry, and it will soon be declining. There is thus plenty of scope for additional sales of gas within the United Kingdom. If the fresh impetus which our policies w ill give to exploration results, as we hope, in large volumes of new gas being discovered, the question of exports will be considered then.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek to obtain information on the number of inspections of nuclear plant which have been conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency in India and Pakistan, respectively, and the extent to which the two countries have disclosed intentions or preparations of production for non-peaceful purposes.

The following installations have been under IAEA safeguards since the dates given in brackets. India; two power reactors (Tarapur 1971 and Rajasthan 1973), a fuel fabrication plant at Hyderabad (1972) and the Tarapur reprocessing plant (1981). Pakistan: the Kanupp power reactor at Karachi (1971), the PARR research reactor at Rawalpindi (1971) and a separate storage facility at Karachi (1979).The precise frequency of inspection is a confidential matter between the IAEA and the country concerned, but I understand that the facilities listed are inspected several times a year. Neither India nor Pakistan has acceded to the NPT whereby they would formally renounce the option of developing nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. Both countries have however repeatedly declared that their nuclear programmes are solely for peaceful purposes and that they have no intention of developing nuclear weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the average recoverable reserves per field (a) of those currently producing oil in the. North Sea, (b) of those now under development and (c) of the remaining discoveries thought to have substantial potential.

The answer to part (a) of the question is obtained from appendix 13 of the Brown Book 1981 (The Secretary of State's latest report to Parliament on the development of oil and gas resources of the United Kingdom). This gives an average figure of 72·97 million tonnes.The answer to part

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the Petroleum (Production) (Amendment) Regulations 1976/276 are still in effect.

The regulations referred to ceased to have effect in August 1976, when their provisions were incorporated, in a slightly amended form, in the Petroleum (Production) Regulations 1976 (SI 1976/1129). The provisions concerned have since been further amended by the Petroleum (Production) (Amendment) Regulations 1980 (SI 1980/721).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the blocks awarded to the British National Oil Corporation under successive licensing rounds where farm-outs have been granted to private sector companies by the corporation.

The British National Oil Corporation in partnership with other companies, was awarded licences in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds of offshore licensing. The corporation was also awarded four sole licences, outside licensing rounds. Of the blocks covered by these licences, assignments of interest in the following have to date been completed by the corporation to companies other than United Kingdom public sector companies: 13/27, 20/3, 20/9, 3/10b, 13/19, 15/6, 31/21, 31/26, 31/27, 211/24c and 211/25b.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will invite the British National Oil Corporation to make a review of its affairs under section 3(4) of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-Lines Act 1975 in view of the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Bill and call for a new corporate plan, in view of the fact that the existing documents will be nullified by prospective changes.

As part of its regular cycle of planning, the corporation is currently preparing a new corporate plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends either to retain the 49 per cent. State holding in the projected Britoil Ltd. or transfer it to the Treasury to enhance the independence of the private sector enterprise on the analogy of the 39 per cent. Treasury holding in British Petroleum.

No decision has yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from the glass industry about the impact of high energy costs; and what measures he has proposed to deal with any such representations.

I have just received correspondence from the Glass Manufacturers Federation. This is primarily concerned with the level of heavy fuel oil duty. I will be drawing the Federation's representations to the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the state of progress on the development of the liquefaction project at Point of Ayr.

In May 1981 the Government offered £5 million towards the cost of construction and commissioning of a dual-process coal liquefaction pilot plant. Subsequently the board elected to proceed with just the liquid solvent extraction (LSE) process.A three-month proving-run, ending in December, on the board's small-scale integrated plant showed that acceptable catalyst life can be obtained, but certain aspects of the LSE process required further investigation. Further tests will be carried out this spring to assess the effect of some process changes and also to confirm the suitability of the process for use with other coals.In addition to support from the Department of Energy and the European Community, the NCB is holding discussions with concerns in the private sector with a view towards their financial support and participation in the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether any proposals have been put to him by the National Coal Board for the development of the Vale of Belvoir coalfield, since the planning inquiry was deferred by the Secretary of State for the Environment.

The National Coal Board has not made any new proposals to me in relation to this development since the planning inquiry was held.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his statement on 19 January, Official Report, column 240, if he will take steps to calculate the total capital value of the public assets to be sold under the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Bill, and the net effect of the sale on the Exchequer.

The price obtained for the assets will be determined by the market's expectation of their future worth. I will be making my own calculations nearer the time of the sale. It would be premature to do so at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his statement on 19 January, Official Report, column 174, and the explanatory memorandum of the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Bill, if he will give a breakdown of the grades of additional civil servants required in his Department, the qualifications that they will require, and whether he envisages recruiting any such staff from the British Gas Corporation or the British National Oil Corporation.

I have been asked to reply.I cannot predict the precise numbers and grades of staff that will be required since these will largely depend on the extent to which matters concerning the use of BGC's pipelines to carry gas on behalf of others are referred to me for determination. The financial and explanatory memorandum of the Bill gives the likely range of staff numbers. I expect that economists, engineers, accountants and lawyers as well as administrators could be needed to administer the provisions in clauses 12 to 17 of the Bill. It is too early to say whether additional staff will need to be recruited and if so, how.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he issued the production licence to Shell (UK) Ltd. for the Denny Inclosure in the New Forest, he took into account the constraints placed upon the use of the land by section 7 of the New Forest Act 1877.

The Denny Inclosure comprises only a small part of the total area of the licence. The factors taken into account in the decision to award the licence were those normally applied to applications for landward production licences as set out in paragraph 3 of the notice published in the Official Gazette on 5 August 1980. Licensees are made aware that the grant of a landward licence does not absolve them from the obligation to observe the provisions of all relevant legislation in carrying out operations under the licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the loss of 8, 135 direct jobs at the British Steel Corporation works, Shotton, Clwyd since January 1980 and the current high number of jobless citizens in the Deeside travel-to-work area, he will meet the Alyn and Deeside district council and chief officer as requested by Mr. W. Rogers, chief executive; and if he will make a statement.

I look forward to arranging further discussions on the economic situation in Clwyd as a whole with representatives of both county and district councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Farmers Union of Wales on the subject of the 1982 prices review; and if he will make a statement.

The price proposals for 1982 have not yet been published. When they are, Welsh Office officials will invite representatives of the farming unions to discuss them.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools in Wales have now agreed to accept children under the assisted places scheme; and how many children are involved.

There are 114 children with assisted places at the nine independent schools which have been accepted into the scheme in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has considered the future of Cwmbran development corporation; and, if so, with what results.

The Government's consideration of the future of new towns has been reflected so far in answers which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has given on the future of new towns in England, and in the document which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland published recently.Cwmbran was designated as a new town in 1949 and the Cwmbran development corporation, having done an excellent job over the years, is approaching the end of its task.Cwmbran's present population is 45, 700 as compared with the target of 55, 000 (set in 1968). Further corporation and private sector development within the next four or five years, which is expected to complete, for all practical purposes, the development of the designated area, should lead to further movement towards that target. The other major remaining tasks of the corporation, the development of Llantarnam industrial park and of Cwmbran Drive, should also be completed within that period. I have therefore concluded that the aim should be to wind up the Cwmbran development corporation in the mid-1980s. My Department will now be discussing with all the bodies concerned the steps needed to give effect to my decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been his Department's specific contributions to the International Year of Disabled People.

During the International Year of Disabled People the following Scottish Office contributions were of particular note:

The Scottish Council on Disability was funded to provide secretarial services to the Scottish committee on IYDP, which co-ordinated activities and projects throughout the year in Scotland; apart from individual activities and projects one result has been the creation of 16 local committees in various parts of Scotland.

The Scottish committee on access was funded through the Scottish Council on Disability. Subsequently all the Scottish building control authorities have designated access officers; and a guidance leaflet has been prepared for wide distribution to public bodies, architects and others. Legislation was also enacted which will make it necessary for developers to provide access arrangements and facilities for disabled persons in new buildings to which the public have access, unless it would not be reasonable or practicable.

A grant was made for a building awards scheme: the awards went mostly to local authority recreation centres, but among other buildings receiving awards was a parish church.

As a result of Government encouragement to concentrate public authority capital spending on special needs housing there was a considerable improvement in the level of houses specifically adapted for the disabled.

A special £3·8 million allocation was made to the housing corporation in Scotland to increase the funding of housing association projects providing accommodation for persons with special needs, including physical and mental disability.

The Education (Scotland) Act 1981 implemented the main recommendations of the Warnock committee report, and made new provision for the special educational needs of handicapped children.

Research projects with relevance for the disabled have been funded.

There has been emphasis under urban aid in supporting projects related to the disabled.

A number of voluntary bodies concerned with the disabled received grants.

A new leaflet "Help with Mobility" was issued; it describes the central and local government assistance available to persons who have difficulty in walking.

As an example of voluntary effort within the public service, the staff of the Scottish prison service raised well over £50, 000.

About half went to the Scottish Association for the Deaf to purchase videonews machines for its centres throughout Scotland, and the rest to local charities for the disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of (a) total Scottish exports and (b) Scottish exports of manufactured goods his Department estimates went to the European Community in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Official export statistics are compiled on a United Kingdom basis and no separate figures are available for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is considering taking steps to restrict the content and timing of sweet advertisements on television, following the recommendations contained in the report of the dental strategy review group.

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is consulting widely on the report and has as yet come to no conclusions on its recommendations. We would not, in the meantime, think it appropriate to consider directing the Independent Broadcasting Authority to take any steps with regard to the content and timing of sweet advertisements on television. The Authority has a statutory duty to maintain and keep under review its advertising code, which already contains certain restrictions on the content of confectionery advertisements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if householders who do not possess a television set have any obligation to reply to letters of inquiry from the National Television Licence Records Office.

The law imposes no obligation to reply to a letter of inquiry from the national television licence records office; but we hope that those who receive such letters will recognize that only a small proportion of households do not have a television set, and that the public interest lies in identifying licence evaders and reducing evasion, which their co-operation will assist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider increasing the midday meal allowance for people in probation hostels from 56 pence to 125 pence in order to match the sum paid to recipients of social security.

Residents of probation hostels in receipt of supplementary benefit are now entitled to 125 pence to purchase a midday meal when one is not provided or cannot be taken in the hostel. We are arranging for the payment for board and lodging which is required from residents in low paid work to be adjusted to ensure that they retain enough of their wages to be able to spend 125 pence on a midday meal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there has been an increase in the theft of works of art, antique furniture and silver in 1981; and if he will consider additional measures to meet this form of crime.

The information requested is not available, since details of the type of property stolen are not collected centrally. We have no reason to believe, however, that the powers of the courts and the police to deal with this type of crime are inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention to give the Lancashire Police Authority financial assistance in meeting the cost of security surrounding the handless corpse trial, Lancaster Crown court, January to July 1981; and, if so, in what sum.

The investigation of the murder of Martin Christopher Johnson and security arrangements for the trial were the responsibility of the Lancashire police. The costs will qualify for police grant in the usual way. We have no power to make any additional contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding his discussions with Lambeth council and community leaders on 18 January on the issue of improved consultation between police and the community in the London borough of Lambeth.

The meeting on 18 January was in our view a very useful first step and we were encouraged by the general desire on the part of those concerned to see arrangements for future consultation between the police and the community in the borough urgently developed. We propose to hold another meeting with those concerned next week. Meanwhile our officials will be holding a working level meeting this week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to reply to the letter of 11 January from the hon. Member for Caernarvon concerning the interception of telephone conversations from a public telephone kiosk in the hon. Member's constituency.

I shall write to the hon. Member within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Paul Worrell in Brixton prison.

The coroner has been informed of the death and will hold an inquest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost per year each year since its closure of guarding Haldon prison camp in Devon; how the total spent on guarding this site now compares with its estimated value on the market; and whether the Exchequer would not benefit from its quick sale, even at a low price, to save continuing costs of guarding it.

The cost per year each year has been in 1975-£12, 290; 1976-£16, 380; 1977-£16, 380; 1978-£16, 380; 1979-£17, 700; 1980-£19, 860; and 1981-£19.860; a total cost of £118, 850. The value of the site would depend upon the use approved by the planning authority. The Department's policy is to sell property as quickly as possible but in this case delay was caused by difficult and protracted negotiations over various easements and rights with neighbouring landowners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is collected at local level by the police and others with specific responsibilities in the field of racial attacks into the incidence of racial attacks now taking place.

We shall be discussing this with chief officers of police and others with a view to issuing early guidance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what date his Department sought and received advice on computer systems for detective work on specific serious incidents of crime.

Home Office scientists, in consultation with the police, have been studying since 1974 the feasibility of developing computerised facilities to assist in dealing with incidents of this kind. Experiments to try out such facilities are now being mounted in a police force. Throughout this project account has been taken of developments in computer technology and advice sought from external sources as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, pursuant to his answer of 19 January, Official Report, c. 165–6, he will arrange for the publication of the full version of the Byford report, or for it to be placed in the Library.

No. Copies of the summary placed in the Library were distributed widely to the media.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley), Official Report, 19 January, c. 159, if he has now been able to check the relevant facts relating to the senior officers responsible for the errors of judgment, inefficiencies and ineffectiveness which were referred to in the Byford report; and if he will make a statement.

The attention of the Chief Constable has been drawn to the views expressed in the House following my statement on 19 January. The deployment of individual officers within the force is a matter for the Chief Constable, who fully appreciates the need for public confidence in officers given responsibility for the investigation of serious crime.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the overall bed occupancy rate at Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, for the quarters ended 31 December 1980 and 31 March, 30 June and 30 September 1981.

The overall percentage rate of available bed occupancy at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich is shown below:

Quarter Ended	Beds occupied per cent
31 December 1980	65·3
31 March 1981	73·2
30 June 1981	73·1
30 September 1981	74·1

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated annual running cost of Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, for 1981–82 and the estimated cost of an in-patient stay for (a) Service men and (b) civilians.

The estimated running cost of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, in 1981–82 is £11·6 million at current prices. The estimated average cost of a Service in-patient's stay is £2, 188 and for a civilian patient, £944.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether arrangements have yet been made with the Department of Health and Social Security about the recovery of the costs of specialised facilities at Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, which are made available to the National Health Service; and what is the estimated annual cost involved.

Agreement has now been reached with the Department of Health and Social Security on recovery of costs incurred at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital for the clinical assessment of ex-Far Eastern prisoners of war. Payments for 1980–81 will amount to approximately £122, 500. Discussions continue with the local health authority over the provision of specialised testing facilities and ultrasound equipment for the use of National Health Service patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Service men, (b) Service dependants and (c) National Health Service patients received in-patient treatment at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, during each of the quarters ended 31 December 1980 and 31 March, 30 June and 30 September 1981.

The numbers of those receiving in-patient treatment at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, were as follows:

Quarter Ended	Service men	Service Dependants	NHS
31 December 1980	962	225	716
31 March 1981	1050	345	940
30 June 1981	1098	260	854
30 September 1981	1116	315	773

asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will, in future, include in his annual report on judicial statistics information on the number of persons who have been held in custody awaiting trial for periods in excess of six months.

I regret that this is not possible. The statistics which include information about the period between committal and trial are derived from records kept in the Crown court, and information about the time spent in custody before committal cannot be derived from these records.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the responsibilities of the Lord Chancellor in connection with the funding of the courts and the reporting, maintenance, filing and preserving of court records; and to what extent, if any, he shares these responsibilities with other Departments or bodies.

The Lord Chancellor has responsibility for most of the expenditure incurred in the administration of the Supreme Court and the county courts, including the maintenance and filing of court records. The reporting of civil trials and appeals in the Supreme Court is governed in part by the Rules of the Supreme Court and in part by a direction of the Lord Chancellor. Under the Public Records Act 1958, the Lord Chancellor is also responsible for the public records of every court of record or magistrates' court in England and Wales.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will refer the judgment in Regina v Arthur to the Court of Appeal as an important point of law on the question of a "holding operation" as a defence.

When I considered a summary of the judge's summing up to the jury in this case, together with the evidence, of most of which I had been aware before the proceedings were instituted, I took the view that it was such an unusual case, which turned to a great extent on its own particular facts, that there was no point of law arising out of it which I could appropriately refer to the Court of Appeal under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1972.

asked the Attorney-General why the Lord Chancellor decided not to release all the documents and papers referring to Burgess, McLean and Philby under the 30-year procedure set out in the Public Records Act.

The papers in question have been retained by the Departments which hold them in accordance with the general approval granted by the then Lord Chancellor in 1967, under the proviso to section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958, whereby Departments may retain sensitive records related to security and intelligence matters.

asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor's Department will conduct a study into the effectiveness of matrimonial conciliation services attached to divorce county courts.

An independently-funded programme of research into the effectiveness of court-based conciliation schemes is already being carried out. The Lord Chancellor is closely interested in the development of conciliation schemes generally, and is at present considering the recommendation made in the Law Commission's report on the financial consequences of divorce (Law Com. No. 112) that conciliation services should be investigated.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list in the Official Report all matrimonial conciliation services attached to divorce county courts, stating in each case how they are funded and staffed.

Independent arrangements for conciliation are being introduced into a number of divorce county courts on a local basis in several different forms and no definitive list of such initiatives is at present available, but the Lord Chancellor will write to my hon. Friend to give him the best available information.

asked the Attorney-General when Her Majesty's Government will announce their response to the committee of inquiry into the Public Records Act; and what form that response will take.

The response to the report will take the form of a White Paper, which it is hoped to publish within the next two months.

asked the Attorney-General if he will now replace the Master of Rolls as chairman of the Advisory Council on Public Records.

No.

asked the Attorney-General if he will take steps to make the Advisory Council on Public Records more representative of the users.

An announcement on this will be made as part of the Government's response to the Wilson committee report.

asked the Attorney-General if advice was received by the Government from the Advisory Council on Public Records concerning the recent decision not to release documents relating to the Burgess-Maclean espionage case; and whether the council received detailed information about the documents concerned.

No. The papers are retained in the relevant Department under the authority of the general decision of Lord Chancellor Gardiner in 1967.

asked the Attorney-General what is the total cost to public funds of the case against the defendants Sinclair, Maher, Smith, Kirby, Russell, Barclay, Barclay, Soich, Hincksman, Fagan, Blackman, and Pidgeon, heard before Mrs. Justice Heilbron at Lancaster Crown court between 6 January and 15 July 1981.

The usual costs of trial, which include jury and witness expenses, amounted to £1·3 million in this case. Included in this figure is police costs for the security of witnesses and of the court building. If one goes further and adds to that the administration costs of the court and the costs of the police investigation itself and other such items there is a total cost to public funds of just over £2 million.

asked the Attorney-General whether the defendant Sinclair in the handless corpse case at Lancaster Crown court, January to July 1981, has yet paid the £1 million which on 28 July 1981, Mrs. Justice Heilbron ordered him to contribute, within three months, towards the cost of his prosecution.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what action has been taken by the Hong Kong Government to provide beds for the mentally ill; and what are their plans for the mentally handicapped in Hong Kong.

There are about, 4, 000 hospital beds for the mentally ill; a further 2, 500 are planned by 1990. The Hong Kong authorities aim to integrate the mentally handicapped within the community and develop their capabilities to the fullest extent; it is planned by 1990 to increase by some 6, 000 the number of places for those requiring residential or other special care.

asked the Lord Privy Seal why Her Majesty's Government have decided to upgrade the legation at the Vatican to an embassy.

The maintenance at the Holy See of our only remaining Legation was an anomaly, based on historical considerations which have long lost their significance. The majority of States, including all but one of the United Kingdom's Community partners, have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The Pope has influence in several areas of the world where important British interests are at stake and, by raising the status of their representative at the Holy See to ambassadorial level, Her Majesty's Government are underlining the importance attached to the views of the Vatican.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what criteria were taken into account in establishing diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with the Vatican; and what considerations led to the timing of this change.

The previous level of relations was an anomaly, based on historical considerations which have long lost their significance. The majority of States, including all but one of the United Kingdom's Community partners, have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The Pope has influence in several areas of the world where important British interests are at stake and, by raising the status of their representative at the Holy See to ambassadorial level, Her Majesty's Government are underlining the importance attached to the views of the Vatican. This change had been under consideration for some time. There is no significance in the timing of the announcement.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what policy Her Majesty's Government have towards the abuse of human rights in Ethiopia.

The performance of Ethiopia over human rights is a cause of serious concern to us. We have made this concern clear to the Ethiopian Government on many occasions and we will continue to ensure that they are in no doubt about our views. We have also expressed our concern in international forums.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the annual salary of the President of the European Commission from each year since 1977; what was the annual value of the expenses of the post; and what are the pension rights of the post.

The salary of the President of the Commission is 138 per cent. of the top salary level of the most senior Community staff grade, A1. This gives figures in Belgian francs per month as follows (the sterling equivalents are all at the current rate of BFrs 81=£1):

1 July 1977	334, 436 (£4, 129)
1 July 1978	353, 092 (£4, 359)
1 July 1979	361, 600 (£4, 464)
1 July 1980	376, 027 (£4, 642)
1 July 1981	402, 266 (£4, 966—proposed figure)

In addition, the President receives a household allowance of 5 per cent. of salary, a residence allowance of 15 per cent. of salary, and a monthly representation allowance of 34, 205 Belgian francs (£422)—this allowance was last revised in 1976. Other expenses of the post are listed in the annual Budgets under one heading covering all members of the Commission, and no further breakdown is available.The President, like all members of the Commission, is entitled to a pension of 4·5 per cent of basic salary for each year of service, up to a maximum pension of 50 per cent. This is payable in full from age 65, or optionally at a reduced scale from age 60.The salary, residence allowance and pension are all subject to Community taxation, the maximum rate of which is 45 per cent.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will outline the main points set out in the draft final document presented to the Madrid conference by neutral and non-aligned countries, Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia; and which points Her Majesty's Government support and which are unacceptable.

The 33-page document presented at the Madrid CSCE meeting last December by eight neutral and non-aligned countries contained texts relating to every chapter of the Helsinki Final Act, designed to reinforce or develop the latter's provisions. Much of it consisted of language—especially on the economic basket—which had already been agreed provisionally in the negotiations.In Her Majesty's Government's view, the main inadequacies of the document lay in the account given of the review of implementation of the Final Act, and in the language to reinforce the Final Act's provisions on human rights and information. Differences also remained over the definition of a mandate for a conference on disarmament in Europe.The question of what would constitute an appropriate conclusion of the Madrid meeting is now being reexamined with our partners and allies in the light of events in Poland.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will take retaliatory action against South Africa in light of the detention of Mr. Steven Kitson.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell) on 22 January.—[Vol. 16, c. 212..]

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is satisified that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is prepared to stand by the provision in the Helsinki agreement which guarantees the territorial integrity of signatory States, in light of statements in TASS that present events in Poland may jeopardise its independence.

On 11 January we joined our NATO allies in issuing a joint declaration deploring the sustained campaign mounted by the Soviet Union against national renewal in Poland, and its active support for the suppression of civil liberties which has followed the imposition of martial law. The NATO allies noted that these acts could not be reconciled with the principles of the Final Act of Helsinki, especially those dealing with sovereignty, non-intervention, threat of force and self-determination. The Soviet Union can be in no doubt as to the profound consequences for international relations that would result from armed intervention.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of employers found to be paying below the legal minimum wage on the basis of visits by wages council inspectors; and if he will make a statement.

Information about the number of employers underpaying is not available as the statistics are compiled on the basis of the number of establishments inspected. In 1980, the latest date for which figures are available, wages inspectors found underpayments of wages, including holiday entitlements, at 12,154 of the establishments inspected. Inspections tend to be mostly concerned with areas where underpayment is most likely to be found.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of unemployed people in December 1980 and the number who had been unemployed for longer than one year.

At December 1980, the total number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,244,229. The analysis by duration of unemployment is available quarterly in January, April, July and October. At January 1981, the total number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,419,451 and of these 455,402 had been registered for over 52 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees in the Calderdale metropolitan district were being supported by the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in October, November and December 1981.

The number of potentially-redundant employees covered by applications current in October 1981 in the Calderdale metropolitan district was 1,556. The figure for November 1981 was 1,405. The December figures are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will take steps to appoint an independent inquiry into the running dispute affecting the British Railways Board and the train drivers, on condition that all industrial action is withdrawn until such time as the inquiry reports.

No. ACAS has made every effort, and continues to do so, to assist all the parties to resolve this dispute and end the damaging industrial action.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the continuing unrest within Southampton docks, he will now set up an inquiry to review the working of the Jones Aldington agreement and the general administration of the docks board itself.

I understand that the dispute in Southampton docks has now been settled and the port is working normally.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions have been issued to jobcentres, skillcentres and other public employment agencies concerning the implementation of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Instructions to all staff of the public employment services on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 describe the provisions of the Act, define the periods of rehabilitation and list those professions, offices and employment which are exempt from the Act, Staff are instructed not to attempt to interpret the Act nor to give a ruling as to whether a conviction is 'spent' but to advise people to consult the citizens advice bureau or a solicitor.The instructions state that ex-offenders registering for employment have a right not to disclose to staff details of any convictions. Information volunteered by registrants may be recorded but must not be disclosed to a prospective employer without the registrant's consent; in the case of 'spent' convictions this consent must be in writing. A Home Office leaflet 'Wiping the slate clean', which explains the Act, is available at jobcentres and employment offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people who left school or college in 1981 had not received an offer of a place in the youth opportunities programme schemes by Christmas 1981.

The number of 1981 school leavers who were still awaiting an offer of a place on the youth opportunities programme at Christmas 1981 was about 15, 000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers in Sheffield are currently covered by the temporary short-time working subsidy.

The number of potentially-redundant employees covered by applications current under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in December 1981 in the Sheffield travel-to-work area was 3, 003.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of registered disabled; and what is the number of those who were unemployed in each month since October 1981 for which figures are available.