Written Answers

                    The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
                

Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 26 January 1982

Trade

Manufactures

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will estimate the extent to which the unit values for exports of manufactured goods in the October 1981 trade returns are distorted by inclusion of shipments invoiced in foreign currency made at an earlier rate of exchange.

The information necessary to make an accurate estimate is not available; however it is not thought that the unit values are distorted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his estimate of the dollar price of United Kingdom exports of manufactures less erratics in each of the first three quarters of 1981 and in October as a percentage of 1975.

The available information for the months of 1981 is as follows:

United Kingdom Exports of Manufactures Excluding the More Erratic Items^*
1981	Unit value indices in United States $ terms 1975=100
January	211
February	201
September	167
October	172
November	180
December	181
^*Ships, North Sea installations, aircraft and precious stones.

Balance Of Trade

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the current balance of trade.

a. Notionally funded schemes
£ million
	Current expenditure on benefits		Receipts by notional fund
	Pensions	Lump sums and other benefits	Employee contributions	Employer contributions	Other receipts
NHS	445·3	114·8	330·2	398·3	21·1
Teachers	571·9	214·3	320·3	442·1	8·2

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

Petitions

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will place in the Library the petitions referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Workington on 21 January as and when they are received by Her Majesty's Government.

I am sympathetic to the hon. Member's request. The petitions, which I expect to receive very shortly, are extremely bulky and copying them would be expensive. For these reasons I do not propose to place them in the Library, but I will readily make them available to the hon. Members to inspect in my Department.

"The Sunday Times"

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received from the National Union of Journalists chapel at The Sunday Times that management has infringed the conditions relating to editorial independence set out by him in the Official Report, 27 January 1981, c. 787; what reply he has sent; and whether he proposes to take any further action.

[pursuant to her reply, 25 January 1982, c. 268]: My right hon. Friend received a letter on this subject on Friday 22 January. He hopes to reply shortly.

National Finance

Pensions, Severance And Termination Grants

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report as much detailed information as may be available in respect of each case where any Treasury money contributes towards the various pension, severance and termination grants payable to the police, firemen, dockers, civil servants, Members of Parliament or other groups of employees, including those within the nationalised industries.

For the major public services, the cost of pension and related compensation benefits in 1981–82 was estimated to be as follows:

b. Unfunded schemes
£ million
	Current expenditure on benefits		Reductions in salary rates in respect of pension benefits; employee contributions and other receipts	Net cost to central Government
	Pensions	Lump sums and other benefits		Net cost to central Government
Civil Service	661·0	313·6	361·6	613·0
Armed Forces	489·4	113·0	285·8	316·6

Pension benefits in the police and fire services are paid by local authorities out of revenue which is credited with employees' contributions and other income. The latest figures available centrally are for 1980–81 and are as follows—

1980–81
	Total Cost of Benefits	Receipts	£ million Net cost to local authorities
Police	195·6	85·4	110·2
Fire	51·2	21·0	30·2

Local government superannuation benefits are administered through funded schemes to which employers contributed a total of £766 million in 1980–81.

Half of the authorities' expenditure on police pensions is met by specific grants from the Exchequer. The balance of such expenditure for the police and the whole for the fire service and local government is taken into account in assessing the rate support grant paid by the Exchequer to local authorities for general expenditure. There are no centralised records of the lump sum compensation payments made by employing authorities in the police and fire services, local government, NHS and teaching.

Pension provision for Members of Parliament is made through the parliamentary contributory pension fund, to which the Exchequer contributed £1·5 million in 1980–81. The provision for 1981–82 is £1·6 million.

In the nationalised industries severance payments and payments to pension funds are normally the responsibility of the nationalised industry concerned and are not as a rule separately identified within the total finance made available to the industries. In some exceptional cases, however, specific Government grants have been made available. In 1980–81 the amounts were as follows:

	Grants to Pension Funds £ million	Grants for Severance Payments £ million
British Railways Board	47·6	—
National Freight Company	4·2	—
National Coal Board	52·7^*	16·4†
British Shipbuilders	—	19·6
British Steel Corporation (Re-adaptation Grants)	—	30·0†
Post Office	45·0	—
^*Included in Exchequer Finance Limit.
† Paid direct to ex-employees.

Grants were also made to the Port of London Authority of £2·6 million towards a pension fund deficiency, and £13·9 million for severance payments.

In addition, since 1980 loans totalling some £50 million have been made available to the National Dock Labour Board to facilitate the severance of registered dock workers under the self-financing national voluntary severance scheme.

Civil Service (Executive Officers)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many established posts there were in the Civil Service for executive officers at 1 January; and how this compares with the figures at 1 January 1981.

There were 44, 900 executive officers in post on 1 October 1981, the latest date for which reliable figures are available centrally. This commpares with 46, 000 EOs in post on 1 October 1980.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many executive officers left the Civil Service during 1981 by virtue of (a) retirement at normal retiring age, (b) early retirement, (c) redundancy, (d) transfer to other work and (e) dismissal.

The number of leavers from the executive officer grade in the year ending 30 September 1981 were as follows:

Cause of leaving	Numbers
Voluntary resignation	1, 190
Age retirement	1, 050
Early retirement—voluntary	80
Early retirement—other	210
Redundancy	—
Dismissal	10
Other reasons	110
Total	2, 650

Medical Schemes (Tax Relief)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of giving income tax relief at the basic rate to members of group medical schemes, run by employers, earning more than £8, 500 per annum and in addition giving tax relief at the basic rate to private medical insurance premiums and group schemes run by employers.

I assume that my hon Friend's question relates to the cost of:

(a) exempting from the charge to basic rate (but not higher rate) tax under Schedule E medical insurance premium paid by employers for the benefit of directors and employees earning £8, 500 a year or more and
(b) giving basic rate tax relief in respect of premiums paid on their own behalf by all individual subscribers or members of group schemes.

At 1981–82 levels the cost of exempting higher paid employees from the tax charge would be of the order of £30 million and of giving relief to individual subscribers and other members of group schemes of the order of £25 million.

Public Corporations (Wages And Salaries)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the cost of wages and salaries in the public corporations, apart from the nationalised industries, in each of the last five years, distinguishing between increases paid by annual increments and those paid through negotiated settlements.

Estimates for the cost of wages and salaries in the public corporations, apart from the nationalised industries, for the years 1976 to 1980 are as follows:

	£ million
1976	1, 278
1977	1, 367
1978	1, 518
1979	1, 722
1980	2, 007

Source: National accounts.Figures for 1981 are not yet available. Information on increases paid by annual increments and through negotiated settlements is not held centrally.

Value Added Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from value added tax on housing repair work in each of the most recent five years for which figures are available.

It is estimated that the amount of VAT charged on housing repairs, including materials used by householders was as follows:

	£ million
1976–77	100
1977–78	125
1978–79	145
1979–80	250
1980–81	350

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines are laid down by the Treasury to enable Customs and Excise officers to decide whether to charge value added tax on adult education courses.

The value added tax treatment of adult education courses, except where provided by schools and universities supplying exempt education, depends on the level of the charge made to the participants and the nature and content of the courses.When provided free of charge or where a local authority specifically subsidises its courses so that the fees charged are less than cost, such courses are not subject to tax. When provided for profit, courses are taxable.If the fees are charged at cost, certain of these courses would be exempt from VAT, but sporting and recreational activities are excluded from this exemption unless provided as part of a general educational curriculum.

Medals And Coins

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when, and to whom, he issued his decision that a plaque comprising medallions of Her Majesty and the Pope, which is to be produced in precious metals by the Royal Mint and sold through the Royal Mint Numismatic Bureau, does not fall within the description of "medals and coins, " for the purpose of rule 4 of the Lord Chamberlain's rules of May 1973; and if he will reconsider that decision.

I issued no such decision. Item 9 of the Lord Chamberlain's rules makes it clear that any doubt as to the interpretation of the rules may be referred to the Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office.

Tax Revenue (Cinema Tickets)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the rate of tax and the volume of revenue raised annually on cinema tickets for the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The rates of VAT since its introduction on 1 April 1973 are published in the table on page 37 of the report of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise for the year ended 31 March 1980. There is a copy in the Library of the House.Traders registered for VAT are not required to make returns of the VAT charged on particular goods and services but only on the total of all their supplies. However, from other sources, it is estimated that the VAT charged on cinema admissions was as follows:

	£ million
1973–74	5
1974–75	6
1975–76	6
1976–77	6
1977–78	7
1978–79	9
1979–80	13
1980–81	19

Gaming And Amusements Machines

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before making plans for the introduction of an ad valorem tax on the takings of gaming and amusement machines, he will consider the detrimental effects this may have on jobs and exports.

These and all other relevant factors will be taken into account.

Corporation Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated total cost (a) in 1980–81 and (b) 1981–82 of allowing certain small companies to pay corporation tax at a rate lower than the 52 per cent. rate; and by how many companies it is estimated that this relief is enjoyed.

The cost of the small companies' rate of corporation tax is estimated at £150 million in 1980–81 and £180 million in 1981–82. The number of companies which benefit from this relief varies from year to year, but lies in the region of 200, 000.

Smoking And Alcohol Consumption

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total of (a) personal income tax and (b) value added tax lost to the Exchequer per annum as a consequence of illness caused either entirely or mainly by (a) smoking or (b) alcohol consumption.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Economic Statistics

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give, for each year since 1945, the growth rate of the United Kingdom economy; the level of inflation, the number of persons in employment, the rate of unemployment, the level of the public sector borrowing requirement, the percentage increase in £M3, the surplus or deficit in the balance of payments, the level of interest rates, the national average wage and the percentage increase or decrease in real personal disposable income, and the percentage change in manufacturing investment, with such evidence for 1980 as is available.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1982, c. 173]: The available information on the items specified is mostly either already published or can be derived from published sources. However very few of the series extend back to 1945.The growth rate of the United Kingdom economy, as measured by the average estimate of the gross domestic product at constant factor cost, is given on page 132 of the October 1981 edition of

Economic Trends. The annual percentage change in real personal disposable income is given on page 134 of the same publication.

The indicators most often used to calculate the level of inflation are the implied index of total home costs and the general index of retail prices. These are given on pages 5 and 114 respectively of the 1982 edition of the Economic Trends Annual Supplement. Also given in the annual supplement are the number of persons in employment—page 99—the level of the public sector borrowing requirement—page 154—the value of £M3—pages 146–47—the surplus or deficit in the balance of payments—page 124—the levels of interest rates—pages 192–94—and manufacturing investment—page 56.

The following table contains details of the rate of United Kingdom unemployment and the national average wage, which are not readily available from published sources.

	^* Rate of unemployment Percentage	† National average wage £/p per week
1945	n/a	‡6·07
1946	n/a	6·04
1947	n/a	6·40
1948	1·6	6·90
1949	1·6	7·13
1950	1·6	7·52
1951	1·2	8·30
1952	1·7	8·93
1953	1·7	9·46
1954	1·4	10·22
1955	1·1	11·15
1956	1·2	11·90
1957	1·5	12·58
1958	2·0	12·83
1959	2·1	13·54
1960	1·7	14·53
1961	1·5	15·34
1962	2·0	15·86

	^* Rate of unemployment Percentage	†National average wage £/p per week
1963	2·4	16·75
1964	1·7	18·11
1965	1·5	19·59
1966	1·5	20·30
1967	2·3	21·38
1968	2·5	23·00
1969	2·4	24·82
1970	2·6	28·05
1971	3·5	30·93
1972	3·8	35·82
1973	2·7	40·92
1974	2·7	48·63
1975	4·1	59·58
1976	5·7	66·97
1977	6·2	72·89
1978	6·1	83·50
1979	5·7	96·94
1980	7·4	^**113·06
1981	11·3
n/a Not available.
^*Annual average; excludes temporarily stopped and adult students.
† Average weekly earnings for manual men in all industries covered by the Department of Employment October Surveys.
‡ July not October.
^**Relates to "males on adult rates".

Income Tax

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 January 1982, c. 226]: The estimated cost for a full year at 1981–82 income levels is £4, 050 million. This covers the cost of increasing the single, married and wife's earned income allowances, the aged single and married allowance—and the age income limit—and the additional personal allowance by 29 per cent. This is equal to the increase in the general index of retail prices between December 1979 and December 1981.

Prime Minister

Quangos

Q4.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list in the Official Report the non-departmental public bodies, including any nationalised industry boards, that have been, or are to be, reduced during this Parliament; if she will record in each case what action has been, or is being taken; and if she will make a statement.

I am arranging for a list to be printed in the Official Report. It describes 441 non-departmental public bodies that have already been abolished or reduced and 109 more that are scheduled for abolition or reduction by April 1984. Changes affecting the nationalised industries' boards are also noted.We shall continue to pursue the scheduled abolitions and will keep other bodies under review.

Name of body	Type	Decision	When implemented
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
1. Advisory Council for Agriculture & Horticulture in England and Wales	A	To wind up	February 1980
^*2. Agricultural Construction Industry Liaison Group	A	To wind up	March 1982
3. Experimental Centres Advisory Committees	A	Reduce from 22 to 21	February 1981
		Reduce from 21 to 20	March 1982
4. Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee	A	Wind up: replace with Farm Animal Welfare Council	July 1979
5. Farm Settlement Advisory Committee for the Selection of Tenants	A	To wind up	January 1980
6. Fish Utilisation R and D Committee	A	To wind up	August 1979
7. Joint Consultative Oganisation for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food	A	5 Boards to merge into 1	April 1980
8. Plant Variety Rights Advisory Panels (12)	A	To wind up	February 1980
9. Poultry Diseases Panel	A	To wind up	January 1980
10. Regional Panel (7)	A	Reduce to 5	January and February 1981
11. Tate and Lyle Customer Safeguards Committee	A	To wind up	June 1980
12. Torry Research Station Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
13. White Fish Authority	E	To merge with Herring Industry Board	October 1981
Ministry of Defence
1. Advisory Committee for Meteorology in Scotland and the Meteorological Research Committee	A	To be absorbed into Meteoroligical Committee	January 1980
	A	To be absorbed into Meteoroligical Committee	January 1980
2. Aeronautical Research Council & Sub-Committees	A	To wind up	April 1980
3. Air Cadet Council & Scottish Air Cadet Council	A	Bodies to merge and lose NDPB status	January 1980
4. Army Education Advisory Board	A	To wind up	January 1980
5. Committee for University Assistance to Audit Education in Her Majesty's Forces	A	To wind up	March 1980
6. Electronics Research Committee and Sub-Committee	A	To wind up	March 1980
7. Flying Personnel Research Committee & Sub-Committees	A	To wind up	March 1980
8. Independent Boards of Visitors for Military Corrective Training Establishment at Colchester and the Royal Naval Detention Quarters	A	Merge to one body	July 1980
9. Lubricant Engine Testing Advisory Panel	A	To wind up	January 1980
10. Microwave Receiving Devices Research Advisory Panel	A	To wind up	March 1980
11. Navy Department Fuels and Lubricants Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
12. Naval Education Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
13. Ship Hull Corrosion Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
14. Ship Machinery Corrosion Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
15. Training and Education Advisory Committee for the RAF, and Sub-Committees	A	To wind up	January 1980
Department of Education and Science (including Office of Arts and Libraries)
1. Advisory Committee on Sculpture in Royal Parks	A	To wind up	1979
2. Centre for Information and Advice on Educational Disadvantage	E	To wind up	August 1980
3. Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research	E	Grant to be reduced by 1983–84	progressive from year 1981–82
4. Cockcroft Committee of Enquiry into Teaching of Mathematics in Schools	A	To wind up	final meeting October 1981
5. Council for Educational Technology	E	Grant to be reduced by 1982–83	progressive from year 1980–81
^*6. South Bank Theatre Board	E	To wind up	When final bills paid. Commitment into 1982.
7. Youth Service Forum	A	To wind up	July 1979
Department of Employment
1. Advisory Committee on Asbestos	A	To wind up	October 1979
2. Disablement Advisory Committee (220 District Committees)	A	Reduce by 87 committees	April 1981
3. District Manpower Committees (125)	A	Reduce to 87	January 1980
4. Industrial Relations Training Centre	E	To wind up	November 1980
^*5. Industrial Training Boards (24)	E	Reduce to 7	1982–83
6. Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth	A	To wind up	July 1979
7. Standing Commission on Pay Comparability	A	To wind up	March 1981
8. Wages Councils for the following:	E	Merge to form Retail Food and Allied Trades Wages Council	July 1979
Retail Bread and Flour Confectionary Trade (England and Wales)
Retail Bread and Flour Confectionery Trade (Scotland)
Retail Food Trades (England and Wales)
Retail Food Trades (Scotland)
Retail Newsagency, Tobacco and Confectionery Trades (England and Wales)
Retail Newsagency, Tobacco and Confectionery Trades (Scotland)
9. Wages Councils for the following:	E	Merge to form Retail Trade Wages Council (non-Food)	July 1979
Retail Bookselling and Stationery Trades
Retail Drapery, Outfitting and Footwear Trades
Retail Furnishing and Allied Trades

Name of body		Type Decision	When implemented
10. Wages Councils for the following trades:	E	Merge to form Clothing Manufacturing Wages Council (Great Britain)	July 1981
Corset
Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing (England and Wales)
Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing (Scotland)
Ready Made and Wholesale Bespoke Tailoring
Rubber Proofed Garment Making Industry
Shirt Making
Wholesale Mantle and Costume
11. Pin, Hook & Eye and Snap Fastener wages Council	E	To wind up	November 1980
Department of Energy
1. Advisory Committee on Fixed Offshore Installations	A	To wind up	March 1980
2. Advisory Council on Energy Conservation	A	Reduced Council membership from 25 to 15	January 1980
3. Energy Commission	A	To wind up	July 1979
4. Offshore Safety Committee	A	To wind up	March 1980
5. Severn Barrage Committee	A	To wind up	April 1981
^*6. United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority	E	Reduction in funding for 1982/83	February 83/83
Department of the Environment
1. Advisory Committee on Bird Sanctuaries in the Royal Parks	A	To wind up	September 1979
2. Advisory Committee on Housing Cooperatives	A	To wind up	September 1979
^*3. Advisory Committee on Local Government Audit	A	To wind up	March 1982.
*4. Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds in England	A	To wind up	March 1982
^*5. Advisory Committee on Rent Rebates and Rent Allowances	A	To wind up	April 1983; legislation required
6. Advisory Committee on Trees in the Royal Parks	A	To wind up	September 1979
7. Advisory Panel on Institutional Finance in New Towns	E	To wind up	November 1980
8. Ancient Monuments Board Committee for Rescue Archaeology	A	To wind up	September 1979
9. Ancient Monuments Board for England	A	To wind up	NK; legislation required
10. Area Archaeological Advisory Committees (13)	A	To wind up	September 1979
11. Centre for Environmental Studies	E	To wind up	November 1980
12. Clean Air Council	A	To wind up	November 1980
13. Commission on Energy and the Environment	A	To wind up	July 1981.
14. Committee to Examine Standards of Lawn Tennis in Great Britain	A	To wind up	June 1980
15. Construction and Housing Research Advisory Council	A	To wind up	September 1979
16. Construction Industry Manpower Board	A	To wind up	August 1980
17. Detergents and Allied products—Voluntary Notification Scheme Scrutiny Group	A	To wind up	September 1979
18. Economic Planning Councils (8)	A	To wind up	September 1979
19. Environmental Board	A	To wind up	September 1979
20. Hadrian's Wall Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	September 1979
21. Housing Association Registration Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	August 1980
22. Housing Corporation	E	Staff reductions and streamlining	October 1981
23. Housing Services Advisory Group	A	To wind up	November 1980
^*24. Hydraulics Research Station Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	probably April 1982
25. Letchworth Garden City Corporation	E	To wind up	NK
26. Location of Offices Bureau	E	To wind up	May 1980
27. National Building Agency	E	To wind up	1983
28. National Consultative Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industries	A	To wind up	April 1980
29. New Towns:
New Town Development Corporations (16):	E	To wind up	1981 or earlier
Corby
Harlow
Stevenage
Runcom
Bracknell^*			June 1982
30. Noise Advisory Council	A	To wind up	February 1981
31. Planning and Transportation Research Advisory Council	A	To wind up	September 1979
^*32. Recreation Management Training Committee	A	To wind up	January/February 1982
33. Scientific Authority for Animals	A	Functions transferred to Nature Conservancy Council	March 1981
34. Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents	A	To wind up	September 1979
35. Waste Management Advisory Council	A	To wind up	January 1981
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (including Overseas Development Adminstration)
1. Advisory Committee on Development Education	A	To wind up	October 1979
2. Advisory Committee on Rhodesian Travel Restrictions	A	To wind up	December 1979
3. Advisory Council, European Discussion Centre	A	To wind up	December 1981

Name of body	Type	Decision	When implemented
4. Advisory Panel on Arms Control and Disarmament and the Non-Proliferation Advisory Panel	A	Merge to one body—Advisory Panel on Disarmament and Non-proliferation	October 1979
5. British Council	E	Phased reduction in expenditure	1980/81 to1983/84 prices
6. Consultative Committees of Indian Family Pension Funds (3)	A	To wind up	November 1979
7. Inter-University Council	E	To wind up	March 1981
^*8. Irish Pensions Appeal Tribunal	T	To wind up	When pensions cease to be paid
9. Technical Education and Training Organisation for Overseas Countries	E	To wind up	March 1981
10. Toplis and Harding (Middle East) Ltd	E	To wind up	Subject to legal process
11. Tropical Products Institute Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	November 1979
12. Trypanosomiasis Panel	A	To wind up	February 1980
Department of Health and Social Security
^*1. The Adjudicator	T	To wind up	1982–83
^*2. Advisory Committee on Child Psychotherapists' Grading and Appointments	A	To wind up	March 1982
3. Advisory Committee on NHS Laundries	A	To wind up	December 1979
4. Advisory Committee on Services for Hearing-Impaired People	A	To wind up	October 1980
^*5. Advisory Committee on Top Grade Clinical Psychologist Posts	A	To wind up	March 1982
^*6. Advisory Committee on Top Grade Scientist Posts	A	To wind up	March 1982
7. Advisory Group on Resource Allocation	A	To wind up	January 1980
8. Advisory Group on Testing for Hepatitis B	A	To wind up	October 1980
9. Central Health Services Council	A	To wind up	August 1980
^*10. Central Joint Committee of Medical and Pharmaceutical Professions on the Rural Dispensing Standstill	A	To wind up	1982–83
11. Central Pathology Committee	A	To wind up	October 1979
12. Child Health Computing Committee	A	To transfer to NHS	December 1981
13. Children's Joint Committee	A	To wind up	November 1981
14. Committee on Restrictions Against Disabled People	A	To wind up	1981–82
15. Consultative Group on Food Matters within the EC	A	To wind up	January 1980
16. Consumers' Consultative Group on Artificial Limbs	A	To wind up	December 1979
^*17. Food Hygiene Advisory Council	A	To wind up required	Legislation
18. Good Neighbour Campaign Group	E	To wind up	January 1980
19. Health Services Board	E	To wind up	August 1980
20. Interim Advisory Committee on Safety in Clinical Laboratories	A	To wind up	September 1981
21. Invalid Three-Wheeler Repair and Maintenance Liaison Group	A	To wind up	January 1980
22. Laboratory Development Advisory Group and 4 Sub Groups	A	To wind up	Main body: December 1979 Sub Groups: August 1981
23. London Advisory Group	A	To wind up	May 1981
24. London Coordinating Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
25. London Health Planning Consortium	A	To wind up	July 1981
26. National Consultative Committee for the U N European Social Development Fund	A	To wind up	December 1979
27. National Development Group for the Mentally Handicapped	A	To wind up	April 1980
28. National Insurance Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	November 1980
^*29. National Radiological Protection Board Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	Legislation required
30. NHS Computer Policy Committee	A	To wind up	September 1981
31. NHS Purchasing Advisory Groups(30)	A	To wind up	January 1982
^*32. Nursing bodies:	E	To be replaced after transitional period by United Kingdom Central Council and National Boards under the Nurses,	1983–84
General Nursing Council (England and Wales)	E
Central Midwives Board (England and Wales)	E
Joint Board for Clinical Nursing Studies	E
Panel of Assessors for District Nurse Training	E
Council for the Education and Training of Health Visitors		Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979
33. Personal Social Services Council	E	To wind up	June 1980
^*34. Staff Appeals (National Health Service Reorganisation) Tribunals	T	To wind up	1982–83
^*35. Standing Group on National Health Service Planning	A	To wind up	January 1982
^*36. Steering Group on Health Services Information	A	To wind up	undecided
37. Supplementary Benefits Appeal Tribunal—Advisory Group	A	To wind up	September 1981
38. Supplementary Benefits Commission	E	To wind up	November 1980
39. Training Council for Orthotists	E	Support to be withdrawn	February 1981
^*40. Working Party on Laser Safety	A	To wind up	1982–83
41. Working Party on the Training of Operating Department Assistants	A	To wind up	November 1979
Home Office
^*1. Advisory Committee on Radio Interference	A	To wind up	1983–84 Legislation required
2. Advisory Council on the Penal System	A	To wind up	January 1980

Name of body	Type	Decision	When implemented
3. Central Committee on Common Police Services	A	Fewer meetings, reduce membership	July 1980
4. Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship	A	To wind up	October 1979
5. Conference on Local Government Electoral Law	A	To wind up	January 1980
6. Electoral Advisory Conference	A	To wind up	January 1980
^*7. Fire Service College Board	A	To wind up	mid 1982
8. Frequency Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	May 1980
9. Licensing Planning Committees (7)	A	Number reduced to 1	July 1981
10. New Town Licensed Premises Committees (17)	A	Number reduced to 5	December 1981
11. Police National Computer Policy Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
^*12. Poisons Board	A	To wind up	1983–84 Legislation required
13. Queen's Police Gold Medal Essay Competition Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
^*14. Race Relations Research Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	January 1982
15. Regional Probation Staff Development Consultative Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
16. Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure	A	To wind up	January 1981
17. Standing Advisory Committee on Cinematograph (Safety) Regulations	A	To wind up	December 1981
Department of Industry
1. Committee of Enquiry into the Engineering Profession	A	To wind up	December 1979
^*2. Design Council	E	Reduce staff; aim for increased income from advisory etc. services	Progressive reduction in grant from 1981–82
3. Electronics Components Industry Support Scheme and Instrumentation and Automation Scheme Advisory Board	A	To wind up	March 1980
^*4. Furniture Development Council	E	To wind up	December 1982
5. Industrial Technology Education and Training Committee	A	To wind up	July 1981
6. Iron and Steel Employees Readaptation Benefits Scheme Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
7. Manufacturing Machinery Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	December 1979
8. National Electronics Council	A	To withdraw support	Over period 1980–81 to 1983–84
9. National Enterprise Board	E	Bodies to operate jointly as British Technology Group	From July 1981
National Research Development Corporation	E	Bodies to operate jointly as British Technology Group	From July 1981
10. Waste Management Advisory Council	A	To wind up	January 1981
Lord Chancellors Office
1. Private International Law Committee	A	To wind up	1979
Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments
1. Advisory Committee for Agricultural Training (NI)	A	To wind up	September 1979
2. Advisory Committee on Health Education (NI)	A	To wind up	June 1980
3. Cattle Improvement Committee	A	To wind up	October 1979
4. Central Advisory Council on the Employment of the Disabled	A	To wind up	September 1981
5. Community Education Forum	A	To wind up	March 1981
^*6. Community Service Committee	OB	To be subsumed by a new body; Probation Services Board	1982
^*7. Community Worker Research Project	E	To wind up	March 1982
8. Employment Service Management Committee	A	To wind up	October 1979
^*9. Extra Statutory Compensation Tribunal	T	To wind up	1982
10. General Agricultural Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	August 1979
11. Hotel Grants Advisory Committee (NI)	A	To wind up	October 1980
^*12. Industrial Development Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	September 1982
13. Lagan Valley Regional Park	A	To merge with Ulster Countryside Commission	July 1981
^*14. Nature Reserves Committee and Wild Birds Advisory Committee	A	To merge (legislation required)	1982
15. Northern Ireland Agricultural Trust	E	To wind up	June 1981
16. NI Committee for Educational Technology and NI Schools Curriculum Committee	A	Disbanded and replaced by NI Council for Educational Development	April 1980
17. Northern Ireland Construction Industry Advisory Council	A	Reconstituted	September 1980
^*18. Northern Ireland Council for Nurses and Midwives	E	To wind up; replace by new Northern Ireland Board	April 1983
^*19. Northern Ireland Development Agency	E	To wind up	December 1982
^*20. Northern Ireland Electricity Consumers Council	E	bodies to merge; legislation required	February 1983
Northern Ireland Consumer Council	A
Northern Ireland Transport Users' Committee	E
^*21. Northern Ireland Trade Statistics Consultative Committee	A	To wind up	July 1982
^*22. Northern Ireland Training Council	A	To wind up and be replaced by a single body	1982
Youth Careers Guidance Committee	A		September 1981
Youth Opportunities Programme Monitoring Committee	A		1982

Name of body	Type	Decision	When implemented
*23. Northern Ireland Training School Management Boards (4)	E	Functions to be discharged by one Board	1982
24. Roads Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	August 1980
25. Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings Committee	A	To wind up	March 1981
26. Sports Council for Northern Ireland	E	Reconstituted	October 1980
27. Supplementary Benefits Commission for Northern Ireland	E	To wind up	November 1980
28. Visiting Committees (7)	OB	Reduce number to 6	October 1979
^*29. Wages Councils (12)	E	Reduce number to 9	1982
Scottish Office
1. Advisory Committee on Community Medicine Establishments	A	Merge with Advisory Committee on Hospital Medical Establishments	September 1979
2. Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds in Scotland	A	To wind up	October 1981
3. Advisory Committee on Vocational Preparation	A	To wind up	September 1979
4. Advisory Council on Social Work	A	To wind up	September 1981
5. Animals Board of the Joint Consultative Organisation for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food	A	To wind up	November 1979
^*6. Assessor of Public Undertakings	E	To be absorbed into the Scottish Office	February 1982
7. Clean Air Council for Scotland	A	To wind up	November 1980
8. Colleges of Education	E	Callendar Park and Hamilton Colleges closed; Craiglockhart and Notre Dame Colleges merged to form St. Andrew's College of Education	September 1981
9. Committee of Enquiry into Local Government in Scotland	A	To wind up	December 1980
10. Committee on National Museums and Galleries in Scotland	A	To wind up	August 1981
11. Education Panel of Independent Schools Tribunal	T	To wind up	October 1981
^*12. Electricity Amenity Committee	A	To wind up	Legislation in progress for October 1982
Electricity Fisheries Committee	A	To wind up	Legislation in progress for October 1982
13. Herring Industry Board	E	Wind up, with White Fish Authority; replace by Sea Fish Industry Authority	October 1981
Herring Industry Advisory Council	A		October 1981
14. New Town Licensing Planning Committees (Cumbernauld, East Kilbride, Glenrothes, Irvine, Livingston)	A	To wind up	June 1981
^*15. Nursing bodies:
General Nursing Council for Scotland	E	To wind up; replace by new Scottish National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting	1983
Central Midwives Board (Scotland)	E
Scottish Advisory Committee to the Council for the	A
Education and Training of Health Visitors
^*16. Peterhead Bay Management Company	E	To wind up	Legislation in progress for October 1982
17. Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland	A	To wind up	July 1980
18. St. Vincent Drilling Company Limited	E	To wind up	October 1980
^*19. Scottish Advisory Committee to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work	A	To wind up	Dependent upon legislation
20. Scottish Committee of the Health Services Board	A	To wind up	July 1980.
21. Scottish Committee for Schools Industry Liaison	A	To wind up	October 1979
22. Scottish Community Education Centre	E	To be amalgamated	April 1982
Scottish Council for Community Education	A	To be amalgamated	April 1982
23. Scottish Food Hygiene Council	A	To wind up	June 1981
24. Scottish Home Ownership Forum	A	To wind up	August 1979
25. Scottish Horticultural Research Institute	E	Bodies to merge to form Scottish Crop Research Institute	February 1981
Scottish Society for Research in Plant Breeding	E	Bodies to merge to form Scottish Crop Research Institute	February 1981
26. Scottish Housing Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	July 1980
27. Scottish River Purification Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	June 1981
^*28. Scottish Teachers' Salaries Committee	E	To wind up	January 1982
29. Scottish Water Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	June 1981
^*30. Working Party on Management Training for Leisure and Recreation	A	To wind up	1982
Department of Trade
1. Distribution Statistics Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	December 1980
^*2. Insolvency Law Review Committee	A	To wind up	Final report due 1982
3. Interim Action Committee on the Film Industry	A	Amalgamation with Cinematographic Films Council under consideration	—
4. Metrication Board	E	To wind up	April 1980

Name of body	Type	Decision	When implemented
5. National Film Development Fund	E	National Film Finance Corporation to assume responsibility	July 1980
6. National Film Development Fund Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	July 1980
7. Price Commission	E	To wind up	May 1980
Department of Transport
1. Advanced Ground Transport Working Group	A	To wind up	March 1981
2. Advisory Committee on Motorcycle Rider Training	A	To wind up	January 1980
3. Freight Integration Council	A	To wind up	June 1980
4. Inquiry on Lorries People and the Environment	A	To wind up	December 1980
5. London Rail Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	May 1980
6. Motor Rallies Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	January 1980
7. National Ports Council	E	To wind up	December 1981
8. Railways and Coastal Shipping Committee	A	To wind up	July 1980
9. Transport and Road Research Laboratory Advisory Committee	A	In abeyance	—
Treasury
1. Civil Service Pay Research Unit	A	To wind up	June 1981
2. Committee to Review the Functioning of Financial Institutions	A	To wind up	June 1980
3. Commonwealth War Graves Commission	E	Reduce Staff, and other savings	—
4. Computer Agency Council	A	To wind up	October 1979
5. Property Advisory Panel	A	To wind up	January 1980
Welsh Office
1. Careers Service Advisory council for Wales	A	To wind up	September 1980
2. Celtic Sea Advisory Committee	A	To wind up	August 1979
3. Welsh Committee of the Health Services Board	A	To wind up	August 1980
4. Welsh Council	A	To wind up	July 1979
5. Welsh Language Translation Advisory Panel	A	To wind up	October 1979
^*6. Welsh Water Authority	E	To reorganise	April 1982

Notes:

^* Decision still to be implemented

Type:

A Advisory Body

E Executive etc. Body

T Tribunal System

OB Other Body

Nationalised Industry Boards

Changes associated with privatisations during the period are as follows:

British Aerospace has been privatised. It was previously a nationalised industry.

The privatisation of the following has been announced:

British Transport Docks Board

British National Oil Corporation—(the upstream operations) National Freight Company—(the Government have accepted an offer for sale for the National Freight Company from a consortium led by the company's management)

Engagements

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

Trades Union Congress

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister when she next plans to meet the Trades Union Congress.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

Wales

Pay Beds

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether information available to him indicates the effect which the provision of pay beds has on National Health Service waiting times in Wales; and if he will estimate the extent of this effect.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the small number of pay beds presently authorised in Wales which represents 0·2 per cent. of the total beds available does not have a significant effect on waiting times.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what criteria he determines the number of pay beds he instructs an individual area health authority to provide.

The criteria considered by my right hon. Friend in exercising his powers under sections 65(1) and 66(1) of the National Health Service Act 1977 are those contained in section 62 of that Act and in Welsh health circular WHC(80)14, a copy of which is in the library.

Housing Development Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the composition of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for Wales in 1982–83.

This information will be available once the Housing Corporation has formulated its development programme for Wales in the light of its increased allocation of £39 million for 1982–83, which was announced in December.

	Welsh Industrial Estates Corporation and Welsh Development Agency		Mid Wales Development Corporation and Development Board for Rural Wales		Cwmbran Development Corporation
	No	Sq Ft	No	Sq Ft	No	Sq Ft
1974–75	2	75, 000	4	60, 000	5	46, 000
1975–76	19	346, 000	10	105, 000	39	217, 000
1976–77	36	564, 000	—	—	5	37, 000
1977–78	23	266, 000	—	—	15	32, 000
1978–79	61	351, 000	37	185, 000	45	208, 000
1979–80	140	926, 000	49	104, 000	16	29, 000
1980–81	96	664, 000	29	175, 000	4	23, 000
1981–82 (to end of December 1981)	358	1, 943, 000	26	82, 000	72	356, 000

Assistance To Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was given to Wales through regional development grants and selective financial assistance from May 1979; and what percentage this figure represents of the total for Great Britain.

Information on payments of regional development grants and offers of selective financial assistance made in Wales since May 1979 is as follows: I shall place a copy of the approved development programme in the Library in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the breakdown of the approved development programme for 1982–83 for housing association projects in Wales.

It is not yet possible to provide this information. Because of the increased level of allocation granted to the Housing Corporation for 1982–83, its original development programme has to be revised.I shall place a copy of the approved development programme in the Library in due course.

Private Hospitals

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the private hospitals in Wales; and how many beds there are in each.

The information requested is as follows:

BUPA Hospital, Cardiff	48 beds
North Wales Medical Centre, Llandudno	61 beds
St. Joseph's Nursing Home, Newport	56 beds
St. Winifred's Hospital, Cardiff	50 beds
Sancta Maria Nursing Home, Swansea	29 beds

Advance Factories

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many advance factories in Wales were given approval by his Department in each year since 1974; and what was the square footage involved.

Advance factories completed since 1974 by the factory building bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible are as follows:

	Wales £ million	Great Britain total Per cent.
Regional Development Grants (period 1/5/79–30/9/81)	212·582	19·2
Selective Financial Assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 (1/5/79–30/11/81)	63·846	18·2
Selective Financial Assistance under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 (1/5/79–30/11/81)	19·999	16·5

Home Department

Young Offenders

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider legislation to make it possible to impose a curfew on the young offender.

The Magistrates Association has drawn to the attention of the Home Office a resolution passed at its annual general meeting last year proposing that such legislation should be introduced. This raises difficult questions, not least in relation to enforcement, which we are considering.

Fines And Maintenance Defaulters

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, in an average week, are arrested, taken into prison for non-payment of small fines or maintenance, and held until fines are paid; and if he will take steps to permit authorities to accept cheques in payment of such fines.

Information is not collected centrally on the method of securing the attendance at court of fine defaulters and maintenance defaulters, nor on the amounts of their fines and maintenance arrears which are outstanding. Information on receptions into prison department establishments in England and Wales in default of payment of a fine and for non-payment of affiliation or maintenance orders is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales", tables 7·2 and 6·2 respectively of the issue for 1980—Cmnd. 8372. The prison authorities are permitted to accept a cheque in payment of a fine, but a cheque may not be applied to secure the release of a person committed to custody in default unless the cheque is supported by a cheque card or has been cleared by the bank.

Police Officers (Motoring Offences)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to amend the Police Act to provide that where a police officer commits a road or motor offence for which he is found guilty and sentenced by the courts, he is not then additionally sentenced to further punishment by his superior police officers by being demoted or dismissed from his employment unless this is a court recommendation.

No. Under the Police Act 1964 the chief officer of police concerned is responsible for the discipline of his force and may at his discretion bring a disciplinary charge of criminal conduct—that is, having been found guilty by a court of law of a criminal offence. An officer dealt with for an offence against discipline may appeal to the Secretary of State.

Immigrants (Appeal Tribunals)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Stockport, North on 1 December 1980, Official Report, column 31–32, on immigration appeal tribunals, and the reply on Friday 24 July 1981, Official Report, column 266, if he will now provide comparable figures for 1981; and if he will further give the separate figures for each centre at which appeals are heard.

The appellate authorities have provided the following figures for the period from 1 January 1981 to 30 November 1981, the latest date for which complete figures are available:

Appeals to adjudicators
Total disposals	16, 820
Allowed	2, 060
Dismissed	10,828
Withdrawn	3,906
No jurisdiction	26

Immigration Appeal Tribunal
Appeals by immigrants (appeals at first instance or aginst adjudicators' decisions)
Total disposals	475
Allowed	56
Dismissed	277
Withdrawn	105
No jurisdiction	37

Appeals by Home Office against adjudicators' decisions
Total disposals	93
Allowed	46
Dismissed	26
Withdrawn	18
No jurisdiction	3

I regret that comparable information about appeals heard by adjudicators at each hearing centre is not readily available. The appellate authorities tell me that the following number of cases were disposed of at each hearing centre in the period from 1 January to 30 November 1981.

Hearing centres	Total disposals
Thanet House	4, 434
Dover	1, 331
Harmondsworth	1, 458
Southampton and West	377
Gatwick	391
Manchester and Belfast	840
Leeds and North	697
Birmingham	1,361
	10,889

All tribunal hearings take place in London.The table of appeals to adjudicators relates to the number of appeals by individuals, whereas the table of appeals to the tribunal and that relating to hearing centres refer to the number of cases disposed of—where one case can involve more than one appeal.

Prison Regime

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to make the prison regime in England and Wales more closely comparable with that in Northern Ireland.

There are no present plans to align the prison regime in England and Wales with that in Northern Ireland. Present differences reflect, among other things, the smaller scale of the prison system in Northern Ireland, the higher proportion of long-term prisoners and the absence of a parole scheme. The system of privileges in prisons in England and Wales is, however, kept under review.

Commission For Racial Equality

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors he took into account in his appointment of Mr. Peter Newsam as the next chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality.

The need to find the best available person for the job.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any new proposals for increased expenditure have been put to him by the Commission for Racial Equality or by its next chairman Mr. Peter Newsam; and whether he will consider favourably any such proposals.

We received last year a request from the commission for some increased resources. We are considering it in the context of public expenditure restraints and of the recent Home Affairs Committee report on the commission.

Crime Statistics (Cheshire)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a comprehensive list of the crime statistics for the county of Cheshire for 1981; if, in each case, he will give the percentage of crimes detected; and if he will give the comparable figures for 1980.

Figures for 1981 are not yet available. Serious offences recorded by the police in Cheshire in 1980 are published in table S.31 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1980 Supplementary Tables, Volume 3", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. The available information on clear-up rates is given in the following table:

Clear-up rates for serious offences recorded by the police
Cheshire, 1980	Percentages
Offence group	Clear-up rate‡
Violence against the person	93
Sexual offences	91
Burglary	46
Robbery	(83)
Theft and handling stolen goods	59
Fraud and forgery	97
Criminal damage (†)	54
Other serious offences	(100)
Total (†)	59
† Excluding "other criminal damage" of value £20 and under.
‡ Percentages in brackets are based on small numbers of less than 100.

Disabled Persons (Charities)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to repeal section 41 of the National Assistance Act 1948 relating to the registration of charities for disabled people by local authorities in view of its widespread disregard.

We have no plans for legislation at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the percentage of charities for the disabled not registered as required by section 41 of the National Assistance Act 1948.

Insufficient information is available on which to base such an estimate.

Amusement Machines

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to legislate to increase the maximum prize on amusement machines in public houses to a figure similar to that which applies to private clubs; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now allow the jackpot on amusement machines to be raised to £10 where they are situated in public houses; what representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

We have received requests from the National Union of Licensed Victuallers, the Brewers Society and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, as well as from a number of right hon. and hon. Members, for an increase in the prize money that may be paid by gaming machines in public houses. This is a controversial proposal which requires further study.

Smoking And Alcohol Consumption

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate for the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available (a) the total numbers of (i) injuries and (ii) fatalities in fires caused by smoking and alcohol consumption, respectively, and (b) the total financial loss attributable to such fires.

We will reply as soon as possible regarding figures for injuries arid fatalities in fires where the reported source of ignition was smokers' materials or matches; information is not collated centrally on financial loss attributable to such fires. No information is available about fires caused by alcohol consumption.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Hong Kong (New Territories)

22.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what actions the Hong Kong Government are taking to improve the transport system in the New Territories; and on what dates major road improvements are due for completion during the next five years.

Projects include electrification and double-tracking of the Kowloon-Canton railway, extension of the mass transit railway to Tsuen Wan and a light rail system between Tuen Hun and Yuen Long. The north-western route of the ring road circling the New Territories is due for completion by 1984 and the north-eastern by 1986.

El Salvador

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has yet decided whether to send observers to the elections that are proposed to be held in El Salvador shortly; and if he will make a statement.

The question of sending observers to the elections in El Salvador remains under consideration.

Northern Ireland

Royal Ulster Constabulary

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many occupied dwellings have been searched by the Royal Ulster Constabulary under section 15(2) and 19(1) of the Northern Ireland Emergency Provisions Act 1978 between 1 June 1980 and 31 May 1981; how many of such dwellings have been searched by the Royal Ulster Constabulary over the same period under warrant; how many of these searches resulted in (a) arms or explosives finds and (b) arrests; how many of these searches resulted in claims for compensation; how many of these claims have been settled; and how much money has been paid out so far on these claims;(2) how many vehicle searches have been carried out by the Royal Ulster Constabulary under sections 15(1) and 19(1) of the Northern Ireland Emergency Provisions Act 1978 between 1 June 1980 and 31 May 1981; and how many of these searches resulted in arms or explosives finds.

Police records are not kept in such a way as to enable me to provide this information.

Energy

Offshore Safety

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were his reasons for not including a British trade union among the bodies consulted during the preparation of his Department's report on standby vessels offshore; and if he will take steps to ensure that unions are consulted fully in the preparation of any future reports on offshore safety.

The report was prepared for discussion, not as a definitive document. It has been submitted to the Health and Safety Executive's oil industry advisory committee, which includes strong union representation.Appropriate employees organisations will be consulted during preparation of any future reports on the safety, health and welfare of workers.

Bulk Electricity Supply Tariffs

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) pursuant to his reply of 21 January, whether he will seek from the Electricity Council the representations that were received from energy-intensive industrial consumers during the preparation of the review of the bulk supply tariff in order to assess to what extent they were reflected in the Electricity Council's report;(2) pursuant to his reply of 21 January, whether he plans a consultation process between himself and energy-intensive industrial consumers before final decisions are taken as a result of the review of the bulk supply tariff;(3) pursuant to his reply of 21 January, what representations he has already received concerning the review of the bulk supply tariff; and if he will take them into account before taking further action;(4) pursuant to his reply of 21 January, whether he will be ready to receive further representations from energy-intensive industrial consumers and others on the review of the bulk supply tariff prior to taking further action.

I shall answer my hon. Friend as soon as, possible.

Coal Stocks

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the current level of coal stocks; and if he will give details of the total amount of aid currently being provided by the Government for coal stocking together with the estimated cost per ton of stocking coal.

The level of coal stocks held by the NCB at over 20mt, is too high, and the board continues to seek ways in which coal stocks can be reduced in an orderly and efficient manner.No grant is paid to the NCB specifically to help the board with the costs of coal stocking, though the cost of increased stocks, and lower revenues, contribute to the board's overall financial losses, and therefore to its need for deficit grant.I am informed by the NCB that the present cost of revenue account of putting coal to stock rather than selling it is some £6 to £7 per tonne, including interest in the first year. The subsequent cost of maintaining coal in stock would depend on the length of time for which stock is held, and the interest charge for financing the stocking.

Industry

Petrochemicals And Plastics Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the present size of, and prospects for, the petrochemicals and plastics industry; and whether he has any evidence that there will be further contraction in the industry in 1982.

The petrochemicals and plastics industry throughout Europe is suffering from long-term over-capacity, the effects of which are being aggravated by the world-wide recession, with damaging effects on company profitability, though there have been some indications of improvement in recent months, particularly in export markets. In this situation, companies have been faced with the need to rationalise their operations. Prosperity in 1982 will largely depend on when there is a general international recovery in demand.

Advance Factories

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many advance factories in each English region were given approval by his Department in each year since 1974; and what was the square footage involved;(2) how many advance factories in each county council area in the Northern region were given approval by his Department in each year since 1974; and what was the square footage involved.

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

Aid To Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how much money was given to each English region, through regional development grants and selective financial assistance from May 1979; and if he will express the figures as a percentage of the total figure for Great Britain;(2) what is the amount of money given to each Northern region county through regional development grants and selective financial assistance from May 1979; and if he will express the figure as a percentage of the total figure for Great Britain.

The information requested is as follows:

Selective Financial Assistance (Offers) 1 May 1979 to 30 November 1981
	Section 7		Section 8
Area	£ million	As percentage of Great Britain	£ million	As percentage of Great Britain
Region (DOI)
North East	61·9	17·7	2·0	1·7
Yorkshire and Humberside	25·6	7·3	8·8	7·3
East Midlands	5·8	1·7	14·8	12·2
London and South East	—	—	22·9	18·9
South West	10·6	3·0	8·5	7·0
West Midlands	0·04	0·01	23·0	19·0
North West	69·0	19·3	16·9	14·0
County
Cleveland	4·1	1·2	1·0	0·8
Durham	25·2	7·2	0·3	0·2
Northumberland	5·5	1·6	0·05	0·04
Tyne and Wear	27·9	8·0	0·7	0·6

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many firms in (a) the Northern region, (b) Durham county council and (c) Bishop Auckland constituency are currently in receipt of some form of Government subsidy.

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

Industrial Development Certificates

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many industrial development certificates were sought annually from 1974 to 1981; what was the amount of square footage involved; and, of these applications, how many were granted and what was the square footage involved.

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

Smoking And Alcohol Consumption

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will estimate the total production lost per annum as a consequence of illness caused either entirely or mainly by (a) smoking or (b) alcohol consumption.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Regional Development Grant (Payments) 1 May 1979 to 30 September 1981
Area	£ million (estimate)	As percentage of Great Britain
Economic Planning Region
North East (including Cumbria)	297·3	26·9
Yorkshire and Humberside	85·0	7·7
East Midlands	9·1	0·8
South West	19·0	1·7
West Midlands	0·1	0·01
North West	234·2	21·2
County
Cleveland	157·9	14·3
Durham	26·4	2·4
Northumberland	13·2	1·2
Tyne and Wear	36·2	3·3

Northern Region

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the percentage change in (a) investment and (b) productivity in the Northern region in each of the last five years.

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

Environment

Local Government Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what co-operation he has had from the borough of Walsall in his endeavours to contain local government spending since May 1980; and if he will make a statement.

The borough of Walsall exceeded its expenditure target for 1980–81 by 6·5 per cent. and has budgetted to spend above its 1981–82 target by 15·7 per cent. The high rate levels which this level of spending requires can only have adversely affected the business and employment prospects of the area.

Owner-Occupiers

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many owner-occupiers were displaced by public authorities during the last 12 months for which figures are available; what information he has as to how many rehoused themselves with the help of the compensation received; and how many were rehoused by the local authority concerned.

I regret that this information is not available.

Dangerous Excavations

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many accidents have been caused in the last 10 years due to people falling down mineshafts or into open quarries, giving the general nature of injuries sustained;(2) whether any accidents have been recorded in England and Wales of people falling down mineshafts or into quarries where there is an effective notice displayed drawing the public's attention to the danger involved.

I regret that the information on accidents to the public from falling down mineshafts or into open quarries is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many private Acts contain provisions similar to clause 37 of the Cornwall County Council Bill obliging occupiers and others to fence dangerous excavations.

I am aware of only one similar provision in current private acts: section 159 of the Hastings Improvement Act 1885. This provision, in common with much other local authority legislation passed before 1 April 1974, will lapse within a few years under section 262(9) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Weather Damage (Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will be making any contribution towards expenditure by local government on gritting streets and pavements in their localities so as to avoid accidents during severe frost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has specified dates within which local authorities should assess the cost of carrying out work resulting from frost and snow damage; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has already announced that the Government are prepared to assist those local authorities who would otherwise suffer an undue financial burden because of the effects of the recent severe weather.Authorities will be entitled to claim grant for 75 per cent. of their net additional expenditure in excess of the product of a penny inclusive rate on work completed by 31 May 1982.

Rent Arrears (Recovery)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his researches into the reasons for rent arrears and the effectiveness of local authorities recovery procedures.

I expect the work to be completed towards the end of this year.

Building Regulations (Insulation)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider whether changes are required in the present building regulations for England as a result of recent experiences with burst pipes; and whether the recommendations on insulation are suitable for the exceptional weather conditions experienced.

The building regulations do not control water supply. This is a matter for the water byelaws. Water undertakers in England and Wales already have a water byelaw which requires pipes and fittings to be protected from frost damage in accordance with the recommendations of British Standard code of practice 99.

House Building

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total number of housing starts in Yorkshire and Humberside, South Yorkshire and Sheffield, respectively, in each of the last 10 years, indicating the number in the private sector in each case; and if he will compare this with the total housing stock, both in public and private sector, at the end of each year.

Figures of housing starts, for the private sector and in total, in Yorkshire and Humberside, South Yorkshire and Sheffield from 1972 to 1980 were published in, respectively, issues 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, table 5, and 57, table 4 of "Local Housing Statistics". Revised 1979 and 1980 figures for Yorkshire and Humberside appear in table 1.2 of "Housing and Construction Statistics: Part 1, No. 7" and revised 1979 figures for South Yorkshire appear in table 4(b) of "Local Housing Statistics" issue 59. Copies of these publications are in the Library.In the first nine months of 1981 an estimated 10, 040 dwellings were started in Yorkshire and Humberside, of which 7, 630 were in the private sector. For Sheffield 952 and 763 starts, respectively, were reported; figures for the whole of South Yorkshire have not yet been received.

Rents And Rates

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give the actual and percentage increase in the average costs of occupying a private rented house, a council rented house and a privately owned house over the past year; and if he will give comparable figures for the last five years;(2) what has been the average increase in the rents of council house tenants since May 1979; what percentage this represents; and if he will seek to impose a moratorium on council house rents for the whole of the current year.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) the county of Tyne and Wear are (i) in receipt of rent rebates and (ii) in receipt of rate rebates.

At May 1981, 12, 013 people in Newcastle and 40, 962 people in Tyne and Wear—excluding North Tyneside who did not complete their return in this respect—were in receipt of rent rebates. Between 1 April 1980 and 31 March 1981, 23, 164 people in Newcastle and 86, 262 people in Tyne and Wear received rate rebates.

Transport

Car Sharing (Risks)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, when next making an announcement calling upon motorists to give lifts to the travelling public during rail strikes, he will point out the dangers to those who accept such offers of lifts from car drivers who might physically or sexually attack them.

I have no doubt that people are generally aware of the need to take care at all times when accepting lifts.

Road Construction

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of local authority motorway are (a) in use, (b) under construction and (c) planned.

In England, 54 miles of local authority motorway are currently in use and 10 miles are under construction. In addition, we have confirmed two miles of route under the Highways Act 1980, but local authorities may be planning other lengths which have not yet been brought to our notice either in their bids for transport supplementary grant or for confirmation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of trunk road were under construction at 31 December of each year since 1970.

Information in the form requested is available only from 31 December 1976. For previous years figures are available only for motorways and only at 31 March.

Trunk Roads in England
	Motorways (miles)	Other Trunk Roads (miles)
31 March 1970	352	^*
31 March 1971	282	^*
31 March 1972	159	^*
31 March 1973	190	^*
31 March 1974	197	^*
31 March 1975	174	^*
31 March 1976	84	^*
31 December 1976	94	166
31 December 1977	103	109
31 December 1978	66	53
31 December 1979	78	96
31 December 1980	54	98
31 December 1981	61	108

Notes

(i) lengths include slip roads;

(ii) some schemes involve dualling or widening existing roads;

(iii) only schemes in the national programme—i.e. those costing over £1 million in present prices—have been included;

(iv) since a typical contract period is two years or more, most schemes will appear twice in the figures.

^* Information not available.

Piccadilly Line (Heathrow Airport)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the plans to extend the Piccadilly line to serve the proposed fourth terminal at Heathrow airport; and what financial arrangements exist for the financing of such an extension.

Plans for the construction and financing of a railway link to terminal 4 are the responsibility of the British Airports Authority, Greater London Council and London Transport.The GLC and the BAA are safeguarding the site for a station at the terminal. We have indicated to the Greater London Council our willingness to support, through transport supplementary grant, any financial contribution it may decide to make to an extension of the underground to terminal 4 as part of London Transport's investment programme.

Accidents (Alcohol Consumption)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest available per annum total of the number of (a) accidents, (b) fatal accidents and (c) people killed that were to some extent attributable to alcohol consumption.

In 1979–80 around 30 per cent. of car drivers and motor-cyclists killed in road accidents had blood alcohol levels over 80mg/100ml—the legal limit. Some 30 per cent. of pedestrians were over the same level. About a fifth—1, 200 in 1980—of all road deaths are associated with drinking in excess of 80mg/100ml by drivers or pedestrians.Alcohol is considered to be a significant contributory cause in about a tenth of all road accidents in Great Britain, including damage only accidents.

Newcastle Upon Tyne (Western Bypass)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in view of the level of unemployment among construction workers in Newcastle upon Tyne, he will immediately bring forward the construction of the western bypass for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.

The scheme is already being prepared as quickly as possible. If all goes well. work could begin in 1985.

Cycling Policy

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is yet in a position to make a statement following the Government's consultation paper on cycling policy.

I have today placed copies of the statement in both Houses of Parliament, the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.

Attorney-General

Divorce Laws (Reform)

asked the Attorney-General if he has any proposals that he intends to bring forward during the lifetime of the present Parliament for a reform of the divorce laws.

When an opportunity occurs, the Government intend to bring forward legislation to implement the recommendations for amendment of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, which are summarised in paragraph 46(5) and (6) of the report of the Law Commission on the financial consequences of divorce—Law Com. No. 112—which was laid before Parliament on 14 December 1981. Further reports from the Law Commission on other aspects of divorce law are in preparation and will be considered when they are received.

Newcastle upon Tyne
	District Registry of the High Court			County Court
Year	Money Claims	All Claims	Proportion per cent.	Money Claims	All Claims	Proportion per cent.
1979	1, 144	1, 617	71	11, 265	12, 018	94
1980	1, 815	2, 467	74	16, 978	18, 230	91

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Common Agricultural Policy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the annual increase in expenditure under the common agricultural policy in every year since 1975.

The information is as follows:

CAP Expenditure 1975–1982
	Guarantee Section meua	Guidance Section meua	Total meua	Percentage Increase
1975	4, 522·5	185·3	4, 707·8
1976	5, 587.1	209·1	5, 796·2	23·1
1977	6, 830·4	292·1	7, 122·5	22·9
1978	8, 672·7	323·6	8, 996·3	26·3
1979	10, 440·7	406·6	10, 847·3	20·6
1980	11, 315·2	607·2	11, 922·4	9·9
1981	11, 612·5	814·4	12, 426·9	4·2

Notes:

1. All 1975–1980 figures for guarantee section and 1978–1980 figures for guidance section are from FEOGA financial reports; 1975–1977 guidance figures are MAFF estimates.

2. 1981 figures are from second rectifying budget for 1981 and are in MECU.

Public Bodies (Appointments)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many women he has appointed to public bodies.

For the reasons given in my reply to the hon. Member of 2 July last year, I cannot justify the work necessary to provide this information.—[Vol. 7, c. 448.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department supplied to the Equal Opportunities Commission figures showing the numbers of men and women serving on those public bodies to which he makes appointments.

No, for the reasons given in my reply to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 2 July last year.—[Vol. 7, c. 448.]

Non-Payment Of Debts (Newcastle Upon Tyne)

asked the Attorney-General what proportion of time was spent in courts in Newcastle upon Tyne dealing with cases in respect of non-payment of debts in the last available full year and in each of the previous five years.

The information is not available in the form requested. For 1979 and 1980 the total number of writs and plaints issued, and the number that related to money claims—excluding claims or damages—were:

Food Prices

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the effect of the common agricultural policy on food prices.

No. Any estimate would involve purely hypothetical assumptions about the alternative support arrangements which might operate in the United Kingdom in the absence of the common agricultural policy.

"Lichen On Farm Roofs" (Report)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the cost of writing, printing, publishing and distributing the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service leaflet 753/1980 entitled "Lichen on Farm Roofs".

The total cost of publishing this leaflet in 1980 was £1, 035, of which appoximately £180 was for writing and £855 for printing. The distribution costs are not separately available. The leaflet, which was unpriced, was available at agricultural shows and through staff of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service.

Defence

Trident

14.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated difference in cost to Her Majesty's Government between the Trident I and Trident II systems; and when each would come into service.

As I have often made clear to the House, the Government are still studying the final configuration of the United Kingdom Trident force. Our decisions and their cost implications will be announced in due course.

Soldiers (Costs)

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average annual cost per soldier in the Regular and Territorial Army, respectively, in the financial year 1980–81 or the last year for which figures are available.

The estimated average annual cost of a Regular and a Territorial Army soldier in the financial year 1980–81 is £9, 400 and £1, 300 respectively. These figures cover support costs as well as pay and allowances and in the case of the Regular soldier an element for non-effective benefits is also included.

Obsolete Nuclear Weapons

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the financial value of any obsolete nuclear weapons still held by Her Majesty's Government.

Obsolete nuclear weapons are not held by Her Majesty's Government but are disposed of at the end of their useful lives. They are carefully dismantled and all reuseable materials, including all special nuclear materials, are recovered and reprocessed. Non-reuseable materials are disposed of in accordance with strict safety regulations.

Hms "Invincible"

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to be able to make a statement about the future of HMS "Invincible".

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces said to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip—Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 29 October 1981 we announced our intention in Cmnd. 8288 to keep in service in the long term only two of the three ships of this class. We are discussing with the Australian Government their possible acquisition of one of these ships but no decision has yet been taken.

Hms "Endurance"

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what visits will be made by HMS "Endurance" during her current deployment to British Antarctic Survey bases situated on Signy Island, Farady on Galinde Island, Rothera on Adelaide Island, Halley, Coats Land, on the moving ice shelf, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

During her current deployment HMS "Endurance" has visited the British Antarctic Survey bases on South Georgia and Signy Island. She is planning to visit both Faraday and Rothera bases. There are no British Antarctic Survey bases in the Falkland Islands.

Surplus Land

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any instructions are issued by his Department to the Property Services Agency relating to the disposal of land surplus to his Department's requirements.

Surplus defence land is passed to the Property Services Agency for disposal under the same rules as apply to all Government Departments. No special instructions are given unless it is necessary to place restrictions on the use of the surplus land.

Hms "Dreadnought"

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects HMS "Dreadnought" to recommission.

No decision has yet been taken on the planned work programme for HMS "Dreadnought''.

Northern Ireland

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons have been detained by the Army or the Ulster Defence Regiment uder section 14 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 between 1 June 1980 and 31 May 1981; how many of these have been charged as a result; with what offences they have been charged; whether it is normal for the Army to carry out the interrogation of such suspects; how many of such suspects were transferred into the custody of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and whether the Army maintains detailed records of arrests and interrogations carried out under section 14 of the 1978 Act.

During the period 1 June 1980 to 31 May 1981, 1, 503 persons were arrested by members of Her Majesty's forces in Northern Ireland. Of these 418 were subsequently transferred into the custody of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The Army's records do not indicate how many of these were subsequently charged, nor the offences with which they were charged.Persons arrested by members of Her Majesty's forces under section 14 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 may be detained for not more than four hours. During this time it is normal for them to be asked questions relating to their identity and to the offence which they are suspected of committing, having committed or being about to commit.The Army maintains brief records of arrests and of the questions asked during the time persons are in its custody.

asked the Secretary of State fen Defence how many occupied dwellings have been searched by the Army or Ulster Defence Regiment from 1 June 1980 to 31 May 1981 under section 19(1) and 15(2) of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978; how many occupied dwellings have been searched by the Army or Ulster Defence Regiment under a warrant in the same period; how many of those searched resulted in (a) arms or explosive finds and (b) arrests; how many of these searches resulted in claims for compensation; how many of these claims have been settled; and how much money has been paid out so far on these claims.

During the period 1 June 1980 to 31 May 1981 a total of 1, 226 occupied dwellings were searched by members of Her Majesty's forces in Northern Ireland. The records are not kept in such a way as to show the number carried out under the powers of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 as opposed to the number carried out under a warrant. Similarly, the records do not show how many searches resulted in finds of arms or explosives, arrests or claims for compensation.

Royal Air Force

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the percentage of the flying time of the Royal Air Force has been reduced; if so, by how much; what are the estimated savings likely to accrue from this reduction; and what will be the effect upon the fighting efficiency of the Royal Air Force caused by this reduction.

Temporary reductions have had to be made in authorised flying hours except in training units in order to restrain expenditure; but the Royal Air Force will continue to meet the minimum flying rates which NATO lays down for operational aircrew.

Apprentices

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many apprentices, now in their second year at Chatham dockyard, will complete their training at Devonport or Rosyth; and how they will be accommodated and paid while away from their homes.

Plans are being made to offer to all the 135 second-year craft apprentices at Chatham the opportunity to transfer to Devonport or Rosyth dockyards. These plans include arrangements for accommodation in private lodgings or hostels and the normal regulations on pay, allowances and travel for Ministry of Defence employees working away from their home establishment will apply. Apprentices and their parents will be contacted within the next few weeks by the personnel manager at Chatham.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether second-year apprentices from Chatham, Portsmouth and Gibraltar who are sent to Devonport or Rosyth to complete their training will have to give an undertaking that on completion of the training they will remain in Royal dockyard service.

Apprentices who transfer to Devonport or Rosyth to complete their training will not have to give an undertaking to remain in the dockyard service.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many unfilled places for apprentices there are in Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force training establishments.

Approximately 100 vacancies for craft apprenticeships at Service training establishments remain to be filled in the current financial year.

Signals Research And Development Establishment

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the move of the signals research and development establishment from Mudeford, Dorset, to Malvern.

The move from Somerford, near Mudeford, was completed 18 months ago. Any questions about the disposal of the site should be referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Hawk Jet Training Aircraft

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest position relating to the order placed by the United States Government for the supply of Hawk jet training aircraft.

BAe, teamed with McDonnell Douglas and Sperry, has been awarded a contract for the preliminary engineering development to meet the United States Navy's requirement for an advanced training aircraft. Since the award of the contract the United States Navy has been directed, under provisions in the United States Defence Appropriations Bill, to introduce a second competitor for its trainer requirement, in addition to Hawk. We are confident that the Hawk will be successful entirely on its merits at all further stages of the competition as it has been so far.

Employment

Unemployment Register

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people aged over 60 years have been taken off the unemployment register since the start of the new scheme to pay them full rate benefits last November for going off the register.

By the December unemployment count it was provisionally estimated that about 21, 000 people aged 60 and over had been taken off the register, having exercised their choice of opting for the long-term rate of supplementary benefit. The number removed between the December and January count is estimated to be probably no more than about 5, 000.

Alsager

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the existing arrangements for his Department in the village of Alsager; and whether he will open another new jobcentre in the village.

The Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the operation of jobcentres, does not consider it would be justified in opening a jobcentre in Alsager. Arrangements are made for the display in the local public library of vacancies drawn from the jobcentres at Kidsgrove and Crewe. People requiring further information about any current vacancy may telephone Kidsgrove jobcentre without charge and the display is kept up to date each day.

Professional And Executive Recruitment

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many private employment agencies use the professional and executive recruitment section of the Manpower Service Commission; and what payments are made to his Department for the use of such services.

Private employment agencies' use of professional and executive recruitment is very small but I regret that exact information is not available except at disproportionate cost. The service usually charges private agencies an initial fee of £225 for an advertisement in "Executive Post" plus £50 for each suitable candidate identified.

Foreign Nationals

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many foreign film actors, actresses and entertainers have been allowed to enter the United Kingdom and take up employment for the latest convenient period;(2) how many foreign hotel and catering workers have been allowed to enter the United Kingdom to take up employment for the most recent convenient period.

The information as requested is not available. However, provisional figures showing the number of overseas nationals—including both Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals—whose employment was approved under the work permit scheme during 1980 are as follows:

	Number of workers
Hotel and Catering industry
Long-term issues, Great Britain	147
Short-term issues, Great Britain	9
Issues, Nothern Ireland	4
Approvals of student vacational and spare-time employment, Great Britain	706
Performing, audio and visual arts occupations^*
Long-term issues, Great Britain	89
Short-term issues, Great Britain	7, 464
^*The vast majority of approvals were for work as professional entertainers.

These figures include both permits issued to those who are overseas—some of which do not result in the entry of an overseas worker—and permissions given to those already here in another capacity. Long-term issues are those for an initial period of 11 or 12 months.The figures do not include overseas trainees for whom permission was given for limited periods of supernumerary employment or employment essential to a course of study. More detailed analyses of approvals under the work permit scheme are not available other than at disproportionate cost.In addition, 1, 282 residence permits were issued for European Community nationals working in the hotel and catering industry and 84 for those working in the entertainment industry; these figures exclude citizens of the Irish Republic, who do not require residence permits.A major requirement of the work permit scheme is that in general approval can be given only when there is no suitable member of the resident labour force available for the job in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many foreign nationals were granted work permits in the United Kingdom in 1981 by country of origin; and if he will give similar figures for the previous two years.

The figures for 1981 are not yet available. Provisional figures for 1980 of the number of approvals under the work permit scheme—6, 500 long-term and 8, 250 short-term—show a fall overall of almost one-fifth since 1979, and the trend is expected to have continued during 1981. These figures do not include approvals given under the training and work experience scheme.

	1970 April	1975 April	1979 April	1981 April
a) Number of people unemployed in Great Britain including school leavers (figures not seasonally adjusted)	593, 495	808, 199	1, 279, 808	2, 426, 271
(b) Number of people covered by special employment and training measures^*	—	1, 514†	248, 020	1, 230, 900
(c) Number of people covered by the Job Release Scheme	—	—	22, 200	59, 000

It would not be possible to provide a full analysis by country other than at disproportionate cost. The latest analysis of the main countries covered was published in the July 1980 edition of the Employment Gazette, Volume 88, No. 7, in respect of approvals granted in 1979.

Northern Region

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to bring forward new proposals to reduce unemployment in the Northern region.

The Government's policies are aimed at developing a soundly based economy, which means among other things bringing inflation steadily down. As inflation is reduced, and productivity continues to improve, British firms will become more competitive and so be in a position to offer goods and services at home and abroad which people want to buy at prices they are prepared to pay. This is the only way to create the new and secure jobs which we all seek. both in the Northern region and throughout the country. There is no alternative to these policies, least of all in a world recession.Meanwhile, as we make progress towards our objectives, the Northern region will continue to benefit from the Government's programme of special employment measures. Some 9, 500 people in the region are currently benefiting from the job release scheme, community industry, the temporary short-time working compensation scheme and the community enterprise programme. And since April 1981 over 43, 000 young people have entered the youth opportunities programme.

Unemployment, Training And Early Retirement

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give (a) the total number of people unemployed, (b) those people who were engaged on special employment and training measures and (c) those people who have received State aid towards early retirement, for each of the years 1970, 1975, and 1979 and for the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will give the overall totals for each of these years.

For the purposes of this question I have assumed that my hon. Friend is referring to the job release scheme when asking about State aid towards early retirement. The job release scheme is not, however, an early retirement scheme but an employment measure; it is a requirement of the scheme that job release applicants are replaced by somebody off the unemployed register.Overall totals for any years are not available because statistics are kept on the basis of the number of people covered by employment measures on a particular date. Since many people stay on the schemes for a number of months, it would be misleading to add together the monthly totals.

^* The actual effect on the unemployed register will be less for a number of reasons; for example, the figures included for the temporary short-time working compensation scheme are the numbers of workers on short-time in order to avoid redundancies rather than the numbers of redundancies averted.

† Statistics on people covered by training measures are not readily available. 1, 514 people were covered by the community industry scheme.

Crown Employees

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why statistics of redundancies collected by his Department do not include Crown employees.

Redundancy statistics are based on advance notifications required under the redundancy handling provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975. Crown employees are not covered by the provisions.

Factory Closures And Redundancies

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many factory closures there have been since May 1979 in (a) the Northern region, (b) Durham county council and (c) Bishop Auckland constituency;(2) how many workers have been made redundant since May 1979 in

(a) the Northern region, (b) Durham county council and (c) Bishop Auckland constituency.

There are no comprehensive statistics of redundancies. The available information on closures, and the total numbers of redundancies, involving 10 or more employees, reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in the specified areas between May 1979 and December 1981, inclusive, are as follows. They include provisional figures for November and December 1981.

	Northern Region	Durham County	^*Bishop Auckland Constituency
Number of closures of establishments	214	43	10
Total number of redundancies	83, 205	19, 025	5, 199
^*Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Bishhop Auckland local office areas.

Unemployment Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered unemployed people there are in the United Kingdom; and what is his estimate of the number of non-registered unemployed.

At 14 January the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 3, 070, 621.I have nothing to add to the answer about estimates of the non-registered unemployed which I gave to the hon. Member on 15 December 1981.—[Vol. 15, c. 79.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present number of construction workers unemployed in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) Tyne and Wear county; and what percentage of such workers this represents.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) boys and (b) girls who left school in the summer of 1981 are still without work in (i) the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and (ii) the county of Tyne and Wear.

The statistics of unemployed school leavers do not separately distinguish those who left school last summer.

Community Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why he has decided not to agree to the proposal by the Manpower Services Commission to expand the community industry Scheme by 2, 000 places.

I did not agree to a further extension of community industry because the White Paper "A New Training Initiative: A Programme for Action" invites community industry to consider carefully where its contribution can best be made in a way that is consistent with the new arrangements proposed for helping unemployed young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the fact that the wages paid to community industry young employees has remained at the same level since 1979, he will now take steps to increase them.

Steps are now being taken to increase the wages paid to young employees on community industry. Details are expected to be available very soon, and I shall write to the hon. Member.

Young Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ascertain from industries in the public sector how many apprentices or trainees they could accommodate in their training establishments in the current year if the economic costs of such training were met by the Manpower Services Commission.

I regret that costs preclude a special study. It is known, however, that industries in the public sector, in common with those in the private sector, have spare training capacity. Public sector industries are eligible in the same way as private industry to receive assistance under the Manpower Services Commission's "Training for Skills Programme", under which some 35, 000 extra training places are being supported in the current year. Public sector establishments are also encouraged to take part in the youth opportunities programme and we hope that they will play a full part in the development of the youth training scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps have been taken to find out from local authorities what premises are available, including redundant educational premises, for the Government's training scheme for the young unemployed.

The Manpower Services Commission is consulting the education service and others, as well as its own field staff, about the resource implications for the further education service of both the expansion of the youth opportunities programme in 1982–83 and subsequent developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people who left school in the summer of 1981 in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) Tyne and Wear County are on the youth opportunites programme or similar scheme.

Information is not available in the form requested. However, the estimated number of entrants to the youth opportunities programme between 1 April and end November 1981 in the areas concerned was as follows:

Area	Number of entrants
Newcastle upon Tyne	2, 560
Tyne and Wear County	10, 400

It is estimated that some 60 per cent. of these entrants are 1981 school leavers.In addition, the following numbers of young people were employed on community industry schemes.

Community Industry Unit	Young people on the scheme at end November 1981
Newcastle	162
South Tyneside	180
Sunderland	153

No estimates are available of the number of young employees on CI who are 1981 school leavers.

Newcastle Upon Tyne

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were working short-time in Newcastle upon Tyne during December 1981; and if he will give comparable figures for the previous five years.

Statistics on short-time working are not available for local areas.

Social Services

Doctors

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of increasing unemployment amoungst young doctors seeking to enter general practice or to qualify as consultants, he will take steps to seek doctors' retirement at the age of 65 years from their permanent Health Service commitments.

Evidence available to the Department does not indicate the need for special measures to counter unemployment amongst doctors. At 30 September 1981, 1, 002 persons were registered with the Department of Employment as seeking work as medical practitioners; more than half had been registered for less than three months.The normal retiring age for doctors employed in the hospital and community health services is 65 years. The question of an upper age limit for retirement of practitioner contracted to family practitioners committees is among the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service, and of the report of the Acheson committee on primary health care in inner London, which we are considering.

Pensions And Allowances

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the review of the married women's non-contributory invalidity pension was established; what form representations have taken; what meetings have been held with interested organisations and individuals, and when; and when he expects the review to be published.

Following the publication in July 1980 of the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the household duties test for married women claiming non-contributory invalidity pension, officials in the Department have been reviewing the test. In the course of the review, letters have been received from groups representing disabled people, women and trade unionists, from the Equal Opportunities Commission, from a number of hon. and right hon. Members, and from several members of the public. Most of these representations have asked that the rule be modified or abolished.The Department has also received two publications on this subject, one from the Disability Alliance and the other from the Equal Opportunities Commission. Officials met with representatives of the Equal Rights for Disabled Women Campaign in October 1981. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Social Security will be meeting representatives of the Equal Opportunities Commission early next month.The review is nearing completion and when it is the matter will be brought before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest estimate of (a) the gross annual cost and (b) the gross net cost of (i) abolishing the household duties test and giving married and cohabiting women non-contributory invalidity pension in their own right and (ii) extending invalid care allowance to married and cohabiting women; and if he will make a statement.

The gross annual cost of abolishing the household duties test is estimated to be £275 million at current benefit rates. Estimates of the net annual cost are not available. The Department's review of the test is nearing completion and when it is, the matter will be brought before the House.The gross annual cost of extending invalid care allowance to all married women, and those living as married, would be of the order of £100 million at the current rate of benefit. It is not possible to estimate the net cost but this is likely to be considerably less because of savings from the offset of dependency and supplementary benefits at present in payment. Such an extension of the allowance is one of a number of competing priorities which will be for consideration as and when new resources become available.

North Staffordshire (Aftercare Facilities)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the procedures whereby elderly people are discharged from hospital in North Staffordshire without adequate aftercare facilities being available for them; and if he will make a statement.

No. Responsibility for hospital services in North Staffordshire rests with the Staffordshire area health authority, with whom the hon. Member may care to take up this matter direct.

Renal Dialysis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals have been forced to close or to cut back on their kidney units during the last three years.

I have referred in my reply today to the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt) to the temporary closure of the unit at the Westminster hospital. I am not aware of any other hospital which has closed its kidney unit, or of any where the dialysis services have been significantly reduced in the last three years. Some units have carried out fewer transplants than in previous years but this is due to the shortage of donor kidneys. Meanwhile, the total number of patients treated annually has continued to increase, rising from 1, 182 in 1978 to 1, 206 in 1979 and 1, 373 in 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the renal dialysis unit at Westminster hospital has been closed; what equipment has thereby been made redundant; what is the cost of this equipment at current prices; what arrangements have been made for its future use: and if he will make a statement.

This unit has been closed temporarily because it was not possible to recruit suitably trained staff. Full details of the equipment involved are not available centrally and the hon. Member may wish to seek further information direct from the Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster area health authority (teaching).

Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of people in Dundee now in receipt of supplementary benefit; what is their estimated number of dependants; and what were the corresponding figures for one year ago.

At August 1981, the latest date for which information is available, 18, 100 people were receiving supplementary benefit from the two DHSS local offices in Dundee, which covers areas outside Dundee itself; this compares with 16, 700 in August 1980. I regret that information on the number of dependents is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The 1980 and 1981 figures are not strictly comparable as the 1981 figure does not include summer school leavers.

Source: 100 per cent. count of cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people without work in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne (b) Tyne and Wear county are in receipt of supplementary benefit; and what percentage of the unemployed each figure represents.

In August 1981, the latest date for which information is available, it is estimated that there were 12, 500 unemployed supplementary beneficiaries in Newcastle upon Tyne, and 47, 000 in the county of Tyne and Wear as a whole. The figures represent about 57 and 52 per cent. respectively of the registered unemployed last August.

Sources: (1) August 1981 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry; (2) DE Count of registered unemployed on 13 August 1981.

Community Health Councils

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what period he intends to retain community health councils alongside district health authorities; and if there has been any change from the proposal of his predecessor that the length of this period should be three years.

It is our intention to consider further the longer term case for the retention of community health councils, but no specific date has been set for this.

Maternity Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what circumstances maternity allowance is not paid to a woman who is widowed while pregnant.

A widow who is pregnant by her late husband receives a widow's allowance—standard rate £41·40—during the first 26 weeks of widowhood, followed by a widowed mother's allowance—£29·60. An addition of £7·70 becomes payable when the child is born. If the widow also qualifies for a maternity allowance—standard rate of £22·50 plus an addition of 80p for each child—both benefits cannot be paid in full, but the widow may choose to receive the non-taxable maternity allowance plus a balance of widow's benefit.An expectant mother is disqualified for receiving maternity allowance if she works and in certain other circumstances. With the exception of detention in legal custody none of these disqualifications apply to widow's benefit.

Cervical Cytology

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has given advice to the new district health authorities on the introduction of local cervical cytology recall schemes.

Until the new district health authorities came into being on 1 April 1982 it is for area health authorities to make the necessary arrangements for local cervical cytology recall schemes. I have asked regional health authorities to ensure that the guidance that I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Silvester) on 21 December 1981.—[Vol. 15, c. 297]—is brought to the attention of the shadow district health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the national cervical cytology recall scheme is to be wound up; and what provisions will be made for local schemes to be introduced.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Silvester) on 21 December 1981.—[Vol. 15, c. 297.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make resources available for a special pilot project to motivate previously unscreened women to accept cytology screening tests.

I recognise the importance of encouraging women who are over 35 and have never had a cervical test to come forward for screening. We are considering a proposal by the Women's National Cancer Control Campaign for a pilot scheme aimed at reaching such women. We are also discussing with the Health Education Council how publicity programmes might more effectively reach women at greatest risk.

Surrey (Hospital Services)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the approval given by his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to the large increase in the number of homes in growth area 8 under the Surrey structure plan, whether he has any plans for providing the additional hospital beds and facilities that will be needed to supplement those already available at Frimley Park hospital.

Infant and Perinatal Mortality Rates^*, 1975–1980
Area Health Authority	Rate	Year
		1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
Newcastle upon Tyne	Infant	11·6	16·9	17·3	10·3	15·3	12·0
	Perinatal	15·1	19·5	20·2	12·7	17·1	14·1
Gateshead	Infant	17·0	14·0	15·7	9·9	12·7	9·6
	Perinatal	24·0	19·3	23·3	14·0	17·8	13·6
Durham	Infant	16·2	16·4	14·2	14·6	14·0	14·2
	Perinatal	19·2	17·1	20·7	18·1	16·2	16·5
North Tyneside	Infant	12·1	15·6	17·4	14·3	13·0	11·5
	Perinatal	15·1	20·1	20·9	21·2	20·9	10·6
South Tyneside	Infant	12·7	13·6	12·9	16·2	8·9	9·2
	Perinatal	20·0	21·8	16·3	17·1	16·7	15·4
^*Infant mortality rates per 1, 000 live births

Perinatal mortality rates per 1, 000 total birthsSource: Local Authority Vital Statistics Series VS 1975–1979 Computer table 1980

Smoking And Alcohol Consumption

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the cost per annum of social security and unemployment benefits of all types broken down by benefit, of illness caused either entirely or mainly by (a) smoking or (b) alcohol consumption.

It is regretted that the information available is not precise enough to allow reliable estimates to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the cost per annum to the National Health Service of illness that has been caused entirely or mainly by (a) smoking or (b) alcohol consumption.

The Department estimates that the annual cost to the NHS in England and Wales of diseases attributable to smoking is about £155 million at November 1981 prices.On alcohol-related diseases a study undertaken by researchers relating to 1977 suggested a figure of cost to the NHS which, if simply updated to 1981 prices, would now be between £70 million and £95 million.

asked the Secretary of State or Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of working days per annum lost as a consequence of illness caused either entirely or mainly by (a) smoking or (b) alcohol consumption.

It was estimated by the Royal College of Physicians in 1977 that 50 million working days are lost

Planning hospital facilities in a particular region is the responsibility of the regional health authority and my hon. Friend may like to seek information direct from the South West Thames regional health authority.

Infant And Perinatal Mortality

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the current infant mortality and perinatal mortality rates in Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, county Durham arid north and south Tyneside for the last available full years and for each of the previous five years.

The information requested is shown in the following table.in Great Britain each year as the result of smoking-related diseases. Information available allows only the very rough estimate that the number of working days lost in England and Wales due to alcohol misuse is between 8 million and 15 million a year.

Family Income Supplement

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in full-time employment in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) the county of Tyne and Wear are in receipt of family income supplement.

I regret that the information is not available. The hon. Member may wish to know, however, that just over 6, 400 families in the Department's Northern region were receiving family income supplement at 29 September 1981, the latest date for which figures are available.

Contaminated First-Aid Dressings

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he has taken about imported first-aid dressings that have been contaminated; and whether he will make a statement.

I am placing in the Library a full account of the sequence of events, the results of the investigations to date, and the actions which have been taken.The Department issued public warnings on 14 and 23 December about certain first-aid dressings labelled sterile and nothing has come to light since then which requires any further warning. We are advised that the risk of serious infection arising from the use of a non-sterile first-aid dressing is relatively slight; but it is clearly unacceptable that dressings which are not sterile should be sold as sterile.The importers of dressings which have been found to be contaminated agreed to cease distribution of suspect products and warned their customers about them some weeks ago. I also understand that the Government of India have decided not to permit the export of surgical dressings from India unless they are labelled 'non-sterile' or 'to be sterilised before use'. This is a helpful step.I have, however, instructed officials to arrange for discussions with the Local Authority Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards about what further action can be taken under the Trade Descriptions Act. In addition the Health and Safety Executive will be advising employers that sterile dressings required in first-aid containers at places of work should be obtained only from manufacturers approved by the Department's inspectors.My right hon. Friend announced on 23 December that Dr. Whitehead, director of the Public Health Laboratory Service and the Department's consultant adviser in Microbiology, had agreed to review the problem. He will carry out an inquiry into the contamination of sterile dressings and will examine the extent and severity of any hazard posed by their use. This inquiry is proceeding urgently but will inevitably take some time. We hope to receive the report within three months.

Private Nursing Homes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his Department's control of private nursing homes carrying out treatment for termination of pregnancy and of pregnancy advice bureaux referring patients to them.

The Department keeps a watch on what is happening through its investigations by medical, nursing and other staff. My right hon. Friend intends that this strict control should be maintained. There are advantages, however, if approval for nursing homes under the Act is in future for periods of two years instead of one year; and that registration of pregnancy advice bureaux is for three years instead of 18 months. This will in no way affect the level of our control. Approval or registration may be withdrawn at any time if a nursing home or bureau fails to meet the standards of care and conduct required.

Scotland

Public Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report breakdowns of the public expenditure totals for Scotland announced on 2 December 1981, showing (a) an analysis by spending authority, (b) an analysis by economic category and (c) an analysis by programmes in the same form as table 2.15 of Cmnd. 8175 for each of the following years (i) Cmnd. 8175 provision for 1981–82 revalued to cash, making explicit any classification changes, (ii) Cmnd. 8175 provision for 1982–83 revalued to cash and (iii) revised 1982–83 provision in cash.

Further information will be given in the White Paper on public expenditure to be published at the time of the Budget.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the years 1970–71 to 1981–82 at November 1980 prices (a) the analysis of relevant expenditure by programmes included in the annual Rate Support Grant (Scotland) Order and (b) a comparable analysis of the outturn.

An analysis of relevant expenditure assumed for RSG purposes for 1981–82 is given in the report on the Rate Support Grant (Scotland) Order 1980 (H.C. 63 of the 1980–81 Session). Outturn information for that year is not yet available. A similar breakdown of expenditure for earlier years is not available at the price base requested but the following table shows total figures of relevant expenditure from 1975–76 assumed for RSG purposes, together with the outturn of expenditure for each year, at November 1980 prices.

Relevant expenditure (excluding loan charges)
	£ million at November 1980 prices
	As assumed for RSG purposes	Actual Expenditure
1975–76	1, 965	2, 084
1976–77	2, 055	2, 061
1977–78	2, 067	1, 998
1978–79	2, 086	2, 103
1979–80	2, 149	2, 150^*
1980–81	2, 110	2, 194^*
^*Provisional.

Housing Revenue Account Capital Allocations

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each authority the 1981–82 housing revenue account capital allocations both before and after the recent announcement of additional allocations linked to council house sales.

The following table gives the totals originally allocated to local authorities—column 1—and the totals after the additional allocations of last October and November—column 2. The additional allocations were largely made possible as the hon. Member implies by the buoyancy of receipts from sales of council houses.

Housing: Capital Allocations 1981–82 Housing Revenue Account
Authority	Column 1 Allocation before Issue of Supplementary Consent £ million	Column 2 Allocation after Issue of Supplementary Consent £ million
Borders Region
Berwickshire	0·950	0·970
Ettrick and Lauderdale	0·868	0·993
Roxburgh	2·632	2·632
Tweeddale	0·415	0·415
Central Region
Clackmannan	1·832	2·082
Falkirk	3·931	4·431

Authority	Column 1 Allocation before Issue of Supplementary Consent £ million	Column 2 Allocation after Issue of Supplementary Consent £ million
Stirling	4·117	4·237
Dumfries and Galloway Region
Annandale and Eskdale	3·603	3·628
Nithsdale	2·386	2·386
Stewartry	1·494	1·494
Wigtown	1·869	2·119
Fife Region
Dunfermline	4·475	4·750
Kirkcaldy	6·874	7·119
North East Fife	3·732	3·732
Grampian Region
Aberdeen City	9·163	10·563
Banff and Buchan	3·487	3·487
Gordon	4·228	4·288
Kincardine and Deeside	2·828	2·828
Moray	5·000	5·000
Highland Region
Badenoch and Strathspey	1·585	1·585
Caithness	1·450	1·530
Inverness	3·184	3·404
Lochaber	2·081	2·081
Nairn	1·074	1·074
Ross and Cromarty	2·623	3·018
Skye and Lochalsh	0·675	0·813
Sutherland	0·695	0·695
Lothian Region
East Lothian	4·100	4·500
Edinburgh City	11·715	12·215
Midlothian	2·293	2·643
West Lothian	3·137	3·537
Strathclyde Region
Argyll and Bute	4·037	4·537
Bearsden and Milngavie	0·795	0·795
Clydebank	2·161	2·206
Clydesdale	1·227	1·277
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	1·222	1·222
Cumnock and Doon
Valley	1·837	1·837
Cunninghame	4·828	5·248
Dumbarton	2·100	2·450
East Kilbride	0·730	0·810
Eastwood	0·283	0·433
Glasgow City	52·652	60·652
Hamilton	4·650	5·215
Inverclyde	3·139	3·639

Year	Expenditure Central Institutions £	Percentage change over previous year	Expenditure F.E. Colleges * £	Percentage change over previous year
1975–76	492, 295	—	2, 435, 711	—
1976–77	525, 868	+6·82	2, 083, 317	−14·47
1977–78	520, 749	−0·98	565, 992	−72·83
1978–79	589, 255	+13·16	709, 387	+25·34
1979–80	599, 080	+1·67	665, 553	−6·18
1980–81	607, 251	+1·36	N/A	—
*The figures for the years 1975–76 and 1976–77 are not comparable with those for the later years because of changes in methods of completing local financial returns.

Authority	Column 1 Allocation before Issue of Supplementary Consent £ million	Column 2 Allocation after Issue of Supplementary Consent £ million
Kilmarnock and Loudoun	2·520	2·520
Kyle and Carrick	3·671	3·921
Monklands	5·336	6·906
Motherwell	7·968	8·508
Renfrew	7·652	8·232
Strathkelvin	3·859	3·959
Tayside Region
Angus	3·265	3·265
Dundee City	4·264	4·744
Perth and Kinross	2·832	3·132
Islands Areas
Orkney	0·726	0·726
Shetland	3·063	3·063
Western Isles	3·391	3·391
Total	226·704	246·937

Footnote: Column 1 shows the Housing Revenue Account allocations adjusted to take account of over/underspending by local authorities in the 1980–81 financial year.

"Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics"

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report an estimated timetable for the publication of the statistical volume, "Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics", for each of the years 1975–76 to 1980–81.

A composite edition of "Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics" covering the years 1975–76 to 1977–78 was published on 22 December 1981 and copies are available in the library. Material covering the years 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81 is due to be published in the current calendar year.

School Books (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent by institutes of higher education for which he is responsible and by colleges of further education on books in 1980–81; what are the figures for each of the previous five years at constant prices; and what percentage change this represents in each case.

The information for central institutions and colleges of further education (at November 1980 prices) is set out below. Similar information is not available centrally in respect of all colleges of education.

Ashkirk (Trunk Road Lighting)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask the Scottish Development Department to carry out a study into the feasibility of a street lighting scheme being installed on the trunk road on both approaches to Ashkirk; and if he will make a statement.

It is not my Department's general policy to provide lighting on trunk roads in rural areas. However, I have asked the Department's road engineers to examine the need for a road lighting scheme on the A7 at Ashkirk and I shall write further to the right hon. Member when I have their report.

Unemployed Persons (Glasgow)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current number of people out of work in Glasgow; and what was the average number of those out of work in Scotland annually in each year from 1964 to 1967.

On 10 December 1981, 72, 481 people were registered as unemployed in Glasgow city. The average numbers unemployed in Scotland from 1964 to 1967 were as follows:

1964	78, 100
1965	63, 400
1966	59, 900
1967	80, 800

Note: Glasgow city comprises the following employment offices: Cambuslang, Easterhouse, Glasgow Central, Glasgow City Jobcentre, Govan, Hillington, Kinning Park, Maryhill, Parkhead, Partick, Rutherglen, Shawlands and Springburn.

Roads (Tree Planting)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made any assessment of the protective benefits of tree planting alongside principal roads and motorways in keeping those routes open during periods of heavy snow; and to what extent tree planting has taken place along the roads for which he is responsible.

Several special planting schemes have been undertaken along certain trunk roads that are likely to be subject to particularly adverse winter weather conditions, for instance, the A68 at Soutra Hill and the A9 at Slochd and south of Drumochter; plans are being prepared for a further scheme on the A9 at the Ord of Caithness. No detailed post-planting studies have been carried out in Scotland but it is considered that these schemes have provided a useful degree of protection for the roads concerned.Tree planting is now considered in association with every trunk road scheme but, as there can also be disadvantages—for example encouragement of ice formation, —each case must be considered on merits.

Prison Regime

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to make the prison regime in Scotland more closely comparable with that in Northern Ireland.

Prison regimes in Scotland are kept under regular review but there are no plans to bring regimes in Scotland into line with those in Northern Ireland.The present differences reflect the separate development and different needs of the two systems, the larger proportion of long-term prisoners in Northern Ireland and the absence there of a parole scheme.

Cystic Fibrosis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number discharged from Scottish hospitals in the latest year after spells of in-patient care for cystic fibrosis; and if he will provide a breakdown of admissions by age in the following categories (a) under one year, (b) one to 15 years and (c) 16 to 24 years.

Information is available about patients discharged but not about admissions. The number of such patients discharged from Scottish hospitals in 1979 was 190. Their ages were:

(a) Under one year	25
(b) One to 15	113
(c) 16-24	18
(d) Over 24	34
	total
	190

Rent Rebate

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage of public sector tenants in Dundee, Glasgow and Scotland in receipt of a rent rebate.

It is estimated that 27 per cent. of public sector tenants in Scotland—28 per cent of local authority tenants—were in receipt of a rent rebate at 30 September 1981. Details for the public sector as a whole are not available for Dundee and Glasgow: the percentages of local authority tenants in receipt of a rent rebate in these districts were 22 per cent. and 26 per cent, respectively.

Building Regulations (Insulation)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider whether changes are required in the present building regulations for Scotland as a result of recent experiences with burst pipes; and whether the recommendations on insulation are suitable for the exceptional weather conditions experienced.

Building regulations in Scotland are kept under constant review in the light of recommendations made by the Building Standards Advisory Committee. Scottish Development Department circular No. 24/1978 alerted local authorities to the need to protect water pipes and tanks in insulated roof spaces, and we are now considering whether the recent extreme weather conditions point to the amendment of insulation requirements.

Motorways

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of local authority motorways are (a) in use, (b) under construction and (c) planned.

There are 14·3 miles—23 kms—of local authority motorways in use in Scotland, none currently under construction and 2·7 miles—4·4 kms—planned.

Advance Factories

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many advance factories in Scotland were given approval by his Department in each year since 1974; and what was the square footage involved.

	Scottish Industrial Estates Corporation		Scottish Development Agency^*		Highlands and Islands Development Board		New Town Development Corporation
	Number	Square Footage	Number	Square Footage	Number	Square Footage	Number	Square Footage
1974–75	23	391, 000			6	23, 000	110	716, 000
1975–76	26	491, 000			7	28, 000	96	676, 000
1976–77			34	215, 000	4	30, 000	52	309, 000
1977–78			21	270, 000	7	27, 000	31	172, 000
1978–79			25	270, 000	5	23, 000	50	568, 000
1979–80			34	333, 000	10	26, 000	88	731, 000
1980–81			41	425, 000	12	36, 000	84	544, 000
1981–82 (estimated)			65	714, 000	31	70, 000	42	318, 000
^*The activities of the SIEC—for which the Secretary of State for Industry was responsible—were transferred to the SDA on its inception.

Regional Development Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was given to Scotland through regional development grants and selective financial assistance from May 1979; and what percentage this figure represents of the total for Great Britain.

In the period from 1 May 1979 to 30 November 1981, offers of selective financial assistance under section 7 of the 1972 Industry Act totalling £113·7 million were made to projects in Scotland. This was 32·5 per cent. of the total for Great Britain.I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry that the information in respect of assistance under section 8 of the 1972 Industry Act and regional development grants is as set out below:

	Value (£m)	Percentage of Great Britain Total
Offers of selective financial assistance under Section 8 of the 1972 Industry Act (1 May 1979–30 November 1981)	3·3	2·7
Payments of Regional Development Grant (I May 1979–30 September 1981)	242·2	21·9

Museums And Galleries

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, further to his written answer to the hon. Member for Warley, East on 18 January, Official Report, column 34, if he will set out the information relating to the public attendance figures in 1981 at the national museums and galleries in Scotland, when it is available, in the form of a written answer, similar to the answer given in the Official Report, 12 January 1981, column 472.

The information is as follows:

The figures for advance factories completed since 1974 by the factory building bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible are as follows:

	1981	Percentage increase since 1980
National Galleries of Scotland	357, 116	4·5
National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland	123, 135	55·0
Royal Scottish Museum	617, 137	minus 2·0

The National Galleries of Scotland comprise the National Gallery of Scotland, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. The SNPG shares a building and entrance with the National Museum of Antiquities and its attendances are therefore included in the NMAS figures, which are quoted above but not in those of NGS. The reason for the substantial increase in the NMAS figure is that the new outstation, the Scottish Agricultural Museum at Ingliston, was opened during the Royal Highland Show in June 1981 and attended by 42, 742 people at that time and a further 236 visitors before the end of the season in September.

Animal Breeding Research

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult with interested bodies, including the National Farmers Union of Scotland, on the means of providing an animal breeding research facility in Scotland following the closure of the Animal Breeding Research Organisation.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 January 1982, c. 197.]: No decision has yet been taken about the future of the Animal Breeding Research Organisation.

Education And Science

London Theatres (Support)

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken to support local theatres in the London area from public funds in the last five years; and if he will list the theatres and the grants provided for them in each of those years.

Central Government support for theatres is provided through the Arts Council and the Greater London Arts Association. The GLAA spent £153, 000 in 1980–81 on the Bubble Theatre Company.

Revenue Grants
	Financial years
	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81
Alternative Theatre Company Limited	^*33, 600	45, 850	53, 562	62, 776	74, 250
Camden Playhouse Productions Limited	37, 895	41, 000	46, 200	51, 665	51, 100
Caryl Jenner Productions Limited	85, 710	82, 750	110, 320	127, 470	147, 575
Churchill Theatre Trust Limited	8, 300	50, 000	55, 000	70, 000	77, 750
The Combination Limited	^*40, 690	44, 540	61, 980	60, 723	70, 000
English Stage Company Limited	241, 200	250, 510	305, 000	351, 000	386, 500
Greenwich Theatre Limited	77, 675	70, 000	77, 120	100, 130	114, 000
Half Moon Theatre Limited	^*46, 450	41, 550	54, 300	57, 139	70, 000
Hampstead Theatre Limited	45, 300	42, 400	56, 100	64, 200	75, 000
Hornchurch Theatre Trust Limited	95, 300	70, 000	82, 000	101, 200	112, 400
Inter-Action Trust Limited	44, 000	55, 000	70, 000	80, 000	91, 500
Kings Head Theatre Productions Limited	^*17, 250	20, 500	23, 500	25, 000	35, 500
Mermaid Theatre Trust Limited	105, 200	85, 150	98, 000	45, 000	50, 000
National Youth Theatre of Great Britain	30, 000	34, 500	40, 000	45, 000	52, 000
New Shakespeare Company Limited	70, 815	31, 800	37, 000	26, 500	97, 500
Oval House	^*23, 500	26, 000	30, 000	34, 000	40, 000
Overground Theatre Company Limited	^*15, 000	17, 250	27, 000	36, 000	49, 500
Pioneer Theatres Limited	87, 000	89, 645	108, 765	122, 405	149, 000
Polka Children's Theatre Limited	15, 000	^*22, 500	^*32, 000	^*48, 000	^*71, 000
Richmond Fringe Limited	^*20, 400	23, 350	29, 250	36, 000	46, 000
Soho Theatre Company Limited	^*25, 000	28, 350	30, 000	34, 000	40, 500
Theatre Centre Limited	58, 000	^*66, 000	^*79, 786	^*88, 425	^*104, 450
Young Vic Company Limited	120, 500	127, 816	152, 050	161, 625	186, 000
TOTAL	1, 343, 785	1, 366, 461	1, 658, 933	1, 828, 258	2, 191, 525
^*touring company grants.

Capital Grants
		£
1976–77	Camden Playhouse Production Limited	6, 000
	Inter-Action Trust Limited	194, 000
	New Shakespeare Company Limieted	10, 000
1977–78	Polka Children's Theatre Limited	22, 000
1978–79	Polka Children's Theatre Limited	18, 000
1979–80	Polka Children's Theatre Limited	60, 500
1980–81	Wakefield Tricycle Theatre Company Limited	35, 000
	Pioneer Theatres Limited	10, 000

In addition the Arts Council assisted a substantial number of touring companies, projects and individuals connected with the London theatre.

Higher Education Committee And Board (Appointments)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which persons have been appointed to the public sector higher education committee and the public sector higher education board.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an early announcement.

The revenue and capital grants by the Arts Council to theatres in London—excluding national companies—totalled £2, 191, 000 in 1980–81. The details are as follows:

Science Parks

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many science parks are in operation in the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.There is no generally accepted definition of a science park, but there are five ventures in the United Kingdom which can be said to have that status. Some 15 similar ventures are under consideration or in the process of being developed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to introduce further science parks in the United Kingdom along the lines of those in use in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The establishment of science parks is a matter for higher education institutions, local authorties and development corporations.

Volume 16: debated on Tuesday 26 January 1982

Written Answers To Questions

Trade

Manufactures

Balance Of Trade

Petitions

"The Sunday Times"

National Finance

Pensions, Severance And Termination Grants

Civil Service (Executive Officers)

Medical Schemes (Tax Relief)

Public Corporations (Wages And Salaries)

Value Added Tax

Medals And Coins

Tax Revenue (Cinema Tickets)

Gaming And Amusements Machines

Corporation Tax

Smoking And Alcohol Consumption

Economic Statistics

Income Tax

Prime Minister

Quangos

Nationalised Industry Boards

Engagements

Trades Union Congress

Wales

Pay Beds

Housing Development Programme

Assistance To Industry

Private Hospitals

Advance Factories

Home Department

Young Offenders

Fines And Maintenance Defaulters

Police Officers (Motoring Offences)

Immigrants (Appeal Tribunals)

Prison Regime

Commission For Racial Equality

Crime Statistics (Cheshire)

Disabled Persons (Charities)

Amusement Machines

Smoking And Alcohol Consumption

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Hong Kong (New Territories)

El Salvador

Northern Ireland

Royal Ulster Constabulary

Energy

Offshore Safety

Bulk Electricity Supply Tariffs

Coal Stocks

Industry

Petrochemicals And Plastics Industry

Advance Factories

Aid To Industry

Industrial Development Certificates

Smoking And Alcohol Consumption

Northern Region

Environment

Local Government Expenditure

Owner-Occupiers

Dangerous Excavations

Weather Damage (Costs)

Rent Arrears (Recovery)

Building Regulations (Insulation)

House Building

Rents And Rates

Transport

Car Sharing (Risks)

Road Construction

Piccadilly Line (Heathrow Airport)

Accidents (Alcohol Consumption)

Newcastle Upon Tyne (Western Bypass)

Cycling Policy

Attorney-General

Divorce Laws (Reform)

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Common Agricultural Policy

Public Bodies (Appointments)