asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give figures relating to the London borough of Ealing area concerning recorded offences of assaults, robbery and other violent theft in each year from 1977 to 1980; and if he will give figures for assaults upon black people by white people and vice-versa.

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the available information

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the major errors of the West Yorkshire metropolitan police in the investigation of the "Ripper" case, referred to in his satement on Tuesday, Official Report, c. 157, he will seek to provide compensation for damages or ex gratia payments to the next of kin, relatives, and dependants of all victims in respect of financial loss, grief and suffering

Persons who are injured in crime's of violence or the dependants of those who die in these circumstances may apply for ex gratia payment of compensation under the criminal injuries compensation scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iranian students are currently in receipt of deportation orders; and how many are being considered for deportation

We regret that information in the form requested is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the percentage increase in licence fees for private users of radio since February 1978; and if he will make a statement.(2) what consideration he gave to the interests of

Fees for private mobile radio licences were increased on 1 January 1981 by 64 per cent. overall. At the same time we introduced a new method of charging these fees according to bands of the number of stations involved. In accordance with normal Government charging policy, the fees were set to ensure that the full costs of administering a service are met by the licensee and not by the taxpayer.We have subsequently received a few representations that the new charging system exposes small users of private mobile radio to larger than average increases. This aspect is being considered as part of a general review of licensing structure.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the total value of (a) grants, and (b) loans from the European Coal and Steel Community to the United Kingdom since 1973; and if he will list in the Official Report the regional distribution of article 54 loans for the steel industry, article 56 loans and article 56 grants

Since 1973 the United Kingdom has been allocated £1, 565 million in loans under article 54 and research grants under article 55 of the ECSC treaty for the coal and steel industries and reconversion loans under article 56 for projects providing employment for redundant coal and steel workers. A total of £238 million has been allocated in readaptation grants under article 56 for redundant United Kingdom coal and steel workers. The regional distribution requested is as follows, except that no regional breakdown is available for article 56 readaptation grants to the coal industry:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give the latest details of the number of firms assisted and the total amount guaranteed so far under the Government's loan guarantees for small businesses scheme for each English region, and for Scotland and Wales

In the first seven months of the scheme's operation, 1 June to 31 December 1981, my Department issued 1, 839 guarantees in respect of £63·6 million of bank lending to small businesses. Guarantees issued in each region—in England by reference to the areas covered by the Department of Industry's regional offices—are set out below.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the current British capacity for manufacturing slab steel; and at what plants it is made.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1982, c. 158]: The British steel industry currently has capability to manufacture about 10 million tonnes of steel slabs annually, of which about 4·8 million tonnes can be made through the continuous casting process. Steel slabs can be produced in the BSC works at Ravenscraig, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Teesside, Port Talbot and Llanwern, and at a private sector company at Newport, Gwent.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions he held with the British Steel Corporation on the import of 15, 000 tonnes of slab steel from Brazil.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1981, c. 158]: None. This is a matter for the commercial judgment of the Corporation's management.

the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the figures of increased participation in sixth form education for each local education authority; and which courses are proving most popular.

The information requested will take time to compile and I shall publish the details in the Official Report as soon as they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the student numbers for each local authority higher education institution in 1980–81; how this compares with the figures for each of the previous five years; and what are the estimated numbers for the current academic year.

This information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will advertise nationally the post of the chief officer for the newly formed Local Authority Higher Education Advisory Board; which bodies have been asked to date to put forward nominations; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend today.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, pursuant to his announcement on 23 December 1981, Official Report, columns 419–20, he will now give details of the membership of the committee and board for local authority higher education and of when the new national advisory body will commence its work.

I am establishing the National Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education with effect from 1 February. I am pleased to announce that the body will make an early start to its work, with both the committee and board meeting for the first time on that day. Membership is set out below.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer on 18 January, Official Report, column 17, if he will appoint a person from the Northern region to the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement.

Although members of the council are appointed for the individual contribution they can make to

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he received the results of the Certificate of Secondary Education Board's survey of examination entries following changes in the regulations governing school leavers entitlement to supplementary benefit; and if he will make a statement.

The results of the survey, which compares differences in the number of provisional and final entries for CSE examinations and the number of candidates completing the examinations, are summarised below. They do not substantiate the view that potential candidates are being dissuaded by the recent changes in the regulations governing entitlement to supplementary benefit from remaining at school to obtain qualifications. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today by the Secretary of State for Social Services in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any further items have been accepted in satisfaction of estate duty or capital transfer tax.

Yes. Twenty-eight paintings have been accepted in part satisfaction of capital transfer tax and allocated to the Walker art gallery, Liverpool. A list follows.The net cost, borne equally on the Votes of my Department and the Department of the Environment is £53, 277.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official appointments for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

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

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to visit Hornchurch.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when she next plans to visit Moscow.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when next she expects to meet the President of the United States of America.

I have no plans to meet President Reagan in the immediate future, but naturally hope that I shall have the opportunity of meeting him during the course of the year.

asked the Prime Minister how many hon. Members she has seen on matters relating to factory closures since she last answered oral questions; and how many jobs are expected to be lost in the closures discussed.

One. 900.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the savings so far achieved by Sir Derek Rayner's investigations of Government Departments.

Savings from firm decisions taken by Ministers on the results of scrutinies and reviews carried out in 1979, 1980 and 1981 by Departments with the help of Sir Derek Rayner are around £130 million a year and £28 million once-for-all. Of these, around £50 million recurrent and over £20 million once-for-all savings will be achieved by April 1982. Further savings of around £125 million a year are dependent on decisions yet to be taken by Ministers and the outcome of consultations.

asked the Prime Minister what progress there has been towards establishing the possible new institutional structures mentioned in the joint communique of 6 November 1981 issued following her meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Eire.

Following the agreement which the Taoiseach and I reached on 6 November to establish an Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council, which I reported to the House on 10 November 1981, the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council met for the first time at official level in Dublin recently. The first meeting at ministerial level is to take place tomorrow. It will involve the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Lord Privy Seal and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs. Officials have exchanged views on the steps necessary to establish an Anglo-Irish encounter organisation, proposed in the joint studies as an interim measure pending the establishment of an advisory committee. As I said on 10 November 1981, the suggestion of an inter-parliamentary body is a matter for the two Parliaments to pursue

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made in the establishment of a formal scheme for the interchange of officials with the Republic of Ireland as envisaged in the joint communique of 6 November 1981; and whether she will take steps to ensure that hon. Members for Northern Ireland constituencies are informed of the names of the Republic of Ireland officials concerned and where they are located.

The two Governments have accepted the proposal contained in the joint study on measures to encourage mutual understanding, Cmnd. 8414, that there should be a scheme for the interchange of British and Irish officials. Details of this scheme are now under discussion with the Irish authorities. The scheme is likely to be similar to those already operating between this country on the one hand and the Federal Republic of Germany and Canada on the other. Under those schemes it is normal only to provide details of the number of officials involved and the departments to which they have been attached.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, 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

[pursuant to his reply, Tuesday 26 January, c. 315]: The Electricity Council has been asked to provide my Department with copies of relevant papers associated with the review

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) 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;(2) 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;(3) 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 taking further action.

[pursuant to his reply, Tuesday 26 January, c. 315]: I am continuing to receive representations from energy-intensive industrial consumers and others on matters connected with electricity pricing including the review of the bulk supply tariff. I will be taking these and any further representations fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if Her Majesty's Government have received representations concerning the closure of the Dunlop Semtex factory in Brynmawr, Gwent; whether he will consider investing in the plant; and what discussions he has had with Dunlop Semtex regarding the future of the factory.

I have discussed the problems of Dunlop Semtex with senior management of the Dunlop group. I indicated the Government's readiness to discuss the possibility of selective financial assistance towards investment aimed at safeguarding or creating new employment but Dunlop has concluded that recent events have undermined the whole basis of its Brynmawr operation and that it has no alternaive but to close it completely.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current total of unemployed men and women in the counties of Clwyd and Gwynedd; what the figure was in May 1979; what has been the percentage rise in unemployment in the two counties since May 1979; how many jobs there are in the pipeline in the travel-to-work areas in the two counties; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have died from hypothermia in Wales, county by county; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of deaths with mention of hypothermia on the death certificate are set out below. The information refers to 1980, the last year for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been created in Wales during the last 12 months; and how many people have lost their jobs in the last 12 months.

Comprehensive information is not available. Information on the net changes in employment levels is best obtained from the estimates of the number of employees in employment compiled by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and published on a regular basis in the Employment Gazette. The latest figures relate to the quarter ending September 1981 and indicate in the preceeding 12 months the number of employees in employment in Wales fell by 60, 000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many workers have been made redundant in the Deeside travel-to-work area since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of redundancies reported as due to occur since May 1979 was 10, 247. This and other matters will be covered in discussions I plan to have with the Clwyd local authorities, of which I informed the hn. Member on 25 January.—[Vol. 16, c. 237.]

asked the Secretay of State for Defence what was the annual cost of the Meteorological Office for 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981; how many staff were employed during these years; what percentage of this staff and cost is assessable to the civil unit of the office; what annual financial contribution the media make in order to receive the forecasting service; and whether, in view of the Meteorological Office's recent performance, he will set up an inquiry into the possibility of transferring the civil operation to private enterprise.

For the information requested in the first part of my hon. Friend's question I refer him to tables 5.3 and 7.9 of volume 2 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1981. The Meteorological Office has no civil unit but approximately 65 per cent of its total cost and staff are attributable to civil tasks. The free public service accounts for about 13 per cent. of total cost and receipts for about 39 per cent. Receipts from the news media in 1980–81 were £158, 000. There have been many examinations of the Meteorological Office, most recently in 1980, and these have shown that to separate its civil and defence tasks would involve unjustifiable duplication of expense and effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those statutory provisions enacted since 1967 that exempt the Ministry of Defence or its personnel, including Service men, from any particular application of the general law.

Enactments since 1967 that exempt the Crown, and therefore the Ministry of Defence and its personnel, including members of the Armed Forces, include:

• 1968 Firearms Act
• 1973 Land Compensation Act
• 1975 House of Commons Disqualification Act
• 1977 Rent Act
• 1979 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act
• 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

asked the Attorney-General if he will review the remedies which are available to individuals, groups and organisations in the event of newspapers or the broadcasting media publicising inaccurate or misleading reports which cause damage to the interests and reputations of these individuals, groups and organisations.

No such review is at present contemplated but, if my hon. Friend has some particular problem in mind, I shall gladly consider it.

asked the Attorney-General if he will review the legal remedies available to newspapers and the broadcasting media in the event of industrial action being used by groups of trade unionists or other such groups with the specific aim of influencing the news content or news commentary of these newspapers or broadcasting media.

No such review is envisaged at present but, if my hon. Friend has some particular problem in mind, I shall gladly consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will seek to amend section 27 of the Hire Purchase Act 1964 in order to extend its protection to a private purchaser who innocently buys a motor vehicle subject to a leasing agreement and is then required to return it to a finance company.

I sympathise very much and share my hon. Friend's concern about this apparantly anomalous situation. I am giving urgent consideration to the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what Government assistance is available to farmers in order to encourage them to provide holiday accommodation.

In England financial assistance to help farmers with the capital costs of providing or improving tourist accommodation is available in certain areas. Projects in the assisted areas can be considered under the scheme operated by the English Tourist Board under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969. In addition, loans from the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas may be available in the special development areas and development areas and in the Development Commission's special investment areas. Farmers throughout the whole of rural England can take advantage of the ETB's and COSIRA's advisory services. The forms of assistance for farmers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are matters for the respective Secretaries of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the established size of the Coastguard manpower for each year since 1970; and what are the terms of reference of the Rayner inquiry into the Coastguard establishment.

The established size of the Coastguard manpower, including administrative support, has been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the total established strength of the Coastguard and auxiliaries, respectively, for each year since 1970.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about discussions on the multi-fibre arrangement held at the meeting of European Economic Community Ministers in Brussels on 25 January.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 27 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will introduce legislation to prevent buying and selling premiums being charged at art sales;(2) if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading, as an unfair trading practice, the use by art dealers of selling and buying premiums;(3) if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading the matter of the percentages charged by art galleries to artists for exhibition and sales of individual artists' work, with a view to establishing a fair and uniform practice throughout the United Kingdom.

We see no need for legislation. The Director General of Fair Trading is, however, already investigating the introduction of a buyer's premium by Sotheby and Christie as a possible restrictive trade practice. The regulation of percentages charged by art galleries for exhibitions and sales of artists' work would not be justified; the Government prefer to rely on the forces of competition.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what share of the total United Kingdom consumption of textiles and clothing has been taken by imports for each of the past five years.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many subsidised places in senior secondary education there were in Hong Kong in 1971 and 1980; how many places are planned for 1985; and what action is being taken by the Hong Kong Government to provide for increased demand.

In 1971 there were 29, 201 subsidised senior secondary places. The provision rose to 77, 244 in 1980 and 146, 300 places are planned for 1985. To this end 130 additional secondary schools are expected to be completed by 1985. A further 60 schools are being considered.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the total number of entry visa requests received from Union of Soviet Socialist Republic citizens during 1981; how many were for academic purposes; how many were refused; and what were the main reasons for refusals.

This information is not immediately available. I shall circulate a reply in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that persons who are normally resident in tax havens and who receive payments from public funds in the United Kingdom have tax deducted from such payments before they leave the United Kingdom.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to interest.The general rule is that payments of interest on United Kingdom Government or local government securities to non-residents, whether they are resident in a tax haven or elsewhere, are made after deduction of tax at source.Interest paid on certain Government securities to persons who are not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom is exempted from tax by statute. In such cases the interest may be paid in full provided the recipient first establishes his entitlement to the exemption. Checks are subsequently made at regular intervals to ensure that the conditions for exemption remain satisfied.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table showing the rate of tax and the volume of revenue raised annually on alcohol for the last 10 years for which figures are available.(2) if he will publish a table showing the rate of tax and the volume of revenue raised annually on betting for the last 10 years for which figures are available;

The rates of excise duties and of VAT and of receipts up to 1979–80 from duties on alcoholic drinks, betting, tobacco and petrol are published in 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. Receipts of these duties in the financial year 1980–81 were £2, 601·0 million, £250·4 million, £2, 820·6 million and £2, 618·9 million respectively.It is estimated that the revenue from VAT on alcoholic drinks, tobacco and petrol since the introduction of the tax were:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give the estimated excise duty revenue yield and effect on the retail price index of an increase in spirits duty, inclusive of value added tax, of (a) 25p, (b) 50p and (c) 75p per standard bottle after allowance for estimated further downturn in consumption in each case;(2) if he will give the calculated effect on the retail price index of an increase in beer duty, inclusive of value added tax, by

The estimates are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants have been employed each year since 1974 in the Northern region.

Staff in post employed in the Northern region from the earliest date for which information is centrally held were:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will list all the studies completed by the Rayner team, identifying those that have been placed in the Library.

The following table sets out all completed reviews carried out under the guidance of Sir Derek Rayner.The reports of these reviews are prepared by departmental officials for their Ministers. It is for the Minister concerned to decide whether to make the reports more widely available. When they do so copies should be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. I understand that a list of available reports can be obtained from the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many job vacancies there are for (a) men and (b) women in the (i) Deeside travel-to-work area (ii) Rhyl travel-to-work area and (iii) Chester travel-to-work area; and if he will make a statement.

The following table gives the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at 8 January at employment offices and careers offices in the Shotton, Rhyl and Chester travel-to-work areas. Vacancy statistics are not distinguished by sex.

Vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. The number of vacanicies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn, which would reflect activity more closely.The Government's policies are aimed at developing a soundly based economy which means among other things bringing down inflation. As this is achieved and productivity continues to improve British firms will become increasingly competitive. This is the only way to create new and secure jobs not only in Deeside, Rhyl and Chester but throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give for the latest and most convenient stated date the number of unemployed film actors, actresses and entertainers in London and nationally.

At December 1981 the numbers of unemployed people registered at employment offices for employment as "entertainment performers" were 4, 997 in Greater London and 7, 605 in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the latest rate at which participants in the youth opportunities programme find work after the schemes; and whether there is a substantial difference in placement rates as between modules of the scheme.

The most recent survey of entrants to work experience schemes in the youth opportunities programme covered a sample of those young people who entered the programme in the period April to June 1980. It showed that just under 30 per cent. of those questioned went straight into employment on leaving their schemes and that by the time of the survey—six months later—that figure had risen to just under 33 per cent. A further 12 per cent. went into further education or another MSC scheme. The survey revealed some differences in placement rates between the various types of scheme, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers participate in the youth opportunities programme as a percentage of the school leaving population in (a) each English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, (d) each Northern region county council and (e) each special programme board area.

Information is not available in the detail requested. The number of school leaver entrants to the youth opportunities programme in financial year 1980–81 as a percentage of the estimated 1980 school leaving population was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people participate in the youth opportunities programme as a percentage of the 16 to 19 years age group in (a) each English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) in each Northern region county council and in each special programme board area.

Information is not available in the form requested. At the end of June 1980 there were some 3, 000, 000 16 to l9-year-olds in England and Wales, and about 350, 000 in Scotland. Between 1 April 1980 and the end of March 1981, about 310, 700 16 to 19-year-olds entered the youth opportunities programme in England and Wales—10 per cent.—and 49, 300 in Scotland—14 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many apprentices were made redundant during the past 12 months.

Precise figures of the number of apprentices made redundant are not available, but the Manpower Services Commission estimates that about 5, 000 apprentices were made redundant in 1981. £1·7