asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish figures to show the level of recruitment to the Armed Forces from natives of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man during the past five years; and how this compares with recruitment per capita in the British Islands as a whole.

The numbers of Service men and Service women recruited from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are as follows. Accurate figures for 1976–77 are not available. These figures exclude officers who are recruited centrally.

	Channel Islands	Isle of Man
1977–78	62	13
1978–79	91	27
1979–80	86	36
1980–81	92	36

The recruitment per capita ratio in 1980–81 was 1:1, 445 for the Channel Islands and 1:1, 722 for the Isles of man. For the United Kingdom as a whole the ratio was 1:1, 185.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish such information as is available to him on Ministry of Defence barrack accommodation, both hutted and permanent sites, in terms of numbers, conditions, types and capacities of each site and whether or not sites are in use or earmarked for use.

I regret that the information requested cannot be obtained without disproportionate effort and expense. However, my hon. Friend will be aware that we are considering alternative uses for accommodation for which we have no short-term requirement.

asked the Lord President of the Council why it is necessary for visitors to the Gallery to remove badges.

Visitors to the galleries are asked to remove any badges which might provoke a disturbance or cause offence to the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department is currently participating in the job release scheme; and, if so, how many employees have taken advantage of the scheme since 6 April 1981.

My Department is participating in the job release scheme whenever possible. Sixty-five members of staff have taken advantage of the scheme between 6 April 1981 and 31 January 1982.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any information as to what proportion of the recent £500 million subsidy to French agriculture will be directed towards the French horticulture industry.

Information released so far suggests that the French horticultural industry will receive the equivalent of around £63 million from assistance specific to the horticulture sector; growers will also obtain an unquantifiable share of the general aid measures in the package. I have pressed the Commission to take prompt and effective action against illegal components of the package and to review the wider problems posed by aids on this scale.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what lands and properties have been sold or are in the process of being sold under the terms of the Forestry Act 1981.

The details are as follows:

Name of property	Total Area	CountryRegion
	(ha)
Cullachy	240	Highland
Inschtammack	2	Grampian
Strathord	347	Tayside
Milton Coppice	7	Tayside
Methven Castle	62	Tayside
Ardbrechnish	32	Strathclyde
Leapmore	568	Strathclyde
Clyde Woodlands	16	Strathclyde
Carfin	36	Strathclyde
Butterdean	56	Lothian
Danskin Loc	54	Lothian
Moss Wood and The Desert	27	Lothian
Stottencleugh	35	Lothian
Barraer Fell	27	Dumfries and Galloway
Lochar Moss	1,09	Dumfries and Galloway
Fraserford	9	Dumfries and Galloway
Upper Dullarg	91	Dumfries and Galloway
Glenlagan	44	Dumfries and Galloway
Redford Green	36	Borders
The Grange	7	Borders
Bowshot Wood	6	Borders
Monynut Tail	8	Borders
Berrybush	712	Borders
Murthwaite Wood	12	Cumbria
The Stang	596	County Durham
Juniper and Potgate Woods	13	North Yorkshire
Brafferton Spring	95	North Yorkshire
Scotton Banks	22	North Yorkshire
Grass Wood	65	West Yorkshire
Stubbs Wood	4	South Yorkshire
Wooton Park	103	Staffordshire
South Cubbington Wood	9	Warwickshire
Mogg	19	Shropshire
Odell Castle Woods	35	Northamptonshire
Beechampton Grove	11	Northamptonshire
Colton Wood	17	Norfolk

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost of export restitutions in respect of sugar exported by the European Economic Community in 1981.

The latest Community budget estimate is that expenditure on sugar export refunds will amount to 334 million ecu. Part of this cost is met by levies on sugar producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage food prices increased in the last year.

The retail price index for December 1981 showed a 9.8 per cent. increase in food prices over the previous December, 2.8 per cent. less than for non-food items.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the number of new agricultural tenancies currently being created; and if he has any proposals to increase new lettings.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier to my hon. Friends the Members for Leominster (Mr. Temple-Morris) and Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Heddle).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce new proposals to encourage the improved marketing of agricultural products.

I am keen to see the agriculture and food industries co-operate together to achieve better marketing of British produce, both at home and abroad. I am discussing with the industries concerned how best this can be done, with a view to seeing plans come to fruition this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the prospects for a convention for the conservation of salmon stocks in the North Atlantic.

I am glad to say that the interested parties, including the European Community, have now adopted the text of a convention which will be opened for signature on 2 March. When it comes into force the convention will provide for the first time an international forum for the control of intercepting fisheries, and will prevent the establishment of new maritime fisheries by the adhering parties outside 12 miles. The United Kingdom will therefore support Community membership of the convention under appropriate conditions. I particularly welcome the decision, included in the draft text, that Edinburgh will be the location of the new organisation's headquarters.

Large seizures of controlled drugs by the police by type of drug, quantity, location and year
United Kingdom		Number of seizures
Drug type	Quality	1978	1979	1980
Cocaine	1and under 10 kg	—	—	—
Heroin	10 and under 100 kg	—	—	—
	1 and under 10 kg	—	—	—
Morphine	1 and under 10 kg	—	—	—
Opium	1 and under 10 kg	*1	†2	**1
Pethidine	1 and under 10 kg	—	—	—
LSD	1 and under 10kg	—	—	—
Cannabis	over 100 kg	—	—	—
Cannabis resin	over 100 kg	—	—	—
Cannabis liquid	10 and under 100 kg	—	—	—
Amphetamines	10 and under 100 kg	—	—	—
	1 and under 10 kg	—	—	—
Methylamphetamine	1 and under 10 kg	—	‡1	—
Methaqualone	10 and under 10 kg	—	—	—
	1 and under 10 kg	—	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision he is making for staff of those county councils, such as Lancashire county council, whose fuction of licensing of premises of music and dancing is to be transferred to district councils under the provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

No such provision is necessary. Existing legislation confers licensing powers on either licensing justices or district councils. In the case of Lancashire, the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill does no more than give powers to district councils in Lancashire which the county council is already seeking on their behalf in the current County of Lancashire Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department is currently participating in the job release scheme; and, if so, how many employees have taken advantage of the scheme since 6 April 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details by type of drug, value and location, of all drugs seized by the police in the calendar years 1978 to 1981 inclusive in excess of £10,000.

The available information on large seizures by the police relates only to type of drug, the quantity of drug and location. Information for the years 1978 to 1980 is given in the following table in a form which brings up-to-date the figures in table 1.2 of the publication "Statistics of the misuse of drugs, United Kingdom 1977". Statistics for 1981 are not yet available.

Yes. Seventy-six members of staff have been released under the scheme, and applications from a further 14 have been approved.

asked rile Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the typical period of time which elapsed in Greater London between the first court appearance of a defendant and trial on indictment from (a) defendants on bail and (b) prisoners in custody.

Information is not available in the form requested on overall waiting time between first court appearance and trial on indictment. However, in the year ending June 1981, the latest period for which figures are available, average waiting time between committal for trial and trial in London Crown court centres was 28 weeks for defendants on bail and 131½ weeks for defendants in custody. Also, estimates of the distribution of the time between first remand on bail at magistrates' courts to the completion of proceedings in magistrates' courts—trial or committal—for those first remanded in the period May-October 1978 are published for inner and outer London in table 7 of Home Office statistical bulletin issue No. 22/81, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the recent racial disorders, he remains satisfied that continued immigration at present levels from the new Commonwealth and Pakistan has no adverse effect on social order in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

We have no reason to think that immigration for settlement, which is now tightly and effectively controlled, and much of which consists of the admission of the dependants of those already here, has such an effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Macclesfield of 29 January,Official Report, c. 452, he will estimate the scale of potential immigration for settlement; and if he will list this potential immigration under separate ethnic headings.

It is not possible at present to make any soundly based estimate of this kind. Any estimate which might be made would be subject to such a wide margin of error as to be both unreliable and misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Avon concerning the outbreak of rioting between black and white youths in Bristol on 29 and 30 January; and if he will make a statement.

The chief constable has already provided the following information about the incidents. On 28 January a fight between two young people outside a school was followed by scuffles between youths from the Barton Hill and St. Paul's areas of Bristol, both on that day and 29 January. The police were able to deal with this without undue difficulty.On 30 January, the police sought and received the cooperation of local community leaders in seeking to calm the situation. The police dispersed groups of youths from the two areas who none the less sought to attack each other in the evening. At about 10.20 pm, a group of about 50 youths returning to the St. Paul's area encountered and attacked two community constables, one of whom was seriously injured. Additional officers arrived quickly and dispersed the group, although two petrol bombs were thrown. The area was calm by midnight and has remained so, apart from an isolated incident in which a petrol bomb was thrown on 31 January.The police are continuing a vigorous investigation of the incidents. So far, 18 people have been charged with offences. The chief constable has emphasised that the community at large, who are co-operating with the investigation, condemn these acts of some of their young people, and in particular regret the attack on the community constable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Avon as to how many police officers were injured in the disorders that took place in Bristol on 29 and 30 January; what injuries they sustained; and what was the total cost of the police operations concerned.

The chief constable informs me that 20 officers were injured. One was seriously injured in the face and head, one had a toe broken, five sustained cuts, and 13 bruises. The cost of the police action has not been calculated separately, since no special operation was mounted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the review of the baggage allowances as part of Her Majesty's Government's repatriation schemes.

The position has not changed since the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 25 November.—[Vol. 14, c. 118.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average cost of training a teacher in Scotland.

In the 1979–80 financial year, the most recent for which information is available, the gross average annual cost per student of pre-service teacher training in Scottish colleges of education was £2,658.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of those who qualified as teachers in each year from 1978 have still not secured a permanent teaching post.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the approximate number of children currently being educated privately; and how these figures compare with those for 1977.

The number of pupils being educated in independent and grant-aided schools, excluding special schools, in the session 1977–78 was 36,700. The corresponding number for session 1980–81, the latest for which information is available, was 33,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland aged 16 years or over are in receipt of grants from local authorities; and what rate is currently being paid to them.

In 1980–81 education authorities awarded bursaries to 5,057 children aged 16 or over at school and to 11,805 students on full-time courses of further education. These bursaries are means-tested, and parental income scales and maximum rates are prescribed by my right hon. Friend. For 1981–82 the maximum rates are as follows:

Higher School Bursaries:	£465 a Year
Further Education Bursaries:
(a) Students under 18
—living at home	£11.63 a week

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current practice by regional, island, and district authorities in Scotland in respect of insurance cover for fire, flood, wind or landslip damages to their properties, whether housing, commercial or any other type; and what guidance his Department gives to local authorities over whether they should insure or act as their own insurers, in view of the premium costs involved.

Insurance practice varies widely between authorities and the comprehensive information requested is not held centrally. The Department advised all local authorities in 1976 and 1978 that the question of insurance for local authority property against normally insurable losses is one for local authorities to decide, bearing in mind the possible implications for them of an absence of such insurance.Detailed guidance about grant towards exceptional expenditure incurred as a result of the recent severe weather will be circulated shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what figure was provided to the Glasgow district council on 29 January by the Scottish Development Department as its rate fund contribution limit in respect of the housing revenue account.

The figure is £21,561,000.

asked the Attorney-General if Her Majesty's Government will consider the question of equal parental rights after divorce with a view to amending the law.

When determining questions of custody and upbringing of a child of the family, the courts are required to treat the welfare of the child as the first and paramount consideration. The parents' respective rights must be subject to this first and paramount consideration but, subject to this consideration, their respective rights are equal and no change in the law is either necessary or desirable.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will seek to enable victims of alleged rape to give their oral evidence in a court cleared of the press and public, subject to the judge's decision on application, or for her evidence to be given in a written form, and cross examination thereon to be heard in camera.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent Her Majesty's Government are supporting the application of Portugal to join the European Economic Community irrespective of progress with the application from Spain.

Her Majesty's Government fully support the applications of both Portugal and Spain to join the European Community, and favour pressing ahead with the negotiations with both applicants as rapidly as possible. The two sets of negotiations are not linked. They have, however, been proceeding in parallel.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects to forward to the European Economic Community the applications he has received from local authorities for grant-aiding under the European Economic Community regional fund—non-quota section—relating to shipbuilding areas.

Applications cannot be forwarded until the relevant programme has been approved by the Commission. We intend to submit our programme to the Commission very soon and hope that approval will follow shortly. Preparation of the programme has taken some time because we have had to assemble a great deal of information about it and to ensure that it is consistent with other related proposals.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many extensions of time or adjournments were requested by Her Majesty's Government in relation to the proceedings that were brought against the Government under the European Convention on Human Rights by Messrs Young, Webster and James; and what were the reasons for those requests being made.

Between the time these applications were first filed at the European Commission of Human Rights in 1976 and 1977 and the date the present Administration took office in May 1979, the last Administration requested and obtained from the Commission, on three seperate occasions, an extension of time for the submission of written pleadings. The last Administration also made one request for an adjournment of a hearing before the Commission because it was due to take place only one day after the General Election. The present Administration cannot answer for the last Administration's conduct of these cases.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any extensions of time or adjournments have been requested by Her Majesty's Government in relation to the claims that have been brought against the Government by, amongst others, Vosper Limited under the European Convention on Human Rights arising out of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977; how many requests have been made; and if he will specify the reasons for those requests being made.

The Government have made two requests to extend the time limit for submitting their observations on the admissibility and merits of the six applications raising issues connected with the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977. The first time limit expired at the end of October 1981 and the second at the end of January 1982. These six applications, and three more similar ones recently notified to the Government, raise exceedingly complicated and difficult issues which have to be co-ordinated in each of the cases.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the outcome of the allied consultations on Poland in the North Atlantic Council on 3 February.

In her reply to the hon. Member for Huntingdonshire (Mr. Major) on 4 February, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained the position reached in discussion in the North Atlantic Council following the declaration issued by NATO Foreign Ministers on 11 January. The Prime Minister stated that at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council on 3 February, it was agreed to pursue and as necessary strengthen actions along the lines set out in the 11 January declaration. She undertook to give the House details as soon as possible of the measures being taken by Her Majesty's Government. These measures are as follows.With respect to Poland, Her Majesty's Government:

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

[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1982, c. 407]: A total of 8,583 visa requests were made by Union of Soviet Socialist Republics citizens in 1981. Of these 1,265 were made by persons coming to this country for academic purposes and to attend conferences.The total number of visa requests refused was 124 and over 90 per cent. of the refusals were because the applications were not supported by sponsors in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list the advisers and consultants appointed by the Government and the British National Oil Corporation to prepare the privatisation of the corporation's oil equity interests; what has been paid in fees to date; what proportion has been paid by Her Majesty's Government; and what future commitments have been made in respect of, for example, success fees and underwriting.

My Department is being advised on the privatisation of the British National Oil Corporation's equity oil interests by S. G. Warburg & Co., Ltd. and by Freshfields. I understand from BNOC that its principal advisers on the Government's proposals for privatisation as on other matters are N. M. Rothschild & Sons Ltd. and Herbert Smith & Co., Ltd. My Department has paid no fees to date in connection with the privatisation of BNOC's equity oil interests and no commitment has been given in respect of success fees or underwriting fees. Fees paid by BNOC are a matter for the corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now undertake a nation-wide survey on the dangerous effects on children from lead in paintwork in schools and allocate funds to local authorities for carrying out remedial action where dangerous levels are found.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the Greenwich study that schools are painted with high lead content paint, in view of its health hazard.

Local education authorities are responsible for the maintenance of school premises and are under a duty to safeguard the health of the occupants. It is for each authority to identify its most urgent needs and to allocate resources accordingly. Authorities will be aware of the need to specify low-lead paint for surfaces accessible to children.The Department of the Environment proposes to give further advice to local authorities on the problems associated with lead in the environment including old lead paint.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up an inquiry to review the extent to which educational standards may be improved in polytechnics such as Hatfield which have limited financial provision available to them under the existing support arrangements.

The national advisory body for local authority higher education has been set up by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to advise on the academic provision to be made in individual institutions in the local authority sector of higher education. I am sure that in formulating its advice the body will share my hon. Friend's concern to improve educational standards and make the best use of the resources available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet received the report of the adult literacy and basic skills unit for its first year of operation; and what plans he has for its future.

My right hon. Friend has just received formally from the National Institute of Adult Education the report of the adult literacy and basic skills unit for the first year of the three year term for which it was initially set up in 1980. He shall be considering its future after 1983 in the light of its work and the extent and nature of unmet needs in this important field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the approximate number of children currently being educated privately; and how these figures compare with those for 1977.

This information is not available in quite the form requested. In January 1981 515,742 children were receiving full-time education at independent schools in England. The comparable figure for January 1977 was 518,597.These figures include some pupils financed by local authorities and exclude children being educated privately outside schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what his Department expects to be the staff-student ratios in the non-polytechnic area of public sector higher education, including the voluntary colleges, for 1982–83; how these compare with 1979–80 and 1980–81, respectively; and if he will give the anticipated ratios in engineering, arts and design subjects and business studies, respectively;(2) what staff-student ratios were assumed to be in

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received (a) from those involved in higher education and (b) from others concerning the allocation for university staff redundancy payments; and whether he will review the amount involved.

My right hon. Friend has received a variety of representations about the compensation of redundant university staff, mostly from those involved in higher education, but the total that will be available for redundancy payments in addition to universities' recurrent grant can only be settled in the light of consideration by the University Grants Committee of individual universities' plans for adjusting to the lower level of funding proposed. My right hon. Friend announced on 21 December 1981 that he was allocating £50 million in the financial year 1982–83 to be used by the UGC specifically for restructuring, including the cost of redundancies, and that a further additional amount for 1983–84 would be announced later.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the reason for the differences in the pensions payable to the spouses of male and female teachers; and if he will introduce provisions to ensure that the surviving husbands of female teachers are treated no less favourably than the surviving wives of male teachers.

The teachers' superannuation scheme already makes provision for widowers' pension on condition that the teacher, during her service, has nominated her husband as being wholly or mainly dependent on her for support. The introduction of automatic widowers' pensions on the same basis as widows' pensions in the TSS would require an increase in the basic contributions payable by both men and women. This problem is the subject of discussion with the teacher; in the teachers' superannuation working party, the appropriate forum for such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further support his Department will give to the promotion of biotechnology in universities; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend understands that the University Grants Committee is actively considering with the relevant research councils the provision of specific support for biotechnology in certain universities. The outcome will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much investment from public funds is being made into the research and production of video games.

I am not aware of any.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what work his Department currently is carrying out into ways of promoting the research and development of biotechnology.

The Department supports research in biotechnology through the Materials and Chemicals Requirements Board, and some £700,000 is being spent this year. The number of contacts made with the board and Department point to this source of support becoming fairly widely known. Much current work in the area is academically based and recently announced formation of a biotechnology directorate of the Science and Engineering Research Council was therefore of major importance. The Department has established close links with the directorate from the outset and is actively considering what further measures including publicity, may be needed to promote work in industry to complement and link with that in the academic sphere.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made on interim arrangements for the approval of privately-supplied extension telephones for connection to the British Telecom network.

On 16 November, my hon. Friend, the Minister for Industry and Information Technology, announced interim arrangements for the approval of privately supplied extension telephones for connection to the public switched telephone network pending the introduction of independent arrangements for the approval of such extension telephones in July 1982. Suppliers were invited to submit extension telephones to the Department of Industry for evaluationTwenty-two companies submitted 96 eligible items of equipment and these have been considered by the Department in consultation with British Telecom according to the criteria laid down by my hon. Friend. Although BT has made additional testing facilities available for the testing of privately supplied extension telephones and modems, its facilities are limited and I

have decided to give priority for the first evaluation to six companies who have been invited to submit specific items of equipment for testing. These companies are:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the volume of domestic refuse in the United Kingdom in the years 1970, 1975 and 1980; and what percentage of each year's volume was toxic waste.

I regret that figures for 1970 are not available.The information in the Department of the Environment relates to England only: the position for Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State.In 1975–76, the domestic waste collected by English local authorities amounted to 15,946,000 tonnes, and in 1980–81 to 17,801,000 tonnes. The toxic element in domestic waste consists of items such as aerosols and oven cleaners discarded by householders. The proportion cannot be accurately estimated, but it is very small.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory and other provisions that apply to the running of bingo halls in a built-up area as far as they concern matters affecting the local community.

The operator of a bingo hall must comply with the terms of any planning permission and of the licence issued under the provisions of the Gaming Act 1968. In addition, part III of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 contains controls over noise nuisance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the right hon.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Petersfield (Mr. Mates) on Thursday, 4 February 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the rate support grant report for 1982–83 will be published.

I have today laid the rate support grant report before Parliament. It embodies the formal determinations to give effect to the proposals I announced on December 21. Some of the figures have been revised since that date to take account of minor data corrections, and the revenue consequences of capital allocations for 1982–83. A technical change has also been made to the way in which the safety net interacts with the London resource discount, with a small consequent increase in the total of block grant. A table giving revised figures for the individual expenditure targets and the authorities grant entitlements if they spend at target is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make provision in the contracts for the Berwick and Belford bypasses to ensure that local labour from the Berwick area is employed in the construction work as much as possible; and how many jobs he at present expects will be available for local recruitment in the two projects.

The contracts for the Berwick and Belford bypasses have already been let and I understand that about 25 people have been recruited locally. This represents about half the main work-force.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what study has been undertaken by his Department to assess the potential value of the British Broadcasting Corporation's planned Carfax radio information service for motorists, both generally and particularly in times of bad weather and disruption of other means of transport.

The main study by my Department on the potential value of Carfax is published in the report of the working group on the broadcasting of traffic information, Transport and Road Research Laboratory supplementary report 506.The report assesses the benefits of the system during normal operation at £18 million per annum, 1981 prices. No assessment has been made of the benefits to be obtained in times of extreme weather conditions or disruption of other means of transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total value of property held by British Railways on 1 January 1982 surplus to its needs in operating the railway network.

The book value of non-operational property is estimated at about £190 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy towards the introduction of private capital into parts of British Railways.

The Government and the railways board agreed that first priority for the introduction of private capital should lie with the board's shipping, hovercraft, hotels and property interests. So far British Rail Hovercraft Ltd. and a number of British Transport Hotels have been transferred to the private sector. The railways board has also continued its policy of selling substantial amounts of non-operational property. I am currently awaiting further proposals from the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to seek to denationalise British Rail Engineering.

I am considering the introduction of private capital into BREL and will be pursuing this with the Chairman of the British Railways Board at an appropriate time. I have, however, reached no firm decisions at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what communication his Department has had with Hertfordshire county council with regard to his policy on South-East rail services.

The views of Hertfordshire county council were sought on the policies I have outlined for the operation of Britsh Rail's London and South-East service., and when these were received my Department responded explaining, amongst other things, that it is not my intention that the quality of service to commuters should be reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Tranport if he has any estimate of the change which will result in peak-hour commuter train provision as a result of the policy he outlined in press notice 321 with regard to London and South-East rail services.

I expect that the policies I outlined would result in peak-hour trains being more reliable, more punctual and cleaner and that as part of the means for avoiding real fare increases, they would carry on average rather more passengers than at present—in line with the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's recommendations on the efficient matching of supply and demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 21 December 1981, Official Report, column 329, what information he has concerning the high cost of producing lead-free petrol and cars to run on that fuel.

This would need heavy investment by the motor industry to redesign and make car engines capable of using lead-free petrol. In addition, the higher fuel consumption figures for such engines would result in a permanent increase in crude oil consumption—we estimate an increase of 5 per cent. in the amount of crude used compared to current figures. The cost of this in full operation—in 1980 pounds, but allowing for further increases in the real costs of crude oil—could be £250 million to £300 million every year in comparison with 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is delaying the provision of adequate directional signs for Woking-bound traffic leaving the A3 at Guildford.

Sign drawings and estimates have had to be obtained. Instructions have now been given for the manufacture of the signs and they will be erected shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many training staff, and of what grades, are paid out of public funds, directly by his Department, or indirectly through other organisations or institutions funded from his Department, who were involved in the initial training of young people aged 16 years to 19 years leading to technical, trade or craft qualifications for 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Training leading to technical, trade or craft qualifications for people below the age of 19 is the responsibility of industry. The industrial training boards, most of whose staff in 1979, 1980 and 1981 were paid out of the grant in aid provided by my Department to the Manpower Services Commission, influence training in industry mainly through advice, training recommendations and levy/grant exemption schemes. In some cases they provide training directly, but it is not possible to identify a separate group of staff who are concerned with this kind of training alone. As to the small direct involvement of Manpower Services Commission staff, I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave the hon. Member on 23 December 1981—[Vol. 15 c. 364].

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in Birmingham are participating in the youth opportunities programme, in absolute numbers and expressed as a percentage of the 16 to 19 years age group.

Information is not available in the exact form requested. Between 1 April and the end of November 1981 some 10,300 young people entered the youth opportunities programme in Birmingham local authority district. This comprises virtually all those in the 16 to 19 years age group, eligible for the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest available rate at which participants in the youth opportunities programme are finding employment in (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands.

Information is not available in the exact form requested. 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 Great Britain 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. The survey results cannot be broken down below national level.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many married women are currently in employment; and if he will give the figures for the last five years.

My Department's annual inquiries do not collect information on the marital status of women in employment. However, the estimated number of women in employment over the last five years is shown in the following table:

Female, employed labour force Great Britain
Thousand
September 1977	9,470
September 1978	9,583
September 1979	9,688
September 1980	9,433
September 1981	9,047

Evidence from household surveys carried out between 1976 and 1980 suggests that around 70 per cent. of women in employment are married.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the membership of the Manpower Services Commission task force considering the youth training scheme, setting out also its terms of reference, likely mode of operation, accessibility and overall dates of operation.

The task group, which held its first meeting on 1 February, will have 14 members. Representing the CBI will be Mr. K. Court, director, personnel and management services, Blue Circle group of companies; Mr. P. J. Daly, company education and training manager, Thorn EMI Limited, and Mr. P. J. Casey, consultant, education and training, CBI. Representing the TUC will be Mr. C. D. Grieve, general secretary, Tobacco Workers Union, Mr. L. Wood, general secretary, Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, and Mr. R. Jackson, secretary education department, Trades Union Congress. Representing the Association of Metropolitan Authorities will be Mr. G. Hainsworth, director of education, Gateshead metropolitan borough council; Mr. W. Petty, CBE, county education officer, Kent County Council will represent the Association of County Councils and Mr. G. S. H. Bain, deputy director of education (FE), Strathclyde regional council will represent the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. Mr. J. Collins, chairperson, British Youth Council, Mr. N. Hinton, director, National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mrs. P. White, president of the Institute of Careers Officers and Mr. A. Colledge, principal, Granville college, Sheffield are also members of the group which will be chaired by Mr. G. Holland, director of the Manpower Services Commission.The group's term of reference are to:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has proposals for changing the basis of unemployment statistics; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) on 2 February—[Vol. 17, c. 99–100].

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will announce the result of the review of the rates of allowances payable under the job release scheme.

As I announced on December 15 the rates of job release allowance will be increased by 9 per cent. From 6 April the allowances which will apply are as follows:

For disabled men aged 60 to 63 and men aged 62 and 63: £64 a week, taxable, for married applicants with a dependent wife whose net income from all sources does not exceed £12 a week. £52 a week, taxable, for all other applicants.

For men aged 64 and women aged 59: £55 a week, tax free, for married applicants with a dependent spouse whose net income from all sources does not exceed £12 a week.

£43.50 a week, tax free, for all other applicants.

Leaflets showing the revised rates of allowance will be available shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that employees of Birmingham area health authority are being properly and genuinely consulted prior to the reorganisation into five health districts.

I am assured that they are being fully consulted. But if the hon. Member knows of a particular problem he may care to send details to the chairman of the Birmingham area health authority who is fully aware of the importance we attach to full and early consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the labour force sample survey for 1981 will be published, in particular the country of birth analysis.

It is planned to release the first results in the 1981 labour force survey, including a country of birth analysis, by the end of April. The full report should be published by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when information from the labour force survey for 1979 will be published including a country of birth analysis; and when the Office of Population, Census and Surveys will publish its report upon it.

A report on the 1979 labour force survey, including a country of birth analysis, will be published within the next two months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest number of private hospital beds; and how many more he estimates are being planned.

Only premises providing hospital services as defined in section 12(1) of the Health Services Act 1980, that is, in almost all cases, acute beds, are notified to my right hon. Friend under that Act. In June 1981, there were some 6,600 beds in premises providing acute medical and surgical care as set out in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mr. Dobson) on 18 January—[Vol. 16, c. 55–57]. Since August 1980, we have been notified of 39 proposed new private hospital developments. If all were to proceed as notified, they would provide 2,043 additional beds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will monitor the increase in the number of private hospital beds and their possible effect on the standards of care in the National Health Service;(2) if he will introduce new measures to ensure that the private health sector is not subsidised in any way by the National Health Service.

The number of private hospital beds is small compared with the number of beds available in the National Health Service, but we welcome the development of the private sector which adds to the health care resources of the country. The Health Services Act 1980 retained the legislative safeguards for the National Health Service. We see no need at present for further control of private development. Generally we expect the private sector to meet the full costs of any services provided for it by the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the figures for the number of (a) private hospital beds and (b) beds in National Health Service hospitals for each year since 1970 to the latest available date.

Following is the information for England:

Number of beds
Year	Independent Sector*†	NHS††
1970	23,346	423,621
1971	24,445	419,612
1972	24,778	412,664
1973	25,509	403,52
1974	26,965	396,235
1975	29,616	387,632
1976	29,819	383,132
1977	30,101	375,926
1978	30,847	369,235
1979	‡31,300	361,670
1980	31,875	355,979
1981	**32,380	—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients of child benefit have so far indicated that they wish to continue to receive payment weekly.

The figure is 1.7 million. About 3.5 million mothers will now have received order books containing an option card, but it will be some time yet before the overall percentage of mothers choosing to stay on weekly payment is clear. A special check of the first batch of order books issued containing an option card shows that after 11 weeks just under 60 per cent. of those mothers have opted for weekly payment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish the consultative document on the registration of residential homes announced in his speech to the social services conference in Birmingham on 19 November 1981.

Later this month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when considering a response to the Scott report on public service pensions, Her Majesty's Government will take fully into account the interests of those members of the public who contribute to such pensions through taxes as well as of those public servants who are eligible for such pensions.

Yes. The Government's aim is to ensure that pensions for public servants are fair to taxpayers in general as well as to employees, pensioners and their dependants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the contact between his Department and the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General on matters relating to the sale of British Leyland assets at Bathgate.

On matters such as this, the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General contacts the Department accountable for a vote, rather than the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total annual cost of servicing all Government borrowing (a) in 1978–79 and (b) in 1980–81.

As published in the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund accounts the cost of servicing the national debt in 1978–79 was £6,458 million—HC 307 of 21 December 1979—and in 1980–81 £9,854 million—HC 94 of 21 January 1982.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, Oficial Report, 27 November 1981, column 497, he can now give the figure for the number of retirement pensioners who have been sent new or amended pay-asyou-earn codes following the uprating of social security benefits in November 1981.

I regret that the figure of 2,200,000 given in reply to the hon. Member's previous question relates to all recipients of social security benefits—not just to retirement pensioners—who were sent amended PAYE codes as a result of the November 1980 benefit uprating; the large majority of these recipients will have been retirement pensioners, but no precise figure for them is available. The equivalent overall figure for the November 1981 benefit uprating is just over 2,350,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the details of all personal income tax allowances for 1982–83 on the assumption of the indexation provisons of the Finance Act 1977 as amended by the Finance Act 1980, showing the estimated cost for each allowance and basing his answer on (a) the retail price index change in 1981 and (b) the retail price index change in 1980 and 1981.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in duties, item by item, would be necessary in 1982–83 (a) on the assumption of an increase based on inflation in 1981 and (b) on the assumption of combined inflation for 1980 and 1981, in each case to raise the same revenue in real terms.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about his forthcoming Budget.

I have received a large number of representations from a wide variety of organisations and individuals containing numerous recommendations for my forthcoming Budget.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the figures at the latest available date of sales of speciality metals to the United States of America by the United Kingdom for use in military equipment.

This information is not available. The statistics of overseas trade do not in general record whether goods are imported or exported for military or civil purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current level of trade with the Republic of South Africa; how this compares with trading levels between the United Kingdom and other Western nations; and what are the comparable figures for the past 10 years.

The data are published in tables B17 to B19—exports—and C23 to C25—imports—of the December 1981 edition of the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what information he has about the level of investment by British companies (a) abroad in general and (b) in Japan in particular.