asked the Prime Minister whether the speech on economic matters by the Leader of the House to the Allied Breweries Trade Association on Monday 1 February represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has received the report of the Security Commission; whether she intends to publish it; and whether she will ensure that the published report is not so truncated as to prevent a proper judgment to be made on the efficiency of the recruitment procedures of the security services.

I have received the report of the Security Commission. I am considering its recommendations and the question of publication, and will make a statement in due course.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to be able to make a statement on her policy towards the future of index-linked pensions for the Civil Service.

I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury told the House on Friday 5 February [Vol. 17, c. 718].

Peterhead Bay Harbour Assets Disposed of 1979–1982
Description	Price	Name of Purchaser
(1) 25,250 square metres of land; part of the South Bay harbour access road and its verges, September 1979	£9,750	Grampian regional council
(2) 22.5 acres of shore, foreshore and seabed together with the quay
and relative services thereon;
(3) 0.719 hectare of land adjoining the subjects described at (2)	£2.4m*	Aberdeen Service Company (North Sea) Ltd
(4) 0.68 hectare of ground at the south breakwater—999 year lease

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the harbours held and maintained by him.

Peterhead Bay harbour is held and maintained by me. In addition, the extensive agricultural estates which I own contain many small moorings and jetties. No list of these exists and it would be disproportionately costly to produce one.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce comprehensive legislation relating to salmon and freshwater fishers in Scotland, in addition to the Salmon Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Bill, relating to illegal netting.

The Government are at present carrying out a wide-ranging review of the administration of and legislaion on salmon and freshwater fisheries in Scotland. This review is not yet complete. The Salmon Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Bill, which is not a Government measure, is concerned solely with amending the law in Scotland on the taking of salmon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he was consulted by the Royal Bank of Scotland about the implications for Scotland of a move of the bank's headquarters to London.

I understand that there are no plans to alter the present disposition of the headquarters functions of either the Royal Bank of Scotland Ltd. or of its parent group.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the assets of Peterhead Bay harbour disposed of over the last three years, including the names of the buyers and the proceeds of disposal.

The details are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will take immediate steps to end the dumping on the British market of footwear from Poland where the wholesale price on the United Kingdom market of such products is less than the cost of leather, textile and synthetic component materials to United Kingdom footwear producers.

Responsibility for taking antidumping action rests with the European Commission. My Department supported the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation in lodging a complaint with the Commission last year about the alleged dumping of Polish men's leather footwear but a voluntary restraint arrangement (VRA) on all leather foorwear exported from Poland to the United Kingdom was subsequently negotiated by the Commission with the Polish authorities. Since the VRA effectively limited any injury caused by the Polish imports, the Commission did not proceed with a formal anti-dumping investigation. Available statistics suggest that Poland has honoured the VRA.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to carry out an investigation into the extent to which the variation in petrol prices both regionally and between urban and rural areas constitutes an anti-competitive practice.

The anti-competitive practice provisions of the Competition Act 1980 give the Director General of Fair Trading the discretion to initiate preliminary investigations into specific courses of conduct pursued by particular persons which may constitute an anti-competitive practice. They do not allow the investigation of general questions such as regional price variations. A major reason for the variations in price is however the more vigourous competition in the retail petrol market in many urban areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what agreed arrangements apply between the European Economic Community countries and the preferential trading countries regarding imports into the European Economic Community of textiles and clothing since the formal agreements expired on 31 December 1981; and if he will place in the Library a copy of any European Economic Community document setting out the present arrangements.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress has been made on trade talks with Japan with a view to reducing its large surplus of trade with Europe; and if he will make a statement.

During my visit to Tokyo last week I had full discussions with members of the Japanese Government—including Mr. Abe, the Minister of International Trade and Industry—and with the business community on the state of the United Kingdom's trade relations with Japan. In particular I drew attention to Japan's exceptionally low level of imports of United Kingdom manufactures, in contrast with the high level of Japanese exports which cause particular problems for certain sectors of our economy. Separately, I noted the potential for suitably structured investment by Japanese companies in the United Kingdom.In response to the specific requests which we made in October 1981 and those which the Community presented to Japan in December 1981, the Japanese Government have announced the outline of an emergency import package including the acceleration of the agreed GATT MTN tariff cuts by 2 years; the removal of at least 67 non-tariff barriers involving import, standards and testing procedures; stockpiling of certain materials; and foreign currency lending for certain imports. The Community's reaction to the Japanese package will be considered by the 22 February Foreign Affairs Council.I informed the Japanese Government that, whilst I welcomed these measures as a step in the right direction, it was doubtful that their impact would be significant, particularly as a means of meeting current trade problems. I therefore emphasised the need for Japan to increase its imports, notably through purchases of capital equipment and by allowing United Kingdom companies greater export opportunities through more direct investment in the local market. My visit to the Society of British Aerospace Companies' exhibition held in Tokyo last week left me confident of our ability to be competitive in the Japanese market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report the dates and details of the four occasions when he reversed air transport licensing decisions of the Civil Aviation Authority, of the four occasions when he directed that authority to rehear cases and of the six occasions when he issued directions to the authority under section 4 of the Civil Aviation Act 1971 not to hear applications.

The Secretary of State on appeal directed the Civil Aviation Authority to grant the following applications after they had been refused by the Authority:

• 17 June 1980—Laker Airways: London (Gatwick)-Hong Kong.
• 17 June 1980—Cathay Pacific Airways: London (Gatwick)-Hong Kong.
• 21 October 1980—British Caledonian Airways' request that certain British Airways licences should not be operated from Gatwick.
• 21 October 1980—Laker Airways: Manchester/Prestwick-Miami.

The Secretary of State directed the Authority to rehear the following cases:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Basildon on 2 February, if he will require all ferries carrying 100 or more passengers on voyages in the near Continental trading area and out of or into British ports to carry a qualified medical nurse; and if he will make a statement;(2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Basildon on 2 February, if he will take steps to extend the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Ships Doctors) Regulations 1981 (S.I., 1981, No. 1065) to ferries operating within the near Continental trading area.

No. Requirements to carry qualified nurses or doctors on passenger ships operating within the near Continental area would be inappropriate in view of the short passages involved, the possibility of taking a doctor to a patient or a patient to hospital by helicopter, the training in first aid and use of the ship captains's medical guide received by ship's officers and the availability of radio medical advice. I am, however, proposing to require more equipment to be included in the special doctor's bag which has to be carried on United Kingdom registered passenger ships. This will further help any doctor travelling as a passenger or lifted in by helicopter to provide treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give the increase in exports to the republic of China between 1974 and 1981 for each of the countries of the European Economic Community.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what quantities of coal were exported in the most recent year for which figures are available; which nations were importing British coal; and how much they imported.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what quantities of steel were exported in the most recent year for which figures are available; which nations were importing British steel; and how much they imported.

2.8 million tonnes of steel were exported in the period March 1980—February 1981, the latest consecutive twelve months for which figures are at present available. Owing to the large number of statistical headings involved, an analysis of these exports by country could not be provided from the official statistics without disproportionate cost, but information on exports by country is given in table 21 of the monthly statistics of the iron and steel statistics bureau, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will oppose proposals with the European Community that duty-free sales should be prohibited in respect of flights between member countries of the Community, in view of the adverse effects on United Kingdom airlines of the proposal and the consequent increase in fares which would be likely to result.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will ensure that the hon. Member for Isle of Wight receives an early reply to his letter to the Minister for Consumer Affairs on the subject of pharmaceutical services, dated 9 November 1981.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fire bomb attacks have been made on premises owned, rented or occupied by the De Lorean Car Company in the last two years; how many attacks by snipers on De Lorean executives have been reported to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the last two years; and whether he will make a statement.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary knows of four occasions last summer when the De Lorean factory came under attack by petrol bombers. One of these attacks, in which a number of petrol bombs were used, caused serious damage to a building housing company records but the others resulted in only minor damage. No attacks by snipers on company executives have been reported to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, nor are they aware that any such attacks have taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make the fullest consultation with United Kingdom subcontractors on the effect the cancellation of the De Lorean orders for their products would have on their businesses before any decision is made on the future of the firm by his Department.

I can assure the hon. Member that the Government will take the fullest account of all relevant considerations before any decision is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he is making in encouraging energy conservation in the United Kingdom.

Between 1979 and 1981, primary energy demand fell by by 11 per cent. Approximately a third of this was due mainly to energy conservation, including the effects of changes in the relative price of energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to expand the capital investment programme of the National Coal Board; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what further talks he proposes to have with the chairman of the National Coal Board concerning future investment in the coal industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss investment in the coal industry.

The National Coal Board's capital investment programme is at the very high level of £805 million in the present financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is now in a position to make a statement on the report of the Severn barrage committee.

The Government are considering the recommendations of the Severn barrage committee taking into account the comments being received from interested parties during the period of public consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many tons of coal were consumed in power stations during each of the past four years; what is the estimated consumption in 1982; and if he will give comparable figures for oil-fired power stations over the same period.

I will arrange for detailed figures in respect of the last four years to be published in the Official Report. However, the hon. Member will be interested to know that in 1978 the consumption of coal was 80.87 million tonnes rising to an estimated 87 million tonnes in 1981 while over the same period oil consumption was more than halved, falling from 19.49 million tonnes to an estimated 8 million tonnes of coal equivalent. For 1982 the consumption of coal and oil in power stations will depend upon a number of factors including electricity demand and the availability and relative prices of fuels.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will seek to exend the provisions of the Coalmining (Subsidence) Act 1957 to require compensation to be paid to domestic householders for the upset and inconvenience they suffer when their homes are being repaired following subsidence due to coalmining.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he took into account the provisions of article 221 of the Treaty of Rome relating to the ownership of shares by citizens of the EEC in formulating his proposals for the British National Oil Corporation.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the volume of the following products sold by British National Oil Corporation (a) liquid petroleum gas, (b) NGL, (c) gas-fuel oils, and (d) natural gas.

This information is contained in the annual report and accounts of the British National Oil Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has had discussions recently with the London Electricity Board regarding electricity disconnections.

I met the London Electricity Board for a general discussion on 26 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a study of the implications for United Kingdom electricity and gas boards of introducing a scheme similar to that in the Republic of Ireland whereby the elderly and other needy groups are placed in a special customer category.

I am giving further thought to the problems faced by low-income consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will institute a system of energy stamps, to include coal, electricity and gas, whereby energy consumers can if they wish, and through the post office, budget for their heating bills on a weekly or monthly basis.

Gas and electricity stamps are already sold at some sub-post offices as well as the industries' show rooms. Including coal would be difficult as it is sold through a wide range of retail outlets but the Post Office and the coal trade are exploring a number of possibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the prospects for the offshore oil industry in the United Kingdom for the remainder of 1982.

Exploration activity is expected to remain at a high level during 1982 and construction work will continue on a range of offshore projects. There may be fewer major new developments than in recent years and the main opportunities will be gas field developments. New orders placed by operators are expected to remain at the current level of £2–21/2; billion per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the amount of diesel fuel produced in the United Kingdom is meeting domestic demand.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he expects and what developments will be under way in alternative energy in 1982.

Research and development on new and renewable sources of energy is being funded by my Department, other Government Departments, public organisations (including the CEGB) and by private sector companies. I expect such work to continue in 1982.The Southampton and Camborne geothermal schemes and the large aerogenerator at Orkney are major development projects currently under way funded wholly or in part by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of total production from the North Sea is constituted by the combination of British National Oil Corporation equity oil, participation crude, purchases for the British Gas Corporation and royalty oil.

In 1980, the last full year for which figures are available, it constituted some 58 per cent. of total crude oil production from the North Sea.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will introduce legislation to prevent the electricity boards from imposing a £5 automatic charge, without rights of appeal or explanation, on their blind, sick, deaf and old age pensioner customers who may not be present to admit electricity board staff to read the meter, as in the case of Mrs. Marion King of Ilford, Essex, details of which have been supplied to him.

This is a matter for the boards concerned, but I understand that such charges are made only in special circumstances. I am asking the chairman of the London Electricity Board to write to the hon. Member about the particular case to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy by what amount, and by what percentage, the

Table 2 Domestic fuel price increases in East Midlands area boards
	Gas		Electricity
Annual Consumption	400 therms		2,500 Kwh
	Pence/Therm	per cent. increase	Pence/Kwh	per cent. increase
Dec. 78—Dec. 79	1.5	7.8	0.58	18.2
Dec. 79—Dec. 80	5.7	28.0	1.02	26.9
Dec. 80—Dec. 81	8.1	31.2	0.55	11.3

Source: Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the percentage rise in gas prices in 1979, 1980 and 1981;(2) what was the percentage rise in electricity prices during 1979, 1980 and 1981.

National average domestic prices for gas and electricity are not available. Table 1 as follows shows the percentage increase in domestic gas and electricity prices based on the gas and electricity components of the general index of retail prices (RPI) from December to December for each of the past three years. Because of the method of recording the effects of tariff changes on the RPI, the full effects of individual price increases may not fall within the calendar year in which they became operative. The electricity component of the RPI for December 1981 contains an element for the domestic rebate of 0.34 p/Kwh for bills rendered during the period Jan-March 1982.Table 2 shows the price and percentage increase for a representative annual consumption in the East Midlands area gas and electricity boards for tariffs in force in December of each year. Quarterly standing charges have been incorporated in the calculation. Percentage increases differ from annual average figures in Table 1 due to the timings of tariff amendments. The electricity rebate has not been included in the calculation.Data on industrial fuel prices are based on a Department of Energy quarterly survey of some 900 large industrial consumers. Data for fourth quarter of 1981 are not available. The scope of the survey was increased in the third quarter of 1979 from 800 to 900 companies. The figures therefore for third quarter of 1978 are not strictly comparable with those for subsequent quarters.

Table 1 United Kingdom price increases for domestic gas and electricity
percentage
	Gas	Electricity
Dec. 78—Dec. 79	8.0	19.2
Dec. 79—Dec. 80	26.0	29.8
Dec. 80—Dec. 81	25.9	4.6

Source: General index of retail prices

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will give details of the current research programme into geothermal energy that his Department is sponsoring; and what further research programmes he expects to sponsor in the next year;(2) how much has been spent by his Department into research into geothermal energy in the past five years; and how much it is proposed to spend in the current and next financial years.

The Department's current geothermal programme includes research on hot dry rock technology, the investigation of deep hot aquifers and an assessment of the potential size and distribution of the United Kingdom resource. Expenditure (including VAT) on the programme for the past three years was as follows:

	£ Thousand
1978–79	162
1979–80	1,277
1980–81	2,248

The forecast outturn for 1981–82 is £6.8 million (including VAT). I regret that figures for expenditure prior to the financial year 1978–79 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.I shall not be deciding finally on the size and content of our future geothermal research programme until I have considered the advice of my advisory council on research and development for fuel and power (ACORD), due in the spring. However, forecast expenditure on existing propects is about £4 million (including VAT) in the financial year 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the principal criteria by which he determines whether to support a particular geothermal project.

The principal criteria are that new research should advance our knowledge of methods and technologies for harnessing geothermal energy and/or further our knowledge of the size and distribution of the United Kingdom resource, to enable the Government to estimate with reasonable confidence the contribution which geothermal energy might make to United Kingdom energy supplies. Geothermal research proposals have to be considered against competing calls on my Department's research and development budget.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if Her Majesty's Government will review the advice given to oil companies that they should sell oil only to the European Economic Community or to members of the International Energy Agency; and if, in particular, he will remove any official restraint on the sale of oil to Israel.

Her Majesty's Government maintain their general policy that companies exporting North Sea oil should do so into the markets of our partners in the International Energy Agency and the European Community and any country with which there is an existing pattern of trade. There are no restraints applying specifically to Israel.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his statement on the importance of securing British ownership for the proposed new company Britoil, in the second sitting of the Standing Committee on the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Bill, column 69, he will give details of the terms proposed to be included in the articles of association which will achieve it.

My right hon. Friend made no such statement. Our aim is to set up an independent British oil company and to provide safeguards against unacceptable changes in control in its articles, whatever the nationality of the parties involved. I would refer the hon. Member to what I said on Second Reading about the approach which we envisage will be in the articles.—[Vol. 16, c. 171–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements have been made for holding the public inquiry into the Central Electricity Generating Board's application to build a pressurised water reactor at Sizewell in Suffolk.

The inspector will be holding the first pre-inquiry meeting on 22–23 March at The Maltings, Snape, Suffolk. Arrangements are being made for the main hearings to be held at the same venue commencing on Tuesday 11 January 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will consider increasing the grant to the horticulture industry for the conversion of oil and gas burners to coal.

I have been asked to reply.This proposal will be considered in the current review of the coal-fired boiler scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to exempt retirement pensioners and those receiving any social security benefit from payment of standing charges for electricity and gas in cases where a certain amount of either fuel is consumed.

The standing charge on the normal tariff for quarterly-billed consumers is £7–£8 per quarter for gas and £5.10–£7 per quarter for electricity. On average, the standing charges account for l2 per cent. of electricity bills and 17 per cent. of gas bills.As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security said in the debate two weeks ago, we are taking another look at the effect of standing charges on low income consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the ratification of article 25—the right of individual petition—of the European Convention on Human Rights in respect of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man; and if any reservations have been sought by the Island authorities.

Acceptance of article 25 of the European Convention on Human Rights has been renewed on behalf of the Channel Islands, without reservations, for the five-year period to 13 January 1986. The ratification made in respect of the Isle of Man expired in 1976, and has not been renewed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the reservations secured and notified by the United Kingdom Government for residents of the United Kingdom to the European Convention on Human Rights because of the Education Acts shall also apply to residents of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man where the Education Acts do not apply.

A similar reservation to that notified by the United Kingdom has been notified by the Isle of Man. No reservation has been requested by the Channel Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions have been made in accordance with article 1 of the Convention on Human Rights whereby the United Kindgom Government as high contracting party, undertake to ensure that the terms of the convention and decisions of the Commission of Human Rights shall be enforced and thus enjoyed by residents of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

The convention applies to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man by virtue of a declaration dated 23 October 1953 and made by the United Kingdom Government under article 63(1) of the convention. No further action is called for to ensure under article 1 that residents of these Islands enjoy the rights and freedoms defined in articles 2 to 18 of the convention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, what progress has been made in discussions with the authorities of the Isle of Man about the elimination of the corporal punishment.

The decision reached by the European Court of Human Rights in 1978 was communicated to the Isle of man authorities, which were informed that the United Kingdom Government took the view that judicial corporal punishment in the Isle of Man must now be held to be in breach of the European Convention. The Chief Justice of the Isle of man brought the judgment to the atention of all persons on the island who could pass a sentence of birching.The Committe of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which is responsible for supervising the exceution of judgments of the court, was duly informed of the action taken and adopted a resolution declaring that, having taken note of the information supplied by the United Kingdom Government, it has exercised its functions under the covention.There have been no further discussions with the island authorities since then. On an appeal from a sentence of corporal punishment imposed by the Douglas magistrates in August 1981, however, the Isle of Man Court of Appeal quashed the sentence on various grounds, including the decision of the European Court of Human Rights.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the authorities in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man on citizenship and passport rights;(2) if he will make a statement on the rules governing the citizenship status of citizens of the Channel Islands and Isle of Man compared to that of

Under the British Nationality Act 1948, persons born in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man have the same status, that of citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies, as (a) persons born in the United Kingdom and (b) persons born in a colony or associated state.Under section 33(2) of that Act, a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies who derives that status from his connection with the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man may also, if he wishes, be known as "a citizen of the United Kingdom, Islands and Colonies."The British Nationality Act 1981 will come into force on 1 January 1983, provided the necessary preparatory work has been completed. Under the Act, citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies closely connected with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man will, like persons closely connected with the United Kingdom, become British citizens. Persons connected with a colony or an associated State will become British dependent territories citizens. The 1981 Act contains no provision enabling persons connected with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to describe themselves as other than British citizens.The authorities of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man were consulted about the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981, and will continue to be consulted about their implementation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to arrange for the police nationally or in the metropolitan area to ensure that there is always a doctor and/or a woman police officer present whenever any woman is questioned when she claims she has been raped.

My right hon. Friend is now considering the issue of additional guidance to chief officers of police about the conduct of inquiries into allegations of rape and will bear these points in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide additional resources for the employment of community service order supervisory staff in the county of Cumbria; and whether he will make a statement.

We have announced that additional resources are being made available for the probation service in 1982–83, but it is, in the first instance, for probation and after-care committees to consider local requirements and priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) Official Report, column 407, if he will list the number of reported incidents of robbery and other violent theft, burglary and armed robbery for each month of 1980 and 1981 for each of the Metropolitan Police districts G, L and P and Brixton police division.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police surgeons there are appointed for the Metropolitan Police area; and how many are women.

Eighty, of whom 11 are women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that access to information contained in police records and Special Branch files is restricted to those with lawful authority to have such access.

Chief officers of police are well aware of their responsibility to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made. Home Office officials and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary discuss these arrangements with chief officers from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the present cost to public funds of the national testing laboratory accreditation scheme.

The estimated net cost to the Government for the financial year 1981–82 is £160,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many approved laboratories under the national laboratory accreditation scheme there are; and whether he has any plans to increase the number.

The national testing laboratory accreditation scheme (NATLAS) was launched on 22 October 1981. To date seven laboratories have been enrolled as members of the scheme. A further 69 have been offered quotations. It is planned to increase the numbers as quickly as possible. All laboratories that undertake tests within the scope of the scheme are eligible to seek accreditation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the level of standards at laboratories listed under the national laboratory accreditation scheme; and what information he has as to whether such standards are generally recognised abroad.

Yes: all laboratories accredited under the national testing laboratory accreditation scheme meet standards specified by the Scheme. The recognition of these standards abroad has yet to be tested. However, the criteria for assessment of technical competence of the laboratories have been developed in line with, and are broadly equivalent to, those adopted by the International Standards Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total area of industrial floor space allocated for industrial or service trade occupancy by the English Industrial Estates Corporation in each of the travel-to-work areas in (a)) Cumbria, (b)) the Northern region and (c) the North-West region for the last month for which statistics are available.

During the month of December 1981, the English Industrial Estates Corporation allocated the following floor space, subject to contract:

(a)Cumbria:
Workington:	3,770 M2 (3 units)
Carlisle:	220 M2 (1 unit)
Kendal:	455 M2 (2units)
	4,445 M2 (6units)
(b) North-East Region:
Haltwhistle:	451 M2 (1 unit)
Morpeth:	1,078 M2 ( 2 units)
Hexham:	232 M2 (1 unit)
South Tyne:	1,098 M2 (4 units)
Wearside:	1,213 M2 (3 units)
	4,072 M2 (11 units)
(c) North-West Region, Excluding Cumbria:
Widnes:	93 M2 (1 unit)
Bury:	231 M2 (1 unit)
Ashton-under-Lyne:	93 M2 (1 unit)
Liverpool:	5,045 M2 (8 units)
Birkenhead:	1,958 M2 (7 units)
	7,420 M2 (18 units)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what was the total number and value of offers of regional assistance made to companies in west Cumbria travel-to-work areas, in Cumbria as a whole and in the North-West region for the last month for which statistics are available;(2) how many applications for information on industrial or service developments his Department has received in the North-West region during the last month; and how many of these his Department has referred to the Cumbria county council's industrial development unit.

In December 1981 three offers of assistance totalling £460,000 were made under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 towards projects in the North-West region (including Cumbria); one offer of £310,000 was made towards a project in Cumbria; no offers were made to companies in West Cumbria. 417 enquiries of an industrial or commercial development nature were received in the North-West region, of which 222 related to selective financial assistance. None were specifically referred to the Cumbria county council's industrial development unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) which scientific, commercial and voluntary organisations he will be consulting with regarding specific measures to promote the use of technical aids by disabled people;(2) what measures his Department will be taking in Information Technology Year to promote the research and development of technical aids to assist disabled people; and if he will make a statement;(3) what plans his Department has to publicise the benefits of technology for disabled people, particularly among employers, as part of Information Technology Year.

I have been discussing with a number of Departments and commercial and voluntary organisations how information technology can be used to stimulate the development and use of aids for disabled people. I hope to be in a position to make a statement on this in the near future.I should also mention that one of the principal "stream" interests of the 1982 information technology committee is `Information Technology and Health' and, via its national and regional committee activities, considerable publicity is being given to the dissemination of such information.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his latest estimate of the number of robots currently being used by British industry; and how this compares with the figures for the other countries of the EEC, the United States of America and Japan.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much the Government are spending in the current financial year on information technology; and how this compares with the amount being spent by other members of the EEC, the United States of America and Japan.

The Department of Industry has allocated funds for the information technologies in various ways. The schemes available are demand-related and outturn expenditures are therefore somewhat unpredictable, but it is expected that in a full year of operation these allocations represent an annual expenditure of over £60 million. Additionally, the Department's space research programme of £45 million per annum and British Telecom's research programme currently running at £100 million per annum will contribute to the development of a United Kingdom capability in information technology.Comparisons with the funding allocations of other industrialised countries' Governments to information technology are difficult to make. Therefore, any such comparisons would inevitably be partial and would not represent a fair, accurate and complete comparison with the United Kingdom Government's financial commitment to the support of information technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his latest estimate of the percentage of manufacturing companies which are using microelectronics in their (a) products and (b) production lines.

The interim results of a survey of 1,200 United Kingdom manufacturing establishments employing over 20 people carried out by the Policy Studies Institute last year estimated that 30.3 per cent of companies are using or intending to use microelectronics in products and/or production; 7.8 per cent. in products and 26.6 per cent. in production.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what has been the total amount of investment in United Kingdom manufacturing industry, excluding oil exploration and development, by Japanese firms in each of the past 20 years; and if he has any information about the proportion of these sums which was raised in the United Kingdom or which came from Japan;(2) what has been the total amount of investment in United Kingdom manufacturing industry, excluding oil exploration and development, by United States-owned firms in each of the past 20 years; and if he has any information on the proportion of this sum which was raised in the United Kingdom or which originated in the United Kingdom or which originated in the United States of America.

Gross domestic fixed capital formation by United Kingdom manufacturing enterprises which are controlled by United States and Japanese firms is available form the censuses of production for the following years:

£ million: current prices
Gross domestic fixed capital formation
	by united states controlled manufacturing enterprises	by Japanese controlled manufacturing enterprises
1963	105.3	n/a
1968	146.4	n/a

Gross domestic fixed capital formation
	by united states controlled manufacturing enterprises	by Japanese controlled manufacturing enterprises
1971*	285.9	n/a
1973	265.2	n/a
1975	386.3	n/a
1977	608.8	2.2
1979	1,037.8	3.7

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many persons were employed in manufacturing activities in the United Kingdom, excluding oil exploration and development, by firms owned by United States and Japanese firms, respectively, in each of the past 20 years.

The average number of persons employed by United Kingdom manufacturing enterprises that are controlled by United States and Japanese firms is available from the censuses of production for the following years:

Thousands
Average number employed
	by United States	by Japanese
	controlled	controlled
	manufacturing	manufacturing
	enterprises	enterprises
1963	406.2	n/a
1968	533.8	n/a
1971*	603.3	n/a
1973	623.8	n/a
1975	658.8	n/a
1977	711.8	1.1
1979	661.5	1.7

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Minister of State's two meetings with representatives of the Greater Manchester Association of Municipal Authorities and of Manchester city council on 28 January.

There was a useful exchange of views. The Greater Manchester Association of Metropolitan Authorities (GMAMA) sought development area status for the county. Whilst recognising that unemployment in Greater Manchester and elsewhere has risen I rejected the association's case on the grounds that it is the practice—adopted by successive Governments—to designate assisted areas by reference to travel-to-work areas.Manchester city council sought the designation of the Manchester/Salford partnership area as a development area. Whilst the Government, in designating the area a partnership area under their urban programme, recognise the problems of the inner city of Manchester—as they do those of other large cities—the case for DA status for the whole county was rejected for similar reasons to those which led to the rejection of the GMAMA's case. However, any lesson learnt by the Government's task force now in Merseyside will be applied as appropriate to other inner cities.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies in the Mexborough and district employment exchange area have received loans through his Department from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Investment Bank; and what is the total value of such loans from each source and the total number of jobs so created.

As at 31 December 1981 no such loans had been made to companies in the Mexborough area.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what sums have been paid by his Department in support of Laker Airways' purchase of Airbus A300 aircraft.

Pursuant to the arrangements announced to the House on 26 January 1981 [Official Report, c. 284], the Government have provided interest rate support amounting to £5.46 million.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the abortion notification form HSA 4 was one of those studied by the management and personnel office; and, if so, with what conclusion.

No it was not.

asked (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in respect of his Department's functions, in what proportion of public purchasing contracts and of what value (a) British suppliers and (b) other European Economic Community suppliers were successful during the last year for which figures are available;(2) the Secretary of State for Energy, in respect of his Department's functions, in what proportion of public purchasing contracts and of what value

I have been asked to reply.As statistics regarding contracts awarded by Government Departments are submitted to the Treasury it is more economical to provide a composite reply.The latest figures available for public purchasing are 1 or the calendar year 1980 and are on the basis of estimated total value of contracts awarded in that year. The table following gives the value of supply and service contracts awarded to British and other European Community suppliers, and the percentage they represent of the total value of contracts let. For works contracts the table shows separate figures for British and foreign suppliers. A breakdown of the latter category between EC and the foreign suppliers is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to expedite his decision with regard to an application made on behalf of certain farmers in the parish of Llanfairtalhaiarn, Abergele, Clwyd, on 3 September 1981 for permission to erect fences, stiles and gates on common land within that parish.

There are currently two such applications. One has attracted statutory objections but decisions will be issued as soon as possible. I shall also write to my hon. and learned Friend in response to his recent letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to expedite his decision with regard to an application made on behalf of the Gwytherin Farmers Association on 11 June 1981 for permission to erect fences, stiles and gates on the Mynydd Hiraethog common, Gwytherinn, Clwyd.

It is hoped to issue a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether a reply has yet been sent to the memorandum by Gwynedd county council on second homes.

Yes. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the total production, in gallons, for the last five years of each reservoir in Wales;(2) what is the total amount of water produced in Wales.

There are 104 direct supply and river regulating reservoirs owned by water authorities in Wales. The total reliable annual yield of surface water sources in Wales, predominately reservoirs, is approximately 538,000 million gallons. Abstraction licences under the Water Resources Act 1963 permit up to approximately 259,000 million gallons to be abstracted annually in Wales for water supply. There has been no significant change in the preceding figures over the last five years. In 1980, the total amount of water supplied to consumers from sources in Wales was 179,531 million gallons.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the average cost of water for industrial users in Wales over the last five years.

The average of the Welsh water authority's water supply charges to metered consumers for the financial years 1977–78 to 1981–82 is 77.28p per thousand gallons. Since 1979–80 a standing charge, variable according to meter size, has also been made in respect of each supply. No distinction is made between industrial and other metered consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why the proposal to introduce 12 pay beds into the hospitals of the South Glamorgan area health authority has not been put out for consultation with the interests concerned.

I am satisfied there was adequate consultation with interested bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what evidence is in his possession that there is an unmet demand for pay beds in the hospitals of the South Glamorgan area health authority.

There is evidence of demand in the use made of pay beds wherever they are authorised in Wales and in English teaching hospitals. Such demand was unmet in South Glamorgan while there were no pay beds authorised in its teaching hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the provision of 12 pay beds in the hospitals of the South Glamorgan area health authority will reduce the number of 6,500 patients awaiting hospital treatment in the area.

The tiny proportion of beds authorised for private patients cannot have more than a minimal effect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details by type of drug, value and location, of all drugs seized by Customs officials in the calendar years 1978 to 1981 inclusive in excess of £10,000.

Information in the form requested could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. However, I am able to provide the details for the calendar years 1978 and 1981 and I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many industrial and non-industrial civil servants retired from the service upon reaching the age limit or voluntarily left the service during the last year; and how many were involuntarily made redundant.

The number of leavers from the nonindustrial Home Civil Service^* in the year ending 31 October 1981 was as follows:

Cause of leaving	Numbers
Age retirement	14,676
Voluntary resignation	22,846
Voluntary early retirement†	358
Redundancy	725
Premature retirement	2,699
Dismissal	529
Other reasons	1,760
Total	43,593

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional revenue which would accrue from an increase in the duty on 20 cigarettes of (a) 1p and (b) 10p.

The additional full-year revenue, including consequential VAT, is estimated to be about (a) £35 million and (b) £350 million. The estimates have been rounded to avoid spurious precision and this conceals that successive increases yield progressively less.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all those bodies or individuals which have presented written evidence to the committee on enforcement powers of revenue departments chaired by Lord Keith; if he will show which of these bodies or individuals has been called to give oral evidence; on how many occasions officers of the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise have appeared before the committee; whether the review is taking place on Inland Revenue premises; and to what extent it is staffed by Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise officers.

I understand that 61 organisations as well as a number of firms and individuals have so far presented written evidence. I do not think it would be appropriate to name these witnesses without first seeking their consent. Twenty-one organisations and six firms and individuals have been called to give oral evidence. Officers of the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise have appeared before the committee on six occasions. The review is taking place at GKN House, Kingsway, London; these are not Inland Revenue premises—and no part of the building is currently occupied by an Inland Revenue office. The secretariat of the committee is comprised of three serving officers of the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the composition of the committee on enforcement powers of revenue departments chaired by Lord Keith; and if he will make a statement.

We have received one letter on this topic. We have every confidence in Lord Keith and his committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from income tax (a) in 1978–79 and (b) in 1980–81.

Total receipts of income tax (including surtax) were as follows:

	£ million
1978–79	20,610
1980–81	*24,300

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage rate of price increases was applied for the purposes of determining the public expenditure totals in this financial year of (i) the Welsh Office, (ii) the Department of Transport, (iii) the Ministry of Defence and (iv) the Foreign Office: and what will be the corresponding figures or the next financial year.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the last public expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 8175 of March 1981, which explained (paragraph 9 on page 5) how the cash plans for 1981–82 were constructed; and to the Economic Progress Report of November 1981, which explained how the plans in Cmnd. 8175 for 1982–83 were converted into cash before the Government's decisions were taken in the 1981 survey. The cash plans resulting from those decisions will be published in the forthcoming public expenditure White Paper, to be published next month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage of overall Government expenditure, central and local, devoted to defence in the current year and for each of the past 20 years.

The information requested is as follows.

	Percentage
1961–62	16.9
1962–63	16.9
1963–64	16.0
1964–65	15.5
1965–66	15.1
1966–67	14.2
1967–68	12.8
1968–69	12.3
1969–70	11.5
1970–71	11.6
1971–72	11.7
1972–73	11.2
1973–74	10.9
1974–75	9.7
1975–76	9.9
1976–77	10.4
1977–78	10.7
1978–79	10.0
1979–80	10.3
1980–81	10.3
1981–82	10.3

The figures show annual defence expenditure expressed as a percentage of general Government expenditure. The figure for 1981–82 is based on current defence provision.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy not to agree to any proposals within the European Community that value added tax shall be imposed on the price of package holidays.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum raised in levies on imported food supplies in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what amount of these annual payments was forwarded to the European Economic Community.

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