asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland why, in the case of alleged rape in Glasgow, no action was taken to charge the three arrested men with offences other than rape where the evidence of the medical persons was available without calling the woman concerned to give evidence; and whether any charges for grievous bodily harm are to be brought.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade 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 currently participating in the job release scheme and since 6 April 1981 16 people have had their applications for release granted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied with progress in the bargaining over implementation of the general agreement on tariffs and trade Tokyo round of reductions in technical barriers to trade; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The GATT agreement on technical barriers to trade has been in operation for two years. Much of the work of the committee of signatories, to which the United Kingdom contributes, has been to establish that its provisions are understood and are being implemented. This work will continue, and a full review

I refer to the statement made by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and repeated by my predecessor on 21 January 1982—[Vol. 16, c. 423–4.] Permission to raise a private prosecution is now being sought from the High Court of Justiciary and accordingly I deem it unwise to discuss this matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the salaries and equivalent Civil Service grades of the chief executives and heads of departments of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board.

The information is given in the following table.of the agreement is due later this year. The Department of Trade makes the fullest use possible of the agreement, which should prove a vey helpful instrument in achieving and preserving freer and fairer trade, and will continue to take action under it as necessary where there is evidence that arbitrary use of technical requirements as barriers to trade adversely affects United Kingdom exports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has any plans to implement the recommendation in the report by the Adam Smith Institute commissioned by the Under-Secretary of State for Trade to establish six United Kingdom airports as freeports; and if he will make a statement.

The views put forward by the Adam Smith Institute are still under consideration. The question of freeport status is, of course, not solely a matter for my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if Her Majesty's Government will seek to reverse the European Community regulations on matching aid and credit for the shipbuilding industry;(2) if he will make a statement on the effect of European Economic Community regulations on credit facilities which British Shipbuilders offered to a shipowner for the building of two ships in January 1982;(3) if he will list in the

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether any shipbuilding orders have been lost to British Shipbuilders as a result of the European Economic Community policy on credit regulations; and, if so, if he will give the number of orders and their value.

I am not aware of any order which has been lost to British Shipbuilders as a result of the European Community policy on credit regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what measures are being taken to ensure that Mediterranean and other preferential clothing and textile suppliers to the United Kingdom are subject to satisfactory arrangements, in view of the fact that they are not covered by the multi-fibre arrangement.

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

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 February 1982, c. 243]: I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the island of Taiwan. The latest year for which complete information is available is 1980. The information for that year compared with 1974 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why 10 inmates at Feltham borstal with a reading age of less than 10 years were not attending remedial education classes on 13 January.

The 10 inmates at Feltham borstal with a reading age of less than 10 years who were not attending remedial education classes on 13 January had attended such classes earlier in their training. Their places were required for more recently arrived inmates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why 10 inmates at Rochester borstal with a reading age of less than 10 years were not attending remedial education classes on 13 January.

The 10 inmates at Rochester borstal with a reading age of less than 10 years who were not attending remedial education classes on 13 January included four borstal trainees who were participating in the borstal's induction procedures. The remaining six inmates were young prisoners who had chosen not to participate. The education facilities of young prisoners are regulated under the prison rules which provide for voluntary as opposed to compulsory participation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why 133 inmates at Glen Parva young prisoner centre and remand centre with a reading age of less than 10 years were not attending remedial education classes on 13 January.

I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as I have obtained the information he requires.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why three inmates at Everthorpe borstal with a reading age of less than 10 years were not attending remedial education classes on 13 January.

The three inmates at Everthorpe borstal with a reading age of less than 10 years who were not attending remedial education classes on 13 January were taking part in a life and social skills course which, however, included remedial education. They later returned to the normal remedial education classes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why an inmate at Aylesbury young prisoner centre with a reading age of less then 10 years was not attending remedial education classes on 13 January.

The education facilities for young prisoners are regulated under the prison rules which provide for voluntary as opposed to compulsory participation in educational activities. The inmate chose not to participate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total numbers employed by the police forces in England and Wales in January 1972, May 1979 and at the latest date for which figures are available; and what was the overall cost for each date in current and constant terms.

The information available is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police cells have been used for prisoners in the last month; if so, where and when; and for whom.

Yes; in the Metropolitan Police area the following number of prisoners have been detained at the places indicated:

• 10 Camberwell magistrates' court29 January
• 20 Camberwell magistrates' court30 January
• 20 Camberwell magistrates' court31 January
• 30 Horseferry Road magistrates' court 1 February
• 8 Lavender Hill police station1 February
• 30 Horseferry Road magistrates' court 2 February
• 29 Horseferry Road magistrates' court 3 February

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the number of Metropolitan Police cadets who have been educated at the expense of the London boroughs of Brent and Barnet at Kilburn polytechnic during each of the four years together with his estimate of the cost involved.

Under a long-standing arrangement, the borough councils of Brent and Barnet share the cost of providing teaching staff for academic training at the Metropolitan Police cadet training school at Hendon. Information about the cost to the councils over the last four years is not available to us. The number of cadets entering the school in each of the last four years is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reimburse the London borough of Brent for the cost of training Metropolitan Police cadets who are not residents of that borough for the training they have received at Kilburn polytechnic during the last three years.

No; these costs were met by the borough council in accordance with the long-standing arrangement between the council and the receiver.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will take the necessary action to deport Susantha Karunaratne of Sri Lanka, who was found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and blackmail at the Old Bailey on Thursday 28 January, on the completion of the court's sentence;(2) whether he will take the necessary action to deport Vutek Przbyss, who was found guilty at the trial held at the Old Bailey on Thursday 28 January, on the completion of his sentence.

On present information neither Susantha Karunaratne nor Vutek Przbyss is liable for deportation but further inquiries are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to relax the restraints that the Shops Act 1950 imposes upon shopping hours, including Sunday trading; and if he will make a statement.

The Government accept that the shops legislation is unsatisfactory and does not correspond to modern patterns of living. I have accordingly sought: to assess whether, in the light of the past unsuccessful attempts to amend the law and of present attitudes, sufficient agreement exists on which to base proposals for new legislation. Having studied the history of unsuccessful attempts, including the debate on 20 February 1981 on Second Reading of my hon. Friend's Bill to amend the legislation in the light of the Gowers report of 1947 and the report in 1964 of the Crathorne committee on the law on Sunday observance, I am of the opinion that there is not yet a sufficient basis of agreement between the various interests concerned for the Government to seek to introduce legislation on this subject at the present time, though we are aware of the mounting pressure for reform. My noble Friend the Baroness Trumpington has introduced a Bill in another place which seeks to repeal the legislative restrictions on shopping hours. The Government can find no ground of principle for opposing such a measure and propose to maintain an attitude of benevolent neutrality during the proceedings on this Bill which will provide a further opportunity for Parliament to express its views on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a reply will be sent to the letters dated 9 December 1981 and 18 January 1982 from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Stechford to the Lord Belstead about the delay in providing dental treatment for a prisoner at Albany prison.

My noble Friend has sent the hon. Member a full reply today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry under the Police Acts into the method of investigation undertaken by the police into assaults committed by police officers upon a Nigerian student in Brixton, as referred to by the hon. Member for Oldham, West, Official Report, 25 January c. 612.

The case is currently under consideration by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General, and it would not be right for me to take any action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing over each of the past three years the number of fires in hospitals within the National Health Service; how many deaths occurred in each case; and what were the causes of the fire in each incident.

The number of fires in hospitals which were attended by local authority fire brigades, the number of deaths from such fires and the source of ignition of such fires are published annually in "Fire statistics United Kingdom", copies of which are in the Library of the House—tables 23 and 39 of the latest issue for 1979. The issue for 1980 is expected to be published later this month. Figures are not available separately for National Health Service hospitals. Information on individual fires could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to install a handrail to assist disabled people to negotiate the steps leading to the interview rooms off Westminster Hall.

The Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee is considering various proposals to provide the disabled with easier access to the interview rooms in Westminster Hall. I shall draw the hon. Member's suggestion to its attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry 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 currently taking part in the job release scheme and since 6 April 1981 23 applications to participate have been allowed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many British companies acting alone or in consortia have applied to any other country for exploration licences to explore the deep sea bed; what are the names of these companies; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware that a British company has applied to any other country for a licence to explore the deep sea bed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether he has received any applications for exploration licences under the Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981; which companies made such applications; whether they were granted; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many applications he has received for exploration licences under the Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981; how many licences have been granted; and if he will make a statement;(3) whether he will list in the

No applications have yet been received for exploration licences to explore the deep sea bed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which countries have been designated by Her Majesty's Government as a reciprocating country under section 3 of the Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981.

No countries have yet been designated by Her Majesty's Government as reciprocating countries under section 3(1) of the Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish details of those occasions since 1966 on which applications for the grant of a right under section 1 of the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1966 were referred to the court as set out in section 4 of the said Act.

There have been eight such references to the High Court. Six of these were settled out of court, one was upheld by the High Court but subsequently overturned on appeal, and one remains to be heard.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 February 1982, c. 255]: The British Robot Association announced today—9 February—that within the last year the number of robots in Britain has risen from 371 to 713, an increase of 342.We estimate that there are 9,500 robots in Japan and 4,500 in the United States. In the EEC the figure for the Federal Republic of Germany is 2,300, for France 600 and for Italy 450. Sweden has 1,700.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to the reply of 8 December, Official Report, c. 314, if he will list the title, principal author or name of the committee involved and the subject area of all reports and inquiries other than major ones, made since 1970 into aspects of the organisation, structure and administration of the Ministry of Defence and into its relations with outside bodies; and how many of these reports were published or otherwise made available to the House.

A very large number of reports or inquiries of the kind described have been produced within my Department since 170. However, no central record is kept of this information, which could be obtained only at disproportionate cost of time and effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he employs for determining whether a firm can become an assessed contractor on the Ministry of Defence list; and whether they are subject to frequent review.

Firms are assessed if a requirement is foreseen for using their capacity for direct MOD work needing a defence standard. Assessment includes a technical appraisal of the firm's ability to meet these standards of quality. Assessments are reviewed every three years or earlier if necessary. A new independent scheme of quality assessment for firms in the defence subcontracting area, to be administered by the British Standards Institution, is to be established. The scheme, based on British Standard 5750, will be recognised by the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of the light weight Sea Wolf missile system and its associated radar.

After careful Consideration of competitive offers from Marconi Radar Systems Ltd. and from British Aerospace Dynamics Ltd.—in association with Hollandse Signaal Apparaten—I have decided to proceed with an improved Sea Wolf point defence missile system incorporating the Marconi 805 SW lightweight tracking radar. Orders for development and production for these improvements worth over £75 million at today's prices will be placed shortly, subject to the satisfactory completion of negotiations with the firm for a fixed price contract. The Sea Wolf missile itself is made by British Aerospace under a continuing production programme.The 805 tracking radar will enable the Sea Wolf system, already fitted in the Broadsword class of anti-submarine frigate, to keep pace with the expected growth in the threat from very low trajectory missiles. Our order will maintain British capability in the field of advanced radar development and provide work for several hundred people at Marconi radar plants.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he has postponed the order for the JP 233 fuze in view of the fact that its production by Ferranti Instrumentation is not now expected to start for 18 months.

It was never envisaged that the manufacture of the JP 233 fuze could begin before the middle of next year. The precise starting date will be consistent with the production plan for the weapon itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he has delayed the order which Ferretti Instrumentation had expected for the Gazelle helicopter aiming sight, in view of the fact that production has thereby been delayed for a year until early 1983

The continuing review of the Army's programme has led to a relaxation of one year in the in-service date of the Gazelle observation aid. Subject to continued satisfactory progress in development at Ferranti it is expected that a production order will be placed in the last quarter of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of family medical practitioners make use of night and week-end deputising services in Wales; if such doctors receive a reduced fee; and whether savings are thus made in total National Health Service expenditure.

The information is not available in the form requested. The percentage of unrestricted principals in general medical practice in Wales as at 1 October 1981 with consent to use deputising services was 23.4. Such doctors do not receive a reduced fee and there is thus no saving in total NHS expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the average waiting time for each regional hospital board in Wales for an operation for prostate gland; if he will give an indication of waiting time for National Health Service patients and private patients under the National Health Service; what is his best estimate of the cost of treatment prior to operation for prostate gland in each of the areas of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The average waiting time in Wales for patients admitted from the waiting list for operation on the prostate gland is about 15 weeks. Separate information for private patients is not readily available.It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the cost of treatment prior to any particular type of operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what number and percentage of those awarded places under the assisted places scheme in Wales were awarded to those already attending a fee-paying school.

45 of the 114 places awarded, or 39.5 per cent. were to pupils already attending fee-paying schools.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made to introduce legislation concerning the landlord/tenant relationship as agreed between the Country Landowners Association and the National Farmers Union.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 4 February to my hon. Friends the Members for Leominster (Mr. Temple-Morris) and Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Heddle).—[Vol. 17, c. 532–3.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the direct selling of milk by farmers to the consumer has on the milk market.

Direct sales by producer-retailers have long been a feature of the arrangements for marketing milk in this country, and have contributed to the maintenance of the doorstep delivery system and liquid milk consumption, particularly in the more remote areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider introducing a policy of the immediate banning of imported plants which are discovered to have been infected by plant diseases such as white rust.

All consignments infected with notifiable diseases are immediately destroyed, but the imposition of general import bans once any infection had been found would neither be justified in terms of the risk involved nor consistent with our European Community obligations. The action taken will continue to be determined according to the seriousness of particular incidents and will include the banning of imports if and when this is necessary to safeguard plant health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce measures to alleviate the problems of small dairy farms of around 60 cows, in view of the decline in their income and general conditions.

I believe that the steps we have already taken, including the recent increase in the price of liquid milk, take proper account of the present needs of dairy farmers. Moreover, the intervention price level for dairy products will be considered in the European Community price fixing this spring. In any case, we have consistently taken the view that measures of the sort suggested by the hon. Member, whether in a Community or a national context, should not discriminate in favour of particular categories of producer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received any representations about importation of cockles from the Netherlands; and whether he is satisfied that the way they are harvested and processed is in accordance with the health regulations of the United Kingdom.

We have received a number of representations about the difficulties faced by our cockle fishermen. I have on two occasions met delegations of cockle fishermen to discuss their problems, including the effect on their markets of imports from Holland. Questions relating to our own health regulations are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, who is fully aware of the questions which have been raised about the way cockles are processed in the Netherlands.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to provide for mandatory safety controls to reduce accidents when hitching tractors.

I have been asked to reply.The Health and Safety Commission has recognised that there is a need to reduce accidents when hitching trailers and equipment to agricultural tractors and this subject is included in the work programme of its Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee.This matter is at present under consideration by the committee with particular regard to research and other means of reducing accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the planned cost of the young workers scheme; and what measures are being taken by his Department to promote this scheme.

On 27 July my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said that the estimated cost of the young workers scheme for 1982–83 would be £60 million. No costs will be incurred through the operation of the scheme in 1981–82 apart from administration costs.My Department issued press notices on 27 August and 31 December to announce the proposed introduction and the start of the scheme.In addition, advertisements publicising the scheme have been carried by national daily and weekly newspapers since the first week in December.Leaflets explaining the scheme are distributed to employers through my Department's regional offices, employment offices, jobcentres and careers offices, and have been sent to certain employers' and trade associations, and to the Department of Industry's small firms centres. Information is also distributed through the Department of Industry's business opportunities programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the total cost in 1981–82 at 1981 cash prices in England, Scotland and Wales of the income maintenance payments and allowances for which his Department is responsible.

The schemes for which the Department of Employment is responsible that involve income maintenance payments and allowances are the training opportunities scheme, the youth opportunities programme, the community enterprise programme, community industry, the temporary short time working compensation scheme, the job release scheme, and the maternity pay fund.The estimates for these schemes and the provision for the maternity pay fund provide for a total cost in 1981–82 of £1,320 million including £65 million for administration and £193 million for sponsors and training costs. Because of lower than estimated demand on TSTWCS a shortfall is anticipated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage increase in unemployment in the United Kingdom from August 1979 to August 1981.

One hundred and two per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing (a) the percentage increases in the rates of pay and earnings and allowances where appropriate, respectively, of manual workers, nurses, civil servants, police officers, local government clerical staff and all employed persons over the past 10 years and (b) the percentage increases for the same groups of workers since May 1979.

The following table sets out the available information on percentage changes in average earnings from the New Earnings Survey.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the reply of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for City of Chester (Mr. Morrison), to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 25 January 1982.—[Vol. 16, c. 249.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Merseyside.

During my visit to Merseyside on 4 and 5 February I was able to meet a number of local employers and trades unionists, local authority representatives, school teachers and pupils as well as members of my Department, other civil servants and staff of the MSC. I was able to thank those concerned with the special employment and training measures for their help in ensuring the success of these measures on Merseyside.I visited the Cammell Laird training centre, which I found most impressive, and I addressed the Merseyside chamber of commerce and industry and the Anglican diocesan synod. I was encouraged to hear of the success of Merseyside Docks and Harbour Company in building upon recently improved industrial relations to gain new business for the port of Liverpool.My discussions gave me a better insight into the difficulties facing Merseyside, and left me even more aware of the need to promote the opportunities which the Government's new training measures will offer to the area.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit the North West to discuss the unemployment and economic situation with the North West Regional Development Association.

I have at present no plans to do so, though I did visit parts of the region last month.My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Industry had a useful meeting with representatives of the North West Industrial Development Association on 2 February, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry will be meeting industrialists and others in the North West on both Friday 12 February and Friday 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 February.

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asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Tuesday 9 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 February.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make 1 January 1984 the target date for the introduction of new style British passports bearing the title European Community; and if she will make a statement.

We intend to introduce the common format passport at the same time as we adopt the International Civil Aviation Organisation's recommendations for a passport in a simplified standardised format with machine-readable capability. A considerable amount of work is needed to assess the costs and the technical problems involved, and until this has been done, it is not possible for the Government to set a date for the change in the format of the United Kingdom passports.

asked the Prime Minister when she next proposes to visit Washington.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister how much time, during 1982, Sir Derek Rayner will spend on assisting Her Majesty's Government in its policy of reducing public expenditure.

Sir Derek Rayner's main function is to assist Ministers in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of Government operations. He will spend as much time on selected tasks as is necessary.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has had recent discussions with the Heads of other European Governments regarding collaboration on the production and sale of military aircraft.

I have had no such recent discussions.

asked the Prime Minister when she last met the leaders of the Trade's Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when she last met leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

At NEDC on 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the organisation of central Government Departments.

1 made such a statement on 12 November 1981—[Vol. 12, c. 658–66] The new arrangements I described then have now been implemented.

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

At present, I have no plans to meet President Reagan before the economic summit is held in Paris next June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will transfer responsibility for child benefit from the Department of Health and Social Security to the Treasury.

I have no present plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she remains satisfied with the allocation of £8 million for 1982–83 for the community enterprise programme which she announced on 27 July 1981, Official Report, column 836.

Yes. As I told the hon. Member on 4 February, we are considering the best way to meet the aim of this proposal.

asked the Prime Minister what is the Government's target for reduction of overall public sector manpower during the lifetime of the present Parliament; and whether or not she is satisfied with progress so far.

There is no overall target for reductions in public sector manpower. In the case of the Civil Service, we have a target of 630,000 staff by 1 April 1984 compared with a total of 732,000 when we took office. By January 1982 we had achieved savings of 56,900 and are well on course for our planned reduction. As announced in the last defence White Paper, Cmnd. 8288, it is also our intention to reduce the size of the Armed Forces by 17,500 by 1986. The Government have set a target for England of a 10 per cent. reduction over the next three years in NHS management costs is a proportion of NHS resources. Comparable measures are in hand in Scotland and Wales. The Government are also pursuing other measures aimed at securing improved efficiency in the NHS in the use of all resources including manpower. We are also encouraging local authorities to reduce their manpower.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the discussions being held on the longer-term methods of determining nurses' pay, consideration will be given to treating nurses' pay in a similar manner to that of the police and the armed forces.

We are committed to developing long-term arrangements for handling nurses' pay which will work and can be afforded. Following the meeting which the nurses' representatives had in December with myself and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, my right hon. Friend has circulated a paper to both sides of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council outlining possible approaches for settling long term pay arrangements for nurses. I understand that he hopes to discuss the paper with the Whitley Council as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions his Department has had about the effects of education cuts on university departments of computing sciences and consequently upon their research programmes in information technology.

None. Individual universities are responsible for allocating the resources available to them between their various departments and activities. Any discussion of these matters would be with the University Grants Committee or the Science and Engineering Research Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of students at (a) universities and (b) polytechnics come straight from school; what percentage of (a) polytechnic and (b) university students are over 20 years of age; and what percentage of students (a) at polytechnics and (b) universities have had previous work experience.

In 1980–81, about 36 per cent. of full-time and sandwich undergraduate students are at universities in Great Britain were aged 21 and over. The corresponding figure for all full-time and sandwich students on advanced courses in polytechnics in England and Wales was 50 per cent., while for all students on advanced courses in polytechnics in England and Wales, including part-time, the percentage was 61 per cent. Information on students' previous work experience is not available; nor is direct information on those coming straight from school. However, by considering information from various sources, it is estimated that around 75 per cent. of home full-time entrants to undergraduate courses at universities come straight from school, while the figure for degree courses in polytechnics is likely to be of the order of 35 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many colleges have established disabled certificate courses to improve sports coaching to disabled people; and if he will take steps to encourage colleges to establish these courses.

High level courses in sport and recreation, human movement studies or physical education are run by universities, polytechnics or colleges. These include sports coaching and qualify students for work in schools, further education or the community. At least four institutions include a compulsory element of study related to sensory, physical or mental handicap. A number of others offer an optional element. A one year part time course at Derby Lonsdale college of higher education leads to a certificate in physical activities for the disabled.The governing bodies of sport offer specific coaching awards at elementary and advanced levels for those wishing to coach or instruct in clubs, residential and adult institutions in the community.The development of all these courses requires understanding both of the sport or activity and the nature of the disabiliy. The Department's short course programme includes in-service training for teachers in physical education with children in special need.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest average cost of training a teacher in England.

With the reorganisation of teacher training within higher education, the costs of teacher training are not precisely distinguishable from the rest of expenditure on higher education. However, the average net institutional cost per student of providing a three-year course of teacher education and training in the public sector is estimated to be of the order of £7,400, at 1980–81 outturn prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of those who qualified as teachers in each year from 1978 have still not secured a permanent teaching post (a) in England and (b) in the Northern region; and what information he has as to the figures for Tyne and Wear metropolitan county council area.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children aged 16 years or over are in receipt of grants from local authorities; what rate is currently being paid to them in (a) England and (b) the Northern region; and what information he has as to the figures for the Tyne and Wear metropolitan county council area.

Local education authorities in England and Wales may make awards to young people taking courses of further education: the level of such awards is at their discretion. In the academic year 1979–80, the latest date for which information is available, the numbers of young people aged 16–18 years in receipt of such awards were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the negotiations with the authorities in the Channel Islands regarding increased payments for students from those islands undertaking full time further education in the United Kingdom; at whose initiative these negotiations took place; whether the revised terms will be submitted for approval by (a) Parliament and (b) the States of Jersey and Guernsey; whether any similar negotiations are contemplated with the authorities for the Isle of Man; whether the islands' authorities have agreed to make any financial contributions for previous years; and how the terms offered now to students from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man differ from the terms offered to students classed as foreign.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee) on Thursday 10 December.—[Vol. 14, c. 458–59.] The negotiations were initiated by the Government as part of a comprehensive review of costs and charges in relation to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The revised terms will be subject to approval by the island authorities and the applications of the payments received as appropriation in aid will be submitted to Parliament for approval in the Supply Estimates. Island students will continue to be classed as home students for tuition fee purposes, and fees paid to institutions will be at the home rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science 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.

Yes. Since 6 April 1981 12 officers from my Department have taken advantage of this scheme. A further 12 are expected to do so by 31 March 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has made a study of the systems of student financing in the universities in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

In considering last year the possible introduction of a loans scheme, Ministers had before them fairly extensive information on various systems of student support available to university students in the United States of America, including first-hand information gained by my predecessor in the course of a visit. My right hon. Friend will take account of the relevant features of the American system in any reappraisal he may make of the system of student support in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the total cost of student awards in England in 1981–82 at 1981 cash prices.

£912 million at 1981–82 prices, including awards for tuition fees and £40 million for mandatory awards in Wales—for which my Department is responsible—but excluding postgraduate awards in the United Kingdon provided by the research councils costing just over £50 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received about Government policy on higher education.

The Department does not keep records which allow this question to be answered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research facilities are being financed directly or indirectly by his Department into the causes and treatment of prostate gland complaints; and if he will make a statement.

The Medical Research Council, which receives a grant-in-aid from the science budget of my Department, is currently funding a number of research projects which relate to the prostate gland. The details are as follows:

Department of Surgery, University of Edinburgh—Studies of the cellular and molecular basis of zinc in the hyperplastic and malignant prostate.

Division of Cytogenetics and Immunology, Institute of Cancer Research, London—Application of cytogenetics and immunogentics to the study of human malignant and premalignant disease.

Courtauld Institute of Biochemistry, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London—Radiopharmaceuticals for use with scanning emission tomography in breast and prostate cancer.

Department of Surgery, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London—The role of prostaglandins in monitoring the growth and spread of prostatic cancer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will identify those areas of 16-plus provision and examination where he considers that reform is necessary.

The existing dual system of GCE O-level and CSE examinations has a number of unsatisfactory features which are in need of reform. My right hon. Friend also sees the need to establish a new pre-vocational qualification for young people of moderate ability who stay on in full time education beyond the age of 16.