asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has to announce on the issue of the 20p and £1 coins.

At a meeting of the Privy Council this morning Her Majesty was graciously pleased to sign Royal Proclamations announcing the legal tender status of the 20p and £1 coins. Some details of the coins were announced by my right hon. Friend the then Financial Secretary on 31 July last. As planned, the 20p coins will be brought into general circulation via the banks on 9 June, and the £1 coin in April next year. Sets of United Kingdom coinage in uncirculated and proof condition, which will include the 20p coin but not the £1 coin, will be available from 1 April 1982 from the Royal Mint and other sources. Copies of the Royal Mint press release with details of the designs chosen for coins have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied with the safety standards of British exports in manufactures when compared with those in the United Kingdom's European Community partners.

United Kingdom Exports (£ million cif)
	1981	1977	1978	1979	1980
(Six months)
Total	87.3	104.4	110.5	137.6	153.4
Including:
Food (0)	11.1	21.5	19.8	24.2	20.2
Crude materials (inedible) excluding fuels (2)	17.3	30.4	33.0	37.4	41.5
Chemicals (5)	12.5	10.7	8.3	14.2	19.0
Other semi-manufactures (6)	25.0	27.0	30.7	35.0	40.4
Machinery and transport equipment (7)	1.8	3.6	4.7	5.6	3.5
Miscellaneous manufactures (8)	17.6	10.5	13.5	18.2	25.1
United Kingdom Exports (£ million fob)
Total	62.5	62.3	91.1	213.0	169.5
Including:
Crude materials (inedible) excluding fuels (2)	11.8	6.1	8.2	7.8	13.6
Chemicals (5)	9.0	6.6	13	18.6	12.3
Other semi-manufactures (6)	6.4	7.0	27.8	61.9	20.0
Machinery and transport equipment (7)	29.1	39.5	36.6	108.9	101.7
Miscellaneous manufactures (8)	5.5	2.9	5.1	15.0	20.8

The safety standards of British exports of manufactured goods reflect regulatory safety requirements within the United Kingdom and am satisfied that these compare favourably with those of the United Kingdom's European Community partners. Within the European Community the programme of harmonisation under article 100 is intended to achieve common safety standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the bodies, interests or individuals who were invited to comment, and the bodies, interests or individuals who submitted comments during the course of the departmental review between May 1979 and December 1981 that preceded the publication of "A Consultative Document: Consumers' Interests and the Nationalised Industries".

It would not be practicable or appropriate to identify all the individuals who commented informally to us on the NICC arrangements before the consultative document was published. Over 5,000 copies of the latter have been circulated, so all concerned will have the opportunity to express considered views before final decisions are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current level of trade with the Republic of China; what are the major areas of trade with that country; what is the value of each trading area; and how the current figures compare with those in each of the last five years.

I understand that my hon. Friend has trade with the People's Republic of China in mind: the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current level of trade with the Republic of Chile; and how this compares with the level in each of the last five years.

The available information is as follows:

£million
	Imports	Exports
*1981	39.6	33.8
1977	73.9	39.5
1978	82.2	37.5
1979	131.2	43.1
1980	126.3	55.7

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, following publication of the document "Reform of the Law relating to Copyright Designs and Performers' Protection"—(Cmnd. 8302),—issued in July 1981, consultations are now completed; and when he expects to be able to make a statement of Government policy on these matters.

Following the publication of the Green Paper on copyright, designs and performers' protection, numerous comments have been received but a number are still coming in and some important organisations have yet to respond. It would be impractical at this stage to set a limit to the consultative process, but the Government's views on future copyright reform will be finalised as soon as possible after it has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate as an anti-competitive practice the levying by certain banks of a commission on cheques cashed by members of the public who are not customers of the bank concerned.

Section 3 of the Competition Act 1980 gives the Director General of Fair Trading the discretion whether or not to initiate a preliminary investigation into a course of conduct that may be anticompetitive. Steps to recover the costs of clearing the cheques on non customers do not prima facie constitute an anti-competitive practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the annual average growth rate of approximately 1 per cent. for the global ceilings proposed for group I in the multi-fibre arrangement negotiations includes growth rates in excess of 2 per cent. for individual clothing products; what are the estimated annual growth rates for products outside group I; and to what extent this will result in import growth above the estimated increase in market demand.

The average figure of 1 per cent. referred to in my reply to the hon. Members for Batley and Morley (Mr. Woolmer) and for Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 1 February—[Vol. 17, c. 11]—includes annual growth rates exceeding 2 per cent. for two individual clothing products. The Commission has not yet put forward specific proposals concerning growth rates for quotas applying to products outside group I.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if it remains Government policy to seek global ceilings covering imports from all low-cost sources, from both multi-fibre arrangement and preferential suppliers, and including imports under outward processing arrangements with an average annual growth rate of 1 per cent.; and what is his estimate of the effect on the annual growth rate of global ceilings between 1983 and 1986 when outward processing is included.

Yes. The Government will continue to press for an average annual rate of increase of approximately 1 per cent in the global ceilings applying to imports into the United Kingdom of group I products from all low-cost suppliers over the period 1983 to 1986. I do not expect the inclusion of outward processed goods to have a significant effect on this average growth rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will urge the European Economic Community Council of Ministers at its meeting on 11 February not to authorise the Commission to open multi-fibre arrangement bilateral trade negotiations with the Community's low-cost supplers of textiles and clothing until the Council has considered the Commission's proposals for the access and growth rates to be provided for products not included in the group I category.

The Council meeting arranged for 11 February has been postponed. A new date has not yet been set. When it is, an agreed policy on the growth in access to be granted for products outside group I is one of the elements for which I shall press before agreeing to the Community's acceptance of the protocol extending the multi-fibre arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has received the British Textile Confederation's proposals for assessing the acceptability of the outcome of the forthcoming multi-fibre arrangement bilateral trade negotiations; if he will publish the confederation's communication in the Official Report; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the letter I received from the director of the British Textile Confederation on 5 February has been released to the press, and has also been circulated by him to those members having a special interest in the textiles industry. I receive a good many letters from the representatives of the textile and clothing industries and it would not be appropriate to publish these in the Official Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade on what criteria he will assess the acceptability of the multi-fibre arrangement bilateral agreements to be negotiated by the European Economic Community Commission with the Community's low-cost suppliers of textiles and clothing; and if these will take account of the outcome of the Community's negotiations with low-cost suppliers not covered by the multi-fibre arrangement.

The Government will consider the acceptability of the bilateral agreements to be negotiated by the Commission in the light of the negotiating mandates agreed by the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish the global ceilings proposed by the European Economic Community Commission for future imports of textiles and clothing from all low-cost sources, and comparative figures showing actual imports of these products in 1980.

It is not customary to publish working documents of the Council. When the global ceilings applying to imports of group I products from low-cost sources have been agreed by the Council of Ministers the Government will make them public, provided they are satisfied that this can be done without weakening the Commission's negotiating position.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 February 1982, c. 301]: The Commission has already received a mandate from the Council to negotiate new voluntary restraint arrangements with the Mediterranean textile supplying countries, whose previous arrangements expired at the end of 1981. Imports of group I products from these countries will be subject to the overall global ceilings to be established.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total sum received by the Official Receiver in 1981 in fees from insolvent firms; and how the figure compares with that for each of the previous five years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will oppose proposals within 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 February 1982, c. 244]: Her Majesty's Government are now studying a communication on this subject, which we have just received from the European Commission. Since it suggests no change in the excise duty and VAT concessions for travellers, the effect on United Kingdom airlines will not be as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the development of in vitro pregnancies, she will appoint an interdepartmental, interdisciplinary advisory committee, not less than half of which would be comprised of women, to report on the social, medical, legal and ethical isues involved.

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has sought the views of the medical bodies, which are currently looking into these issues. These include the General Medical Council, the British Medical Association, the Medical Research Council and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. When he has received advice from all these bodies he will consider what action is necessary and whether a further and wider examination is required.

asked the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her final supplementary answer of 28 January, Official Report, col. 998, she will make a statement about the position of unemployed men aged over 60 years who have been persuaded to de-register at jobcentres in return for obtaining the long-term rate of supplementary benefit after section 27 of the Finance Act 1981 comes into force on 5 July.

As the legislation stands at present, section 27 of the Finance Act 1981 will not apply to payments of supplementary benefit made in the se circumstances.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government's undertakings to maintain the value of the supplementary benefit safety net apply to both short-term and long-term rates.

The Government are pledged to maintain the value of retirement pensions and related long term benefits over the lifetime of this Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what correspondence he has received concerning the conditions of 'Vietnamese people at Nelson Hall; what replies he has given; and whether he will make a statement.

We have received correspondence from five right hon. and hon. Members, including the hon. Member. In addition, this Department has received several letters direct from members of the public. Replies have been sent explaining the considerable efforts made by the Ockenden Venture over Christmas to alleviate the situation when conditions at Nelson Hall were at their worst, and the steps now being taken to close the centre this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications by Chileans seeking political asylum have been accepted since the closing of the special programme for visas for Latin American refugees.

Since 1 November 1979 there have been 22 applications for asylum, of which nine have been granted and 13 refused.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Byford inquiry into the West Yorkshire police examined the use of photo-fit pictures and their subsequent sale to the Press Association; with what results; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made in the House on 19 January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the judiciary has agreed to assist in the research studies being undertaken by the Home Office into sentencing practice and custodial sentences.

A research project in this field to be carried out by the Home Office research and planning unit is under consideration. A pilot study has been completed with the full co-operation of the courts concerned; an approach has yet to be made to the judiciary about proceeding to a full-scale project.Another project on sentencing in the Crown court, which was proposed to be carried out by the Oxford Centre for Criminological Research with a grant from the Home Office, is not being pursued beyond the pilot stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the number of cases of rape involving nurses and Health Service workers while on National Health Service premises or travelling between a nurses' home and other National Health Service premises.

The only information available to us relates to proceedings under section 128 of the Mental Health Act 1959; that shows five males found guilty in 1980 of unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to electoral registration officers in consequence of the decision to end the use of OHMS frankings on official communications relating to electoral registration and absent voting with effect from 15 February 1982.

The Government's decision to phase out the use of the official paid postage system was announced on 3 July 1980 by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State, Civil Service Department. [Vol. 987, c. 639.] The decision will take effect in relation to communications to and from electoral registration officers from 15 February 1982— subject to certain transitional arrangements during the period up to 30 June. Electoral registration officers were advised of this decision, and of the new arrangements to be made, in a circular, RPA 259 of 31 March 1981, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House at the time. Electoral registration officers will continue to supply prepaid envelopes to electors for the return of forms. The new arrangements will thus not involve any extra expense to the elector, who will continue to enjoy free postage, the cost of which, like all other electoral registration expenses, will continue to be borne by local authorities. The purpose of the new arrangements is simply to promote economies in working methods.The official paid postage system will continue to be used for the dispatch and return of postal ballot papers at parliamentary and European Parliament elections. The system has never applied to local government elections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been refused permission to enter the United Kingdom on political grounds, since May 1979.

There is no specific provision in the Immigration Act 1971 or the immigration rules for refusal of admission on political grounds. There is power to refuse a person whose exclusion is conducive to the public good, but separate statistics on the detailed reasons for refusal in this category are not available.

asked the Attorney-General, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, Central (Mr. McNamara), Official Report, column 244, when he expects to reach his final decision as to whether to refer the judgment in R v Arthur to the Court of Appeal.

The issues raised are complex and require the most careful consideration. I am discussing this further with the Director of Public Prosecutions and also with counsel who appeared at the trial on behalf of the Crown. I appreciate the need for a decision to be reached as soon as is possible, and I shall ensure that this is done.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the measures adopted by the European Community since 1973 in the field of health and safety at work; and if he will assess the effect of such measures on safety standards in the United Kingdom.

Directives arising from he European Community's action programme on safety and health at work—which was endorsed by resolution of the Council of Ministers on 29 June 1978—include:

77/576/EEC—Safety signs at places of work.

78/610/EEC—Protection of the health of workers exposwd to vinyl chloride monomer.

80/1107/EEC—Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical, and biological agents at work—the "harmful agents" directive

In addition, the Euratom directive 80/836/EURATOM—superseding 76/579/EURATOM and 79/343/EURATOM—lays down basic safety standards for the health protection of general public and workers against the dangers of ionising radiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in order to assist industry, he will designate Friday 31 December 1982 as opposed to Monday 3 January 1983 as a public holiday in place of Saturday 1 January 1983.

No. Friday 31 December 1982 would make difficulties for the financial institutions, which are the organisations primarily bound by bank holiday arrangements. The majority of other employers are free to make other arrangements with their employees if they find the official dates inconvenient.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many civil servants are concerned with industrial development in Yorkshire and Humberside.

It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure without disproportionate time and effort, since, in addition to a number of Government Departments which have staff in the region itself, those same Departments and others have headquarters staff in London and elsewhere who spend a proportion of their time on such work.The number of staff in the regional office of the Departments of Industry and Trade at Leeds engaged directly on industrial development work in the region is estimated at 49.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the United Kingdom's engineering standards in comparison with the standards applied by the United Kingdom's international competitors; and what progress is being made to lay down internationally agreed standards for British goods.

Many British engineering standards already reflect international standards and the British Standards Institution has Government backing in devoting considerable efforts to international standards-making. In a time of rapid technological change and increasing competition for domestic and overseas markets, there is a growing need to ensure that national standards fully meet the more exacting requirements of the market. To this end, in collaboration with the Secretary of State for Trade and the BSI, my right hon. Friend has embarked upon a systematic improvement in the content and status of British engineering standards and is encouraging the adoption of international standards acceptable to British industry and to our principal overseas markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the value of word processors sold within the United Kingdom in 1980 and 1981.

The information requested is not available from official statistics. However, I understand that sources in the industry have estimated the value of word processors sold within the United Kingdom as approximately £31 million in 1980 and £37 million in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of persons employed by all education authorities in Scotland and the total number of teachers in January 1972, May 1979 and at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will give the cost in each case in current and constant terms.

The total numbers employed in the education service of local authorities in Scotland are not available for January 1972 and May 1979. The numbers employed nearest to these dates and the annual cost in the financial years concerned are set out in the attached table, together with the numbers at September 1981:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total numbers employed by the police forces in Scotland in January 1972, May 1979 and at the latest available 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:

	31 December	30 June 1979	31 December
	1971		1981
Regular police
strength	10,811	12,831	13,194
Other staff	2,923	3,943	3,544
Total annual staff
costs at out-turn
Prices	£27.4m	£119.7m	*£166.5m
	(1971–72)	(1979–80)	(1981–82)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of nurses employed by the National Health Service in Scotland including pupils, students and auxiliaries in 1972, May 1979 and at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will give the cost at each date in current and constant terms.

The total number of nursing staff—whole-time equivalent—and their employment costs were as follows:

	Staff†
September 1972	42,271
September 1979	56,037
September 1980	58,603

	Costs
	£ million
1972–73	56.5
1979–80	259.1
1980–81	360.1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to amend section 1(2) of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1971 as amended by the Rent (Scotland) Act 1974 so as to remove the exemption of tenancies where the rent includes payment in respect of board.

Legislative provision relating to the private letting of houses introduced by successive Administrations in the past has been consistent in not applying to tenancies of this kind. We have no proposals for amendment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to amend section 1(2) of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1971 which exempts tenancies where rent included payment in respect of board to provide greater security of tenure and access to registration for fair rents.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend to the right hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Stewart).

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

The information on the percentage of family medical practitioners who at 1 October 1981 had obtained health board consent to enter into regular or standing arrangements with a deputising service is set out in the table below. The information relates to the five areas where the health board had given such consent to at least one practitioner. In the remaining 10 areas no consents had been given by the health board. None of the fees payable to a doctor is reduced where he employs a deputy or deputising service; consequently there is no saving to total National Health Service expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce his decision on road equivalent tariff for freights to the Scottish islands.

I have nothing to add at the moment to my reply of 9 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Bute and North Ayrshire (Mr. Corrie).—[Vol. 14, c. 401.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider Nos. 6–14 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, as a potential site for the Museum of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

In considering this suggestion, I shall take into account the recommendations of the Williams Committee on National Museums and Galleries in Scotland; and I shall have regard to the level of resources likely to be available for museum development.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report total receipts for Scotland from each of the European Community funds and the amounts received in loans for projects in Scotland from the European Coal and Steel Community, Euratom and the European Investment Bank since 1973.

Financial allocations from the European Community for projects in Scotland since 1973 are as follows:

	£ million
Grants
European Regional Development Fund	197.7
FEOGA Individual Project Scheme	37.8
European Coal and Steel Community (steel only)*	3.8
European Social Fund†
Loans
European Investment Bank	575.8
European Coal and Steel Community (steel only)*	120.5
Euratom	25.0
New Community Instrument	16.3

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of persons employed by all education authorities in Wales and the total number of teachers in January 1972, May 1979 and at the latest dale for which figures are available; and if he will give the cost in each case in current and constant terms.

The attached information on numbers employed by local authorities is derived from the quarterly Joint Manpower Watch Survey, which was not in operation in 1972.

Number of Local Education Authority Employees
	June 1979	June 1980	September
			1981
Lecturers and teachers	34,645	34,698	*33,027
Non-teaching staff	23,731	22,983	*21,686

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of nurses employed by the National Health Service in Wales including pupils, students and auxiliaries in 1972, May 1979 and at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will give the cost at each date in current and constant terms.

The numbers of nursing and midwifery staff recorded as employed in the National Health Service in Wales were as follows:

	Whole-Time Equivalents
September 1972	19,301
May 1979	22,943
December 1981	25,481

The figures are not strictly comparable. 1972 figures are from annual census returns and relate to those employed by the Welsh hospital board, hospital management committees, the Blood Transfusion Service, local authority health services and school health services; whereas post-1974 figures cover area health authority personnel. Furthermore, 1981 whole-time equivalents are on the basis of a 371/2 hour working week, whereas earlier figures refer to a week of 40 hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to obtain information on European prices of agrochemicals, fertilisers and so on, in order to monitor when those prices are lower and unfairly advantageous to European farmers.

This information is already available in my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales 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 refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 9 February by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.—[Vol. 17 c. 309.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of total public expenditure on housing in Wales in 1981–82 at 1981 cash prices, divided into capital and current account spending.

The latest estimate of total gross public expenditure on housing in Wales in 1981–82 at cash prices is £235.8 million comprising £142–3 million for capital and £93.5 million for current.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the total cost of public education in Wales in 1981 at 1981 cash prices.

For the financial year 1981–82, the cost of public education in Wales falling within my right hon. Friend's responsibility—and thus excluding the university sector and mandatory student awards—is currently estimated at £603 million at 1981–82 cash prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the total cost in Wales in 1981–82 of student awards at 1981 cash prices and including a separate estimate of the administration cost.

State bursaries paid by the Welsh Office are expected to total approximately £170,000 in 1981–82. Discretionary student awards paid by local education authorities in Wales are expected to amount to approximately £6.3 million at 1981–82 cash prices. Mandatory awards are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Education and Science. Details of administrative costs involved are not separately available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of persons employed by all education authorities in Northern Ireland and the total number of teachers in January 1972, May 1979 and at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will give the cost in each case in current and constant terms.

In January 1972, prior to local government reorganisation, there were eight local education authorities. Information on staff numbers and their cost at that time is not readily available.Statistics for persons employed by education and library boards are collected at specific dates. The further information requested is attached, at the nearest available date. The cost of staff is only available for the full financial year and therefore reflects staff movements within the financial year.Statistics for full-time teacher numbers in all grant-aided schools and further education colleges are collected by the Department only in January each year. The cost of salaries is available only for a full financial year and include provision that cannot be separately identified for substitute teachers and some part-time teachers who are not included in the figures for teacher numbers.

A. Full-time Teachers Numbers
	January 1972	January 1979	January 1981
Schools	15,294	19,098	18,907
Further Education	1,201	1,789	1,827

B. Teacher's Salaries
	1971–72	1978–79	1980–81
	£ Million	£ Million	£ Million
Schools*
(a) Outturn Prices	30.1	105.1	153.9
(b) 1981 Survey
Prices	109.5	156.9	159.3
Further Education†
(a) Outturn Prices	3.0	10.7	17.2
(b) 1981 Survey Prices	11.1	16.0	17.9

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any outstanding amounts of money are owed to the De Lorean Car Co Ltd of Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, for compensation arising from fire bomb damage or any other similar incidents; if there are any outstanding sums; when it is expected such claims will be settled; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 February 1982, Vol. 17, c. 325]: A claim under the Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 for damage to property on 5 May 1981 was valued at £425,327 and has been paid. Other claims of a minor nature arising from incidents on 6 to 15 May, 9 July and 1 August 1981 have been made but, in the absence of the necessary claim details, have not been paid.In addition to the claim for damage on 5 May 1981, the company recently made a claim for consequential loss in the sum of approximately £10.5 million. This claim is still being considered.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what contributions Her Majesty's Government will make in 1983 to the International Fund for Agricultural Development; and how this compares with the sums given in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981.

It is too early for IFAD to indicate what amount it will need to draw down in contributions from member countries in 1983 against the promissory notes that it holds.The amounts drawn down from the United Kingdom since 1978 are:

Year	£ million
1978	1.76
1979	nil
1980	nil
1981	0.88
*1982	2.11

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to amend the law to remove from education authorities the discretion to refuse applications from children living in other education authority areas for places in selective schools in the former authority's area.

An authority's first obligation must be to the children of its area: for the law to give an equal claim on places in its schools to extra-district children would be inappropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, as part of the planning of public expenditure on research into sugar-induced diseases., he makes any estimate of the amount at present spent by the sugar-refining industry itself for this purpose.

The Medical Research Council receives public funds for biomedical research as a grant-in-aid from the science budget of my Department. The apportionment of these funds as between specific areas and activities of such research is a matter for the council to decide. Research into sugar-induced diseases covers an extremely wide field, and details of the sources of support could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many ancillary workers were employed in schools in the city of Leicester in January 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively.

This information is not available centrally. I suggest the hon. Member contacts Leicestershire county council, the responsible education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is yet able to make a statement about the Se .a Eagle missile.

In our White Paper last summer—Cmnd. 8288—we stated our intention of ordering British Aerospace's Sea Eagle system, subject to the satisfactory completion of contract negotiations, to meet the need for a new long-range air-launched guided missile for attack against surface ships. Negotiations with the company have now been completed, and we shall be placing an order for development and production of Sea Eagle to meet the needs of the RAF and the Navy.

asked the Lord Privy Seal which of the recommendations of the reports by the "Three Wise Men" and by the Spierenburg Committee have been implemented; whether discussions are still proceeding on the major matters raised in the reports; and what initiatives Her Majesty's Government intend to take with the United Kingdom's partners to improve the workings of the Community institutions.

The conclusions of the European Council on the report of "The Three Wise Men" were circulated in the Official Reporton 1 June 1981 in reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing). Discussions are continuing between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on the implementation of the proposed improvements in the conciliation procedure.Implementation of the Spierenburg report on the internal organisation of the Commission is a matter for the Commission. Many of the proposals have been implemented.The United Kingdom Government have no specific initiative in mind but are engaged in discussions with other member States of the draft Act on European union which includes a number of proposals designed to improve the working of Community institutions. The result of these discussions will be reported back to a future meeting of the European Council and I note that the Select Committee on European Legislation &c. has recommended the draft Act for further consideration by the House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal why Her Majesty's Government abstained in the vote in the Security Council on the resolution condemning the annexation by Israel of the Golan area of Syria; and whether this abstention indicates that Her Majesty's Government approve of or acquiesce in the annexation.

The statement of 15 December by the Foreign Ministers of the Ten made clear that we strongly deplore the decision to extend Israeli law, jurisdiction and administration to the Golan Heights, which we regard as tantamount to annexation and contrary to international law. We also supported resolution 497 which declared the Israeli decision null and void. Our abstention in the recent Security Council vote on the Israeli move reflected our doubts about the language of the draft resolution, and in particular about the proposed determination of the Israeli action as an act of aggression under article 39 of the charter.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the present position of Mr. Paul Bishop, a British subject held on bail by the authorities in Hong Kong without charge; and when he expects the inquiries into the case to be concluded and Mr. Bishop's passport returned to him.

Mr. Bishop was arrested in November 1981 on suspicion of offences contrary to Hong Kong's prevention of bribery ordinance. He was released on bail and surrendered his passport on a magistrate's order. The case is complex and investigations are expected to take three more months. Consultations with Mr. Bishop's solicitors concerning the return of his passport are in hand.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will specify the authority under which the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong pursues inquiries in the United Kingdom; and if he is satisfied that the methods used by the commission in the course of its investigations in the United Kingdom conform to the same rules and standards as those used by British police forces.

Independent Commission Against Corruption officers require no specific authority to make inquiries in this country. However, they may seek information on the same basis as any other person. The local police authorities are invariably notified. The commission's rules and standards are similar to those of British police forces and many of the commission's officers are United Kingdom police officers on secondment.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the name of the new chairman of the National Coal Board.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on Monday 21 December 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which he proposes to use the mechanism of royalties in cash for Britoil as opposed to royalties in kind.

Decisions on whether to take royalty in cash or in kind are taken on a field basis. Britoil will be treated no differently from other licensees.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the estimated oil and gas deposits at Wytch Farm, as at 1 January 1981, 1 July 1981, 1 January 1982, and at the latest convenient date.

Estimates of reserves at Wytch Farm are contained in evidence submitted by the BGC to the Select Committee on Energy. The Committee's report "Disposal of British Gas Corporation's Interest in the Wytch Farm Oil Field" along with evidence from the BGC and the Department of Energy is due to be published on Monday 15 February 1982.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many information officers were attached to each Department in each of the last five years; and what was the cost of their wages and salaries in each year.

The following table shows the staff in post in the information officer group by Department at 1 April each year since 1977:

Department			Staff in Post*
	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	11	11	12	12	13
Defence	168	151	144	148	149
Education and Science	19	18	18	18	17
Employment Group†	70	93	89	86	80
Energy	22	27	23	25	22
Environment/PSA	67	57	61	58	51
Health and Social Security	20	19	20	18	19
Home Office	25	24	22	25	24
Central Office of Information	558	503	521	521	492
Trade and Industry	180	171	181	170	165
Transport	20	19	16	16	16
Welsh Office	22	20	23	23	21
Scottish Office	24	23	25	24	20
Population Censuses and Surveys‡	134	129	57	3	3
Other Departments	89	81	80	75	75
Total	1,429	1,346	1,292	1,222	1,167

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the construction and operating costs of the European Commission's sports centre; whether the application for funds for the construction of the centre was sent to the European Economic Community's budget authority for approval; and what estimate the Commission has made of expected running costs.

The building, which includes the fitness centre, is rented by the Commission. The approval of the Community budgetary authority—the Council and the European Parliament—for the rental involved was obtained, but the Commission did not inform the other institutions that the building would include a fitness centre. Running costs of the centre have been estimated at 8.7 million Belgian francs—£230,000 approximately.The action of the Commission has been criticised in the report of the Court of Auditors on the 1980 financial year; I fully support this criticism and Her Majesty's Government's position will be made clear during consideration of the report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Her Majesty's Customs and Excise decided not to proceed with the case against the Horserace Totalisator Board's "Rails" representative at the Central Criminal Court on 1 February.

The exercise of the power to compound any proceedings under section 152 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 is a matter for the discretion of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. I understand that the commissioners reviewed all the circumstances of the case in the light of comments made by the presiding magistrate during committal proceedings, and concluded that this was a proper case for the exercise of that power.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the recent conviction and sentence of the secretary of the Alfreton building society and the court's criticism of the failure of the directors of the society to provide adequate supervision to prevent theft from the society's funds over a long period, he is satisfied that the way in which directors of building societies are required to exercise supervision is made sufficiently explicit in existing legislation.

I shall not comment on the particular case mentioned by the hon. Member, as the Institute of Chartered Accountants is still conducting a disciplinary inquiry into the conduct of certain of its members concerned with that case.However, the answer to the hon. Member's question is "Yes". Generally, the problem in a number of societies in recent years appears to have been not that section 76 is deficient in this respect, but that the directors and officers of those societies have not fully realised the obligations imposed on them by that section to ensure that their society had an effective system of financial control. Since the failure of the Wakefield building society in 1976, and more particularly since the failure of the Grays building society, the Registry of Friendly Societies has made intensive efforts to bring home to directors their responsibilities under this section. This has been done with the full support of the Building Societies Association, the Building Societies Institute and the professional accounting bodies.In particular:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Brewers' Society concerning possible increases in duty on beer; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the long term rate of supplementary benefit available to unemployed men over 60 years who deregister at a jobcentre will be subject to income tax after 5 July, in view of the long term rate of supplementary benefit being above the personal allowances.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the net contributions which the United Kingdom will make to the EEC in 1982–83.

Estimates of the net payment to the European Community were published in the last public expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 8175 of March 1981—See table 2.2.1. For a more up-to-date estimate I ask my hon. Friend to wait for the forthcoming public expenditure White Paper, to be published next month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in the Official Report for each of the last 10 years the gross costs of administration of the European Economic Community under the following headings: (a) the European Commission; staff pay, (b) the European Commission; other expenditure, (c) the European Assembly, (d) the Council of Ministers, (e) the Court of Justice, the Courts of Auditors and (g) other administrative costs, and total costs.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 February 1982, c. 200]: The information requested is given in the following table.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Financial Secretary's reply on 11 December 1981, Official Report, column 511, what further action he has taken to bring to the attention of the United States authorities the Government's concern over the imposition of unitary taxation by certain States.

As my hon. Friend will know, the United Kingdom presented a note to the United States Administration last October on behalf of the European Community, expressing its concern over the imposition of unitary taxation. Furthermore, in December my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer wrote to the Secretary of the United States Treasury to reiterate this concern and to give firm support to the amicus curiae brief lodged by the United States Government with the Supreme court in the case of Chicago Bridge and Iron Co v Caterpillar Tractor Co et al. This brief challenges the constitutional validity of the application of the unitary apportionment method to multinational groups of companies. I have arranged for a copy of the brief, which includes as appendices the note presented on behalf of the European Community and my right hon. and learned Friend's letter, to be placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the real net weekly spending power, expressed in 1955 prices, for the years 1955, 1965, 1975 and each year since then as available of the following households: (a) at the lowest decile of net household income, (b) at the last quarter of net household income and (c) at the mean of net household income.

Data for years before 1971 are not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The following figures are based on the net incomes of the households participating in the family expenditure surveys for the respective years.The trends are affected by the variation over time in the proportions of households in the United Kingdom of various compositions, as well as by sampling variation.