asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total wage bill for the full-time staff of the Coastguard Service for each year since 1970.

The salaries and wages cost of the Coastguard Service—excluding auxiliaries—since 1971–72 was as follows:

Financial	Cost
year	£'000
1971–72	893
1972–73	1,033
1973–74	1,182
1974–75	1,520
1975–76	2,207
1976–77	2,404
1977–78	2,553
1978–79	2,886
1979–80	3,287
1980–81	4,425

Year/Region	Aberdeen	Yarmouth	Dover	Brixham	Swansea	Clyde	Total
1971	66	46	23	60	51	32	278
1972	65	46	23	60	51	31	276
1973	63	46	23	60	51	30	273
1974	63	47	23	60	51	29	273
1975	62	47	23	60	51	28	271
1976	61	47	23	60	50	28	269
1977	61	47	22	59	49	28	266
1978	60	47	22	56	49	27	261
1979	59	46	22	57	50	19	253
1980	58	47	22	56	50	18	251
1981	44	47	22	54	48	17	232

It is not possible to establish, without incurring disproportionate expense, the extent to which these stations were used in this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total financial expenditure on the Coastguard Service for each year since 1970 at 1970 prices.

The total expenditure on my Department's Votes on the Coastguard Service in respect of clothing, equipment and associated services-but excluding the pay of the regular coastguards and payments for auxiliaries' services—for each of the financial years 1971–72 to 1980–81, at the prices then ruling, was as follows:

	£000
1971–72	122
1972–73	163
1973–74	273
1974–75	465
1975–76	915
1976–77	891

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total payment made to the Coastguard Service for the use of coastguard auxiliaries in each year since 1970.

The payments made to auxiliary coastguards for their services in the financial year 1971–72 to 1980–81 were:

	£000
1971–72	154
1972–73	177
1973–74	241
1974–75	435
1975–76	633
1976–77	548
1977–78	613
1978–79	747
1979–80	813
1980–81	1,149

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many coastguard lookout stations there were for each year since 1970; and in which region they were situated.

The numbers of lookout stations available to the coastguard in each of the years 1971 to 1981, for each of the present regions, was:

	£000
1977–78	786
1978–79	1482
1979–80	2058
1980–81	2579

These figures include expenditure in connection with the Channel navigation information service.Expenditure on the pay of the regular coastguards and payments for auxiliaries' services in the years 1971–72 to 1980–81 is set out in my reply of 16 February 1982 to the hon. Member.Expenditure on coastguard accommodation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the number of increases in postal charges, which have amounted to more than 400 per cent. in the past 10 years, and in view of the reduced level in services and reliability, he will refer the matter of postal charges and services to the Director General of Fair Trading in pursuance of his competition policy, or to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for its further consideration.

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for such a reference. But, like other nationalised industries, the Post Office remains a candidate for future reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the members of the Monopolies Commission and their remuneration together with their outside occupations or other Government appointments; and on what date each of them was first appointed.

The members and their date of first appointment are as follows:

• Sir Godfray le Quesne, Chairman, 1 October 1974 (appointed Chairman 1 December 1975)
• The Hon. J. D. Eccles, Deputy Chairman, 28 October 1976 (as Deputy Chairman 5 February 1981)
• C. M. J. Hardie, 1 April 1976 (as Deputy Chairman 1 January 1980)
• J. G. Ackers, 15 August 1981
• Professor A.Bain, 1 November 1981
• P. J. Custis, 1 September 1981
• Professor K. D. George, 16 January 1978
• H. L. G. Gibson, 1 September 1978
• P. Goldman, 1 April 1980
• Professor R. Goode, 1 July 1981
• P. G. Goyder, 14 July 1980
• E. A. B. Hammond, 1 September 1978
• H. H. Hunt, 15 June 1980
• L. Kelly, 1 January 1982
• M. S. Lipworth, 1 February 1981
• S. R. Lyons, 1 December 1981
• Dr. R. L. Marshall, 1 January 1976
• Mrs. C. M. Miles, 1 July 1975
• Sir A. Neale, 1 May 1981
• B. C. Owens, 1 October 1981
• J. S. Sadler, 29 June 1973
• N. L. Salmon, 1 October 1980
• R. G. Smethurst, 1 December 1978
• Miss R. Stephen, 29 June 1973
• J. J. Wallis, 1 July 1981

The chairman's appointment is full time and pensionable; his salary is £35,000 a year. The two deputy chairmen are appointed on the basis that on average they devote two and a half days a week to commission business; their equivalent full-time pensionable salary is £26,216 a year. The ordinary members are appointed on the basis of one and a half days a week, on average, to commission business; they receive £5,421 a year and there is no pension entitlement.Members hold a wide variety of other executive and non-executive appointments. Ten have direct industrial or commercial experience. In addition, there are four economists; three lawyers; three trade unionists; one chartered accountant; one management consultant; one educationalist; one former senior civil servant and one member from the consumer movement.All members are required to declare any possible conflict of interest before they are appointed to an investigatory team.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what will be the effect of the collapse of Laker Airways on the figures of estimated air travel to and from the United Kingdom on which the proposals for the expansion of Stansted airport are based.

The inspector at the Stansted public inquiry has before him a number of forecasts of the long-term growth in demand for air transport in the London area. None of these forecasts assume that future demand will be met by any particular air transport carrier.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what financial requirements will have to be satisfied by Laker Airways before the notices of suspension currently issued can be lifted.

In the first instance this is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority, and since this case may come to me on appeal I ought not to comment upon it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) when he received and when he intends to publish the results of the study of burn and scald accidents;

(2) whether statistics available to his Department show an increase in the number of fires involving children's pyjamas and dressing gowns;

(3) when the working party on flammability of materials was set up; how many meetings it has held; when he expects to receive its recommendations; and if he will ask the working party to give priority to producing recommendations for children's nightwear;

(4) what has prevented the preparation and issue of a British Standard for flammability of children's dressing gowns and other nightwear.

I hope to publish soon the Department's study of domestic thermal injuries. As it contains data for a 12 month period no trend could be established from the report for burns from accidents involving children's pyjamas and dressing gowns. Moreover, available figures for accidents over a period of years show no discernable trend for accidents of this kind, although there are no separate figures for children. These figures, including some from the Department's study of domestic thermal injuries, have been considered by the working group on the flammability of clothing which first met in February 1981: its second, and only other meeting so far, was in December last. I expect the group to make recommendations later this year on nightwear. It already appears close to agreement on recommendations for children's nightwear and I hope it will soon reach agreement too on adult nightwear. Although children are at risk so are adults, especially the elderly.The working group has in particular agreed on replacing the British Standards invoked in the Nightdresses (Safety) Regulations 1967 with newer British Standards and on adopting them in safety regulations for pyjamas. Following agreement in the group technical work is being carried out urgently to adapt the newer standards to all kinds of dressing gowns.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Handsworth, on 3 February, if he has yet had fuller details of the extent of the coverage of the investigations by the United States Department of Commerce into the petitions against imports of United Kingdom steel products.

Yes. The United States Department of Commerce is proceeding with the following suits against steel producers in the United Kingdom:

A. Anti-dumping and countervailing:

• Structural shapes
• Plate
• Cold-rolled sheet
• Galvanised sheet.

B. Countervailing only:

• Hot-rolled carbon bar
• Hot-rolled alloy bar
• Cold finished alloy bar
• Cold finished carbon bar
• Hot-rolled sheet.

My Department is in close and regular touch with the industry about its response to these suits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade in which companies registered in the United Kingdom Sir Freddie Laker has a beneficial holding of more than 5 per cent.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 February 1982,c. 485]: The information requested could not be made available without disproportionate effort. However, of the companies believed to be in the Laker group, Sir Frederick Laker holds a beneficial interest of over 5 per cent. in only one, namely Laker Airways (International) Ltd. in which he has a 90 per cent. beneficial interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, following the refusal of the Government of the Republic of Ireland to allow Dan-Air to operate the Gatwick to Dublin route in place of British Airways, he proposes to take steps to secure equality of opportunity for British airlines on services between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1982,c. 16]: I regret the refusal by the Government of the Republic of Ireland to allow Dan-Air to operate between Gatwick and Dublin in parallel with the service which Aer Lingus already offer on this route. I am considering how best we might persuade the Irish authorities to review their decision.

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 from St. Stephen's Hall to the Central Lobby and any other stairs open to the public.

I shall draw the hon. Member's suggestion to the attention of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee, which is considering various proposals to assist the disabled.

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

I have had no such meetings since 11 February.

asked the Prime Minister when she next expects a Minister of Her Majesty's Government to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

In his capacity as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe my right hon. and noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary will address the Parliamentary Assembly on 28 April to present the statutory report.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent meeting with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Sr. Areilza and I discussed the role of the Parliamentary Assembly with particular reference to his proposal that the Council of Europe should organise a series of "Strasbourg Conferences" with representation of parliamentary and democratic systems from other parts of the world. We agreed that the Council of Europe could play a major part in strengthening the tries between democracies world-wide.We also discussed the invitation first delivered to me by President de Koster to address the Assembly, which I hope to take up in 1983.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 February.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial collegues and others, including one with the President of the Council of Europe. 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, further to the reply of the Secretary of State for Defence, 26 January, Official Report, column 324, if Her Majesty's Government are now able to announce their decision on the final configuration of the United Kingdom Trident force.

No. The Government are still studying the final configuration of the United Kingdom Trident force.

asked the Prime Minister when she next plans to meet leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to meet the Trades Union Congress to discuss the unemployment situation.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what was the cost of the implementation of the Facilities Agreement 1974 between the Government and the Civil Service unions in the financial year 1980–81.

The figure of some £14 million for paid time off in the current financial year is an up-to-date estimate based upon a survey carried out in 1978. I regret that information is not available about the cost in the financial year 1980–81. The new agreement being negotiated with the Civil Service non-industrial unions will provide a basis for more reliable and up-to-date cost information as well as improved control.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) whether he will make it a condition of supplying aid and assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe that they do not practise racial discrimination in the appointment of persons to Government and other public appointments;(2) whether he will make it his policy not to grant aid to former British territories that advertise employment on a racially restrictive basis.

No. I do not have any evidence that the Zimbabwe Government practises racial discrimination in making public appointments. In any case, British aid is provided on the basis of a country's developmental needs; not on its recruitment or employment policies.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, (luring the visit of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the Philippines, any representations were made about the treatment of dogs in that country.

The treatment of dogs in the Philippines was among the matters discussed during my right hon. and noble Friend's visit. The Philippine Government are fully conscious of the concern felt in the United Kingdom on this matter.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will invite the Foreign Minister of Cyprus to London.

We are in frequent contact with the Cyprus Government. The Foreign Minister is always welcome in London and the possibility of a visit soon is currently under discussion between us.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what restrictions exist on entry to Diego Garcia and on what categories of persons; and if he will make a statement.

Access to Diego Garcia is governed by the 1976 Exchange of Notes between the British and American Governments—Cmnd. 6413. In general, entry is restricted to those with an operational need to visit.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) how many of the posts to be relocated at East Kilbride from elsewhere will be filled locally;

(2) if she will break down the total of 650 Civil Service posts to be dispersed to East Kilbride by Department and function;

(3) whether Her Majesty's Government will ensure that the 650 Civil Service posts to be dispersed to East Kilbride will not be reduced as a consequence of cuts in manpower or in the aid programme, or of the introduction of new technology.

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

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what action the Government intend to take to simplify administrative forms and reduce their number.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is publishing tomorrow a White Paper reporting on a review of administrative forms in Government co-ordinated by Sir Derek Rayner with assistance from the Management and Personnel Office, and setting out the Government's programme of action to reduce the number of forms wherever possible and to simplify those that are essential.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the volume of Dutch potatoes imported into the United Kingdom (a) to date in 1982 and (b) by the equivalent date in 1980 and 1981.

Her Majesty's Customs and Excise statistics relating to our imports of potatoes so far this year are not yet available. United Kingdom imports of Dutch potatoes in the first two months of 1980 and 1981 were as follows:

	Tonnes
	1980	1981
January	3,598	653
February	9,264	928

Because the United Kingdom crop has been short, and because adverse weather in January restricted supplies, the 1982 figure for imports in January is likely to be high.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total quantity of Turkish onions imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last two months; and what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure crop health.

Twenty tonnes of Turkish onions were imported into the United Kingdom in each of the months October and November 1981, the most recent period for which figures are available. Imports are subject to the surveillance exercised by the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate at ports and in wholesale markets. Inspectors have powers to order the destruction of produce which represents a health risk to home crops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the expected volume of imported carrots from France in 1982; and what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that these are sold at a fair price and that there are no hidden subsidies.

I see no reason why the quantity of carrots imported from France in 1982 should vary from the levels of recent years which is from 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes, that is 2 to 3 per cent. of our total supplies.If firm evidence is put to us that the French are competing unfairly in the United Kingdom market we shall take appropriate steps to safeguard our growers' interests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost of food imports for 1982; and what were the figures in each of the last seven years.

I am not prepared to forecast the cost of food imports in 1982 and I regret that complete figures are not yet available for 1981. The cost of food imports for the seven years 1974 to 1980 was as follows:

	£ million
	c.i.f. (1)
1974	3,565
1975	4,040
1976	4,707
1977	5,718
1978	5,580
1979	5,973
1980	5,750

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list recent incidents of white rot in the onion crop; and if he will make a statement.

Incidents of white rot in onions are not recorded. The disease is established here and occurs mainly on salad onions. It can be controlled by seed treatment and by spraying the growing crop. Growers can obtain advice on these methods from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when was the last occasion on which new byelaws or modifications to existing byelaws made by resolution of the Maryport harbour commissioners were confirmed by the Secretary of State; and what were the byelaws concerned.

I am informed that the last set was confirmed in 1900 and dealt with explosives. The general byelaws date from 1898.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the last occasion on which local Acts or provisional orders concerning the development of Maryport harbour were (a) passed, (b) amended and (c) repealed; which Acts or provisional orders were involved; and what changes were made.

I understand that the Maryport Harbour Act 1939 was the last local Act or order passed relating to Maryport harbour. It dealt mainly with the harbour's finances and authorised the commissioners to borrow £75,000 from the Commissioner for Special Areas in England and Wales. It also provided, among other things, for the conversion and cancellation of existing mortgages. The Act amended and repealed a number of provisions in earlier Maryport legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that rubber speed ramps will be included in his recommendations for road humps when the Transport Act 1981 is implemented.

The road hump regulations that we are now drafting will be based on the findings of our trials with humps found safe and effective in use on the highway. These did not include trials with rubber humps, but we now intend to conduct such experiments and to evaluate their potential benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report any information he has to indicate the amount of traffic currently using the A312; and what estimate he has made of the future traffic flow on this road.

The Department's traffic census has provided estimates of the vehicle flow at four points on the A312 as follows:

Location	year	Estimated annual
		average daily flow
Coldharbour Lane,
Hayes	1980	25,000
The Parkway between
Junctions of A4
and A30	1979	30,000
Harlington Road
West, N Felthan	1980	27,000
Hampton Road East,
Hanworth	1979	26,000

Only about 1½ miles of the A312 between the M4 and the A30 is a trunk road for which the Secretary of State is responsible. No precise estimation has been made of future traffic flows on this section because we have no proposals to improve this stretch of road. Traffic forecasts for the remainder of the A312 are the concern of the GLC.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the volume of heavy lorry traffic at three positions on the M1-M6 motorway, South, Midlands, and North for each of the last 49 months, each position being tabulated separately.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the consequences for drivers of invalid carriages of the continued use of pre-1975 motorway slip road signs; what action he has now taken; and if he will make a statement that will end the confusion caused by the continued use of these signs.

I have received no representations other than that submitted by the right hon. Gentleman on behalf of the Barrow and District Council for the Disabled. The motorway traffic regulations were amended in 1971 to permit invalid carriages over 5 cwt. to use the motorway. In view of the problems occasioned by the survival of older signs at a few motorway entry points, we are arranging for these to be replaced as quickly as possible. I understand too that my right hon. Friend the Secretary for the Home Department is reminding chief constables of the legal position.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is yet in a position to announce a decision on the proposed Aire Valley trunk road scheme.

We expect to announce a decision on the Airedale route in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the roads White Paper.

The White Paper "Policy for Roads: England 1981" will be published at 11.00 am tomorrow. Copies will be available in the Vote Office, the Printed Paper Office and the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the fact that oil prices are falling, internationally, he will, pursuant to the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce inflation, take whatever steps may be open to him to ensure that such reductions are passed on to end users.

The Competition Act 1980 already provides the framework to encourage a vigorously competitive market in oil products.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in view of the changed circumstances as shown by the fact that the Suffolk county council's policy committee is now supporting the public funding of the costs of the objections to the inquiry into the Sizewell proposals, he will now reconsider the matter of public funds being made available for this purpose.

I still remain of the view that it would not be appropriate for the Government to fund objectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if a commercially feasible vitrification process for radioactive wastes has been achieved.

Yes, in France. In the United Kingdom BNFL is presently designing a plant based on the same process that should become operational by the late 1980's.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about arrangements for adjusting the levy payments of the independent television companies in order to compensate them for the additional costs of the Welsh fourth channel.

When it was decided, during the passage of the Broadcasting Bill in 1980, to establish a single channel for Welsh language television, it was agreed that the ITV companies should be compensated for the additional costs of the Welsh fourth channel by means of an adjustment to the ITV levy. A means of adjusting the levy exists in section 39(3) of the Broadcasting Act 1981, previously section 16 of the Broadcasting Act 1980, which enables me in deciding whether, and if so by how much, to vary the rate of the additional payments under section 32 of the 1981 Act (i.e. the levy), to have regard to the increased payments to be made by the programme contractors to the IBA in respect of the cost of the fourth channel in Wales. Accordingly I announced on 22 July 1981 that, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and after consultation with the IBA, I had decided to lay an order before Parliament which would have the effect that, as from 1 April 1982, the profits of each programme contractor which would not be subject to levy—the "free slice"—would be increased to £650,000, instead of £250,000, or 2.8 per cent. instead of 2 per cent. of advertising receipts, whichever was the greater.However, closer examination has revealed that to proceed in this way would be inexpedient. This is because the effect of paragraph 5(2) of schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Act 1981 is that such an order, whenever made, splits the accounting periods of most programme contractors into two parts; and because of the uneven incidence of their revenue and expenditure through the year the result would be that certain programme contractors would pay more levy in the year of the adjustment than if no order had been made. There is no way round this difficulty save through legislation; and the Government intend to include appropriate provisions in the Finance Bill to remedy the situation by amending paragraph 5 of schedule 4 to the Act, and related provisions, so that when an order under section 32 is made the companies' accounting periods are not split, but instead the two rates of levy, or free slice, are applied to the companies' profits for their accounting periods in proportion to the periods of time for which they were applicable. The Government's intention will remain unchanged—to increase the amount of the free slice to £650,000 or 2.8 per cent. of advertising receipts, with effect from 1 April 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date and for what purpose Mr. Lawrence Roland, an American citizen from Atlanta, Georgia, was admitted into the United Kingdom; and in view of the fact that this man was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Wednesday 3 February of threatening to cause explosions at Euston Station and Capital Radio, if he will deport him.

Mr. Roland was admitted to the United Kingdom for six months as a visitor last October. On 3 February, at the Central Criminal Court, he was convicted of planting a hoax bomb and making two hoax bomb threats. He was bound over to keep the peace on condition that he left the United Kingdom immediately and did not return within a period of 20 years. Arrangements were made for his departure to the United States that same day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the number of men who have been sentenced more than once for the offence of rape and the sentences in each instance.

Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information readily available relates to the 175 persons convicted in England and Wales in 1972 of a substantive offence of rape; two of these persons had had a previous conviction for rape.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions were brought in each of the last three years under the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969.

The records available to me show that the number of persons found guilty in England and Wales of offences under the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 was 7 in 1978,15 in 1979 and 18 in 1980. Information for 1981 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider deporting Stephen Pigg of Redcar, Yorkshire, the brothers Gifford and Norris Hall of Northfield, Birmingham, and Lionel Newborn and Francis Amos, on completion of their prison sentences.

On present information none of these men is liable for deportation, but further inquiries are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet completed his review of the law relating to the purchase and use of air weapons; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend keeps this matter under regular review, but he is not at present persuaded that changes in the law controlling air weapons are justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances the police are involved in insurance company payments to informants and others; and if he will list any substantial insurance payments of this kind made by the Metropolitan Police.

The police are involved entirely at the discretion of the companies themselves, who may wish to have advice about and assistance in the payment of a reward. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the exact amounts paid in any particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can list those penal establishments that have already been visited by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons; and if he will publish an itinerary of those establishments which the inspectorate plans to visit.

The Inspectorate of Prisons has inspected the following prison service establishments in England and Wales:

• HMP Featherstoone
• HMP Erlestoke
• HMP Cookham Wood
• HM Borstal Wellingborough
• HMP Maidstone
• HMP Gloucester
• HMP Leeds
• HMP Leyhill
• HMP Highpoint
• HMP Gartree
• HMP Wymott
• HMP Durham
• HMP Brixton
• HMP Stafford
• HMP Manchester
• HMP Birmingham
• HMP Wormwood Scrubs
• HMDC Eastwood Park
• HM Borstal Gaynes Hall
• HMP Channings Wood

In addition, HM Chief Inspector or his deputy have made brief unannounced visits to 10 establishments.My right hon. Friend has approved the following inspection programme for the following inspection programme for the period up to 11 June 1982:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the prison population and what was the certified normal accommodation, in prisons in England and Wales for each year, over the last 10 years.

The following table shows the daily average population of prison department establishments in England and Wales, and the certified normal accommodation on 31 December, for the last 10 years.

	Daily average population	certified normal accomodation
		(31 December)
1972	38,328	36,236
1973	36,774	36,391
1974	36,867	35,342
1975	39,820	36,404
1976	41,443	36,675
1977	41,570	37,520
1978	41,796	37,735
1979	42,220	38,494
1980	42,109	38,930
1981	*43,300	38,792

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers made timely applications for bail during 1981; and how many applications were granted.

Neither the Home Office nor the appellate authorities maintain a central record of applications for bail or of those cases in which bail is granted. The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions during 1981 the Royal Prerogative was exercised in order to adjust a custodial sentence where a person has been detained under a dual authority prior to conviction of a criminal offence.

On sixteen occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received an increased number of complaints concerning radio and television interference since the use of citizens band radio was legalised.

No. There has been some reduction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an inquiry into the death of Mr. Ian Shackleton at Medomsley detention centre, with particular reference to his arrest and transport from Keighley; and if he will make a statement.