Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Monday 1 March 1982

House Of Commons

Select Committees

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list the reports published by each of the Select

Committee	Session	Report	Date of Publication	Government Observations
Agriculture	1979–80	First	24.7.80	14.11.80 and 24.7 81
	1980–81	First	2.7.81	22.10.81 and 17.12.81
	1980–81	Second	2.7.81	22.10.81
Defence	1979–80	First	5.6.80	20.8.80
	1979–80	Second	X3.6.80	13.11.80
	1979–80	Third	28.10.80	7.1.81
	1980–81	First	2.4.81	10.6.81
	1980–81	Second	15.5.81	14.8.81
	1980–81	Third	23.6.81	16.11.81
	1980–81	Fourth	25.6.81
Education Science and Arts	1979–80	First	20.5.80	7.8.80
	1979–80	Second	10.6.80	No reply required
	1979–80	Third	18.8.80	No Government response
	1979–80	Fourth	14.10.80	28.4.81
	1979–80	Fifth	28.10.80	22.1.81 and 27.7.81
	1980–81	First	13.4.81	No Government response
	1980–81	Second	29.4.81	26.11.81
	1980–81	Third	18.5.81
Employment	1979–80	First	11.9.80 X6.8.80	21.11.80
	1979–80	Second	12.11.80 X4.11.80	5.12.80
	1980–81	First	10.3.81 X29.1.81	21.5.81
	1980–81	Second	11.1.82 X22.7.81	15.2.82
	1980–81	Third	5.8.81 X22.7.81
Energy	1979–80	NIL
	1980–81	First	18.2.81	27.7.81
	1980–81	Second	28.7.81	15.2.82
	1980–81	Third	28.10.81
Environment	1979–80	First	27.8.80 X29.7.80	15.12.80
	1980–81	First	18.12.80	No reply required
	1980–81	Second	14.7.80	8.10.81
	1980–81	Third	28.8.81 X31.7.81	27.11.81
European Legislation	1979–80	46	It is not the practice for the Government to reply to the Committee's reports.
	1980–81	34
Foreign Affairs	1979–80	First	3.7.80	14.6.80
	1979–80	Second	28.5.80	No reply required
	1979–80	Third	29.7.80	7.8.80
	1979–80	Fourth	16.9.80	20.1.81
	1979–80	Fifth	11.9.80	22.10.80
	1980–81	First	30.1.81	11.12.81
	1980–81	Second	24.4.81	11.12.81
	1980–81	Third	4.8.81	14.10.81
	1980–81	Fourth	22.7.81	18.9.81
	1980–81	Fifth	23.7.81	23.9.81
	1980–81	Sixth	30.9.81	1.12.81
	1980–81	Seventh	28.8.81
Home Affairs	1979–80	First	5.3.80	10.3.80
	1979–80	Second	20.5.80	5.6.80 and 14.7.80
	1979–80	Third	10.7.80	11.11.80
	1979–80	Fourth	6.8.80	Law changed by repeal of 'Sus' Law.
	1979–80	Fifth	5.9.80
	1980–81	First	10.12.80	31.3.81
	1980–81	Second	2.4.81	No reply required
	1980–81	Third	21.5.81	21.7.81
	1980–81	Fourth	23.7.81	8.12.81
	1980–81	Fifth	6.8.81	26.1.82
Services	1979–80	First	20.11.79	No reply required

Committees in the last two Sessions of Parliament, the date of publication and the date of publication of the Government's observations.

The information requested is set out in the following tables.

Committee	Session	Report	Date of Publication	Government Observations
	1979–80	Second	20.2.80	No reply required
	1979–80	Third	30.7.80	No reply required
	1979–80	Fourth	30.7.80	No reply required
	1980–81	First	15.7.81	No reply required
	1980–81	Second	15.7.81	No reply required
Industry and Trade	1979–80	First	25.3.80	No reply required
	1979–80	Second	17.7.80	5.12.80
	1979–80	Third	22.8.80	18.12.80
	1979–80	Fourth	22.8.80	No reply required
	1980–81	First	12.2.81	21.5.81
	1980–81	Second	14.4.81	15.7.81
	1980–81	Third	8.5.81	No reply required
	1980–81	Fourth	10.6.81	4.8.81
	1980–81	Fifth	30.7.81	6.11.81
PCA	1979–80	First	20.3.80	20.3.81
	1979–80	Second	25.6.80
	1979–80	Third	31.7.80	15.4.81
	1979–80	Fourth	5.12.80	June 1981
	1980–81	First	31.7.81	25.1.82
	1980–81	Second	3.12.81	27.1.82
Privileges	1979–80	None
	1980–81	First	7.4.81	No reply required
Procedure	1979–80	None
	1980–81	First	23.9.81	15.2.82
Public Accounts	1979–80	First	12.9.79	12.12.79
	1979–80	Second	12.9.79	12.12.79
	1979–80	Third	13.12.79	12.2.80
	1979–80	Fourth	13.2.80	16.4.80
	1979–80	Fifth	2.4.80	31.7.80
	1979–80	Sixth	23.4.80	5.6.80/20.6.80
	1979–80	Seventh	23.4.80	15.7.80
	1979–80	Eighth	21.5.80	21.10.80
	1979–80	Ninth	21.5.80	21.10.80
	1979–80	Tenth	28.2.80	21.10.80
	1979–80	Eleventh	4.6.80	21.10.80
	1979–80	Twelth	25.6.80	21.10.80
	1979–80	Thirteenth	4.6.80	21.10.80
	1979–80	Fourteenth	2.7.80	21.10.80
	1979–80	Fifteenth	16.7.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Sixteenth	3.7.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Seventeenth	11.9.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Eighteenth	19.9.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Nineteenth	23.10.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twentieth	11.9.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twenty-First	11.9.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twenty-Second	12.11.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twenty-Third	5.11.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twenty-Fourth	29.10.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twenty-Fifth	5.11.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twenty-Sixth	5.11.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twenty-Seventh	29.10.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twenty-Eighth	23.10.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Twenty-Ninth	29.10.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Thirtieth	12.11.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Thirty-First	23.10.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Thirty-Second	12.11.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Thirty-Third	19.9.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Thirty-Fourth	5.11.80	8.1.81
	1979–80	Thirty-Fifth	2.12.80	8.1.81
	1980–81	First Special	4.3.81
	1980–81	First	3.3.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Second	3.3.81	21.10.81
	1980–81	Third	24.6.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Fourth	24.6.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Fifth	3.6.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Sixth	3.6.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Seventh	24.6.81	21.10.81
	1980–81	Eighth	1.7.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Ninth	1.7.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Tenth	8.7.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Eleventh	22.7.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Twelth	22.7.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Thirteenth	21.7.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Fourteenth	22.7.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Fifteenth	30.7.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Sixteenth	24.9.81	17.11.81
	1980–81	Seventeenth	24.9.81	17.11.81

Committee	Session	Report	Date of Publication	Government Observations
Scottish Affairs	1979–80	First	21.3.80 X15.2.80	20.2.80
	1979–80	Second	28.8.80	17.3.80
	1980–81	First	8.1.81	26.6.81
	1980–81	Second	2.4.81	6.5.81
Social Services	1979–80	First	4.6.80	9.12.80
	1979–80	Second	16.7.80	3.12.80
	1979–80	Third	5.8.80	2.12.80
	1980–81	First	27.1.81	26.2.81
	1980–81	Second	26.2.81	23.2.82
	1980–81	Third	22.7.81	23.12.81
	1980–81	Fourth	6.10.81	2.2.82
Statutory Instruments Joint	1979–80	43 reports	The Government do not usually reply to the Committee's reports
Committee	1980–81	32 reports
Statutory Instruments Select	1979–80	40 reports	The Government do not usually reply to the Committee's reports
Committee	1980–81	26 reports
Sound Broadcasting	No reports made in either session.
Transport	1979–80	First	12.6.80	9.12.80
	1979–80	Second	3.7.80	9.12.80
	1980–81	First	17.12.80	18.5.81
	1980–81	Second	6.3.81
	1980–81	Third	2.6.81	11.2.82
	1980–81	Fourth	31.7.81	11.2.82
	1980–81	Fifth	31.7.81	11.2.82
Treasury and Civil Service	1979–80	First	6.2.80	16.4.80
	1979–80	Second	8.7.80 X2.5.80	see debate in House, 7 May 1981 c. 289
	1979–80	Third	5.8.80	Reply not required
	1979–80	Fourth	5.8.80	Reply not required
	1979–80	Fifth	14.8.80	18.11.80
	1980–81	First	22.1.81	12.2.81
	1980–81	Second	18.12.80	Reply not required
	1980–81	Third	4.3.81	Reply not required
	1980–81	Fourth	2.4.81	20.10.81
	1980–81	Fifth	X8.4.81 6.5.81	Reply not required
	1980–81	Sixth	24.7.81	12.11.81
	1980–81	Seventh	30.7.81	Reply not required
	1980–81	Eighth	12.8.81	12.11.81
Welsh Affairs	1979–80	First	31.7.80	1.12.80
	1980–81	First	18.12.80	5.2.81
	1980–81	Second	X24.7.81 20.8.81	21.1.82
X=Xerox

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list the number of witnesses from Government Departments who have appeared before each of the new Select Committees since their appointment; what is the number of times they have given evidence; and if he will list their departmental grade.

Details of the number of witnesses—excluding Ministers of the Crown—from Government Departments; the number of times they have given evidence; and their departmental grades are given in the following tables.

Department and Departmental Grades	Number of witnesses	Number of appearances
AGRICULTURE	41	48
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Senior Principal,
Principal,
Chief Scientist, Agriculture and Horticulture,
Director General, ADAS,
Deputy Director General, ADAS,
Senior Officer, ADAS,
Regional Surveyor, ADAS,
Liverstock Husbandry Adviser,
Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer,
Senior Economic Adviser,
Assistant Economic Advisor,
Senior Dairy Husbandry Advisory Officer,
Poultry Husbandry Specialist,
Pig Husbandry Adviser,
Deputy Regional Veterinary Officer,
Senior Medical Officer,
Scientific Adviser,
Forestry Commissioner for Administration and Finance,
Director of Private Forestry.
DEFENCE	101	155
Permanent Under Secretary of State,
Chief of Defence Procurement,
Scientific Adviser,
Deputy Under Secretary of State,
Assistant Under Secretary of State,
Assistant Secretary,
Director,
Deputy Director,
Vice Admiral,
Rear Admiral,
Captain, RN,
General,
Major General,
Brigadier,
Colonel,
Air Chief Marshal,
Air Vice Marshal,
Air Commodore,
Group Captain.
EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND ARTS	87	147

Department and Departmental Grades	Number of witnesses	Number of appearances
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Principal,
Senior Executive Officer,
Senior Chief Inapector,
Chief Inspector,
Divisional Inspector,
Staff Inspector,
Her Majesty's Inspector,
Chief Engineer and Scientist,
Chief Executive (MSC),
Acting Director of Treasury (MSC),
Department of Industry Chief Executive.
EMPLOYMENT	14	14
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Principal,
Senior Executive Officer,
Chief Statistician,
Departmental Solicitor,
Chief Wages Inspector,
Principal Research Officer.
ENERGY	35	69
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Principal,
Senior Economic Adviser.
ENVIRONMENT	9	12
Deputy Secretary (Housing),
Principal Finance Officer,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Senior Economic Adviser.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS	67	131
Permanent Secretary/Permanent Under-Secretary,
Deputy Secretary/Deputy Under Secretary,
Under Secretary/Assistant Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Senior Principal,
Principal,
Legal Counsellor,
Second Legal Adviser.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT SUB-COMMITTEE	45	80
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary/Deputy Under Secretary,
Under Secretary/Assistant Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Senior Principal,
Principal,
Deputy Chief Scientific Officer,
Senior Economic Adviser,
Economic Adviser,
Statistics Adviser.
HOME AFFAIRS	34	42
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Principal,
Chief Inspector of Constabulary,
Assistant Legal Adviser.
RACE RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION SUB-COMMITTEE	63	76

Department and Departmental Grades	Number of witnesses	Number of appearances
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Principal,
Chief Medical Officer,
Deputy Chief Medical Officer,
Chief Inspector of Schools,
Staff Inspector of Schools,
Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools,
Assistant Legal Adviser,
Senior Legal Assistant.
INDUSTRY AND TRADE	37	55
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Rear Admiral,
Assistant Secretary,
Principal,
Deputy Chief Scientific Officer,
Engineer Surveyor-in-Chief,
Principal Surveyor,
Senior Principal Scientific Officer,
Economic Adviser,
Chief Executive Officer,
Assistant Solicitor.
SCOTTISH AFFAIRS	39	53
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Senior Principal,
Principal,
Economic Advisers.
SOCIAL SERVICES	29	44
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Deputy Chief Medical Officer,
Deputy Chief Nursing Officer,
Chief Scientist,
Senior Principal Medical Officer,
Principal.
TRANSPORT	26	44
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Principal,
Senior Economic Adviser.
TREASURY AND CIVIL SERVICE	38	103
Government Adviser,
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary.
TREASURY AND CIVIL SERVICE SUB-COMMITTEE	42	50
Government Adviser,
Permanent Secretary,
Head of the Government Accountancy Service,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Major-General,
Higher Executive Officer,
Executive Officer.
WELSH AFFAIRS	34	57

Department and Departmental Grades	Number of witnesses	Number of appearances
Permanent Secretary,
Deputy Secretary,
Under Secretary,
Assistant Secretary,
Senior ADAS Officer (Wales),
Senior Principal,
Principal,
Economic Adviser,
Superintending Engineer,
HMI Inspector.

Trade

Textiles And Clothing

12.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what maximum additional imports of textiles and clothing products will result from outward processing during the period of the third phase of the multi-fibre arrangement.

None. The United Kingdom is opening no quotas for outward processed products except for any which may be negotiated with the dominant suppliers in compensation for cut backs in normal imports. In no circumstances will these quotas exceed the level of the cut backs.

Airline Licences

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade under what statutory powers he or the Civil Aviation Authority may investigate the accounts and financial operations of British airlines granted licences to operate by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Under section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1971, the Civil Aviation Authority may require the holder of an air transport licence to furnish it with information which relates to his past, present or future activities and which the authority considers it requires for the purpose of reviewing the licence.

Fuel Costs

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will refer the subject of the consumer's ability to meet fuel costs to the National Consumers Council.

I see no need to do so. The appropriate nationalised industry consumer councils, as well as the NCC, are already active in this area.

Civil Aviation (Pilots)

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be a sufficiency of properly trained and qualified civil pilots to meet the needs of British civil aviation through the 1980s.

I have no reason to think that in the foreseeable future the demand for qualified civil pilots by British civil aviation will exceed the supply available from the commercial flying training schools and other sources, but I will keep the position under review.

Departmental Responsibilities

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the division of responsibility between Ministers in his Department.

While I, of course, have overall responsibility for matters affecting my Department, my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Trade deals with commercial relations; my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre) deals with consumer and competition matters; companies, insolvency, insurance, printing and publishing; and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) deals with civil aviation, marine and shipping, tourism, films, distribution and service trade industries, and statistical matters.

Times Newspapers Ltd

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received concerning the transfer of ownership of the titles to The Times and The Sunday Times.

I received letters from the right hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Mr. Smith), from Sir William Rees-Mogg, and from the father of the National Union of Journalists' chapel at The Times.

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether his consent was necessary for the transfer of the titles of The Times and The Sunday Times from Times Newspapers Ltd. to News International Ltd.

No. But the validity of such a transfer without the consent of a majority of the independent national directors may well be open to doubt.

Comecon

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the balance of trade with countries of the Eastern bloc, COMECON group, over the last year; and what is the anticipated balance of trade with those countries over the coming year.

In 1980 there was a surplus of £235 million in our crude balance of trade with the COMECON countries. I prefer not to venture an estimate for 1981 or 1982.

Multi-Fibre Arrangement

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the European Economic Community Council of Ministers last considered the multi-fibre arrangement protocol.

A special Council of Ministers met on Thursday 25 February to discuss textile matters. The Council then agreed that the Community should sign the protocol of extension to the multi-fibre arrangement.

British Airports Authority

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce proposals to alter the remit of the British Airports Authority; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to bring forward the legislative proposals which would be necessary to change the present statutory duties of the BAA.

European Community (Balance Of Trade)

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of British exports go to the rest of the European Economic Community according to the latest available figures.

In the last four months of 1981 the figure was 42 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the balance of trade in inorganic chemicals between the United Kingdom and the other member States of the European Community in each year since 1970; if he will express this in both money terms and by giving the export to import ratios; and by how much British inorganic chemicals exports to the Community have grown in real and notional terms in this period.

The available information which can be provided within acceptable limits of cost is as follows:

United Kingdom trade with the rest of the European Community in inorganic chemicals.
	Crude balance £ million	Export-import ratio per cent	Exports £ million fob
1975	-13	83	66
1976	-7	94	104
1977	-23	87	157
1978	+11	104	275
1979	+60	121	343
1980	+50	120	303

Notes:

(a) Information at constant prices is not available for trade with particular countries or groups of countries.

(b) The European Community is defined throughout on the basis of current membership.

(c) The crude balance of trade is the difference between exports valued fob and imports valued cif.

(d) Figures correspond to Division 52 of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 2). Information for 1970–74 on a comparable basis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Overseas Airports (Safety)

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether his Department gives advice to airlines using airports in countries or zones where there is civil commotion.

My Department gives advice to airlines which inquire about the risk of operating to particular destinations abroad, after consulting the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and any other Department which may be concerned.

Japan

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by what means his Department is monitoring trade with Japan after the agreement between the European Economic Community and Japan; and if he will make a statement.

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether conclusions can yet be drawn from the surveillance of the five sensitive items of trade between the European Economic Community and Japan.

Complete figures are not yet available, but Japanese official statistics suggest that imports into the 10 EC member States from Japan of passenger cars and colour TVs probably dropped slightly in volume terms in the first 11 months of 1981, by comparison with the same period of 1980. Imports of TV tubes rose by about 9 per cent. Though imports of numerically controlled (nc) lathes fell by almost 32 per cent., the volume of nc machining centres increased around 26 per cent.With the help of our embassy in Tokyo, we shall monitor carefully the effects of the new Japanese measures to stimulate imports, in particular the effectiveness of the office of Ombudsman. Neither on imports nor on exports has the Japanese Government reached any agreement with the Community.

Competition Act (Prices)

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make an assessment of the effect of the Competition Act on prices.

So far, the Competition Act, in a manner similar to the Price Commission which it abolished, has had little direct effect on the general level of prices. However, the containment of costs is a most important factor which affects the ultimate level of price increases. Investigation of nationalised industries' costs and efficiency under section 11 of the Act are helping the industries concerned to contain their costs. This in turn is likely to have a moderating effect upon their price increases.

Investor Protection

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he proposes to take any immediate action in response to the recommendations of the Gower review of investor protection that brokers' registration councils and self-regulatory agencies be established for the commodities and London financial futures markets.

Professor Gower has not yet reported to the Government. The document he published on 26 January set out certain preliminary views and invited views and

Active seafarers on the National Register
	Officers	Cadets	Ratings (inc. Petty Officers)	Miscellaneous and Seasonal personnel	Total	Adjustment	Total^*
1971–4	not available on the same basis
1975	35,815	7,094	33,524	1,075	77,507	29,000	107,000
1976	35,123	6,970	31,644	937	74,674	26,000	101,000
1977	34,144	6,708	29,856	964	71,672	22,000	94,000
1978	33,147	6,704	29,219	938	70,008	17,000	87,000
1979	31,434	6,318	28,942	984	67,678	13,000	81,000
(p)1980	29,521	5,919	28,666	1,023	65,129	13,000	78,000
^* Employment in the United Kingdom Merchant Navy
(p) provisional

Source:

General Council of British Shipping (GCBS), National Register of Seafarers and Department of Trade.

The National Register of Seafarers is maintained by The General Council of British Shipping (GCBS) and covers all seafarers on National Maritime Board (NMB) agreements with GCBS Members. Ex-seafarers can remain on the register for up to 18 months after leaving the

comments, on the basis of which he will frame recommendations. I have no present powers to impose institutional change, and I shall consider any case for further legislation in the light of Professor Gower's final report.

Airlines (Finance)

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when last he met the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the financial viability of British airlines.

On 15 December 1981.

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade on how many occasions since 1972 the Civil Aviation Authority has examined the finances of an airline operating a licence granted by that body, with a view to considering whether or not such airline was adequately or soundly financed.

The monitoring of the finances of air transport licence holders by the Civil Aviation Authority is a continuous process and is part of its statutory duties.

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will introduce legislation to require carriers by air to have a minimum ratio of paid up capital to loan capital.

In carrying out its duties under the Civil Aviation Act 1971, the Civil Aviation Authority closely monitors the financial position and performance of British airlines. I do not consider that detailed legislation on financial gearing is necessary.

Merchant Navy (Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report the number of officers, petty officers and ratings serving in the Merchant Navy for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The available information is shown in the following table:sea but have been excluded retrospectively from the figures. Petty officers cannot readily be distinguished from other ratings.The "adjustment" adds to national register non-United Kingdom-domiciled seafarers on non-NMB crew agreements and seafarers in the non-federated sector (ie not covered by the GCBS), who are serving on United Kingdom registered vessels; it deducts seafarers on the register who are employed or serving on foreign flag ships registered with the GCBS for manning purposes. These adjustments cannot be analysed by rank.Employment in the United Kingdom Merchant Navy is the best Department of Trade estimate of seafarers, whether United Kingdom or foreign domiciled, earning their living from serving on United Kingdom registered ships. The number at sea at any time will be much lower.

Trade Disputes

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will give particulars of the six most significant trade disputes between the United Kingdom and individual countries of the European Economic Community since May 1974 that have been referred to the European Commission, setting out (a) the dispute, (b) the date it arose, (c) the date of referral, (d) the solution and (e) the date of resolution.

The average duration of proceedings before the European Court has recently been approximately 12 months. Judgment of the relative significance of particular cases will have varied since 1974 with the point of view of the observer and with contemporary circumstances.

Estate Agents Act 1979

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Handsworth, on 11 July 1980, Official Report, c. 327, what progress has been made towards bringing into operation sections 16, 17, 19 and 22 of the Estate Agents Act 1979; and when it is likely orders will be made under section 3 (1) (a) (iii) or (d) or regulations laid under section 18 of the same Act.

I will consider the question of further implementation of the Act in the light of experience of the working of the provisions coming into force on 3 May. It is important that estate agents, enforcement authorities and others should gain familiarity with these provisions before any new requirements are imported.

Mergers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he proposes to support the recommendation of the EEC Commission that all future mergers involving the creation of companies or bodies with a combined turnover of £580 millions within the EEC should be referred to the Commission for approval or rejection; what consultations he has had with British industrial organisations on the matter; and if he will make a statement.

The Commission recently put forward an amended proposal for a Council regulation on the control of mergers. This modifies an earlier proposal discussed in the Council from 1973 to 1977 but on which agreement could not be reached. Further negotiations will be needed before the Government can decide whether it supports the amended proposal.The proposed regulation would introduce a system of control over large-scale European mergers. Where the combined turnover of the firms concerned was at least 1,000 million units of account (about £560 million) the merger would have to be pre-notified to the Commission. It would not be allowed to proceed if the firms as a result acquired the power to hinder effective competition in a substantial part of the common market, to the extent that this would affect trade between member States. A merger would be presumed to be compatible with the common market where the merged firms would have a market share of less than 20 per cent. in the Common Market as a whole. Exemption would be possible for a merger fulfilling specific Community objectives. The proposal is intended to apply to mergers of a scale that transcends the national context and produces effects at Community level.My Department consulted interested bodies in the United Kingdom about the earlier proposal and these consultations will be renewed. I recognise that the House may want to debate the measure before it is considered by the Council.

Origin Marking

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will reconsider Her Majesty's Government's policy on including catalogues within the Trade Descriptions (Origin Marking) (Miscellaneous Goods) Order 1981.

It remains our view that the practical problems involved in requiring the provision of origin information in catalogues would be out of all proportion to the consumer benefit achieved.

Imports

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of British consumption of manufactured products is provided by imports from Japan and Germany, respectively.

In 1980, the latest year for which complete information is available, it is estimated that imports from West Germany and Japan accounted for about four per cent. and just over one per cent. of United Kingdom consumption of manufactured products respectively.

European Development Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of the actual construction contracts placed last year under the European development fund contract for construction work was with British contractors.

In 1981 United Kingdom contractors obtained 2·24 per cent. by value of the construction contracts deriving from the European development fund. When those contracts placed locally with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and third countries are excluded our share was 4·08 per cent. by value.

Prime Minister

Londonderry Harbour (Pilots)

asked the Prime Minister if she will now take steps to have the pilots for Londonderry harbour based at Magilligan in county Londonderry where, due to the presence of United Kingdom security forces, the Irish Republican Army would find it difficult to operate.

This is a matter for the Londonderry harbour commissioners.

Privatisation (Professional Advice)

asked the Prime Minister whether, following the extent of over-subscription for shares in Amersham International, she is satisfied with the standard of professional advice available to the Government in respect of the disposal of publicly owned assets; and whether she will ensure that assessments made by merchant banks in such circumstances take greater account of market forces.

A wide range of professional advice is available to Governments. Each individual case involves difficult judgments about market factors.

Overseas Development

Nicaragua

39.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he has received any request for assistance from Nicaragua for the supply of mining equipment under the British aid programme .

As I told the House on 1 February, we have had no request from Nicaragua for the supply of mining equipment.

Ophthalmologists

43.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Fife, Central on 11 February, Official Report, c. 1202, he will list the countries to which the United Kingdom provides ophthalmologists and equipment under the technical co-operation programme; and what is the estimated annual cost of such assistance.

Including the provision of experts, equipment and training, we are currently helping in the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, St. Helena and Costa Rica, and have recently done so in Honduras, Jamaica and India. The total value of our aid to combat blindness is of the order of £475,000 a year.

European Development Fund

46.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the European Court of Auditors report on the working of the European development fund.

The Government welcome the Court of Auditors report. The United Kingdom has long recognised weaknesses in European development fund programmes and has worked actively to improve them. However, these criticisms should not obscure the fact that the court has expressed satisfaction with many EDF projects. Formally, it is for the Commission to respond to the observations of the court but a number of specific points are already being pursued with the Commission.

African Development Bank

47.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has had recent talks with the African Development Bank.

No. As I advised the House on 2 June 1981, non-regional countries await confirmation that the required numbers of regional members have ratified amendments to the agreement establishing the bank to enable non-regional countries to join it.—[Vol. 5, c. 301.]

Unicef

asked the Lord Privy Seal what contribution Her Majesty's Government will be making to UNICEF for 1982; how this compares in cash terms with 1981; whether in real terms this represents an increase or a decrease; and what is the percentage change.

Her Majesty's Government will, subject to Parliamentary approval, contribute £5·9 million to UNICEF's regular programme in 1982, the same in cash terms as the contribution for 1981. To the extent that prices of goods and services purchased by UNICEF increase between the two years, this will represent a fall in real terms but it is not possible to forecast the likely percentage change.

Home Department

Police Interviews (Tape Recording)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what lessons he has learnt from the Scottish experiment on tape recording police interviews with suspected criminals; and whether he proposes to take any action for England and Wales in the matter.

I am writing to my hon. and learned Friend about the Scottish experiment. My right hon. Friend indicated in the debate on 20 November on the report of the Royal Commission on criminal procedure that the Government accepted the principle of the tape recording of interviews with suspects in police custody, and he will explain how we propose to carry this matter forward when he announces the Government's conclusions on the report as a whole.

Civil Defence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on civil defence measures in the United Kingdom by the Government for the years 1980–81 and 1981–82.

The information is as follows:

1980–81 £23·4 million
1981–82 £40·4 million (Supply Estimate provision)

The figures relate to expenditure by the central Government only.

Newham (Crime Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis a detailed list of serious offences recorded by the police during the week ended 19 February in the London borough of Newham, together with a report of measures taken to deal with the increased incidence of crime in the area.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 17 February.

Bill Of Rights

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to the introduction of a Bill of Rights.

The Government have given some preliminary consideration to the question of a Bill of Rights, but they believe that such an important proposal for constitutional change should proceed as far as possible by agreement between the political parties. We shall seek an opportunity to pursue this further when time permits.

Kerb Crawling

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to deal with the problem of kerb crawling.

As I indicated in my reply to a question by the hon. Member on 11 June 1981, we shall await the outcome of the review by the Criminal Law Revision Committee and the Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences before reaching conclusions on the need for legislation in this area. I understand that the Criminal Law Revision Committee hopes to publish a working paper within the first half of this year inviting comment on its provisional proposals on the law on prostitution, including kerb crawling.—[Vol. 6, c. 179.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning introducing legislation to deal with the problem of kerb crawling; and if he will make a statement.

Since my reply to a question by the hon. Member on 1 July 1981, representations have been received from three hon. Members and one member of the public.—[Vol. 7, c. 391.]

Palestine Liberation Organisation

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he adopts when deciding whether to permit entry into the United Kingdom for visits or speaking engagements by prominent spokesmen of the various Palistinian guerrilla organisations joined under the collective banner of the Palestine Liberation Organisation; how many such spokesman have been refused entry over the last two years on the grounds that their presence would not be conducive to the public good; and how many have been admitted.

I take account of all the relevant circumstances including whether the persons concerned qualify for entry as visitors under the general provisions of the immigration rules, and the security considerations.One official of a group within the Palestine Liberation Organisation has been refused a visa within the last two years on the grounds that his exclusion was conducive to the public good. We do not keep particulars of persons admitted to this country in a way that would provide the information requested in the last part of the question.

Commission For Racial Equality

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the present appointments of the part-time members of the board of the Commission for Racial Equality expire; and if he will make a statement.

The appointments of 10 part-time members of the commission expire on 30 April 1982 and of three others on 30 April 1983. We hope shortly to be in a position to make a statement about the future membership of the commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the present daily attendance fees for part-time members of the Commission for Racial Equality; what was the daily figure for each of the last four years; if he will give the percentage increases; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will list in the

Official Report the present salaries and fringe benefits of the chairman and deputy chairman and chairman designate of the Commission for Racial Equality; what these salaries were in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981; if he will give the percentage increases; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if the salary increases of the chairman, deputy chairman and employees of the Commission for Racial Equality are in line with the Government's 4 per cent. pay guidelines; and if he will make a statement;

(4) if he authorised the increase in the salary of the deputy chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality and the increase in attendance allowances for the board's part-time members; and, if so, what criteria for the increases were applied.

My right hon. Friend authorises the salaries of the chairman and deputy chairman of the commission, and the fees payable to the part-time commissioners, with the agreement of the Minister for the Civil Service. As with other public bodies, the level of increase in such salaries is determined following a review of the pay of the higher civil service, in accordance with the arrangement set out in paragraph 52 of "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: a Guide for Departments". Increases in the rate of fees are also determined by reference to analogous increased in the pay of the Civil Service.Details of the salaries and fees payable over the past four years are:

Salaries (percentage increase in brackets)
	Chairman £	Deputy chairman £
1 January 1978	13,430	9,375
1 January 1979	16,035 (19·4%)	12,640 (34·8%)
1 April 1980	23,105 (44·1%)	16,535 (30·8%)
1 April 1981	24,720 (7%)	17,690 (7%)

In addition, the deputy chairman's salary attracts an inner London weighting allowance. The rates applicable on 1 April in the years 1978–1981 were £524, £780, £1,016, and £1,087 respectively. The chairman and deputy chairman are members of a non-contributing pension scheme analogous to the principal Civil Service pension scheme.

Fees (percentage increase in brackets)
	£
1 July 1978	19·50
1 January 1980	40 (105·1%)
7 May 1980	50 (25%)
1 April 1981	52 (4%)

The level of any increase in the salaries of the chairman, deputy chairman or staff of the commission in 1982 has yet to be determined. The 4 per cent. pay cash factor for 1982ߝ83 is not a pay guideline and does not imply that all public service pay increases will or should be 4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present cost of the salaries, fringe benefits and daily attendance allowances of the board of the Commission for Racial Equality; and what the figures were in each of the last four years.

:The total cost in the current financial year of salaries and fees to members of the commission (including the fees of additional commissioners appointed for the purpose of formal investigations) is expected to be about £78,000. Expenditure in previous years was:

1978–79	£30,360
1979–80	£38,426
1980–81	£65,768

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in his future appointments to the board of the Commission for Racial Equality, he will appoint persons with a close knowledge and experience of the ethnic majority as well as those with a close knowledge and experience of the ethnic minorities.

My right hon. Friend will continue to seek to appoint members of the Commission for Racial Equality with knowledge and experience in many walks of life which are relevant to the commission's work. The present members come from both the majority and the minority communities.

Surveillance Methods (Guidelines)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of recent comment purporting to describe the contents of guidelines on surveillance methods issued by him, he will now publish the guidelines on surveillance that have been issued. by his Department to chief constables.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 25 February.—[Vol. 18, c. 452.]

Haldon Prison Camp

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any lack of information from or action by the district valuer is holding up the disposal of the disused Haldon prison camp.

No. The district valuer provided the information needed on 8 February 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money was disbursed in guarding the disused Haldon prison camp between 25 January 1981 and Monday 1 March 1981.

The amount was £1,910.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the disused buildings at Haldon prison camp will be released for removal and reuse at nominal cost by local authorities and youth organisations.

We are considering my hon. Friend's suggestion, but there is a number of practical difficulties which would have to be resolved, particularly if plans to dispose of the site at the earliest opportunity are not to be prejudiced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made since 25 January in disposing of the disused Haldon prison camp; and by what date he expects to have completed its sale.

No progress could be made until advice on the value of the site was received from the district valuer on 8 February. The necessary action is now being taken to dispose of the Haldon camp site in accordance with the rules governing Crown-owned land, and urgent consideration is being given to the terms of the offer of sale which will be made as soon as possible. It is not possible to give an expected date for completion.

Foreign Visitors

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the reply given by the Minister of State on 18 February, Official Report, c. 392, on the overall number of visitors refused entry to the United Kingdom (a) how many arrived from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, respectively, in 1981; (b) how many such visitors in each category were refused entry arid (c) if, in each category, he will express the number of refusals as a percentage of the total number.

We will reply as soon as possible.

Dartford Tunnel (Surveillance Camera)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, further to his answer of 25 February, he will publish in the Official Report the paragraph or the reference in the 1980 report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary in which the Dartford tunnel surveillance camera experiment was reported to Parliament.

The relevant paragraph in the report for 1980 of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary is 6.17.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in detail the proper safeguards, especially those involving individual privacy, on the use of the experimental surveillance cameras at the Dartford tunnel.

The main safeguards are first that the experimental system reads no information other than the registration number of vehicles passing the surveillance point; and secondly that no record of such a number is created or maintained unless it is that of a vehicle which has been reported as stolen.

Scotland

Acid Rain

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any evidence that acid rain falling upon Forestry Commission woodlands and subsequently concentrated by being trapped upon the needles of the conifer trees, may cause the acidification of some Scottish streams and lakes resulting in the deaths of fish; and if he will make a statement.

It is known that salmonid fish are very vulnerable to high concentrations of acidity and aluminium, particularly at the hatching and fry stages. Waters which frequently, or continually, have high acid levels are unlikely to support self-generating fish populations.Scotland, like most countries in the northern hemisphere, is now subjected to acid precipitation resulting primarily from industrial emissions. The longterm solution to this phenomenon, however, can only be provided by world-wide action.Whilst coniferous afforestation can itself give rise to some acidity in surface waters, my Department is—in consultation with the Forestry Commission—examining the extent to which major coniferous afforestation may adversely affect freshwater fisheries with particular reference to the question of augmentation of the effect of acid rain. Further work is in hand, but based on the results already available the Forestry Commission has adopted revised forest management practices and has issued guidelines to the private sector.

Northern Ireland

Punishment Shootings

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many punishment shootings there have been in each of the last 18 months in Northern Ireland; and of these how many are believed to have been the work of the Irish Republican Army.

The number of woundings recorded by the police as punishment shootings in the period 1 August 1980 to 31 January 1982 is as follows:

	1980	1981	1982
January	—	3	10
February	—	2	—
March	—	7	—
April	—	1	—
May	—	4	—
June	—	11	—
July	—	3	—
August	4	18	—
September	7	3	—

Benefit	Number of recipients	Date of latest information	Projected amount to be paid out in current financial year £ million
Contributory benefits
Child's special allowance	8	February 1982	0·004
Death grant	†14,500	—	0·4
Invalidity benefit	32,561	February 1982	66·2
Maternity allowance	5,241	February 1982	6·8
Maternity grant	‡25,700	February 1982	6·8
Retirement pension	194,384	February 1982	258·9
Sickness benefit	19,216	February 1982	25·4
Unemployment benefit	║50,000	May 1981	64·0
Widow's benefit^*	15,242	February 1982	25·3
Non-contributory benefits Means tested
Family income supplement	11,295	January 1982	7·0
Supplementary benefit	149,977	December 1981	186·0
Not means tested
Attendance allowance	16,176	January 1982	16·0
Child benefit	¶216,122	February 1982	126·0
Guardians allowance	247	February 1982	0·1
Industrial injury benefit	806	February 1982	1·0

	1980	1981	1982
October	9	5	—
November	5	13	—
December	2	12	—
(Total 119)

It is not possible to be certain how many of these shootings were the responsibility of the Irish Republican Army but it is believed that 90 were carried out by Republican terrorists and the rest by "Loyalist" terrorists.

Salmon Licensing

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many salmon dealers' licences were issued in the area covered by the Foyle Fisheries Commission in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what was the total number of licences issued by the Commission in each of those years.

This is a matter for the Foyle Fisheries Commission. I understand that the figures for 1981 are not yet available. The details for the previous five years are as follows:

	Licences issued
	In Northern Ireland	Total
1976	11	24
1977	17	31
1978	15	29
1979	13	26
1980	12	24

Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are now in receipt of each contributory and non-contributory benefit in Northern Ireland; and what is the projected amount to be paid out in respect of each benefit in the current financial year.

The latest available information is as follows:

Benefit	Number of recipients	Date of latest information	Projected amount to be paid out in current financial year £ million
Industrial disablement pension	February 1982		8·9
Industrial disablement gratuity ⋆8,131	5,242		8·9
Industrial death benefit	907	February 1982	1·3
Invalid care allowance	680	November 1981	0·7
Mobility allowance	6,053	December 1981	3·9
Non-contributory invalidity pension	•10,225	February 1982	7·7
Old persons pension	3,954	February 1982	3·1
Pensioners lump sum payment	□270,000	December 1981	2·7
Notes
^* Includes widow's allowance, widowed mother's allowance and widow's pension.
† Estimated number of awards in year ended 31 December 1981.
‡ Estimated number of recipients in year ended 31 March 1981.
║ Estimated.
¶ Includes 13,507 in receipt of one-parent benefit.
⋆ Includes three in receipt of workmen's compensation supplementation and four in receipt of extra-statutory benefit in respect of pneumoconiosis/ byssinosis contracted in employment prior to July 1948.
# Number of awards in year ended 31 December 1981.
● Includes 2,417 in receipt of housewives non-contributory invalidity pension.
□ Estimated number of Christmas bonus payments in 1981.

Agivey Bridge

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the repairs to the Agivey bridge cost; and why the repairs were necessary.

It is estimated that the repairs to the Agivey Bann bridge will cost £150,000. In addition, it is planned to spend £90,000 on protective works to prevent further damage. The repairs were necessary to replace the protection for the masonry pier of the bridge which was damaged by exceptional river flows in 1980 and 1981.

Industry

Satellite Broadcasts

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with progress to date on the allocation of funds for the development of the L-SAT satellite transmission system.

Yes. As my hon. Friend the Minister for Information Technology announced on 2 November 1981, the United Kingdom has taken a one-third share in the European Space Agency's £230 million programme to develop a large communications satellite, L-SAT; British Aerospace will be prime contractors. I am pleased to report that work has since commenced as planned following equivalent declarations by our ESA partners in this programme.

Polish Shipping Order

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total cost of the Polish shipping order placed in 1976; how much of this money has now been received; and if he will make a statement.

The total cost to the taxpayer as currently estimated by British Shipbuilders is £72·5 million, of which £28 million was intervention fund assistance and £39 million losses incured during construction, with financing costs accounting for the remainder. The ships in question are owned by Anglo-Polish Shipping Venture, a company registered in Poland in which BS and the Polish Steamship Company (PZM), each have a 50 per cent stake. All the vessels are on long-term charter to PZM and the proceeds of the charter go towards repaying the credit made available for the deal. The arrangements for repayments are a commercial matter for BS, APSV and PZM.

Financial Assistance

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what has been the total number and the total value of offers of regional assistance made to companies in (a) Merseyside and (b) the Birkenhead travel-to-work area for each year since 1979;(2) how many new firms and new jobs have been created as a result of offers of financial assistance received under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in

(a) Merseyside and (b) the Birkenhead travel-to-work area for each yea' since 1979.

It is not possible to provide the information precisely in the form requested without undue cost, and therefore details of regional development grants are excluded. But selective Financial Assistance has been offered under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 as follows:

	Number of offers made	Value of offers made £'000s	Number of new projects involved	Estimated employment arising from new projects
Merseyside SDA
1979	105	22,172	5	129
1980	46	13,354	6	333
1981	21	7,472	7	1,109
Birkenhead TTWA
1979	16	2,826	1	86
1980	10	3,553	2	77
1981	4	5,784	1	465

Manufacturing Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish the level of productivity in manufacturing industry for each year since 1974 and give the percentage change year by year.

The information requested is given in the following table in terms of output per person hour.

Index of Output per person Hour 1975=100)
	Annual average	Per cent. change on previous year
1974	101·8	—
1975	100·0	-2
1976	105·1	+5
1977	105·9	+1
1978	107·1	+1
1979	108·9	+1½
1980	107·3	-1½
1981	^*112·7	+5
^* preliminary estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish the level of investment in manufacturing industry in constant prices for each year since 1974 and give the percentage change year by year.

Statistics of investment in manufacturing industry are published in the current issue (26 February) of British Business on page 427.

Industrial Development

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many applications for information of an industrial or service development nature his Department has received in the North-West region during the last month; and how many of these his Department has referred to the Cumbria county council's industrial development unit;(2) how many steering location inquiries have been received in the North-West region of his Department; and, of these, how many have been referred to the Cumbria county council industrial development unit during the last month for which statistics are available.

In January 1982, 636 inquiries of an industrial or commercial development nature were received by the North-West regional office, of which 532 related to selective financial assistance and 17 to creation of new enterprises. None of these enquiries was specifically referred to the Cumbria county council's industrial development unit but it is normal practice to ensure that whenever appropriate inquirers are aware of the services provided by the Cumbria county council's industrial development unit.

The small firms service in the North-West region received some 2,520 inquiries in January 1981, many of which would have been concerned with information of an industrial or service development nature: Information on whether any of the inquirers were referred to the Cumbria county council industrial development unit is not recorded.

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

During the month of January, 1982, the English Industrial Estates Corporation allocated the following floor space, subject to contract:

Sq. metres
Cumbria
Workington	135 (2 units)
North-East region
Berwick	1,452 (1 unit)
North Tyne	258 (1 unit)
South Tyne	530 (2 units)
Wearside	149 (1 unit)
Teeside	4,430 (5 units)
Hartlepool	6,140 (6 units)
North-west Durham	200 (2 units)
South-east Durham	297 (2 units)
Central Durham	255 (1 unit)
Total North-East region	13,711 (21 units)
North-West region, excluding Cumbria
Widnes	92 (2 units)
Ashton-under-Lyne	912 (1 unit)
Nelson	460 (2 units)
Liverpool	682 (3 units)
Birkenhead	1,318 (5 units)
Total North-West region, excluding Cumbria	3,464 (13 units)

Regional Assistance

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total number and value of offers of regional assistance made to companies in West Cumbria travel-to-work areas, in Cumbria as a whole, and in the North-West region, for the last month for which statistics are available.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 8 February. [c. 254–55.] Figures for January 1982 are not yet available.

Attorney-General

Members' Correspondence

asked the Attorney-General how many letters have been written to, and received from, hon. Members by (a) himself or the Solicitor-General and (b) the Lord Chancellor, in January.

During January my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General and I wrote 48 letters to right hon. and hon. Members, and received 72 letters. In the same period, my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor wrote 116 letters to right hon. and hon. Members, and received 167 letters. The latter number includes 21 letters concerning matters within the responsibility of other Ministers, to whom those letters were therefore transferred, and an unknown number initially addressed to other Ministers and transferred to the Lord Chancellor for the same reason.

Representation Of The People Act 1969

asked the Attorney-General how many infringements of the Representation of the People Act 1969 have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions during each of the last 10 years.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.The numbers of cases referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions during each of the last 10 years under the Representation of the People Acts 1949–1969 are as follows:

Year	Number
1972	24
1973	62
1974	88
1975	64
1976	68
1977	68
1978	44
1979	133
1980	31
1981	51

Abortion

asked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement on his recent decision not to prosecute doctors in circumstances where abortions were carried out for social reasons.

I have not made any such decision and I will not be making any statement on this matter. In my letter of 22 February 1982 to the right hon. and learned Member for Warley, West (Mr. Archer) I explained that specific cases which had been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions had been investigated by the police and that those investigations had not disclosed any evidence to show that these abortions had been performed for social reasons. In each case the doctors claimed that there were medical grounds for terminating the pregnancies.

Civil Service

Committees And Tribunals (Lord Mccarthy)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will give details of the fees, payments, expenses and costs of the various officially constituted committees or tribunals under the chairmanship of Lord McCarthy, together with the payments made to the chairman and members of such bodies.

I have been asked to reply.No complete central record is kept of the individuals serving on Government committees or tribunals. However, I am not aware of any such body currently chaired by Lord McCarthy. The Railway Staff National Tribunal, which is chaired by Lord McCarthy, is not a Government body. Its costs and any payments to its members are a matter for British Rail and the various railway unions.

Wales

Council Of Ministers

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many times over the last 12 months Ministers in his Department attended meetings of the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community.

None. My most recent visit to Brussels in January this year was for discussion with Commissioners on issues of particular relevance to Wales.

Chiropodists

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many chiropodists are used by the local health authorities in Wales; how many vacancies there are in each health authority; and how many chiropodists working for each health authority were trained within Wales.

The numbers of salaried employees in post at 30 September 1981 and the service they provide in terms of the equivalent of whole-time employees are given as follows:

	Number of Chiropodists in Post at 30 September 1981	Whole-time Equivalent (of Table 1)
Clwyd	13	12·8
Dyfed	11	10·6
Gwent	22	21·0
Gwynedd	9	7·8
Mid Glamorgan	32	30·9
Powys	9	8·3
South Glamorgan	23	21·5
West Glamorgan	25	23·2

Additional services are provided by other chiropodists on a sessional basis, a fee for treatment basis or an agency basis. Neither information about such services nor that about vacancies and training is held centrally.

Water Losses

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the percentage of water lost through leakage in the Welsh water authority area for the last available year; and if he will give a regional breakdown of that figure.

The estimated percentage of unaccounted for potable water at October 1981 in the Welsh water authority area was 35 per cent. The breakdown by division is given in the table.

Dee and Clwyd	36
Gower	30
Gwynedd	45
Taff	30
Usk	45
West Wales	34
Wye	34

Water Charges

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in which district councils in Wales (a) water charges are collected on behalf of the Welsh water authority by including a sum paid by council house tenants as part of their weekly rent payment and (b) the Welsh or other water authority sends bills direct to council house tenants; and whether there are any district council areas remaining in Wales where the council collects money for water as part of its own rate rather than as an agent of the water authority by specific agreement.

All district councils in Wales, except Merthyr, Rhondda and Cynon Valley, collect water charges with council house tenants' weekly rent payments. Brecknock district council will join the exceptions from 1 April 1982. There are no district councils in Wales collecting money for water charges as part of their own rates.

National Finance

Cars (Harmonisation Of Taxes)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any discussions have taken place with the European Economic Community Commission or between Ministers about harmonisation of taxes on cars and exports at a discount, with the aim of reducing price differentials on cars purchased within the European Community, but outside the country of manufacture.

No.

Banks

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will estimate the money value of the tax benefit to the banks of section 233 of the Taxes Act 1970 in the last financial year;(2) whether he will estimate the money value of the interest benefit for borrowings from the clearing banks and other banks under section 233 of the Taxes Act 1970 in the last financial year.

Negligible. Borrowing of the kind referred to is a fairly recent development.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek to modify the arrangements for reduced interest rate borrowings under section 233 of the Taxes Act 1970 to exclude any financial benefit to the banks and yet safeguard the interest rate relief for commercial borrowers.

I have noted the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

Civil Service Pay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current spending power of a Civil Service clerical officer on average pay for the grade who has a dependent wife and two children; and if he will show how this compares with each of the past four years.

A male clerical officer on average pay for his grade, with a dependent wife and two children aged between 11 and 15 years, at present has take home pay of £3,502 per annum after deduction of income tax, national insurance contributions and widows' and dependents' benefit contributions.The equivalent figures of take-home pay at January of each year for the past four years, expressed in the salary scales for those years, but in terms of January 1982 prices (that is after taking account of changes in the Retail Prices Index) are as follows:

	£
1978	3,621
1979	3,663
1980	3,622
1981	3,733

Unemployment Statistics

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the correlation coefficient between the rate of unemployment and the size of population for the countries of Western Europe at the latest available date.

I regret the information is unavailable.

Public Expenditure

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage of overall public expenditure allocated to each Department of Government in the current year; and what were the equivalent percentages for the year 1978–79.

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

Housing Costs

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the effect on the retail price index at some recent convenient date if housing costs were removed;(2) what proportion of the retail price index is formed by housing costs; and if this has changed over the past two years.

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

Unemployment Benefits

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of the extra revenue that will be raised by the taxation of benefits for the unemployed: (a) in 1982–83 and (b) in a full tax year, assuming that personal tax allowances are raised in line with inflation and that tax rates remain unchanged.

[pursuant to his reply 22 February 1982, c. 286]: At 1981–82 levels of unemployment, income and benefits and under the income tax assumptions specified, the estimated yield would be (a) of the order of £300 million (assuming that benefits are brought into tax on 5 July 1982) and (b) of the order of £525 million in a full year.These figures are based on recently revised information on these benefits in 1981–82. On the same basis, the figures of £300 million and £475 million given on 25 January to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. Pawsey) would be revised to £325 million and £550 million respectively.—[Vol. 17, c.

225.]

Income Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those organisations which have responded to the Green Paper on the taxation of husband and wife; and when he expects to bring forward proposals on this matter.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 February 1982, c. 476]: Responses to the Green Paper have so far been received from some 500 local organisations and individuals. In addition the following organisations have submitted comments:

1. Women's National Commission

2. Equal Opportunities Commission

3. Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland

4. Conservative Political Centre

5. UK Federation of Business and Professional Women

6. National Federation of Women's Institutes

7. League of Jewish Women

8. Campaign for Justice in Divorce

9. Country Landowner's Association

10. General and Municipal Workers Union

11. AUEW (Technical Administrative and Supervisory Section)

12. Age Concern

13. British Federation of University Women

14. Social Security Advisory Committee

15. Child Poverty Action Group

16. The National Labour Women's Committee

17. One Parent Families

18. National Union of Public Employees

19. Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies

20. Women's Liberal Federation

21. Women's Farm and Garden Association

22. The Fawcett Society

23. Trades Union Congress

24. The Institute of Taxation

25. Gingerbread

26. Scottish Convention of Women

27. Law Society of Scotland

28. National Council for Civil Liberties

29. The National Council of Women of Great Britain

30. Women in Media

31. Conservative Women's National Advisory Committee

32. National and Local Government Officers Association

33. National Farmers Union

34. The National Housewives Association Ltd.

35. National Council for Voluntary Organisations

36. The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation

37. Rights of Women

38. Banking Insurance and Finance Union

39. The Law Society

40. Family Rights Group

41. Women in the Civil Service

42. National Board of Catholic Women

We have been giving full consideration to the wide range of views that have been expressed and a statement will be made when that consideration has been completed.

North Sea Oil And Gas (Royalties)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to take royalties on North Sea oil and gas in cash.

I have been asked to reply.The Government takes royalties from most producing North Sea oil fields in kind and from other fields in cash. No decision has been taken to change this arrangement

Education And Science

Voluntary Aided Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he can now make a statement on the outcome of his discussions with the representatives of the voluntary aided schools on the provision of moneys for emergency and other repairs.

Officials of the Department have not yet completed their discussions with the representatives of the voluntary bodies about expenditure on emergency and other repairs at voluntary aided and special agreement schools. I shall write to the hon. Member about the outcome of these discussions.

Student Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the number of parents who cannot or do not pay their contribution towards supporting their son or daughter on a student award.

I have no information on which to base such an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the value of student grants in real terms since 1979, using 100 as a base in 1979.

The information requested is as follows:

Academic year	Ordinary maintenance grant	Value in real terms September 1979=100
	£
1979–80	1,245	100
1980–81	1,430	99
1981–82	1,535	96
1982–83	1,595	^*90
^* Assuming a 10 per cent. increase in the retail price index between September 1981 and September 1982.

European Community

Greenland

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what action the Council of Ministers proposes to take following the referendum in Greenland; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action requires to be taken by the EEC Council of Ministers and Commission to enable Greenland to withdraw from the EEC;(3) if the legislative and administrative arrangements which will require to be carried out to enable Greenland to withdraw from the EEC are different from the legislative and adminstrative arrangements required to enable a full member State of the EEC to withdraw; and if he will make a statement;(4) if it is the view of Her Majesty's Government that Geenland should be permitted to withdraw from the EEC following the recent referendum in that country.

Her Majesty's Government have noted with regret that a majority of those voting in the Greenland referendum have expressed a wish to leave the Community. It is for the Greenlandic and Danish Governments to decide how to respond to that wish. If and when a formal request from the Danish Government is received, the Council will consider it.The legislative and administrative arrangements for the withdrawal of Greenland would be a matter for negotiation. The treaties contain no provision for the withdrawal either of a member State or of a part thereof.

Directives

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in the light of the recent decision of the EEC Court of Justice that EEC directives are legally binding from the time when they should have been implemented by national Governments and not from the time when national Governments actually produced and finalised the necessary consequential legislation, he will publish in the Official Report a list of the directives approved by the EEC which have not yet been formalised in United Kingdom law and a note of the dates when each of these directives fall to be implemented under decisions of the EEC.

My hon. Friend may have in mind a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice in relation to a particular article of the sixth Council directive on the harmonisation of the laws of the member States relating to turnover taxes, to the effect that a provision in the article in question might in certain circumstances be relied on by an individual even before the directive had been implemented by the member State in question.I am not aware of any general ruling of the Court of the kind referred to.

Council Of Ministers

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

At present, seven meetings of the Council are planned for March. Heads of State and Government will also meet in the European Council in Brussels on 29–30 March. The usual written forecast was deposited in the House on 25 February.The Research Council is expected to meet on 8 March to discuss the Community's fusion programme. Ministers may also consider a Community framework programme for research and development on raw materials and Community support for information technology.The Finance Council is expected to meet on 15 March to continue discussions on the European monetary system in preparation for the European Council. It will also consider the Commission's first quarterly review of the economic situation in the Community and may consider a Commission paper on indexation and is expected to discuss economic aspects of EC/Japan relations.

The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 15–16 and possibly 17 March and again at the end of the month on dates still to be finalised, to discuss the 1982–83 CAP price proposals and changes in Mediterranean agriculture in the context of the enlargement of the Community.

The Energy Council is expected to meet on 16 March to discuss progress on energy pricing and transparency, investment in the rational use of energy and Community policy on coal, nuclear energy and natural gas supplies.

The Foreign Affairs Council is expected to meet on 22–23 March. The second day will be devoted to the 30 May mandate. The Council will also discuss preparations for the European Council, trade relations with Japan, Community membership of the sixth International Tin Agreement and possibly also the bringing into force of the International Natural Rubber Agreement. It will consider a new Commission paper of STABEX. There may also need to be a further meeting between the Council and the European Parliament for conciliation on a draft management regulation for the Community's food aid programme. There will be a Ministerial meeting with Spain on the negotiations for Spanish accession to the Community.

The Fisheries Council is expected to meet on dates to be arranged to discuss the outstanding issues of a revised common fisheries policy.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Russian Trade Delegation (Rent Arrears)

asked the Lord Privy Seal what approaches he has had from the London borough of Camden to assist it to obtain £½ million arrears of rates owed by the Russian trade delegation in Highgate; and whether he proposes to take any action in this matter.

The collection of rates is primarily a matter between the rating authority and the occupier. Her Majesty's Government have over the years nevertheless held discussions with Camden council and the Soviet authorities in an effort to assist in resolving this problem. These efforts will continue. We are considering a recent request from Camden council for a certificate under the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 in respect of the premises used by the Soviet trade delegation.

Mr Yasser Arafat

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has any plans to meet the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Yasser Arafat, during his forthcoming visit to Syria in April; and whether his noble Friend will discuss the possible ramifications of such a meeting when he visits Israel at the end of March.

My right hon. and noble Friend has no plans to meet Mr. Arafat during his forthcoming visits to the Middle East. The question of discussing such a meeting with the Israeli Government does not therefore arise. We have frequently made clear that British Ministers would only be prepared to meet Mr. Arafat if such a meeting were likely to contribute to the cause of peace.

Podrabinck Brothers

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make representations to the Soviet Government to urge them to release the Podrabinck brothers, in view of their ill health; and if Her Majesty's Government's representative will raise the matter with the Soviet delegation to the European Security Conference in Madrid as a matter of urgency.

The Government deplore Soviet violations of human rights and noted with concern the re-sentencing of the Podrabinck brothers in 1981 and the further deterioration of their health. The leader of the British delegation to the Madrid review meeting drew these cases to the attention of the head of the Soviet delegation in December. We shall continue to take suitable opportunities to raise their plight.

Employment

Northern Region

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many instrument artificers are registered as unemployed in the Northern region.

At 10 December 1981, the latest date for which the information is available, there were 98 unemployed people registered at employment offices in the Northern region for employment in precision instrument maintaining and repairing occupations, excluding watch and clock repairers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs in total are supported by the temporary short-time working compensation scheme for (a) each of the travel-to-work areas that comprise the county of Cumbria, (b) the Northern region, and (c) the North-West region, for the last month for which statistics are available.

The following table shows the figures requested:

January 1982
Area	Number of potentially redundant jobs covered in applications that were current in January 1982
Furness travel-to-work area	NIL
Kendal travel-to-work area	23
Whitehaven travel-to-work area	107
Workington travel-to-work area	370
Carlisle employment office area	21
Keswick employment office area	NIL
Penrith employment office area	NIL
Northern region	1,304
North-West region	23,758

Steel (Arc Welding)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider supporting the work carried out at the University College of South Wales at Cardiff into the effect on health of arc welding stainless steel.

The Health and Safety Executive has funds for research in occupational health, but has not received any request from the University College of South Wales to support the work referred to. The HSE has joined with industry and the Medical Research Council in membership of the United Kingdom steering group for welding health and safety, and I suggest that, initially, any request should go to this group, which has some call on funds from industry.

Industrial Training Boards

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the foundry industrial training board have been made redundant; and at approximately what cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November no redundancies have been declared.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the iron and steel industrial training board have been made redundant; and at what approximate cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November, one redundancy had taken effect by 26 February. As one individual is involved it would not be right to disclose the cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the air transport and travel industrial training board have been made redundant; and at what approximate cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November no redundancies had taken effect by 26 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the chemical and allied products industrial training board have been made redundant; and at what approximate cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November, 87 redundancies had taken effect by 26 February, at an approximate cost of £2,402,608.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the distribution industrial training board have been made redundant; and at what approximate cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November, 31 redundancies had taken effect by 26 February at an approximate cost of £138,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the footwear leather and fur skin industrial training board have been made redundant; and at what approximate cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November, eight redundancies had taken effect by 26 February 1982, at an approximate cost of £123,732.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the furniture and timber industrial training board have been made redundant; and at what approximate cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November, 23 redundancies had taken effect by 26 February at an approximate cost of £385,568.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the petroleum industrial training board have been made redundant; and at approximately what cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November no redundancies had taken effect by 26 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the shipbuilding industrial training board have been made redundant; and at approximately what cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November no redundancies had taken effect by 26 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the printing and publishing industrial training board have been made redundant; and at approximately what cost.

Since my right hon. Friend's announcement on 16 November, 69 redundancies had taken effect by 26 February, at an approximate cost of £1,415,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he proposes to bring forward orders to abolish industrial training boards; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend hopes shortly to lay orders before Parliament winding up a number of industrial training boards. The Manpower Services Commission is discussing with employer organisations action to establish effective alternative arrangements for training in sectors that will no longer be covered by statutory boards.

Numbers of Vacancies Remaining Unfilled at Employment Offices
	Yorkshire and Humberside region		Hull travel-to-work area
	June 1979	December 1981	June 1979	December 1981
Managerial (general management)	6	4	4	—
Professional and related supporting management and administration	96	101	22	16
Professional and related in education welfare and health	521	347	35	47
Literary, artistic and sports	72	39	10	5
Professional and related in science, engineering, technology and similar fields	210	145	26	20
Managerial (excluding general management)	269	276	31	37
Clerical and related	2,152	1,098	144	101
Selling	1,344	899	72	77
Security and protective service	247	102	11	13
Catering, cleaning, hairdressing and other personal service	3,655	1,357	218	153
Farming, fishing and related	226	41	10	5
Materials processing (excluding metal)	565	101	13	6
Making and repairing (excluding metal and electrical)	1,407	321	64	21
Processing, making, repairing and related (metal and electrical)	3,292	381	140	38
Painting, repetitive assembling, product inspecting, packaging and related	818	97	35	11
Construction, mining and related not elsewhere classified	1,256	174	110	7
Transport operating, materials moving and storing and related	1,520	167	64	9

Yorkshire And Humberside

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were registered unemployed for six months or more or for 12 months or more in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Yorkshire and Humberside area and (c) the Hull travel-to-work area in May 1979; and what were the comparable figures at the latest available date.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the registered unemployment in the Hull travel-to-work area in May 1979; and what is the figure at the latest available date.

At May 1979, the number of people registered as unemployed in the Hull travel-to-work area was 14,300. The corresponding figure at February 1982 was 27,639. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a breakdown by occupation of the registered vacancies in (a) the Yorkshire and Humberside region, and (b) the Hull travel-to-work area in May 1979 and for the latest available date.

The information is available in March, June, September and December. The following table gives the numbers of vacancies remaining unfilled at employment offices in the areas specified at June 1979 and December 1981 (not seasonally adjusted). The figures for careers offices are not analysed by occupation. The statistics relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices which are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the economy as a whole. The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the twelve month period to December 1981, 94,260 people were placed in jobs by employment offices in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all placings.

	Yorkshire and Humberside region		Hull travel-to-work area
	June 1979	December 1981	June 1979	December 1981
Miscellaneous (including general labourers)	1,061	172	58	20
Total, all occupations	18,717	5,822	1,067	586

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of vacancies registered with his Department in the United Kingdom, the Yorkshire and Humberside region and the Hull travel-to-work area in May 1979; and what are the comparable figures for the latest available date.

The following table gives the numbers of vacancies remaining unfilled at employment offices and careers offices in the areas specified at May 1979 and February 1982. The figures relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to

Notified vacancies remaining unfilled
	May 1979		February 1982
	At employment offices	At careers offices	At employment offices	At careers offices
United Kingdom	267,916	41,265	98,731	5,389
Yorkshire and Humberside region	18,217	4,301	6,290	365
Hull travel-to-work area	938	379	561	26

Grooms

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his reply of 22 February on the report of the low pay unit on the wages and conditions of grooms, he will consider setting up a wages council for grooms.

The low pay unit recommended that the riding industry itself should examine the rates of pay and terms and conditions of employment of grooms, and consider what action might be taken. It would not be appropriate for any steps to be taken by the Government before the industry has had the opportunity to do this.

Wages Councils

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many establishments are covered by wages councils orders in England; how many visits were made in 1979, 1980 and 1981; how many underpayments were discovered; what are the amounts of cash involved in underpayments; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not available in the precise form requested. However, on 31 December 1981 there were 336,844 establishments in England known to be within scope of Wages Councils. The following are the other figures for England requested:

	1979	1980	1981
Establishments inspected by visit	28,986	28,679	20,203
Employees found to be underpaid	19,327^*	23,637^*	20,426^*
Total arrears assessed	£1,345,204^*	£1,785,376^*	£1,743,649^*

be about one third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.

The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the twelve month period to December 1981, 1,363,108 people were placed in jobs by employment offices and 117,900 by careers offices in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all vacancies.

^* Including holiday remuneration.

The figures quoted cannot be regarded as representative of wages council trades as a whole in England as the Inspectorate investigates all complaints and tends to concentrate its resources in areas where underpayments are likely to occur.

Young Workers Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what evidence he has which indicates that the young workers scheme will create a significant number of new jobs.

Since there have been no precisely similar schemes before, the young workers scheme is experimental, and there are as yet no empirical data on which to assess the likely effect of the scheme. However, there is evidence from research that there is a relationship between the relative earnings of young people and youth employment, and the weekly payments will enable employers to take on more young employees than they could otherwise have afforded.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received representations from the low pay unit on the young workers scheme and the possible withdrawal of wages council protection from young workers; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a letter to which I shall be replying shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will build safeguards into the young workers scheme to ensure that employers do not merely replace adult workers with subsidised young workers.

The valuable experience of older workers would usually be sufficient to dissuade employers from replacing them with young workers who, to qualify under the scheme, must be in their first year of employment on the date from which the employer first successfully claims payment. Employees who feel they have been unfairly dismissed do of course generally have recourse to an industrial tribunal under the employment protection legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will build safeguards into the young workers scheme to ensure that employers are not subsidised whilst illegally underpaying young workers.

Application and claim forms for the young workers scheme include declarations which must be signed by employers that the wages paid to young workers in respect of whom payments will be made are not less than the minimum remuneration payable under any statutory wages order which applies to their employment.

Youth Opportunities Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young unemployed working on the youth opportunities programme are currently placed with registered charities.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any proposals for improving the industrial safety of those working on the youth opportunities programme.

The Manpower Services Commission, which operates the youth opportunities programme, is now discussing with the CBI and TUC and the Health and Safety Executive what further steps may be necessary to improve the industrial safety of YOP trainees.

Industrial Training

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the names and addresses of those voluntary bodies, sector by sector, which will take over any of the work of the statutory industrial training boards which are to be abolished;(2) how many instructors and training personnel have been appointed to take up posts, or have been earmarked for future posts, in the voluntary bodies which will replace industrial training boards.

The Manpower Services Commission is discussing plans for non-statutory training arrangements with over 100 employer organisations. It is too soon to give a full list of bodies which will be setting up such arrangements for the next few months or to know the number of staff they will appoint.

Plessey Company

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why, and in what circumstances, his Department advised the representatives of the Plessey company that it was illegal to pay full redundancy payments to certain workers at Plessey, Bathgate, during the course of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service negotiations at Glasgow on 25 February.

To the best of my knowledge my Department gave no such advice to the company.

Housing Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of general and pensioner household expenditure is formed by housing cost; and if this has changed over the past two years.

The family expenditure survey shows the following proportions of pensioner household expenditure and total household expenditure formed by housing costs for the last three available years.

Housing Costs^ as percentage of total expenditure*
	Pensioners Households†		All Households
	1 person	2 persons
1978	26·2	15·4	14·8
1979	24·7	15·5	14·6
1980‡	26·8	17·0	15·0
Notes:
^* Comprises rent and rates (net of rebates), imported rent of owner-occupied housing and those living rent-free, water and sewage charges and expenditure on insurance of structure, repairs, maintenance and decorating.
† A "pensioner" household is defined as one in which at least three-quarters of the total income of the household is derived from national Insurance retirement and similar pensions, including benefits paid in supplement to, or instead of, such pensions. The two-person households comprise one man and one woman.
‡ Results for the family expenditure survey for 1980 will be published very shortly.

Benefits (Taxation)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many copies of form PB4 have been handed to unemployed persons informing them of the intention to tax unemployment benefits.

Leaflet PB4 will be issued to all unemployed claimants by the middle of March. This will be phased to coincide with claimants' attendance at the benefit office and will largely take place between 1 and 12 March. At some offices where, for example, normal attendance arrangements have been modified the leaflet has already been issued. It is not possible to say how many have so far been sent out.

Graduates (Unemployment)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of those who graduated in 1981 were still unemployed by the end of that year, in number and percentage terms; and what are the comparable figures for each of the previous five years and if he can break the figures down to show the position for engineering and arts, languages and pure science graduates.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1982, c. 187]: There is no exact record of the number of graduates who are unemployed at the end of the year in which they take their degree. The official unemployment figures do not record whether an unemployed person is a graduate. The estimates that are available come from surveys of the first destinations of each year's new graduates.These surveys are conducted by graduate careers advisory services at each university in the United Kingdom and each polytechnic in England and Wales. The results from each institution are collated and published as separate totals for all universities and all polytechnics. This system gives a record of first destinations for some 90 per cent. of university graduates and 80 per cent. of polytechnic graduates. The latest available figures are for 1980; results for 1981 will not be available until later this year.

Unemployment of New First Degree Graduates of United Kingdom Universities
	Men and Women
	Number unemployed at end of year					Unemployed as a percentage of all graduates of known destination
	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
Subject
1. Education	27	30	42	29	77	5·1	4·0	3·9	2·5	6·2
2. Medicine, dentistry, health	30	36	34	47	44	0·7	0·7	0·7	0·9	0·8
3. Engineering and technology	279	259	159	192	421	3·9	3·5	2·0	2·3	4·8
4. Agriculture, forestry, veterinary service	48	55	51	49	101	5·8	5·7	5·2	4·5	8·4
5. Science	958	903	716	722	1,363	7·4	7·1	5·4	5·4	9·8
6. Social, administrative and business studies	920	887	816	870	1,520	6·9	6·2	5·4	5·6	9·4
7. Architecture, other professional and vocational subjects	49	33	30	20	61	5·9	4·1	3·1	2·2	6·4
8. Language, literature and other studies	488	460	427	530	875	7·5	6·7	5·9	7·1	11·3
9. Arts other than languages	369	400	394	426	658	6·9	7·3	6·8	7·2	11·6
Total	3,168	3,063	2,669	2,885	5,120	6·1	5·6	4·7	4·9	8·4
Source: First Destinations of University Graduates, annual volumes, published by Universities Statistical Record.

Table 2
Unemployment of new, full-time and sandwich, First degree graduates of Polytechnics Men and Women
	Number unemployed at end of year					Unemployed as a percentage of all graduates of known destinations
Subject	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
1 Education	46	95	82	99	145	10·3	10·2	5·3	4·5	8·5
2 Health	7	7	4	3	8	2·4	2·2	1·0	0·8	2·0
3 Engineering	87	72	64	64	173	4·2	3·4	2·8	2·6	6·6
4 Science	167	152	135	188	286	11·1	9·9	8·4	9·9	13·4
5 Social studies	320	320	308	312	536	10·7	9·3	8·0	7·3	11·9
6 Vocational studies	61	52	36	47	143	10·6	7·1	4·0	4·8	12·6
7 Language studies	35	39	55	49	55	10·0	10·7	12·0	12·7	14·0
8 Arts	34	25	27	99	154	14·6	12·1	15·1	12·3	19·3
9 Music, drama and visual arts	136	185	184	233	319	13·6	14·2	129	14·7	18·7
Total	893	947	895	1,094	1,819	9·4	8·7	7·1	7·3	11·8

Source: First Destinations of Polytechnic Students, annual volumes, published by the Committee of Directors of Polytechnics.

Notes on tables:

(i) It is possible to combine the figures from the universities and polytechnics but this does then conceal differences between them e.g. subject composition.

(ii) The results do not cover all of each year's graduates they exclude graduates of other institutions such as colleges of higher education, part-time students and post-gradutes. In case, information in the form requested is not available.

Social Services

Departmental Office (Norwich)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department's Norwich office had, by 15 February, failed to issue a social insurance

The following tables show, for each year form 1976 to 1980, the number of new first degree graduates recorded as unemployed and the unemployed as a percentage of all graduates whose destination was recorded. Figures are shown for universities and polytechnics separately and for each of the main subject groups used in the statistics. It is not possible to get a precise match to the subjects requested.

contribution payment exemption certificate as requested early in December 1981; and what was the reason for the delay.

The exemption certificate to which the hon. Member refers was issued on 16 February. Owing to difficulties arising over the verification of the prospective pensioner's date of birth, the certificate was not issued with the provisional determination of the pension rate as is done normally.

Civil Service Pay

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what means regional offices informed managers and staff at his Department's local offices of the Government's pay offer.

The information was conveyed by letter, by telephone or by hand from regional offices or headquarters to each local office manager, who informed his staff, generally by an office notice.

Hospital Waiting Lists

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the most recent figure for the number of persons waiting to enter mental hospitals;(2) if he will provide an approximate figure for the number of elderly persons waiting to enter psychogeriatric wards in National Health Service hospitals.

Returns from health authorities indicate that at 31 December 1980 the number of people awaiting admission to mental illness hospitals and psychiatric departments of general hospitals was 3,378. This includes elderly people awaiting admission to psychogeriatric wards, for whom we have no reliable separate figures.

Invalidity Pension

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost to the Exchequer of raising the age limit of eligibility for non-contributory invalidity pension to (a) 65 years and (b) any age, and subjecting it to a means test.

It is estimated that the cost of raising the age limit for women to 65, as it already is for men, would be about £2 milliom on the assumption that the existing rules for entitlement to and payment of non-contributory invalidity pension were otherwise unchanged. There would be little difference in cost between this change and the complete abolition of the age limit, because for most people who become incapable of work after the age of 65 retirement pension is payable either in their own right or as dependants of pensioners. The savings from any means test for non-contributory invalidity pension would depend on the income scale adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the review of the non-contributory invalidity pension will be completed.

I cannot yet give a precise date for the completion of the review.

Child Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the instructions to local offices concerning cases in which payment of child benefit four-weekly in arrears causes hardship.

No. It is not the normal practice to publish local office instructions. But the intention is that claims for weekly payment of child benefit will be granted provided the payee has tried four-weekly payment and there is no reason to doubt that this is causing hardship.

Unemployment Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the average weekly unemployment benefit of a married man with two children earning average industrial wages in May 1979, including earnings-related supplement; what is the corresponding figure for the present, assuming no earnings-related supplement; and if he will express both figures in current prices.

In May 1979 an unemployed married man with two children who had been earning average industrial wages* would have received £47·07 in unemployment benefit, including earnings-related supplement, and child benefit. The present corresponding figure, assuming no earnings-related supplement, has been £48·50 since November 1981. Those figures are equivalent to £67·72 and £49·08 respectively in terms of January 1982 prices, on the basis of the index of retail prices.This comparison does not, however, take account of the fact that the great majority of people claiming unemployment benefit formerly had earnings below the average; nor of the fact that, in the absence of earnings-related supplement, supplementary benefit is more likely to be payable in addition to unemployment benefit.

^* Average gross earnings of full-time male manual workers, aged 21 and over, in manufacturing and some of the principal non-manufacturing industries, based on the October inquiry estimates.

Unemployment Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the number of children living in households where at least one adult member is unemployed for 1977, 1979 and the most recent date possible, comparable to the figure provided in his reply of 2 June 1981 to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook)—[Official Report, c. 333.]

As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 2 June 1981—[Vol. 5, c. 333–4]—the information available relates to the number of children for whom a dependency increase of unemployment benefit was being paid at the date when a count was made, or who were included in the calculation of the requirements of an unemployed person getting a supplementary allowance—that is, broadly, those children who were dependent on an unemployed adult.The latest available figure, which I gave to the hon. Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 11 February 1982—[Vol. 17, c.

452]—based on sample surveys carried out in November and December 1980, is just under three-quarters of a million. The comparable figure for November 1977 was about 650,000, and that for November 1979 was about 450,000.

District Pharmaceutical Officers

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is proposed that district health authorities should appoint a district phamaceutical officer; and if he will make a statement.

In our policy circular on the structure and management of the National Health Service (HC(80)8) we have made it quite clear that it is for each district health authority to decide whether to appoint a district phamaceutical officer.

Overseas Visitors (Health Care)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he proposes to introduce to monitor temporary resident forms completed by general practitioners to ensure that the patient is an overseas visitor staying with resident relatives; how many such forms were lodged in 1981; and if he will make a statement.

The place of origin of the subject of a temporary resident claim by a general medical practitioner, and his relationship with the person or persons with whom he temporarily resides, has no relevance to the question of payment or otherwise of such a claim by a doctor for treatment. This information is not available centrally and there are no proposals to collect it.

Nurses

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider extending to para-medical staff trained by the State, such as laboratory technicians and physiotherapists, the principles referred to by the Minister of State in his reply to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle), Official Report, 22 February, c. 298, on the private sector's contribution to nurse training.

Yes, in principle, but the ways in which the independent sector could assist with training vary according to the profession concerned.

Prescription Charges

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the percentage rise in prescription charges on 1 April as compared with May 1979.

The prescription charge, as already announced, increases to £1.30 on 1 April. This represents an increase of 550 per cent. since May 1979, when the charge was 20p.

Health Care Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the total numbers of hospital beds in the United Kingdom for each of the years 1960, 1970, 1980 and at the latest date available; and if he will show in each case the percentage of beds actually in use at that time, together with the ratio of staff to each bed.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

Hearing Aid Centres

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the names and locations of the hearing aid centre in south London.

The names and locations of hearing aid centres in south London are as follows:

Area Health Authority and Address

Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham AHA(T):
- Hearing Aid Clinic, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS.
- Hearing Aid Centre, Guy's Hospital, St. Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT.
- Hearing Aid Department, St. Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH.
Bromley AHA:
- The Audiology Centre, Bromley Hospital, Cromwell Avenue, Bromley, Kent BR2 9AJ.
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth AHA(T):
- Hearing Aid Distribution Centre, St. Helier Hospital, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey.
- Hearing Aid Centre, St. George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London SW17 0QT.
- Hearing Aid and Audiolagy Unit, Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton Lane, London SW15 5PN.
- ^* Braidwood Audiology Unit, 20 Elmcourt Road, London SE27.
- ^* This centre is run by the Inner London Education Authority.

Tobacco Advertising (Sponsorship)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will propose to the local authority associations the voluntary adoption of a code of practice which would prohibit their members accepting tobacco advertising sponsorship for any of their activities.

No. Cigarette poster advertising and sports sponsorship are already controlled by voluntary agreements between the tobacco industry and the Government.

Local Offices (Manpower)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the Prime Minister's statement on Tuesday 16 February, Official Report, c. 142, that staffing levels are reviewed to bear a direct relation to increased loads placed on local offices, and his own replies to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Handsworth on 4 February that numbers of individuals on supplementary benefit at the Birmingham, Handsworth, office had risen from 12,796 on 20 February 1979 to 18,203 on 22 December 1981 whilst numbers of staff employed there had fallen from 244 on 1 January 1979 to 199 on 1 January 1982, he will immediately review the staffing level at the Birmingham, Handsworth, office.

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

Appeal Tribunals (Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what evidence he has that people are deterred from appealing to tribunals because they are told in the letter informing them of their right to an appeal that the Secretary of State has power to award costs against either party when an oral hearing is arranged;(2) if he will inform people who have a right of appeal to tribunals coming under the jurisdiction of his Department, of the type of circumstances which would lead him to award costs against either party and of the frequency with which costs have been awarded in the past;

(3) if he will list the tribunals for which he is able to award costs against one or other party; in the case of each tribunal, how often this has occurred; and in what circumstances it is his policy to award such costs.

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

Supplementary Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Handsworth, Official Report, 18 February, column 197, in view of the absence of statistics for the number of persons affected, on what basis the decision was taken to alter the conditions of entitlement to supplementary benefit for individuals undertaking a course of study for less than 21 hours per week; and what savings as a result of this decision he expects.

The revised guidance on the interpretation of regulation 7 of the Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Regulations 1981, to which the hon. Member refers, is being issued by the Chief Supplementary Benefits Officer, who is independent of my right hon. Friend. I understand that the revised guidance reflects legal advice and is intended to bring the way supplementary benefit officers in local offices interpret the regulation into line with the general intention of the former Supplementary Benefits Commission, on whose policy the regulation is based. I also understand that public expenditure considerations played no part in his decision to issue revised guidance, and no estimate of the public expenditure effect of the change is available. The detailed provisions of the regulation are at present under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether families in receipt of supplementary benefit are liable to lose a portion of their benefit if a member of the family begins to receive educational maintenance allowance.

Education maintenance allowances are taken into account in calculating entitlement to supplementary benefit, subject to a disregard of up to £7·50 a week for allowances received for pupils attending school and up to £9·50 a week for pupils attending further education establishments.

Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total numbers of non-pensioner claimants and pensioner claimants receiving benefits from his Department in the borough of Walsall in May 1979 and at the latest available date; what is the percentage change in these two groups; and if he will also give the total staff employed at the two Walsall offices in May 1979 and now and the percentage change.

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

Reciprocal Health Arrangements

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the arrangements for providing visitors from the United Kingdom to Italy, Greece and French Guiana with adequate and free hospital treatment; and what monitoring arrangements his Department operates to ensure that the reciprocal arrangements work fairly and well.

Hospital—and other medical—treatment for United Kingdom visitors to the countries mentioned is provided under the European Community's social security regulations for migrant workers. These regulations provide that a person who meets prescribed social security conditions is, when visiting another Community country, entitled to receive immediately necessary treatment under the host country's health care scheme and on the same terms and conditions as the insured nationals of that country.The extent of the provision and the manner in which the services are provided are matters for the Government of each individual member State and other member States cannot intervene. However, the Department takes up with the institutions of the other member States any case where a qualified United Kingdom citizen has had difficulty over reimbursement of medical expenses, or where his entitlement to free or reduced cost treatment has not been recognised.Officials of the member States meet regularly as a group to discuss the operation of the social security regulations, and, where necessary, problems are taken up at a Government to Government level. Overseas Departments such as French Guiana count as part of Metropolitan France.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if visitors to the United Kingdom from France's overseas territories like French Guiana will be exempt from the proposed new hospital charges.

Nationals of European Community member states, including French citizens from Overseas Departments such as French Guiana, will be exempt from charges for immediately necessary treatment, and in some cases for other treatment also.

Mobility Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what circumstances the recipient of a mobility allowance is re-examined by a medical officer.

A further examination is carried out when a recipient makes a renewal claim on the expiry of a previous award. Also, an examination may be carried out by the doctors on a medical board or medical appeal tribunal if an award is being reviewed because of a report that the recipient may no longer satisfy the medical conditions for the allowance.

Supplementary Benefits Commission (Annual Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will present the equivalent information contained in tables 4.1, 5.3, 8.4, 10.2, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 15.3, 16.1, 16.3, D.1, D.2, D.3, D.4, D.5, and appendix E of the Supplementary Benefits Commission's annual report 1977 for (a) Liverpool and (b) Merseyside; and if he will update the information for 1980 and 1981.

[pursuant to her reply 10 February 1982, c. 412]: As the material requested is so lengthy I have written to the hon. Member and placed copies in the Library of the House.

Environment

Drainage Rate

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the outcome of the reconsideration by the Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services of the definition of local government expenditure in relation to parish and land drainage precepts, which reconsideration was promised on 18 January, Official Report, c. 112.

I am considering this along with other similar cases which have been raised. I shall announce a decision as soon as possible.

Departmental Buildings (Conservation)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been spent by his Department during 1981–82 upon structural conservation measures for buildings under his control; and what savings have accrued and are expected to accrue from these investments.

I regret that the information is not available in this form. Perhaps the hon. Member will let me know more precisely what he has in mind.

Pollution

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he monitors the incidence and effects of polluted rainfall, more commonly referred to as "acid rain"; and if he will make a statement.

On the question of monitoring the incidence of acid rain, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 8 June and 3 July 1981.—[Vol. 6, c. 43; Vol. 7, c. 526].A great deal of work into the effects of air pollution, including acid rain, has been carried out in the United Kingdom and is still continuing; examples are the effects of air pollution on forestry and crops and the effects on materials. My Department is in contact with the bodies undertaking this work and also maintains a close interest in similar work being done internationally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government have ratified the Economic Commission for Europe convention on long-range transboundary air pollution signed by 35 nations in November 1979 at Geneva.

The United Kingdom has yet to ratify the convention but there is no obstacle to doing so. We are abiding by an agreement that member States of the EC and the Community itself should ratify the convention simultaneously later this year, when all have completed their necessary procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to take any initiative to ensure a reduction to the minimum practicable level of the harmful effects upon the environment of airborne pollutants, including sulphur dioxide; and what co-ordination exists between countries, particularly European countries, to encourage and achieve such a reduction of the polluted atmosphere.

Under the "best practicable means" principle the aim of emission control as already applied in the United Kingdom is to ensure that adverse effects are reduced to the lowest practicable level.United Kingdom action in the field of atmospheric pollution is co-ordinated with that of other countries through our membership of various organisations such as the European Community, the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Within the EEC a recently-adopted directive will require member countries to limit ground level concentrations of smoke and sulphur dioxide to prescribed levels.The EC Council of Ministers has also taken a decision designed to ensure exchange of information on air pollution matters between member countries. Action on the emission of pollutants from motor vehicles is co-ordinated within the UNECE and the United Kingdom is working with the other members to achieve steady reductions in this area.The United Kingdom is also collaborating with the other signatories to the UNECE convention on long-range transboundary air pollution in studies on various aspects of air pollution and its effects on the environment.

Draft European Development Fund Contract For Construction Work

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the date of the latest European development fund contract for construction work; and what is the up-to-date position in this regard.

The Community issued its latest text of the draft general conditions for works contracts financed by the European development fund on 12 February 1980 (reference ACP-CEE 2128/80 Annex I) and issued an addendum to this on 19 February 1980 (reference ACP-CEE 2128/80 Annex I Add. 1). These were forwarded as working documents to the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States which were co-signatories to the second ACP-EEC convention signed at Lomé on 31 October 1979, for their consideration.The ACP States responded on 24 March 1981 with a set of counter proposals which have thereafter been the subject of discussions between expert delegations from EC member States and the Commission. The delegations accepted a number of the provisions proposed by the ACP States in whole or in part and the adoption of certain new provisions proposed by the Commission. Further discussions between the Community and ACP States are in prospect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the proposed position of British advisers and consultants under the draft European development fund contract for construction work; and what changes he is seeking in this respect in his negotiations on the draft.

There are three categories of consultant or adviser—the supervisor, the supervisor's representative and the quantity surveyor—contained within the latest draft of the general conditions for works contracts financed by the European development fund, issued by the Council of the European Communities. Where appropriate I would expect the British consulting engineer or architect to be appointed as the supervisor. As defined in the draft conditions, the supervisor would be the

"person entrusted by the contracting authority responsible for planning and control over the execution of the project to be implemented".

I am not seeking any changes in this respect.

Water

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all abstraction works or other units in England at which water is abstracted from rivers upon which there are regulating reservoirs in Wales, together with an estimate of the average annual volume of water in millions of gallons abstracted by each of them.

The information is not available in the form requested, but the following table gives details of water taken for public supply by the North-West water authority in 1980 and Severn-Trent water authority in 1981.

Source and location of abstraction point	Receiving water authority	Actual annual volume of water abstracted^*
River Dee
Huntington	NWWA	24,150
Deeside and Heronbridge at Chester	NWWA	13,130
Shropshire Union Canal (Hurlesden)	NWWA	2,975
Alwen reservoir	NWWA	1,470
Lake Vyrnwy	NWWA	16,860
River Severn (1)
Shrewsbury	Severn-Trent	1,598
Ironbridge	CEGB	1,991
Hampton Loade	Severn-Trent	9,129
Trimpley	Severn-Trent	4
Worcester	Severn-Trent	2,497
Upton	Severn-Trent	6,568
The Mythe (Tewkesbury)	Severn-Trent	6,873
	Bristol
	Waterworks
Sharpness Canal (Purton)	Company	7,226
^* Million gallons per year.

These abstractions are supported, in part, by English and Welsh tributaries which have no regulatory reservoirs. Apart from its river regulatory function, the storage capacity of the Clywedog reservoir protects the Vale of Powys from flooding.

Transport

Transport Grant (Staffordshire)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his reply to the hon. and learned Member for Burton of 17 February, Official Report, c. 145, by what proportion or amount his allocation of accepted capital expenditure in the current year's transport grant settlement for Staffordshire was increased to give a priority to bypasses and relief roads.

Our whole approach to the distribution of grant between counties involved determination to give high priority to counties which planned to build by-passes and relief roads. This meant that we were able to accept capital expenditure on roads such as the Tamworth western loop in Staffordshire. Unfortunately, we were seriously concerned at the size of Staffordshire's bid for revenue support, and the high priority that the council is clearly giving to current expenditure must inevitably be at the expense of capital investment.

Trunk Road Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many trunk road contracts costing over £1 million he hopes to let in 1982–83; how many were let in 1981–82 and 1980–81; and what was the total value of the schemes let in each year.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures and the continuing availability of funds, we should be able to let 30 such trunk road contracts during 1982–83, with a total value of about £300 million at November 1979 prices.Comparable figures for the two preceding years are:

	Contracts let	Total value
£ million
1980–81	11	176·2
1981–82 (provisional)	39	303·0

British Transport Docks Board

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects the British Transport Docks Board to meet its 1981–82 external financing limit.

The British Transport Docks Board's external financing limit (EFL) for 1981–82 was set at £—5 million; that implies that the board should reduce its net borrowings by £5 million, as well as financing all its capital expenditure from internal resources. When the EFL was set in November 1980, it was hoped that the board would benefit from a substantial recovery in the volume of trade; but in the event this has not occurred. The board's finances in 1981–82 have also been severely affected by the series of industrial disputes at Southampton which occurred between March 1981 and January this year.In response, the board had made strenuous efforts to reduce its operating costs, and it has succeeded in reducing its total workforce by 11½ per cent. during 1981. This has involved high extraordinary costs in 1981–82 in the form of severance payments to the employees made redundant. The overall result is that the board does not now expect to meet its EFL for 1981–82; and its requirement for external finance may be over £10 million. Any excess over the board's existing EFL will be met from the unallocated margin of the Contingency Reserve.

Archway Road

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received against the opening of a new Archway Road inquiry; and what consideration he gave to the objection that it will severely increase traffic congestion in Holloway Road and at the Archway roundabout, will increase the amounts of through traffic using residential roads in Islington and will cause further environmental problems.

Representations against the decision to hold a further inquiry have been received from seven local associations. The inquiry will enable my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport to obtain, through an independent inspector, the opinions of the interested parties on all the effects of various courses of action. Careful consideration will be given to all matters discussed in the inspector's report, including traffic conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to public funds of inquiries relating to Archway Road to date.

The total cost of the three Archway Road inquiries was £135,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in the light of his new proposals, if he will seek to reimburse objectors to the modified version of the Archway Road scheme before the previous inquiries for their costs in preparing and presenting evidence.

The normal provisions for reimbursement of costs to successful objectors as set out in Ministry of Housing and Local Government circular No. 73/65 will apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will abandon proposals for a further Archway Road inquiry.

No. A wide area of north London has suffered a great deal of damage as a result of years of indecision and fruitless public debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why, in view of its significant future impact upon Islington, he did not formally consult Islington borough council on the proposal to open a new Archway traffic scheme.

My proposal is to hold a public inquiry on alternative orders for Archway before any decision is made and is not, as the question has it, to open a new traffic scheme. All the customary procedures will be followed which will give Islington borough council, among others, ample opportunity to contribute its views.

Motorways

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if it is Government policy to have a road of motorway standard between London and Scotland; and, if so, at what point in central London such a road is intended to stop.

There is already a high standard route between London and Scotland made up of the M1, M6 and A74. Its terminal point in London as a motorway is at the North Circular road.Completion of the M40 between Oxford and Birmingham and the Department's programmed improvements to the A40 in Greater London will also provide a very high standard route right into Marylebone.

Sealink (Uk) Ltd

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether there is a separate co-operative plan for Sealink; if so, whether he has received either that plan or the plan for the subsidiaries of British Rail as a whole; and if he will take steps to publish the plan as soon as possible.

As in the case of other British Rail subsidiaries, a rolling five-year business plan is produced for Sealink UK Limited, which I discuss with the Railways Board as appropriate. It is not the board's practice to publish these individual plans.

Cross Channel Ferries

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that the existing sea ferries linking the United Kingdom with France and the planned development of these ferries are adequate for the traffic across the Channel; and if he will make a statement.

Whether the development of the existing ferry services might cater more effectively for future cross-Channel traffic than a fixed link is one of the matters presently being studied by officials of the United Kingdom and French Governments, with help from the Dover harbour board and the ferry operators concerned. It will be one of the matters taken into account in deciding whether to proceed with a fixed link.

Witton Viaduct

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if the contract has yet been let for the repair of the damaged concrete deck on the Witton Viaduct of the M6 motorway.

Yes.

Midland Link Motorway

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, on 22 February, Official Report, c. 320, he will give details of the contract awarded for the repair of the two dropped beams, giving the contractor, the cost and whether the job was awarded to the lowest tenderer.

This contract was dealt with entirely by West Midlands county council under the delegated authority embodied in the present agency agreement. It awarded the contract to Messrs. Balfour Beatty Limited at a cost of £44,338. I am told that this was the lowest final tender afer the two contractors who submitted the lowest first two bids had been allowed to adjust their tenders following discussions with the county council.

Defence

Nato (Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the change in the share of total NATO costs borne by the European allies over the past decade.

The European share of total defence spending by NATO countries has increased from 27 per cent. in 1971 to 36 per cent. in 1981. The increase is due largely to the lower level of United States defence expenditure following the end of the Vietnam war.

T2400 Class Submarine

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the £240 million for the sonar action information system and the fire control system of the T2400 submarine has been spent.

£5·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the £100 million set aside for the programme costs of the weapon handling and launching system of the T2400 submarine has so far been spent.

£3·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he hopes the T2400 submarine will come into service in the Royal Navy.

Well before the end of the decade.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been allocated for the development contract of the T2400 submarine; and how much has been spent.

I cannot add anything to my reply of 22 February.—[Vol. 18, c. 304.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present estimated unit cost of the T2400 submarine.

It is not the practice to reveal precise unit costs in advance of placing an order. Costs depend on the outcome of detailed negotiations between the Ministry of Defence and contractors, and it is not possible to give a firm figure until the contract negotiations are complete. However, our aim is that the unit cost of the T2400 submarine should be less than half that of a new nuclear submarine.

Procurement Executive

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of staff in the procurement executive; and how this has varied over each of the last two financial years.

The strength of the procurement executive at 1 February 1982 was 43,044, of whom 24,820 work in the research and development establishments. The figure excludes the Royal ordnance factories. The number of staff has varied over the past two financial years as follows:

	Numbers
1 April 1979	47,803
1 April 1980	46,966
1 April 1981	44,598

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the budgeted value of goods and services to be purchased by the procurement executive in the current financial year; how much of this is to be bought from foreign sources; and if he will give comparable figures for the last two financial years, stating whether they include goods and services purchased for the support of United Kingdom forces on the Continent.

The budgeted value of goods and services to be purchased by the procurement executive in the current financial year is £5·3 billion. It is assessed that about 10 per cent. by value of the contracts were with foreign sources. In 1980–81 the procurement executive spent £4·6 billion on the purchase of goods and services and in 1979–80 £3·8 billion. In both years contracts with foreign sources are assessed to account for 10 per cent. of the total expenditure. Expenditure by the procurement executive includes the purchase of goods and services for the support of United Kingdom forces on the Continent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to introduce multi-year procurement for Ministry of Defence contracts.

It has been standard Ministry of Defence practice for many years to let contracts on a multi-year rather than a year-by-year basis.

Promotions

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average period over the past 10 years during which (a) a brigadier has held that rank before being promoted to major-general and (b) a major-general has held that rank before being promoted to lieutenant-general; and what have been the most rapid progressions from (i) brigadier to major-general, (ii) major-general to lieutenant-general and (iii) brigadier to lieutenant-general during these years.

For brigadiers promoted to major-general during the past 10 years the average is four years two months.For major-generals promoted to lieutenant-general the average is three years 10 months.The most rapid progression from brigadier to major-general is one year 10 months.The most rapid progression from major-general to lieutenant-general is one year 11 months.The most rapid progression from brigadier to lieutenant-general is seven years one month.

Disturbance Allowances

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure parity between the disturbance allowances paid to Service men and those paid to civil servants in similar circumstances.

No. Rates of disturbance allowance payable to married Service men, which vary according to family circumstances and which are reviewed annually, are based on principles established by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in 1969, which took cognisance of the difference between military and civilian conditions of service. These differences continue to apply.

Commercial Exploitation Levy

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made with reviewing the operation of the commercial exploitation levy.

We have considered the representations made to us by industry about the operation of the commercial exploitation levy, but we have been shown no evidence that the levy has actually prejudiced defence sales. We are, however, keeping the position under review, and we are always prepared to consider a reduction in levy in individual cases in order to assist a particular sale.

Strathcona Report

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Departmet has made with the implementation of the recommendations of the Strathcona report.

The devolution of project support work from research and development establishments to industry is continuing. For over 30 major equipments, technical responsibility for design, development project support or post-design services work was devolved to industry in 1981. Further devolution is planned for 1982. As recommended, resources are progressively being switched from project work to long-term research.Discussions with industry are continuing about greater industrial involvement in gas turbine research and development and rocket motors.The scope for securing better value for money in the provision of domestic and technical support services at establishments is, as recommended, being tested through the invitation of specific tenders from outside contractors and where appropriate work is being put out to contract.As I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Mr. Critchley) on 16 March 1981—[Vol. 1, c.

1]—it has been decided to examine by what means and to what extent Farnborough airfield could be opened up to general aviation use. To that end, discussions are currently under way with the local authorities concerned.

Hawk Trainers

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the programme of arming the Hawk trainers will be completed; and how many aircraft are involved.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 8 February. Eighty-nine aircraft are involved.

Nimrod Aircraft

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of equipping the Nimrod airborne early warning aircraft with an in-flight refuelling capability; and if he will order such a capability as an integral part of such aircraft.

To introduce the modification now might cost in the region of half a million pounds per aircraft and would cause disruption in the conversion programme. It is not clear that the aircraft will need an in-flight refuelling capability: if necessary, we shall consider fitting it later in the life of the aircraft.

Radioactive Waste (Plymouth)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he plans to store radioactive waste in the vaults below Mount Wise, Plymouth; whether any radioactive material has already been stored there; and, if so, whether he will give full details.

Agreement to the use of Mount Wise for the disposal of low level radioactive waste was given by the Department of the Environment in 1979, but there are currently no plans to make use of the facility for this purpose. The vaults have not been, and are not being, used for the storage of radioactive waste.

Low-Flying Aircraft (Carmarthen)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will investigate the circumstances in which low-flying United States Air Force training planes flew dangerously near to helicopters using the landing space at the West Wales general hospital, Carmarthen, on the afternoon of Tuesday 12 January; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 January l982, c. 198]: The two A10 aircraft were on a properly briefed and authorised low level navigation exercise in the south Dyfed area and were flying at 300 knots and 500 feet above ground level. The aircraft were in the general area at 1446 hours when a Jetranger helicopter operated by the South-Western Electricity Board was landing at the West Wales General hospital site. All round visibility was good (up to 40kms) and the helicopter pilot has been interviewed and has stated that he assessed the risk to his aircraft and crew as nil. My professional advisers are satisfied that the aircraft involved in this alleged incident were, in fact, sufficiently well separated both vertically and horizontally for there to be no risk of collision.However, the investigation revealed that one A10 did breach the rules by flying closer to the hospital than allowed. The appropriate action has been taken to prevent this recurring.

Energy

Gas Supplies

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether any discussion took place within the machinery of the European Economic Community or otherwise, on the supply of gas by pipeline from the United Kingdom to France, prior to the arrangements made for gas supply to France from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The Governments of France and the United Kingdom maintain close links on matters of mutual interest, through the Community and otherwise. Gas supplies to Western Europe is one topic that is currently being discussed within the Community. The French Government would be aware that, given the current balance between supply and demand in the United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Government see no scope at present for exports of United Kingdom gas, and there have been no specific discussions on this matter.

National Coal Board

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that the presentation of the loss on revenue account of the National Coal Board in 1981–82 on an historic basis rather than a current cost accounting basis enables him to make an adequate assessment of the financial position of the board.

Since 1980–81 the board has published with its main accounts a set of supplementary current cost accounts which include a current cost profit and loss account.

Drilling Rig Design (Safety)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the British National Oil Corporation's order of a semi-submersible drilling rig of a type similar to that which collapsed off the coast of North America, he will set up an inquiry with the aim of avoiding a similar accident occurring in United Kingdom waters.

The unit will be subject to statutory survey, by one of my appointed certifying authorities, American Bureau of Shipping. The principle and practice of independent certification were unanimously endorsed by the Burgoyne committee on offshore installations in March 1980 and I intend to hold no further inquiry. Engineers of my petroleum engineering division are in touch with the Canadian authorities and will apply any lessons to be learned from the recent tragic accident off Canada.

Gas And Electricity Prices

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the fact that the suppliers of energy to consumers are arranging to increase their prices to almost double that of the inflation rate, he will take steps to investigate such price increases; and pending his examination, if he will introduce measures to freeze gas and electricity prices.

No. I do not expect electricity prices to domestic consumers this year to rise faster than the rate of inflation. Concerning gas prices, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 23 January.

Natural Gas (Storage)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has been approached by the European Commission to provide natural gas storage facilities or diversified sources of supply for the European Economic Community in the event of shortages in Community countries.

No.

Gas Prices

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the real price of domestic gas, in 1970 terms, in each year from 1974 to 1981.

In 1970 the consumer paid 10·61 pence per therm. This compares, in 1970 money terms, to a price of 8·38p in 1981 a decrease in price of 2·23p a therm. The following table shows the price relative to 1970 based upon figures for the general index of retail prices. The general index of retail prices (all items excluding fuels) has been used to deflate actual prices in the calculations.

Gas prices (in 1970 terms)
	Pence/therm
1970	10·61
1974	8·70
1975	8·17
1976	8·49
1977	8·59

	Pence/therm
1978	8·06
1979	7·43
1980	7·43
1981	8·38

Tenants (Electricity Charges)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to make the overcharging by landlords of tenants for electricity a criminal offence.

The Office of Fair Trading is currently carrying out a further investigation into this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will have discussions with the electricity boards concerning disconnecting tenants who are paying for their electricity by meter but whose landlords fail to pay the electricity boards; and if he will make a statement.

This is among issues currently being examined by the gas and electricity industries and consumers' councils in the context of possible changes to the industries' code of practice on the payment of bills. This follows a recent review of the code by the Policy Studies Institute. I expect to receive the industries' report very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent evidence there is that private tenants renting flats and bed-sitters are being illegally overcharged for electricity by their landlords.

I have seen the recent reports by the National Consumer Council and Electricity Consumers' Council suggesting that over-charging by landlords continues to be a problem. The Office of Fair Trading has looked into this previously. As a result of a further limited review last year it is now considering whether further action is required. The electricity consultative councils, citizens advice bureaux and other bodies have been asked to gather evidence through the period March to November.

Redundant Mineworkers And Concessionary Coal (Payments Schemes) (Amendment) Order 1982

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the implications for public expenditure of the Redundant Mineworkers and Concessionary Coal (Payments Schemes) (Amendment) Order 1982; and by how much public expenditure would be increased or decreased if the order is not approved by the House.

This order would introduce a new table of earnings-related weekly benefits under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme to persons becoming eligible on or after 6 April 1982. The maximum level of pre-redundancy earnings reckonable in calculations of benefit is raised from £130 to £140 per week, and the levels of scheme benefit payable on lower earnings would be adjusted to take account of increases in unemployment benefit, which is payable in addition, and of certain other factors. The overall increase in expenditure resulting would depend on the number of persons becoming eligible.The order would also make a few other changes to the scheme; their financial implications are negligible.

Volume 19: debated on Monday 1 March 1982

Written Answers To Questions

House Of Commons

Select Committees

Trade

Textiles And Clothing

Airline Licences

Fuel Costs

Civil Aviation (Pilots)

Departmental Responsibilities

Times Newspapers Ltd

Comecon

Multi-Fibre Arrangement

British Airports Authority

European Community (Balance Of Trade)

Overseas Airports (Safety)

Japan

Competition Act (Prices)

Investor Protection

Airlines (Finance)

Merchant Navy (Statistics)

Trade Disputes

Estate Agents Act 1979

Mergers

Origin Marking

Imports

European Development Fund

Prime Minister

Londonderry Harbour (Pilots)

Privatisation (Professional Advice)

Overseas Development

Nicaragua

Ophthalmologists

European Development Fund

African Development Bank

Unicef

Home Department

Police Interviews (Tape Recording)

Civil Defence

Newham (Crime Statistics)

Bill Of Rights

Kerb Crawling

Palestine Liberation Organisation

Commission For Racial Equality

Surveillance Methods (Guidelines)

Haldon Prison Camp

Foreign Visitors

Dartford Tunnel (Surveillance Camera)

Scotland

Acid Rain

Northern Ireland

Punishment Shootings

Salmon Licensing

Benefits

Agivey Bridge

Industry

Satellite Broadcasts

Polish Shipping Order

Financial Assistance

Manufacturing Industry

Industrial Development

Regional Assistance

Attorney-General

Members' Correspondence

Representation Of The People Act 1969

Abortion

Civil Service

Committees And Tribunals (Lord Mccarthy)

Wales

Council Of Ministers

Chiropodists

Water Losses

Water Charges

National Finance

Cars (Harmonisation Of Taxes)

Banks

Civil Service Pay

Unemployment Statistics

Public Expenditure