asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects the review of sections 21 and 25 of the Opticians Act 1958, referred to in the answer to the hon. Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) in the Official Report, 16 December 1981, column 124, to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied that it remains in the public interest to keep resale price maintenance on proprietary medicines; and if he has any means of monitoring price levels of those items where price maintenance is protected by law; and if he will make a statement.

Under the Resale Prices Act 1976 consideration of the public interest on questions of resale price maintenance is a matter for the Restrictive Practices Court. In 1970 the court decided that it would be in the public interest for certain proprietary medicines to be exempted from the general prohibition on resale price maintenance. My right hon. Friend has no powers to review the court's decisions and he does not, therefore, monitor the price of exempted goods. The Director

The Director General of Fair Trading expects to report later this year. In the meantime. I have nothing to add to the statement my right hon. Friend made on 16 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the United Kingdom and the rest of the European Economic Community, respectively, imports and exports of manufactures in 1980 in trade with each of the countries which benefit from the EEC arrangements for imports of cane sugar.

The information is as follows:General of Fair Trading, an individual supplier of exempted products, or a trade association representing such a supplier may seek leave from the court to apply for a review of its decision, but the court may grant leave only if there is prima facie evidence of a material change in the relevant circumstance. If my hon. Friend has any such evidence he may like to send it to the director general.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what measures have been adopted and what action taken by the European Community to further the interests of consumers since the accession of the United Kingdom.

A considerable number of Community measures further the interests of consumers. In its reports on consumer protection and information policy the Commission of the European Communities has drawn attention to 128 directives adopted between 1 January 1973 and 1 January 1980 which it considers to be of interest to consumers. More recent figures are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report a list of non-temperate foodstuffs imported in 1980 at the full rate of duty in quantities valued at more than £1 million, together with the value of the dutiable imports and the amount of duty collected.

There is no ready means of identifying non-temperate foodstuffs within the statistics of overseas trade, and the information requested could in any case be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether his Department has completed the preliminary inquiry into the loss of the Penlee lifeboat and the circumstances surrounding it; and when a decision will be made about any public inquiry that may be necessary.

The inspectors appointed to carry out the Preliminary inquiry into the loss of the Penlee lifeboat have submitted their report and this is being studied by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will consider introducing the necessary legislation to provide for a set wine measure for use in public houses, clubs, hotels and wine bars.

Before considering such action I would need to be sure that there was significant public dissatisfaction with the present situation and that the legislation would not place burdens on the trade and the enforcement authorities. I am not, at present, convinced that this is so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the incidence of fraud in cases where goods advertised from an accommodation address are not supplied after receipt of payment, he will seek to legislate to provide that such advertising may be carried out only with appropriate safeguards.

I have no plans to do so. Certain safeguards exist already in the legal requirements applying to mail order and consumer credit advertising; and in the codes of advertising practice administered by the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the Advertising Standards Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Keighley of 3 March that imports of undergarments from South Korea in 1980 were 1,776,000 pieces, why the press notice of his Department reference 93 of 22 February 1982 stated that United Kingdom imports in 1980 were 399,000 pieces; and if he will make a statement.

My reply to the hon. Member on 3 March 1982—[Vol. 19, c. 136]—should have read:

"during the seven months of 1981"

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, pursuant to the reply of the Minister of State for Trade on 2 March, Official Report, c. 73, he will estimate the number of lost jobs represented by the deficit in manufactured and semi-manufactured goods with the European Community amounting to £2,467 million in value for 1980.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the works of art in respect of which export licences have been granted in the last 12 months.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in parallel with the National Consumer Council investigation of banking services, he will ask the council to review building society services, with special reference to the role of members in control of these societies.

I doubt whether the particular point mentioned by my hon. Friend bears directly enough on consumer interests to justify a special Government reference to the NCC, which is already examining other aspects of building society services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what regulations govern the conduct and rewards given to Customs and Excise staff working for British Airways in their off-duty hours during the dispute involving ramp workers at Heathrow; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what insurance, bonding and other regulations govern pilots, and other staff and passengers who are given payments in cash and meals, and so on, while assisting to load baggage during a trade dispute involving a British airline operating at a British airport; and whether he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1982, c. 214.]: The maintenance of British Airways services at Heathrow during the present ramp workers dispute is being achieved entirely by British Airways personnel. There are no regulations which specifically apply to personnel being employed on duties other than their normal duties. Aircrew volunteers are not employed on ramp work during periods preceding their flying duties. British Airways' actions in this dispute are a matter for the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent British Airways has been subsidised from public funds for each of the last five years; and what form that subsidy has taken.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 March 1982, c. 283]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Woolmer) of 26 February—[Vol. 18, c. 517]—which gave details of support given to British Airways from public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the statutory provisions and other regulations governing the handling of baggage and other goods at British airports and the bodies responsible for their enforcement.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 March 1982, c. 285]: Subject to the requirements of the Customs authorities, the handling of baggage and other goods at British airports is normally a commercial matter for the relevant airport authority and airlines. I am not aware of any statutory provisions or other regulations specifically governing this activity, although the Carriage of Goods by Air Acts do provide for the liability of air carriers for lost and damaged baggage whilst it is in their custody.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the level of demand in the economy.

Many indicators point to an improved level of activity. During the second half of last year total output recovered by 1 per cent. and manufacturing output by some 2 per cent. Last year saw more vacancies, more overtime and a dramatic fall in short-time working. New orders in volume terms increased by nearly 20 per cent. in engineering and 10 per cent. in construction last year compared with the second half of 1980.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

asked the Prime Minister if she wil.1 list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 March.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will take steps to estimate the number of children living in households where there is one parent or two parents registered as unemployed.

No. The only estimate that could be made from available data, approximately to what the hon. Member seeks, would relate to 1979 and I do not consider that the additional expenditure would be justified.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit the borough of Poole.

I hope to do so in the course of the year.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish a consultative paper on tax credits.

I understand my hon. Friend's interest, but I have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will appoint a Minister for Tourism, having regard to the growth of this industry and the varied responsibilities which such a post would encompass.

I do not believe that such an appointment would necessarily improve the way in which this industry is already served by the Government and its specialised agencies. I am satisfied that my right hon. Friends are well able to handle tourism matters within their respective departmental briefs and that these arrangements fully recognise the importance of tourism.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Swanscombe.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Warrington.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit the employment exchanges serving the Rother Valley constituency.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will review the current unrestricted arrangements for travel between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom by citizens of the Republic.

I have no plans to do so. My hon. Friend's concern may have arisen from recent press coverage of one individual case. The circumstances of that case were not as implied in some reports, and I am satisfied that they do not call into question the working of these arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to meet the leaders of the Confederation of British Industry.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to the village of Woolmer Green, Hertfordshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the administrative co-ordination between the Department of Industry and the Department of Education and Science in the implementation of policies relating to information technology.

Yes. There is regular and frequent formal contact at a range of levels between the two Departments at meetings arranged by the Cabinet Office IT unit and on the microelectronics programme advisory committee. Informal discussions also take place as appropriate.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make representations to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland concerning the recent decision by a member of the Irish judiciary to recommend that a man found guilty by an Irish court of a criminal offence should be released on social grounds as long as he emigrated to the United Kingdom with his family.

The Government would be greatly concerned if any authority in the Republic of Ireland made it a condition of the release of an Irish criminal that he came to this country, and I should certainly be prepared to make this clear to the Irish authorities. My hon. Friend is no doubt referring to press reports of the case of Mr. John Healy. I understand that the charges against him were adjourned and he was released, after the court had been told that the family wished to return to England and that the welfare authorities in the Republic had offered to pay its fares.

asked the Prime Minister what are the main priorities of Her Majesty's Government in the defence policy sphere; and what steps are taken to match commitments to available resources.

It is the fundamental priority of the Government to ensure the nation's security in the face of the growing military capability of the Warsaw Pact. This aim is best achieved through co-operation with our allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. We are totally committed to NATO and to the alliance's deterrent strategy of flexible response and forward defence. We shall continue to provide a broad range of forces in fulfilment of our four main roles: strategic nuclear deterrence and defence of the United Kingdom base, the central front and the Eastern Atlantic. We are committed to plan to implement in full the NATO aim of real increases in defence spending in the region of 3 per cent. a year; our plans to ensure cost effective use of resources were set out in Cmnd. 8288. But defence must be complemented by arms control efforts: we actively support the United States position in the talks at Geneva on intermediate-range nuclear forces, and shall ourselves continue to work for greater stability at lower levels of all types of armament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to set up a committee of inquiry, consisting of representatives of the legal profession, the police, the prison service and the medical profession, to examine the feasibility of imposing a sentence of castration for rape and the practical problems referred to in the answer of the Minister of State of 18 February, Official Report, c. 397.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent his policy of reducing and suspending jail sentences on convicted criminals to reduce the pressure on prisons will apply to non-convicted persons imprisoned and awaiting trial.

My right hon. Friend shares the hon. Gentleman's concern that the number of unconvicted persons detained in prison should be as low as is consistent with the public interest. We are satisfied that the Bail Act 1976 makes adequate provisions for the release of such persons on bail where there is no reason to the contrary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought resulting from the use of illegal citizens band rigs since the legalisation of certain types of citizens band radio.

Preliminary figures indicate that approximately 700 such prosecutions have been brought since the beginning of November. In most cases these relate to offences committed before the introduction of the authorised service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has any evidence of increased interference with radio, television and hi-fi reception since the legalisation of citizens hand radio.

None. There has been some reduction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what time lag there is between the registration of a complaint over interference with radio, television and hi-fi reception and official action by the authority.

Waiting periods vary from place to place. The very large number of complaints of interference caused by the illicit use of citizens band radio has meant that in some areas there is a long delay before a representative of the radio interference service can make a visit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons who were on bail awaiting trial and whose bail had been objected to by the prosecution committed further crimes in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available;(2) how many persons who were on bail awaiting trial committed further crimes in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The only information available relates to the year 1978 and was published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 22/81, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has available about pirate television broadcasts being made in the Dartford area of Kent; and if he will make a statement.

We are not aware of any pirate television broadcasting in the Dartford area, but if my hon. Friend will provide some further information, I shall certainly look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were convicted of driving offences who were without insurance in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The information available relates to findings of guilt for offences of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks and is published annually in "Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales"—table 4, offence group 9 of the supplementary tables for the volume for 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children appeared in juvenile courts in England in connection with a criminal offence in the last year for which figures are available; what percentage this figure represents of the 9 to 16-yearold population; and how many children were officially cautioned by senior police officers without them appearing in a juvenile court.

The information readily available relates to England and Wales. A total of 139,465 persons aged 10 and under 17 were proceeded against in 1980. This number was approximately 2·5 per cent. of the population of England and Wales in that age group. The number of offenders aged 10 and under 17 cautioned by the police in 1980 was 104,423.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of murder were finally recorded in 1980; how many of these cases were attributable to acts of terrorism; how many victims were acquainted with the murder suspect or accused; and what was the most common method of killing.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will re-examine the possibility of providing North Sea gas supplies to Northern Ireland, and if he will make a statement.

The Government made clear in July 1979 their conviction that the provision of a natural gas supply from the North Sea would not permit the establishment of a viable gas industry in Northern Ireland. There is no immediate reason to change that view. Because of the distance involved, the transmission of natural gas from Scotland, by the only technology currently available to us, would require an unacceptably high level of capital expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convictions for rape there were in each of the last five years in total, and if he will express these figures as percentages of the population in Northern Ireland.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any investigations have been carried out into the effect afforestation of upland areas has had on the discharge rates and the minimum flow of rivers and streams draining the afforested areas.

No specific investigations have been carried out. A long-term experiment on the effect of afforestation on total run-off was carried out in the 1950s but the results were inconclusive.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been lost in the United Kingdom steel industry since May 1979; and how many of these have been due to the total or partial closure of plant.

Precise information about job gains or job losses is not available but an indication of the net effect can be seen by comparing levels of employees in employment at different dates. Between may 1979 and December 1981 the number of employees in employment in the iron and steel industry* in the United Kingdom fell by 92,000. The figures on which the decrease is based are provisional and are not seasonally adjusted.National figures concerning plant closures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for the future of the community industry scheme within the framework of the new training initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Our White Paper "A New Training Initiative: A Programme for Action"—Cmnd. 8455—makes it clear that community industry will itself need to consider carefully where its contribution can best be made in a way consistent with the new arrangements. I shall be meeting the chairman of community industry shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the total sums paid out to the United Kingdom from the European social fund in each year since British entry to the EEC; and for what purposes.

Allocations from the European social fund to the United Kingdom in each year since 1973 have been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider taking further steps to make fuller use of the employment medical advisory service and to improve liaison with those responsible for primary medical care, both doctors and nurses, so that illnesses and remedial medical condition sustained through the patient's work can be corrected and general preventative steps taken to avoid recurrence and spread to fellow workers.

I already attach importance to such liaison and good relations have been established, particularly through the use of postgraduate centres. The relatively small scale of the EMAS organisation—fewer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the job preservation and job creation assistance granted to the United Kingdom by the institutions of the EEC since the first year of British entry; and how many jobs he estimates to have been preserved and created by these measures.

The European social fund is the main Community instrument concerned with labour market measures, and it provides assistance in respect of training, retraining and employment schemes. In addition, the European Coal and Steel Community provides reconversion loans for projects that will employ redundant coal and steel workers, and re-adaptation grants for redundancy payments and retraining schemes for former coal and steel workers. The European regional development fund and European Investment Bank provide finance in the form of loans and grants for investment and development projects in the assisted areas. Details of the assistance provided through these Community instruments to the United Kingdom in each year since 1973 are attached.I regret that it is not possible to estimate how many jobs have been preserved or created as a result of this assistance. However, it is clear that European Community funds make a significant contribution to the level of training and employment in this country.than 100 specialist doctors and nurses—limits the extent to which such contacts can be developed but there is scope for more useful contacts and EMAS will continue to make known its availability to advise on occupational health matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been received under the in-plant training scheme in the Mexborough travel-to-work area since the scheme commenced; what is the total value of assistance given; and how many persons are expected to benefit from training under the scheme.

In-plant training is provided by the Manpower Services Commission under its direct training services. Since 1979—the earliest date for which figures are available for individual travel-to-work areas—there have been four applications in the Mexborough travel-to-work area for in-plant training under the training within industry scheme and one application under the mobile instructor scheme. At current price levels the total cost of this training would have been £2,725. Thirty-nine people received training under these schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that the approaches to the port of Londonderry are adequately safeguarded; and if he will make a statement.

In the light of the recent attack on a ship in Lough Foyle my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is considering with the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the general officer commanding and the senior naval officer, Northern Ireland, the adequacy of measures taken to safeguard shipping in the lough.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many local authorities containing what population have made representations to date to Her Majesty's Government asking for their areas to be declared nuclear-free zones.

Representations calling upon Her Majesty's Government to refrain from the manufacture or positioning of any nuclear weapons within their boundaries have been received from the following local councils: Manchester city, the London borough of Brent, the metropolitan borough of Bury, Derby city, Durham county, Harlow, Kinston Upon Hull city, the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, Liverpool city, North-West Leicestershire district, the metropolitan borough of Rochdale, South Yorkshire county, Worcester city, Wrexham Maelor, Leicester city, Desborough town, Norwich city, Oxford city, the borough of Pendle, Scunthorpe borough, Welwyn and Hatfield district, the metropolitan borough of Tameside, Dyfed county, the borough of Watford, the borough of Camden, Glasgow city, Chesterfield borough, Leeds city, the borough of Langbaurgh, Dwyfor district, the London borough of Greenwich, Crawley borough, Clydebank district, Higham Ferrers town, Nuneaton and Bedworth borough, Ceredigion district, Bassetlaw district, Barnsley metropolitan borough, Gwent county, North-East Derbyshire, Wakefield metropolitan, Leicestershire county, Aberdeen city, London borough of Hounslow, borough of Afan, Strathclyde, Llanelli, Torfaen borough, Hastings borough, Greater London, Llanfrothen community, Nottinghamshire county, Bolsover district, Corby district, city of Sheffield metropolitan, Cannock Chase district, Falkirk district, Middlesbrough borough, metropolitan borough of Calderdale, Amber Valley district, Stirling district, Wansbeck district, Basildon, and Northumberland county.The total population in the areas covered by these councils could not be calculated without disproportionate effort. Many of the areas overlap.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the funding of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

My Department has reviewed, together with the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, the arrangements for funding and staffing the Hospital, which is a Crown body administered by the commissioners under letters patent. We have decided that from 1 April 1982 the Royal Hospital will be funded by a block grant in aid instead of from a number of Votes both within and outside the ambit of the Defence budget. This will enable expenditure on the Royal Hospital to be published in a more regular and identifiable way. The commissioners will have greater flexibility in staff management, including the freedom to fill vacancies either with staff employed directly by themselves or with staff on loan from the Ministry of Defence. The new arrangements are expected to improve the efficiency and economy of the Royal Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will set out in tabular form such information as is available regarding the order of battle of (a) Israel, (b) Syria, (c) Jordan, and (d) the Lebanon, including units of the Syrian Army based there, and described as the Arab deterrent force.

I refer my hon. Friend to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' publication "The Military Balance 1981–82".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will set out in the Official Report in tabular form the figures for the order of battle of the Warsaw Pact powers (a) in the European theatre, (b) confronting China and (c) on the high seas; and if he has any information available regarding the order of battle of the People's Republic of China.

Figures for representative elements of the Warsaw Pact orders of battle of conventional forces in the European theatre and on the high seas are attached. For Soviet forces confronting China, and Chinese forces, I refer my hon. Friend to the International Institute of Strategic Studies' publication "The Military Balance 1981–82".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the diving school at Alverstoke and the physiological research unit.

Research at Alverstoke will continue but the scale of activities will be kept under review in the light of evolving naval requirements. The location of the experimental diving unit within the Portsmouth area is under study as part of the review of naval shore-based activities. It is hoped that an announcement covering this will be made soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the development work on the battlefield artillery target system; and if he is now in a position to provide an estimate of the cost of each one.

The battlefield artillery target engagement system is approaching the end of the advanced development phase. I regret I am unable to give the unit cost for commercial reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects the Ptarmigan trunk communications system to enter service; and at what cost.

The Ptarmigan trunk communications system is expected to enter service progressively from the mid-1980s. The total costs will depend on decisions yet to be taken about the full extent of deployment, but I expect it to exceed £500 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of plans to replace the remaining Chieftains in a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation project; and if he is satisfied with the programme of replacement, bearing in mind that the April 1981 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" involved replacing only half the existing Chieftains in the British Army of the Rhine and that these have been in service since the 1960s.

The planned buy of sufficient Challengers to equip four armoured regiments will lead to a significant qualitative and quantitative improvement in BAOR's armoured capability from the mid-1980s. The retention of the replaced Chieftains will make it possible to deploy more tanks in war. There will also be a programme of qualitative improvements both to the present Chieftain and, in due course, Challenger, including a new thermal imaging sight, gun and improved ammunition.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will report progress on procurement plans for a new military communications satellite system.

Work is proceeding satisfactorily against the order announced on 8 December last.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects the programme to increase the effectiveness of the existing Harrier GR3 aircraft to commence; and at what cost.

We are currently engaged in defining the content of such a programme, and hope to start development work soon. It is too early to give a firm indication of the cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will report on the progress on the Sea King MK5 conversion; how many aircraft are involved; and at what unit cost.

All 68 Sea King Mk2 aircraft are to be converted to the MK5 standard. Thirteen aircraft have been converted to date and, with a conversion rate of two per month, the programme is expected to be completed by late 1984. The average unit cost is some £600K.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the different versions of plastic bullet currently in service with the Army in Northern Ireland; and what are their weights and muzzle velocities.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 February 1982, c. 474]: The weight of the baton round is approximately 135 grams and not 135 grains.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for textiles the fall in output and the increase in productivity per person hour in the two years ending (a) the first quarter of 1972 and (b) the most recent quarter.

Information on productivity pe r person-hour is available only for manufacturing as a whole. The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State far Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the metal industries the increase in productivity per person hour and the fall in output in the two years ending (a) the first quarter of 1972 and (b) the most recent quarter.

Information on output per person. hour is available only for manufacturing as a whole Information is available for the metal industries as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the engineering industry the increase in productivity per person-hour together with the fall in output in the two years ending (a) the first quarter of 1972 and (b) the most recent quarter.

Information on output per person-hour is not available for individual sectors within manufacturing industry. A comparison for the engineering sector using output per person employed is given in the table below.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the growth of output and output per head in the chemical industry since 1973 and May 1979 and the estimated fall in capacity as a result of closures, together with his estimate of the extent to which productivity has been increased solely as a result of closures and their effect on the statistical average.

Information relating to the growth of output and ouput per head is given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in what industries unit costs have risen faster than labour costs since May 1979; and in which industries they have not.

Information on unit labour costs is compiled only for the whole economy and manufacturing industry. No industrial detail below the level of manufacturing is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what financial assistance he has given to the carpet industry during 1980–81 with a view to preserving jobs, including increased investment for plant and machinery.

Selective financial assistance in the form of grants has been made available to companies in the carpet industry under sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972. In the period 1980–81, 13 offers totalling £296,000 have been made. The figures include section 7 assistance to companies in Wales and Scotland, which is the responsibility of the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland respectively. Information relating to regional development grants to companies in the carpet industry is not readily available and cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the total sums of loans and financial grants received by Her Majesty's Government and the United Kingdom coal and steel industries from the European Coal and Steel Community, covering all forms of financial assistance annually since the first year of membership; if he will list the loans and grants in each financial year; and what contributions have been made to the EEC by Her Majesty's Government or any other contributor in the United Kingdom.

Under the ECSC treaty industry loans under article 54 and research and development grants under article 55 are directly intended for the benefit of the coal and steel industries. Other ECSC loans and grants are intended to help coal and steel workers. The primary United Kingdom source of ECSC revenue is the levy on coal and steel production although Her Majesty's Government have made direct contributions in recent years and as part of our accession to the ECSC.The United Kingdom contribution to the ECSC and United Kingdom allocations of loans, grants and interest rebates were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will estimate the numbers of jobs that have been preserved and created in the coal and steel industries from loans and grants afforded these industries as a result of British membership of the European Coal and Steel Community.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what have been the total sums paid out to the United