asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he intends to take in respect of the recommendations on pre-contract delays in civil engineering made to him by the Construction Industry Research Information Association.

I have received no such recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many (a) management, (b) engineers and (c) ramp workers are employed by British Airways.

It is not easy to define unambiguously these groups of staff. British Airways estimate that on a reasonable definition it employs 1,058 management staff, 11,305 engineering staff and 6,941 ramp staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the disadvantages to British manufacturers likely to ensue from the proposal to end Government subsidy for delegates from industry attending meetings abroad for the setting of international standards, if he will reconsider this proposal.

The British Overseas Trade Board provides a travel fund for certain delegates to international standards meetings, but has decided to end the scheme in March 1983. That decision, which was announced by the then Secretary of State in April 1980, did not imply any doubt about the importance of international standards

The information is as follows:work, but, owing to other heavy claims more directly related to export promotion, BOTB funds were no longer available.However, in view of the representations made by industry and the importance my Department attaches to international standardisation, I am looking at other possibilities of providing some alternative financial help.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what professional bodies have been consulted by the Office of Fair Trading in connection with the drafting of public guidance on the coming into force in May 1982 of the Estate Agents Act 1979; what was the period within which those professional bodies were asked to comment; whether the Office of Fair Trading intends, as a result of those comments, to make any changes in the guidance it proposes to publish; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft text and a note of any changes it is intended to make as a result of comments.

This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading, and I will ask him to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much polychlorinated biphenyl has been imported into the United Kingdom.

I regret that reliable information is not available. Polychlorinated biphenyls are not separately distinguished in the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, nor is there any means of identifying imports incorporated in electrical or other appliances.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to prevent the importation of inferior quality electrical plugs and fuses into the United Kingdom; and to ensure that the British Standards specification is being maintained in the field of electrical plugs and fuses; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the hon. Member is concerned lest imported plugs and fuses not meeting the requirements of British standards might be dangerous. Plugs and fuses, imported or domestically manufactured, must satisfy the provisions of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1975 and 1976. Although it can be assumed that products complying with relevant British standards would satisfy the regulations, compliance is not mandatory. However, new regulations are being drafted and I shall consider whether compliance with the standards should in future be required for plugs and fuses.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce legislation to allow sales and marketing consultants to apply for help under the market entry guarantee scheme.

The market entry guarantee scheme, originally restricted to manufacturing industry, was extended to the service sector, including consultancy services, with effect from 24 June 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many applications he has had for the market entry guarantee scheme.

The market entry guarantee scheme was introduced on 26 Janurary 1978. A total of 331 applications have been received resulting in 102 agreements. A further 15 companies are considering offers of agreement and 29 applications are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the operation of the market entry guarantee scheme.

Whilst always open to suggestions for improvements, I am broadly content with the operation of this scheme. Industry's interest has continued at a high level, particularly since the scope of the scheme was extended to cover the service sector last June.

asked the Lord President of the Council which persons are entitled to eat in the Members' Cafeteria, whether accompanied by hon. Members of not.

The information is contained in "Refreshment Department Information and Regulations", which is available from the general manager of the Refreshment Department.

asked the Lord President of the Council under what circumstances strangers, other than employees of the House or accredited representatives of the press, are permitted to walk along the Principal Corridor of the House during sitting days.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Arundel on 16 February, Official Report, c. 108, what discussions are currently in progress for the further development of remote sensing satellites by the European Space Agency.

The member States of the European Space Agency are currently in the final stages of discussing the content and organisation of a remote sensing satellite programme, ERS-1, which will provide member States with oceanographic information to aid offshore activities, ship routing and the provision of marine forecasts.The programme is now open for member States to specify their levels of participation and it is expected that the definition phase will be started soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much estimated investment in the high technology area has occurred in the United Kingdom since May 1979; and in which regions this investment has occurred.

Information relating to net annual investment in individual industries is included in the results of the annual census of production. Results for 1979, analysed by standard region, have been published in table 5 of each of around 160 separate industry reports. Estimates for the period since May 1979 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry by how much money, either in the form of grants and allowances or taxes forgone, the following areas have benefited from the actions of his Department in the most recent period for which figures are available: North Staffordshire, West Midlands, United Kingdom and the assisted areas; and if he will also express the overall figure as the amount per person in the population and per unemployed person in each of the specified areas.

The most important items of Government policy from which firms in North Staffordshire and the West Midlands benefit are capital allowances—the effect on tax receipts of this, or taxes forgone, for the whole country was £6·7 billion in 1980–81—and stock relief—£2·1 billion—through the tax system. The area also benefits from Department of Industry support for British industry which in 1980–81 amounted to about £2¾ billion. This includes payments to British Leyland with its strong presence in the West Midlands Science and Technology Act expenditure, support for British Steel, small firms and other heads, including regional policy.The following paragraph quotes the expenditure on schemes, where this is readily available for the geographical areas specified in the question. All except section 8 schemes are limited to assisted areas. The items excluded from the figures shown, but mentioned in paragraph 1, are more significant in North Staffordshire and the West Midlands than the items for which figures in the form requested are readily available.Expenditure under section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 amounted to £0·5 million in North Staffordshire and £10 million in the West Midlands in 1980–81. Section 8 expenditure totalled £32 million in the assisted areas and £72 million in Great Britain in that year. Expenditure on regional selective assistance was negligible in the West Midlands in that year, as only Oswestry qualified as an assisted area. Gross expenditure in 1980–81 on the main items of regional preferential assistance—regional development grants, regional selective assistance and land and factory building—was £703 million in Great Britain, all of this of course arising in the assisted areas. Not all of this expenditure is the responsibility of the Department of Industry. Given the lack of regional information on many important items of assistance to British industry, it would not be meaningful to compare per capita expenditure figures for the items mentioned in this paragraph.This answer is limited to Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom. Assistance to industry in Northern Ireland is administered by the Northern Ireland Department of Commerce.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the recommendations of the Welsh National Association for Mental Health regarding the

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the average waiting time for each regional hospital board in Wales for an operation for varicose veins; what is the waiting time for National Health Service patients and private patients under the

The admission of additional family practitioners to existing medical lists in any area is a matter for the medical practices committee, but studies to date have not demonstrated a direct relationship between unemployment levels and the incidence of psychiatric illness.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authority bypasses were started in 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82; and how many are expected to start in 1982–83.

The following numbers of schemes described as bypasses or relief roads in local authorities transport policies and programmes have been or are due to be started:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of patients awaiting treatment in the orthopaedic specialty in each of the eight area health authorities in Wales; and if he will specify the number waiting for more than (a) one month, (b) three months, (c) six months and (d) 12 months.

The latest available information is given in the following table. It relates to the position on 30 September 1981 and is not in precisely the form requested.National Health Service; what is his best estimate of the cost of treatment prior to operation for varicose veins in each of the areas of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to introduce methods to test the quality of meat which is now being made available to the public through shops, restaurants and school canteens where instances of debased meat, containing excessive water, cereal, rind and bone protein, are on the increase; and whether he envisages an expansion of inspector services to make enforcement of the law more effective.

Proposals for revised meat product regulations were issued for comment in July and September 1981. Consultations are proceeding with a view to bringing revised regulations before Parliament by the Summer Recess. Enforcement of food quality regulations, the analysis of foodstuffs and the employment of inspectors are the responsibility of local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will update tables 12 and 14 of the Daniel report of 1975 to take account of the effects of the equalisation of water charges.

It is not possible to update these tables, because the methods of charging for measured supplies of water have changed considerably since the tables were published. All authorities now impose a two-part tariff—a standing charge according to the size of the meter which is related to the fixed costs of providing the supply—and a charge per thousand gallons consumed. Because of the many possible variations of the standing charge, it is not practicable to calculate a meaningful average charge.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how much aid has been given to Vietnam and Kampuchea since January 1981; and whether the distribution of food which is provided through the aid programme is dependent on any political considerations.

No United Kingdom aid has been given to Vietnam since January 1981. In March 1981 a grant of £300,000 was made to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide relief to Cambodian refugees in Thailand or on the Thai-Cambodian border and, subject to parliamentary approval, a further £125,000 will be provided through the International Committee of the Red Cross for the same purpose. Also subject to parliamentary approval, the Government have pledged £250,000 of food aid in support of these UNHCR and ICRC programmes. This will be distributed by the world food programme. Political considerations are taken into account in the allocation of all aid, including food aid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will abolish the composite tax arrangements with building societies and place them on an equal footing with other financial institutions; and whether he will make a statement.

No. The present arrangements result in the collection of a large amount of tax at small administrative cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances confidential personal information held by his Department is supplied to other Departments of State.

I shell let the hon. Member have a reply as sooon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he considers that the negotiations on the bilateral double taxation agreements with Brazil and Argentina will be concluded.

We broke off negotiations with Brazil early in 1979 because the Brazilian terms were unacceptable. Recently the Brazilians indicated that they might be prepared to modify these terms, and the Inland Revenue has agreed to meet a Brazilian delegation at the end of April to examine the scope for reopening talks.A comprehensive double taxation convention with Argentina was initialled at official level in December 1980. Since then we have been pressing Argentina to enter into arrangements for signature of the convention.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the discussion document recently sent to building societies about administration details of implementation of the proposed change in mortgage tax relief law.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all changes in rates made since May 1979 in (a) petrol excise duty, (b) diesel excise duty, (c) vehicle excise duty for private cars and for a medium goods vehicle and a heavy goods vehicle, (d) car tax and (e) value added tax on vehicle and fuel sales; and what was the revenue for each category of tax with the percentage increase in the period, in nominal and in real terms.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1982, c. 18]: The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the estimated public sector borrowing requirement in 1981–82 he expects will have been funded by borrowing from the banks and increase of coins and notes.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1982, c. 19]: The public sector borrowing requirement for 1981–82 is estimated to be around £10½ billion in the Financial Statement and Budget Report. The final outturn will not be known until May 1982. Analyses of the financing of the PSBR by economic sector and type of asset are published in Financial Statistics—table 2.6. The June 1982 edition will include figures for 1981–82 as a whole. We expect that over the year the PSBR will have been fully funded by sales of gilt-edged stock and national savings to the non-bank private sector. The increase in coins and notes in circulation is likely to be less than £½ billion. The contribution of the monetary sector, which includes banks and licenced deposit takers, to financing the PSBR is unlikely to be significant and could even be negative. Within the latter amount will be included the increase in holdings of notes and coin by the monetary sector.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a report on the review of gaining machine taxation referred to in the Official Report, 9 March, column 744.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1982, c. 19]: No. In the course of the review many representations were made, both written and oral, to Ministers and to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. Some reported the results of confidential surveys and others contained comments which were clearly not intended for publication. It would give a misleading impression of the review to publish a report based only on the non-confidential material.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he proposes to hold before 1 October 1982 on the implementation of the new gaming machine licence duties.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1982, c. 19]: My right hon. and learned Friend's Budget proposals for gaming machine taxation have been made after wide consultation. I do not consider further consultation to be necessary. It is, however, open to any interested party to make representations or inquiries, and there will be opportunity for further discussion when the relevant provisions of the Finance Bill are considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the particular financial difficulties of the Essex county council, he will consider increasing the 50 per cent. police grant in respect of the hijack emergency operation at Stansted Airport on 27 and 28 February.

No. The level of police grant is approved by Parliament and cannot be varied for individual police operations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the defective functioning of the BBC television booster at Barber's Hill, Llangollen, Clwyd, which results in poor reception of BBC Wales programmes in the Llangollen area, he will take steps with a view to remedying the situation.

I understand from the BBC that a few temporary faults have recently affected transmissions from the Llangollen relay station at Barber's Hill, but these have been remedied and the corporation is unaware of any other problems regarding the reception of BBC Wales from that relay. If my hon. Friend is aware of any such problem in Llangollen and could let me have further details I shall arrange for the matter to be investigated more fully.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the statistics on crime in London published on 10 March, he proposes to take any further steps to deal with the growth of violent crime, including muggings, on the streets of London and elsewhere.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and other chief officers have constantly under review their operational response to crime, including violent street crime. My officials, in consultation with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, are studying tactics in different force areas in order to disseminate knowledge of the most effective tactics to deal with street crime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances confidential personal information held by his Department is supplied to other Departments of State.

The Home Office supplies confidential personal information to other Government Departments in a variety of circumstances. These include the provision of information relating to the treatement of convicted offenders, their whereabouts and their transfer from one part of the United Kingdom to another; information relating to applications to enter or remain in this country or to take employment here; and information required for statistical and research purposes. Personnel records are also passed to other Departments, principally in connection with the transfer of staff to them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recommendations have been made to him concerning which artificial sweeteners should be allowed in foodstuffs (a) for adults and (b) for children; and if he will make a statement.

A report by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee on sweeteners in food was published on 10 March and copies have been placed in the Library of the House. Regulations made under the Food and Drug Acts list those substances which may be used as sweeteners and the committee recommend that five further sweeteners should be permitted. The committee also recommend that sweeteners other than sugars should not be permitted in foods manufactured specifically for babies and young children. I have invited comments on the report from all interests concerned, before taking a decision on new regulations.

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

The information requested on average waiting times for operations for varicose veins is not available, nor is it possible to estimate the cost of treatment of patients prior to operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances confidential personal information held by his Department is supplied to other Departments of State.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 16 March.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including one with the Presidents of the Council of Ministers and the Commission of the European Community. Later I was present at the arrival in London of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall attend a State banquet given by Her Majesty the Queen in honour of the Sultan of Oman.

asked the Prime Minister if she will estimate the percentage and weekly money reduction in the real value of child benefit payable in November 1982 compared with the combined value of child tax allowance and family allowance in 1955 for a second child aged 12 years in a family paying the standard rate of tax.

The comparison which my hon. Friend is seeking to draw is not an apt one because although in 1955 family allowance was not paid for the first child in a family its payment for second and subsequent children undoubtedly contributed to the support provided for the family as a whole. It would therefore be reasonable to apportion the family allowance paid to a two-child family in 1955 in part to the support of the 12-year-old second child. On this basis the 1955 child support, at November 1982 prices assuming a 9 per cent. increase in the retail price index in the 12 months up to that date, would be £7·48, compared with child benefit of £5·85 this November. This represents a reduction of £1·63 a week or 21·79 per cent. For a family which in 1955 had insufficient income to benefit from the child tax allowance a comparable calculation shows an increase in child support of £8·55 a week or 271·4 per cent.

asked the Prime Minister by how much she estimates that child benefit will have declined in real value between April 1979 and April 1983.

It is not possible to estimate the real value of child benefit at April 1983 because there is no forecast of inflation between November 1982, when the rate of child benefit will be increased, and April 1983.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to address the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament in June.

I plan to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether any arrangements have been made for His Holiness the Pope to meet Her Majesty's Government during his forthcoming visit.

I shall be meeting the Pope during the course of his visit. Details as to when and where our meeting will take place have yet to be finalised.

asked the Prime Minister if she has received any representations on the introduction of a measure of Scottish devolution.

Since the repeal of the Scotland Act 1978 in June 1979, I have received a small number of such representations from hon. Members, other individuals and organisations.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when she next proposes to hold talks with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland.

I expect to meet the Taoiseach later this month at the next Session of the European Council. No date for another meeting has yet been fixed.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to give the Government's response to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology report published on 9 December 1981.

We hope to publish our response this June.

asked the Prime Minister when the decision on ministerial arrangements for consumer affairs, referred to in her reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 25 February, Official Report, column 444, will be taken.

An announcement was made on 5 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the decline in the numbers of civil servants since 1979.

The number of civil servants is down by 57,000 since we took office. This is over halfway towards the 102,000 savings by 1984 which I announced in May 1980. There is, of course, still some way to go, but I am satisfied that we are on target for a total of 630,000 by April 1984. The Civil Service is now more streamlined and efficient than it was in 1979 and we are continuing to pursue policies which enable civil servants to give the best value to the taxpayer.

asked the Prime Minister which Government Department is responsible for collecting and collating information relating to the fuel costs of retirement pensioners and families on low incomes.

The Department of Employment has overall responsibility for the family expenditure survey which includes information of this kind. In addition, the Department of Health and Social Security has carried out similar ad hoc surveys relating solely to low income households.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the response of industry to the recent Budget.

I welcome industry's generally favourable reaction to the Budget, which, I believe, creates the necessary sound financial framework within which industry can consolidate its recent advance.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek a meeting with President Reagan to discuss with him a British contribution of compensation to those who have suffered from cancer arising from British nuclear tests in the Utah Valley, United States of America.

No British atmospheric nuclear tests have ever been carried out in the Utah Valley area. Since the early 1960s underground tests have been carried out by the United States on our behalf at the nearby Nevada test site, but these have not resulted in the release of any radioactive material into the atmosphere. The question of compensation by the British Government therefore does not arise.

asked the Prime Minister when she next intends to pay an official visit to Brussels to discuss Common Market issues.

On 29–30 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the future of regulation of cable television and satellite television transmissions.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary told the House on 4 March of our decision to go ahead with direct broadcasting by satellite. This is a clear indication of our intention to enable British industry to take full advantage of the opportunities which new technology offers. In his statement—[Vol. 19, c. 414–420]—my right hon. Friend promised a further announcement shortly on the future role of cable television.

asked the Prime Minister how many computers are currently in use in the United Kingdom in all Government Departments; and if she will split this figure between the main areas, namely, the National Health Service, local government, central Government, the nationalised industries, and so on.

There are currently more than 650 large and medium-sized computers in use in the United Kingdom in central Government Departments for administrative and scientific purposes. Details of these were published with the May 1981 edition of "Management Services in Government", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. In addition, over 700 micro-computers are in use in central Government Departments. Figures for the number of computers in the National Health Service, local government and nationalised industries are not available centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Prime Minister if she will ensure that in respect of sales of taxpayers' assets, such as Amersham International, sales will be by tender and not at fixed prices.

We shall continue to consider carefully the appropriate method of sale in relation to each asset sale. Tender will continue to be amongst the options considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidelines to education authorities to avoid disproportionate reductions in the youth and community service.

The Government believe that expenditure on the youth service should be maintained, and have taken steps to help local authorities do so. However, it is for each authority to decide how to allocate its resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria he uses when deciding whether a teacher who has served a term of imprisonment should be precluded from taking up a teaching post after leaving prison; on how many instances his Department has had to adjudicate during the past 10 years; and, of these, how many were banned from teaching and how many were allowed to continue their careers as teachers.

My right hon. Friend is concerned in these cases with the welfare and protection of children and the need to maintain high standards of conduct in the teaching profession. Over the past 10 years, 198 cases involved teachers serving prison sentences. A breakdown in the form requested is not available for that period, but in the year ended 31 March 1981, of 32 such cases, 20 resulted in total and two in partial exclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the reduction in the number of student places in polytechnics arising from his education policy; and if he plans to reverse this trend in the future.

Far from reducing, the number of students on advanced courses in polytechnics in England is estimated to have increased by 13,000 or 7 per cent. this year. The plans in the expenditure White Paper published on 9 March—Cmnd. 8494—do, however, assume that there will be reductions in student admissions in advanced further education in subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, further to his answer of 16 February, he will take steps to obtain estimates from universities and polytechnics of the numbers of university teachers and non-academic staff who will be made redundant in 1982.

Universities and the public sector institutions are still in the process of deciding whether staff will have to be made redundant and when redundancies will occur.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidelines to local authorities to promote discipline in classrooms.

I strongly support local education authorities and schools in their efforts to maintain high standards of discipline. I have no evidence, however, that authorities are looking to me for guidance in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to include under the provisions relating to information as to schools and admission arrangements contained in the Education Act 1980, the means of enforcing discipline in that school.

There is already provision in the Education (Schools Information) Regulations 1981 for parents to be given information about disciplinary arrangements in individual schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received any representations on the inclusion of provision for sex education in the core curriculum.

We have received a few representations on this subject, expressing a wide range of views.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to encourage an increase, where appropriate, in the number of voluntary Church schools.

The responsibility for planning primary and secondary education in their area rests with local education authorities in consultation with voluntary bodies providing or wishing to provide schools. If a voluntary body wishes to establish a voluntary school, it is for the promoters to publish proposals, after consultation with the local education authority, under section 13 of the Education Act 1980. My right hon. Friend then decides each proposal carefully on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the proposal to keep the minimum award for student grants at the present cash level.

Since the main rates of student grants for the academic year 1982–83 were announced on 2 December 1981, my right hon. Friend is receiving a large number of letters on all aspects of student awards, only a very small proportion of which mention the proposal to keep the minimum award at its present cash level.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will undertake a special study of the problems of inner city schools.

In recent years the Department has sponsored a number of studies which bear on the problems of inner city schools, and a further wide-ranging study is unlikely to throw up new solutions. Not all inner city schools are problem schools. Despite the particular difficulties which they may face, some are vital and stimulating places. I will maintain a close interest in this issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to make any additional provisions for the teaching of deaf and blind children.

The numbers of blind or deaf children for whom local education authorities must make provision are falling, and nationally, available places exceed demand. The situation is being kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to introduce a system of proficiency tests and standards in schools in a range of subjects at below the level covered by existing examinations.

My right hon. Friend is considering what action might usefully be taken to provide all school leavers with a written record of their achievements whether or not these include graded results in public examinations. I believe it would be helpful if such records offered an indication of proficiency in skills such as numeracy and literacy and the ability to communicate effectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the number of eligible students who will fail to gain (a) university and (b) higher education places in the coming year compared to 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what shortfall he now envisages between places available in institutions of higher education and students qualified to benefit from such educational opportunities over the next three years in the light of the latest statistics now available.

Not every qualified young person seeks a place in higher education. Reliable figures for those obtaining places in 1981 are not yet available although early indications suggest that a broadly similar proportion of qualified students obtained places in higher education in 1981 compared with 1980. There are many factors which have to be taken into account when estimating likely future entrants to higher education. Variation in any of these factors can give rise to significant differences in the final estimate. If the proportion of mature entrants to higher education remains constant and if the proportion of the 18 to 20 age group in Great Britain obtaining two GCE A-levels or equivalent qualifications increases in a way that is broadly consistent with recent increases in those continuing in post-16 education, then it is estimated that, to admit the same proportion of those so qualified as was admitted in 1980–81, the number of additional full-time and sandwich home students to higher education institutions who would have to be admitted compared with the student number projections underlying the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1982–83 to 1984–85"—Cmnd. 8494—would be of the order of

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the present arrangements for funding higher education.

No. Successive Governments have been dissatisfied with the arrangements for financing local authority higher education. The advanced further education pool was cash limited by the Education Act 1980. A consultative document on the policy, funding and management of higher education outside the universities was published in July 1981. My right hon. Friend has now established the national advisory body for local authority higher education to enable the distribution of the pool to be informed by an element of academic judgment.In the university field, my right hon. Friend recently told the Education, Science and Arts Select Committee that he was considering whether it would be appropriate for Ministers to give clearer guidance to the University Grants Committee than hitherto on national priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to modify or redefine the "Robbins" principle for availability of higher education.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 1 December 1981.—[Vol. 14, c. 103.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the United Kingdom's gross national product is spent on education compared with other EEC countries.

The latest year for which the information is available is 1978–79 and is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the current level of expenditure on education in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1 January 1982 I have personally met and discussed the current level of expenditure on education in England and Wales that falls within my responsibilities with representatives of the following:

• 21 January—Catholic Teachers' Federation
• 18 February—Secondary Heads Association
• 25 February—Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association
• 25 February—Caribbean Teachers' Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any proposals for changing the law in respect of the use of corporal punishment in schools in England.

A recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights has raised the question of ensuring respect for parental convictions against the use of corporal punishment in schools. The Government are considering the judgment and its implications.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is now able to publish Her Majesty's inspectors' report on standards in schools.

As soon as it is ready, I intend to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many engineering undergraduates there are expected to be in British universities by 1983; and how this compares to the number there were in 1978.

In 1978–79 there were 28,270 undergraduate and 3,204 postgraduate full-time and sandwich engineering and technology home and European Community students in universities in Great Britain. I understand from the UGC that it envisages that there will be of the order of 6 per cent. more such students in 1983–84. The percentage increase for engineering undergraduate students only is likely to be of the same order.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the response from universities to his letter to the general secretary of the Association of University Teachers, published in the Official Report on 15 February, column 56.

My right hon. Friend has received little response from universities to his reply to the General Secretary of the Association of University Teachers. In responsse to a further letter from the general secretary he has agreed to meet a deputation from the association.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the percentage of 18-year-olds currently participating in higher education in England and Wales; and how this figure compares with other member countries of the EEC.

The 18-year-olds participating in higher education in England and Wales in the academic year 1980–81 were 7·5 per cent. of the total population at this age. Strictly comparable figures for other member countries of the European Community are not yet available for that year.However, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has published statistics for certain countries of the European Community which show the 18-year-olds participating in higher education in 1975 or 1976 expressed as a percentage of the total population at this age. These participation rates are given in column 1 in the following table.Comparisons between countries of higher education participation rates at a particular age are influenced by the precise structure of higher education in each country, in particular by the age at which students normally enter higher education and the length of course. In some EC countries students enter higher education later than in the United Kingdom and take longer to qualify.A more meaningful comparison is to show all new entrants to higher education as a percentage of the total