asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what stage has been reached in the negotiations between the chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the owner of Aintree racecourse about the future of the course.

It would not be appropriate to disclose information about commercial negotiations of this kind, which are, in any event, entirely a matter for the parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, further to his reply of 3 March, Official Report, column 146, he will give the reasons why he will not publish a monthly statement of convictions with details of race and colour where known.

Details of race and colour of persons convicted in England and Wales are not entered in the court records on which the statistics of court proceedings are based.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give as much information as may be readily available to show for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the rise or fall in as many stated types of crime; to what extent during this period prison sentences for such crimes have risen or fallen; and what effect such sentences have had on the growth or reduction of crime during this stated period of time.

The information requested on figures of serious offences recorded by the police and of the use of sentences of imprisonment is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—tables 2·4–2·13 and 7·13–7·14 of the volume for 1980, Cmnd. 8376. Figures of serious offences recorded by the police in 1981 are published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 4/82, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Reconviction rates of persons discharged from prison department establishments are published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales"—table 8·2 of the volume for 1980, Cmnd. 8372. Results of studies on this matter are also published in Home Office Research Studies Nos. 35, 53 and 64.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were proceeded against for rape, including attempted rape and aiding and abetting, in England and Wales in 1981; and what action he has taken or intends taking to reduce these figures.

Information relating to court proceedings in 1981 is not yet available. As shown in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 4/82, however, the number of offences of rape recorded by the police in England and Wales in 1981 was 1,068, somewhat lower than in the previous three years. The police will, I am sure, continue to devote every effort to the detection and prosecution of those who commit this offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to publish figures for the last quarter of 1981 for serious offences recorded by the police in the London borough of Newham in the same form as those given in the answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 18 January, Official Report, c. 15–16.

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is as shown in the following table.

Serious offences recorded by the police in the London borough of Newham by Metropolitan Police Office classification groups Newham, October-December 1981
Offence classification	Number of offences
Assaults etc (including homicide)	142
Robbery and other violent theft	126
of which:-Robbery of personal property following sudden attack in the open, there being no previous association between assailant and victim	25
Burglary	1,259
Autocrime	1,985
Other theft and handling	885
Fraud and forgery	317
Criminal damage and other offences	686
TOTAL	5,400

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sources his Department uses to assess the quality of the electoral register.

We make no routine assessments, but an Office of Population Censuses and Surveys study of electoral registration practices is in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions there have been in the last 12 months in the Metropolitan Police for misuse of information stored on the police national computer; and how many of them have involved police officers or employees of the Metropolitan Police;(2) if it is his policy to prosecute in every case of use of the police national computer for other than police purposes; and how many prosecutions there have been in England and Wales in the last 12 months.

Such prosecutions are matters for chief officers of police. Details of the circumstances of offences, including whether or not the police national computer was involved, are not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that discussions between Her Majesty's Government and other parties involved in the development of the direct broadcasting satellite will include a review of the opportunity to use a United Kingdom-produced satellite with a capacity to handle more than two television channels simultaneously.

As my right hon. Friend made clear in his statement of 4 March—[Vol. 19, c. 414.]—the number of United Kingdom television channels could be increased from the initial two up to the maximum of five permitted by international allocation as and when demand justified it. The question of the capacity of the initial satellite system is one which the provider of the system will have to consider in the light of the requirements of actual and potential users of the system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exclusion orders have been made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and how many persons have been subsequently charged with related offences under the Act.

Quarterly figures are published in the series of Home Office statistical bulletins on statistics on the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1974 and 1976. In Great Britain, between 29 November 1974 and 28 February 1982, 277 exclusion orders were made under the Acts and eight persons were subsequently charged under section 9(1) of the 1976 Act for failure to comply with an exclusion order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is available to him as to the number of persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, but not subsequently charged, whose fingerprints are retained by the police.

Fingerprints of persons arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974 and 1976 are retained by the police while the Act remains in force. Information on the number of persons detained under the Acts in Great Britain and not subsequently charged or excluded is published quarterly in a series of Home Office statistical bulletins, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police forces keep details of the religion of persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and, if so, if he will publish details to the latest available date.

This information is not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a public inquiry into the case of Mr. Bruce Lee, the mentally handicapped youth convicted in 1981 of starting fires which killed 26 people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether, in view of the most recent evidence, he will reopen his investigation into the conviction of Mr. Bruce Lee for arson at Wensley Lodge in January 1977;(2) whether, in view of the latest evidence, he will reopen his investigation into the conviction of Mr. Bruce Lee for charges of arson brought against him.

I have seen a recent newspaper article about Mr. Lee and I understand that the newspaper intends to send me a dossier about his convictions for manslaughter and arson. I will wish to consider this material very carefully before deciding whether there is any further action which I should take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish the ethnic origins of those individuals who have been stopped and searched by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years;(2) if he will publish the ethnic origins of those individuals arrested by the Metropolitan Police and held in custody for

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the ethnic origins of those who have been arrested but not charged by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years.

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that information concerning arrests followed by no further action is not collected centrally in the Metropolitan Police district and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish the ethnic origins of those individuals who have been arrested and charged, but not proceeded with to the point of trial by the Metropolitan Police in each of the past 10 years;(2) if he will publish the ethnic origins of those individuals who have been acquitted after charges by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years.

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is not readily available for any year and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Metropolitan Police categorises in its statistics those individuals of mixed ethnic origins.

We will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy for the publication of ethnic statistics by the Metropolitan Police.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to questions by the hon. Members for York (Mr. Lyon) and for Hackney, Central (Mr. Davis) on 15 March.—[Vol. 20, c. 14.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 15 March, why he will not consider establishing a separate Metropolitan Police force to deal with road transport matters.

It would lead to less flexible and less effective use of resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether a decision has yet been taken to hold a public inquiry into the loss of the Penlee lifeboat.

Following consideration by the Department of the report of the preliminary inquiry into the tragic loss of the Penlee lifeboát, I have agreed that a formal investigation should be held into the circumstances of this casualty. I am not in a position however to determine the scope of this investigation until discussions with the Irish Government on the action they propose to take into the loss of the "Union Star" are complete. I will make a further announcement on this as soon as I am able.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he proposed to bring into force sections 57, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 67 and 68 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

Consultation will take place in the very near future on drafts of the regulations necessary to implement these provisions. The aim is to complete work on the regulations by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps the Government intend to take to reduce the charges at Sumburgh aerodrome.

As a result of representations made by the Shetland Islands council and taking account of discussions held under the chairmanship of my noble Friend the Minister of State at the Scottish Office, I have decided that the investment in terminal and other facilities at Sumburgh provided for oil-related traffic should be written down by £13·2 million. To the extent that the authority cannot finance the write-off from within its own resources, my Department will be making a once and for all payment by way of grant in aid which will be met from within the approved supply Estimates.The effect of this write-down on the coming year's level of charges which apply specifically to oil-related traffic will be to allow the Civil Aviation Authority to maintain these charges at their current level. Without this write-down, the charges would have increased very substantially.It will not be possible for charges to be reduced because this would result in the CAA not recovering its costs. The level of charges reflects the declining use made of the facilities by the oil operators. I ought to emphasise that the operators have offered no commitment that any significant proportion of traffic would return if charges were actually reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will use his powers under the Coast Protection Act 1949 to prevent the mooring of fish farming cages in the Solent, in view of possible hazards to shipping.

I would need to look at the circumstances of each case.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the legislative and other provisions which empower him to prevent the mooring of fish farming cages in the Solent in circumstances of possible hazard to shipping.

Section 34(1) of the Coast Protection Act 1949.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish details of the application currently being made under the Coast Protection Act 1949 for the mooring of fish farming cages in the Solent:; and if he will make a statement.

I have received an application from Mr. Knud Jensen, of 72 London Road, Southampton, for my consent under section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949, to site fish cages below high water mark near Calshot Spit and near Hurst Castle. Each proposal envisages up to 24 cages and two working platforms contained within an area up to 150 metres by 50 metres. I am considering the application and will announce my decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Isle of Ely of 10 March, why it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to disclose particulars of export licences for works of art; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1982; c. 1]: The Department of Trade issues about 4,000 export licences a year for works of art and antiques valued at £8,000 or over; most items of lesser value can be exported freely under open general licence. The annual reports of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, which are laid before Parliament, cover the operation of the control system in general and give details of specific applications considered by the Committee. The effectiveness of the licensing control system depends largely upon the co-operation of exporters and the Government would be reluctant to endanger this by a greater degree of disclosure.

asked the Prime Minister what is the pension of a lieutenant-colonel with 20 years' commissioned service in the Regular Army.

The pension is £5,203 per annum.

asked the Prime Minister what is the pension of an hon. Member after 20 years' service.

The pension is £4,586·63 per annum.

asked the Prime Minister how much is spent by the Ministry of Defence on research in United Kingdom institutions of higher education; and what proportion this represents of the total spent by all Government Departments on research in such institutions.

The Ministry of Defence spent £3 million on research and development within universities and higher education establishments in the financial year 1978–79. This represented 1·2 per cent. of the gross central Government expenditure on research and development within these establishments.

asked the Prime Minister how much is spent on nuclear related research in United Kingdom institutions of higher education; and what proportion this represents of the total spent by all Government Departments on research at such institutions.

This information is not collected and there would be considerable problems of definition in attempting to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the total sales of spirits in West Germany through the NAAFI for the most convenient recent 12-month period; and what percentage of that figure was represented by Scotch whisky.

Total sales of spirits by NAAFI in West Germany, including Berlin, for the period February 1981-January 1982 were as follows:

	Cases
Scotch Whisky	36,964
Gin	10,206
Rum including Bacardi	45,145
Vodka	29,443
German Brandy	43,548
French Brandy	22,800
Total	188,106

Thus Scotch Whisky represented 19·65 per cent. of the total sales.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that the rationing system imposed by NAAFI in West Germany in respect of spirits does not discriminate unfairly against United Kingdom-produced spirits generally and Scotch whisky in particular.

Sale of certain goods by NAAFI to Her Majesty's Forces in the Federal German Republic is rationed in accordance with long-standing arrangements under the NATO status of forces agreement. Since in practice the total ration for British Forces is not fully taken up the system is not regarded as unfair overall, not does it discriminate between whisky and gin of United Kingdom origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the unit cost of a student at the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham.

Some 40 different courses are taught at the Royal Military College of Science. In 1980–81 the total costs of these per student day ranged from £51 to £350.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions are taking place to merge the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham with a university.

As I indicated to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Mr. Benyon) in my reply on 26 November 1981—Vol. 13, c. 460]—the tasks of the Royal Military College of Science are being examined to see if all remain necessary, and if so whether they can be carried out more efficiently and economically. The possibility is being investigated of forming an association with a university or similar institution which could take over the college's academic teaching and research on a contractual basis. There is no question of a merger with another body. The normal consultation will take place.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is currently participating in the job release scheme; and, if so, how many employees have taken advantage of the scheme since 6 April 1981.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 February 1982, c. 285]: Since 6 April 1981 1,605 employees, comprising 535 non-industrial staff and 1,070 industrial staff have retired from my Department under the terms of the job release scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Communities' Council of Energy Ministers on 16 March.

The Council of Ministers (Energy) met on 16 March. I attended on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.The Council reviewed the energy supply situation and considered communications from the Commission on the rational use of energy, nuclear power, coal and natural gas. The Council expressed its conviction that it was necessary, despite the easy oil market, to maintain progress towards the Community objective of reducing dependence on imported oil. The Council was unanimous about the need to promote efficiency in the use of energy. I stressed the importance of achieving this objective by market forces based on economic pricing of energy and supplemented by Government measures to provide information to consumers and to remedy imperfections in the market. The Commission's paper is to be studied by the Committee of Permanent Representatives with a view to discussion at the next meeting of the Energy Council.The Commission's papers on nuclear power and coal were remitted to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for further study. The United Kingdom delegation made clear the importance we attached to the development on an economic basis of the Community's indigenous resources of coal. The Commission will undertake further work on the natural gas position in the Community.The Council received from the Committee of Permanent Representatives the report on energy pricing that it had commissioned at its meeting on 27 October. The Commission was invited to study the position sector by sector with a view to ensuring that pricing policies conform to the principles adopted by the Council. The Commission will also develop its work on transparency of energy prices.The Council confirmed the procedures for handling a tight oil market agreed at their meeting on 27 October as a basis for discussion with other industrialised countries. Similar procedures were adopted by the International Energy Agency on 10 December. The Council invited member States to try to hold oil stocks at a level at least equal to 90 days of 1980 consumption rather than allow them to drop to the lower level of 90 days of 1981 consumption. The United Kingdom delegation stated that in view of our position as an oil producer there was no need for this action on stocks in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made agreeing a Community fusion research programme for the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

The Community Research Council of 8 March agreed in principle a proposal for a research and training programme—1982–86—in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion at a cost to Community funds of some £348 million. This includes approximately £57 million remaining from the previous programmeThe programme provides £179 million for completion of construction of the JET device in its basic performance, for its extension to full performance and for the operation of the device. Provision of £169 million is also made for support of a co-ordinated research programme by national laboratories of member States into aspects of fusion not covered by the JET experiment. United Kingdom participation in the Community fusion programme is undertaken by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority through its additional contribution to the JET project, for which its Culham laboratory acts as host, and through a contract of association with Euratom, under which a share of the above mentioned Community funds partialy supports the Culham laboratory's own programme.JET is the only device in the world currently under construction that might achieve fusion. Success here would be a major breakthrough in fusion research The JET programme was at the outset conceived in two stages; the basic performance and extended performance stages. Construction of the basic device has gone ahead to time and it is expected to become operational in 1983. Calculations based on experimental results from the world-wide fusion research programme gained since JET was conceived indicate the desirability of moving to the extended performance stage as soon as this is feasible. This will involve a substantial increase in the power supplied to the device with the object of demonstrating the scientific feasibility of thermonuclear fusion.Much other research is necessary into fusion and it is desirable that in parallel with the JET experiment initial work should begin on the definition of a possible successor to JET and development of the necessary technology. Accordingly, the Community programme provides support for basic research, undertaken in national laboratories, into a number of areas relating to the confinement and heating of plasma, together with consideration of the nature of the device to follow JET and the technology that will be required to operate it.The Community fusion research programme is an excellent example of European co-operation. Fusion is a potential energy source of great importance but the cost of developing it to the point at which it may be possible to build a commercial reactor is beyond the resources of any single European country. Accordingly, the Government wholeheartedly support the present programme, which has the twin merits of pooling resources and ensuring that the results of research are available to all participants in the programme.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the reports of the maladministration and neglect upon the part of Mr. Registrar Dewhurst, he will now either dismiss him or place him in premature retirement.

No. In any event there have been no such reports.

asked the Attorney-General how many magistrates are registered disabled persons; and what proportion this is of the total number of magistrates.

The information is not available, since no records are maintained of the number of magistrates who are registered as disabled persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has studied the report of the National Economic Development Council task force that British industry is paying up to 30 per cent. more than the French and West Germans for electricity; and if he will make a statement.

The NEDC task force report found that the most serious disparities between United Kingdom electricity prices and prices in France and West Germany applied only to large high load factor customers. In his speech on the Budget my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a new scheme designed for these customers, who will be able to obtain significant reductions in their charges in return for a commitment to accept load reductions when required. The cost of this measure in 1982–83 will be around £100 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much polychlorinated biphenyl has been made in the United Kingdom.

Production of polychlorinated biphenyls in the United Kingdom ceased in 1977. Information on the total amount produced in the United Kingdom up to that date is not available: however an OECD report prepared last year gives United Kingdom production figures for the following years:

	Tonnes
1973	4,067
1974	4,818
1975	3,274
1976	3,013
1977	283

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Community Research Council on 8 March.

The Research Council met on 8 March 1982. I represented Her Majesty's Government and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Energy was also present for the discussion of the proposed fusion research programme.The Council reached agreement in principle on the Commission's proposal for a new fusion research programme which will continue the Community's activities in this field until 1986. My hon. Friend will be presenting details of this agreement to the House.The Council also reached agreement in principle on a new research programme in the field of raw materials. The programme aims to help the Community to make more effective use of its indigenous resources. Under the programme, which will cost 54 Mecu—£30 million—the Community will sponsor research into the exploration for metals and mineral substances, ore processing, and mining technology, research concerned with the use of ceramics and clay-based materials, research concerned with wood as a renewable material, and research into the recycling of non-ferrous metals, and research concerned with the substitution of materials. The work will be carried out by research institutions in the member States.The Council continued the general discussion about the evolution of its research and development policy which was begun at the previous meeting of the Research Council in November 1981. Ministers examined suggestions by the Commission for improving the effectiveness of Community support for research and development but no firm conclusions were reached and the Council will return to this matter later in the year when it will have before it further suggestions from the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will introduce legislation to enable investment grants to be paid to employers to cover a proportion of the costs of reducing the level of noise in the workplace.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 March 1982, c. 477]: My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals for reducing the United Kingdom's positive monetary compensatory amount in 1982; and if he will make a statement.

I have none at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farming enterprises went into compulsory liquidation in each of the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

The number of compulsory liquidations in agriculture and horticulture in Great Britain since 1969 has been as follows:

Year	Number
1969	16
1970	14
1971	12
1972	4
1973	4
1974	8
1975	13
1976	13
1977	10
1978	10
1979	11
1980	9
1981*	11
* First three quarters.

I regret that information prior to 1969 and similar figures for Northern Ireland are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will appoint to the Sea Fish Industry Authority a representative of the shellfish industry.

No. I am confident that the members of the authority who were appointed in September 1981 are well aware of their responsibility to take account of the interests of the whole fishing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the Prevention of Terrorism Act at the latest available date; and how many have been charged with related offences under the Act.

Twenty-two people have been excluded in Northern Ireland under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976, seven of them from Northern Ireland and 15 from the United Kingdom as a whole. Two person have since been charged under section 9(1) (failure to comply with exclusion order) of the 1976 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 4 March, Official Report, c. 214, what were the grounds for refusing legal liability in claims for damages for alleged injury by plastic bullets and rubber bullets.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1982, c. 30]: In civil claims the onus lies with the plaintiff

	1960	1970	1980	1981
Lecturers and Teachers	*12,576	18,054	24,894	25,431
Non-teaching staff	† not available	† not available	‡25,371	‡25,149
* Figures for colleges of education not available for 1960.
† Information on the eight local education authorities before reorganisation in 1973 is not available.
‡ Excludes figures for Queen's University, Belfast, which are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been made redundant in the most recent available year in (a) local government, (b) central Government, (c) the nationalised industries and (d) the private sector; and what percentage of the work force in each of these categories these figures represent.

The full information requested is not available. In 1981 there were 9,262 redundancies reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in local government services—SIC Minimum List Heading 906. This figure, which is not comprehensive, represents about 1 per cent. of the corresponding number of employees.Although the Manpower Services Commission data—from ES955 returns—which are held in the House of Commons Library, are classified by industry or service, they are not sufficiently detailed or comprehensive to yield satisfactory estimates of redundancies among the other

Unemployment by industry—United Kingdom
	August 1979		August 1981
Minimum List Heading (MLH) of the Standard Industrial Classification	Number	Percentage rate	Number	Percentage rate
Construction (MLH 500)	152,543	10·4	380,698	25·9
Bricks, fireclay and refractory goods (MLH 461)	2,385	5·5	5,828	14·3
Glass (MLH 463)	3,209	4·3	9,548	13·6
Timber (MLH 471)	3,471	3·9	8,351	9·7
Furniture and upholstery (MLH 472)	5,045	5·3	13,477	14·7

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the total number of persons employed in education in Northern Ireland for each of the years 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1981; and if he will break the figures down into the following categories (a) lecturers and teachers and (b) non-teaching staff.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1982, c. 30]: The total number of staff, both full time and part time, employed in education in Northern Ireland for each of the years 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1981, for which figures are available, is set out in the following table:groups of employees specified. They exclude redundancies among Crown servants, the police and the Armed Forces as well as certain other groups which are rot covered by the statutory provisions relating to redundancies. Moreover, redundancies in nationalised industries and in the private sector are not separately identified in the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers are now unemployed in the construction, bricks, glass, timber and furniture industries, respectively; how this compares with the figures two years ago; and what are the percentages of the total in each category of workers.

The following table gives the information at August 1979 and August 1981, the latest date for which an industrial analysis of the numbers unemployed is available. The figures relate to the industry in which the unemployed persons last worked.A further industrial analysis of the unemployed will be made in May 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether a comprehensive list exists that identifies the location of polychlorinated biphenyl filled transformers which is available to local emergency services that may have to deal with any incidents at such transformers.

No list exists which identifies the location of polychlorinated biphenyl filled transformers.The Health and Safety Executive has, however, issued instructions to inspectors about the hazards arising, and the precautions to be taken, when these transformers are used. Inspectors will advise users about these hazards and the appropriate precautions to be taken, including their notification to the local emergency services, whenever such equipment is found.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has employed "headhunters" in the last 12 months for recruitment to jobs that are within his control; if so, what fees have been paid to the "headhunters"; for what jobs they have sought applicants; and how many jobs they have filled.

My Department and the other organisations of the DE group have not employed "headhunters" in the last 12 months.

	Inspectors		Other inspection staff
	Authorised posts	Staff in post	Authorised posts	Staff in post
1 May 1979	177	148½	143½	136½
1 March 1982	119	119	102½	110

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each wages council (a) the number and percentage of wages council firms inspected and found to be infringing wages council orders, (b) the numbers and percentage of workers inspected and affected and (c) the number of workers paid arrears and the amount for 1981.

Wages Council	Establishments inspected at which underpayments were found
	Number	Percentage	Number of workers examined	Percentage of workers examined and found to be underpaid	Number of workers paid arrears	Amount of arrears collected* £
Aerated Waters (England and Wales)	7	26·9	434	5·5	24	1,091
Aerated Waters (Scotland)	—	—	30	—	—	—
Clothing Manufacturing	260	37·2	12,426	7·7	958	55,238
Boot and Shoe Repairing	20	19·6	288	6·9	20	1,613
Button Manufacturing	3	23·1	347	4·6	16	1,015
Coffin Furniture and Cerement Making	—	—	19	—	—	—
Cotton Waste Reclamation	—	—	18	—	—	—
Flax and Hemp	—	—	132	—	—	—
Fur	3	11·5	146	2·1	3	187
General Waste Materials Reclamation	27	17·9	947	4·8	45	5,459

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what sources his Department uses to assess the effects of unemployment upon the unemployed and their families.

There are no regular statistical series which provide information on the effects of unemployment upon the unemployed and their families. The main sources of information are special surveys and other studies carried out on an ad hoc basis by my Department and other organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what sources his Department uses to assess the pay, hours, and other circumstances of homeworkers.

The Department's research programme is providing information on these topics. There are no statistical series providing regular information on the pay, hours and other circumstances of homeworkers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the establishment figures and the actual numbers in post for wages inspectors and other inspectorates staff at 1 May 1979 and 1 March 1982.

The figures requested for the Wages Inspectorate are as follows:

Information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the following figures are available for each wages council for inspections by visit which where completed in 1981.The figures in the accompanying table cannot be regarded as representative of each wages council trade, as the inspectorate investigates all complaints and tends to concentrate its resources on areas where underpayments are more likely to occur.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the employees who were employed by Sylo Ltd. in South Shields when it went into liquidation in November 1981 to be paid holiday pay and wages in lieu of notice under the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.

The employees' claims are being dealt with by the company's liquidator, who has already paid the holiday pay on 8 and 22 February. Within the next few days he hopes to apply to the Department of Employment for funds with which to pay the first batch of notice payments.

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

The following schemes, described as bypasses, relief roads and so on were included in local authority transport policies and programmes, as starting in the years in question:

Year	Number of schemes
1979–80	3
1980–81	6
1981–82	6
*1982–83	6
* Forecast.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of (a) motorway and (b) other new or improved trunk road were opened in Scotland in each year since 1970; and how many are expected to open in 1982 and 1983.

The table below covers major new construction and improvements. Minor schemes—under £250,000 up to 1978 and under £500,000 from 1979 onwards—are excluded.

Mileage of new and improved Trunk Roads
Calendar Year	Motorways Opened	Trunk Roads Opened
1970	22	20
1971	10	9
1972	13	3
1973	16	20
1974	11	11
1975	3	34
1976	—	21
1977	5	18
1978	5	23
1979	—	58
1980	14	13
1981	—	36
1982	1	29

Note: The figure for 1982 is a forecast and it is too early to estimate the information for 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, from housing plans lodged with him by district and island councils, he will estimate the proportion of surplus housing stock in Scotland that could readily be converted into adequate accommodation for disabled persons, single persons, the elderly and large families; and if he will estimate the average unit cost for each type of conversion work.

I regret that neither housing plans nor any other information available to me enable such an estimate to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to monitor the employment and promotion problems faced by non-white ethnic minorities in Scotland.

I have been asked to reply.In its response to the Fifth Report from the Home Affairs Committee on racial disadvantage (Cmnd. 8476), the Government noted the wide diversity of views of the possible benefits to be gained from ethnic monitoring as a means of further equality of opportunity in employment. In the absence of a clear consensus within industry, the Government consider that the right course is to leave it to individual employers in the light of their own particular circumstances to decide whether, and in what form, ethnic monitoring can make an effective contribution to the advancement of racial equality. On its part the Government have decided to introduce an experimental census of the ethnic composition of some non-industrial grades in a specific geographical area in the Civil Service and hopes that the results of this experiment will be helpful to other employers who are considering undertaking statistical monitoring of their workforces.More generally, my Department's race relations employment advisory service is available throughout the country to assist understanding within industry of the way in which equality of treatment and opportunity can be developed and practical difficulties resolved so as to make effective use of manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of pupils in the various categories of handicap in Wales at the latest available date; and how many are receiving their education in special classes.

The information is given in the following table:

Handicapped Welsh Pupils: January 1981
Type of handicap	Total number	Number educated in special classes*
Blind	50	33
Partially sighted	516	128
Deaf	181	126
Partially hearing	1,576	558
Physically handicapped	1,482	617
Delicate	1,039	38
Maladjusted	1,162	808
Educationally subnormal:
Severely	2,014	1,926
Moderately	10,231	7,590
Epileptic	701	59
Speech defect	596	188

Type of handicap	Total number	Number educated in special classes*
Autistic	66	64
Others	460	460
All handicaps	†20,074	‡12,595
* Pupils educated in maintained special schools or units or special classes attached to maintained primary and secondary schools.
† Includes 164 pupils educated at home and 220 pupils educated outside Wales.
‡ Includes 48 pupils educated outside Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in view of the high accident rate among miners and their need for orthopaedic treatment in consequence, he will refuse to permit the closure of the Prince of Wales orthopaedic hospital, Rhydlafer.

I shall consider most carefully any proposals submitted to me by the health authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in view of the long waiting list for orthopaedic treatment, he will institute an inquiry into the facilities available, through the National Health Service in this speciality, in the south and mid-Glamorgan areas; and whether he will make a statement.

No. I expect the health authorities to meet known needs in the best way possible with the resources available.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, pursuant to the reply of 19 February to the hon. member for Eton and Slough, Official Report, c. 359, in what circumstances the date of a husband's death will have a bearing on the nationality of a widow who has acquired British citizenship through marriage.

A woman who acquires the citizenship of a former dependency on independence is excepted from loss of citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies if, at that time, she is the wife of a man who retains his United Kingdom citizenship. The exception does not extend to widows. It is in these circumstances that the date of her husband's death has a bearing on a widow's nationality.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, without revealing traceable details, he will publish in the Official Report as much information as may be readily available showing for any given period of time or at any stated date the total amount of moneys and tax allowances claimed by public companies for the supply of houses, flats, yachts, and other stated items to their directors for the use of such directors and for the purposes of their companies' trades.

I regret that the information asked for is not available. Where a company incurs expense in providing assets for its directors' use the directors will be liable to pay income tax on the cost of the benefit provided.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sources his Department uses to cost policy options relating to the effects of changes in indirect taxation rates on consumers.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sources his Department uses to cost policy options on changes in direct taxation rates and thresholds and to estimate the numbers and groups likely to be affected by each option.

Generally speaking, estimates of the aggregate levels of income, profits and so on are obtained from the Treasury's model of the economy and the prospective difference in yield is estimated on the basis of the assumptions set out on page 11 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report, 1980–81". The distribution of income and information on the incidence of allowances and reliefs are projected from the latest available set of detailed statistics, in particular the Inland Revenue's survey of personal incomes—see, for example, the annual series of volumes entitled "The Survey of Personal Incomes" and "Inland Revenue Statistics", copies of which are in the Library of the House. Suppplementary data from other sources, such as the family expenditure survey, are also used when considering the impact of tax changes on particular groups.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the monthly figures for the tax and price index since its introduction.

The tax and price index for January 1982 was 162·3 based on January 1978 = 100. For the index for earlier months I refer the hon. Member to table 19.1 in the Monthly Digest of Statistics, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which proposals contained in Cmnd. 8455, "A New Training Initiative: A Programme for Action", require expenditure by his Department; and what is the estimated annual cost of each of these proposals.

Paragraph 57 of Cmnd. 8455 gives a broad indication of the Government's expenditure plans in respect of industrial training and related education and further details are given in chapters 4 and 10 of part 2 of the Government's expenditure plans (Cmnd. 8494-II). The improvements in the curriculum in the years of compulsory education and the development of provision in the immediate post-compulsory years—paragraphs 12–16 of Cmnd. 8455—will be implemented within the cash planned for schools and non-advanced further education but separate annual costs have not been identified. Additional students in colleges under the new youth training scheme—paragraph 29 of Cmnd. 8455—as well as through schemes of unified vocational preparation—paragraph 20 of Cmnd. 8455—will be funded by the Manpower Services Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent on scientific equipment in universities for each of the last 10 years at constant prices; and what percentage of total university spending that represents in each case.

The information available is as follows:

Expenditure from Furniture and Equipment Grant Percentage of total grant allocated
£m 1980–81 constant prices (approximate)
Financial year	£ million	Per cent.
1971–72	83·2	7·1
1972–73	87·3	6·9
1973–74	105·9	8·2
1974–75	46·8	4·2
1975–76	80·2	7·0
1976–77	57·9	5·1
1977–78	44·7	4·8
1978–79	60·5	6·1
1979–80	63·3	6·2
1980–81	67·0	6·4

It is not possible to identify separately spending on scientific equipment, either from the furniture and equipment grant or from recurrent grant or other sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider the proposal that the University Grants Committee might allocate portions of its grants to universities for specific research.

The recurrent grant distributed by the University Grants Committee is intended to provide general support for the universities' research capability. The selective support of research in the natural and social sciences is a matter for the research councils. It is nevertheless open to the UGC to earmark sums within its grant for the development of teaching and research in particular disciplines, as it has done recently in the field of microelectronics and is expected to do soon for developments in biotechnology.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many (a) teachers arid (b) researchers have been employed by universities for each of the last 10 years; and if he will show the specific figures for medicine, physics, biology, mathematics and engineering.

It is not possible in the time available to collate the considerable amount of information requested. It is in any case fundamental to British universities that teachers and researchers are not separate categories. I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent on the day-to-day running of laboratories in universities for each of the last 10 years at constant prices; and what percentage of total university spending that represents in each case.

This information is not separately identified in returns of universities' expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent on computers in universities for each of the last 10 years at constant prices; and what percentage of total university spending that represents in each case.

The following table gives the information available, that is, the cost of computer facilities provided for universities by the computer board excluding facilities provided from other sources:

	£ million 1980–81 constant prices (approximate)
Financial Year	Expenditure by Computer Board	Percentage of total grant allocated
1971–72	32·4	3·0
1972–73	35·1	2·9
1973–74	34·0	2·8
1974–75	28·8	2·6
1975–76	29·6	2·6
1976–77	30·8	2·7
1977–78	21·5	2·6
1978–79	27·6	2·9
1979–80	30·9	3·2
1980–81	26·2	2·5

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students were studying at university in October 1981; what were the figures for October 1975 and October 1970; what were the funds allocated to universities for each of these dates at constant prices; and how much per head per student this represents in each case.

This information is not immediately available, but I shall reply as soon as possible.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1982, c. 82]: Teachers' service records are supplied to the Department of Health and Social Security where there is a link between teachers' pensions and war pensions. In each case the teacher is informed. Where a teacher is transferred or seeks transfer to a post in Scotland or Northern Ireland, service records are supplied to the Scottish or Northern Ireland Offices as appropriate. Records of national insurance contributions of teachers are transferred to the Department of Health and Social Security as a statutory requirement.Names of teachers barred for misconduct are passed to the Scottish and Northern Ireland Offices in order that teachers barred in England and Wales are similarly treated in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The list is also sent to the Department of Health and Social Security.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to encourage social service workers to seek greater experience and expertise in the handling of mentally ill patients in order to improve their response to emergencies.

We have recently sent to interested bodies for their comments draft guidelines which set out a possible programme of training and experience calculated to provide expertise in the care of mentally disordered people. The Bill now before Parliament proposes that social workers shall only have power to make applications for patients' admission under the Mental Health Act 1959 if they have been approved for the purpose by their employing authority, which will be required to have regard to any statutory directions given by my right hon. Friend. If such provisions become law, my right hon. Friend proposes to direct local authorities to have regard to such guidelines, and this should help to increase the expertise of those responding to psychiatric emergencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his reply dated 24 February, Official Report, c. 414, concerning a spending bonus to those on social security, whether he will publish in the Official Report the numbers of long-term unemployed in each category and the assumed average amount of benefit per week in cash terms.

The cost of providing a bonus equal to two weeks benefit for all social security beneficiaries was obtained by dividing the total cost of social security benefits in 1982–83 by 26. As many beneficiaries receive more than one benefit an overall average weekly cost cannot be obtained.For part

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost at 1981–82 benefit rates of extending entitlement to invalid care allowance to married women; and how many women would benefit.

It is estimated that about 110,000 married women would become entitled, but, because of offsets of other benefits, it is not possible to say in how many cases the family as a whole would gain. For this reason I regret that I cannot add to the answer about the net cost which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) on 24 November 1981.—[Vol. 13, c. 368.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost at 1981–82 benefit rates of extending entitlement to non-contributory invalidity pensions to married women on the same basis as it is currently paid to men and single women and paying it (a) at its current rate and (b) at a rate equivalent to the contributory invalidity benefit; and how many women would benefit.

It is estimated that it would cost £250 million to extend entitlement to non-contributory invalidity pension to married women on the same basis as it is paid to men and single women; and £380 million if the rate was raised to the level of invalidity pension. Both these figures are net of savings from dependancy increases, but information on offsetting savings from supplementary benefit is not available. Some 240,000 women would benefit from such a change.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of persons entitled to a non-contributory invalidity pension but not claiming it; and what would be the net cost at 1981–82 benefit rates, of raising the non-contributory invalidity pension to the level of the contributory invalidity pension and paying it (a) to all those currently claiming and (b) to all those currently entitled to claim noncontributory invalidity pension.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, assuming that price rises between November 1981 and November 1982 are as forecast, what will be the loss or savings to the Exchequer in social security benefits payment from November 1979 to November 1983 as a result of inaccurate forecasting in that period and subsequent adjustment of benefits.

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

asked the Secretary of State For Social Services if he will introduce changes in the National Health Service prescribing forms to facilitate generic prescribing.

I do not consider that existing forms present any difficulties to practitioners who wish to prescribe using generic names.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will examine the economic consequences of issuing zinc air A675 batteries to National Health Service hearing aid users in place of mercury batteries CP1.

Approximately one-half of the Department's present requirement for batteries for behind-the-ear hearing aids is being met with the zinc-air type. This high proportion reflects, among other factors, the current cost advantage of purchasing this type of battery.An important factor in assessing the economic consequences of using any particular type of battery is the extent to which users extract the full energy capacity. Preliminary field trials did not indicate that wastage was significantly greater following the use of zinc-air batteries instead of mercuric oxide types, however Further monitoring will be conducted in the near future as zinc-air usage increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sources his Department uses to cost policy options on methods to assist the elderly with their fuel bills.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sources his Department uses to cost policy options on measures to assist handicapped people to become independent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sources his Department uses to assess the take-up of social security benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sources his Department uses to assess the degree of awareness and the level of use of preventive health services, such as dental services, antenatal care, family planning and cancer screening.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sources his Department uses to cost policy options on changes in eligibility criteria for social security benefits and to estimate the numbers and groups likely to be affected by each option.

Depending on the issue in hand, the sources of information relevant to a decision may include internal and other administrative statistics, data from surveys such as the family expenditure survey, information provided by other Departments and such other information as is necessary and available, for example, the research project currently being undertaken by the department of epidemiology and social research at Manchester university on cervical cancer screening.

	15 May 1979	19 January 1982	16 February 1982
Supplementary pensions in payment	9,204	9,923	—
Supplementary allowances in payment	6,381	14,379	—
Pension including widow's benefit, claims activity in previous 4 weeks	1,750	—	2,370
Main contributory benefits, other than pensions claims activity in previous 4 weeks	4,736	—	4,144

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of extending entitlement to mobility allowance (a) to persons aged 65 to 70 years, (b) to persons aged 65 years and over and (c) to children aged 2 to 5 years; and how many people would benefit in each case.

The information is estimated as follows:

Numbers who would benefit	Annual cost at 1982–83 benefit rates £ million
(a) 300,000	270
(b) 500,000	450
(c) 4,500	4

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are made for refunding excess