asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the difference between the level of 1980 imports from countries covered by bilateral trade agreements under the multi-fibre arrangment and comparable 1982 quotas, in respect of the 25 products for which there is the greatest discrepancy between imports and quotas; and what would be the level of growth by 1986 if a 1 per cent. annual growth formula were applied to such products from 1980 onwards.

I regret the delay in replying to this question, but the information requested was not immediately available in the form requested. For ease of reference, those quotas concerned which are denominated in pieces have been converted into tonnes in accordance with the tables of equivalence contained in MFA bilateral agreements.If the criterion for determining the greatest discrepancy between 1980 actual imports and 1982 quotas is taken as being the largest percentage variation between the two figures, the difference in the 25 most extreme cases out of a total of 123 categories amounts to 14,266 tonnes. Total imports in the 25 categories concerned in 1980 were 4,313 tonnes and a 1 per cent. annual growth rate for six years would increase this to 4,578 tonnes. Many of these categories were not subject to quota at all in 1980. All the 1982 quotas concerned are small and in comparatively insensitive areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to his written reply of 3 March, Official Report, column 138, concerning trade with the EEC Six and with the rest of the world, whether he will publish in the Official Report (a) the number of months covered, (b) figures covering September to December, (c) what seasonal adjustment would normally have to be made and (d) to what extent the deficit with the EEC Six has been understimated as a result of the change in export statistics.

The figures to which the hon. Member refers were derived by taking data for September to December 1981—not seasonally adjusted—and multiplying by three. Seasonal adjustment factors at this level of disaggregation cannot readily be calculated. No estimate is available of the impact of the change in documenting exports at these levels of disaggregation. As well as understating the deficits with EC countries, this change will result in the surpluses with non-EC countries being overstated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what, if any, recent advice he has had from the Director-General of Fair Trading on social and commercial developments relating to the provision of credit; and what issues his Department has referred to the Office of Fair Trading in the past 12 months.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will have discussions with the appropriate authorities with a view to declaring areas within Aberdeen airport a free port area as recommended in the report submitted to his Department by the Adam Smith Institute.

We have yet to decide whether there would be real advantage in establishing special free port zones whether at Aberdeen or any other airport in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the commercial import of motor vehicles from a non-European Economic Community country, as in the case of the proposed import of Japanese-designed tractors assembled in Turkey, requires the consent (a) of his Department, or (b) of the European Commission.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 March 1982, c. 212]: No. Such vehicles may be imported freely under the authority of the open general import licence, dated 8 August 1980, issued by the Secretary of State for Trade. I am not aware of any proposal to import Japanese-designed tractors assembled in Turkey.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make inquiries into the emergency landing of two S76 helicopters operated by Bristow's in the Aberdeen area on Friday 12 March; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 March 1982, c. 229]: There was only one precautionary landing in the Aberdeen area by an S76 helicopter of Bristow's helicopter group on 12 March 1982. A helicopter of the same type crashed after take-off exactly a year earlier. Preliminary information about the recent occurrence suggests that shortage of fuel may have been responsible. There were no injuries to passengers or crew and no damage to the helicopter. The accidents investigation branch is carrying out a preliminary field investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the number of domestic consumers disconnected for debt by each electricity and gas board during the three months ended 31 December 1981.

The figures are as follows:

Area Electricity Board
London	4,864
South Eastern	841
Southern	890
South Western	522
Eastern	1,988
East Midlands	2,699
Midlands	1,700
South Wales	964
Merseyside and North Wales	2,328
Yorkshire	3,620
North Eastern	1,214
North Western	2,020
Total	23,650

Gas Region
Scottish	464
Northern	403
North Western	832
North Eastern	189
East Midlands	607
West Midlands	1,088
Wales	85
Eastern	327
North Thames	1,341
South Eastern	767
Southern	208
South Western	21
Total	6,332

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many households had their electricity disconnected in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 and to the latest available date in 1981.

The figures are as follows:

Calender Year	Total Disconnections
1977	83,650
1978	88,559
1979	88,790
1980	122,702
1981	109,051

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many domestic disconnections took place in the gas and electricity industries in 1981, compared with 1980; and how many prepayment meters were installed in place of credit meters.

In 1981, compared with 1980, the number of domestic disconnections decreased significantly in both the electricity and gas industries while the number of prepayment meters installed increased:

	Year ending December 1980	Year ending December 1981	Percentage Change
DISCONNECTIONS
Electricity	122,702	109,042	-11
Gas	41,846	28,659	-33
INSTALLATION OF PREPAYMENT METERS
Electricity	97,300	131,251	+35
Gas	14,559	41,336	+184

I am very pleased to see this fall in the number of disconnections, and I welcome the initiative taken by the gas and electricity industries in installing more prepayment meters.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland has received from the European regional development fund from 1 January 1975 to 31 December 1981; how much of these receipts each year represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy; and how much was used to offset Government expenditure on Northern Ireland.

Details of receipts from the European regional development fund by financial year for Northern Ireland projects since the inception of the fund in 1975 to 31 December 1981 are as follows:

Financial Year	Receipts
	£ million
1975–76	2·9
1976–77	7·2
1977–78	6·4
1978–79	4·0
1979–80	16·0
1980–81	21·0
1981–31 December 1981	7·0
Total	64·5

European regional development fund receipts for Northern Ireland are handled in the same way as receipts for other parts of the United Kingdon. Receipts for infrastructure projects are passed on to bodies responsible for undertaking infrastructure works, thus representing a direct benefit to those bodies by enabling them to reduce their capital indebtedness. Receipts in respect of industrial projects in Northern Ireland, as in other parts of the United Kingdom, are retained by the Government in partial payment for financial assistance already provided. Receipts from the European regional development fund enable the Government to maintain public expenditure at a higher level than would otherwise be feasible. Figures for (i) industrial receipts and (ii) infrastructure receipts in each financial year since the inception of the fund, to 31 December 1981 are as follows:

	(i) Industrial Receipts retained by Government	(ii) Infrastructure Receipts passed on to other authorities
	£ million	£ million
1975–76	2·3	—
1976–77	3·8	1·6
1977–78	2·5	5·1
1978–79	1·3	2·9
1979–80	2·7	14·1
1980–81	10·2	10·8
1981–31 December
1981	3·5	*3·5
* Includes £1·7 million received but not passed on at 31 December 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland has received from the European social fund in each financial year since 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1981; how much of these receipts were paid to the private sector and how much to the public sector; how much each year represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy; and how much was used to offset Government expenditure on Northern Ireland.

Total receipts from the European social fund and for the private and public sectors in each financial year since 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1981 are as follows:

Financial Year	Total	Private sector	Public sector
	£ million	£ million	£ million
1973–74	Nil	Nil	Nil
1974–75	3·36	Nil	3·36
1975–76	0·01	0·01	Nil
1976–77	6·43	0·12	6·31
1977–78	7·52	0·35	7·17
1978–79	14·95	0·42	14·53
1979–80	14·96	0·57	14·39
1980–81	23·01	2·00	21·01
1981–31 December 1981	17·52	1·78	15·74
TOTALS	87·76	5·25	82·51

EC moneys which are earned by the private sector are now passed on to the claimant as are receipts in respect of certain public sector bodies. In both these cases the receipts provide a direct cash benefit to the recipients. The balance of moneys from the European social fund is retained by the Government and enables public expenditure to be maintained at a higher level than would otherwise be feasible. The figures for each category are set out below:

Financial Year	Total	Direct payments	Receipts retained by Government
	£ million	£ million	£ million
1973–74	Nil	Nil	Nil
1974–75	3·36	Nil	3·36
1975–76	0·01	0·01	—
1976–77	6·43	0·12	6·31
1977–78	7·52	0·35	7·17
1978–79	14·95	0·92	14·03
1979–80	14·96	10·0	13·96
1980–81	23·01	2·78	20·23
1981–31 December 1981	17·52	2·39	15·13
TOTALS	87·76	7·57	80·19

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland received to 31 December 1981 from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund guidance section; how much of these receipts were paid to (a) the private sector and (b) the public sectors; how much represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy; and how much each year was used to offset Government expenditure on Northern Ireland.

During the period 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1981 the following amounts were received in each financial year by Northern Ireland under the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund guidance section:

£ Million
	Individual Capital Projects		Other Guidance Schemes
Financial Year	Private Sector	Public Sector	Private Sector	Total
1973–74	—	—	—	—
1974–75	—	—	0·25	0·25
1975–76	0·45	—	0·21	0·66

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statistics he has available for glue sniffing in East Belfast; and what action the authorities are presently taking to counter this practice.

No official statistics are available about glue sniffing in East Belfast. The Government's view is that the problem is best dealt with by education and persuasion, including local initiatives involving parents, teachers, youth workers, the health and social services professions and the police. The Department of Health and Social Services is preparing a memorandum of information and guidance on solvent abuse to assist those who may have to deal with the problem. On 8 March the Departments of Education and Health and Social Services organised a conference on drug abuse with particular references to solvent abuse. The conference was aimed at principals of secondary schools and colleges and representatives of the health and social services and education and library boards. The Northern Ireland Departments have supported the production of a film on solvent abuse for use by professional groups who have to deal with the problem on a United Kingdom basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the final report of the Chilver committee on higher education in Northern Ireland.

The final report of the review group chaired by Sir Henry Chilver on higher education in Northern Ireland is being published today, together with a Government statement. The two most important and urgent issues dealt with in the report are:

(i) the future of the New University of Ulster; and

(ii) future arrangements for co-ordination and planning of higher education in Northern Ireland.

It is clear from the report that in at least these two areas changes are necessary.In the view of the review group, NUU faces such major problems that closure might be necessary, and the university certainly cannot continue in existence in its present form. However, the report recommends that NUU should be kept open provided that it adopts a very different role, involving a reduction in conventional undergraduate and postgraduate work, and an increase in provision for mature students and for continuing education.On the co-ordination and planning of higher education, the report recommends the setting up of a new coordinating body, which would advise the Department of Education for Northern Ireland; would allocate funds; and would have links and cross-membership with the University Grants Committee and the Ball committee—which relates to public sector higher education in Great Britain.The Government have given very careful consideration to the Chilver group's views on the future of NUU. It shares the review group's desire to retain a major higher education base outside Belfast, but does not believe that the report's specific recommendations for NUU's future work would give a worthwhile and durable role. Instead, the Government believe that a better approach would be to pool the resources of NUU and the polytechnic. These two institutions have complementary characteristics. Together they would form the basis for a new split-site university which could provide the geographical and academic spread of provision which Northern Ireland requires. The new institution, which would replace both NUU and the polytechnic, would be expected to maintain the practical and vocational emphasis of the polytechnic, and to incorporate into this the strongest academic aspects of NUU. This combination would produce a strong and efficient institution, with a distinctive role which would complement the traditional academic emphasis of Queen's University of Belfast.The resulting system would thus comprise two universities, with contrasting roles. Since each of these universities would have the same relationships with DENI and UGC for funding and planning purposes, the problems of co-ordination could be solved without the creation of the complex machinery which the review group recommends.The Government's conclusions on these issues, and the reasons which have led to them, are set out more fully in a paper which will be published by the DENI today, of which a copy will be placed in the Library. Discussions on the practical implications of a merger betwen NUU and the polytechnic will now take place with the institutions concerned and with the UGC. If these discussions confirm that, as Her Majesty's Government believe, a merger will provide a viable alternative to establish the new institution, wider consultations on the remainder of the report's recommendations will also take place.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Her Majesty's Government will forgo their status as preferential creditor of De Lorean Cars Ltd. in order to help the small business creditors who might otherwise be put out of business.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1982, c. 30]: As the holder of a fixed charge on property of De Lorean Motor Cars Ltd. the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland is entitled to repayment of the loans thereby secured before any other creditor. The Department of Commerce has already made it clear to a group of creditors that while the Government have great sympathy for the plight of unsecured creditors it is not prepared to forego its priority. The best hope for all concerned with the company, including the unsecured creditors, lies in a successful outcome to the receivership.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Her Majesty's Government will review their policy towards the De Lorean venture by recognising that, assessed on initial capital alone, it should be regarded as constituting virtually a nationalised industry; and if they will either wind up the company and settle all creditors or accept a continued liability on the same social, political and economic grounds as elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1982, c. 30]: De Lorean Motor Cars Ltd. is a private company in which all of the ordinary share capital is owned by the De Lorean Motor Company. The Northern Ireland Development Agency subscribed for redeemable preference shares in the company but the rights attaching to these shares do not afford the agency a major or controlling interest. At the request of its directors, who had resolved to cease trading, receivers-managers were appointed by the Department of Commerce on 19 February and are investigating the possibilities of selling the business. The Government have made it clear that they do not accetp liability in respect of the company's debts.

asked the Attorney-General, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 3 March, Official Report, column 171, whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to initiate a prosecution as a result of his study of the report of the committee of inquiry into the use of blood at a London hospital.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has asked the police to conduct an investigation into the possibilities of illegal action revealed in the report.The decision to initiate a prosecution will depend upon the result of the police investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received any representations concerning the representation of angling interests on the Snowdonia national parks committee; and what response he has given to these.

In the last six months representations have been received from Genweirwyr Gwynedd. It has been explained to it that my right hon. Friend makes only one-third of appointments to the National Parks Committee and that these appointments are intended to represent the wider viewpoint of the purposes for which the national park was established.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he has received during the past four weeks on the level of water charges in Wales.

301, including 221 from residents of Blaenau Ffestiniog on identical English or Welsh proformas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of firms receiving aid via the capital grants scheme, the sum authorised and the number of disabled persons gaining employment since the answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 17 February 1980, Official Report, column 559.

Since the answer to the hon. Member on 27 February 1980, 164 firms have received aid and the sum of £151,924 has been authorised. A total of 47 disabled people have gained employment, and 133 have been helped to retain their jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he received the revised draft code of practice from the Commission for Racial Equality aimed at eliminating racial discrimination and promoting equal opportunity in employment; when he intends to present this to Parliament for approval; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend received the draft code on 21 December 1981 and is now considering it under the procedures laid down in section 47 of the Race Relations Act 1976. The Act lays on him a duty, if he approves of the code, to lay it before Parliament under the negative resolution procedure or, if he does not approve of it, to publish details of his reasons for withholding approval. The Select Committee on Employment has indicated to him that it would like to give its views on the draft code. He has welcomed this interest and will take account of the views of the Committee in reaching his decision on the draft code.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the likely additional demand for textbooks and other teaching materials attributable to the proposed youth training scheme; and how the necessary financial provision will be made.

The Manpower Services Commission, which will be running the youth training scheme, is considering the details of the scheme's operation, including the terms on which educational provision can be secured.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what special arrangements appertain at the Basildon unemployment benefit office with regard to registration of a claim for benefit and receipt of benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Newly unemployed people in Basildon are able to claim benefit at Basildon unemployment benefit office by attending the office on their first day of unemployment in the normal way. Subsequent attendances each fortnight to confirm unemployment are not required at present, though this is the normal procedure. Instead, each claimant makes a declaration of unemployment by post every 13 weeks. Payment of benefit is not affected by these modified arrangements, which began last autumn, when the main building had to be almost completely evacuated because the roof leaked badly. Meanwhile, temporary accommodation is being used which does not provide space for the regular attendance of claimants A new roof and extra accommodation will be ready later this year and normal arrangements for confirming unemployment periods will be resumed. I am satisfied that everything possible is being done to minimise inconvenience to unemployed people in Basildon and to ensure that benefit is paid correctly.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 March.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall have further meetings later today. This afternoon I shall attend the opening by the Prime Minister of India of an exhibition at the Hayward Gallery. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen. Later I shall attend a dinner given by the Indo-British Association.

asked the Prime Minister if she will appoint a Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade is responsible at Cabinet level for consumer affairs. He is assisted in discharging these responsibilities by my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, South (Dr. Vaughan) who is Minister for Consumer Affairs.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Newgate Street Village, Hertfordshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she proposes to ensure that the United Kingdom's budgetary contribution to the European Community is withheld until a satisfactory resolution of the extent of the contribution, if any, is achieved.

I hope that a satisfactory settlement will be reached before such a step has to be contemplated.

asked the Prime Minister what change in the level of demand in the economy she anticipates as a result of her right hon. and learned Friend's Budget.

My right hon. and learned Friend's Budget was designed to sustain the increase in economic activity that started during last year. Progress will largely depend upon continued effective control of domestic costs and improved competitiveness.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to visit Washington.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit Humberside.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will review the decision not to proceed with the M20 section in the Maidstone constituency, in view of the effect of through traffic on the villages of Hollingbourne, Harrietsham and Lenham on the A20 road.

We have every intention of completing this remaining section of a vital route. Preparation of this scheme will be resumed as soon as resources permit.

asked the Prime Minister if, in addition to the plans set out on 19 February, Official Report, c. 261, Her Majesty's Government will now add £1 sterling for every £1 sterling raised by voluntary bodies as aid for the Polish people.

The Government have already provided financial and other assistance, both nationally and through the European Community, to help the efforts of those voluntary and Church agencies providing humanitarian aid to Poland. While we remain willing in principle and within the limits of the resources available to continue to do what we can to help, I cannot accept the proposal made by my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit Wales.

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

asked the Prime Minister how many people who have been out of work for 12 months or more got jobs in the last seven-day period for which figures are available.

The information is not available. The statistics of those people leaving the register are not analysed by duration of unemployment. Recently, an average of over 280,000 people who were on the register for employment have left it each month, mainly for jobs or training. These figures do not include those people who have been registered with the careers offices or the PER.

asked the Prime Minister how many official visits she has paid to Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol and Brixton, respectively.

Since May 1979 I have visited Liverpool and Merseyside twice, Greater Manchester twice and both Bristol and Brixton once.

asked the Prime Minister which Government departments currently are involved in putting forward programmes involving charities and voluntary bodies and using the unemployed as volunteers; and if she is satisfied that there is adequate co-ordination between these programmes and the departments concerned.

The Government Departments mainly involved in putting forward these programmes in Great Britain are the Department of Employment, the Department of Health and Social Security, the Scottie h Office and the Welsh Office.Most recently, as announced in the Budget speech, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has asked the Manpower Services Commission to work out details of a new scheme of this type. In considering the Manpower Services Commission's proposals, my right hon. Friend will ensure that there is adequate co-ordination between these programmes, including the new scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many overland pipelines have been built in the United Kingdom under the provisions of the Pipelines Act 1962; and what types of industries are using the legislative provision.

I have been asked to reply.There is a total of 53 cross country pipelines and in excess of 1,000 local pipelines constructed under the provisions of the Pipe-lines Act 1962. The cross country pipelines comprise 32 pipelines built under section 1 of the Act and 21 pipelines built under section 6.A wide cross—section of industries have used the legislative procedures of the Act including companies concerned with clay, cement, coal, industrial gases, oil refinery, petrochemicals and rubber.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if it is his policy to place restrictions on the sale of armaments and military equipment to the belligerants in the Iraqi-Iranian war in the Persian Gulf; and if he will make a statement to indicate what these are.

Sales of arms and military equipment are subject to customary licensing procedures. Applications are considered in the light of all relevant circumstances, including our relations with the countries involved and, in the case of Iran and Iraq, our neutrality during the present state of hostilities, where Her Majesty's Government's overriding interest is to encourage an early and negotiated settlement.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what information he has concerning the situation with respect to human rights in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 25 January to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Griffiths).—[Vol. 16, c. 246.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of burglary in residential property were known to the Metropolitan Police in 1980; how many police officers there are in the Metropolitan Police area exclusively engaged in crime prevention advisory duties; and what plans there are to increase the numbers of such officers.

A total of 75,000 offences of burglary in a dwelling were recorded in the Metropolitan Police district in 1980. The figures are to be found in table S.3.1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, 1980", Volume 3, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.There are 87 officers employed full-time on crime prevention duties in the Metropolitan Police, 53 of whom have deputies employed part-time on such duties. The deployment of his officers is a matter for the Commissioner, and I understand that he has no plans to increase the number engaged full-time on such duties. However, the Commissioner is concerned to increase awareness of the scope for crime prevention among all Metropolitan Police officers and he is now examining the crime prevention content of training courses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the increasing use of computers for storing data, he will accelerate his plans for data protection for industrial, commercial and national security.

I refer to the reply I gave on 18 March to a question by the hon. Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk).—[Vol. 20, c. 166.] We intend to introduce a Bill on personal data protection as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the past 12 months in the computerisation of records of visitors admitted for fixed periods; whether this system is now used to identify overstayers; what is the present procedure of his Department in this connection; and whether he anticipates any further improvements in these procedures in the near future.

A computer system which replaced the earlier manual system for matching the landing and embarkation cards completed by passengers subject to immigration control has been in operation in the immigration and nationality department since 1 August 1980. The purpose remains to indicate when an individual has remained here after the expiry of his permitted stay. Where the computer identifies an apparent overstayer, follow-up inquiries are made in the normal way.Although the system has been in operation for about 18 months, experience to date has revealed a number of areas where improvements might be made in the system's performance. Work on a number of improvements is in hand and others are under consideration. For that reason the system must be regarded as still being under development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the sums awarded and proposed to be awarded by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board by way of compensation in rape offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take steps to increase the level of awards to the victims of crimes of violence under the criminal injuries compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement;(2) what consideration he has given to the criteria for payment of awards to the victims of crimes of violence under the criminal injuries compensation scheme;(3) what consideration he has given to the recent guidelines recommended by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

Under the criminal injuries compensation scheme, compensation is in general assessed in accordance with the practice of the civil courts. The guidelines adopted by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the assessment of compensation in individual cases are matters for the independent professional judgment of members of the board, who have considerable experience of personal injury litigation. Beyond determining the terms of the scheme, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I do not seek to influence the board in the exercise of their discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of serious crimes in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years and the percentage cleared up each year.

The information requested is published in tables 2.1 and 2.14 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1980"—Cmnd. 8376—and tables 1 and 3 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 4/82.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage increase in (a) serious woundings (b) less serious woundings and (c) all indictable offences, between 1967 and 1981.

Information on the number of serious offences recorded by the police by type of offence is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", table 2.2 of the volume for 1980—Cmnd. 8376. Figures for 1981 are published in table 4 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 4/82.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 March relating to the collection and publication of Metropolitan Police statistics, if he will list the categories of information relating to criminal serious offences recorded by the police and others for which (a) a crime report is completed, (b) the number of arrests is recorded and (c) the number of offences cleared up is recorded; what figures are collected of ethnic appearance of victim and victim's perception of appearance of assailant or culprit; and which of such figures are published.

We will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of police in 1979 in (a) the Metropolitan Area, (b) Merseyside and (c) England and Wales, and the comparable figures at the latest available date.

The information requested is as follows:

	Police strength
	1 January 1979	1 February 1982
Metropolitan Police	21,961	25,283
Merseyside Police	4,285	4,631
England and Wales	109,075	119,508

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of police officers in England and Wales each year from 1957 to 1981.

The total strength of the police service in England and Wales on 31 December for the years requested is as follows:

1957	70,599
1958	71,956
1959	73,133
1960	72,911
1961	75,814
1962	78,361
1963	80,262
1964	81,209
1965	84,429
1966	86,937
1967	91,061

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the increase in police pay in percentage terms in each year since 1979; and by how much more than the rate of inflation police pay has increased.

The increases from 1 September each year in the basic pay of police officers below the rank of assistant chief constable were 13·5 percent. in 1979, 21·3 per cent. in 1980 and 13·2 per cent. in 1981. The average annual increases in the retail prices index were 13·4 per cent, in 1979, 18 percent. in 1980 and 11·9 per cent. in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many killings of police officers in England and Wales resulted in convictions for murder in each year from 1957 to 1981.

The information requested is given in the following table:

Offences currently recorded as homicide of a police officer on duty in England and Wales, decided by the court to be murder
Year of offence	Number
1957	—
1958	1
1959	1
1960	1
1961	—
1962	—
1963	—
1964	—
1965	1
1966	4
1967	—
1968	—
1969	—
1970	1
1971	2
1972	1
1973	1
1974	1
1975	1
1976	—
1977	1
1978	1
1979	—
1980	1
1981	*1
* One further offence of homicide for which court proceedings not completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of prison officers in England and Wales each year from 1957 to 1981.

The number of officers in the prison officer class employed in each year during the period requested is as follows:

As at 31 December	Men	Women
1957	4,632	252
1958	4,940	273
1959	5,349	292
1960	5,405	277
1961	5,483	273
1962	6,066	263
1963	6,663	270
1964	6,931	274
1965	7,014	279
1966	7,446	258
1967	8,147	278
1968	9,734½	472½
1969	10,493	491½
1970	10,893	514½
1971	11,700	546
1972	12,612	560½
1973	12,375	562½
1974	13,198	565½
1975	14,237	630
1976	14,441	638
1977	14,792	724
1978	14,946	768
1979	15,090	791
1980	16,171	899
1981	16,172	901

Note: The figures given for years up to and including 1967 do not include officers under training, temporary officers, house matrons or night patrol officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many killings of prison officers in England and Wales have resulted in convictions for murder in each year from 1957 to 1981.

In the period 1957 to 1981 there was one homicide of a prison officer on duty in England and Wales—in 1965—and this resulted in a conviction for murder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage rise in the number of people indicted for murder between 1967 and 1981.

The number of persons indicted for murder is published annually in "Criminal Statistics,

	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81
	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
Cash Outtum	21·3	24·8	26·3	33·0	40·0
1980–81 Cost Terms	37·1	37·8	36·4	38·9	40·0

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of convictions for murder each year between 1965 and 1981 would have been classified as capital under the Homicide Act 1957.

Since the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 there have been no reliable data available for estimating which murders would have been decided to be capital if that had been an issue in the course of a trial. Estimated numbers of capital and non-capital murders for the years 1957 to 1968 were published in "Murder 1957 to 1968".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applicants there were for places on probation training courses in 1980 and 1981; what proportion of these came from ethnic minorities; how many were successful; and what proportion of these came from ethnic minorities;(2) if he will review the selection criteria for the probation service with a view to promoting the appointment of recruits from ethnic minorities;(3) what steps are taken to encourage the recruitment of ethnic minorities into the probation service.

The number of applications for courses with a probation option received in 1980 was 1,926, and in 1981 it was 1,992. Of these, 409 and 325, respectively, were sponsored by the Home Office. Information relating to ethnic origin is not sought.Advertisements inviting applications are placed in the ethnic minority press, and a coloured probation officer was depicted in illustrated advertisements in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the increase in real terms of the amount spent on police equipment in each of the last 10 years.

The following are the figures for local authority capital expenditure on police vehicles, plant and machinery for the years 1976–77 to 1980–81 in England and Wales. Figures for earlier years are not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The cost term figures are the cash outturn figures inflated by the gross domestic product deflater at market prices to 1980–81 average levels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether schedule 13 of the Criminal Justice Bill is intended to have the effect of reversing the decision of the Divisional court in Rogers v. Cullen.

No. The repeals in schedule 13, which I think the hon. Member has in mind, are consequential on paragraph 1(a) of schedule 9 to the Bill, which repeals section 4 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 under which day training centres are provided. I understand that an appeal against the Divisional Court's decision in Rogers v. Cullen is now pending before the House of Lords. In the light of the outcome of that appeal, my right hon. Friend will consider whether any change in the law relating to clay centres is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration he has given to paying the costs of the case against Ms Harriet Harman.

The matter has been considered further in the light of representations received, but I remain convinced that it would be wrong for the Home Office to waive the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords, thereby permitting these costs to fall on public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the security precautions at Balderton hospital, near Newark, for ex-Rampton patients transferred there; and what changes have been made to the system since the incident involving the rape of a local woman following the absconding of a patient there last year.

As a result of the absconding from the Eastdale unit towards the end of 1981, the Nottinghamshire area health authority looked very carefully at the procedures within the unit and reports its findings to both the Trent regional health authority and to the Department. Subsequently, staffing ratios at the unit have been improved and arrangements for better liaison with the local police were made.Nevertheless, the Trent regional health authority and the AHA also agreed to set up a joint RHA and AHA-DHA sub-committee to review the working of the unit, and members met for the first time on 17 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will (a) bring up to date the net weekly spending power figures published in reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk North on 18 January, Official Report, c. 65, after the Budget proposals have come into effect and with updated assumptions for rent, rates, and so on, and (b) make comparisons in each example with the net weekly spending power when entirely dependent on supplementary benefits and related support.

My hon. Friend knows that we have undertaken to publish this information in the OfficialReport once a year. This was most recently done on 18 January last, and I could not justify the considerable expense involved in updating and republishing it again now. We also publish at six-monthly intervals model tax-benefit tables, which are placed in the Library of the House, which include all the information my hon. Friend requests. The next edition will be published shortly, and I will send him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information his Department collects about parental rights resolutions of local authorities.

The information collected by the Department about children who are subject to resolutions under section 2 of the Children Act 1948—now section 3 of the Child Care Act 1980—is contained in "Children in Care in England and Wales, March 1979"—a report to Parliament by the Secretaries of State for Social Services and for Wales. Further detail is contained in a departmental publication entitled "Children in Care of Local Authorities, Year Ending 31 March 1979, England", reference A/F79/12. Copies of these publications are in the Library. Statistics for 1980 will be available shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the extra cost of raising the basic retirement pension in November 1982 from the new levels which have been announced to one half average gross earnings for a married couple and one-third average gross earnings for a single pensioner.

The cost at 1982–83 pension levels would depend on the level of average earnings at that time. The latest available estimate remains that given in my reply to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. John) on 25 January.—[Vol. 16, c. 283–84].

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost of lowering the male retirement age to 60 years of age at the new pension rates due to come into effect in November 1982 at estimated November 1982 price levels.

The revision of the estimate included in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern) on 19 November 1981—[Vol. 13, c. 230–31]—will be undertaken later this year, at which time I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether Her Majesty's Government have any plans to extend the mobility allowance to retirement pensioners who do not qualify for the benefit at the moment, because their disability has arisen after they have passed the qualifying age.

No. There are no resources available for any extension of the age limits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated cost of paying the mobility allowance to retirement pensioners who do not qualify for the benefit at the moment, because their disability has arisen after they have passed the qualifying age.

It is estimated that it would cost an additional £450 million a year at 1982–83 benefit rates to remove the upper qualifying age of 65 for mobility allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will re-examine the refusal of a mobility allowance in the case of Donald Bancroft of Chelmsley Wood in the Meriden constituency.

No. Medical questions concerning entitlement to mobility allowance are decided by independent adjudicating authorities, and I have no power to intervene in their decisions. I am, however, writing to my hon. Friend about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many citizens of the Republic of Ireland currently are in receipt of the various social security benefits in Great Britain; and what is the total estimated cost to the national insurance fund.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each of the last five years the number of cases in respect of which a recoverable overpayment of supplementary benefit arose showing (a) the percentage relating to claims from the estates of deceased claimants, (b) the percentage which resulted in a prosecution, (c) the percentage which did not result in a prosecution but in which recovery action was taken and (d) the percentage in which no recovery action was taken.

I regret that because the total number of recoverable overpayments of supplementary benefit is not known, it is not possible to give these percentages. The only information available is as follows:

Overpayments of supplementary benefit recovered from estates of deceased claimants
Year	Number of Cases
1976–77	3,448
1977–78	3,152
1978–79	3,306
1979–80	3,640
1980–81	4,238

Prosecutions for suspected supplementary benefit fraud
Year	Number of Prosecutions
1976	12,437
1977–78	17,658
1978–79	19,956
1979	18,427
1980–81	20,105

The 1976 and 1979 figures are for calendar years. The remainder are for February to February periods.The number of cases in which recovery action was taken but there was no prosecution is not known.