asked the Minister for Trade if he will seek the assistance of the chairman of Lloyds and the chairman of the British Insurance Association to prevent, by methods available to them, the continued cover on the British market of Aerolineas Argentinas by means not at present illegal; and if he will make a statement.

The chairman of the Lloyd's broker concerned has given an assurance that his firm is not placing the renewal of insurance on Aerolineas Argentinas.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether hereditaments which straddle the Belfast enterprise zone boundary are eligible for the exemption from rates which applies to industrial and commercial property in the zone.

The Government's intention has been that the exemption from rates applicable to non-domestic hereditaments in enterprise zones should apply to those parts of straddling hereditaments lying inside the zones. It appears, however, that the legislation governing the rates exemption provision in Northern Ireland—part IV of the Enterprise Zones (Northern Ireland) Order 1981—in common with the comparable legislation in Great Britain does not provide the correct statutory basis for such partial exemptions.An early opportunity will be taken to introduce amending legislation in Northern Ireland similar to that proposed for Great Britain. In the interim I propose to make extra-statutory payments enabling apportioned rating relief to be paid on parts of hereditaments falling within the Belfast enterprise zone boundary and to reimburse Belfast city council for the revenue it would otherwise have received.The appropriation accounts of the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) will be noted at the end of each financial year to show the sums involved which I estimate will not exceed £1,000 in 1981–82 and £2,000 in 1982–83.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what, in percentage terms, is the degree of self-sufficiency each of the individual member States of the EEC has in respect of temperate foodstuffs.

Estimates of the degree of overall self-sufficiency of member States of the European Community in temperate products are not available. Estimates for individual commodities for each member State are published in table 28 of the appendix to the Agricultural Situation in the Community, 1981 report, Commission of the European Communities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any change to propose in the management of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Yes. The present arrangements, under which the Royal Botanic Gardens are run as part of my Department, are not ideally suited to the management of an institution which combines the functions of curation, research, advice and instruction and public amenity. A board of trustees appointed for the purpose could in my view be better placed to give guidance to the director on these diverse and important activities. I am accordingly instructing my officials to institute consultations with representatives of the staff concerned and with interested organisations, with a view to introducing legislation at an early date to transfer management of the gardens to trustees.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many composite classes there were in Scottish primary schools during each of the past three years; and what percentage of the total number of primary pupils the figures represent.

The latest information is as follows:

	September 1978	September 1979	September 1980
Number of composite classes in primary schools	4,741	4,272	4,350
Percentage of primary pupils in composite classes	18·2	16·4	17·4

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether lands and heritages which straddle enterprise zone boundaries are eligible for the exemption from rates which applies to industrial and commercial property in the zones.

The Government's intention has been that the exemption from rates applicable to non-domestic lands and heritages in enterprise zones should apply to those parts of straddling lands and heritages lying inside the zones. It appears, however, that the legislation governing the rates exemption—schedule 32 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980—is defective in that it does not provide a statutory basis for such partial exemptions. Amending legislation to remedy this defect will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.In the meantime, therefore, with the agreement of the Treasury, I propose to give effect to the intention of the legislation for Scotland by making extra-statutory payments to the only rating authority concerned. An informal apportionment has been made of the rateable value of those lands and heritages straddling the boundary of an enterprise zone and the rating authority concerned is granting rating relief in respect of the portion inside the zone. My Department will reimburse the authority for this relief. This process of apportionment will apply only to rating; it does not affect any of the other benefits available within enterprise zones.The Scottish Office Appropriation Accounts will be noted at the end of the financial year to show the sums involved, which I estimate might amount to about £100,000 in 1981–82 and about £180,000 for 1982–83, which we hope it will be possible to pay on a statutory basis following amendment of the 1980 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the figures, by region, of the numbers of qualified nurses who are at present registered as unemployed.

The following table gives the numbers of unemployed people registered at employment offices at 11 March for employment as State registered nurses, State enrolled nurses or State certified midwives.

Regions
	Total
South East	1,322
East Anglia	190
South West	658
West Midlands	696
East Midlands	396
Yorkshire and Humberside	664
North West	1,040
North	543
Wales	545
Scotland	885
Northern Ireland	512

Labour force estimates in 1951 and 1979
Great Britain	Millions
	April 1951*		June 1979†
	Males	Females	Males	Females
Employees in employment‡
—full-time	13·9	5·7	13·4	5·6
—part-time	—	0·8		3·8
Self-employed	1·3	0·3	1·5	0·4
	—	—	—	—
Employed labour force	15·3	6·8	14·8	9·7
Registered unemployed	0·3	0·1	0·9	0·4
Unregistered unemployed			0·1	0·3
	—	—	—	—
Total labour force	15·6	7·0 15·8	10·3
(*) source: 1951 Census on Population.
(†) Sources: The Department's monthly and quarterly statistics of registered unemployment and of the employed labour force, the EC labour force survey, and the general household survey.
(‡) Includes Her Majesty's Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what reduction in the number of clerical and administrative posts in the public sector he estimates will arise from the displacement of certain clerical, filing and typing operations over the next few years by new information technology; and how many jobs in the public sector it is estimated might be downgraded as a consequence of reduced levels of responsibilities.

No estimates are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total estimated cost in 1981–82 at 1981 cash prices of public expenditure on training and retraining, excluding expenditure on training allowances.

The schemes for which the Department of Employment is responsible which involve training are the youth opportunities programme—including the careers service strengthening scheme—community industry and the services provided by the training services division of the MSC. The estimates for these schemes in 1981–82 provide for £485·7 million excluding expenditure on training allowances; however, a shortfall on expenditure is anticipated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish figures showing labour force estimates in 1951 and 1980, distinguishing between men and women in full-time work and those working part-time, and also showing the estimated numbers registered and unregistered unemployed in each year.

Information in the precise form requested is not available. The available information is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish figures for the latest date available showing what percentages of (a) men and (b) women unemployed for over 12 months had previous earnings below the average manual earnings for their sex; and if he will compare these ratios with the ratios of men and women on low earnings to the total male and female work forces.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is giving consideration to the role of community industry in his plans for the post-school employment and training of young people.

We have made it clear that it is for community industry itself to consider where its contribution can best be made, in a way consistent with the new training arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the possibility of places in the community industry scheme being extended in duration from 12 months to two years.

We have not received any representations about extending places in community industry to two years. Community industry is considering its role in relation to the new training arrangements for young people.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the velocity of circulation of money each year since 1951, as defined from time to time.

The attached table shows the velocity of circulation of money in the years 1952 to 1980, calculated as the ratio of gross national product—expenditure-based—at market prices, to the average stock of sterling M3 outstanding. For the years 1963 to 1980, the latter is an average of the stock outstanding at the end of the five appropriate calendar quarters. For the years 1951 to 1962 estimates of the stock of M3 only, and only at end-year are available. The figures given for 1952 to 1962 are calculated using an average of the stocks outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, estimated on the crude assumption that the rate of growth of sterling M3 was the same as that of M3. It is, therefore, not possible to give a figure for 1951. The figures for the earlier period should be regarded as considerably less accurate than those for the later years. A GNP figure for 1981 is not yet available, as a consequence of last year's Civil Service dispute. Quarterly series of velocity are published in Financial Statistics, table 7.1.

Year	Velocity
1952	1·90
1953	1·98

Year	Velocity
1954	2·02
1955	2·16
1956	2·37
1957	2·46
1958	2·50
1959	2·51
1960	2·55
1961	2·67
1962	2·73
1963	2·80
1964	2·85
1965	2·88
1966	2·90
1967	2·91
1968	2·89
1969	2·97
1970	3·09
1971	3·11
1972	2·86
1973	2·65
1974	2·56
1975	2·94
1976	3·24
1977	3·42
1978	3·44
1979	3·55
1980	3·56

asked the Chancellor of he Exchequer, further to the answer of 8 March, Official Report, c. 299–300, concerning the trading profits for farmers for tax purproses, (a) how many farmers in each range were married to wives who were assessed separately in the same class of business, (b) how many individuals in each range were in partnership and (c) how many of these were wives.

I regret that the information requested at (c) is not available and that at (a) can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The information given below in reply to (b) is not derived from the survey of personal incomes, on which the previous answer was based, but from an analysis of assessments to income tax made upon farming partnerships under case I of schedule D. It is, therefore, on a different basis from the information given in the previous reply.

Range of net true income (Lower limit) £	Number of partnerships assessed '000	Number of partners '000
Nil	11·0	24·7
500	2·5	5·5
1,000	2·8	6·3
1,500	2·4	5·6
2,000	10·1	21·8
3,000	8·6	20·0
4,000	6·7	15·7
5,000	5·6	13·4
6,000	3·5	8·4
7,000	3·1	7·5
8,000	3·1	7·6
9,000	2·1	5·6
10,000	3·5	9·1
12,000	3·4	9·1
15,000	3·4	9·3
20,000	3·9	11·5
All ranges	75·8	181·1

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the monetary base has any role as a monetary target in the medium-term financial strategy.

A target was set in my right hon. and learned Friend's 1982 Budget for growth in 1982–83 of sterling M3 and PSL2, and M1. There is no target for the monetary base, but its behaviour is taken into account in interpreting monetary conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any knowledge of those British banks that have participated in providing credit to SEGBA in Buenos Aires; and if he will list them.

On the basis of the information readily available to me, I understand that the following recognised banks or licensed deposit-taking institutions in the United Kingdom have participated in syndicated loan operations to Servicios Electricos del Gran Buenos Aires since April 1979. Banks in the United Kingdom are, of course, precluded from making any further loans to residents of Argentina under the Treasury's directions of 3 April 1982.

• Banco do Brasil S.A.
• Banco do Estado de Sao Paulo S.A.
• Banco do la Nacion Argentina
• Bankers Trust Company
• Bank of Yokohama Ltd.
• Barclays Bank International Ltd.
• European-Brazilian Bank Ltd.
• Grindlay Brandts Ltd.
• International Westminster Bank p.l.c.
• Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corporation
• Satama Bank Ltd.
• Yasuda Trust and Banking Co. Ltd.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the treatment for income tax purposes of West German social security retirement pensions paid to persons resident in the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reduction in the number of Civil Service clerical and administrative posts he envisages will arise in the next few years directly from the introduction of new information technology displacing clerical and filing and typing operations; and how many existing posts are likely to be downgraded in the level of the work and responsibilities involved.

The information requested is not available centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much capital allowances for the hotel industry are expected to cost in 1982–83 and 1983–84; what estimate he has made of the additional cost in 1982–83 and 1983–84 of capital allowances for industry at the new rate of 75 per cent.; and what would be the cost of granting capital allowances for new retail buildings in 1982–83 and 1983–84 at the same rate as that for hotels.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the increase in current price gross domestic product between 1980–81 and 1981–82.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list all the benefits, grants and allowances, including child benefit and social security additions for children, which it is the Government's intention shall remain free of tax;(2) if he will list all the benefits, grants and allowances which it is the Government's intention to bring into tax; and if he will show the approximate dates when the change is likely to take effect.

We propose to bring into tax benefits paid to the unemployed and to those involved in industrial disputes, from 5 July 1982; and payments for short terms sickness will be taxed from 6 April 1983 under the proposed statutory sick pay scheme. It remains our intention to bring into tax the remaining short-term benefits—sickness benefit, maternity allowance, injury benefit and unemployability supplement—and invalidity benefit, but no date is fixed for this at present. We have no plans to bring into tax any further social security benefits that are at present exempt, including child benefit and child additions to other benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables similar to those in "Income tax and indirect tax: the main proposals", showing for single wage married couples with each of two and four children the effects of income tax, national insurance contribution and child benefit changes between 1981–82 and 1982–83 on net incomes, assuming a 7½ per cent. increase in earnings.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate, and publish in the Official Report, the extent to which personal taxation and local rates have increased or decreased, on a per capita basis during the relevant three years for which figures are available.

Personal taxation and local rates were about £900 per capital in 1979–80, £1,060 in 1980–81—an increase of 18 per cent.—and is estimated to be about £1,250 in 1981–82—an increase of 18 per cent. compared to 1980–81. Personal taxation has been taken to mean income tax, employees' national insurance contributions, and taxes on expenditure mainly paid by consumers. For local rates, domestic rates only have been used. Revenues have been divided by the mid-year estimates of United Kingdom home population for 1979, 1980 and 1981—projection—respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether interest is payable on special deposits with the Bank of England; and whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the average value of the special deposits with the bank in each of the past 10 years, together with the average rate of interest payable on Treasury bills during the period in each year when the deposits were in force.

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

asked the Prime Minister if she will give a detailed breakdown of the costs of requisitioning each ship for use by Her Majesty's Government in the Falkland Islands operation; and what are the total amounts to be paid to each shipping line involved.

Compensation for the requisitioned ships is being based on section 4 of the Compensation (Defence) Act 1939. Negotiations with the shipping lines are still in progress, and the total amounts to be paid will depend on how long the ships remain on requisition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Lord Diplock has submitted his second report on the interception of communications; and if he will make a statement.

Lord Diplock has submitted his second report to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. His general conclusion was that during the year 1981 the procedures for the interception of communications had continued to work satisfactorily and the principles set out in the White Paper "The Interception of Communications in Great Britain" (Cmnd. 7873) had been conscientiously observed by all Departments concerned.Lord Diplock has recommended a change in the definition of serious crime. In the White Paper, serious crime is defined as an offence for which a man with no previous record could reasonably be expected to be sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with two exceptions for offences involving either a large number of people or the use of violence. Lord Diplock has proposed that there should be a third exception to cover offences which would not necessarily attract a penalty of three years' imprisonment on first conviction, or involve a large number of people or violence, but in which the financial rewards of success are very large. I have accepted Lord Diplock's recommendation.This statement is made in accordance with my undertaking to make known Lord Diplock's general findings and any changes based on recommendations in his report which will not itself be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of grants given by the Voluntary Service Unit to voluntary organisations in the United Kingdom during the financial year 1981–82, showing the amount of grant awarded to each organisation.

Details are as follows:

	£
Action Resource Centre	20,000
Association of Researchers in Voluntary Action and Community Involvement	7,450
AVEC	12,200
British Association for Counselling	10,000
British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres	32,600
British Council of Churches (Community Work Resource Unit)	17,336
Brixton Neighbourhood Community Association	4,600
CETU	27,700
Charity Trading Advisory Group	8,000
Community Projects Foundation	695,000
Community Service Volunteers	473,200
Community Transport	27,400
Fair Play for Children	25,000
Federation of Community Work Training Groups	14,065
Festival Welfare Services	17,000
Gamblers Anonymous	375
Higher Education Foundation	1,500
Horticultural Therapy—Land Use Volunteers	3,500
International Voluntary Service	21,800
London Voluntary Service Council	162
Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service	11,000
Midland Public Service Announcement Scheme	9,000
National Association for Asian Youth	10,330
National Association of Victim's Support Schemes	15,100
National Association of Young People's Counselling and Advisory Service	22,500
National Council for Voluntary Organisations—International Conference on Social Welfare	18,500
Management Training	4,500
National Federation of City Farms	19,000
National Playing Fields Association	75,600
Newham Community Renewal Programme (homeless young people's project)	12,500
Northern Association for Community Care	42,400
Operation Drake Fellowship	18,750
Princedale Trust (for Release)	60,000
Retired Executives Action Clearing House	6,750
Scoutreach	750
Standing Conference of Women's Organisations	1,929
Stockport Job Shop	350
Student Community Action Development Unit	16,624
Task Force	84,200
Time for God	3,800
Trinity Overnight Shelter, Birmingham	15,000
Volunteer Centre	514,000
West End Co-ordinated Voluntary Services	105,450
West Yorkshire Radio Action	30,250
Young Volunteers Resource Unit	101,000

	£
The following grants were paid under the Development of Local Voluntary Action and Small Grants Scheme:
DLVA
N.E. Training Group for Community Work	7,472
Newham Parents' Community Resource Programme	10,850
Salford Community Involvement Project	7,275
Social Care Assembly for Normanton	4,864
Training for Voluntary Organisations (Southampton)	2,950
Waveney Project (Suffolk)	3,569
Wiltshire Information Resource Exchange	500
Small Grants Scheme
Cornwall (Carrick and Kerrier)	10,000
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough	14,250
Wrekin District (including Telford)	10,000
	2,689,901
In addition, the following grants-in-aid are administered by the VSU:
Womens Royal Voluntary Service	3,778,000
National Council for Voluntary Organisations	742,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about progress towards an agreement on a Council of Europe draft convention on animal welfare made at the ad hoc committee meeting on 30 March.

At its meeting which took place from 30 March to 2 April, the ad hoc committee reached agreement on the text of the convention with the exception of the final articles, which deal with such matters as ratification, accession of non-member countries and reservations. In the course of the committee's deliberations, various revisions of the text of the earlier draft were made. There remain to be considered the texts of two ancillary documents: the draft appendix on the guidelines on the care and accommodation of animals covered by the convention, and the draft explanatory report to the convention itself.The ad hoc committee will meet again in October 1982 to consider the final articles of the convention and the two ancillary documents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the reasons why he will not introduce legislation to prevent chief constables from denying to the media access to police activities of public interest, such as not control exercises, subject to his discretion.

The public interest would not, in the view of my right hon. Friend, be served by making such issues a matter for legislative control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that Dr. Benham Nodjoumi, of Iran, who was found guilty of a serious crime and convicted at the Old Bailey on 8 April, will be deported as an undesirable citizen on the completion of his prison sentence.

Dr. Benham Nodjoumi was convicted of rape and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. The question of deportation will be considered nearer the end of his sentence and in the light of all the circumstances at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to alter the maximum penalties of imprisonment for fine default laid down in schedule 4 to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 in the light of inflation since these maximum penalties were laid down in 1977.

I have written to the hon. Member confirming that, when maximum fines are increased to take account of changes in the value of money since 1977, the table of maximum periods of imprisonment for fine default in schedule 4 to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 will be altered accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had about personal accident insurance for police officers; what replies he has made; what action it may be open to him to take; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from nine right hon. and hon. Members and the chairman of the Greater Manchester police authority. The Police Pensions Act 1976 makes specific provision for the payment of benefits to police officers who are injured or killed on duty and the payment of any additional benefits must be derived from this Act or from regulations made under it. We are exploring the possibility of improving the compensation payable under the police pension scheme for death or incapacitating injury sustained on duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money has been paid by way of regional development grant to Daniel Johnston Ltd., house furnishers, in respect of locations in Cumbria since the incorporation of the company.

Apart from the quarterly publication in "British Business" of regional development grant payments over £25,000 the Department of Industry does not give detailed information either about applications for such grants or the decisions reached, as this information is confidential between the applicant and the Department. No payments to Daniel Johnston Ltd. have been published in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether any new institutions are to be invited to participate in the loan guarantee scheme.

Three new participants have been invited to join the 27 banks and other financial institutions currently offering Loan Guarantee Scheme facilities. They are:

• Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
• Beneficial Trust Limited.
• Standard Chartered Bank Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when his Department intends to reply to the letters of 9 and 10 February from the hon. Member for Dundee, East regarding CNAA degree courses in Scotland.

It has been necessary for my Department to consult the Scottish Education Department. I shall make a full reply as soon as these inquiries have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has discretionary powers to provide subsidised university education for citizens of British dependent territories from the Falkland Islands, having regard to the recent decision to restrict such free treatment to Common Market nationals and citizens of France's overseas territories.

Concession of home fee status to students from British dependent territories has had to be rejected hitherto on grounds of cost. My right hon. Friend will, however, bear in mind the possibility that it might be conceded to students from the Falkland Islands as a special case. Such a concession would not require legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the number and proportion of local education authorities which still award free school meals on low-income grounds to families with incomes above the entitlement levels for family income supplement; and how many of those authorities were still using the November 1979 conditions of entitlement.

The Department's school meals census for October 1981, an analysis of which is held in the Library, shows 71 local education authorities in England—73 per cent.—providing free school meals for children in addition to those from families receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement. The 1979 scale is used by 45 of these authorities; in all but one case, this has been updated.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 March 1982, c. 127]: The information requested is as follows:

	Academic years
	1970–71	1975–76	1980–81
Number of students, thousands (full-time and sandwich)	228	263	297
Recurrent grant £m (November 1981 prices)	910	1,055	960
Grant per student £ (November 1981 prices)	3,990	4,010	3,230

The grant per student figures do not reflect comparable levels of funding because the total income available to universities increased in real terms between 1975–76 and 1980–81 as a result of the increase in tuition fees in 1977–78. For most home students, the tuition fee is paid from public funds as part of the mandatory award. Taking into account income from tuition fees as well as grant, universities' gross expenditure per student for 1979–80 (the latest year for which detailed accounts have been analysed) and the earlier years amounted to:

£ November 1981 prices
1970–71	1975–76	1979–80
4,570	4,430	4,710

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the likely effect on the numbers (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of family income supplement if child benefit were raised to the level of child support provided for long-term national insurance beneficiaries and if the family income supplement qualifying limits were adjusted downwards to take account of this increase.

A long-term national insurance beneficiary is entitled to child benefit of £5·25 and a dependency addition of £7·70, making a total in child support of £12·95 a week for each dependent child. On the assumption that my hon. Friend has in mind raising child benefit to £12·95 and lowering the qualifying limits for family income supplement to take account of this increase in such a way that as many families as possible are taken off FIS, the numbers receiving FIS would have been reduced from about 132,000 to about 42,000 at the latest date, 29 December 1981, for which estimates can readily be made. The net cost would be of the order of £4,000 million a year.I regret that no comparative figures are available for 29 December 1981 of the numbers of families eligible for FIS, as distinct from the numbers receiving it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase in child benefit would be required to permit the abolition of family income supplement without loss of income to those currently in receipt of family income supplement.

The maximum amounts that may be paid in family income supplement are £18·50 a week for a family with one child and for larger families, £18·50 with an additional £1·50 for each child after the first. In order to match these amounts, child benefit would have to be raised from the present standard rate of £5·25 a week for each child in the family to £23·75 for the first child, and to £6·75 for each other child. The cost would be over £6,000 million a year.This will not however compensate all families receiving FIS for the loss of their FIS. The receipt of FIS provides automatic entitlement—a "passport"—to other benefits. Examples are free school meals with an average value of £2·25 a week during school terms, and free welfare milk which is worth £1·40 a week, for each eligible child.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time taken to process a claim for family income supplement.

About three weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of applicants for family income supplement used the special procedure for those in new employment of providing evidence of earnings for two weeks only in the most recent year for which information is available.

The period over which earnings are averaged in calculating a family's gross weekly income for the purposes of family income supplement is a matter for the independent adjudicating authorities. No records are kept of the number of cases or of the circumstances in which the adjudicating authorities take an average over two weeks only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider changing the 1974 1-mile regulation applying to dispensing doctors; what representations he has received regarding the possible change of the regulation; and if he will consider the possibility of introducing a 5-kilometre rule.

At the specific request of the representative bodies of the medical and pharmaceutical professions we are implementing the recommendations of their joint committee on the dispensing of NHS prescriptions in rural areas, so that there will be regulation of local arrangements for such dispensing. The professions' joint committee gave detailed consideration to the 1-mile rule and concluded that within its recommendations for regulation it should remain unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to reach a decision on the application for additional heating allowances in respect of high-rise flats with particularly expensive under-floor heating systems in the Woolwich area which was first made to his Department in April 1981; and what are the factors which have led to the delay in reaching a decision.

I regret that I have nothing to add to the answer given by my predecessor on 18 January—[Vol. 16,c. 60–61.] Our review of this provision is taking longer than expected, but I will announce the results to the House as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to prevent members of the nursing profession reporting to outside pressure groups matters which should remain confidential to those with immediate responsibility for the patient's care and future prognosis.

All nurses have a duty of confidentiality to their patients. This is made clear when they enter the profession and is reinforced throughout their career by their professional bodies and their employing authorities. A breach of confidentiality without lawful excuse such as the patient's consent or an order of court can be a matter for disciplinary action by the nurse's employing authority and, if appropriate, by the General Nursing Council or Central Midwives Board. I believe these safeguards are adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards the recommendations made by the International Social Security Association on its study of protection against occupational risks in Europe; and if he will make a statement.

The International Social Security Association enables its members, of which the Department is one, to exchange information and ideas on all aspects of social security. The reports of the association's conferences, such as the regional meeting held in Florence in 1981 on protection against occupational risks in Europe, are closely studied by the Department when considering the desirability of and the scope for changes in our scheme of industrial injuries benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons who are (a) of working age and (b) pensioners are now in receipt of supplementary benefit from his Department's offices in the West Midlands; what were the numbers in May 1979; and if he will give the change in percentage terms.

The numbers of persons receiving supplementary benefit in the West Midlands social security region in May 1979 and at the latest available date are as follows:

	May 1979	December 1981	Percentage change
(a) Working age	113,000	219,000	94 per cent increase
(b) Pension age	175,000	170,000	3 per cent increase

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations the Minister for Social Security has had from Sheltered Housing Assistance for the Disabled further to his visit to the organisation on 19 March; what reply he is sending; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

I have received one letter from Sheltered Housing Assistance for the Disabled since 19 March, to which I have replied. I have also written to SHAD concerning points raised during my visit. Copies of all three letters are being sent to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the figure for estimated average male manual earnings in November 1981 used in his reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley), Official Report, 30 March, c. 88; and what would be his estimate for average female manual earnings in November 1981.

In my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley) on 30 March 1982—[Vol. 21, c. 87–8]—I used estimates of the average net earnings of all male workers and not estimates of average male manual earnings.The relevant estimate for November 1981 was £151·50 a week. The corresponding figure for all female workers was £98–60.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to the Minister for Social Security's reply to the hon. Member for Eccles on 26 February, Official Report, c. 519–20, whether his Department will draft and make publicly available the broader and more comprehensive leaflet that the Minister for Social Security said he would prefer; and if he will make a statement.

Previous experience of leaflets of this sort has not shown their production to be a cost-effective way of using limited Departmental resources. The hon. Member's question on 26 February related to the production of leaflets by the disability studies unit. If that organisation, or any similar body, wished to produce a leaflet I should be willing to consider making it widely known and available to disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence there is from his Department's cohort study of unemployed men about the take-up of means-tested benefit by men in work.

The Department of Health and Social Security's cohort study of the unemployed looked at a national sample of men who joined the unemployment register in the autumn of 1978. The sample cannot be taken as representative of working men generally in 1978 or now.Information about the extent to which men in the sample took up some of the means-tested benefits to which they appear to have been entitled when they were last in work will be published in due course, as part of the continuing series of working papers and "Employment Gazette" articles on the study. From the information available, it seems that 9 per cent. of those with dependent children were eligible for family income supplement, 28 per cent. of those with school-age children were eligible for free school meals and 36 per cent. of local authority tenants were eligible for rent or rate rebates. Amongst those apparently eligible, the proportions reporting receipt of these three benefits were respectively 17 per cent., 34 per cent. and 20 per cent. It should be noted, however, that the numbers found to be eligible for benefits were small and that the cohort study was not designed as a take-up study.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 7 April, Official Report, c. 400–401, he will list in the Official Report the current number of persons employed; and if he will give, where available, the comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981 at the Ladywood integrated local office.

The information requested is as follows:

Number of staff at Ladywood integrated local office
Office	1 April
	1982	1981	1980	1979
Ladywood	164	139	140	153

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number and percentage of children living in families where the total number of dependent children is three or more.

It is estimated that in April 1981 there were 4·3 million dependent children in Great Britain in families which included three or more dependent children. These children constituted 33 per cent. of the total number of dependent children in families with at least one dependent child. These estimates, based on statistics for a 4 per cent. sample of families receiving child benefit in April 1981, are the most up-to-date available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number and percentage of families which include three or more dependent children.

It is estimated that in April 1981 there were 1·3 million families in Great Britain which included three or more dependent children. These families constituted 18 per cent. of all families with at least one dependent child. These estimates, based on a 4 per cent. sample of families receiving child benefit in April 1981, are the most up-to-date available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now list in the Official Report for each of his Department's local offices serving the Coventry, North-East constituency the current number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants; and if he will give comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981 where available.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 399–400]: The information requested is as follows:

Number of Non-Pensioner and Pensioner Claimants at Offices Dealing with the Coventry, North-East Constituency
	16 March 1982	17 March 1981	18 March 1980	20 March 1979
Supplementary Benefits Office
Coventry (East)
Non-pensioners	12,126	8,794	6,900	6,981
Pensioners	5,582	5,454	5,506	5,465
Coventry (West)
Non-pensioners	9,003	6,126	4,350	4,494
Pensioners	5,511	5,602	5,432	5,278
Contributory Benefits Office
Coventry (East)
Non-pensioners	3,256	2,698	3,182	5,615
Pensioners	710	514	670	762
Coventry (West)
Non-pensioners	2,661	2,288	2,800	5,115
Pensioners	765	769	873	843

Figures for supplementary benefits are the number of cases in action on the dates shown. Figures for contributory benefits are the number of claims received in the four-week period ended on the date shown.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now list in the Official Report for each of his local offices serving the Birmingham, Erdington constituency the current number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants; and if he will give comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981 where available.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 399–400]: The information requested is as follows:

Number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants at offices dealing with the Birmingham, Erdington constituency.
Office	16 March 1982	17 March 1981	18 March 1980	20 March 1979
Supplementary Benefit
Erdington
Non-pensioners	8,514	6,881	4,720	4,774
Pensioners	4,630	6,163	6,422	6,465
Perry Barr
Non-pensioners	6,827	not open	not open	not open
Pensioners	5,618	not open	not open	not open
Contributory Benefits
Erdington
Non-pensioners	2,374	2,609	2,703	4,278
Pensioners	466	892	1356	1127
Perry Barr
Non-pensioners	1,906	not open	not open	not open
Pensioners	566	not open	not open	not open

Figures for supplementary benefits are the number of cases in action on the dates shown. Figures for contributory benefits are the number of claims received in the four-week period ended on the date shown.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now list in the Official Report for each of his Department's local offices serving the Birmingham, Ladywood, constituency the current number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants; and if he will give comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981 where available.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 399–400]: The information requested is as follows:

Number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants at offices dealing with the Birmingham, Ladywood constituency.
Office	16 March 1982	17 March 1981	18 March 1980	20 March 1979
Supplementary Benefit
Edgbaston
Non-pensioners	9,178	6,179	4,518	4,798
Pensioners	5,608	4,489	4,351	4,062
Non-pensioners	12,096	10,688	7,013	7,033
Pensioners	3,443	6,676	5,633	5,768
Ladywood
Non-pensioners	7,007	5,305	3,908	4,433
Pensioners	3,187	2,490	2,478	2,691
Contributory Benefits
Edgbaston
Non-pensioners	2,243	1,583	1,876	3,360
Pensioners	649	486	713	743
Handsworth
Non-pensioners	1,715	2,204	2,978	4,801
Pensioners	766	660	718	1,039
Ladywood
Non-pensioners	1,537	635	746	1,299
Pensioners	1,048	315	198	491

Figures for supplementary benefits are the number of cases in action on the dates shown. Figures for contributory benefits are the number of claims received in the four-week period ended on the date shown.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now list in the Official Report for each of his Department's local offices serving the Coventry, South-East constituency the current number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants; and if he will give comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981 where available.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 399–400]: The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now list in the Official Report for each of his Department's local offices serving the Birmingham, Small Heath, constituency the current number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants; and if he will give comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981 where available.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 399–400]: The information requested is as follows:

Number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants at offices dealing with the Birmingham, Small Heath constituency.
Office	16 March 1982	17 March 1981	18 March 1980	20 March 1979
Supplementary Benefit
Bradford Street
Non-pensioners	5,588	3,847	2,889	2,798
Pensioners	3,132	3,452	3,475	3,488
Handsworth
Non-pensioners	12,096	10,688	7,013	7,033
Pensioners	3,443	6,676	5,633	5,768
Ladywood
Non-pensioners	7,007	5,305	3,908	4,433
Pensioners	3,187	2,490	2,478	2,691
Sparkhill
Non-pensioners	4,724	3,347	2,447	2,633
Pensioners	2,397	2,339	2,268	2,411
Washwood Heath
Non-pensioners	7,513	5,980	4,980	5,055
Pensioners	4,731	4,989	5,636	5,683
Contributory Benefits
Handsworth
Non-pensioners	1,715	2,204	2,978	4,801
Pensioners	766	660	718	1,039
Ladywood
Non-pensioners	1,537	635	746	1,299
Pensioners	1,048	315	198	491
Sparkhill
Non-pensioners	987	1,038	1,309	2,249
Pensioners	500	386	241	310
Washwood Heath
Non-pensioners	1,704	1,733	2,763	4,468
Pensioners	469	514	685	916

Figures for supplementary benefits are the number of cases in action on the dates shown. Figures for contributory benefits are the number of claims received in the four week period ended on the date shown.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each of his Department's local offices serving the Dudley, East constituency the current number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants; and if he will give comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981 where available.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 April 1982, c. 437]: The information requested is as follows:

Number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants at offices dealing with the Dudley, East constituency.
Office	16 March 1982	17 March 1981	18 March 1980	20 March 1979
Supplementary Benefit
Dudley (North)
Non-pensioners	9,529	5,909	4,246	5,097
Pensioners	7,760	7,521	9,167	11,262
Contributory Benefits
Dudley (North)
Non-pensioners	2,813	2,340	3,482	7,718
Pensioners	798	1,780	1,313	1,796

Figures for supplementary benefits are the number of cases in action on the dates shown. Figures for contributory benefits are the number of claims received in the four-week period ended on the date shown.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report for each of his Department's local offices serving the Dudley, East constituency the current number of persons employed; and if he will give where available the comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 April 1982, c. 437]: The information requested is as follows:

Number of staff at offices dealing with the Dudley, East constituency.
Office	1 April 1982	1 April 1981	1 April 1980	1 April 1979
Dudley (North)	187	177	212	261

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of the civil and public servants on the Falkland Islands who signed a letter relating to the situation on the Falkland Islands delivered to his Department at or just before the Easter weekend; what public or Government positions these people held and what are their salaries; and what was the nature of this letter and his reply.

The letter was signed by 18 officials, including both ex-patriates and islanders. Their names and positions are as follows:

Mr. R. Browning (Assistant Secretary, Secretariat); Mr. R. Buckett (Mechanical Superindent); Mr. A. Carey (Supplies Officer); Mrs. A. Chater (Supervisor of Camp Education); Mr. R. H. Checkley (Registrar of Supreme Court); Mr. G. Cheek (Director of Civil Aviation); Mr. J. A. Fowler (Superintendent of Education); Mr. R. Gilbert (Electrician); Dr. D. H. Haines (Senior Medical Officer); Mr. L. Halliday (Harbourmaster); Mr. R. G. W. Lamb (Chief Police Officer); Mr. W. H. Roberts (Communications Officer); Mr. H. T. Rowlands (Financial Secretary); Mr. D. J. Sollis (Master of MV "Forrest"); Mr. J. Stephenson (Meteorological Officer); Mr. P. G. Summer (Deputy Chief Secretary); Mr. D. J. Turner (Building Superintendent); Mr. P. Watts (Broadcasting Officer).

I regret that details of their salaries cannot be obtained in the time available.The text of the letter requested that a protecting power be appointed to help to arrange the temporary evacuation of the civilian population of the Falkland Islands under the terms of the Geneva Convention. It also requested the immediate despatch to Port Stanley of an observer from that power.I do not propose to reply formally to the letter until I have received it. However, I have already made it clear in the House that we would of course be ready to consider sympathetically assistance to Islanders who express their wish to be evacuated from what could become a combat zone.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what area of sea around the Falkland Islands is protected for fishing purposes; and what agreements have been made to permit vessels of other nations to fish in these waters.

The Falkland Islands have a 3-mile territorial sea over which they have inter alia fishing jurisdiction. Other nations at present fish outside the 3-mile limit which are high seas; and there are thus no restrictions on fishing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the potential for oil development in the territorial waters of the Falkland Islands; if there have been any indications of mineral deposits on the islands themselves; and if he will make a statement.

Available information on the hydrocarbons potential of the Falkland Islands is sparse and based on broad grid seismic surveys. While the detailed conclusions of these surveys are commercially confidential, there are areas around the Falkland Islands which appear to contain sedimentary layers of a sufficient thickness and appropriate structure both to generate and contain hydrocarbons, though this has not been confirmed by drilling.The Falkland Islands themselves are believed to contain no hydrocarbons and surveys have shown no metalliferous minerals of economic value.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the finding of a Department of Health and Social Services tribunal in 1979 that Mr. Thomas Griffiths, a former employee at the Department's chemical defence establishment, Nancekuke, Cornwall, was suffering from a large range of illnesses as a result of nerve gas poisoning, and in view of other evidence submitted to his Department, he will review the payment of £110 paid to Mr. Griffiths in 1976 with a view to providing substantial additional compensation.

No. The DHSS tribunal was concerned with the question of a disability award, and its finding did not render ineffective the outcome of the legal proceedings which Mr. Griffiths had already taken against my Department. Mr. Griffiths has since 1979 made representations to the Secretary of State for Defence, other Ministers, and to Her Majesty The Queen. All of these have been carefully considered and Mr. Griffiths has been informed on each occasion that it is not intended that the settlement which was the outcome of the legal proceedings should be reconsidered or that any further payment should be made to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to order a new investigation into the claim for compensation made to his Department by Mr. Thomas Griffiths in respect of his accidental exposure to nerve gas when at work in the chemical defence establishment at Nancekuke in 1958, in view of the degree of disability that is now apparent, and the finding of a Department of Health and Social Services tribunal in 1979.

No. Mr. Griffiths' claim was finalised in 1976 when his solicitors took out the payment which the Department had made into court in relation to his claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for compensation in respect of damage to health caused by exposure to gases during work at the chemical defence establishment, Nancekuke, Cornwall, have been made to the Department since 1960; and what has been the result of each claim.

My Department's existing records do not cover the whole of the period to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but we are aware of only two such claims against the Department. One claim was settled when a payment into court of £110 was taken out. The other claim, in respect of which legal proceedings were also started, was subsequently withdrawn; no payment was therefore made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if in the light of the consequences of supplying British arms to Argentina, he will cancel the annual British army equipment exhibition until restrictions can be agreed that will prevent the sale of arms to countries likely to use them for aggressive purposes.

No. All arms sales are strictly controlled and considered individually on their merits. The use to which the arms are likely to be put is one of many factors already taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to make any changes in the list of invitations to the British army equipment exhibition in the light of experience over the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

It has been the practice of successive Governments not to publish details of those countries invited to such exhibitions, in deference to the wishes of many of our overseas visitors. I can, however, confirm that Argentina will not be represented at this year's British army equipment exhibition.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the policy and practice of the Defence Sales Organisation with the aim of preventing arms sales to repressive regimes; and if he will make a statement.

Arms sales policy towards individual countries is kept under continual review. All applications for the sale of arms are considered on their merits in the light of all relevant factors, including the nature of the regime.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Uganda", while it is part of the Falklands expeditionary force does not have an all British crew; why the necessary conversions to the structure of the "Uganda" to make this possible were not carried out; and what will be the position of the Indian nationals on the "Uganda" if hostilities break out.

The P & O Liner "Uganda" has been requisitioned solely as a hospital ship and has formally been declared as such. She thus enjoys protected status under the Geneva conventions and none of her crew may be captured. A large proportion of the regular crew of the "Uganda" is Asian and this will continue to be the case while she is operating as a hospital ship. All members of her crew are volunteers for this role. No conversion was necessary to the crew accommodation on board the ship.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rate of local overseas allowance is payable to Service personnel in the Falkland Islands task force; on what basis this rate is determined; and what indications were given to the personnel concerned about the rate of allowance that was likely to be paid.

Local overseas allowance is a tax-free allowance paid to members of the Armed Forces to meet the essential extra costs of serving overseas in normal conditions. It is not intended to compensate for arduous or dangerous conditions of service, which are factors taken into account in the assessment of forces pay. The rate of LOA payable on any RN ship is that appropriate to the last foreign port at which shore leave was taken. Under the usual rules those who sail from the United Kingdom—the majority of the present task force, including soldiers embarked on troop ships—would have received no LOA; the minority who sailed from the Mediterranean or who happened to be able to take leave at Ascension Island would have received LOA of between £1 and about £5 a day.To avoid the obvious unfairness of such a situation it was decided to pay a standard rate of LOA of £1 a day to all Service personnel in the task force. This is a rough average of what various Service men in the force would otherwise have received. The objective was not to cut costs, and the overall cost of implementing the change is expected to be greater than the cost of applying the previous rules.The task force was told of the standard rate on 16 April.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will set out details of military equipment and spares which were supplied to the Argentine in the six weeks prior to the invasion of the Falkland Islands;(2) if he will set out details of all orders for military spares for the Argentine received in the six weeks prior to the invasion of the Falkland Islands, indicating which orders were sanctioned and at what level; and whether they received OI priority;(3) what was the last date on which military equipment or spares were supplied to the Argentine; and what was then supplied.

No major items of military equipment were supplied to Argentina in the six weeks prior to the invasion of the Falklands. Under the licensing arrangements in operation prior to the invasion, spares ordered direct from industry would not be monitored by MOD. Routine releases of naval spares were made fron RN store depots on 19 February and 22 March but a request on 30 March to expedite delivery of further naval spares already on order was declined at official level.In view of the exceptional circumstances I informed the hon. Members for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) and for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick)—[Vol. 22, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any firms are still producing military equipment and spares to orders from the Argentine; and if he will give details of any such equipment or spares and indicate what is happening to finished items.

All defence sales business with Argentina has been suspended and all export licences for military equipment and spares have been revoked. It is a matter for individual firms to decide whether or not to continue work on goods originally destined for the Argentine in the hope of finding an alternative market.In view of the exceptional circumstances I informed the hon. Members for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) and for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick)—[Vol. 22, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether hereditaments which straddle enterprise zone boundaries are eligible for the exemption from rates which applies to industrial and commercial property in the zones.

The Government's intention has been that the exemption from rates applicable to non-domestic hereditaments in enterprise zones should apply to those parts of straddling hereditaments lying inside the zones. The legislation governing the rates exemption—schedule 32 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980—does not, however, provide the correct statutory basis for such partial exemptions. I intend to bring forward amendments to the Local Government (Finance) No. 2 Bill to remedy this defect in respect of enterprise zones in England and Wales with effect from this financial year.In the meantime, therefore, with the agreement of the Treasury, I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales propose to make extra-statutory payments. We are asking rating authorities to make these payments as our agents to the ratepayers concerned.At our request, local valuation officers will informally apportion rateable values to the parts of straddling hereditaments situated inside and outside enterprise zone boundaries when asked to do so by rating authorities. We are asking rating authorities to make to the ratepayers concerned a non-statutory payment corresponding to the sum paid in respect of rates for the year 1981–82 on the parts of straddling hereditaments which are within the enterprise zone boundaries. They will be reimbursed by our Department for the cost of these payments, which will be noted on our Department's Appropriation Accounts. This process of apportionment will apply only to rating: it does not affect any of the other benefits available within enterprise zones. We estimate that these extra-statutory payments for 1981–82 might amount to about £1 million. The cost of rate relief in respect of straddling hereditaments in 1982–83, which we hope it will be possible to pay on a statutory basis following amendment of the 1980 Act, cannot be precisely forecast, but these are expected to be of broadly the same order.My Department and the Welsh Office have written today to the local authorities concerned in England and Wales. My hon. Friends the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland and the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland are making separate announcements on this subject today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in which of the London boroughs there is the highest percentage increase in domestic rate bills, including precepts, and in which the lowest increase, or greatest decrease, compared with 1981–82.

Because Richmond's own borough rate poundage is so much lower than the average for outer London boroughs, the penal increase of 91 per cent. in the GLC rate has a disproportionately higher percentage effect on the total rate and causes it to suffer the highest domestic percentage increase. Conversely, Lambeth, which has one of the highest rate poundages in inner London, is less affected in percentage terms, and has the greatest decrease compared with 1981–82. This illustrates the erroneous basis of the hon. Member's question, since even after its decrease Lambeth's domestic rate is 167·5p and Richmond's, after its increase, 108·1p.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received consequential upon the publication of the Government's Green Paper "Alternatives to Domestic Rates" for and against the complete funding of education by central Government, as suggested in paragraph 5 of appendix B of the Green Paper.

A considerable number of the representations recieved on the Green Paper "Alternatives to Domestic Rates" commented on the financing of the education service. A majority of these favoured the complete or partial transfer of education funding to central government. A minority, including most of those from the local authorities and the teaching profession were not in favour of any extension of central Government funding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to enable the public to have direct access to the Commission for Local Administration in England.

I have no proposals to do so. The present arrangements, rightly in my view, take account of the importance of the role of local authority members. However, I intend to discuss this question shortly with the commission and the representative body.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review, in consultation with the Sports Council, the prospects for ensuring a better geographic spread of national centres for various sports which are supported in part from public funds.

It is current Sports Council policy to see that the widest possible spread of national facilities throughout England and Wales is encouraged. I endorse this strategy fully. There are national scale facilities located throughout the United Kingdom, and the six national sports centres of the Sports Council are in London, Nottinghamshire, Buckinghamshire, the Isle of Wight, North Wales and Shropshire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with the Greater London Council on the level of central Government funding to London.

The Greater London Council is represented on the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance, which last met on 24 March. My officials have also had discussions with the council about the 1982 money Bill, which provides its capital expenditure and lending.My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction will be meeting members of the council this afternoon to discuss its housing investment programme allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of approved or designated green belt land have been developed for urban purposes in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Detailed records of development in the green belt are not maintained by my Department. The Government attach great importance to the protection of green belts. If my hon. Friend has a particular aspect in mind I shall be glad to try to assist him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average council house rent at the latest date for which figures are available, and for the five major cities outside Greater London.

The average unrebated council house rent in England for 1981–82 is estimated to be £11·50 per dwelling per week. Comparable figures for the five largest cities outside London are:

	£
Birmingham	11·49
Liverpool	13·95
Sheffield	8·92
Manchester	9·29
Leeds	10·36

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest average cost of building a council house.

The latest average cost of building a council house in England is £16,800.This figure is for a two-storey, five bed-space council house and excludes the cost of land and site works, ancillary buildings and professional fees.Greenwich (Grant Related Expenditure Allocation)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the London borough of Greenwich about its grant related expenditure allocation figures for 1982–83; and whether he proposes to take steps to implement the representations.

My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State met a deputation from the London borough of Greenwich, led by the leader, Councillor Capelin, on 2 March 1982. There has subsequently been a meeting between officials to discuss the figures in more detail.Grant-related expenditure assessments have by law to be based on a general formula, and cannot be negotiated individually; any general changes that might be made in relation to 1982–83 at supplementary report stage would have to be discussed with local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what advice has been sought from the various sports governing bodies in the United Kingdom on sporting relations with Argentina following the Argentine invasion and continuing occupation of the Fakland Islands;(2) whether, in view of the Argentine invasion and continuing occupation of the Falkland Islands, in violation of United Nations resolution 502, he will consider the use of sporting sanctions in addition to the other measures already taken by the Government, and, accordingly, will seek early meetings with the appropriate sports governing bodies in the United Kingdom;(3) what advice he has to offer the various sports governing bodies in the United Kingdom on sporting relations with Argentina following the Argentine invasion and continuing occupation of the Falkland Islands.

There are several international sporting events and competitions scheduled to take place over the next few months in which British and Argentine teams will participate with other countries.At the moment, the Government see no objection to British teams participating in such events. I urge British sports governing bodies not to compete bilaterally against Argentine teams, whether her or in Argentina, and to refrain from arranging further fixtures. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising United Kingdom nationals—sporting or otherwise—against visiting Argentina at this time.Our position is kept under constant review in the light of changing circumstances. I can say no more at this stage, particularly on the possibility of seeking a wider sporting boycott of Argentina. I have written to the Sports Council chairman explaining the Government's position at this stage and shall be advising the governing bodies accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he expects to require futher reductions in local government expenditure during the next two years.

The Government's expenditure plans in Cmnd. 8494—table 4·3—imply cash increases in local authority current and capital expenditure in England of about 3 per cent. and 28 per cent. respectively for 1982–83 compared with the estimated outturn for 1981–82. The Budget Statement subsequently proposed two further changes—an increase in the provision for house improvement and an adjustment to current expenditure to allow for the reduction in the national insurance surcharge. Final decisions have yet to be taken for 1983–84.