asked the Minister for Trade what action has been taken on the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply in the United Kingdom of ice cream and water ices; and if he will make a statement.

The Director General has now completed the discussions with the ice cream suppliers which my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Trade invited him to undertake following the publication of the commission's report on 2 August 1979. As a result of these discussions the ice cream suppliers have given certain undertakings to my right hon. and noble Friend.The commission found that two scale monopoly situations existed in favour respectively of Unilever Ltd., T. Wall & Sons (Ice Cream) Ltd., Walls-Whippy Ltd., Treat Investments Ltd. and Treat Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiaries listed in the report—referred to as Wall's—and J. Lyons & Co Ltd., Lyons Ice Cream Holdings Ltd., Glacier Foods Ltd. and its subsidiaries and Lyon Maid Ltd. and its subsidiaries listed in the report referred to hereafter as Lyons. In the MMC report these companies are referred to collectively as "Glacier". In addition, the commission found a complex monopoly situation to exist in favour of the same companies—with the exception of Treat Investments Ltd. and Treat Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiaries—and some other suppliers of ice cream and water ices which employed one or more of three practices identified by the commission as restricting competition.The commission identified two of these practices as being adverse to the public interest: the requirement as a condition of supply to a retail outlet that the ice cream of other suppliers should not be sold from that outlet; and, the provision of a refrigerated cabinet on terms which prevented the customer from using it to stock ice cream of other suppliers when the supplier providing the cabinet could not meet the customer's requirements.The commission recommended that the first of these practices should be ended and that, in relation to the second practice, the ice cream suppliers should in the contract of supply make express provision permitting the retailer to stock and sell ice cream of other suppliers when the supplier himself cannot meet the customer's requirements.The Director General secured the following undertakings from the complex monopolists—except that Mor-Isis Products Ltd. and Fifti Ices were not subject to undertaking 1:

asked the Minister for Trade if he will direct the Director General of Fair Trading, under section 13 of the Competition Act 1980, to investigate the retail price of coffee in the United Kingdom as a matter of public concern, having regard to the international price of coffee and the lower retail prices in countries such as the United States of America.

No. I do not think that the situation warrants the use of section 13 of the Competition Act, which is intended as a reserve power, to be used only in exceptional circumstances.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will use his powers under the Consumer Safety Act to prohibit the sale of potentially lethal power supply units for citizens band radio which are made in Taiwan and marketed under Shira Eurosonic Power Plus Supreme. Miranda Ord, Kaybee Altai Nentone and Diza trade names.

The consumer services department of the Greater Manchester council has told us that citizens band radio power supply units of all but two of the brands referred to are likely to infringe the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1975 as amended by the Electrical Equipment (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1976. It is proposing to prosecute suppliers. We are making inquiries about the other two brands.

asked the Minister for Trade if the Director General of Fair Trading has investigated the functioning of the Visiting Orchestras Consultative Association; and with what result.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has commissioned an efficiency study of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Yes. Following consultation between the authority and the Department of Energy, the authority and the Department have jointly commissioned Messrs. Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. to carry out a review of the efficiency and economy with which the authority uses the resources available to it for the conduct of its programme. This general review will highlight matters where in the consultant's view significant improvements could be achieved.It is expected that the consultants will report to the authority and the Department within about three months from the start of their study. A copy of that report will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of 29 April, Official Report, c. 312 to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South, when his Department was informed by the police of their decision whether or not to prosecute in the case of the Richbell gas explosion.

My Department has no record of having been informed by the police of their decision whether or not to prosecute in this case until 27 April when my officials made enquiries.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the award of the Civil Service arbitration tribunal and the reports of the review bodies on the pay of the Armed Forces, the doctors and dentists and top salaries.

As the House knows, questions concerning the pay and leave of the non-industrial Civil Service were referred in March to the Civil Service arbitration tribunal, and the tribunal's award was made known to the parties on 23 April. The claim by the Council of Civil Service Unions was for a pay increase from 1 April 1982 of 13 per cent. for all non-industrial civil servants, with a minimum increase of £12·50 a week where 13 per cent. did not produce this amount, and for substantial improvements in holiday entitlement. The Government for their part had offered pay increases ranging from 0–5½ per cent.—with the higher percentages going to the more experienced staff—and for modest improvements in holiday entitlements. The arbitration tribunal's award was for improvements in holidays mainly for the lower grades and for pay increases ranging from 4¾–6¼ per cent. with the highest increases going to the more experienced staff. The average increase in pay resulting from the tribunal's award would be 5·9 per cent.In agreeing to allow, if' necessary, this year's pay settlement for the non-industrial Civil Service to be referred to the Civil Service arbitration tribunal the Government made it clear that they reserved the right, if necessary, to ask the House of Commons to set aside the award on grounds of overriding national policy.The Government have decided to accept the award. The cost of implementing it will be met as follows. The relevant Estimates and cash limits are being reduced to offset the reduction in the national insurance surcharge along the lines proposed for the whole public sector in the Budget speech. Revised cash limits on this basis will be announced shortly. The Government have decided that the cost of the CSAT award will be met within these reduced cash limits. It is only if, later in the year, exceptional difficulties arise in the case of particular cash limits that limited calls on the Contingency Reserve may be considered.The reports of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, the Doctors and Dentists Review Body and the Top Salaries Review Body have been delivered to me. The Government are extremely grateful to the members of the review bodies for these reports and for the time and care which they have put into their preparation. I wish particularly to express my gratitude to Sir Harold Atcherley who, after long and valuable service, is handing over the chairmanship of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body to Sir David Orr, retiring chairman of Unilever Ltd. We are much indebted to Sir David for taking on this task.The report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommends new rates of pay for Service men and women applicable from 1 April 1982. The Government have accepted the report, and the necessary steps to implement the new rates of pay, and inform Service men of the details of the report, will be taken as soon as possible. The cost of the increases will be 6·1 per cent. of the projected pay bill of the Armed Forces for the present financial year. The financing of this award will be considered further. The report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body has been laid before the House today and will be published as a Command Paper shortly. Copies in typescript are now available in the Vote Office.The report of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body recommends increases in the pay of Doctors and Dentists which the review body estimates are on average 6 per cent. above the level they recommended last year as appropriate from 1 April 1981. The recommendations for individual groups vary within the 6 per cent. The House will recall that the Government's decision on last year's report—which recommended increases averaging 9 percent.—was to accept them subject to an abatement of 3 per cent. The latest Doctors and Dentists Review Body recommendations are therefore 9 per cent. higher than the levels actually implemented last year.The Government propose that doctors' and dentists' pay should be increased by an average of 6 per cent. on current levels with effect from 1 April 1982. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services will be putting detailed proposals to the professions as soon as possible. These will follow the relativities recommended by the review body. The Government accept the review body's recommendations on the level of general medical practitioners' expenses, and on other non-pay matters.The Doctors and Dentists Review Body's latest report has been laid before the House today and will be published as a Command Paper shortly. Copies in typescript are now available in the Vote Office.The cost of implementing the Government's proposals will be met in part within existing cash limits and Estimates, as revised to take account of the changes announced on 8 March and of the reduction in NIS, in part from the Contingency Reserve. Revised cash limits and Estimates will be brought forward as soon as possible.The report of the Top Salaries Review Body is still under consideration and an announcement of the Government's conclusions on it will be made in due course. Following normal custom the TSRB's report will be published when the Government's decisions are announced.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement in response to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee report on efficiency and effectiveness in the Civil Service.

The Government will be making a full reply as soon as possible. The latest manpower figures, announce yesterday, show that we now have the smallest Civil Service for 16 years. We continue to work for improved efficiency, and I am confident that the report of the Select Committee will be of considerable help.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

Carlisle asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 May.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the latest position in relation to the Falkland Islands.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a further statement on the Falkland Islands.

We are continuing to make intensive efforts to secure a diplomatic solution. We have made a constructive response to the latest proposals put forward by Mr. Haig. We have also replied constructively to the United Nations Secretary General. Any agreement must provide for the withdrawal of all Argentine forces from the Falkland Islands in accordance with Security Council resolution 502, and must not prejudge the nature of a possible final settlement.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received from within the Methodist Church about the Falkland Islands situation.

Amongst the many letters reaching me on the Falkland Islands situation, there have been several from Methodist Church groups. I also received, on 27 April, a telegram from the president's council of the Methodist Church.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the effectiveness of the policies on law and order which have been implemented since Her Majesty's Government took office in May 1979.

I remain satisfied that the measures put forward in our manifesto, on all of which swift and positive progress has been made, offer the best means of improving the effectiveness of our response to the problem of crime.

asked the Prime Minister whether she intends to undertake any direct contact with the Argentine junta; and if she will make a statement.

The first requirement is for the Argentine junta to indicate its willingness to withdraw all its forces from the Falkland Islands and to enter into negotiations without preconditions.

asked the Prime Minster if, in view of the role adopted by President Reagan in the Falkland Islands problem, she will take steps to cancel the invitation to him to address both Houses of Parliament.

No. We greatly appreciate the considerable efforts made by President Reagan and Mr. Haig to achieve a peaceful solution in accordance with Security Council resolution 502.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are presently assigned to the Special Branch.

The Metropolitan Police Special Branch at present numbers about 425 officers. The strength of special branches in other forces in England and Wales is about 850 altogether.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which organisations will be invited to give evidence in the review of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and if he will make a statement;(2) if hon. Members will be invited to give written or oral evidence to the review of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act;(3) what is the timetable for written and oral evidence to the review of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

Lord Jellicoe has issued a general invitation for written evidence from any organisation or individual, including hon. Members, wishing to comment on any matter within his terms of reference. He has asked that material should be sent to him, by 31 May 1982 if possible, at the following address:

• The Rt. Hon. Earl Jellicoe, DSO, MC
• Home Office
• Queen Anne's Gate
• London SW1H 9AT

The conduct of the review is entirely a matter for Lord Jellicoe, but I understand that at a slightly later stage in his review he proposes to hold discussions on the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act with a number of individuals and organisations with particular knowledge of and interest in the legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the programme of visits to be made by Lord Jellicoe in his review of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

Lord Jellicoe's plans are not final, but in the course of his review he proposes to visit, among other places, the following:

Belfast; Dover; Edinburgh; Gatwick Airport; Glasgow; Hampshire; Heathrow Airport; Merseyside; New Scotland Yard; Stranraer.

It would not be proper for me to provide precise details of his programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Lord Jellicoe to report on his review of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

I expect to present Lord Jellicoe's report to Parliament before the Act is due to lapse, in March 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial aid was provided for the textile and clothing industries, respectively, by the Department of Commerce during the most recent convenient year for which figures are available.

During the financial year 1981–82 the Department of Commerce paid standard capital grant of £6,501,000 to the textiles industry and £297,000 to the clothing and footwear industry in Northern Ireland. Details of the amounts of selective financial assistance paid to separate industrial sectors are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, during 1981–82 agreements were signed in respect of offers of selective assistance amounting to £5,773,000 to the textiles industry and £1,859,000 to the clothing and footwear industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arms or explosive finds, if any, have been made on Church property in County Armagh during the past three months.

Police and Army records do not show any finds of arms or explosives being made on Church property in County Armagh during the past three months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has on the condition of reservoirs throughout the United Kingdom; and if he will give details;(2) what are the current requirements for inspecting and ensuring the safety of reservoirs; and if he is satisfied that these are working adequately;(3) if he will implement the Reservoirs Safety Act 1975.

The current requirements for ensuring the safety of reservoirs stem from the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act 1930. This Act requires that reservoirs are designed, constructed and then inspected throughout their working lives under the supervision of qualified civil engineers drawn from panels of experts set up for that purpose. District and borough councils have recently been reminded of their powers and responsibilities; these include the right to take a reservoir undertaker to court to enforce the provisions of the Act.My Department has recently written to all district and borough councils in England, asking them to report briefly on the certification of the reservoirs within their areas as required by the 1930 Act. Any decision to implement the 1975 Act would be taken in the light of the replies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department is supporting the application by Bradford council for EEC regional fund assistance towards the photographic museum to be established in Bradford; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of extra home improvement grant was requested by Welwyn and Hatfield district council; and what level has been announced.

Welwyn and Hatfield district council requested an additional allocation of £55,000 and it was allocated £50,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the report of the United States second national health and nutrition examination survey, which concludes that lead in petrol is a major factor in lead in blood levels among the general population; and if he will now arrange for the United Kingdom evidence on this matter to be re-examined.

At present, only summaries are available of that part of the survey which touched on lead pollution. As soon as I have more details, they will be studied alongside such United Kingdom evidence as is available; but, generally, average United States blood lead levels have now come down close to those in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of any change in the supply of private rented accommodation since the introduction of shorthold tenancies.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick (Mr. Kaufman) on 24 February.—[Vol. 18, c. 428–30.]Detailed information about the number of shorthold lettings created after the end of November will not be available because of the lifting of the compulsory rent registration requirement for new shortholds outside London.

asked the secretary of state for the Environment whether he intends to publish the report commissioned by his Department "Problems associated with the re-development of former gas work sites"; and, if so, when he proposes that publication will take place.

Copies of the report have been placed in the Library. The report is available from Department of the Environment, room A3.20, Romney House, 43 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3PY, price £11·94 inclusive of postage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent on industrial promotion by (a) county councils, (b) district councils and (c) new towns in each of the past five years; and how much it is estimated will be spent in 1982–83.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the latest available figure for the net debt per capita of the city of Liverpool, with comparative statistics which show how Liverpool's debt compares with the other districts in the Merseyside council area, and with the average of all metropolitan districts.

The available information is as follows:

Outstanding debt per head*† at 31 March 1981
	£
City of Liverpool	948
All Merseyside Districts	662
Knowsley	722
Liverpool	948
St. Helens	628
Sefton	384
Wirral	462
All Metropolitan Districts	697
* As published in c. 46 of "Return of Outstanding Debt, as at 31 March 1981", CIPFA.
† OPCS mid-1980 population estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the latest available figures of expenditure per thousand population on all services by the city of Liverpool, with comparative statistics which show how the expenditure in Liverpool compares with the expenditure of the other districts in the Merseyside council area, and with the average of all metropolitan districts.

The available information is as follows:

Expenditure per thousand population*†
	£
Liverpool	496,152
Knowsley	377,535
St. Helens	381,574
Sefton	316,100
Wirral	360,988
All Merseyside Districts	402,324
All Metropolitan Districts (England)	479,741
* Gross revenue expenditure 1980–81 outturn (all services).
† OPCS mid-1980 population estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the additional sum for home insulation grants in 1982–83 announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement will be allocated; and how this allocation will be made.

The additional amount made available for the homes insulation scheme in England in 1982–83, was £8·25 million. Authorities' bids, with the addition of associated administrative fees, totalled only £3·45 million, and all these bids have therefore been met in full. Authorities were notified of their allocations on 30 April and I have placed a table showing the allocations, less the provision for administrative fees, in the Library.The remaining£4·8 million is being disbursed as a further provisional allocation for home improvement grants which will be additional to those totalling £74·5 million announced in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 21 April.—[Vol. 22, c. 249–56] Authorities will be notified of their further home improvement allocations within the next few days and the details will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his policy towards employing local staff when filling vacancies in the Urban Development Corporation and the International Garden Festival in Liverpool; and how many staff are full or part-time.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1982, c. 104]: The urban development corporations recruit their staff in accordance with normal public sector practice. That has resulted in 36 out of 45 full-time Merseyside Development Corporation posts being filled by people previously living or working in Merseyside. A further seven full-time posts of limited duration have so far been proposed in relation to the International Garden Festival, but these have not yet been filled.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department issues guidance to local authorities in Wales in relation to releasing employees, including teachers, with pay, to undertake public work such as being members of other local authorities.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in view of the high proportion of the population of Dyfed of pensionable age, he is satisfied that the relevant health authorities are providing sufficient part III accommodation and numbers of geriatric beds.

The level of provision of part III accommodation in Dyfed is a matter for decision by the county council in the light of its own assessment of needs and priorities. With regard to the number of geriatric beds, I am not aware of any difficulties being encountered in the East Dyfed or Pembrokeshire health districts.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to promote new employment in the county of Dyfed; and if he will make a statement.

I met and had useful discussions about economic prospects in the area with the Dyfed local authorities earlier this year. The county continues to benefit from Government policies arid programmes and from the activities of the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Welsh Development Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give extra financial assistance to local authorities to enable them to provide a greater number of sheltered housing for elderly people in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

No. It is for individual authorities to decide what funds to devote to the provision of sheltered and other special needs housing from within their block allocation but I have asked them to pay special attention to those needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total payment made during each of the last five financial years by his Department for services undertaken on its behalf by public relations companies.

Nothing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the percentage increase in retirement pensions since May 1979; and how this compares with the cost of living over the same period.

Between the November 1978 uprating and the most recent uprating in November 1981 the standard rates of retirement pensions both for single persons and married couples increased by 51·8 per cent. Over the same period the general index of retail prices had increased by 51·6 per cent. Comparisons at other dates, between upratings, can be misleading and unhelpful depending upon when the comparison is made. Further relevant information is available in the "Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions" prepared by the Department and available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the increase in expenditure on the National Health Service in (a) 1980 and (b) 1981; and how much of this expenditure was paid (i) in increased salaries for existing staff and (ii) in salaries for extra staff employed in each year.

Current expenditure on the hospital and community health services in 1980–81 increased by £1,571 million over 1979–80. The provisionally estimated outturn for 1981–82 is £745 million over the 1980–81 level. Staff expenditure increased by £1,236 million between 1979–80 and 1980–81 and is provisionally estimated to increase by £527 million between 1980–81 and 1981–82. Of these increases the cost of pay awards amounted to some £1,228 million and £375 million respectively. The balances represent growth in staff costs. It is not possible centrally to identify separately increased expenditure on additional staff alone.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children whose mothers receive child benefit for them belong to families whose income is (a) below the tax threshold, (b) subject to tax at the basic rate and (c) subject to tax at each higher rate.

I regret that information in the form requested is not available.There is evidence that the level of take up of child benefit is very high, and it is known that there are about 1·5 million children in families whose income is below the tax threshold; there are about 10·4 million in families whose income is subject to tax at the basic rate and about 0·8 million in families whose income is subject to tax at higher rates. Figures for each higher rate of tax are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, having received a formal application, he intends to give a grant to the agency Lifeline.

This is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds in the South-West of England in the National Health Service are unused for lack of (a) staff, (b) finance and (c) patients.

This is a matter for the South Western regional health authority. I suggest my hon. Friend should take up any matters of concern with that authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of applications for attendance allowance was rejected in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the figures for each of the two preceding years.

The proportion of initial applications rejected in the 12 months ended 31 March 1982 was about 26 per cent. The figure for each of the two preceding years was about 29 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to his letter to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, of 20 April, he has now received the report of the Economist Intelligence. Unit's study on a partial incapacity benefit which was commissioned by the Multiple Sclerosis Society; if he will refer the report to the Social Security Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a copy of this report and it is being studied in the Department. I understand that the Social Security Advisory Committee has also received a copy for its consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about his consideration of proposals to make vibration white finger a prescribed industrial disease as recommended by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council; when the recommendation was made to him; and when a decision will be reached.

The most recent report on vibration white finger by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (Cmnd. 8350) was presented to my right hon. Friend on 7 July 1981 and published in September 1981. The report's recommendations have been carefully considered and the Government's decision on them will be announced in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has studied the Verkehrsverbund organisation of transportation undertakings in major German cities with a view to introducing changes in the organisation of urban public transport in the United Kingdom.

I was much impressed during my recent visits to Hamburg and Munich by the efficiency of services and the stability that had been achieved on their public transport system. This was the result of practical co-operation among operators. An important factor was the emphasis on cost cutting, through tight controls on management overheads, universal single manning and the use of automatic equipment to handle large flows of commuters. For example, in Hamburg I was told that staff costs are currently around 60 per cent. of total costs with plans over the next few years to reduce them nearer 50 per cent. In London the figure is over 70 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by Government Department the number of press officers employed; and what was their cost for the last year.

There are no grades or groups of staff in the Civil Service designated as "press officers". Press office work in Government Departments is normally carried out by members of the information officer group. Information officers are engaged on a wide variety of duties including Government publicity, recruitment advertising and exhibitions as well as press office work. Those performing press office work could not be identified centrally without incurring disproportionate cost.The following table shows the staff in post in the information officer group by Department at 1 January 1982.

	Staff in Post at 1 January 1982*
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	17
Defence	146
Education and Science	13
Employment Group†	77
Energy	21
Environment/PSA	44
Health and Social Security	17
Home Office	25
Central Office of Information	469
Trade and Industry	157
Transport	18
Welsh Office	20
Scottish Office	19
Population Censuses and Surveys	45
Other Departments	74
TOTAL	1,162
* Full-time equivalents; part-timers counted as half units. Figures at 1 January 1982 are provisional.
† Employment Group includes Department of Employment; Manpower Services Commission; Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service; Health and Safety Commission/Executive.

Basic salary costs of information officer group staff in 1981 were £11·9 million. These costs are based on average basic pay of staff on incremental points, and exclude London weighting, overtime and allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply of 19 April, Official Report, c. 8–9, concerning the increase in the real money supply, whether he will provide comparable figures for the increase in domestic credit.

There are no figures of the percentage increase in domestic credit as the stock of domestic credit has not been evaluated. Domestic credit expansion is measured by the change in domestic non-bank holding of notes and coin plus all lending in sterling by the monetary sector to the public, private and overseas sectors plus overseas lending to the public sector. Changes in Domestic credit expansion are shown in table 7.5 of "Financial Statistics".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the special report on the data, dates and numbers of coins struck in respect of coins and medals is to be published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

The Royal Mint has not been able to obtain the agreement of all its overseas customers to the publication of statistics on foreign coin production. Nevertheless, a pamphlet is in preparation and should be ready for publication before the end of the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for each year from 1977, how many submissions of suspect gold, silver and cupro-nickel coins were made to establish whether they were counterfeit or not; what v./as the result of the examinations; what were the metals used in the counterfeit pieces; and how many prosecutions have taken place.

I regret that this information cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many official value added tax forms and explanatory leaflets are published by his Department in languages other than English; and what arrangements exist for staff to discuss problems with value added tax officers in these languages.

Customs and Excise publish three value added tax forms, and explanatory notes to one of these forms in Welsh. Welsh speaking officers are available to visit, advise and assist any person who prefers to communicate in the Welsh language.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to counteract the Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians preventing of the showing of public information films.

No action is necessary at present since the ACTT action is causing the Government no major problem; nevertheless this unjustified blacking is to be deplored.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the improvement in the United Kingdom unit labour cost position in the third quarter of 1981 compared with the fourth quarter of 1976, together with the corresponding figures for the four largest export trig countries.

The following table shows the percentage change in competitiveness between the fourth quartet of 1976 and the third quarter of 1981 for the United Kingdom and the four largest exporting countries. A + denotes a fall in competitiveness.

Relative normal unit labour costs
United Kingdom	+60·2
United States	+14·1
Japan	-3·3
Germany	-11·0
France	-2·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show the payments and receipts for 1981 in respect of the European Economic Community which resulted in the United Kingdom being net beneficiaries of European Economic Community funds; and if, in particular, he will specify the dates of the refunds made in pursuance of the February 1980 agreements and the year in respect of which the rebates were paid.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 May 1982, c. 36]: Estimates of United Kingdom payments and receipts in respect of the 1981 EEC budget are shown in the following table:

£ million (receipts +, contributions -)
Gross contributions to allocated budget		-1859
Receipts from allocated budget:
CAP guarantee	+604
CAP guidance	+60
Regional Development Fund	+142
Social Fund	+94
Other	+175
Total		+1075
Net refunds entitlement under 30 May 1980 agreement		+778
Net contribution to allocated budget		-6
Net contribution to unallocated budget		-82
Total net contribution		-88

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to provide appropriate Customs and Excise clearance facilities at the airport, Wick, Caithness, to enable the scheduled air service between Wick and Vagar, Faroe Islands to commence on 4 May in accordance with the arrangements otherwise approved by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Danish authorities.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1982 c. 313–4]: No. The potential traffic at Wick Airport is too low to justify the deployment of customs staff for this purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will accept the recommendations of the arbitration tribunal on Civil Service pay.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1982, c. 359]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Ward) today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest position in the process of harmonising energy prices for glasshouse producers in the European Economic Community.

The Agricultural Commissioner reported to the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 22 April that the Commission was in touch with the Dutch Government and would report the outcome to the Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in achieving harmonisation of energy costs for the glasshouse section of the horticultural industry in the European Economic Community.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution has been made by the Sea Fish Authority in developing co-operation between the various functional parts of the fishing industry.

The authority is at an early stage in developing its functions, but I know that it is well aware of the importance of fostering co-operation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fully qualified environmental health officers are employed by his Department.

None, but my Department maintains close working contacts with environmental health officers employed by the Department of Health and Social Security.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present level of the United Kingdom beef breeding herd.

At the beginning of December 1981, the most recent date for which information is available, United Kingdom beef cow numbers totalled 1·410 million head and dairy cow numbers, from which we obtain about two-thirds of our beef supplies, totalled 3·295 million head.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any further plans to stimulate the beef breeding herd; and if he will make a statement.

Beef producers' returns have recovered during the past year, during which the variable beef premium, the suckler cow premium and the highest ever level of hill livestock compensatory allowances have been in force. Further measures to assist beef producers will be considered in the common agricultural policy price negotiations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of potatoes supplied to United Kingdom potato processors was grown in the United Kingdom in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

For the 12 months ended 31 December 1981, home grown supplies accounted for 92 per cent. of raw potatoes used by United Kingdom processors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take action to safeguard the interests of British soft fruit growers against unfair competition from East European processed and semi-processed imports during the forthcoming harvest.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. Walker).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of sugar from the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries involved in the sugar protocol of the Lomé convention has been exported on to the world market during the last five years.

The last five years for which full statistics are available are 1976–1980. During that period on average about 36 per cent. of the sugar exports of the countries involved in the sugar protocol to the Lomé convention were sent to destinations other than the European Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the survey of marginal land in Wales is to be considered by the European Commission.

The survey in Wales was part of a review of marginal land in the whole of the United Kingdom. Any case for designating marginal land in Wales as a less-favoured area will be put to the Commission of the European Community in a United Kingdom context. We are still considering with colleagues the precise nature of the case to be put to Brussels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on what basis his Department calculates annually the effect on United Kingdom food prices of the European Community's farm price review;(2) what have been his Department's estimates at the time of each European Community farm price review of the effect on United Kingdom food prices; and what was the actual effect on United Kingdom food prices, in each year since 1973.

My Department estimates the effect of support price changes upon first hand market prices of individual basic foodstuffs, bearing in mind that market conditions and the nature of support arrangements may mean that variations in support prices have only limited effects on first hand prices of a number of products. The overall effect on food prices is then estimated according to the importance of each product in the total supply of foodstuffs for consumption. There is no series of such estimates, and it is not possible Lo distinguish the actual effect of successive settlements from the effects of other factors affecting food prices such as the costs of processing, distribution and retailing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects agreement on agricultural prices for 1982–83 in the European Community.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, West (Mr. Mills.)—[Vol. 23, c. 93–94.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the outbreak of Aujeszky's disease in Yorkshire, if he will expedite the measures to deal with the disease announced on 22 February, Official Report, c. 307; and if he will make a statement.

As anticipated in my announcement on 22 February, arrangements to introduce movement controls on holdings where Aujeszky' disease is found to be present and on fattening units taking pigs from such holdings have now been effected through the Aujeszky's Disease of Swine Order 1982. The order was made on 28 April and came into operation on 4 May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of surpluses of butter, if he will take steps to reduce future imports of butter from third countries.

Special arrangements governing the importation of butter from New Zealand have applied since we joined the European Community in 1973. Access to the United Kingdom butter market is vital to the New Zealand economy, and we shall endeavour to ensure that the quantities agreed by the Community for 1983 and subsequent years reflect this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his reply of 5 March, Official Report, c. 265–66, concerning EEC restitutions paid on exports of agricultural commodities to third countries, whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the years in question the tonnage and so on exported and the average price per ton and so on where appropriate, dividing the items into main commodities, namely, butter, wheat, and so on.

Information on the volume and value of exports to third countries of the foods concerned is published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities in analytical tables of Foreign trade SITC/ CTCI, rev 2–1980 and earlier editions, copies of which are in the Library of the House. These figures may not, however, correspond to those on export restitutions given in my reply of 5 March because of differences in the timing of recording of trade flows and expenditure on restitutions and also because exports on which restitutions were not paid are included.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present level of the United Kingdom pig breeding herd.

In December 1981, the most recent date for which census results are available, the number of sows and gilts in pig in the United Kingdom was 838,000 head.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total headage of fatstock to pass through livestock auctions in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available.

This information is not directly available, but it is estimated that about 12 million animals may have passed through livestock auction markets in the last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in developing a common fisheries policy of the European Economic Community.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have entered into drainage schemes for which grant-aid is available during the past year.

During the calendar year 1981 we received 29,079 claims from farmers for grant-aid under the capital grant schemes for field drainage work in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the future of the fishing industry.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his identical question on 1 April.—[Vol. 21, c. 431.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate ways in which E. Coli infection of young calves can be controlled.

The means of control of E. Coli infection in young calves are well known. Essentially control is achieved by good husbandry. Advice to farmers on causes and prevention of losses arising in calf rearing is available from the Agriculture Departments and an advisory leaflet has been issued.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what total acreage of agricultural land was lost to other uses in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total was represented by each grade.

The average yearly loss of agricultural land to development or other uses, excluding woodlands, in England in the five-year period ending June 1980, the latest year for which figures are available, was 18,500 hectares or 45,800 acres. I regret that there are no statistics of land loss by grade.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry who are the members of the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications; how much it will cost to administer; who will pay for it; and if he will make a statement.

The British Approvals Board for Telecommunications is soon to be incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Electrotechnical Approvals Board. In addition to the chairman, company secretary, financial director, and director of BABT, the following bodies have been invited to nominate members of the board of BABT:

• The Department of Industry
• The Department of Trade
• The British Standards Institution
• The Telecommunication Engineering and Manufacturing Association Ltd.
• The Business Equipment Trade Association
• The Electronic Engineering Association
• The Electricity Council
• The British Radio and Electronic Equipment Manufacturers Association
• The Electrical Wholesalers Federation
• British Telecommunications

All board members will be formally appointed by BEAB.BABT will finance its own activities from fees and is to be a non profit-making body. The cost of administration will depend upon the volume of approval work undertaken and is therefore uncertain. At the outset, BABT's fees will include a charge for testing plus an additional fee of 12·5 per cent. to cover BABT's administrative overheads.Initially, "start-up" loan facilities are to be made available, free of interest, for any amount required up to a maximum of £200,000. Borrowings from this facility may not be made after 31 December 1988. The Department of Trade has agreed to lend from public funds half of the sums required, the remainder to be made available jointly by British Telecom, the Telecommunication Engineering and Manufacturing Association Limited and the Business Equipment Trade Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if his Department is sponsoring research into the metallurgy of car manufacture; and if he will make a statement.

The Department's metallurgical research is not directed specifically to one particular industry but could have application to car manufacture.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will study the Canadian Federal Government's Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs anti-corrosion code for car manufacturing; and if he will introduce such a code in the United Kingdom.

The code is currently being studied and the need for introduction of such a code will be considered in relation to the corrosive effect of the atmoshpere in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement about European steel price and quota arrangements following his meeting with EEC Ministers on 5 May.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what response there has been to date to the small engineering firms investment scheme.

There has been an exceptionally good response to the scheme. More than 600 applications had been received by 5 May and as has been made clear from the outset these are being dealt with on a first come first served basis. With current staffing constraints it will take some weeks to process them.In view of the sluggish levels of investment by small engineering firms in advanced capital equipment in recent years, the swift take-up of the scheme is most encouraging and suggests that it has been well-targeted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment for what job creation schemes in agriculture he is responsible.

There are no job creation schemes as such in agriculture. However under the Government's youth opportunities programme, some 18,000 work experience places in agriculture are available to young unemployed people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the research budget of the Health and Safety Executive in each of the past three years; and if he will express each figure at constant prices.

The total research budget of the Health and Safety Executive was:

		At 1981–82 prices
	£ million	£ million
1979–80	6·2	7·8
1980–81	6·4	7·1
1981–82	6·9

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment the Manpower Services Commission has made of the probability of those unemployed in Great Britain finding employment within three months of registering as unemployed; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures by age group.

The Manpower Services Commission does not make such assessments. However, calculations are made of the proportion of those registered as unemployed for less than three months on a given date who are no longer registered as unemployed three months later. The latest available figures for Great Britain indicated that 36 per cent. of those who had been registered as unemployed for less than three months on 8 October 1981 were no longer registered on 14 January 1982. This proportion includes those leaving the register for employment and for reasons including sickness, entry into one of the Government's special employment and training measures such as the youth opportunities programme and retirement. An estimated breakdown by age is provided in the attached table.

Proportion of those registered as unemployed for less than three months on 8 October 1981 who were no longer registered on 14 January 1982
	Age on 8 October 1981	Great Britain per cent.
	16 to 19	49
	20 to 24	36
	25 to 34	31
	35 to 44	31
	45 to 54	26
	55 and over	17
	All ages	36

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the approximate number of unemployed persons at the latest available date in the area covered by the Liverpool, Scotland Exchange constituency; and what this figure is as a percentage of the working population.

The numbers registered as unemployed are compiled for employment office areas and not for parliamentary constituencies. At 15 April, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the Liverpool employment office area, which is larger than the Liverpool, Scotland Exchange constituency, was 19,434.Percentage rates of unemployment are calculated for complete travel-to-work areas and not for their constituent parts. At 15 April, the provisional unemployment rate in the Liverpool travel-to-work area, of which the Liverpool employment office area is a part, was 18·4 per cent. The rate is based on the estimated number of employees, employed and unemployed, which differs from the working population in that it excludes members of Her Majesty's Forces and the self-employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for the Merseyside special development area.

At April 1982, the provisional number registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area was 129,155. This includes school leavers and is not adjusted for seasonal variation.The Government remain committed to doing all they can to help with the problems of Merseyside. However, it is profitable businesses, not Governments, which create jobs. What Governments can do is help create the conditions in which firms are enabled to prosper. The Government's policies are therefore aimed at developing a soundly based economy, which means, among other things, continuing to bring inflation steadily down. The more British firms that can offer goods and services at home and abroad that people want to buy at prices they are prepared to pay, the more new jobs we shall see, both in Merseyside and throughout the country.Meanwhile, as we progress towards our objectives, Merseyside will continue to benefit from the Government's programme of special employment measures. In addition, the area has every from of Government assistance available including special development area status, an inner city partnership, an urban development corporation and an enterprise zone. Also, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is working with local government and the private sector to find ways of strengthening the area's economy and improving its environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on how many occasions since 1970 he has received applications for work permits for orchestras to enter the United Kingdom temporarily to give more than two concerts in inner London; and which orchestras have been granted permits and which have been refused.

As far as I am aware only one application has been received since 1970 for more than two concerts in inner London by a visiting orchestra in a single visit. This application was for a proposed series of five concerts at the Royal Festival Hall by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in 1983 and has been refused, while it has been made clear that two concerts in inner London would be acceptable.

asked the Secretary of State for employment on what criteria he makes decisions on applications for work permits for visiting overseas orchestras; and whether the number of concerts to be given in inner London is a factor.