Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 18 May 1982

Attorney-General

European Court Of Human Rights

asked the Attorney-General if he will list all those cases where the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against Her Majesty's Government; and what are the comparable figures for other members of the Council of Europe.

Responsibility for the conduct of cases before the court and also for obtaining information concerning proceedings involving other members of the Council of Europe rests with the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary. I am asking the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to collect the information and let me have it. Because of the need to consult our mission in Strasbourg and perhaps our embassies in other capitals, this may take a little time, but I shall reply further when the information is available.

Home Department

Prison Population (Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing how many prisoners are held in prisons built in the last 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, 50 years, and over 50 years; and how many places those prisons were originally designed to hold.

Comprehensive information in the form requested is not available. The following table shows how many prisoners are held in prisons—not including borstals or detention centres—first used for the custody of offenders within the last 10, 20, 30 and 50 years, or more, and the present certified normal accommodation for each category.

Period of first use for the custody of offenders	Number of prisoners held on 7 May 1982	Current certified normal accommodation
Within the last 10 years	4,128	4,117
Between 11 and 20 years ago	5,602	5,442
Between 21 and 30 years ago	1,921	2,049
Between 31 and 50 years ago	2,005	2,009
More than 50 years ago	23,047	17,428
Total	36,703	31,045

Revolvers (Certificates)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, having regard to the potential power and high muzzle velocity of the Smith and Wesson 0·357, 0·41 and 0·44 Magnum revolver and similar weapons, if he will publish in the Official Report the number of certificates issued to private individuals for the ownership of such weapons and the reason for possession during the years from 1979 to the latest convenient date.

Records of the number of certificate holders possessing weapons of this type are not held centrally, and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Certificates for these and oilier firearms are issued only to applicants who can satisfy the stringent requirements of the Firearms Act 1968.

Crossbows

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the increasing use of crossbows and their lethal capability, he will now give consideration to designating the crossbow as a weapon requiring a permit for possession; and if he will make a statement.

We are not at present persuaded that the benefits of a licensing system for crossbows would justify the additional work load that would be created for the police. We are continuing to keep the matter under review.

Strangeways Prison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the deaths of three prisoners as a result of a cell fire at Strangeways prison, Manchester.

We deeply regret the deaths of the three prisoners concerned. An inquest into these deaths is to be held and it would therefore not be appropriate for us to make any comment at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will pay an official visit to Strangeways prison, Manchester.

My right hon. Friend last visited Her Majesty's prison, Manchester, on 6 September 1979 and he has at present no plans to make another visit.

Patriality

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the holder of a passport endorsed "holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom" is required to make a fresh application for a certificate of patriality when the earlier passport expires; what evidence is required to support an application for a certificate of patriality; and why the previous passport is not accepted as sufficient proof of entry to, and residence in, the United Kingdom.

A person whose passport is so endorsed does not need to make special application for a fresh endorsement when the passport expires. The new passport will normally be endorsed at the time of issue. If the hon. and learned Member has a particular point in mind, perhaps he would write to me about it.

Civil Service

Senior Civil Servants (Private Employment)

40.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she will give as much information as may be readily available showing to what extent the top or higher paid civil servants have resigned their appointments to take up appointments in private employment giving as their reasons the salaries they were receiving.

As officers are not required to give reasons for resigning, the information requested is not, therefore, available.

National Finance

Building Societies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the special advances limit for building societies.

The Building Societies Association has made representations that the special advances limit for building societies be raised to £60,000. The Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies is satisfied that there is no objection on prudential grounds to such an increase. The association has also been able to reassure the Government that there is no intention on the part of any society to reduce its lending at the lower end of the housing market. The Government propose, therefore, to lay draft orders before both Houses seeking to increase the special advances limit from £37,500 to £60,000. It is intended that the increased level will continue in force for several years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions in 1981 his Department consulted the records at Companies House in connection with the stated details of corporate advances contained in AR11 return by building societies.

Information is not available to give a full reply. Twenty-six micro fiches were obtained by the registry from Companies House, but not all will have been in respect of the scrutiny of building society returns. No statistics are available in respect of other inquiries of Companies House following up points on annual returns.

Public Information Broadcasts

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public information broadcasts that so far have been prevented from being screened on television by blacking on the part of the Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians.

A television commercial advising council tenants of the right to buy their homes was due to run from 22 March to 11 April this year. It was curtailed in most television areas from 1 April as a result of action by the ACTT. Plans for a repeat showing of a pedestrian road safety commercial between 13 and 26 April were cancelled.

Bankruptcies (Loss Of Revenue)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total loss to the Inland Revenue in cases where individuals become bankrupt owing money in tax.

The information is not available in the precise form requested. In the year ended October 1980, the latest year for which detailed figures are available, the Inland Revenue wrote off on grounds of taxpayers' insolvency income tax of £10 million, surtax of £2·7 million and capital gains tax of £900,000. The figure for income tax excludes tax due from employers in respect of tax deducted under PAYE from employees' remuneration; it may include some income tax collectable from companies.

Bunge And Company

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the significance of the Argentine grain trade to the Soviet Union and other countries and the importance in the remittance of funds to the Argentine, steps have been taken to ensure that Bunge and Co., owned by Argentine nationals through the holding company Tauretan N. V. registered in the Netherlands Antilles and owned by Bunge and Born of Buenos Aires, has been brought within the scope of the control of the Gold, Securities, Payments and Credits (Argentine Republic) Directions 1982 (S.I., 1982, No. 512); and if he will give details of any restrictions placed upon that company.

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

Energy

North Sea Oil

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much money has been invested or written off on platform sites and facilities for the North Sea; and whether he now has an estimate of the size of the industry which would make it viable in contemporary conditions.

Commercial information concerning total investment and write-off is not held centrally.The United Kingdom offshore supplies industry forms part of a much wider industry, and it is for individual companies themselves to decide the extent to which their future resources will be devoted to offshore activities.

Nuclear Power (Research And Development)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the expected expenditure of his Department for the financial year 1982–83 related to research and development of nuclear power, including all money paid to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for that purpose.

As published in the Supply Estimates 1982–83, Class IV, my Department expects to spend £221,174,000—cash prices—all of which will be paid to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Energy Supplies

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the current advanced gas-cooled reactor nuclear power programme was begun; and when it is estimated to be fully completed, excluding Heysham and Torness.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 May 1982, c. 172]: I am advised by the CEGB that construction of the first AGR station began in 1966. Excluding Heysham stage II, the last generating set in the programme is expected to produce commercial output in 1983.Electricity in Scotland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what additional nuclear electricity capacity has come on stream since May 1979; and what is the total current capacity, excluding stations not at the moment generating electricity because of overhaul, fuel reloading or temporary breakdown.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 May 1982, c. 172]: I am advised by the CEGB that since May 1979 an additional 108 MW of nuclear generating capacity has come on stream. At 30 April 1982, 2,727 MW of nuclear generating capacity was available for use.Electricity in Scotland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Nuclear Waste

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes to issue a White Paper on the disposal

	Gross rate fund expenditure	Sales, fees, charges and other non-grant income	Grant-borne expenditure¶	Rate-borne expenditure•	Expenditure borne by domestic ratepayers•
£ million
1974–75^*	554	82	370	120	35
1975–76^*	723	114	485	149	46
1976–77^*	831	141	541	172	58
1977–78^*	913	169	576	186	62
1978–79^*	1,031	201	614	225	80
1979–80^*	1,208	242	710	253	93
1980–81†	1,444	272	855	311	117
1981–82‡	—	—	903	386	149
1982–83║	—	—	953	427	179
£ per head
1974–75^*	201	30	134	43	13
1975–76^*	261	41	175	54	17
1976–77^*	300	51	195	62	21
1977–78^*	330	61	208	67	22
1978–79^*	372	73	222	81	29
1979–80^*	435	87	256	91	34
1980–81†	520	98	308	112	42
1981–82‡	—	—	325	139	54
1982–83║	—	—	343	154	65

Notes:^* Final outturn † Provisional outturn ‡ Revised estimates ║ Budget estimates ¶ Inclusive of Transport Supplementary grant taken to revenue, domestic rate relief and rate rebate grant • Exclusive of domestic rate relief and rate rebate grant. In 1982–83 domestic late relief was reduced from 36p in the pound to 18½p.

Information on both gross expenditure and sales, fees and charges, etc. is not yet available for the latest two non-outturn years.

Development Board For Rural Wales

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of actual Government support for the Development Board for Rural Wales at constant prices and excluding housing subsidies for each of the four years 1978–79 to 1981–82.

of nuclear waste; and what is his estimate of the volume of medium and high level waste accumulated and available for disposal by the year 2000.

I have been asked to reply.The White Paper on radioactive waste management will be issued as soon as practicable. By the year 2000, up to 80,000 cubic metres of treated intermediate and high level waste will have been generated, most of it intermediate level. We anticipate that disposal facilities for intermediate level wastes will be available by the end of the decade. Research is taking place in connection with disposal facilities for high level wastes, although they will not be required until after the year 2000.

Wales

Local Government Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a table on local government finance in Wales showing for each of the financial years 1974–75 to 1982–83 the outturn or estimated figures for (a) gross expenditure, (b) charges and other income, (c) grant-borne expenditure, (d) rate-borne expenditure and (e) expenditure borne by domestic ratepayers, expressed both in £ and in £ per capita.

The information is as follows:

Figures of the Development Board for Rural Wales, actual expenditure funded through the Welsh Office on a constant—1978–79—price basis are as follows. The figures have been calculated using the retail price index.

	£million
1978–79	6·4
1979–80	7·3
1980–81	4·3
1981–82	4–2

The board's resources—and hence expenditure—were augmented in 1978–79 and 1979–80 by transfers from other programmes and special construction packages.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the value at constant prices of European Community aid for the localities within the area of the Development Board for Rural Wales for each of the four years 1978–79 to 1981–82.

Figures are not available on a financial year basis. Details of European Community commitment of identifiable grants and loans to the board's area—at constant 1978 prices—in the period January 1978 to March 1982 are as follows:

Identifiable Grants and Loans from the European Community^*£ Million (Commitments)†
Year	European Regional Development Fund	European Investment Bank	European Social Fund	Total
1978	0·21	0·56	—	0·77
1979	0·01	0·87	0·01	0·89
1980	1·29	0·70	—	1·99
1981	0·67	—	0·01	0·68
1982‡	—	—	—	—
Total	2·18	2·13	0·02	4·33
In addition, the area will also have benefited from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund—FEOGA—for which figures are not available below the all-Wales level as well as from schemes assisted under the European social fund which are funded on a national basis.

Notes:

^* Figures are based on movements in the index of retail prices (1978 = 100).

† Comparisons for aid between years, whether on an actual or constant price basis, should take account of the facts that aid is related to demand and that the figures are approvals of aid, actual payments of which may extend over some period of years.

‡ Relates to the period ending 31 March 1982.

Tourism (Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the value of grants under section 4 of the Tourism Act at constant prices for the localities within the area of the Development Board for Rural Wales for each of the four years 1978–79 to 1981–82.

Wales Tourist Board approvals of grant-aid to tourist projects within or related to the area of the Development Board for Rural Wales in the years 1978–79 to 1981–82 at a constant—1978–79—price base using the retail price index are as follows:

	£
1978–79	397,893
1979–80	184,061
1980–81	97,798
1981–82	338,971

Community Projects Foundation

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take to counter poor health amongst the jobless as reported by the Government-funded organisation, the Community Projects Foundation, in a survey recently carried out in Newport, Gwent.

A careful reading of the report shows that the unemployed persons surveyed made a proportionately smaller demand on medical services than did other sections of the community.The hon. Member may, however, be interested to know that, as a result of the report, Newport borough council submitted an urban programme application for a people and work unit which is to seek positive solutions to the social consequences of unemployment. This application was approved.

Health Care

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied with the comparative sums available to Welsh counties and the method of financial provision for facilitating increased health care within the community.

The ways in which Health Service resources are provided to promote community care are under review following the issue of the consultation document "Care in the Community" in August 1981. The Government will announce their decision as soon as possible. The Welsh Office has already undertaken to provide an additional and cumulative £1·3 million per annum for five years starting in 1983–84 to enhance the community care for mentally handicapped people.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the scale and form of financial provision available for increased health care within the community.

The Welsh Office received a large number of comments on the consultation document "Care in the Community" which set out a number of suggestions for overcoming the present obstacles to the development of community care. Most of the responses stressed the need for the provision of additional resources; they also covered a wide range of opinions about the form the provision should take. In addition, the Welsh Office has recently been in correspondence with the Welsh branch of the Association of Directors of Social Services which had expressed concern at the present method of operation of the joint finance arrangements in Wales.

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Bail (Further Offences)

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what is Crown Office policy in respect of persons who reoffend while on bail.

Since the coming into force of the Bail Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980, where proceedings were to be taken against persons alleged to have committed an offence while on bail, they could be charged either with a contravention of section 3(1)(b) of the Act, or with the alleged substantive offence itself. In most cases, such accused persons have been charged with the substantive offence rather than the section 3(1)(b) contravention.The whole question of "double jeopardy" in connection with breaches of bail conditions and the prosecution policy in this respect have been reviewed in the light of the decision of the High Court of Justiciary in the stated case Aitchison

v Tudhope (1981 SLT 231) and the opinion issued on 26 March 1982 by the Lord Justice Clerk in a recent bail appeal from Edinburgh sheriff court.

As a result of this review, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and I consider it right to charge an accused person both with a contravention of section 3(1) (b) of the 1980 Act and with the substantive offence which was a breach of the bail order and that this does not constitute "double jeopardy" since the two charges involve different species facti and are separate offences. Accordingly my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is to instruct procurators fiscal that in appropriate circumstances they should prosecute the accused person for the offence under section 3(1) (b) and for the substantive additional offence. This will not prevent courts from reconsidering the original grant or condition of bail in terms of section 3(9) of the 1980 Act.

Trade

Electricity Industry Consumer Councils (Secretaries)

asked the Minister for Trade why he has refused to alter the present salary gradings of secretaries to the electricity industry consumer councils.

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

Import Controls

asked the Minister for Trade whether he has any plans to carry out a monitoring exercise to ascertain the costs of import controls both to industrial efficiency and the consumer; if he will estimate the cost of such an exercise; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 May 1982, c. 7]: The Government do, of course, weigh the impact on all groups when considering requests for import controls, and I have recently endorsed a proposal that the OECD should mount a study of the costs of protectionism. Moreover, the new Community procedure for the introduction of protective measures against imports from third countries now includes an open investigation process which will examine the effects of such measures on all parties prior to their introduction.

Prime Minister

Engagements

Q4.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 18 May.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May..

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q29.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q31.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q34.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q36.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q37.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q38.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q39.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q40.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q41.

(Leith) asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q42.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q43.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q44.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q45.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q46.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q47.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q48.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q49.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q50.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

Q51.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 18 May.

Q52.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 May.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including one with the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

Factory Closures

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister how many hon. Members she has seen on matters relating to factory closures since she last answered oral questions; and how many jobs were expected to be lost in the closures mentioned.

I have had no such meetings since 13 May.

Supplementary Benefit

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government have any plans to impose any new conditions in connection with drawing supplementary benefit upon young people aged 16 to 19 years who are unemployed.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services recently invited the Social Security Advisory Committee to consider two sets of amending regulations concerning supplementary benefit. These include provisions with a bearing on the benefit entitlement of people in this age group. For the most part the amendments will clarify existing provisions, but he has proposed a regulation to change the "21 hour rule" governing the benefit position of unemployed people who undertake part-time courses of education or training. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security announced details of the Government's intentions in reply to a question on 10 May from my hon. Friend the Member for Ripon (Dr. Hampson).Proposals for withdrawing supplementary benefit entitlement from 16-year-old school leavers were set out in the December 1981 White Paper, "A New Training Initiative: A Programme for Action" (Cmnd. 8455).

Falkland Islands

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister whether, on the occasion of her visit to the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament, she plans to discuss the Falkland Islands situation with the Secretary General.

I would hope to see the Secretary General during my visit, and would naturally expect to discuss the Falkland Islands situation with him.

South Atlantic

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister if, when she meets the President of the United States of America, she will discuss with him the future defence of the South Atlantic.

I would expect this to be among the subjects which we shall discuss when I meet President Reagan in June.

Falkland Islands

Q26.

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

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes).

Broadcasting (Departmental Responsibility)

Q35.

asked the Prime Minister if she will transfer responsibility for broadcasting from the Home Office to another Department.

No.

Comptroller And Auditor General

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, 19 April, Official Report, c. 19, what is the total number of staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General; how many of these people are qualified accountants; and if she will list separately the qualifications of the 36 staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General who are employed on the audit of the National Health Service.

The present staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General for England, Scotland and Wales numbers 766, of whom 621 are audit staff, and the remainder supporting staff. The Department has 60 staff who are qualified as members of accountancy bodies. A further 235 are at various stages of training for such qualifications.

Thirty-four audit staff are currently employed on the audit of the National Health Service in England, Scotland and Wales. Of these, 14 have passed the departmental training examination; three are qualified members of CIPFA; and 17 are undergoing training for that qualification. The Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland employs four staff on NHS audit and their qualifications are: one FCCA; one ACIS and two unqualified.

Television (Concessionary Licence Fee)

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding a concessionary television licence fee for retired people living on their own; and if she will make a statement.

I have from time to time received letters on this subject but we have no plans to introduce concessionary licences for pensioners. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary explained in the debate on 16 December 1981—[Vol. 15, c. 322–61]—we continue to take the view that the right way to help retirement pensioners is by maintaining the real value of the retirement pension.

Defence

Falkland Islands

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Service men involved in the Falklands crisis will be able to make a claim against his Department in respect of the losses incurred by them through the cancellation of holiday arrangements for Service reasons where such loss is not covered by insurance.

Yes. In circumstances where cancellation could not reasonably have been foreseen at the time of booking, regulations exist under which claims may be made by Service men for losses incurred by them and their immediate families when holidays are cancelled for Service reasons. Claimants are required to produce evidence that all reasonable steps have been taken to obtain a refund from the holiday operator or travel agent for sums they have been obliged to pay in advance for the holiday.

Compulsory Military Service

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to introduce any form of compulsory military service; and if his Department has authorised any administrative measures to facilitate the introduction.

There are no plans to introduce compulsory military service and therefore no administrative measures have been taken to facilitate its introduction.

Rockall (Union Flag)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are made for the replacement, when necessary, of the Union flag raised by Royal Marines on Rockall in 1955.

I have been asked to reply.

A flag can withstand the weather conditions on Rockall for only a very short time. A plaque was therefore also placed on the rock in 1955. A new plaque was erected in 1971 and was still in position when the island was last visited. It will be checked and, if necessary, replaced when the light is next inspected, probably later this year.

Environment

Hms "Dauntless"

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received representations about the development of HMS "Dauntless" to provide additional accommodation for personnel working at RAF Greenham Common; whether he intends to hold a public inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about this proposal. However, the proposal has not been formally referred to my right hon. Friend for decision by the local planning authority or the developing Department and the question of holding a non-statutory inquiry therefore does not arise.

Environmental Impact Analysis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any estimates have been made by his Department on the cost of the various options for environmental impact analysis.

There are not currently any statutory requirements for environmental assessments of projects for development, although major projects are subject, in effect, to such assessments. The extent of any additional costs which might come from applying a statutory requirement for such an assessment would depend on its nature. The Government are currently opposing a draft EC directive on the subject because of their concern to avoid making any unnecessary additions to costs and delays in reaching decisions on projects.

New Towns

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public expenditure is invested each year in the new towns.

The forecast outturn of net public capital investment by the English new towns in 1981–82 is £105 million—after deducting receipts from special disposals. The provision for 1982–83 is £112 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum realised so far through the sale of the assets of the new towns.

New towns have been selling assets since their inception in 1946. A total figure is not available. The English new towns have realised £356 million from the sale of assets since April 1979.

Tin Cans (Recovery)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his policy towards the recovery of tin cans at central points on a similar basis to bottle banks;(2) in view of the collection of 1,500,000 tin cans a year in the Leeds "Save a Can" experiment and their recycling for other uses, whether he will take steps to encourage similar projects by other local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I fully support the schemes which enable the public to bring separate materials to central collection points for recovery. I welcome the can makers' current efforts to widen the coverage of the save-a-can scheme, and I hope other authorities will be able to match the achievements of the Leeds scheme.

Departmental Reports

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the total number of reports commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years.

The answer to this question could not be produced without disproportionate cost, but if the hon. Member will let me know more precisely the sort of reports in which he is interested the available information will be provided.

New Towns (Industrial And Commercial Assets)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the figures for the sale of industrial and commercial assets by each of the new Town Development Corporations for each of the past three years until the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on progress in this field.

Total sales of industrial and commercial assets by the English new towns over the past three years are as follows:

£ million
1979–80	1980–81	1981–82
		(Estimated outturn)
49	103	130

As stated previously, to publish this information town by town might prejudice the negotiating position of development corporations and the commission.The sales programme is continuing.

Local Authority Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick (Mr. Kaufman) on 12 May, Official Report, c. 242, he will publish the current expenditure of each local authority in England and Wales, showing, in each case, the percentage increase compared with the most recent revised budget current expenditure figures for 1981–82.

Figures of current expenditure are collected on the return of expenditure and rates which is received some time after the block grant claim form. The information will be provided as soon as my Department has received forms from all local authorities in England and the data for individual authorities have been verified. Information for Welsh authorities is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Serpentine Lido

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed his review of the future of the Serpentine lido, Hyde Park; and if he will make a statement.

The lido will reopen as soon as the necessary works have been completed to enable it to be properly chlorinated.

Listed Buildings (Repair And Maintenance)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has considered a value added tax zero rating on repair and maintenance work for listed buildings; and if he has estimated the revenue loss of such a scheme.

I have been asked to reply.It would not be sensible to add to the difficult borderline problems in this area by introducing further fine distinctions of the kind suggested. I refer the hon. Member to what was said in the debate on the motion of the hon. Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Mr. Callaghan) relating to this matter which was held on 12 March.—[Vol. 19, c. 1122–29.]

Staff Reductions

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the saving in wages and salaries of civil servants achieved through the staff reduction in the three years since 1 April 1979; and what is the current annual rate of these savings for 1982–83.

The savings on wages and salaries of non-industrial and industrial civil servants achieved through the staff reductions in the Department of the Environment, including the Property Services Agency, since 1 April 1979 are:

	£ Million
1979–80	11·5
1980–81	32·6
1981–82	55·8
Total	99·9

The annual rate of saving based on the reductions achieved to 1 April 1982, is £87·6 million at 1982–83 prices.This is not, of course, all saving in that much of the work will now be carried out by contract to the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual reduction by number and percentage in his Department and including the Property Services Agency since 1 April 1975.

The information requested is available only from April 1977 and is given in the following table. Prior to that date the figures cover those for the Department of Transport as well as my Department.

Year	Annual Reduction	Per cent.
1977–78	2,843	5·2
1978–79	1,047	2·0
1979–80	4,156	8·2
1980–81	2,595	5·6
1981–82	4,705	10·8

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of redundancies that have occurred in his Department since 1 April 1979; and what is this number as a percentage of (a) total reductions achieved and (b) of the strength at 1 April 1979.

823 redundancies have occurred in my Department, including the Property Services Agency, between 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1982; this is only 7·2 per cent. of the total reductions achieved; and 1·6 per cent. of the staff in post at 1 April 1979.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff from his Department have been transferred to other publicly-funded organisations since 1 April 1979.

The numbers of staff transferred from the Department of the Environment, including the Property Services Agency, to other publicly funded organisations since 1 April 1979 are:

on 1.4.81, 765 staff transferred to the Department of Transport.
on 1.4.82, 96 staff seconded to the Countryside Commission.

From month to month there are also the normal transfers of individuals to and from other publicly funded organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of staff in his Department, including the Property Services Agency, on 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1982; and what was the total reduction in staff between the two dates and expressed as a percentage of the 1 April 1979 strength.

The total numbers of non-industrial and industrial staff in post in the Department of the Environment, including the Property Services Agency, was 50,412 on 1 April 1979 and 38,956 on 1 April 1982—a reduction of 11,456 or 22·7 per cent. These figures exclude the effect of transferring 765 staff to the Department of Transport on 1 April 1981.

Planning Aid Centres

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards planning aid centres.

We recognise that planning aid can play a useful part in providing people with independent advice on planning matters. We are continuing the grant to support the work of the planning aid unit of the Town and Country Planning Association. The Department has written today to the TCPA informing it that for 1982–83 the grant will be £6,325.

Transport

Motorways (Fencing)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in light of his policy of making motorways environmentally attractive, he will reconsider the use of wooden palings reinforced with iron bars along some stretches of the M11 and plastic-coated wire fences along other stretches; why such methods of fencing are being used; and if he will consider either continuing to use only open wooden fences, or planting shrubs and trees as quickly as possible to hide the palings and wire already in place.

My Department's standard motorway fencing continues to be timber posts with open rails. Occasionally, as in some places on the M11, local conditions call for different treatments: for example, high chain link fencing to counter deer, to provide special security for adjoining property or alongside schools and playing fields; a metal fence to screen the Lords bridge radio observatory from electronic interference; and close-boarded fencing to provide noise protection. Comprehensive planting has already been carried out along the Mil and will in time hide much of the fencing.

Driver And Vehicle Licensing Centre

asked the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances personal details held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre are released to nongovernmental organisations; whether fees are charged for the release of this information; how much annually is collected from these fees; and to what pupose such fees are put.

Regulations made under the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971 require my right hon. Friend to provide free of charge information from the vehicle register to local authorities and the police for any purpose connected with the investigation of an offence. He must also provide for a fee of £2 the name and address of the registered keeper to anyone—including non-governmental organisations—who shows "reasonable cause" for the request. The general practice for many years has been to regard "reasonable cause" as shown only where inquiries relate to road safety or to criminal or civil law involving the use of a motor vehicle.There is no similar legal provision about the release of information from the drivers register but information is released under tight controls where road safety or criminal or civil law is involved. The fees from vehicle inquiries meet the cost of providing the service. In 1980–81 the fees totalled over £200,000, of which about £60,000 related to vehicle safety recalls.

Motor Cycle Driving Test (Goole)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which sites within the Goole parliamentary constituency are to be used for part I of the new motor cycle driving test; and which training organisations will conduct tests at these sites.

My Department has recently approved a site in Goole itself proposed by the national motor cycle training scheme for part I of the two-part motor cycle test in connection with its motor cycle training facility there

NMTS, the Doncaster, Rotherham and District Motor Trades Group Training Association, Consolidated Land Services Ltd. and the West Yorkshire metropolitan county council have been appointed to conduct part I of the test at their training centres in Castleford, Doncaster, Wakefield and Scunthorpe.

Railways (Finance)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if the committee reviewing the finances of the railways will be taking evidence from sources other than Government Departments and the British Railways Board.

I understand that the committee has already invited evidence from a number of bodies particularly concerned with the subject of the review and that it will be glad to consider written evidence from other quarters provided that it reaches it by 30 June. In selecting this date the committee has had regard to my expressed hope that it will be able to report in five or six months.

Employment

Unemployment Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk have never had a full-time job since leaving school.

The following table gives, for 15 April, the numbers of unemployed young people under 18 years of age who had not entered employment since completing full-time education.

	Numbers
North West region	17,636
Merseyside Special Development Area	5,558
Kirkby employment office area	293
Ormskirk employment office area	53

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current unemployment figures

Table A: West Midlands
MSC Scheme	Nearest equivalent to West Midlands area for which figures available	Number of participants/filled places
(i) Youth Opportunities Programme	MSC Special Programmes Division West Midlands Planning Region, which includes: Warwickshire, Hereford, Worcester, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and West Midlands Metropolitan District, including Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Solihull, Birmingham and Coventry.	During the period 1 April 1981 to 31 March 1982 some 67,100 young people entered schemes compared to some 36,600 entrants in the year 1 April 1980 to 31 March 1981.
(ii) Community Enterprise Programme	As above, plus Northamptonshire County.	At the end of March 1982, there were 2,290 filled places on schemes.
(iii) Training Opportunities Programme	MSC Training Services Division West Midlands Region. As for (i) above.	At the end of March 1982, there were approximately 2,800 participants, of which some 1,530 were non-skillcentre-based, and approximately 1,270 were skillcentre-based.

for (a) Accrington and (b) North-East Lancashire; and what percentage increase in unemployment in both these areas there has been since 1979.

At April 1982 the numbers of people registered as unemployed in the Accrington employment office area and in North-East Lancashire were 3,935 and 28,684, respectively. The increases since April 1979 were 278·7 per cent. in Accrington and 197·6 per cent. in North-East Lancashire. Easter school leavers are included in the figures for April 1982 but not for April 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest national youth and adult unemployment figures; what were the figures at the same time in 1979; and if he will give the percentage increase in unemployment during this period.

At April 1979 there were 76,608 people under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom compared with 193,354 at April 1982, an increase of 152·4 per cent. The corrresponding figures for people aged 18 years and over were 1,263,987 at April 1979 and 2,814,442 at April 1982, an increase of 122·7 per cent. Easter school leavers are included in the figures for April 1982 but not for April 1979.

Manpower Services Commission (Schemes)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of persons, including young persons, engaged on Manpower Services Commission schemes in (a) the West Midlands region and (b) the Walsall travel-to-work area, together with a breakdown showing the number of schemes and the number of persons engaged in each category of scheme, including youth opportunities programmes.

The information is not available in the exact form requested. The schemes run by the Manpower Services Commission are administered on different geographical areas. The following tables give details of MSC schemes broken down into areas coinciding as closely as possible with the areas requested. The information on the numbers of schemes in the West Midlands is not available, except at disproportionate cost.

Table B: Walsall travel-to-work area
MSC Scheme	Nearest equivalent to Walsall travel-to-work area for which figures available	Number of schemes active as at 17 May 1982	Number of participants/filled places
Youth Opportunities programme	Walsall Local Authority District	1,977 Work Experience on Employers Premises schemes	During the period 1 April 1981 to 31 March 1982 approximately 4,450 young people entered schemes compared to 2,250 entrants between 1 April 1980 and 31 March 1981.
		11 Community projects
		2 Training Workshops
		1 Information Technology Centre
Community Enterprise Programme	MSC Special Programmes Division's Wolverhampton Area Office (includes Walsall)	6	At the end of March 1982 there were 810 filled places on schemes.
Training Opportunities Programme	MSC's Training Services Division Walsall travel-to-work area including:	Not available	At the end of March 1982 there were 87 people participating in courses based at 3 colleges in Walsall.
	Walsall, Brownhill, Willenhall and Aldridge.

North-East Lancashire

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a yearly breakdown, since 1979, of how many young people have been registered with the youth opportunities programme scheme in (a) Accrington, (b) North-East Lancashire and (c) on a national basis; how many of these completing their first scheme have (i) found employment, (ii) returned to education or joined another youth opportunity programme scheme and (iii) were registered as unemployed during this period.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of those who left school at the end of the last academic year in (a) Accrington and (b) North-East Lancashire, failed to find full-time employment; and how many have joined a youth opportunities programme scheme.

Information is not available in the exact form requested. Unemployment statistics do not distinguish the numbers of last year's school leavers from other registered unemployed school leavers. The following table shows the number of young people who have entered the youth opportunities programme, broken down into areas which coincide as closely as possible with the areas requested:

	Youth Opportunities Programme entrants 1 April 1981 to 31 March 1982
Hyndburn Local Authority District (including Accrington)	960
Manpower Services Commission's Preston Area Office (which includes the whole of Lancashire County)	19,990

It is estimated that some two-thirds of the entrants in the Manpower Services Commission's Preston area office district were school leavers. It is not possible to accurately estimate the number of school leavers in the Hyndburn local authority district.

Benefit Offices (Fraud Prevention)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the

latest circular sent to managers of benefit offices suggesting ways to combat fraud; and if he will make a statement.

It is not normal practice to publish circulars containing instructions to staff.

Youth Opportunities Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people eligible to take part in the youth opportunities programme are not doing so (a) in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area and (b) on Portsea Island.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1982, c. 280]: Information on numbers of young people eligible to take part in the youth opportunities programme but not doing so is not available. Statistics of young people registered as unemployed do not separately identify those who are eligible for YOP schemes.The total number of unemployed young people under 18 in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area, which includes Portsea Island, was, at 15 April, 1,541. A proportion of these young people will not be eligible.A separate figure for Portsea Island is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacant places are on offer on the youth opportunities programme (a) in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area and (b) on Portsea Island.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1982, c. 280]: It is estimated that on 15 April 1982 there were some 1,300 unfilled places on youth opportunities programme schemes in the Portsmouth area and some 600 on Portsea Island. Not all unfilled places are available for immediate occupation.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Law Of The Sea Convention

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government propose to sign the international convention on the law of the sea when it comes into force following the subscription of the requisite number of signatory States at Caracas.

Her Majesty's Government will be examining the texts adopted by the United Nations law of the sea conference on 30 April in the light of our national interests. One of the factors to be taken into account in deciding upon signature will be the attitude of other Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he estimates will be the effect of the recently negotiated convention on the law of the sea on the territorial and continental shelf limits of (a) the Argentine and (b) the Falkland Islands dependencies.

The draft convention recently adopted envisages a 12 nautical mile territorial sea as a maximum. As to the continental shelf insufficient scientific data are at present available for the establishment of precise limits under the convention in areas adjacent to Argentina and in areas adjacent to the Falkland Islands and its dependencies. In those cases, however, the limits under the convention would almost certainly extend beyond 200 miles in a number of places.

Argentina (French Arms Supplies)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government were informed by the Government of France of the supply of aircraft and missiles to Argentina.

Before the Falklands crisis there was no reason for the French Government to inform us of the supply of aircraft and missiles to Argentina. Since then we have been in close contact with the French authorities. Their co-operation, including an embargo on the supply of arms, ammunition and spare parts to Argentina has been most helpful.

East Timor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Indonesian Government, and through what channels, with a view to securing a resolution of the future government of East Timor.

The future of East Timor is a matter which concerns the Governments of Portugal and Indonesia in the first instance. The latter are well aware of our position on East Timor, but we take all appropriate opportunities, including the ministerial discussions we have from time to time, to remind the Indonesian Government of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards proposals for settlement of the future of East Timor.

We would naturally welcome constructive proposals for the settlement of the future of East Timor, but we continue to believe that this is an issue best pursued in the first instance between the Indonesian and Portuguese Governments.

Lebanese Nationals (Visas)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the British embassy in Beirut has stopped issuing visas to Lebanese nationals wishing to visit the United Kingdom; whether this will affect reciprocal arrangements in the United Kingdom for issuing visas to those wishing to visit Lebanon; by what means Arab business men from Beirut will now be able to come to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The recent reduction in embassy staff is a temporary measure for security reasons. We have been keeping embassy staff numbers under constant review and have decided that the visa section of the embassy should reopen on a reduced scale in order to provide a limited service from 20 May. Reciprocal arrangements for the issue of visas to those in the United Kingdom wishing to visit Lebanon remain unaffected.

European Community

Citizens (Voting Rights)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose at a forthcoming meeting of Ministers of the European Community the need to give to citizens of the member States working within the European Economic Community, but outside their nation State, the right to vote in their nation's elections to the European Economic Community.

Provisions for citizens of a Community State resident in other member States to vote in their country's elections to the European Parliament were included in the European Parliament's proposals for a uniform electoral system which were adopted on 10 March. These proposals are being considered by the Council of Ministers.

Social Services

Nurses (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) by what percentage figure the real value of National Health Service nurses' pay has declined in the last two years;(2) what was the percentage pay award to National Health Service nurses in each of the last two years; and what was the rate of inflation in each year.

The real value of nurses pay has increased over the last two years. Pay settlements for nurses in the years 1980–81 and 1981–82 were 14 per cent. and 6 per cent, respectively. In addition, from 1 April 1980 nurses received the second instalment of the pay increases awarded by the Clegg commission. The commission's award amounted to an extra increase of 22 per cent. in nurses' pay. In 1980–81 nurses working hours were reduced from 40 to 37½ hours per week, equivalent to 6·5 per cent. on pay.Corresponding movements in the retail price index were 12·6 per cent. (March 1980–March 1981) and 10.4 per cent. (March 1981–March 1982). Overall, nurses pay has therefore increased in this period at a greater rate than inflation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much nurses pay would need to be increased to bring it up in real terms to the figures recommended by the Halsbury committee.

The following table shows, for the main nursing grades, annual basic pay rates awarded by the Halsbury committee—effective from 23 May 1974—and as currently in payment—effective from 1 April 1981—with the percentage movement between the two periods. Over the same period, the retail price index increased by 172 per cent.

	Maximum point of basic pay scale effective from		Movement in basic pay May 1974 to April 1981
Nursing Grade	23 May 1974	1 April 1981	Movement in basic pay May 1974 to April 1981
	£	£	Percentage
Regional Nursing Officer-R1	8,001	21,924	174
Nursing Officer II	3,300	7,551	129
Nursing Sister II (ward sister)	3,000	7,215	141
Staff Nurse	2,202	5,426	146
Enrolled Nurse	1,902	4,835	154
Student Nurse (2nd year)	1,224	3,428	180
Nursing Auxilary	1,524	4,017	164

In 1980–81 nurses working hours were reduced from 40 to 37½ per week, equivalent to 6·5 per cent. on basic pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide a table showing the weekly basic pay of a second year student nurse, a staff nurse, a ward sister and a nursing officer in 1975, 1978, 1980 and 1981, expressing the figures in terms of 1975 prices.

The following table shows, for the grades requested, weekly basic pay at the maximum point of the salary scale with the movement in each later year over the 1975 pay rates. In 1980–81, nurses working hours were reduced from 40 to 37½ per week, equivalent to 6·5 per cent. on basic pay. Basic pay is not a very useful indicator as these staff are also eligible to receive additional payments for working overtime or at unsocial hours.

	Weekly basic pay at maximum of salary scale—£
	(movement over 1975 base of 100)
Grade	1975	1978	1980	1981
Student Nurse	31·47	40·62	62·02	65·74
(2nd year	(100)	(129)	(197)	(209)
	52·55	62·43	98·17	104·06
Staff Nurse	(100)	(119)	(187)	(198)
Nursing Sister II	68·12	82·45	130·55	138·37
(Ward Sister)	(100)	(121)	(192)	(203)
	74·68	90·04	136·63	144·81
Nursing Officer n	(100)	(121)	(183)	(194)

Over this period—April 1975 to April 1981—the retail price index increased by 126·3 per cent.

Doctors And Dentists (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage pay award to National Health Service doctors and dentists in each of the last two years.

Individual increases varied but the average award of 1980 was 31·4 per cent., of which 10·7 per cent. represented the last stage of a catching-up exercise begun in 1978. That for 1981 was 6 per cent. The award for 1982 has not yet been settled, but the Government have proposed that the average increase should be 6 per cent.

Electricians (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage pay award Lo National Health Service electricians in each of the last two years; and what is the percentage proposed for 1982–83.

In 1980 and 1981 improvements in pay and conditions of service were within the pay factor in the NHS cash limit of 14 per cent. and 6 per cert. respectively. Agreement has been reached on a package of changes for 1982 that will be within this year's provision of 4 per cent.

Industrial Injuries Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what comments he has had from the Disability Alliance in response to the White Paper on the reform of the industrial injuries scheme; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

The Disability Alliance's lengthy response to the White Paper has been acknowledged. It will be taken into full account before final decisions are taken on the reform of the industrial injuries scheme.

Working Wives (Earnings Limit)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the recent increase in the earnings limit for retirement pensioners, he will also increase the earnings limit for working wives whose husbands have retired.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) on 8 April.—[Vol. 21, c. 435.]

Action On Smoking And Health

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what public funds have been granted to Action on Smoking and Health for the year 1982–83.

An interim payment of £22,500 has been made, pending a decision on the final rate of grant for 1982–83.

Lead Pollution

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any evidence indicating the extent to which lead pollution may be a contributory factor in the birth of still-born and malformed babies; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of a study carried out in two areas of North-East England in 1981. This showed no evidence of an increased risk of still birth due to lead, and in the area with the higher incidence of malformations the blood lead levels of pregnant women were lower than those in the other area.

Advisory Committee On The Irradiation Of Foods

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement about the future of the Advisory Committee on the Irradiation of Food.

The former Advisory Committee on the Irradiation of Food has recently been reconstituted with a wider remit. Under the new title of Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods, its task is to give advice on these topics to Health and Agriculture Ministers of Great Britain and to the head of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland.The membership of the advisory committee is as follows:

Chairman

Sir Arnold Burgen MD, FRCP, FRS, Director, National Institute of Medical Research.

Members

Professor J. W. Bridges BSc, PhD, Director, Robens Institute of Industrial & Environmental Health & Safety, University of Surrey.
Professor J. D. Bu'Lock BA, PhD, Head of Microbial Chemistry Laboratories, University of Manchester.
Dr. J. C. Gould BSc, MD, FRCPE, FRCPath, FRSE, Director, Central Microbiological Laboratories, Edinburgh.
Professor J. Hawthorn BSc, PhD, ARCST, CChem, FRSC, FIBiol, FIFST, FRSE, Professor of Food Science, University of Strathclyde.
Dr. W. P. T. James MA, MD, FRCP, Assistant Director, MRC, Dunn Nutritional Laboratory, Cambridge.
Dr. B. E. B. Moseley BSc, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, University of Edinburgh.
Dr. H. Smith PhD, FIBiol, Head of Biology Department, National Radiological Protection Board.
Dr. A. N. B. Stott MB, ChB, FFOM, Chief Medical Officer, UK Atomic Energy Authority.
Dr. A. J. Swallow PhD, DSc, ScD, FRSC, Head of Biophysical Chemistry Division, Paterson Laboratories, Christie Hospital & Holt Radium Institute, Manchester.
Professor A. E. Bender BSc, PhD, FRSH, FIFST, Professor of Nutrition & Dietetics, Queen Elizabeth College, University of London.
Professor P. Turner MD, BSc, FRCP, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, London.
Dr. J. E. M. Whitehead MA, MB, FRCPath, DipBact, Director, Public Health Laboratory Service, London.

Central Blood Laboratories

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to arrangements for the management of the central blood laboratories; and if he will make a statement.

In place of the present interim arrangements I propose to set up a special health authority to manage the central blood laboratories, with a membership and terms of reference which will ensure that it is sensitive to their special needs as important pharmaceutical manufacturing units. I shall be laying an order for this shortly. I am pleased to say that Mr. David Smart has agreed to accept the chairmanship of the new authority.

Geriatric Care

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each district health authority in England and Wales the cost per head of providing one week's accommodation in geriatric accommodation and the expenditure per head of population over the age of 70 years.

Information in the form requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Retirement Pension

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the Government's present estimate of the actuarial equivalent at age 60 years of £1 of pension payable at age 65 years for men, women, and all persons, respectively.

The actuarial equivalent at age 60 of a pension of £1 at age 65 is 64p for men and 71p for women, or 68p for all persons. These figures are derived by using current estimated population mortality rates and assume that investment returns available will exceed by 2½ per cent. pension increases in line with prices. The figures are based solely on making equivalent payments of pensions and no account has been taken of any contributions which might be payable by the individual to the scheme and which would be payable for a shorter period if pensions were to be payable earlier.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff from his Department have been transferred to other publicly-funded organisations since 1 April 1979.

Apart from the normal flow of staff between this Department and other Government Departments and fringe bodies, there have been no such transfers.

Staff Reductions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual reduction by number and percentage in his Department since 1 April 1975.

The information requested is as follows:

Permanent Staff in DHSS
	Difference Numbers	Percentage Difference
April 1975–76	+4,472	+5·04
April 1976–77	+2,559	+2·75
April 1977–78	+1,268	+1·32
April 1978–79	+1,441	+1·49
April 1979–80	-2,160	-2·19
April 1980–81	+1,201½	+1·25
April 1981–82	-l,867½	-1·92

These figures reflect increases in demand-led work on the social security side of the Department. They mask the fact that measures have been taken during this period which have resulted in it being possible now to employ more than 10,000 staff fewer than would otherwise have been necessary. As I have indicated in my other reply, other measures are in preparation which will lead to further staff savings by April 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of redundancies that have occurred in his Department since 1 April 1979; and what is this number as a percentage of (a) total reductions achieved and (b) of the strength at 1 April 1979.

Eight full-time and nine part-time staff have been made redundant between 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1982, the equivalent of 12½ full-time posts. This is 0·44 per cent. of the total reductions achieved and 0·013 per cent. of the strength at 1 April 1979.

The Department has a policy of avoiding redundancy wherever possible by saving posts through natural wastage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of staff in his Department on 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1982; what was the total reduction in staff between the two dates; and if he will express this as a percentage of the 1 April 1979 strength.

The information requested is as follows:

Permanent Staff in DHSS

1 April 1979 98,369
1 April 1982 95,543
Reduction 2,826
Percentage Change -2·9

These figures mask three important factors. First, almost all the work of the Department is demand-led and current staffing levels would have been about 3,500 lower than they are now had there been no increase in supplementary benefit work loads. Secondly, the Department has introduced a number of measures since 1979 which have been designed to improve efficiency. Without these savings, a further 6,000 staff would by now be needed to administer the social security scheme. Thirdly, the two major measures leading to staff savings: statutory sick pay and housing benefit—saving a total of about 5,000 staff—required legislation before they could be implemented. These measures will be introduced on 1 April 1983.

Homeless Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that his Department is doing sufficient to care for and support the increasing number of homeless men and women, particularly in the centres of large cities.

The provision of health care and personal social services for homeless people is the responsibility of health and local authorities within available resources and in accordance with the policy set out in "Care in Action"^*.My right hon. Friend has a specific duty under supplementary benefit legislation to provide and maintain resettlement units at which those homeless people who are without a settled way of life are afforded temporary board and lodging with a view to influencing them to lead a more settled life. There are 23 resettlement units, mostly in or near large towns and cities, and I am satisfied that the scale of provision is broadly adequate. The Department also makes contributions to the funds of 35 voluntary organisations providing similar facilities to resettlement units.

^*"Care in Action, A Handbook of Policies and Priorities for the Health and Personal Social Services in England", HMSO £3·30.

Doctors (Linguistic Tests)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why doctors from the European Community are not given linguistic tests as are doctors entering Great Britain from the new Commonwealth.

Doctors seeking to practise in this country who are nationals of, and received their primary training in, member States of the European Community have to satisfy their employers, or, in the case of those seeking to enter the general medical services as principals, the relevant family practitioner committee that they have the knowledge of English necessary for the work they will be doing. Other overseas doctors have to satisfy the registrar of the General Medical Council that they have the necessary knowledge of English.

European Community Doctors

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there has been any recent influx of doctors from Common Market countries.

The numbers of doctors who qualified in a member State of the European Community other than the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland registered by the General Medical Council in each year since 10 June 1977 were:

1977	85
1978	109
1979	124
1980	134
1981	184

I have no information on how many of these doctors are practising in this country.

Claimants (Irlam And Cadishead)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current number of pensioner and non-pensioner claimants in Irlam and Cadishead; and what were the comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981.

The information requested is as follows:Number of non-pensioner and pensioner claimants at the Salford (South) office which serves Irlam and Cadishead are as follows. (Separate figures for those claimants living in Irlam and Cadishead are not available except at disproportionate cost).

	16 March 1982	17 March 1981	18 March 1980	20 March 1979
Supplementary benefits office Salford (South)
Non-pensioners	6,687	4,976	3,798	3,790
Pensioners	4,290	4,268	4,307	4,288
Contributory benefits office Salford (South)
Non-pensioners	1,418	1,659	2,120	2,471
Pensioners	81	39	104	72
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.

Family Support

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the value of family support as represented by the combined value of child benefit and child tax allowances when in existence, for the first, second and any subsequent children at current prices for the following years: (a) 1950, (b) 1955, (c) 1960 and (d) 1964 to the latest available year.

The following table gives the value of child support—that is, the combined value of child tax allowances after clawback and family allowances/child benefit—for each child in standard rate taxpaying families at November 1982 prices, assuming a 9 per cent. increase in the retail price index between November 1981 and November 1982.

Date	1st child	2nd child	3rd and subsequent children
	£	£	£
Children under age 11
1950	5·28	6·90	6·90
1955	6·46	8·59	8·59
1960	5·13	6·97	7·45
1964	5·20	6·83	7·32
1965	5·21	6·82	7·16
1966	5·03	6·58	6·91
1967	4·89	6·39	6·71
1968	4·68	5·86	6·17
1969	4·43	5·80	6·14
1970	4·20	5·49	5·81
1971	4·89	6·29	6·49
1972	4·60	5·83	6·11
1973	4·18	5·23	5·48
1974	4·79	5·67	5·86
1975	4·20	5·80	5·80
1976	4·40	5·77	5·77
1977	4·23	4·84	4·84
1978	5·04	5·04	5·04
1979^*	6·25	6·25	6·25
1980	5·80	5·80	5·80
1981	5·72	5·72	5·72
1982	5·85	5·85	5·85
Children aged 11 to 15
1950	5·28	6·90	6·90
1955	6·46	8·59	8·59
1960	6·36	8·27	8·75
1964	6·29	8·04	8·40
1965	6·36	7·91	8·31
1966	6·14	7·63	8·02
1967	5·96	7·41	7·79
1968	5·71	6·89	7·20
1969	5·41	6·77	7·11
1970	5·12	6·41	6·73
1971	5·65	7·00	7·29
1972	5·31	6·58	6·86
1973	4·94	5·95	6·21
1974	5·52	6·34	6·59
1975	4·79	6·43	6·43
1976	4·90	6·28	6·28
1977	4·66	5·27	5·27
1978	5·43	5·43	5·43
1979^*	6·25	6·25	6·25
1980	5·80	5·80	5·80
1981	5·72	5·72	5·72
1982	5·85	5·85	5·85

Date	1st child	2nd child	3rd and subsequent children
	£	£	£
Children aged 16 and over
1950	5·28	6·90	6·90
1955	6·46	8·59	8·59
1960	7·66	9·50	10·05
1964	7·44	9·13	9·55
1965	7·50	9·05	9 ·45
1966	7·25	8·74	9·13
1967	7·03	8·48	8·86
1968	6·73	7·87	8·22
1969	6·38	7·75	8·04
1970	6·04	7·33	7·61
1971	6·45	7·76	8·05
1972	6·07	7·30	7·57
1973	5·56	6·57	6·83
1974	6·12	6·94	7·19
1975	5·31	6·94	6·94
1976	5·36	6·71	6·71
1977	5·03	5·64	5·64
1978	5·76	5·76	5·76
1979^*	6·25	6·25	6·25
1980	5·80	5·80	5·80
1981	5·72	5·72	5·72
1982	5·85	5·85	5·85
^* Child tax allowances ceased after the 1978–79 tax year and uprating dates are shown from 1979 onwards.

Family Income

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the loss of annual income due to (a) the difference in the value of child benefit and its April 1979 value at current prices, and (b) the abolition of the 25 per cent. tax band for the following groups: (i) a two-child family with one wage earner and (ii) a two-child family with two wage earners.

The rate of child benefit will be increased to £5·85 in November 1982. It would have to be increased by a further 40p if its April 1979 value were to be restored which represents an annual amount of £41·60 for a two-child family, with either one or two wage earners.The abolition of the 25 per cent. tax band is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Child Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much child benefit would need to be in-creased to restore it to its April 1979 value at current prices.

In November 1982, when the next uprating takes place, child benefit would need to be increased by a further 40p to restore it to its April 1979 value.

Life Expectancy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the actuarial estimate used by his Department for the expectancy of life of men and women, respectively, at the ages of 60 and 65 years.

The life expectancy of men and women at age 60 and 65, as used in the latest population projection of the Office of Pop, Censuses and Surveys as at mid-1982, are as follows:

Men at age 60: 16·22 years
Men at age 65: 12·80 years
Women at age 60: 20·85 years
Women at age 65: 16·85 years

Visually Handicapped (Educational Provision)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations the Minister for Social Security has received from the president of the National Federation of the Blind of the United Kingdom concerning the attendance of representatives of the federation at a conference about educational provision for the visually handicapped; what reply he has sent; and if he will publish the letters in the Official Report.

I have received a letter which relates to a meeting organised by the Department of Education and Science and so I have referred it to the Under-Secretary of State at that Department. I have asked him to consider the points made as sympathetically as possible.

Supplementary Benefit Regulations (Television Licences)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will amend the supplementary benefit regulations to allow the cost of television licences to be taken into account.

The supplementary benefit regulations already make specific provision for the scale rates to cover leisure and amenity items such as a television licence and the rental of a set. We have no plans for any amendment.

Education And Science

Student Grants

13.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to announce the levels of students grants for 1983–84.

My right hon. Friend would expect to announce the levels of student grants for 1983–84 in the spring of 1983.

Assisted Places Scheme

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will increase the number of places available under the assisted places scheme.

About 175 additional assisted places will be available from the start of the next academic year.

A-Level Passes

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many GCE A-level passes there were in England in 1981; and how this compares with the figures for 1971 and 1961, respectively.

The latest available figures are for 1980 when a total of 384,000 A-level pass grades were awarded to candidates for examinations conducted by the English GCE boards. This compares with a figure of 301,000 in 1971. Comparable figures for 1961 are not available, but in that year the total number of A-level passes awarded by the English and Welsh GCE boards was 168,000.

Local Education Authorities (Land Ownership)

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give figures for the acreage of land owned, but never used or developed, by local education authorities in East Anglia; and if he will make a statement.

The land registers published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment includ details of 211 acres, 26 acres and 21 acres of unused or under-used land on sites of an acre or more held by Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk county councils, respectively, in their capacities as education authorities.

National Anthem

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidance on the use of the national anthem at school assemblies, or other appropriate school occasions.

My right hon. Friend considers that there are a number of occasions during the school year on which it would be appropriate for the national anthem to be played. He does not, however, believe that this is a suitable subject for central Government guidance.

Science Students (Grants)

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his financial provisions towards grants to science students undertaking post-graduate and post-doctoral research.

The grants-in-aid made to the research councils from the science budget include provision for the support of postgraduate and postdoctoral research training in the natural and social sciences. Each research council has freedom to decide what proportion c f its grant-in-aid to allocate to research training. In 1981–82 the research councils made 5,851 postgraduate awards, and I understand that in 1982–83 they plan to make 5,496. By long standing arrangement, the rate of grant to science postgraduates is the same as that made to humanities postgraduates by my Department.

Education And Training

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has recently investigated the potential costs of a unified education and training allowance for 16 to 18-year-olds; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to change the support arrangements for those young people who remain in full-time education after 16. The Government's plans for other young people in this age group are contained in the White Paper "A New Training Initiative: A Programme for Action"—Cmnd. 8455—published in December last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he proposes to take, following the issue of his Department's consultative document "Continuing Education: Post-experience Vocational Provision for those in Employment" in October 1980, to promote this aspect of education.

The responses to the consultative document confirm that there is a substantial and growing demand for updating and refresher courses for those in mid-career, which the further and higher educational system is particularly well-placed to meet. We recognise, however, that many institutions—universities, polytechnics and colleges—have been inhibited by a number of factors from responding as quickly and adequately as they might to these needs.We are therefore today announcing a programme of action by the Department to stimulate, encourage and facilitate institutions' development of professional, industrial and commercial updating. The four main elements of the programme are:

i. a series of one day regional workshops to help educational institutions learn to recognise these needs and to meet them effectively;

ii. the provision of funds to develop course materials, innovatory teaching methods and curriculum design. To this end, we have asked the further educaton unit to act as a main agency in sponsoring projects in this area. We have also earmarked £1 million of the Open University's grant for 1982 to enable it to develop updating courses. This sum will be recovered from fee income;

iii. the appointment, on an experimental basis, of a number of regional development agents whose task will be to stimulate, develop and co-ordinate PICKUP provision in their areas building on the impetus of the workshops and existing networks and expertise. We hope to appoint the first to serve the East Midlands from September 1982;

iv. the strengthening of networks for the collation and pdissemination of information, so that employers, employees and providing institutions know what is being provided, and by whom.

The significant sums necessary to implement this programme will be made available from within the moneys voted by Parliament, provided the need is clearly demonstrated and the education system responds enthusiastically to our initiative.

The Department will be pursuing this programme and continuing to address other, longer-term problems identified in the consultative process as one very important part of its responsibilities in the broader field of adult and continuing education and as a complement to other elements of the Government's policies for education and training.

Manpower Services Commission

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the obligations on local education authorities of the new training initiatives of the Manpower Services Commission.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours).

Secondary Schools (Pupil Selection)

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will examine ways in which computer selection processing of pupil names for different secondary schools in local authority education areas can be improved to permit individual pupil and family requirements.

Within the framework of the Education Act 1980, local education authorities are free to make their own arrangements for admissions to schools in their areas. My right hon. Friend has no particular role to play in this.

School Voucher Scheme

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now introduce an experimental school voucher scheme.

My right hon. Friend is examining this possibility, but it will be necessary first to see whether a practicable scheme can be devised.

Teachers

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers will qualify in 1982; and how many he expects will obtain jobs as teachers.

Nearly 18,000 people are expected to qualify as teachers in England and Wales in 1982. Of these, just over 16,000 are likely to seek teaching posts. On current hypotheses about the level of wastage from teaching there will be about 15,000 full-time vacancies at maintained schools. The actual number of vacancies and the proportion taken by the newly qualified will depend on local staffing policies.

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from unions involved in the teaching profession about the present scheme for teachers who accept early retirement; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received no such representations regarding the relevant provision of the teachers pension scheme.

Pupil Numbers

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how many the total number of pupils in state primary and secondary schools has fallen in the last three years; and what are the comparative figures of average expenditure per pupil and pupil/teacher ratio.

The information requested for the latest three years available is as follows:

Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England
January of each year	1979	1980	1981
Nursery and primary schools
Numbers of pupils (thousands)
Total^*	4,476	4,317	4,130
Change from previous year^*	-126	-159	-187
Pupil/teacher ratio with schools†	23·1	22·7	22·6
Average expenditure per pupil‡	£525	£545	£550
Secondary schools
Numbers of pupils (thousands)
Total	3,872	3,866	3,840
Change from previous year	+21	-6	-26
Pupil/teacher ratio within schools†	16·7	16·6	16·6
Average expenditure per pupil‡	£761	£772	£771
^* Including each part-time pupil as 0·5
† Qualified teachers only.
‡ Cash expenditure at 1980–81.

Students (Background)

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of university students have a working-class family background; and if he will take steps to increase this proportion.

I refer the hon. Member to answer given on Monday 17 May to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway). [Vol, 24, c. 8.]

Public Examinations

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he plans any further changes in the public examinations system in addition to those already announced.

In addition to the policy set out in the recent draft statement on the reform of examinations at 16-plus the Government will shortly be making a statement about the introduction of a new pre-vocational qualification for young people aged 17-plus. The Department has also received comments on the merits and feasibility of introducing intermediate level examinations for A-level candidates wishing to broaden their sixth form education. I shall be considering whether the ideas in the Government's consultative paper can be further developed.

Higher Education Institutions (Credit Transfers)

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to introduce a system of credit transfer between higher education institutions.

My right hon. Friend last week invited tenders for the design and testing on a pilot scale of an educational credit transfer information system. The operational trial will be mounted in the South West regional advisory council area. Details are in the Library. We hope and believe that institutions will support this venture and that it may represent an important step in developing credit transfer nationally.

Westhouses School

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will refuse to accept the closure of Westhouses school in the constituency of Bolsover; and if he will make a statement.

Whenever statutory proposals are published, and none have been in respect of this school, my right hon. Friend must consider them on their merits in the light of any objections and of all other relevant factors.

Peace Studies

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have introduced peace studies into the school curriculum.

This matter has recently been under discussion in a number of LEAs, but my Department does not have details of local authorities curriculum policies in a form which enables this information to be provided.

School Playing Fields

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received any representations from the Football Association and the teachers unions regarding the sale of school playing fields.

As regards the Football Associaion, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 24 March 1982.—[Vol. 20, c. 182.] As regards the teachers unions, these were included in the consultations initiated by my Department when the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 were being drafted and the comments received, including some about playing field provision, were carefully considered.

Examinations And Curricula (Controlling Bodies)

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the composition of the controlling bodies for the new schools examination and curriculum bodies.

The Government's proposals to establish an Examinations Council and a School Curriculum Development Council are the subject of discussion with the local authority associations and other interested bodies. At this stage I have nothing to add to the statement I made to the House on 22 April.

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he estimates to be the cost to public funds of the new examination and curricular bodies he is proposing; and how this cast compares with that of the Schools Council.

These proposals are the subject of discussion with the local authority associations and other interested bodies, and it would be premature to estimate the likely cost to public funds at this stage. The replacement of one large and complex organisation by two smaller bodies is intended to lead in due course to significant savings.

Primary Schools (Economies)

39.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in which areas of education local education authorities are making economies in provision for primary schoolchildren.

I do not have detailed recent information about LEA expenditure on primary schools. In their report on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on the education service in England 1981 Her Majesty's inspectors of schools suggest that economies may have been made by some LEAs in the areas of teaching staff; non-teaching staff; books and equipment; and premises.

Higher And Further Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table, from international sources available to him, of the proportion of school leavers who enter higher and further education in the United Kingdom, France, West Germany and the United States of America.

Information is not available in the form requested, as routine international publications do not distinguish students proceeding straight from school to higher and further education from mature entrants. Information is given in the OECD publication "Educational Statistics in OECD Countries" (1981) which shows new entrants—irrespective of age—to full-time and sandwich courses of higher education level 3 of the ISCED—(International Standard Classification for Educational Statistics)—as a percentage of the typical age group encompassing most new entrants. However it would appear that whereas the United Kingdom has a significant proportion of students on part-time courses of higher education the other three countries classify all their students as being on full-time courses. The following table gives the information in the OECD publication which is for 1976 together with the corresponding figures for the United Kingdom, including part-time students.

Country	Typical^*age group	Relevant†Population	All new entrants as a percentage of the relevant population
		(000)
France	18–20	844·3	27·7
West Germany	19–21	873·7	19·2
USA	18	4226·5	42·8
United Kingdom‡
—full-time and sandwich students only
	18–19	850·5	22·7
—full-time and part-time including Open University			33·9
^* Age group encompassing at least 80 per cent, of full-time new entrants.
† Population for the ages specified in column 1 divided by the number of years for example, for the United Kingdom. 18 + 19-year-olds divided by 2.
‡ The figures published in the OECD book for the United Kingdom were in error. The figures shown are for 1977–78.

Warnock Report

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the recurrent and capital costs needed to implement the Warnock report's proposals for the integration of pupils with special educ ational needs within ordinary schools.

Although the Warnock committee made recommendations about the conditions required for the effective provision of special education in ordinary schools, it did not recommend specific levels of provision. It is therefore not possible to estimate the cost of its recommendations.

North-East Lancashire

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school leavers there were at the end of the last academic year in (a) Accrington and (b) North-East Lancashire.

The information requested is not available in the Department for areas smaller than local education authorities. In 1980–81 there were 21,200 school leavers from maintained secondary schools in Lancashire.

Toxteth

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools on education in the Toxteth area of Liverpool, he will, at his meeting with the new authority, make inquiries into the suspension of the chief education officer for a period of 10 months and into the delay of six months in appointing a new chief inspector commented on in that report; and if he will make a statement.

I am already aware of the background to these matters.

Industry

Industrial Promotion

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much has been spent on industrial promotion by his Department (a) through regional bodies and (b) centrally over each of the last five years; and how much it is estimated will be spent in 1982–83.

Regional development organisations in England have benefited over the past five years from grants-in-aid totalling:

Year	£
1977–78	417,000
1978–79	469,000
1979–80	627,000
1980–81	501,000
1981–82	479,000

These are grants paid by the Department of Industry on the understanding that they are spent on promotion of industrial investment.Central Government expenditure is harder to determine, as it should include Department of Industry regional offices. These are active in fields other than industrial promotion, and, although a calculation of the cost of their work is possible, it would take some time—and expense—to produce. Excluding the regional offices, therefore—and excluding also the cost of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas activity in this field, which is similarly difficult to assess—central expenditure has been in the region of:

Year	£
1977–78	353,000
1978–79	679,000
1979–80	854,000
1980–81	987,000
1981–82	908,000

For 1982–83, comparable expenditure has been estimated at £610,000 for grants-in-aid and £1,093,000 for central expenditure.

Cable Systems

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has yet established the working group to investigate and draw up the technical standards for cable systems; if he will list the members of the group; if he will publish its findings; and if he will make a statement.

No. My Department is still in the process of establishing this working group. I will publish details of the group when it is set up.

British Shipbuilders

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his policy towards paragraphs 10 and 11 of the introduction and recommendations of the first report of the Industry and Trade Committee, H.C. 192 of Session 1981–82, on British Shipbuilders.

My hon. Friend should await publication of the Government's reply. However, as the Minister of State told the House during questions on the recent statement on future financial support for BS, we do not want to see the private sector undermined by loss-making contracts taken by the public sector.

Post Office

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what general directions he has given to the Post Office aimed at improving the service and efficiency of the Post Office to that which obtained 50 years ago.

None. The Government believe that the way to obtain improvements in the service and efficiency of the Post Office is through setting a framework of stretching financial and performance objectives. In this context I refer the hon. Member to the written answer by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry on 25 February.—[Vol. 18, c. 445.] In addition, the Governmen have recently taken steps to introduce competition into certain areas of the postal monopoly. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission also hs an important role to play, and I welcome the positive response by the Post Office to the recommendations of the MMC report into the inner London letter post placed before the House on 31 March 1980.I am pleased to say that improvements in productivity and quality of service suggest that these measures are having an effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in the interests of trade and commerce, including British exports, he will give a general direction to the Post Office to maintain a late evening collection.

No. The proposed withdrawal of the current late evening collection by the Post Office in certain London postal districts is an operational matter for the commercial judgment of the corporation. I understand, however, that the late collection will continue in the main business districts.

Northern Region

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what value and what proportion of the United Kingdom total of grants from the EEC regional fund 1981 budget have been received, respectively, by the Northern region and the Consett and Stanley travel-to-work area.

Aid from the European regional development fund committed in respect of approved industrial and infrastructure projects in these areas during 1981 was as follows:

(£ milliom)
	Industrial	Infrastructure	Total
United Kingdom of which	34·5	162·8	197·3
Northern region of which	3·5 (10 percent.)	34·2 (21 percent)	37·7 (19 percent)
Consett and Stanley travel-to-work area	Nil	0·14 (0·09 percent)	0·14 (0·07 percent)

Departmental Reports

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give the total number of reports commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years.

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

Tin Cans (Recovery)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will estimate the amount of money and the quantity of metal that would be saved by the recycling of tin cans, if a comparable degree of conservation were achieved to that obtained from existing schemes for recycling glass bottles.

The industries concerned recover their input materials in various ways but, working from industry figures, it appears that, "save a can", if achieving a comparable degree of recovery to the longer-running bottle banks, would yield in the order of 20,000 tonnes of metal per year. The value of this will depend on conditions in the scrap metal market whilst costs which would be incurred in the handling and subsequent treatment of the metal so collected make an assessment of the overall financial savings uncertain. In fact, both "save a can" and bottle banks are planned to be expanded from their present levels.

Volume 24: debated on Tuesday 18 May 1982

Written Answers To Questions

Attorney-General

European Court Of Human Rights

Home Department

Prison Population (Statistics)

Revolvers (Certificates)

Crossbows

Strangeways Prison

Patriality

Civil Service

Senior Civil Servants (Private Employment)

National Finance

Building Societies

Public Information Broadcasts

Bankruptcies (Loss Of Revenue)

Bunge And Company

Energy

North Sea Oil

Nuclear Power (Research And Development)

Energy Supplies

Nuclear Waste

Development Board For Rural Wales

Wales

Local Government Expenditure

Tourism (Grants)

Community Projects Foundation

Health Care

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Bail (Further Offences)

Trade

Electricity Industry Consumer Councils (Secretaries)

Import Controls

Prime Minister

Engagements

Factory Closures

Supplementary Benefit

Falkland Islands

South Atlantic

Falkland Islands

Broadcasting (Departmental Responsibility)

Comptroller And Auditor General

Television (Concessionary Licence Fee)

Defence

Falkland Islands

Compulsory Military Service

Rockall (Union Flag)

Environment

Hms "Dauntless"

Environmental Impact Analysis

New Towns

Tin Cans (Recovery)

Departmental Reports

New Towns (Industrial And Commercial Assets)

Local Authority Expenditure

Serpentine Lido

Listed Buildings (Repair And Maintenance)

Staff Reductions

Departmental Staff

Planning Aid Centres

Transport

Motorways (Fencing)

Driver And Vehicle Licensing Centre

Motor Cycle Driving Test (Goole)

Railways (Finance)

Employment

Unemployment Statistics

Manpower Services Commission (Schemes)

North-East Lancashire

Benefit Offices (Fraud Prevention)

Youth Opportunities Programme

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Law Of The Sea Convention

Argentina (French Arms Supplies)

East Timor

Lebanese Nationals (Visas)

European Community

Citizens (Voting Rights)

Social Services