asked the Prime Minister whether she will appoint an additional Minister to the Welsh Office.

No.

asked the Prime Minister from where the four members of the information technology unit in the Cabinet Office were recruited.

The members of the Information Technology Unit are all on temporary secondment to the Cabinet Office and come from the Treasury, the Department of the Environment, A. D. Little & Co. and the Plessey Co. Ltd.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to change the electoral system in the United Kingdom so that the identity of specific voters can no longer be ascertained.

Marked copies of the electoral register, showing which electors exercised their right to vote at a particular election, are available for public inspection to help safeguard against malpractice. The identity of the candidate for whom a voter voted can be ascertained only in certain circumstances, through a court order or, for parliamentary elections, an order of the House. I have no present plans to change these arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the Falklands action, she is now prepared to answer questions relating to the presence or absence of nuclear weapons or warheads with the task force.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell) on 26 April 1982.—[Vol. 22, c. 182.]

asked the Lord President of the Council how many desks are available within or near the Palace of Westminster for the use of hon. Members' secretaries.

Three hundred and fifty-five.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members, excluding Ministers, have a single room for their personal use in or near the Palace of Westminster.

One hundred and seventy-eight.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members, excluding Ministers, have separate offices for the use of their staff in or near the Palace of Westminster.

Twelve.

asked the Lord President of the Council what plans he has for increasing the amount of space available for the use of hon. Members in or near the Palace of Westminster.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on Monday 28 June.—[Vol. 26, c. 606.]

asked the Attorney-General how many charges of scheduled offences against persons in Northern Ireland were withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions in 1980 and 1981.

In 1980 and 1981 charges of scheduled offences were withdrawn in 26 cases—34 persons—and 30 cases—36 persons—respectively. These figures reflect an average of approximately 4¼ percent, of relevant charges preferred.

asked the Attorney-General whether it remains his intention to seek to amend the Administration of Justice Bill further to restrict the eligibility for jury service.

No, but the Government will continue to look for suitable and early legislative opportunities to take these proposals forward.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as at Thursday 23 June, he will give the numbers of persons imprisoned awaiting trial and of these, the numbers in prison for one to six months, six months to one year, one year to one-and-a-half years and above one-and-a-half years, respectively.

The most recent information available is given in the following table:

Estimated population of untried prisoners in prison department establishments in England and Wales on 30th April 1982: by length of time since initial remand in custody.
Length of time since initial remand in custody*	Estimated number†
Less than 1 month	2,000
1 month up to 6 months	2,800
Over 6 months up to 12 months	300
Over 12 months up to 1H months	80

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost of the Home Office community affairs department.

The estimated cost of staff, accommodation and common services in the community programmes and equal opportunities department in 1981–82 was £880,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the overall strength of the special constabulary, with separate figures for men and women, in (a) England and Wales and (b) the Metropolitan Police district;(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Avon and Somerset as to the strength of the special constabulary in that area, and the retirement age imposed;(3) what is the compulsory retirement age for special constables in the Metropolitan Police district.

On 31 December 1981, the latest date for which national figures are available, there were 14,978 special constables in England and Wales; 12,122 were men and 2,856 women. On 31 May 1982, there were 1,631 special constables—1,269 men and 362 women—in the Metropolitan Police district and 531–420 men and 111 women—in Avon and Somerset.In both forces, the normal retirement age for special constables is 55 with extension of service at the discretion of chief constables for up to five years. This follows recommendations made by a police advisory board working party in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many State registered nurses and registered mental nurses there are at present working as prison officers in Her Majesty's penal establishment hospital wings; and what proportion they represent of the total number of such prison officers.

Eighteen prison hospital officers are State registered nurses and 16 are registered mental nurses. Five of these have both qualifications. This is about 3½ per cent. of the total number of prison hospital officers. In addition, the prison medical service employs qualified nurses in nursing grades.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many medical officers employed in Her Majesty's penal establishments are members or fellows of the Royal College of Psychiatrists; and what is the proportion of psychiatrically qualified doctors of the total number of doctors employed within the prison medical service.

Fourteen full-time prison medical officers are members and six are fellows of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Forty five per cent. of full-time prison medical officers have psychiatric qualifications. The information requested is not available for other doctors employed by the prison medical service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exchanges there have been between prison department psychiatrists, medical officers, State registered nurses, State enrolled nurses, and National Health Service staff for each regional health authority in the United Kingdom in the past two years.

Arrangements are made locally for prison department hospital staff to serve short attachments in National Health Service hospitals and for National Health Service staff to visit prison department establishments. The information requested is not collected centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to facilitate further exchanges between medical and nursing staff in the prison department and the National Health Service facilities.

The prison department makes extensive use of National Health Service facilities and a substantial proportion of the medical services in prisons is provided by doctors and other specialists who are also employed by the National Health Service. We encourage prison department establishments to make local arrangements for visits by National Health Service nursing staff and for prison hospital officers to spend short periods in National Health Service hospitals although the scope for this is limited because of the difficulty of sparing prison staff from their normal duties. We propose to re-introduce a scheme that will give prison medical officers the opportunity to serve short attachments in the special hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Basildon on 17 June, Official Report, c. 316, if he will take steps to ascertain from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis which criminal offences were alleged against the 14 people demonstrating against the Pope's pastoral visit who were arrested.

We understand from the Commissioner that the people were charged under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936—prohibition of offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake the regular publication of current estimates of contingent liabilities for the repayment of principal and interest on Government index-linked gilt-edged securities.

The figures for the national debt, published in the May edition of Financial Statistics, provide historical information on the value of indexed gilts outstanding at the end of each financial year including accumulated uplift. Information was also given on the value outstanding of index-linked National Savings Certificates. For the future, information was given in reply to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Wainwright)—[19 April, c. 13]—on the estimated proportion of total debt interest given in the public expenditure White Paper which was attributable to the cost of servicing indexed gilts and National Savings Certificates taken together. The figures, which include both coupon interest and capital uplift, are:

	Total gross debt interest	Of which cost of servicing indexed assets
	£ million	£ million
1981–82	14,400	600
1982–83	15,500	1,100
1983–84	16,000	1,200
1984–85	16,500	1,400

It is proposed to update this information in future public expenditure White Papers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 29 June, whether he will list the powers under national legislation which are to be used to prevent the reimport of goods from the Argentine through other European Economic Community countries, following the decision of the European Economic Community to resume trading with the Argentine, which powers are unaffected by the European Economic Community decision.

The basis for enforcing this import prohibition were set out in parts (b) and (d) of the reply of my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Trade to the right hon. Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell) on 8 June 1982.—[Vol. 25, c. 1 and 2.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the relation of pensions to taxation in the other European Economic Community countries, Canada and the United States of America, including whether retirement pensions are taxable, whether an earnings rule operates, whether there is an age allowance and whether single, widowed or divorced women over pensionable age have to pay tax on the retirement pension itself.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of making invalid care allowance non-taxable.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the savings which would result from the abolition of the dependent relatives' allowance and the sons and daughters services' allowances.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he remains satisfied with the present voluntary arrangements for the determination of public house rents;(2) if he will introduce legislation to give greater security of tenure to tenants of licensed premises.

Tenancies of public houses have been excluded from protection under the Rent Acts since 1933, mainly in order to preserve the jurisdiction of the licensing authorities. The Government do not intend to change this position.Renewal of leases and determination of rent for public houses are subject to a voluntary code of practice drawn up and agreed by the Brewers' Society and National Union of Licensed Victuallers. This code, which has recently been revised, provides for independent arbitration of disputes between landlord and tenant over rents. My Ministry is responsible for monitoring these arrangements, and ensuring their effectiveness. We have received no complaints in recent times from tenants or brewers about the code and I am satisfied that it is working adequately.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer concerning fishing limits on 3C June, if he will specify under what powers he would seek to act to prevent any fishing vessel of any member of the European Economic Community fishing up to the beach from 1 January 1983.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 30 June.

asked he Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of Aujeszky's disease there have been in the past six months in the Humberside area; and if Her Majesty's Government, through the Government Veterinary Department, will give backing to the East Riding Aujeszky eradication group.

There have been 11 confirmed outbreaks of Aujeszky's disease in Humberside in the past six months. The Government are monitoring the disease position closely in the light of recent developments, including the ideas put forward by the East Riding Aujeszky eradication group. The State veterinary service will continue to provide advice and support where the disease occurs and this co-operation will of course be available to the newly formed group.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he has any plans to establish an overriding authority to administer the waters of the Western Solent.

No.

asked the Minister for Trade if in the light of the repression of democratic institutions by, the Turkish Government, he will introduce economic sanctions against Turkey; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens).—[Vol. 25, c. 141.] In the light of the facts there set out, I do not propose to introduce economic sanctions against Turkey.

asked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for West Lothian, Official Report, 21 June, c. 15, if he has now completed his consideration of the use of end user certificates for arms exports; and if he will make a statement.

The Department of Trade issues export licences for the export of arms on the basis of advice from other Government Departments concerned. End user certificates, by which I assume the hon. Member has in mind undertakings not to re-export, are required in respect of sales of arms and military equipment to non-governmental customers. In respect of exports to non-governmental purchasers from countries within the COCOM arrangements an international import certificate—that is, an undertaking not to re-export without the consent of the Government of the country concerned—is required to be furnished before my Department grants an export licence: for non-COCOM countries a comparable undertaking is normally required.The long-standing licensing arrangements operated by successive Administrations for major arms sales to foreign Governments do not include specific end-use certificate in the sense described above. Such certificates could not bind sovereign Governments. Exports to foreign Governments are, of course, permitted only after a very stringent scrutiny of whether they are in every respect in the national interest.If the hon. Member has any firm evidence of arms and military equipment exported from this country being diverted to a destination other than that for which an export licence was issued I shall of course be willing to look into it.

asked the Minister for Trade on how many occasions cotton import quotas were broken in 1981; and if he is satisfied with the current level of the import quotas.

I will reply to the hon. and learned Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will give the figures for cotton and allied textile imports broken down by country of origin; and what were the figures for five and 10 years previously.

I will reply to the hon. and learned Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) what was the amount of imports of stainless steel in 1979, 1980 and 1981 by tonnage and by value; and if he will list the principal supplying countries;(2) what were the monthly imports of stainless steel, by volume and by value, in each month of 1982 so far as these figures are known.

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

asked the Minister for Trade if he is yet in a position to report on his review of consumer representations in the nationalised industries; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to make a statement before the recess.

asked the Minister for Trade if he is satisfied that the system of complaining about the services of a nationalised industry is adequate, particularly with regard to bills received.

I want to strengthen the arrangements for representing consumer interests in the nationalised industries, and would welcome any suggestions my hon. Friend may have on the handling of customer complaints.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) whether any views of Her Majesty's Government on the proposals of the Commission of the European Community for a relaxation of the tied house system in the licensed trade have been conveyed to the Commission;(2) if there will be new regulations following the expiry at the end of 1982 of European Community regulation 67/67 to regulate the tie between brewers and public houses; and whether these will incorporate any changes;(3) what proposals are currently before the Commission of the European Community affecting the sales of beer; if he will arrange for copies of any such proposals to be available in the Vote Office and the Library; and if such proposals will be subject to parliamentary approval;(4) what representations he has received from the beer brewing industry regarding the proposals of the European Community for a relaxation of the tied house system in the licensed trade; and to what effect.

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

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the current state of trade between the Republic of Chile and the United Kingdom; and what major trading agreements have been reached between the two countries during the past 12 months.

In 1980 United Kingdom exports to Chile were £55·7 million and imports from £126·3 million. The United Kingdom share of the Chilean market was 2·1 per cent. Trade figures are not available for the whole of 1981; but for the six months of January, February, September-December 1981 United Kingdom exports to Chile were £33·8 million and imports from Chile were £39·6 million.Chile is our fifth largest market in Latin America. Our major exports to Chile during this period were machinery, chemicals and whisky, and our major imports from it copper and agricultural produce.No trading agreements have been reached with Chile over the past 12 months.

asked the Minister for Trade what discussions the Minister with special responsibility for civil aviation had on the financing of Manchester international airport's development plans on the occasion of his recent visit to the airport; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1982, c. 355]: Members of the Manchester airport authority outlined to me their airport development plans. Proposals for capital expenditure authorisation will be dealt with in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how he assesses the prospects of the truck and tractor industry for the coming years.

Both these industries have been badly hit by the depth of the recession and some difficult decisions have had to be taken at company and plant level. Until world-wide demand picks up prospects are likely to remain uncertain.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to be in a position to announce his decision on launch aid for the A320 project of British Aerospace.

Full information is awaited from British Aerospace. I cannot yet say when a decision will be announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies have returned proportions of regional grants received to date in the current year and in each of the last three years, respectively.

This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the cash total of returns of regional development grant for the current year to date and for each of the last three years, respectively.

The relevant figures for repayments of regional development grants are:

Year	£
1979–80	18,342,014
1980–81	15,857,825
1981–82	26,271,416
1982–83	*5,215,633
* Up to 31 May 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will invite nominations to the Economic and Social Committee of the European Community from British chambers of commerce and in particular from the Manchester chamber of commerce.

The economic and social committee of the EC covers a wide range of interests of which employers form only a part. The Government consult widely in seeking to ensure a proper balance between regional and sectoral interests while recognising that the successful candidates will be appointed and serve in a personal capacity.We have taken careful note of the interest of the organisations mentioned in the question, and I would always be pleased to receive suggestions from them, though obviously it must be without commitment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many textile firms closed in (a) North-East Lancashire and (b) the North of England during the period 1971 to 1981; what is the percentage rate of closures during this period; and what were the comparable figures for the period 1961 to 1971.

Statistics in the form requested by the hon. and learned Member are not available. However, I am aware that there were some 220 textile mill closures in the North-West between 1976 and 1981 and some 135 in the North-East and Yorkshire and Humberside regions during the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many factories the English Industrial Estates Corporation has built in the King Edward Street estate, Liverpool; what is the floor area of each; when they were built; and how many are currently unoccupied;(2) how many factories the English Industrial Estates Corporation built in the Sandon Street estate, Liverpool; what is the floor area of each; when they were built; and how many are currently unoccupied;(3) what is the establishment of the English Industrial Estates Corporation for each of the last three years, dividing it into full-time and part-time staff;

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask for reports from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees about the numbers of refugees from South Lebanon and their current needs for food, shelter and medical attention.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is not responsible for refugees in their own countries. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is responsible for the welfare needs of Palestinian refugees. UNRWA has appealed for US $39 million to include provision of flour, rice, butter oil, skimmed milk, protein, tents, kitchen units, blankets, towels and soap, and additional medical supplies. The ICRC has also issued an emergency appeal for Sw. Frs 38 million, intended to cover a three-month programme comprising Sw. Frs 8·36 million for medical assistance and Sw. Frs 22·78 million for relief food and shelter. Estimates of the number of refugees involved vary from 175,000 to 250,000. If I can obtain further information, I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures he has showing the level of unemployment in the service sector.

At 13 May there were 1,050,326 unemployed people in the United Kingdom who last worked in the service sector—orders XXII to XXVII of the 1968 Standard Industrial Classification.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of the unemployed aged under 21 years in the United Kingdom, the West Midlands area and the Walsall travel-to-work area; what were the figures for May 1979, July 1980 and July 1981; and what was the change in percentage terms for each of the years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons have been unemployed longer than (a) six months and (b) 12 months in the United Kingdom, the West Midlands and the Walsall travel-to-work area; and if he will give the corresponding figures for May 1979, July 1980 and July 1981 and the increase each year in percentage terms.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the rate of female unemployment among 15 to 19-year-olds (a) nationally and (b) in the county of Derbyshire;(2) what is the rate of unemployment among 60-year-old men

At 15 April 1982, the latest date for which the quarterly age analysis is available, the estimated unemployment rates for the United Kingdom were 21·2 per cent. for females aged 19 and under, and 19·7 per cent. for males aged 60 and over. Figures are not available for males aged 60 exactly. Corresponding information is not available for Derbyshire.Rates of unemployment for different age groups are calculated by expressing the number of people unemployed in the age group as a percentage of the total number of employees, both employed and unemployed, in the same age group. Because estimates of the number of employees in different age groups are available only at national level, it is not possible to estimate rates by age for individual areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs were lost in the following industries in the county of Derbyshire in 1981 and to the nearest available date in 1982 (a) metal manufacturing, (b) textiles, (c) mechanical engineering, (d) food, drink and tobacco, (e) construction, (f) bricks, (g) pottery and glass and (h) railways.

The information is not available in the form requested. Comparison of the employee figures for different dates indicates net changes but changes in levels of employment for 1981 are not available for Derbyshire.Employee figures for counties are obtained from the census of employment and the most recent are for June 1978. No censuses were taken in 1979 and 1980 and information from the September 1981 census is not yet available.The following table shows the numbers of redundancies confirmed to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in Derbyshire during 1981 and in the first six months of 1982. These figures cannot be equated with actual job losses. Neither are they comprehensive—they do not, for example, include redundancies affecting fewer than 10 people.

Standard Industrial Classification (1968)	Number of Redundancies
Order or minimum list heading (MLH)	January to December 1981	January to June 1982
Order VI—Metal manufacturing	1,517	583
Order XIII—Textiles	439	428
Order VII—Mechanical engineering	509	384
Order III—Food, drink and tobacco	13	11
Order XX—Construction	397	124
MLH 461—Bricks	124	15
MLHs 462 and 463—Pottery and glass	191	72
MLH 701—Railways	35	12

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers are employed on youth opportunities programme schemes in the county of Derbyshire.

Information is not available in the exact form requested. However, between 1 April and 31 May 1982 approximately 500 young people entered the youth opportunities programme in Derbyshire, of whom approximately 370 were school leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies were notified in the county of Derbyshire in 1981 and to the nearest available date in 1982.

There are no comprehensive statistics of redundancies. The number of redundancies, in groups of 10 or more employees, reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in the county of Derbyshire in 1981 was 8,887. Between January and June 1982 inclusive, the number of redundancies reported was 3,134, including provisional figures for May and June 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many schemes are in operation to train unemployed youngsters for careers in sport and recreation.

Under the youth opportunities programme there are a number of schemes which contain elements of sports and recreational training. Exact numbers are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed young persons have received training at Ministry of Defence establishments under the youth opportunities programme in each year since May 1979; and what types of training are offered by the Ministry of Defence in this way.

Information is not available in the form requested, but over 400 places have been provided since 1979 in schemes sponsored by the Ministry of Defence under the youth opportunities programme. About 50 per cent of these places have been occupied at any one time. The schemes generally provide work experience and cover a wide range of activities, including maintenance, garage work, catering and administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the latest figures for the total number of payments made to beneficiaries under the Pneumoconiosis (Workers Compensation) Act 1979 and the total funds paid out to date under this legislation.

As at 30 June,, 4,145 payments amounting to a total of £24,354,160 have been made since the Act came into force on 4 July 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms in the areas served by employment offices in North Staffordshire were employing the 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 at the most recent dale for which figures are available.

The quota provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 apply to employers with 20 or more employees. At 1 June 1982, 240 such employers in the areas served by jobcentres and employment offices in North Staffordshire were employing at least 3 per cent. of registered disabled people within their work forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average statutory redundancy payment in the Northern region in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

The average statutory redundancy payment to employees of firms based in the Northern region for the 12 months ending 31 May 1982 was £1,196.

asked the Secretary of state for Employment if he will list the schemes funded by special European Economic Community resources for training of women over the age of 25 years in the United Kingdom in 1981.

In 1981, seven applicants received allocations from the European social fund to assist schemes exclusively of training for women aged over 25 years. The individual allocations were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the percentage of female beneficiaries of European Economic Community social fund money for occupational and professional retraining in the United Kingdom in 1981.

I regret that the information requested is not available, although there is no doubt that the European social fund makes a significant contribution to the training of women and girls.Social fund assistance goes towards training programmes for both men and women without discrimination under the fund's various fields of intervention, in addition to the relatively small section of the fund specifically concerned with schemes for women over the age of 25. Substantial numbers of women and girls are therefore included in applications to the fund for schemes which are open to both sexes. For example, the female participation rates in the Manpower Services Commission's youth opportunities programme and the training opportunities programme in 1981 were some 50 per cent. and 35 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of employment advisers in post and the agreed establishment figures, respectively, at 1 April 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 and the anticipated figures for 1983 and 1984 or for the nearest convenient date in each case.

The following table gives information on staffing levels for employment advisers for the past four years:

	1 April	1 April	1 April	1 April
	1979	1980	1981	1982
Staff in post	2,898	3,026	2,919	2,572
Establishment figuers	3,173	3,172	3,023	2,672

Anticipated establishment figures for 1983 and 1984 on the basis of current plans are as follows:

1 April 1983	1 April 1984
2,516	2,359

These figures are subject to change, depending on decisions on a number of reviews.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of disablement resettlement officers in post in the agreed establishment figures, respectively, at 1 April 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 and the anticipated figures for 1983 and 1984 or for the nearest convenient date in each case.

The number of disablement resettlement officers in post on any particular date is not available, but during the years in question the number has generally ranged between around 520 and 530, including full-time and part-time posts. The establishment figure at 1 April 1979 and 1980 was 506 and at 1 April 1981 and 1982 was 494.The distribution of staff available to help disabled people in 1983 and 1984 has not yet been determined, but the commission has assured the Government that is will maintain the level of assistance to disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish statistics of injuries sustained during the periods July 1981 and June 1982 by young people on youth opportunities programmes.

Information about the major types of injuries is available only for the period 1 July 1981 to 31 March 1982 and is as follows: falls 20 per cent.; entrapment 17 per cent.; impact (excluding falls) 13 per cent.; contact with blade 10 per cent.; falling objects 9 per cent.; abrasions 7 per cent.The remaining categories of accidents included injuries from heating and lifting. Information about injuries in the period March to June 1982 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the work force the textile industry employed in (a) Accrington, (b) North-East Lancashire and (c) the North of England in 1961, 1971 and 1981.

I will reply to the hon. and learned Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of the updated analysis of research paper No. 10 concerning youth unemployment and relative earnings.

Yes; I have placed a copy of this technical note in the Library today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of previous explosions at the ammunition factory at IMI Ltd. Witton, Birmingham, he will arrange for an investigation by Her Majesty's Explosives Inspectorate of the site facilities and response rates of the West Midlands fire service before the company ceases to maintain its site fire brigade.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 July 1982, c. 412]: The ammunition factory of IMI Kynock Ltd. at Witton is licensed by the Health and Safety Executive under the Explosives Act 1875 for the manufacture of explosives. The factory was visited by Her Majesty's Inspector of Explosives as recently as May 1982 when, amongst other things, the fire certificate requirements for the buildings in which explosives may be present were discussed. No mention was made of the disbandment of the company fire brigade. If the company ceases to maintain a site fire brigade, the current discussions will have to include consideration of the adequacy of the company's means of fighting fires.The premises are categorised by the West Midlands fire service as a high risk and attract an attendance of three pumping appliances and two special appliances, of which the first two pumping appliances are required to attend within five minutes and the third in eight minutes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of and locations of detoxification centres and hostels established in Scotland since 1979 to deal with alcohol abuse.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrewshire, East (Mr. Stewart) to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton) on 30 November 1981.—[Vol. 14, c. 26.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total amounts of money which have been spent in Scotland on the Manpower Services Commission's youth opportunities programme, and indicate the number of entrants.

The information is set out in the following table:

Financial Year	Expenditure on the Youth Opportunities Programme in Scotland	Numbers of entrants
	£ million
1978–79	7·7	23,600
1979–80	17·1	36,300
1980–81	31·1	49,300
1981–82	*51·3	70,000
* Provisional

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide funds to Tayside region to enable it to sponsor a welfare rights take-up campaign by postcard in Dundee.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers were made redundant during the period March 1981 to March 1982; and what was the total cost of redundancy payments in each of the Scottish regions.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to review regional and district councillors' taxable allowances; and if he will make a statement.

The rates of attendance allowance and special responsibility allowances which may be paid to elected members of local authorities, and which are liable to tax, are kept under regular review and were increased earlier this year. A more general review of aspects of the councillors' allowances arrangements which have been causing difficulty is currently being undertaken in consultation with the local authority associations both in Scotland and in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present number of primary and secondary school teachers in Scotland who are registered as unemployed.

Information is not available in the precise form requested. In March 1982, the latest date for which information is available, 1,646 unemployed people in Scotland were registered for employment as primary teachers and 1,115 for employment as secondary teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek amendment of the Representation of the People Act 1949 to enable returning officers in Scotland to publish statutory notices in connection with local and Parliamentary elections in Gaelic.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to ban the use of leaded solders in the joints of copper piping which are used to carry drinking water.

No. Such a ban would not be justified on the basis of present evidence, but the use of lead soldered joints will be kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated gross domestic product of Scotland at the most recent available date.

The estimated gross domestic product of Scotland in 1980, the latest available date, was £16,639 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which years since 1950 the numbers of vacancies for employment exceeded the numbers registered as unemployed in Glasgow, taking the June figure to represent the annual figure in each case.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 June 1982, c. 339]: Information is readily available only from June 1961, and could be provided for the earlier period only at disproportionate cost. Since June 1961 the numbers of unfilled vacancies at employment offices and careers offices in the Glasgow travel-to-work area have at no time exceeded the numbers registered as unemployed. The measure of vacancies covers vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and remaining unfilled on the day of the count only and does not purport to be a measure of all vacancies in the area.

Table I: Numbers registered as unemployed for over 52 weeks and up to two years.
	1979				1980				1981				1982
Region/Island Authority	*January	April	July	October	January	April	July	October	January	April	July	October	January	April
Borders	330	134	141	146	154	132	139	129	181	211	307	479	615	673
Central	1,547	803	1,049	755	793	728	711	802	1,075	1,381	2,002	2,709	3,218	3,553
Dumfries and Galloway	1,269	603	580	542	560	591	642	722	882	927	1,016	1,216	1,381	1,470
Fife	2,204	1,234	974	1,021	1,072	1,092	1,191	1,324	1,556	1,799	2,321	2,862	3,217	3,286
Grampian	1,246	1,100	902	955	868	700	695	867	1,061	1,193	1,451	1,734	2,149	2,315
Highland	1,247	800	1,279	801	951	877	758	824	965	953	1,062	1,152	1,420	1,499
Lothian	5,233	2,749	2,710	2,791	2,831	2,495	2,612	2,886	3,405	3,948	5,307	6,470	7,507	8,176
Strathclyde	27,197	13,946	14,598	14,209	14,282	14,356	15,423	17,612	21,370	24,530	30,402	36,447	40,007	40,238
Tayside	3,122	1,973	1,672	1,673	1,735	1,546	1,768	2,017	2,387	2,739	3,416	4,371	4,748	4,900
Orkney	67	44	46	49	53	54	56	64	83	91	96	104	118	122
Shetland	44	20	22	23	17	15	14	14	19	22	26	28	35	34
Western Isles	166	81	361	124	220	207	185	168	170	183	195	263	326	303
*Note: the January 1979 analysis did not identify separately those registered for over 2 years. The figures therefore include all registered for over 52 weeks.

Table II: Numbers registered as unemployed for over two years.
	1979				1980				1981				1982
Region/Island Authority	*January	April	July	October	January	April	July	October	January	April	July	October	January	April
Borders	n/a	137	132	136	120	125	127	130	141	143	159	176	202	214
Central	n/a	720	1,052	752	720	726	760	771	801	829	929	1,063	1,223	1,401
Dumfries and Galloway	n/a	674	647	634	656	688	700	679	757	804	868	970	965	1,015
Fife	n/a	959	1,157	1,155	1,090	1,027	1,092	1,124	1,188	1,248	1,342	1,482	1,618	1,758
Grampian	n/a	592	509	550	568	549	575	563	625	667	746	847	935	1,015
Highland	n/a	525	965	571	627	625	667	726	812	810	830	947	1,005	1,018
Lothian	n/a	2,625	2,546	2,602	2,719	2,664	2,658	2,768	2,807	2,928	3,249	3,618	3,973	4,353
Strathclyde	n/a	14,198	15,537	14,270	15,111	15,892	16,475	17,526	18,720	19,329	21,713	24,057	25,884	28,810
Tayside	n/a	1,525	1,585	1,507	1,634	1,683	1,760	1,892	1,976	1,982	2,197	2,530	2,651	3,001
Orkney	n/a	32	42	43	40	38	36	40	49	57	63	72	80	87
Shetland	n/a	19	21	21	21	24	23	25	25	26	27	27	29	35
Western Isles	n/a	85	269	80	73	78	86	93	138	133	118	145	136	153
*Note: the January 1979 analysis did not identify separately those registered for over 2 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to publish a simplified layman's guide to the tax concessions available to those who want to sell works of art to museums.

The booklet is written. It will be published as soon as printing and distribution arrangements can be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons have been registered as unemployed for more than (a) 52 weeks and (b) two years for each of the counties of Scotland for each month since January 1979.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 June 1982, c. 288]: Information is not available in the precise form requested. The unemployment register is analysed by duration of unemployment quarterly in January, April, July and October. Table I gives the numbers registered as unemployed in each region and island authority area in Scotland who on the day of the count had been unemployed for more that 52 weeks and up to two years, and table II the numbers registered as unemployed for over two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the future of the theatre museum project.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding the proposed theatre museum.

Although the case for a theatre museum has been recognised by successive Governments in recent years, my hon. Friends will be aware that the recently published report of a Rayner scrutiny of the Victoria and Albert museum included certain recommendations on the future of this project. The Government are, at present, consulting interested parties on these as well as other recommendations in the report and no final decisions will be taken until after the consultation period ends in early August.A number of representations have already been received about the report's recommendations on the theatre museum project. These will be carefully considered, together with any others subsequently received during the consultation period.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the present level of funding for the arts.

I am never satisfied. I am always seeking to develop further sources of funding.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussions he has had with the trustees of the Royal Opera House; and whether the subjects discussed included their future plans for extension.

I met officials of the Royal Opera House recently for an informal discussion of proposals for the future development of the site purchased for the ROH in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to extend Her Majesty's Government's insurance indemnity scheme to include objects on long loan to museums.

The scope of the scheme is kept under review in the light of the resources available for it. If and when resources permit extensions I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what public finance is being provided through the Medical Research Council or otherwise into the use of the human placenta as a testing ground for drugs to replace live animals.

The Medical Research Council is not directly concerned with the testing of drugs except where such work may contribute to its own research programme. Though the MRC is providing support for a number of studies which relate to aspects of the human placenta, none of these currently involves the use of the placenta as a testing ground for drugs. The MRC is always prepared to consider sound scientific proposals for work that could lead to the replacement or reduction of the use of live animals in biomedical research.It is possible that some research on the use of the placenta for testing drugs is being carried out at universities and medical schools using funds provided by the University Grants Committee as block grants for teaching and research, but details of such work are not available centrally. The Scottish Home and Health Department is not at present supporting any research related to this field, but would give consideration to any application for support of such work, provided it was assessed as being of adequate scientific merit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he has obtained a copy of the report of the United States National Research Council on the link between the consumption of fatty foods and milk products and the incidence of cancer; and to what extent these findings coincide with United Kingdom health research;(2) if medical research in the United Kingdom has shown any link between the consumption of saturated and unsaturated fats and the incidence of cancer; and if he will make a statement

[pursuant to his reply, 28 June 1982, c. 226.]: I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the recent report by the United States National Academy of Science's Committee of diet, nutrition and cancer. This report was compiled from world-wide published data, including results of work carried out at the Medical Research Council's Dunn nutrition unit; a member of the staff of that unit also gave evidence to the committee.On the basis of findings from both epidemiological studies and animal experiments, I understand that the report concluded that there was a possible causal relationship between total fat intake and the incidence of certain forms of cancer. In the case of animals, where total fat intake was kept to low levels, the report stated that there seemed to be evidence for attributing a greater incidence of tumours to the consumption of polyunsaturated fats rather than of saturated fats; the data on humans did not permit a clear distinction to be made between the effects of the different components of fat. There are at present no additional United Kingdom research results which would shed further light on the roles of the different components of fat.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel disabled on service with the task force in the South Atlantic will be treated alike for social security benefit purposes; and if he will give examples, assuming 40 per cent., 60 per cent., 80 per cent. and 100 per cent disability.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to war disablement pension. I confirm that equivalent provisions apply to Royal Navy personnel and to Merchant Navy personnel who suffer war injuries. The weekly rates of pension for the disablements quoted are:

per cent.	£
40	19·32
60	28·98
80	38·64
100	48·30

These pensions can be supplemented by additional allowances according to individual circumstances. All rates will be subject to 11 per cent. increase in November.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of his policy of limiting the salaries and wages of the workers in the National Health Service, he will reconsider the appointment of Mr. Brian Bailey as chairman of the Government-financed Health Education Council on a two day a week basis at £7,161 per annum, in view of the fact that Mr. Bailey is already chairman of the South-Western regional hospital board and Television South-West; and if he will make this post a full-time appointment at this salary.

As my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight) on 23 June—[Vol. 26, c. 128.]—Mr. Bailey will relinquish his chairmanship of the South-Western regional health authority on 1 January 1983 when he becomes chairman of the Health Education Council. The time required for the duties of the latter post is expected to be on average the same as the former, and the annual sum to be paid will be the same.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the findings of the Munro maternity advisory committee.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs Short) on 15 June 1982.—[Vol. 25, c. 262.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the criticisms in the report of the North-West regional hospital area at Manchester on the work and value of health visitors, he remains satisfied with the contribution that health visitors are making to the new concept of community care; and if he has given any consideration to changing their responsibilities.

I understand that the report has not yet been considered by the North-Western regional health authority or forwarded to the Department, so I am unable to comment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consideration his Department has been giving to medical assessments for attendance allowance and mobility allowance; what representations he has received from voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement;(2) what consideration his Department has been giving to the revision of forms and leaflets used by his Department relating to benefits for disabled people; what representations he has received from voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has represented to me the desirability of having a single medical examination, where possible, for various disability benefits and of simplifying our forms and leaflets for those benefits. Our officials have been considering these questions with representatives of the national council and members of the medical profession, and I shall be meeting the national council for a discussion of the conclusions of this work in a few weeks' time. Forms for the disabled will also be included in the wide ranging review of forms that the Department is beginning.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will allow unemployed men aged over 63 years and women over 58 years who are unlikely to find further work to sign on monthly rather than fortnightly.

Under the present signing arrangements most unemployed men and women aged 50 and over can sign on quarterly rather than fortnightly if they are receiving supplementary benefit only and have been unemployed for over a year. We have no plans for further relaxations in the signing arrangements for claimants in this group at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the current waiting times for beds in the wards facing closure in Sefton general hospital, Liverpool;(2) if he will make a statement on the proposed ward closures at Sefton general hospital, Liverpool and on the long term future of the hospital.

The Liverpool health authority is considering measures to reduce its expenditure by over £1·5 million in this financial year, in order to stay within its cash limit. The authority has given general approval to a package of economy measures, including reducing the number of beds at Sefton general hospital, some of which, especially surgical back-up beds for the Royal Liverpool hospital, are under-utilised. No decision has yet been taken on which beds and wards will be affected, so that it is not possible to give waiting list figures. Before permanent and substantial variations in service can be made, public consultation must be undertaken. The long-term future of Sefton general hospital is at this stage a matter for the health authority, but I am not aware that any of the measures under consideration affect that future.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present bed occupancy at the Liverpool Royal hospital.

At 31 March 1982, 96 per cent. of the available beds were occupied at the Royal Liverpool hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the numbers of persons charged and found guilty of obtaining social security benefits illegally or under false pretences, the total amounts of public funds illegally obtained, the number found guilty, the total amount of fines imposed and the amounts that have been paid.

In the year ended 17 February 1981, the latest period for which information is available, the total number of persons prosecuted was 30,116, of whom 29,437 were convicted. No records are kept of the total amount of public funds illegally obtained by claimants or of the total amounts of fines imposed and paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to announce his decisions concerning the Green Paper "Care in the Community" of July 1981 with regard to the transfer of resources from the National Health Service to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

We expect to be able to make an announcement later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will implement the recommendations of the Acheson report with regard to the conditions of work for community nurses.

We are actively considering those recommendations of the Acheson report for which the Department is responsible and hope to make an announcement soon. Many of the recommendations on the working conditions of community nursing staff are for health authorities themselves to implement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for the latest available date for each year since its introduction the numbers claiming home responsibilities protection because they (a) spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone who gets attendance allowance or (b) get supplementary benefit so that they can look after an elderly or sick person at home.

The relevant information, which has been collected since 1979, is not available in the precise form requested, but is as follows:

	1979–80	1980–81
1. People claiming Home Responsibilities Protection because they spend more than 35 hours a week looking after someone in receipt of Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance.	322	572
2. Awards of HRP to people in categories other than 1, and excluding awards made automatically to people claiming child benefit*	6,874	9,369
* In practice the vast majority of this group will be claiming supplementary benefit because they are needed to look after an elderly or sick relative at home; but the award of HRP to such people is automatic and no separate statistics are kept for them.