asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will make funds available from the overseas aid budget to grant scholarships and awards to students from Third world countries.

Yes. Funds have been made available for this purpose from the earliest days of the official aid programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the total cost of inquiries into the Crown Agents since 1975 identifying the costs of the Fay inquiry and the tribunal of inquiry separately.

The cost of the Fay committee of inquiry was £164,000. For an estimate of the cost of the tribunal of inquiry I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 11 February 1982.—[Vol. 17, c. 427.]

			Unfilled vacancies
	Unemployed aged 18 years and over	Unemployed school leavers under 18 years of age	At employment offices	At careers offices
United Kingdom
April 1982	2,814,442	128,161	115,999	5,969
June 1982	*	227,505	123,695	8,085
Derbyshire
April 1982	38,739	1,859	1,137	52
June 1982	*	4,853	1,215	53
* Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many qualified medical practitioners were registered as unemployed in each of the past five years.

The following table gives the numbers of unemployed people registered at employment offices in the United Kingdom for employment as medical practitioners at June each year from 1978 to 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers were unemployed in the county of Derbyshire in May 1981, and to the nearest available date in 1982.

The numbers of unemployed school leavers under 18 years of age in Derbyshire at May 1981 and May 1982 were 1,223 and 2,025 resepectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed (a) adults and (b) school leavers are available for each job vacancy (i) nationally and (ii) in the county of Derbyshire.

The following table gives unemployment and vacancy figures for the United Kingdom and the county of Derbyshire. As the age analysis of the unemployed, distinguishing those aged 18 and over, is compiled only quarterly, information is given, where available, for both April and June. The figures exclude young people aged under 18 who are not school leavers.The numbers of unemployed school leavers in June include summer leavers not present in the April figures. The vacancy figures relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of this, and of possible duplication between the figures for employment offices and careers offices, it is not possible to provide reliable unemployment/vacancy ratios.The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the twelve month period to March 1982, 1,410,466 people were placed in jobs by employment offices and 128,359 by careers offices in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all placings.

	Numbers
1978	319
1979	367
1980	355
1981	674
1982	965

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information is collected by his Department on the numbers of unemployed professional workers by category; and whether such information enables him to identify whether previous employment was in the public or private sector.

The numbers of unemployed people registered at employment offices are analysed quarterly according to the occupation for which they are seeking employment. The results are summarised in the Department of Employment Gazette, for example, in the May 1982 issue, Labour Market Data section, table 2.12. The statistics do not distinguish between previous employment in the public and private sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average level of unemployment in the Six original members of the European Community between 1958 and 1972 and of the United Kingdom over the same period; and how these figures compare with the average level of unemployment in these countries since 1973.

The average unemployment rates are given as follows. The rates, although partially standardized, are not fully comparable because of national differences in concepts, coverage and methods of compilation.

Average unemployment rates*
	1958–1972	1973–1981
	per cent.	per cent.
Germany	1·0	3·5
France	1·0	4·7
Italy	5·8	6·5
Netherlands	1·2	4·2
Belgium	2·4	7·1
Luxembourg	0·1	0·5
Average EC(6)	2·3	4·9
United Kingdom	2·1	5·3
* Registered unemployed, expressed as a percentage of the civilian labour force.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which groups and grades in the public sector for which he has ministerial responsibility have so far settled at 4 per cent. or less in the current 1981–82 pay round.

So far staff employed by 14 industrial training boards have received increases of four per cent. or less in the 1981–82 pay round.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what decisions he has reached on the report of the employment services division Rayner scrutiny 1982 on the general employment service in Great Britain.

No decisions have yet been taken on this report. It is being considered in the first instance by the Manpower Services Commission, which operates the general employment service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled persons are currently unemployed in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands; what proportion of the total registered unemployed this represents; and what are the comparable figures for June 1979, June 1980 and June 1981, respectively.

The information requested for June 1982, the latest available date, and for June 1979, June 1980 and June 1981 is as follows:

	Unemployed registered disabled people	Percentage of all unemployed people
(A) Wolverhampton
June 1982	248	1·3
June 1981	266	1·6
June 1980	184	1·9
June 1979	224	2·9
(B) West Midlands
June 1982	7,816	2·2
June 1981	7,485	2·4
June 1980	5,331	3·4
June 1979	5,157	4·2

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, now that the young worker scheme has been in operation six months, how many employers have taken Government subsidy; and how many new jobs have been created.

By the week ending 2 July, applications in repect of 71,260 young people had been approved under the young workers scheme. Records of the number of different employers applying are not held centrally. The effect of the scheme is being monitored by means of a continuous survey of employers submitting claims. The first results of this survey are now being evaluated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been given by his Department in financial support to the carpet industry since 1 January 1975; under which schemes; and if he will divide the amounts to show how much has been spent (a) in the North of England, (b) in the South of England, (c) in the West Midlands and (d) in Wales.

The following payments have been made by the Manpower Services Commission to the carpet industry training board.

Year	ITB operating costs	Training grants	Total £000s
1975–76	108·7	12·4	121·1
1976–77	108·2	24·2	132·4
1977–78	140·1	27·8	167·9
1978–79	145·1	34·0	179·1
1979–80	136·7	20·2	156·9
1980–81	159·0	15·1	174·1
1981–82	143·7	25·4	169·1

Support to individual firms has been given under various special employment measures. However, the details required could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage increase in unemployment in each planning region of the United Kingdom since February 1974.

Between February 1974 and June 1982 the percentage increases in the numbers registered as unemployed, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, were as follows:

Standard region	Percentage increase
South-East	519
East Anglia	546
South-West	389
West Midlands	628
East Midlands	466
Yorkshire and Humberside	405
North-West	363

	Unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks		Unemployed for over 52 weeks
	Number	Percentage change	Number	Percentage change
United Kingdom
July 1979	222,611	+29·7	360,622	+1·0
July 1980	288,708		364,080
July 1981	687,635	+138·2	626,880	+72·2
April 1981	620,448		515,913
April 1982	720,342	+16·1	994,395	+92·7
West Midlands
July 1979	20,735	+40·6	33,753	+8·9
July 1980	29,154		36,753
July 1981	89,078	+205·5	74,554	+102·9
April 1981	77,108		57,700
April 1982	84,437	+9·5	132,449	+129·5
Walsall travel-to-work area
July 1979	1,438	+72·3	2,156	+28·2
July 1980	2,477		2,764
July 1981	7,654	+209·0	6,291	+127·6
April 1981	6,404		4,744
April 1982	6,943	+8·4	11,213	+136·4

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedure is to be followed for the issue of temporary travel documents to students in school parties visiting the European Economic Community where the parent is not a British citizen, for example is from Uganda, but where the child is in full-time attendance at the school.

The European collective passport agreement, to which the United Kingdom is a party, is not limited to countries of the European Economic Community. It provides for the collective documentation of children up to the age of 16 years who are nationals of the signatory State for travel between contracting States. The United Kingdom has made an additional declaration to include, subject to reciprocity, young refugees and stateless persons lawfully resident in this country.Children of other nationalities are expected to obtain documentation from their own authorities. Where this is unreasonably refused or, as in the case of Uganda, is subject to lengthy delay, the travel document section of the

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; 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 July 1982, c. 12]: The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed by duration of unemployment in January, April, July and October. The following table gives the numbers unemployed for the lengths of time specified and the percentage changes between comparable dates.Home Office is prepared to consider sympathetically the issue of temporary travel documentation, providing reasonable notice is given.The Department has explained the position to local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government have plans to amend the law to allow for Sunday trading.

My right hon. Friend explained the Government's position on 9 February in his reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer).—[Vol. 17, c. 304.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West, of 24 June, Official Report, c. 423, he will place in the Library the guidance referred to in that answer, as being issued to chief constables in connection with treatment of informants such as supergrasses.

Paragraph 1.92 of the consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, lays down safeguards for the use of informants who take part in crime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that strict medical confidentiality will be maintained if the principles in the White Paper on data protection are accepted; what consultations will be held with the medical profession before the appointment of the registrar; and what duties and powers he will have to protect medical records.

Yes. Wide-ranging consultations, including the medical profession, are taking place on the Government's proposals. As the White Paper envisaged, regulations providing special protection for medical records may well be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the regulations on computerised personal health records will cover manual systems; and whether applications by the police for information to be made available to them about an individual's personal health data will only be agreed to after the patient's consent has been obtained.

The Government's proposals, set out in Cmnd. 8539, apply only to personal data processed by automatic means. It would not be in the interests of effective law enforcement to place a statutory requirement on data users who make information available to the police for the purposes of the prevention or detection of crime to seek the subject's prior consent.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied with the standard of accommodation for hon. Members and their staff in the Palace of Westminster; and what action Her Majesty's Government are prepared to take to alleviate any short-comings which may exist.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on Monday 28 June.—[Vol. 26, c. 606.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give the latest figures for motor vehicle production in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with three years before.

Compared with three years ago, production of passenger cars in the first half of 1982 was down by 25 per cent. Commercal vehicle production was down by 43 per cent. on the same comparison. I will publish the more detailed information requested in the Official Report.

United Kingdom Motor Vehicle Production
Thousands
	Passenger cars	Commercial vehicles
1979
January	92·3	32·1
February	99·8	37·5
March	133·3	50·4
April	96·9	38·1
May	105·5	40·1
June	114·3	43·4
1982
January	70·5	17·6
February	88·4	22·7
March	98·6	29·2
April	65·5	20·4
May	80·9	23·4
June*	79	23·8
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has had discussions with Industry Ministers in other European Economic Community countries about participation in the A320 Airbus industrial project.

My hon. Friend the Minister of State met Monsieur Fiterman, the French Minister for Transport in Paris on 6 May and discussed with him, among other issues, the proposed Airbus A320 project. Later, on 14 May, my hon. Friend also met Herr Grüner, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, in Germany for a discussion of issues relating to the A320 project. These talks were exploratory; no decisions were reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if negotiations between British Telecom and Mercury Communications Ltd. have been finalised.

Negotiations between British Telecom and Mercury have not yet finished. Both sides recognise that complex matters are involved and are still working towards agreement by the end of the month.

asked the Secretary of Sate for Industry if he will make a statement on the report and accounts of British Telecom for 1981–82.

Publication of the report and accounts of British Telecom for 1981–82, the first covering its activities as a separate corporation, is expected during August.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has considered the application of the Manchester-Salford inner city partnership for development area status.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 23 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on Government support for fifth generation computer technology.

The term "Fifth Generation computer technology" was coined in Japan. It includes a range of technical subjects which, in the United Kingdom, are supported in a rather fragmentary way. For example, my Department provides some support under the £55 million MISP scheme and the Science and Engineering Research Council provides support in universities. However, the technology is likely of be very important in the future development of our IT industry and I have therefore appointed a committee of senior industrialists and accademics to advise me on what further support is needed. The commitee is chaired by Mr. John Alvey, senior technical director of British Telecom, and is due to report to me later this summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if his Department is sponsoring research work in the following fields of computer technology (a) Josephson junctions, (b) gallium arsenide circuits and (c) high electron mobility transistors; and if he will make a statement.

The Department is not currently supporting within computer technology research projects in the fields of Josephson junctions, gallium arsenide circuits and high electron mobility transistors.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he will announce the next allocation of information technology centres.

I hope to announce details of the locations of information technology centres currently under negotiation in the autumn. As my hon. Friend knows, the initial allocation of 30 centres is being extended to 100 in the course of this year. Many more potential sponsors have come forward than can be catered for in the present phase of the scheme. I am encouraged by the positive response to the scheme, which is providing training in the most modern technological skills for young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his policy on the funding of civil aircraft and space projects.

We have made clear to industry that we are willing to consider applications for financial assistance to civil aircraft projects. Any such application will be looked at on its merits as a commercial programme and against the background of prevailing economic conditions and competing demands for resources.As far as space projects are concerned, I welcome the prospect of private sector funding in commercially-promising areas. But for the present the bulk of funding for projects will continue to be provided by the Government through the European Space Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what estimate he has of the output of manufacturing industry in the Northern region; and how it compares with the figures of three years previously.

Estimates of the volume of manufacturing output for the English regions are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received from firms in the Northern region relating to his statement on assisted areas on 28 June.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give an estimate of the effect upon manufacturing industry of the rail strike.

I am not aware of any material adverse effects of the rail strike on manufacturing industry so far. Rail transport now accounts for only a small proportion of total freight movements, although for some commodities, coal and coke, oil, iron and steel, minerals, chemicals and fertilizers, the proportion is more significant. A prolonged rail strike would do some harm to industry, though firms in the past displayed ingenuity in keeping going during strikes.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the level of industrial investment.

The latest Department of Industry investment intentions survey suggests that the volume of investment in manufacturing industry, including leased assets, will be sustained in 1982 compared with 1981 and that it will increase by about 5 per cent. in 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will now take steps to assist the hosiery and knitwear industries in the county of Leicestershire.

A wide range of my Department's assistance is already available to these industries. In addition, the Government has strongly endorsed the Council of Ministers' tough negotiating mandate to the Commission for the negotiation of new bilateral agreements within the multi-fibre arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will consider the payment of allowances to start-up small businesses to cover their rate payments, as happens in enterprise zones.

I have no plans to pay allowances to start up small businesses to cover their rate payments outside enterprise zones. In enterprise zones all industrial and commercial property is exempt from local authority rates as part of a 10-year experiment to encourage industrial and commercial activity.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what advances have been made so far in Information Technology Year.

During information technology year a number of new or revised schemes have been introduced in areas of new technology to help industry to develop and use new products. These include schemes for flexible manufacturing systems; computer-aided design, manufacture and test; microcomputers for GPs; software products; and small engineering firms investment scheme. In addition, we have very nearly achieved our objective in putting a micro in every secondary school. Fifteen IT Centres are already taking in trainees with more opening up very soon to reach the target of 100. The Government have also announced their intention to allow a direct broadcasting by satellite service and are actively considering various issues concerning the development of wideband cable systems.The many events organised with the support of the IT82 committee, funded jointly by industry and the Government, have attracted considerable attention and are making a significant contribution to raising the general level of awareness of information technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what assistance is being given to local education authorities and schools in the organisation of exhibitions on information technology during Information Technology Year.

No direct financial assistance is given by the Department of Industry to schools or education authorities mounting exhibitions on information technology. But the Department's 6 mobile exhibition units are available free through the national computing centre and many schools and authorities have taken the opportunity to arrange visits from them to educational premises.The main thrust of Department of Industry financial support to information technology year has been through the IT 82 committee and its project office and sub-committees dealing with specialist or regional interests. All have actively encouraged events directed particularly at young people and the school population: the support has been both financial and practical.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the estimated loss of production as a result of the latest level of unemployment.

Reduced output and higher unemployment are inevitable in a world recession but the lack of competitiveness of British industry is also a serious cause of lost production. The years of low productivity growth and excessive wage settlements have made our goods more expensive than our competitors'. The way to get more jobs is to produce more competitively and so win a bigger market share.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the performance and prospects of Rolls-Royce Ltd.

My hon. Friend will be aware that the industry and trade committee has recently published a report on Rolls-Royce to which I will be responding in due course. In the meantime I can say that Rolls-Royce has made good progress in its efforts to improve all aspects of the company's business despite the continuing recession in the airline industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he proposes further new initiatives to promote awareness of the importance of good design in United Kingdom products.

The Government are most anxious to promote awareness of the importance of good design in United Kingdom products and we shall be following up the initiatives resulting from proposals put forward at my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's seminar on design in January. One such initiative announced by my right hon. Friend recently was the provision of £3 million over the next three years to enable the Design Council to operate a subsidised design consultancy scheme as an extension of its successful design advisory service.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what recent representations he has received from representatives of industry and others concerning the continuing weakness of demand in United Kingdom manufacturing industry.

I receive and take note of the views of a large number of representatives of industry and others about the general economic climate. By far the greater concern the need to further reduce business costs and to improve industrial competitiveness.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will outline the steps he is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom retains a broad-based petrochemical industry.

The Government seek to provide an economic environment in which the petrochemical industry can operate profitably, to remove obstacles to the efficient use of resources, and to promote innovation and new technology. Nevertheless, in the present circumstances of severe over-capacity throughout Western Europe, rationalisation is inevitable, and, indeed, essential for the long-term health of the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his Department has had, or will be having, consultations with the trade unions concerning developments in the petrochemical industry.

I shall be meeting representatives of trade unions from the chemical industry tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is willing to consider Government assistance for design facilities for the footwear industry.

We already make assistance available under a number of on-going schemes which can facilitate and encourage better design. As well as the design advisory service, now sponsored by my Department, there is the manufacturing advisory service, which exists to help small and medium-sized companies and has been extended to cover the footwear industry. There are also the computer-aided design centre service and microelectronics application project. I would be delighted to see footwear companies making more use of these schemes in design-related projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he last met Mr. Ian MacGregor, chairman of the British Steel Corporation, to discuss the situation in British Steel.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when next he will meet the chairman of the British Steel Corporation.

I meet Mr. MacGregor regularly. Our last meeting was on 17 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of the British Steel Corporation relating to the further structure of the corporation and its facilities.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of the loans guarantee scheme.

Scheme loan applications are continuing at high levels. At the end of June 1982, 4,982 guarantees had been issued in respect of £166·6 million of bank lending. My preliminary review of the scheme is nearing completion and I hope to be in a position to announce the results to the House within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what response there has been to the flexible manufacturing scheme announced in May 1982.

There have been around 250 general enquiries about the scheme since it was launched and my Department is already discussing possible projects with a number of companies. Four formal applications for assistance have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he proposes to take any new steps to review the performance of the Post Office in terms of productivity.

No. I am satisfied that the performance objective of reducing real unit costs, which my right hon. Friend announced on 25 February this year, represents a realistic and stretching target; progress against this target is monitored by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many organisations are used to advise small firms through the small firms technical inquiry service.

Advice is available from engineers within the Production Engineering Research Association, which operates the service for the Department, and from 83 other organisations. These include 28 research associations, 20 universities and other higher educational establishments, 19 private consulting organisations, and 16 Government research laboratories.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many inquiries have been dealt with by the small firms technical inquiry service.

In the four weeks between the start of the service and 9 July, 108 inquiries have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of the measures to stimulate the development of the software industry.

Yes. My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Information Technology recently announced changes to the software products scheme. These will further strengthen a Government support scheme which, in the past, has been very effective in its encouragement of product development in the British software industry.The main changes are an increase of £10 million in the scheme's budget over a three-year period, a strengthening of the industrial representation on the scheme's advisory committee and a concentration of support towards more innovative areas of product development.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he proposes to stipulate the technical configuration of cable television systems or to leave this to individual cable companies.

This is one of the prime technical questions which the Government are considering. What is clearly essential, should the introduction of wideband cable systems be decided upon, is that the system or systems chosen should be compatible with the BT and Mercury telecommunications networks so that inter-linking would be possible, and that existing UHF television sets should be capable of being used on all systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he last met the chairman of the British Technology Group.

My colleagues and I regularly meet the chairman of the British Technology Group.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will raise in the Council of Ministers the possibility of the EEC Commission undertaking, with appropriate international bodies such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, a review of world demand for steel, costs of production and related raw material and energy costs.

No. The Commission is working on a revision of its general objectives which looks at longer term steel supply and demand. A study of forecasting techniques and factors affecting steel demand is being carried out under the auspices of the OECD steel committee, in which the Community will of course co-operate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry where, pursuant to his reply of 26 May, the factories to be built by the English Industrial Estates Corporation on Teesside will be situated.

This is a matter for the corporation. The Secretary of State approved the allocation of financial resources to specific travel-to-work areas. However, it is for the EIEC to determine the timing, precise location and type of development within each TTWA, after paying due regard to market requirements, land availability and the rate at which existing stocks of vacant factories can be let. I have asked the chairman of the EIEC to write to the hon. Member about the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether British scientists collaborating in the Spacelab experiments will be using living animals in their experiments; what kinds of animals; and how many are expected to be used.

No animals are being used in the Spacelab experiments in which Britain is participating.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what stage the European Commission's proposals for a scrap-and-build programme for the shipbuilding industry have reached; and when this matter was last discussed at the Council of Ministers.

Scrap-and-Build was last discussed at the Council of Ministers on 20 November 1979. There was considerable scepticism among member States as to whether any form of scrap and build would be cost effective, and the Commission has not put any fresh ideas forward since then.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will stimulate the use of common software systems for industrial or technological application between public sector users, including Government Departments and the nationalised industries; and if he will make a statement.

I am anxious to stimulate awareness amongst computer users of the advantages of common software systems. I understand that CCTA is working on a number of developments in this area, whilst the Department of Industry has agreed to an initiative on harmonised development systems and tools based on the report by the NEDO electronics capital equipment sector working party. The attention of public sector bodies will be drawn to the results of this work as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what reply he has sent to the letter from the right hon. Member for Norwich, North concerning a major technology exhibition in Norwich on 3 and 4 November.

An encouraging one. I will place a copy in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many companies, of those which have applied for liberalisation of telecommunications equipment, have applied for equipment (a) manufactured in the United Kingdom by wholly-owned British companies, (b) manufactured in the United Kingdom for subsidiaries of foreign companies and (c) manufactured outside the United Kingdom; and if he will list all those companies in (a),(b) and (c) above, whose applications have been approved;(2) what evidence he possesses of new jobs being created in the United Kingdom directly or mainly as a result of the Government's policy of liberalisation of sale and installation of telecommunications equipment;(3) how many companies have applied under current procedures to his Department for liberalisation of telecommunications equipment for sale and installation in the United Kingdom alongside British Telecom telephone equipment; how many applications have been approved; how many rejected; and how many are pending.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, following the meeting of the European Council on 28 and 29 June, he proposes to take any additional steps to protect the position of British steel producers in both the public and private sectors.

The Minister for Trade visited Washington on 30 June-2 July and explained firmly to members of the United States Administration why the case against the alleged subsidies to British steel producers is misconceived, and the importance of an agreed settlement. The Government are giving full support to the Commission in the discussions which, as agreed at the European Council meeting, it is having with the United States Administration to find an acceptable solution to the US countervailing and anti-dumping cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish the report he has received from Sir Michael Edwardes on the effect of foreign car imports on the British motor industry.

We have received no report from Sir Michael Edwardes on the effect of foreign car imports on the British motor industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) when he expects to announce a conclusion to current talks between his Department, the British Steel Corporation and Johnson Firth Brown on a forging link-up between Johnson Firth Brown and BSC River Don;(2) which steel firms are involved in talks with his Department and the British Steel Corporation on the proposed Phoenix III joint venture with Johnson Firth Brown and BSC River Don.

The discussions which Johnson Firth Brown disclosed on 8 July are taking place between that company and the British Steel Corporation are a matter for the companies concerned. I have not yet received any firm proposal from them.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry at what stage, before the conclusion to current talks between his Department, the British Steel Corporation and Johnson Firth Brown on a forging link-up between Johnson Firth Brown and BSC River Don, he expects the management and trade unions concerned to be consulted.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question from him on 16 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what the increase of 1 per cent. in regional aid means in additional expenditure for 1982–83.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make available the results of the survey conducted by his Department of a sample of applicants who have secured finance under the loan guarantee scheme.

As part of my preliminary review of the loan guarantee scheme, Department of Industry economists carried out a sample telephone survey of 100 borrowers under the scheme. It is clearly too early to make judgments on some important areas, but the survey has provided some useful early information on the operation and impact of the scheme. A report is being prepared setting out the results of the survey and a summary is available now in the Library, and on request from the Department of Industry, Room 266, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6RB (Tel.: 01 212 3431). A copy of the full report will be placed in the Library as soon as it has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Community Research Council on 30 June.

I attended a meeting of the Research Council in Luxembourg on 30 June 1982.The council held a further discussion of the evolution of Community research and development strategy. In the light of the debate, the Commission was invited to present concrete proposals for a medium term plan for research activities. The Commission indicated that it might also bring forward proposals for speeding the decision making process for research programmes.The council provisionally adopted a common position on the Commission's proposal for a new five-year research programme on medical and public health research. Under the programme, research institutions in the member Stales would coordinate their activities in certain areas, and the Commission would provide means for the participants to coordinate the work and share results. Final adoption will have to await the views of the Economic and Social Committee and the European Parliament.Ministers discussed in general terms the future work programme of the Community's own research laboratories (the joint research centre). Particular attention was given to the major project being carried out at the Ispra establishment in Northern Italy relating to the safety of nuclear reactors, and a number of key questions were raised for further consideration. In the light of the discussion, the Commission is to bring forward formal proposals for changing the current work programme.The Council gave general support to the Commission's intention to launch an initiative to improve the competitiveness of Europen industry in the medium to long term in the field of information technology. A series of pilot projects in collaborative research involving the companies concerned would be launched in 1983 leading to a major programme starting in 1984. The formal proposals for the future work will be drawn up in the light of the discussion for decision later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the establishment of the English Industrial Estates Corporation for each of the last three years, dividing them into full-time and part-time staff.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 July 1982, c. 10–11]: Following is the information:

Staff Employed by the English Industrial Estates Corporation (including manual and cleaning staff)
	At 1 April 1980	At 1 April 1981	At 1 April 1982
Full time	270	294	289
Part time	22	21	25
Total	292	315	314

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many telephones were installed in Wales for disabled people under the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act in the years ended March 1979, March 1980 and March 1981.

The information requested is as follows:

Years ended 31 March	Number
1979	1,284
1980	1,438
1981	847

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the assistance to economic development which is available in those travel-to-work areas in rural Wales, outside the area of the Development Board for Rural Wales, which are to cease to be assisted areas; and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh Development Agency and the Wales Tourist Board will continue to operate in these areas. The agency's support for business ventures will cover serviced industrial sites and premises with the possibility of rent free periods, equity investment, loans at commercial and favourable rates, and management and counselling services. The board will continue to provide its full range of support for tourism through its promotional, marketing and project assistance activities, including grants under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969. The area will have access to FEOGA assistance and to certain parts of the European social fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ban the use of lead soldering in joints and in the general repair work conducted on piping used to carry water for human consumption.

The evidence available at present does not justify such action but, in conjunction with colleagues in England and Scotland, I am keeping the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many school leavers are at present employed by the youth opportunities programme in each of the eight counties in Wales.

The information is not available in the form requested. On 10 June 1982 total participants in projects under the youth opportunities scheme were as follows:

	Total participants
South Glamorgan	1,284
Mid Glamorgan	3,264
West Glamorgan	1,740
Gwent	2,262
Dyfed	991
Powys	317
Gwynedd	844
Clwyd	1,831

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied that hospitals, local authority homes and community support services have increased proportionately since 1971 to cope with the extra social and medical load of an ageing population as revealed in the census returns; and what schemes have been introduced to train sufficient people to cope.

Information in the form requested is not available centrally. From 1970–71 to 1980–81 total net provision for health and personal social services in Wales increased by about 26·5 per cent. in real terms. Between the censuses of 1971 and 1981 the population of pensionable age in Wales increased by 10·6 per cent. The relevant training institutions are fully aware of the need to train staff to provide appropriate care for the elderly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he intends to propose any further changes in the functions and composition of community health councils.

Not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of the British Steel Corporation relating to the future structure of the corporation and its facilities.

My right hon. Friend has kept in regular touch with the chairman of BSC on all major matters concerning the corporation's business in Wales.

asked the Minister for Trade how many new motor cars of United Kingdom manufacture were exported in the first half of 1982; and how this figure compares with similar figures for 1981 and 1980.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what payments have been made by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of contracts for ships supplied to Argentina on which the Argentine Government had not made payment by the due date.

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

asked the Minister for Trade (1) what terms of reference he will apply to the review of the tourist industry in the United Kingdom; when he expects to publish his findings; and if he will make a statements;(2) what consultations he proposes, if any, with the tourist boards and tourist organisations on the review of the industry;(3) what consultations he will undertake with those local authorities which have a tourist function on the review of the tourist industry.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what is his estimate of the net profit or loss of the United Kingdom tourist industry in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Official information on the net profit or loss of the United Kingdom tourist industry is not collected.

asked the Minister for Trade how many United Kingdom citizens visited other countries in 1979, 1980 and 1981; and whether he is able to estimate the number who were tourists only and the countries which were hosts to such tourists.

Following is the information:

Balance on tourism with major countries (£ million)
	Balance from total visits			Balance from holiday visits
	1979	1980	1981	1979	1980	1981
West Germany	+125	+107	+60	+72	+54	+54
United States of America	+198	+80	+48	+84	-25	-38
Irish Republic	-27	-22	-28	-29	-25	-32
Italy	-67	-95	-104	-87	-114	-120
Greece	-67	-123	-156	-84	-147	-169
France	-106	-192	-288	-119	-213	-288
Spain	-330	-354	-450	-353	-366	-471

asked the Minister for Trade what is his estimate of the effect of international exchange rates on the profitability of the United Kingdom tourist industry; and if he will make a statement.

No estimate of the effect of international exchange rates on profitability in the United Kingdom tourist industry is available.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list the steps he is taking to ensure that all relevant tourist and

asked the Minister for Trade how many foreign visitors visited the United Kingdom in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Following is the information:

Number of visits to the United Kingdom by foreign residents
Year	Number of visits (Thousands)
1979	12,486
1980	12,421
1981	11,486

asked the Minister for Trade what is his estimate of the balance of trade in tourism between the United Kingdom and other major tourist countries in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Following is the information:tourist-related bodies, including firms commercially involved, are consulted in his current review of the tourist industry.

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

asked the Minister for Trade how many bankruptcies there were in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands in 1979, 1980, 1981 and to date in 1982.

As quarterly figures are not available on exactly the same basis as annual, a comparison is given in the following figures between the first quarters of 1981 and 1982.

Number of Bankruptcies
Net cases administered	Wolverhampton	West Midlands County (Includes Wolverhampton)
1979	15	153
1980	12	190
1981	22	217
Gross cases before deducting orders rescinded or consolidated
1981 1st quarter	2	53
1982 1st quarter	6	66

asked the Minister for Trade what percentage of companies have gone bankrupt in the last 12 months.

Company liquidations arising from insolvency were about 2 per cent. of the total number of companies estimated to be trading.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total area and value of land and other assets sold by the Forestry Commission since the implementation of the Forestry Act 1981; and what is the total area and value of land and other assets whose sale is under consideration.

From the passing of the Forestry Act 1981 until 30 June 1982,tThe Forestry Commission received £7,691,900 from the sale of land and other assets. The area involved included 3,837 hectares of forestry land and plantations. By the end of June 1982, the Forestry Commissioners had approved a further 10,442 hectares of forestry land and plantations for sale at an estimated value of £12,447,600. Sales of other assets between 1 July 1982 and 31 March 1983 are expected to realise some £4,000,000.Area figures for other assets, which include residential properties, are not held centrally and cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he remains satisfied that it will be possible to achieve a fundamental reform in the common agricultural policy; and, if so, by what date.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Proctor) on 8 July.—[Vol. 27, c. 443.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many of the foodstuffs in respect of which an increase in consumption was recorded in the national food survey were covered by the common agricultural policy; and if he will publish a table showing which particular foodstuffs recorded in the survey as having increased consumption were or were not covered by the common agricultural policy;(2) how many of the foodstuffs in respect of which a diminution in consumption was recorded in the national food survey were covered by the common agricultural policy; and if he will publish a table showing which particular foodstuffs recorded in the survey as having reduced consumption were or were not covered by the common agricultural policy.

It is difficult to classify foodstuffs according to whether or not they are covered by the common agricultural policy since many of them are processed and incorporate more than one agricultural commodity. Moreover, the influence of the common agricultural policy on the prices of even basic agricultural commodities is far from certain since much depends on the nature of the regime and on the market situation.It is also difficult to divide foodstuffs according to whether the national food survey has recorded an increase or decrease in their consumption, since the direction of change can differ according to the comparison period chosen, and in any event it could be misleading to attribute such changes to the common agricultural policy; consumption is influenced by a number of other factors, including changes in incomes and in consumer preferences.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to see that appropriate action is taken to prevent another major flooding incident at Swalecliffe.

My right hon. Friend has no power to take action to prevent flooding. The powers to undertake sea defence work at Swalecliffe rest with either the Canterbury city council or the Southern water authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent proposals have been made by the Commission of the European Economic Community in respect of fisheries in Community waters off the coast of French Guyana.