asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement about the Government's consideration of the recommendations on divorce made in chapter 10 of the report of the Royal Commission on legal services in Scotland—Cmnd, 7846.

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have now considered carefully the Royal Commission's recommendations on divorce in the light of the many comments made on them. They have decided to introduce at a suitable opportunity legislation to give the sheriff court concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of Session in actions of divorce and to enable the courts to dispense with the requirement for corroboration in undefended divorce actions; it is also proposed that a simplified procedure for certain undefended divorce actions, based on the recommendations of the Cowie committee, be introduced as soon as possible, initially in the Court of Session and thereafter in the sheriff court; and that the central research unit of the Scottish Office should carry out research into the exercise by the courts of their functions in relation to the welfare and custody of children involved in divorce actions.

asked the Minister for Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that United Kingdom lighting manufacture is not further eroded by the importation of domestic light bulbs, the components of which are manufactured in Hungary and assembled and exported by the Tungsram factory in the Republic of Ireland.

Provided that light bulbs have acquired Community origin by virtue of Regulation (EEC) 802/68 of the Council, they are entitled by law to unrestricted access to the United Kingdom. Following correspondence with the hon. Member and other representations received, my Department has had discussions with the European Commission, which is considering the position in relation to the Community's competition rules. I am pressing the Commission for an early response and will let the hon. Member know the outcome.

asked the Minister for Trade under what circumstances an hon. Member may be met by a car when arriving at a British Airports Authority airport aircraft dispersal point; and whether this was the case when the right hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel) arrived at a London airport on Monday 5 July.

The British Airports Authority provides special facilites to persons who are accorded VIP status by Her Majesty's Government; such facilities can include being met by a car at the aircraft side. The right hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel) is certainly entitled to use these facilities as Leader of a political party in Parliament if he chooses to do so: no doubt he did so on Monday 5 July. Members who are Ministers of Her Majesty's Government or are former Prime Ministers are also entitled to use these facilities. None the less, the more common practice among Ministers in the present Government, arriving on domestic flights, is to use the ordinary disembarking facilities available to the general public, without having an official car draw up by the side of the aircraft.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he has any recent figures for the number of companies which went into liquidation in Wales for 1982 which have not so far been published in British Business.

I regret that the only official figures available for company liquidations are for England and Wales as a whole. It would not be possible, without considerable expense, to analyse the records of companies registered in England and Wales, kept by the Registrar of Companies at Cardiff, to identify those whose registered offices are situated in Wales. In any case, the address of the registered office is not always a good indication of the location of the trading activities.

asked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to the reply of the Under-Secretary of State for Trade on 5 July, if he has received any proposals for increasing the capital expenditure authorisation in respect of Manchester international airport: and what consideration he has given to them.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1982, c. 310.]: My Department is still waiting for further details of the proposals outlined during my extremely interesting visit to Manchester on 5 July.

asked the Lord President of the Council if Her Majesty's Government intend to publish a document similar to "The Government Record" published by the previous Administration.

There are no plans to do so.

asked the Lord President of the Council what action the Government propose to take in response to the sixth report of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, Session 1981–82, published in December 1981.

The report of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, and the recommendations made by the Committee, have been considered by Ministers. The Government's observations are being published today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current level of average earnings in both Glasgow and Scotland.

Separate figures for Glasgow are not available. The information requested for Scotland is set out in the following table together with comparable figures for Strathclyde.

Gross weekly earnings of full-time employees whose pay was not affected by absence, April 1981
	Scotland £	Strathclyde £
Men (21 or over)	140·0	138·3
Women (18 or over)	87·1	84·8

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the number and percentage of full-time wage earners in Glasgow in the earnings band of £0 to £40 per week, and the corresponding figures for each £10 band above this.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the cost of the assisted places scheme in Scotland in 1982–83.

As published in the Supply Estimates for 1982–83, the estimated cost is £1·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will bring up to date the information given by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) in his reply on 15 April 1981 to the hon. Member for Melton, Official Report, c. 179–82, regarding the acquisition and disposal of land under the Community Land Act.

This information is not immediately available. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in introducing the O-grade in religious studies; and if he will make a statement.

Good progress has been made towards the introduction of the Scottish certificate of education 0-grade examination in religious studies; the Scottish Examination Board published the syllabus for the course in June. Suitably staffed schools will be able to offer the course to third-year pupils in session 1982–83 and the first examination will be held in 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will break down the travel-to-work unemployment figures for the Dumfries area into separate areas for Dumfries, Annan and Lockerbie; and if he will give the figures, and percentages, for each area for June.

On 10 June 1982, 3,026 people were registered as unemployed at Dumfries, 1,326 at Annan and 363 at Lockerbie, and the percentage rate for the Dumfries/Annan/Lockerbie travel-to-work area was 13·3 per cent. Meaningful unemployment percentage rates can only be calculated for employment office areas, or groups of employment office areas, which form reasonably self-contained labour markets. Because of travel-to-work flows between Dumfries, Annan and Lockerbie, the three employment office areas are treated as a single labour market and unemployment percentage rates for the individual employment office areas are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the names of the persons who will form the board of directors of the new Peterhead Bay (Management) Co. Ltd.; and if it is his intention to alter the title of the new organisation.

The new harbour authority for Peterhead Bay harbour is to be established by an order made under the Harbours (Scotland) Act 1982. The new authority will be an independent trust and its title, which has yet to be decided, will reflect its status while avoiding confusion with the adjacent Fishery Harbour Trust. Appointments to the new body will be announced after the order is made, I hope before the end of this year. Thereafter, the Peterhead Bay (Management) Co. Ltd. will be wound up.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in reviewing the regulations governing the composition of labelling of margarine.

We are at present considering the comments made by interested organisations on the report of the Food Standards Committee on margarine and other table spreads. However, under the Food Labelling Regulations 1980, margarine will be required from 1 January 1983 to bear a list of ingredients. The fat content will have to be described, as appropriate, either as animal fat or oil, or as vegetable fat or oil; or there will have to be a specific indication of its origin.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the effects on the dairy industry arising from the substantial increase in production of vegetable oils being produced and exported from Malaysia and the United States of America; if he will take steps to protect the home dairy producer; and if he will make a statement.

The dairy industry is protected by the Community's milk regime and I do not believe that it is necessary or right to supplement this by providing additional protection against imports of vegetable oils.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a breakdown of the £57 million expenditure borne by the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund in respect of oilseeds expended by the United Kingdom intervention board in 1981.

A breakdown is as follows:

	Tonnes	EAGGF Subsidy £
Home-produced rapeseed	345,727	43,626,176
Rapeseed imported from other member States	109,386	13,156,073
Sunflower seed imported from France	4,774	643,788
Total	459,887	57,426,037

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how he proposes to eradicate tuberculosis in badgers; and when he believes eradication will be achieved;(2) whether it is still his policy to kill all cattle infected with tuberculosis; and what are the causes of tuberculosis in cattle;(3) whether the incidence of tuberculosis in cattle is higher in badger infested areas than in others; where these areas are; and what steps he now proposes to eradicate tuberculosis in cattle in such areas;(4) whether badgers cause tuberculosis in cattle; and what steps he proposes to correct this situation.

Tuberculosis in cattle arises from infection by a mycobacterium, nearly always Mycobacterium bovis, very rarely Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the inquiry which Lord Zuckerman undertook at my request, he confirmed that badgers constituted a wildlife reservoir of Mycobacterium bovis from which cattle could be infected. Since then there has been powerful and further corroboration of the discovery of cross-infection between badgers and cattle. There is a statistically significant correlation between the incidence of the disease in cattle herds and the density of active badger sets.Areas where badger control operations have proved necessary lie in the South West of England, Staffordshire and South Wales.The policy for eradication of tuberculosis in cattle at farms will continue to rest on the slaughter of reactors to the tuberculin test and their close contacts and the investigation of sources of infection. Badger control operations—using appropriate methods—will continue to be undertaken when it can be established that an infected social group constitutes a health hazard to cattle

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how much compensation he has paid to cattle owners whose cattle have been slaughtered in the past five years because of tuberculosis; where these cattle were kept; and what was the cause of the infection;(2) how many cattle were slaughtered in 1981 and in the five previous years because of tuberculosis infection; where these cattle were; and why they became infected with tuberculosis.

The information requested is as follows:

Compensation paid		£
Great Britain	1977	205,092
	1978	303,644
	1979	396,088
	1980	289,446
	1981	365,227
Total last five years		1,559,497
Number of cattle slaughtered under official arrangements:
Great Britain (previous five years)	1976	1,150
	1977	856
	1978	902
	1979	1,185
	1980	942
	1981	1,011

I shall write to my hon. Friend with a geographical analysis.With each herd breakdown a standard investigation procedure aimed at establishing the source of infection is followed. But to pursue investigations beyond this point to try and establish the source of infection in every case would involve disproportionate costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badgers in the constituency of the hon. Member for Stroud have been found to have been infected with tuberculosis in each of the last five years; and how many cattle have been slaughtered in the same area because of tuberculosis.

The information requested is as follows:

Stroud constituency
	Infected badgers	Cattle slaughtered because of TB
1977	39	41
1978	22	32
1979	29	19
1980	22	27
1981	27	44

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much cyanide gas is required to gas a badger sett; how many badgers are killed; and how long he estimates it takes them to die.

A precise answer is not possible as badger setts may vary in size and in the number of individuals using them. Over the years 1975 to 1981 the average amount of Cymag powder—including that for follow-up operations—has been about 1·5 kilograms per sett.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has sought as to the best way to kill badgers; and whether he will take this advice.

In September 1979 I asked Lord Zuckerman to inquire into the whole question of tuberculosis in cattle and badgers and pending his report I suspended the gassing operations which had been taking place since 1975. He raised this issue specifically in the course of his inquiry and was advised that no better way was known of dealing with social groups of badgers suspected of being tuberculous.Lord Zuckerman recommended that control operations, including gassing, should be resumed as soon as possible because the disease could not be allowed to spread in the badger population. At the same time he recommended that further inquiries should be made about hydrogen cyanide in order to discover what concentrations in the air of a sett would be needed to kill quickly and humanely.I ordered that such experiments should take place and I have recently received the results of these experiments. They are unexpected in the present state of informed opinion and they indicate that the response of the badger to cyanide is different from that of other animals such as rabbits. The reasons for this difference are not understood.The results do, however, imply that there must be doubt whether all the badgers in a gassed sett die quickly and therefore whether they die humanely. This is because the levels of gas secured in a sett are in general lower than the new experiments show to be required.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I therefore acted at once to suspend gassing as a means of badger control.As a matter of urgency I am seeking the advice of the consultative panel on badgers and tuberculosis on what alternative methods are available which can provide an effective and humane means of controlling tuberculosis in badgers so that the best method can be applied as speedily as possible in the interest of preventing the spread of disease to cattle and healthy badgers.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list those matters relating to Wales for which the Secretary of State for Wales answers parliamentary questions; and those which are the responsibility of other Ministers.

My right hon. Friend answers parliamentary questions on matters for which he has responsibility in Wales. His main responsibilities are for health and personal social services; education, except for terms and conditions of service, student awards and the university; the Welsh language and culture; local government; housing; water and sewerage; environmental protection; sport; agriculture and fisheries; forestry; land use, including town and country planning; countryside and nature conservation; new towns; ancient monuments and historic buildings; roads; tourism; a range of matters affecting the careers service and the activities of the Manpower Services Commission in Wales; selective financial assistance to industry; the urban programme in Wales; the operation of the European regional development fund in Wales and other European Community matters stemming from his responsibilities generally; non-departmental public bodies; civil emergencies; and all financial aspects of these matters, including Welsh rate support grant. He also answers, by arrangement as necessary with the other Ministers concerned, questions relating to his general responsibilities for and interests in economic affairs and regional planning in Wales.Other Ministers answer on matters related to the application in Wales of national policies for which they are centrally responsible.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has responded to the document entitled "North West Industrial Development Association: Economic Problems of North West England" which was sent to her by the director; and if so, in what terms.

At my request my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Industry, whose responsibilities include regional industrial policy, received a delegation from the North West Industrial Development Association on 2 February. There was a useful exchange of views on the issues raised in the association's document and my hon. Friend subsequently wrote to the association about the outstanding points.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department in achieving the Government's policy programme since his reply to the hon. Member for Melton on 2 July 1981, Official Report, c. 443.

We have taken further steps to strengthen the police service and enhance public support for it. The strength of the police service in England and Wales has grown by 1,771 in the past 12 months, and now stands at 120,321. The strength of the Metropolitan Police is now 25,765.To assist in tackling disorder, and in avoiding injuries to police officers, the service now has available a range of new protective equipment, including 20,000 helmets and 6,000 flameproof overalls. Training and tactics have also been improved. In the light of Lord Scarman's recommendations, a wider review of police training is being conducted under the auspices of the Police Training Council.After a period of intensive consultation, I issued guidance on the purposes and practice of local consultation arrangements between the community and the police on 16 June. As these arrangements develop, they should enable full discussion of issues of local concern, and strengthen community action, in support of the police, in tackling crime.We are preparing proposals to modernise and clarify the powers available to the police for the investigation of crime, strengthening those powers where needed but at the same time providing new safeguards for the citizen. We have undertaken to bring forward as soon as possible proposals to improve procedures for dealing with complaints against the police in the light, amongst other things, of the recent report of the Home Affairs Committee.Our proposals to give the courts stronger and more flexible sentencing powers, particularly in regard to young offenders, are being implemented in the Criminal Justice Bill. The Transport Bill, by improving and extending the fixed penalty system, gives effect to our commitment to relieve the burden of traffic offences on the courts and police.We have continued to make progress with the programme of activity within the prison service which I described in my reply of 2 July 1981, reviewing the operational pattern of the service and examining methods of improving operational efficiency and the use and management of resources. Overall, the momentum in building new prisons and improving existing ones is being maintained. A start has been made on improving prisoners' access at night to sanitary facilities in two establishments.We have continued to maintain and develop non-custodial measures for dealing with offenders. The number of probation officers in field posts has increased from 4,960 on 31 March 1981 to 5,037 on 31 March this year. We have opened eight new senior attendance centres and two new junior centres.We have continued our efforts to promote good community relations and to create a society in which individuals can share equal opportunities, rights and responsibilities. We have responded positively to reports from the Home Affairs Committee on racial disadvantage and on the Commission for Racial Equality. We have vigorously followed up our own report on racial attacks and the Scarman report on the Brixton disorders.The British Nationality Act received Royal Assent in October 1981. I hope to bring it into operation on 1 January 1983.In March I announced the Government's decision, in principle, to make an early start with direct broadcasting by satellite—DBS—with the aim of having a service in operation in 1986.In April following publication of a report on cable systems by the Prime Minister's information technology advisory panel, I set up an inquiry under the chairmanship of Lord Hunt of Tanworth, to consider the broadcasting aspects of the expansion of cable. The inquiry has been asked to report by the end of September, so as to enable the Government to take decisions on the future lines of development by about the end of this year.A legalised citizens band service was introduced on 2 November 1981. I have established an independent review of the radio spectrum from 30–960 MHz.In April I published a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals for legislation on data protection.We are continuing to strengthen our civil defence arrangements. For example, the capability of the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation, which has moved to a new headquarters, is being improved; and we have expanded the Home Defence College.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the information sent to him by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West relating to the circumstances in which Mr. John Luck, a man with 15 convictions, was able to sit as a jurer in three Crown court cases, twice as foreman of the jury, and in the light of other cases of convicted persons sitting on juries, he now has proposals to change the law on this matter.

If the circumstances of the case to which the hon. Member refers are as reported, criminal offences may have been committed under the existing law. We understand that the police are investigating this case. It is still our intention at the earliest suitable legislative opportunity to widen the ambit of jury disqualification so as to ensure that those convicted of imprisonable offences do not sit on juries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons, by sex and nationality, have been granted political asylum since May 1979.

Statistics for the years 1979, 1980 and 1981 giving a breakdown by nationality—though not by sex—are available in the Library. The figures for the first six months of 1982 have not yet been collated, but I shall send them to the hon. Member as soon as they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to approve the draft model byelaw submitted to him by the London borough of Hillingdon concerning the flying of model aircraft.

We hope to reach a decision in the very near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were engaged in the following categories of work on 30 November 1971, 30 November 1981 and at the latest available date: farms and gardens, works services, outside work, full-time education, industries, vocation and construction industry training, pre-release courses and domestic service; and what was the number who were classed as non-effective.

The information requested is given in table 10.2 of "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1980", Cmnd. 8372. This table gives the latest information available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average working week of a prisoner in (a) a local prison, (b) an open prison, (c) a training prison and (d) a female establishment.

Information is available only in relation to prisoners employed in industrial workshops. The average hours worked by prisoners in industrial workshops in each category of prison is not readily obtainable but the range of hours worked per week is as follows:

	Hours
Local prisons	Nil to 25
Open training prisons	19 to 34
Closed training prisons	14 to 37
Female establishments	16 to 31

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much loss Prindus made in 1980 and in 1981; and what was the profit made by the farms and gardens sector for the same periods.

The information requested in relation to the years ending 31 March 1980 and 1981 is given in tables 12 and 13 respectively in the "Report of the Work of the Prison Department 1981", Cmnd. 8543.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if experiments similar to those carried out on animals in the United States of America causing radiation damage that prevents the animals from eating and drinking, of the type described in the European Journal of Cancer 1979, have been undertaken in the United Kingdom; and whether he will seek powers to ban such experiments from being carried out in the United Kingdom.

We are having inquiries made and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from members of the academic community in Greater Manchester with regard to students from Iran; what reply he is sending; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1 January 1982 we have received two letters from writers who identified themselves as members of the student body. The replies to both indicated that we kept the Iranian situation under continuous review, that we did not consider that the position warranted special treatment outside the published Immigration Rules but that all applications from those expressing a fear to return to Iran under present circumstances would be fully and sympathetically considered. This continues to be the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the planning of Exercise Hard Rock; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not satisfied with the state of local planning for Exercise Hard Rock and I have decided that it should be postponed. I am considering urgently with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland the need to amend the planning regulations made under the Civil Defence Act 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will detail steps taken by Her Majesty's Government in each of the last three years, or planned for the future, which are specifically designed to reduce the support now required for the recurrent budget of St. Helena and its dependencies so as to ensure that the colony's economy becomes self-sufficient.

The chances of St. Helena becoming self-sufficient are remote. She has few natural resources, no industries and poor communications with the outside world. It has not been possible to reduce the level of budgetary aid support in the last three years. However, a budgetary and development aid review is in progress and it is hoped that ways of making better use of both development and budgetary support will be found.Neither Ascension nor Tristan da Cunha require budgetary aid support.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects which have received United Kingdom aid under the aid-trade provision, together with the amount of aid allocated to each project in the years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82.

Allocations of aid under the aid and trade provisions have been made to the following projects during 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82:

Country	Project	Allocation*£ million
1979–80
Burma	Gas Turbines	3·201
Egypt	Draglines/Irrigation equipment	2·606
Egypt	Electricity Generation	10·202
Egypt	Switchgear	2·005
Kenya	Soda Ash Railway Wagons	1·279
Malaysia	IOCOM Submarine Cable	9·019
Pakistan	Ships	9·6
Philippines	Rural Electrification	4·51
Senegal	Aircraft	1·0
Tanzania	Bus Chassis	0·481
1980–81
Burma	Jute Carpet Backing plant	1·179
Burma	Jute Mill	2·154
Burma	Marine Diesel engines	1·202
Caribbean Development Bank	Aircraft	2·596
Cyprus	Power Station equipment	0·366
Madagascar	Aircraft Maintenance equipment	0·6
Malaysia	Airport study	0·45
Philippines	Rural electricity survey	0·08
Philippines	Wood-burning Power Stations	1·967
Sri Lanka	Locomotives	2·905
1981–82
Bandladesh	Combined Cycle Power Station	4·68
Colombia	Pre-fabricated Bridges	0·3
Kenya	Telecommunications equipment	0·705
Mexico	Sicartsa Steel Mill	34·94
Morocco	Nador Steel Rod Rolling Mill	13·505

Country	Project	Allocation*£ million
Mozambique	Bus Maintenance	1·0
Mozambique	Mineral Inventory	1·03
Paraguay	Power Transmission Scheme	2·87
Zimbabwe	Railway Electrification	8·239
* Allocation figures refer to the total aid commitment for each project; and these amounts will often be disbursed over more than one financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the Rayner review of the scientific units of the Overseas Development Administration.

The part of the review of support services concerned with the Overseas Development Administration covered the Centre for Overseas Pest Research and Tropical Products Institute. It made detailed recommendations for improving their efficiency and effectiveness, most of which I have accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department in achieving the Government's policy programme in so far as it affects the arts since the Minister of State's reply to the hon. Member for Melton on 30 June 1981, Official Report, c. 371.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1982, c. 285]: The Office of Arts and Libraries has continued to carry out a wide range of day-to-day administrative work to support, facilitate and promote the arts, museums and libraries. The following are among the special developments with which my office has been concerned over the past year:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science 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.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to legislate to make it a duty on local education authorities to provide adult education.

The nature of the statutory responsibility for the provision of adult education was amongst the issues raised in a joint report last year by central and local government officials on the legal basis of further education generally. This report is being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in the light of comments received during wide consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what proportion of pupils at schools for 11 to 16-year-olds in the State sector enter (a) sixth form colleges, (b) the sixth forms of other schools or (c) both in turn;(2) what proportion of pupils at schools in the State sector of education for 11 to 18-year-olds stay on at their schools after the age of 16 years.

No information is available nationally on transfers between different types of schools for pupils aged 16 or over. The proportions of English school fifth formers in 1980–81 in each type of maintained school who entered the sixth form of their own or any other maintained or independent school were as follows:

Type of school for fifth formers	Percentage entering a sixth form
Comprehensive up to 16 years	18
Comprehensive up to 18 years	33
Grammar	69
Other maintained (excluding sixth form college)	15
All maintained	29

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of the assisted places scheme for schools in Wales in 1982–83.

The Supply Estimates presented to Parliament for 1982–83 include £300,000 for the cost of the assisted places scheme in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which areas or towns failed to gain endorsement for special attention by the Development Board for Rural Wales within the board's area.

	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82 (provisional)	1982–83 (Estimate)
	£m
Grant in Aid	1·2	3·1	4·9	3·6	3·4	4·8
National Loans Fund	3·1	3·3	3·5	2·2	2·9	2·3
Housing Subsidies	1·2	1·5	1·6	1·7	1·8	1·9
	5·5	7·9	10·0	7·5	1·8	9·0

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

The board's overall policy of concentrating on Newtown, growth areas, special towns and key towns, together with a definition of those areas and towns is set out in its 1979 policy statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much of the area in Mid-Wales covered by the Development Board for Rural Wales has had assisted area status removed under the new arrangements.

Eight travel to work areas wholly within the board's area will lose their assisted area status on 1 August 1982, as will the Llandeilo travel-to-work area, part of which is in the board's area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total grant to the Development Board for Rural Wales per 100 persons unemployed in the board's area in each year since 1979.

In cash terms the net expenditure of the Development Board for Rural Wales per hundred persons unemployed in the board's area, based on the average number of persons registered as unemployed in each financial year, since 1978–79 has been as follows:

	£ million
1978–79	0.178
1979–80	0.249
1980–81	0.140
* 1981–82	0.110
* provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether assistance to each travel-to-work area within the area covered by the Development Board for Rural Wales reflects the percentage rate of unemployment.

A wide range of factors including unemployment is considered in determining the levels of assistance within the area covered by the Development Board for Rural Wales. In determining assisted area status all the factors laid down in the Industry Act 1972 are taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the total grant to the Development Board for Rural Wales for the year following 1 August; and what were the figures in each comparable period since the board was established.

The budget provision of the Development Board for Rural Wales is allocated to financial years. In cash terms the board's net expenditure funded through the Welsh Office for each financial year has been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for unemployment in each of the travel-to-work areas covered by the Development Board for Rural Wales.

On 10 June 1982 the numbers unemployed were as follows:

Travel to Work Area	Numbers Unemployed
Aberystwyth	1,136
Lampeter/Llandyssul*	1,099
Cardigan*	772
Barmouth	328
Blaenau Ffestiniog*	312
Tywyn	121
Brecon	546
Welshpool	695
Newtown	1,010
Machynlleth	246
Llandrindod Wells	796
Llandeilo*	385
* Only part of the travel to work area is within the DBRW area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of men and the number of women in employment in Wales in May of each year from 1974 to 1982.

Information concerning employees in employment is not available for May each year. Figures for June are given in the following table:

Number of Employees in Employment in Wales by Sex*
thousands
Year	Males	Females	Total
1974	621	371	992
1975	618	380	998
1976	612	383	995
1977	608	390	998
1978	613	402	1,015
1979	613	409	1,022
1980	590	396	986
1981	541	373	914
* Employees in Employment Census 1974–1978.

Department of Employment—Quarterly estimate series 1979–1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the average cost for new jobs created in Wales in 1981.

Information regarding the cost per job of Government assistance is available only in respect of regional selective assistance provided under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972. Offers of such assistance accepted during 1981 in respect of new and expansion projects in Wales represented on average £2,200 per job.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest total number of jobs that have been notified as lost in Wales since May 1979.

Comprehensive information is not available. Information on net changes in employment levels is best obtained from the estimates of employees in employment compiled by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. These estimates indicate that between June 1979 and December 1981, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a decrease of 127,000 in the number of employees in employment in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are his plans for the funding of concessionary loans for small businesses in mid-Wales.

As my hon. Friend the Member for Conway (Mr. Roberts) stated on 28 June, concessionary loans for small businesses in rural areas will continue to be available under existing guidelines.—[Vol. 26, c. 214.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are his plans for future funding under the provisions of the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 for industrial projects to create or safeguard jobs in de-scheduled travel-to-work areas.

I have nothing at present to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Hooson) on 28 June.—[Vol. 26, c. 214]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing details of the planned provision of £86 million for 1982–83 on industry, energy, trade and employment in Wales.

The details are shown in the following table:

	£ million at 1982–83 prices rounded
Selective Finance Assistance	13·40
Development Board for Rural Wales	9·50
Welsh Development Agency	58·65
Employment: Miscellaneous Support Services	4·45
	86·00

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the budget for the Welsh Development Agency for each year from 1982–83 to 1984–85 assumed in Cmnd. 8494.

The main public expenditure provision for the agency in 1982–83, included in table 2.16 of Cmnd. 8494, is £58·65 million; in addition £0·75 million is available to the agency from the European Coal and Steel Community. No breakdown of the provision shown in table 2.16 of Cmnd. 8494 can be given for later years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing, district by district, the area of factory space of which the Welsh Development Agency is expected to commence construction in 1982–83 and the area of land, district by district, which the Agency is expected to acquire and develop.

I have asked the Welsh Development Agency to provide the information to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, further to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, c. 16, he will, for the period 1 July 1981 to 31 March 1982, publish the numbers of accidents involving young people on youth opportunities programmes, and the numbers and nature of the physical injuries sustained.

In the period 1 July 1981 to 31 March 1982 there were 2,652 accidents reported on courses run under the youth opportunities programme. The numbers and nature of the physical injuries were:

Minor injuries	2,013
Fractures	453
Loss of part or whole finger, hand, toe or foot	32
Eye injury	34
Deaths	5
Others	115
	2,652

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any representations from the Federation of Associations of Specialists and Subcontractors on the question of the improved representation of sub-contractors on the Construction Industry Training Board.

My right hon. Friend and I have received representations from the federation that it should be consulted about the appointment of two employer members of the Construction Industry Training Board. I met the director of the federation today to discuss the matter and told him that I did not think that the federation's case was strong enough for me to agree to the proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he proposes to accept the Rayner review team's recommmendations regarding the running of nurse banks by jobcentres;(2) whether he is yet in a position to accept the Rayner review team's recommendation regarding the siting of jobcentres;(3) what steps he proposes to take with respect to the report of the Rayner review team in connection with the employment service division of the Manpower Services Commission; and if he will make a statement;(4) whether he proposes to accept the Rayner review team's recommendations regarding the employment service division use of the word "temps" and its marketing of the short-term placement service.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government cleaners' jobs have been lost in the last three years as a result of the introduction of contract cleaners in Government Departments.

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the expected cost to the Exchequer of reducing the proposed duty on amusement with prizes machines from £300 to £200.

It is estimated that the cost in a full year would be of the order of £3 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made since the reply to the hon. Member for Melton on 23 July 1981, Official Report, c. 192, in keeping down the level of price increases in the nationalised industries through genuine improvements in efficiency with what special effects on the retail prices index; and whether he will give examples for a sample of nationalised industries of what actual statistical improvements there have been in controlling price increases in 1981–82 compared with 1980–81.

The underlying trend in nationalised industry prices is improving steadily. Provided that industries continue to hold down their current costs through improvements in efficiency and other measures, I am hopeful this trend will continue.The following table sets out the percentage level of price increases in the 12-month periods up to July 1981 and May 1982:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown of the latest estimate of unused capital allowances, differentiated between manufacturing, distribution, financial and other business sectors.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1982, c. 56]: Estimates in the form requested can only be very approximate, but the amounts of unused capital allowances are reckoned to be of the order of:

	£ billion
Manufacturing	4½
Distribution	2
Financial	2
Other	4½

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average number of treatment visits for full-time dental officers in the school dental service in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for the area covered by the Staffordshire health authority.

The average number of treatment visits per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in England in 1980 was 2,574. The comparable figure for the area of the former Staffordshire area health authority was 2,683.The dental officers concerned spent some of their time treating patients other than in the school dental service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the finding of the latest census that one in six of the population is over the age of 65 years and one in 18 over the age of 75 years, he will take steps to make available to family medical practitioners extra financial incentives to look after people over 65 years and to reduce the need for hospitalisation.

The remuneration of general medical practitioners already provides for a higher level of capitation fee for patients aged 65 or more with a further increase for patients aged 75 or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to reply to the letter sent to him in April by the right hon. Member for Bristol, South-East about Matthew Needs who has suffered from vaccine damage; and about whose case he has received earlier letters from the right hon. Member.

I have now replied.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many human beings have died in the last five years from tuberculosis due to infected milk; what was the cause of the infection of the milk; and what steps he is taking to eliminate tuberculosis from milk.

Statistics on deaths from tuberculosis do not distinguish between infection of human, bovine and other types. Reports from the Public Health Laboratory Service and elsewhere suggest that the incidence of bovine tuberculosis is low. Most cases in which the bovine type of infection has been identified are thought to be due to a breakdown of infection acquired in the past.Because of the universal tuberculin-testing of herds in this country, with the additional safeguard that a very high proportion of all milk is pasteurised before sale, the current risk of contracting bovine tuberculosis through consuming milk is extremely small. Measures to ensure that milk cattle do not carry tuberculosis are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many valid certificates of exemption on income grounds from prescription charges are presently in circulation or have been issued in each of the past three years.

The number of certificates of exemption from prescription charges issued on grounds of low income in Great Britain for the years 1979, 1980 and 1981 are as follows. The number issued in Scotland is given in brackets. A certificate covers the holder and his dependants and can be valid for up to 12 months.

	Great Britain	(Scotland)
1979	18,791	(1,500)
1980	43,441	(3,309)
1981	131,600	(9,148)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors, nurses and non-medical staff were employed in the North Staffordshire health district in each of the last five years to the most convenient date.

The information requested could be provided by the Department only at disproportionate cost. The hon. Member should contact the local health authority about this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the quantity of valium prescribed for each year for the last 10 years together with details in each health authority area an the total cost in each of these years.

Information about the prescribing of individual drugs is of commercial value and it has not been the practice to divulge it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services further to his reply to the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 29 April, Official Report, c. 336, whether information on numbers of births in respect of 1981 is now available.

Not yet. It will be several months before the full information for 1981 is ready for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any controls exist to stop the possibility of queue jumping by private patients at the diagnostic stage of hospital patient service.

The Government have agreed six principles with the medical and dental professions to be observed in using NHS facilities for private patients. These recognise that earlier private consultation should not lead to earlier access to NHS diagnostic procedures, that common waiting lists should be used for highly specialised diagnosis, and that, after admission, access by all patients to diagnostic facilities should be governed by clinical considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his reasons for the recent decision not to charge Falkland Islanders for treatment by the National Health Service.

It is the Government's policy to offer appropriate help to the people of the Falkland Islands—a policy which I am sure has the hon. Members's full support.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many United Kingdom retirement pensioners were resident on the island of St. Helena at the last date for which figures are available: and what would be the estimated cost of bringing these retirement pensioners to parity with retirement pensions paid to residents of the United Kingdom.

At 31 December 1981 there were 23 people on the island of St. Helena in receipt of United Kingdom retirement pension. The annual cost, if these pensions were brought into parity with those payable in the United Kingdom, at November 1982 rates, would be £30,043.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South, Official Report, 29 March, column 31, he will give the latest available figures for the number of (a) one-parent families headed by a woman, (b) one-parent families headed by a man and (c) two-parent families who rely on (i) State benefits, (ii) earnings from employment, (iii) maintenance payments and (iv) other items, as their main source of income.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 24 June—[Vol. 26, c. 175–76.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South, Official Report 29 March, column 29, he will give the latest available figures of the numbers of one-parent families in receipt of supplementary benefit; how many of these are divorced, separated, single, widowed or are prisoners' wives; and in each category what is the total number of children involved, the average payment and how much of it is for housing costs:(2) whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South,

Information similar to that given in my previous reply will be available shortly from the December 1981 annual statistical inquiry. I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what advice the Committee on Safety of Medicines gives to doctors concerning the prescribing of the pregnancy-testing drug Primodos;(2) what adverse reactions have been reported connected with the pregnancy-testing drug Primodos;(3) if he is satisfied with the safety aspects of the pregnancy-testing drug Primodos.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1982, c. 291–92]: The indication for pregnancy-testing was removed from the product licences of a number of hormonal preparations, including Primodos, in 1975, because there was evidence of a possible association between taking these products and an increased incidence of congenital abnormalities. The Committee on Safety of Medicines—CSM—advised all doctors in June of that year that they should no longer be used for pregnancy-testing. No hormonal preparation is currently licensed for this indication. The product licence for Primodos expired in 1978 and it is therefore no longer marketed in the United Kingdom.The CSM has received 52 reports of adverse reactions suspected to have been associated with Primodos. These included reports of congenital malformations and of vascular disorders.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she will arrange for the document "List of Ministerial Responsibilities within Departments" to be republished so as to be available to hon. Members before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1982, c. 284]: I am sorry for the delay. Yes. Arrangements will be made for the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities within Departments" to be republished before the end of July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has information through the United Nations as to the number of people who have become refugees as a result of events leading up to the present critical state of affairs in Iran; and what steps, if any, his Department has taken through the United Nations to bring international pressure to bear on Iran to relieve the situation.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees does not collate statistics on refugees from Iran. Nor are accurate figures available elsewhere. In 1981 the Home Office received 1,589 applications from Iranians for political asylum in the United Kingdom; 1,216 applications were granted. We and our partners have made clear to the Iranian authorities our concern at reports on human rights violations in Iran. The United Nations Secretary-General will be submitting a report on human rights in Iran at the next session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what way the Western Contact Group's proposed fund for the support of the constitutional proposals for an independent South West Africa-Namibia will be used.

The Five recognise that Namibia will need development assistance after independence achieved in accordance with Security Council resolution 435. However, they have made no proposals on the purpose of such aid or on the form it might take.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have given consideration to the motion approved by the European Parliament on banning the use of plastic bullets; what action has been taken or is to be taken; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have taken note of the concern expressed by Members of the European Parliament and of the resolutions, although the latter are not binding. Policy on the use of plastic baton rounds is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the future constitution of the Royal ordnance factories, including the propellants, explosives and rocket motor establishment at Waltham Abbey.

As regards the future constitution of the ROFs, I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's statement on 20 May.—[Vol. 24, c. 151.] So far as the propellants, explosives and rocket motor establishment, Waltham Abbey, is concerned, certain of the capabilities at the establishment are likely to be included among the design and development capabilities transferred to ROF control in due course, but final decisions on this have not yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrears on mortgage repayments are owed to (a) the Greater London Council and (b) Hillingdon borough council by the Stonebridge housing association.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Strongbridge housing association. Mortgage arrangements were negotiated between this association and the GLC and Hillingdon borough council. Questions regarding arrears in repayments are therefore a matter for the local authorities acting as mortgagees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up a public inquiry into the outstanding debts owed to the Greater London Council and Hillingdon borough council by the Stonebridge housing association; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Strongbridge housing association. Statutory responsibility for the general conduct of individual housing associations lies with the housing corporation which is currently carrying out on behalf of all interested parties an assessment of the overall financial situation of this association and the South East regional housing association to which the Department will be contributing as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in whom the land zoned for the Mersey festival and garden centre will be vested once the exhibition has been held.

The site for the international garden festival of Liverpool is vested in the Merseyside Development Corporation, but negotiations are in progress for the transfer of the proposed exhibition building, arena and areas which will become public open space to Liverpool city council after the festival. Other areas are proposed for housing and light industrial uses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many exotic trees are to be planted for the Liverpool international garden festival 1984;(2) how much is to be spent on security for the 1984 Liverpool international garden festival;(3) what steps will be taken to protect the trees front vandalism at the Liverpool international garden festival 1984;(4) whether, in view of the choice of a garden site directly abutting the Mersey for the international garden festival, consideration has been given to the effects of sea water spray on the health of adjacent trees and plants.

These are all questions about the detailed design of the international garden festival of Liverpool and as such are matters for the Merseyside Development Corporation to determine.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he wall consider proposals to refurbish St. Michael's railway station, Liverpool, in view of the extra demand which the Mersey festival will place upon it.

The possible need for alterations at St. Michael's station to meet the needs of the international garden festival of Liverpool is, with other transport arrangents, currently under discussion between the Merseyside Development Corporation, British Rail and the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive. Conclusions have not yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment 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.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what purposes the £23 million aid planned for the Manchester-Salford inner city area will be used.

The allocation of £23·1 million for 1982–83 will be used to implement projects which meet the priorities of the partnership committee. The first of these is to concentrate resources on capital projects which improve the economy and upgrade the environment, involving the private sector wherever possible. Particular activities include direct assistance to firms, especially in industrial improvement areas, improvement of road access and buildings, provision of serviced land for redevelopment, removal of dereliction and other environmental improvement. Other priorities are to encourage the voluntary sector and alleviate the needs of the disadvantaged sections of the community.A list of the specific projects is included in a booklet to be published by the partnership very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the disposal of the former Royal Herbert military hospital buildings.

I have been asked to reply.About one-third of the site is required for NHS purposes. Disposal of the balance awaits planning clarification. The South East Thames regional health authority is currently preparing a revised planning application.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department in achieving the Government's policy programme since his predecessor's reply to the hon. Member for Melton on 6 July 1981, Official Report, column 41.

The position with regard to the principal elements of the Government's policy programme for Northern Ireland is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what co-operation is given by Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration to the Churches Central Committee for Community Work.

The Department of Education for Northern Ireland provides a grant to support the Churches Central Committee for Community Work in promoting initiatives in community work particularly in peace and reconciliation. The grant of £15,200 in 1982–83 will be used to meet the headquarters running costs of the committee, including part salaries of a full-time community liaison officer and a part-time secretary.In addition, active encouragement is given to the committee in the running of its annual history competition—Studying our Past—by providing the prize money and involvement of the inspectorate and the education advisers of the five education and library boards.Officials hold regular discussions with the committee about its work and problems. The monthly meetings of the committee are attended by observers from both the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date he proposes that the election to the Northern Ireland Assembly will be held; and how many constituencies he intends will be used for that election.

Subject to the progress of the Northern Ireland Bill currently before Parliament, it is the Government's intention that the election to the Northern Ireland Assembly should take place on 20 October. I am today laying a draft Order in Council for that purpose before Parliament. The order will be subject to affirmative resolution in each House.An election on 20 October would be held on the basis of the existing 12 Parliamentary constituencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Madrid: which Ministers of the Spanish Government he met; what were the matters of substance raised; and what conclusions were reached.

The main purpose of my short visit to Spain from 3 to 6 July was to attend the World Cup finals, particularly in view of the splendid progress being made in the competition by the Northern Ireland team, which is to be congratulated on reaching the quarter finals. But I also paid courtesy calls on His Majesty King Juan Carlos and on Sr. Perez-Llorca, the Spanish Foreign Minister. We had friendly, general discussions about matters of common interest to the United Kingdom and Spain.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total public service obligation figure paid by central Government in respect of Scottish rail lines, in cash and constant price terms, in each of the last three years.

The PSO grant is a block grant covering rail passenger services throughout Great Britain and a separate figure for Scotland is therefore not available.