asked the Minister for Trade how many bankruptcies there were in Glasgow in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and to date in 1982.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister for Trade if he will consider altering the provisions relating to the hire purchase of cars that one-third deposit is required and that the maximum period of repayment is two years, in order to increase the United Kingdom car-owning ratio.

The hire purchase controls are frequently reviewed. I shall bear in mind my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) if he will introduce amending legislation to enable producers and distributors of pre-recorded video cassetes and video discs to require wholesalers not to supply to copyright-infringing third parties the products of which the producers and the distributors are the copyright owners;(2) if he will publish in the

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

asked the Minister for Trade if any new proposals have been made by the United States Government with a view to resolving the dispute over import duties on steel.

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

asked the Minister for Trade (1) whether the regulations which he has made in response to the United States action on the Siberian pipeline contract are intended to have the effect of relieving British firms from any of their contractual obligations; and if he will make a statement;(2) what was the purpose of the regulations which he introduced in response to the United States action on the Siberian pipeline contract.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give advice to companies trading in South Africa which have received communication from the Centre on Transnational Corporations urging them to sever trading links with that country.

I have been asked to reply.The United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations has written to British companies with investments in South Africa in accordance with the terms of resolution 1981/86 of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which, inter alia, called upon all trans-national corporations to terminate their investments in that country. The Government voted against this resolution in accordance with their view that foreign companies with a presence in South Africa are in a position to influence events in a positive direction. My Department drew the attention of the Confederation of British Industry to the Government's position on the resolution and recommended that companies should reply to the centre pointing out the benefits their activities bring, particularly for non-whites in South Africa. This advice has also been given to individual companies which approached the Department direct on the subject. Ultimately, however, it is for the companies concerned to reach their own judgments on whether and how to reply to these letters.

asked the Minister for Trade what were the international passenger survey figures for immigrants and emigrants by sea and air from and to the New Commonwealth in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981; and, of the immigrants, how many were work permit holders and how many were dependants.

I have been asked to reply.The estimated number of migrants between the United Kingdom and the New Commonwealth were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry 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 29 June 1981, Official Report, c. 265.

The Department of Industry has continued to make steady progress in achieving the Government's programme.The programme of reducing State ownership and exposing nationalised industries to the forces of competition has been furthered by the flotation of Cable and Wireless and the passage of the British Telecommunication Act. Private firms may now obtain licences from the Department to offer value added services to BT's network and the world's first competitive telecommunications network has been licensed.The objective of attracting private sector capital has resulted in the sale or disposal of the National Enterprise Board's interests in 24 companies. The NEB has continued to operate under its revised guidelines of August 1980, making investments in high technology companies. The NEB and NRDC are now working under a common board and the joint name British Technology Group. The Department's expenditure plans for industrial support in 1982–83 and beyond reflect my policy to reduce spending as on the casualties of the past, become less dependent on public funds, and to increase support for new technology and industrial innovation.In Information Technology Year, the Government have organised many events and an additional £130 million has been made available for 1982–83 to support advanced technology. New schemes have been introduced for flexible manufacturing systems, computer-aided design, fibre optics and advanced office systems. The microelectronics applications project has continued in operation and the Micro-electronic industry support programme and the robotics scheme remain open for applications.Grants under the Science and Technology Act and innovation-linked schemes under section 8 of the Industry Act have been increased to 33⅓ per cent. for a limited period. Steps have been taken to encourage the development of broad band cable systems and direct broadcasting by satellite.More than 80 per cent. of secondary schools have acquired a microcomputer under the micros in schools scheme.The programme of focusing the Government's regional assistance to industry more on areas most in need was confirmed in my statement to the House on 28 June.Small businesses are benefiting from measures announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement which, amongst other things, made more money available for the successful loan guarantee scheme; from the small firms service which has continued to expand; and from a new small firms technical inquiry service. The small engineering firms investment scheme introduced this year to stimulate investment in advanced capital equipment has been a resounding success.Other measures taken to help industry include widening the scope of the coal-firing scheme; the introduction of the private sector steel scheme and the steel casting self-help levy scheme; and the suspension of industrial development certificate controls on industrial location.My Department continues to speak for industry. The 1982 Budget reflected the priority which Her Majesty's Government give to measures to help industry to cut costs, increase efficiency and improve profitability.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the duties of Mr. Peter Gent, as representative of Her Majesty's Government at the United Nations Commission on Transnational Corporations.

Representation of Her Majesty's Government at the United Nations Commission on Transnational Corporations is provided by the industrial and commercial policy A division of my Department, of which Mr. Gent is currently a member. The duties include putting the Government's view on items under consideration at the annual sessions of the Commission; participation in the ongoing negotiations on a United Nations code of conduct on transnational corporations; and liaison with British companies on the activities of the United Nations on Transnational Corporations. If my hon. Friend has anything specific in mind, I should be happy to write to him about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has received representations from British motor manufacturers and from components manufacturers about the proposed Nissan-Datsun plant.

We have naturally received representations on various aspects of Nissan's proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he proposes to meet representatives of the Nissan company to clarify the position of the proposed Nissan-Datsun plant in the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend will be meeting with representatives of the company before the end of the month.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the future of the proposed Nissan-Datsun plant.

My right hon. Friend will make a statement at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has received representations from the European Commission or from national Governments in the Community about the proposed Datsun plant.

We have received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry by what percentage production in manufacturing industry fell between June 1979 and May 1982; and how this compares with the percentage increase or decrease in production in manufacturing industry over the previous three years in May of every year since 1948.

Between the first half of 1979 and the three months ended May 1982 the index of manufacturing production fell by some 14 per cent. However, the decline was halted in the first half of last year and the underlying level of manufacturing output in the latest three months was around 2½ per cent. above its low point in the spring of last year.Such estimates as are readily available for earlier periods are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry 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.

Pay increases in nationalised industries are a matter for their respective boards.Workers in the other public sector bodies for which I have responsibility are paid by analogy with Civil Service grades. They have, therefore, received increases in basic pay ranging from 4·75 per cent. to 6·25 per cent., with an average increase of 5·9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry to what extent those State enterprises for which his Department is responsible may carry over a percentage of capital expenditure from one year to the next in the event of an under or over spend.

External financing limits for the nationalised industries are not allocated between capital and current expenditure. On 4 August 1980 my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a measure of end of year flexibility which came into effect in 1981–82. This allows the nationalised industries to exceed the current year's external financing limit by up to 1 per cent. of forecast turnover and fixed investment expenditure on condition that an equal deduction is made from the following year's external financial limit. There is no comparable provision in the case of an underspend.In the case of BL and Rolls-Royce, it is for the company to decide the allocation of capital expenditure between one year and the next, within the context of its approved corporate plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money has been given by his Department in financial support to the carpet industry since 1 January 1975; what form this assistance has taken and under which schemes it has been given; 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, (d) in Wales and (e) in Scotland.

Selective financial assistance in the form of grants has been made available to companies in the carpet industry under sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 for the period 1 January 1975 to 30 April 1982 as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the response of the European Commission to his proposals for the review of assisted area status.

The Commission is currently considering the changes in assisted areas which my right hon. Friend announced on 28 June.—[Vol. 26, c. 610–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to the Post Office to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

Yes. Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Monday 19 July to Friday 23 July 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply of 12 July, when he expects to receive firm proposals from Johnson Firth Brown and British Steel on the proposed Phoenix III joint venture and if he will now ask the companies to provide him with information as to the amount of assistance they will need, the employment implications of the proposals, details of any other companies that will be involved and when consultations with the trade unions will take place.

The companies concerned have yet to put forward firm proposals. The Government's approval of such proposals—and the provision of any financial assistance—will be conditional on, among other points, the receipt of the information listed by the hon. Member. It will be for the companies to decide when to consult the trade unions.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1982, c. 257]: My right hon. Friend is in regular contact with Mr. MacGregor about the corporation's progress and prospects.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1982, c. 261]: In his statement on regional industrial policy on 28 June my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry announced further changes in the coverage of the assisted areas from 1 August this year which will increase the percentage of the working population of Great Britain covered by them from around 26 per cent., as originally proposed, to about 27 per cent. The additional expenditure expected to arise in 1982–83 from this increase in coverage and the changes in grading announced at the same time is estimated at about £6 million.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the latest position in the Falklands.

The final group of 593 Argentine prisoners of war were disembarked at Puerto Madryn in Argentina on 14 July.The programme of immediate rehabilitation work is being pursued with urgency. Emergency repairs to essential services are largely complete. Equipment and materials for further reconstruction work are being acquired and shipped. A great deal remains to be done to make good the damage and loss caused by the Argentine invasion, and work will have to continue for several months yet.I report with regret that 11 soldiers were injured at Port Stanley on the afternoon of 13 July, when an RAF Harrier inadvertently released two sidewinder missiles.Sadly, two of the men are seriously ill, and four have had limbs amputated. Six men were from the Welsh Guards, four from 5 Brigade Signal Squadron, and one was a Royal Engineer.A board of inquiry has already been set up, and its findings will be published as soon as they are available. The next of kin of all except one have now been informed. In the one remaining case the man's family have been informed in the absence of his next of kin.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will, prior to the setting up of any inquiry, publish a White Paper listing each item of information received by Her Majesty's Government in the two weeks before the invasion of the Falkland Islands, relating to the preparations being made by Argentina.

No, but all the relevant information will be available to the inquiry.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in calculating the entitlement of Falkland Islanders to compensation or grants for rehabilitation or community projects, Her Majesty's Government will exclude any receipts by them from the Falklands appeal.

I am not in a position to give my hon. Friend a full answer. But we shall naturally wish to avoid duplication of effort in respect of the wide range of work specified in my hon. Friend's question. But the level of Government aid will not be adjusted to take account of the scale of assistance which will be available through the Falklands appeal.

asked the Prime Minister whether, following the indisposition of Lord Franks, she proposes to make any changes to the arrangements for the Falkland Islands review.

No. The Government made the appointment in the knowledge that Lord Franks was due to have medical treatment which would mean that for a short time he would be unavailable, and on the understanding that he should proceed with that treatment.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 15 July.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministrial colleagurs and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall have further meetings later today. This afternoon I shall leave for a visit to Dorset.

asked the Prime Minister if she will transfer responsibility for the security services to a Department of State not headed by the Prime Minister.

The Home Secretary is directly responsible for the Security Service. Relations between the Security Service and Ministers are governed by the directive given to the director general of the Security Service by the then Home Secretary, Sir David Maxwell Fyfe in 1952. I see no reason to alter the lines of responsibility or change the principles contained in this directive.

asked the Prime Minister if she will review the allocation of responsibilities between her right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Attorney-General with regard to charities.

No. I am satisfied with the present position.

asked the Prime Minister if she will arrange for a greater proportion of journeys on official business, by Ministers and officials, to be made by public transport.

Ministers and officials understand clearly that journeys on official business should be undertaken by the most efficient and cost-effective means.Ministers in charge of Departments and their permanent secretaries are well aware of their responsibilities for enforcing this practice.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the state of United Kingdom relations with the Republic of Ireland.

Relations with the Republic have suffered in recent weeks because of the Irish Government's attitudes over European Community sanctions against Argentina, and because of some lack of consultation over Irish actions in the Security Council.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on the United Nations' Second Special Session on Disarmament.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave an account of the outcome of the Special Session on 13 July in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman).—[Vol. 27, c. 356.] The report of proceedings adopted will be placed in the Library of the House.

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

One, and some 140.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list the occasions and dates since 1 July 1981 when she has met official representatives of the Trades Union Congress at a formal meeting to discuss policy issues, excluding meetings with Civil Service unions, to discuss Whitley conditions; and whether there has been any occasion when she has refused to meet a Trades Union Congress deputation after the congress had officially requested one.

The information is as follows.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will appoint an additional Minister to the Welsh Office with responsibility for agriculture and food; and if she will make a statement.

No.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson) on Thursday 8 July, Official Report, c. 159, whether arrangements will be made for the close relatives of those men buried at sea to be able to lay wreaths over the spot where their ship was sunk.

We shall be offering to close relatives of those men buried at sea the opportunity to travel to the Falklands and visit the area. The wishes of the relatives concerned will be taken into account as far as is possible in making the detailed arrangements for such visits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the results of the 1981 European Community screening programme of (a) children living around Abbey Wood lead works and (b) children of Abbey Wood lead workers compare with similar surveys conducted in 1979.

In the case of the two groups of Greenwich children, the proportion with blood-lead levels below 20 micrograms/100 millilitres—the lowest of the three reference levels—increased from 92 per cent. to 97 per cent. for children living near the battery factory and from 89 per cent. to 92 per cent. for the workers' children. Further information on this welcome improvement is available in the reports on the 1979 and 1981 surveys, which I have placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make special provision to accommodate voluntary organisations wishing to comment on the discussion document on the implementation of section 6 of the Disabled Persons Act 1981, in view of the difficulties in consulting local branches over the summer holiday period and the deadline of 13 August, which he announced when publishing the discussion document on 5 July.

We will consider responses to our consultation letter of 5 July from any interested organisation. Where possible we will take note of late replies, but we do not intend to extend the formal consultation period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has considered the listing of the Oxo tower by Blackfriars Bridge, in view of its significance to the architecture of the 1930s.

The possibility of listing the Oxo Tower was considered in 1979 and again in 1980. On each occasion it was judged not to warrant inclusion in the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.I have reconsidered the case, but my judgment remains that the building does not warrant listing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional mileage of canals has become available for leisure activities in each of the past five years.

Following are the figures for such canals within the British Waterways Board network:Board network:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it remains his policy to discourage sporting links with South Africa under the Gleneagles agreement.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether representations have been made to him about the application of the Gleneagles agreement to the proposed soccer tour of South Africa.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the results of the Stockholm acidification conference.

I represented the United Kingdom at the conference, which agreed that further concrete action is urgently needed within the framework of the convention on long range transboundary air pollution to reduce air pollution, including long range pollution. The conference proposed that action should include consultations within the framework of the convention with the purpose of establishing concerted programmes for the reduction of sulphur emissions, taking into account environmental needs, socio-economic priorities and energy considerations. It also proposed the use of best available and economically feasible technology for the reduction of sulphur emissions; support for research and development of advanced control technologies; further development of energy conservation measures and further development of monitoring in both North America and Europe.Copies of the official record of the conference will, when available, be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people were registered at each of the employment offices in North Staffordshire at the most recent date for which figures are available.

The numbers of registered disabled people unemployed at each of the jobcentres in North Staffordshire at 10 June 1982, the latest date for which figures are available, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the total unemployed were registered disabled people at each of the employment offices in North Staffordshire at the most recent date for which figures are available.

The percentage of the total number of unemployed people who were registered as disabled at each of the jobcentres in North Staffordshire at 10 June 1982, the latest date for which figures are available, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the occasions and dates since 8 July 1981 when he or any of his departmental Ministers have met official representatives of the Trades Union Congress at a formal meeting to discuss policy issues, excluding meetings with departmental unions about Whitley conditions; and whether there has been any occasion when he has refused to meet a Trades Union Congress deputation after the congress has officially requested one.

Since taking office on 15 September 1981, I or my junior Ministers have met every Trades Union Congress deputation that has been officially requested. These formal meetings with official TUC representatives have taken place in my Department on the following dates:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers registered as unemployed in Birkenhead in May 1979 and at the latest available date; and if he will divide the data according to whether the claimant was male or female.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East on 25 June, Official Report, c. 193,

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the numbers currently employed in the United Kingdom in tourism, both on a full-time and a part-time basis.

The precise information is not available. My Department's employment statistics are analysed according to the 1968 Standard Industrial Classification which does not identify tourism as a separate industry. The followng table gives the estimated numbers of employees in employment for some industries closely associated with tourism. Figures are given for December 1981, the latest available, and also for June 1981. These estimates distinguish females, but not males, employed on a part-time basis.he will give a breakdown of deaths and injuries on farms for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively.

The following table shows the number of deaths and non-fatal injuries which have occurred as a result of agricultural operations during the period 1972–81. Figures are shown for Scotland, and for England and Wales together; figures for Wales alone cannot be obtained without disproportionate expenditure of effort. Details of fatal injuries only are shown for Northern Ireland as details of non-fatal injuries there are not collected. Deaths include those to employees, and others including the self-employed, children—under 16 years of age—and other non-employees. Non-fatal injuries include employees only.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he proposes to accept the Rayner review team's recommendations 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1981, c. 403]: I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the review team's recommendations. Its report is being considered in the first instance by the Manpower Services Commission which will be reporting its conclusions to Ministers.The review team was specifically asked to look at the relationship between the services provided by the public employment service and those provided by the private sector, a matter on which the Federation of Personnel Services and others had expressed concern. I am aware that the recommendations to which my hon. Friend refers are of particular interest to the private sector. I have already made clear that I welcome recent moves to improve co-operation between the public employment service and the private sector. I trust this will develop further, and in this context I am sure that early decisions on the report's recommendations will be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of any further investigations being carried out by his Department on tidal power; and when he expects to produce reports.

The Government will make a statement when they have reached a decision on the future of the Severn Barrage studies. No commissioned investigations are in hand at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent those State enterprises for which his Department is responsible may carry over a percentage of capital expenditure from one year to the next in the event of an under or overspend.

On 4 August 1980 my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced arrangements under which nationalised industries may exceed the current year's external financing limit by up to 1 per cent. of forecast turnover and fixed investment expenditure on condition that an equal deduction is made from the following year's limit. The arrangement does not distinguish between capital and current expenditure; and it does not cover underspends.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of (a) United Kingdom oil reserves offshore and (b) United Kingdom oil reserves inshore; what percentages of these totals are reckoned to be economically recoverable; and whether any oil reserves previously regarded as economically or practically irrecoverable have subsequently been recovered.

The remaining recoverable reserves on the UKCS are currently estimated to lie in the range 2,050 million to 4,250 million tonnes, of which about 30 million to 75 million tonnes are attributable to onshore discoveries.Currently recoveries of oil from oil fields on the UKCS normally lies in the range 25–50 per cent. of the initial oil in place and the recoverable reserves quoted above are based on in place quantities of oil which are about three times as large.Production from United Kingdom oil fields is still in its early stages and all oil produced to date can be attributed to reserves that have been considered as recoverable since the completion of the original field appraisals.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Communities' Council of Energy Ministers on 13 July.

The Council of Ministers—Energy—met on 13 July.Sir Donald Maitland, permanent under-secretary of state at the Department of Energy represented the United Kingdom.The Council discussed recent developments in the energy markets and reviewed the progress made by all member States in reducing dependence on imported oil and in more efficient use of energy. The Council reaffirmed this strategy. The Council saw no evidence that the more relaxed oil market was leading to any slackening of effort towards achieving the Community's agreed goals.The Commission is to report to the next meeting of the Council in November on the outcome of its sectoral studies on the application of pricing policies.The Council adopted recommendations on further efforts to achieve a more rational use of energy, including arrangements for the Commission to monitor progress. These recommendations emphasise the importance of applying sound energy pricing policies. The United Kingdom delegation welcomed this and stressed the need for the Commission to use realistic indicators in assessing progress.The Council adopted conclusions on nuclear energy. These underline the conviction that nuclear energy can make a greater contribution to the electricity needs of the Community as well as the economic advantages which industry can derive from nuclear energy through lower costs.The Council agreed to make a fresh attempt to devise a Community strategy for coal. I welcome this initiative, which I hope will lead to practical recognition of the long term importance of coal production on an economic basis within the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in support of his policy of reducing the prison population and in view of the estimated savings of £610,000 per week if prisoners on remand were released, he will introduce permanent legislation to enable him to order the release of persons who have been imprisoned who have not been convicted of any crime.

We do not intend to seek such powers. Whether a person charged with an offence should be remanded in custody or released on bail must be for the courts to decide. As I explained to the hon. Member on 7 July—[Vol. 27, c. 118.]—the release of remand prisoners would produce only marginal savings which cannot be quantified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners became married during each of the last three years for which the figures are available.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions for use of illegal citizens band equipment have been made in the last three months to date.

During the first four months of this year more than 960 persons were successfully prosecuted for installation or use of illegal citizens band radio. Similar information for May and June is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for the use of illegal citizens band equipment are currently pending.

No central record is kept of the number of prosecutions pending.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, further to his answer of 18 February, Official Report, c. 192, his Department is now in a position to estimate the numbers of (a) owners and (b) users of illegal citizens' band equipment.

I regret that it remains the position that the information available to us does not enable us to make a reliable estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist to allow voting by proxy at parish council elections; and if he will make a statement.

There are at present no arrangements which enable absent electors at parish and community council elections to vote by proxy, but we are looking into the possibility of providing them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken from application to determination of claims for compensation under the criminal injuries scheme in England and Wales in each of the last three years; and if he is satisfied that there is sufficient staff to operate the scheme efficiently.

Information available on the time taken by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to resolve cases relates only to Great Britain as a whole. The figures for 1981–82 are not yet available, but those for the previous three years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning his powers in relation to the conduct of affairs relating to the Charity Commissioners; and whether he will make a statement.

None, apart from the hon. Gentleman's. I am satisfied with my present powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had recently with local authorities and others on civil defence matters.

My Department is in close and continuing touch with a wide range of bodies, including individual local authorities, concerned with civil defence planning. On 14 July I attended the annual study of the Association of Civil Defence and Emergency Planning Officers, as did the Minister of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal convictions there have been in the Metropolitan Police area during the last three 12-month periods for which statistics are available and what were the maximum penalties imposed on persons found guilty of offences under subsections (1) and (2) of section 21 of the Copyright Act 1956.

Records available to us, which may be incomplete, show that in 1978 and 1979 no persons were found guilty in England and Wales of offences under secton 21 of the Coyright Act 1956. In 1980 three persons were found guilty in the Metropolitan Police district of conspiracy to contravene section 21(1) of the Act. All of these three were fined, and the largest fine imposed was £2,500. Information for 1981 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the current level of take-up of Her Majesty's Government's repatriation scheme.

In the first quarter of the current financial year 35 persons were assisted under the repatriation scheme operated under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland 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 Attorney-General (1) how many applications for the magistrates' bench were received annually for the period 1971 to 1981; what percentage of these applicants were successful in each of the years; what is the breakdown of (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applicants by social class (Registrar General's classification); and if he will consider making available to the unsuccessful applicants the reasons for their rejection;(2) if he will estimate the percentage of magistrates drawn from the ethnic minorities.(3) if he will publish a list of the bodies invited to make nominations to the magistrates' bench.

Ninety-six advisory committees representing the various geographical areas of England and Wales other than the Duchy of Lancaster make annual recommendations to the Lord Chancellor regarding new appointments to the magisterial benches within their respective areas. It is to these committees that applications are initially made, and no central record is kept of the number of such applications or the proportion of them which are successful or otherwise or of the number of magistrates appointed who belong to ethnic minorities. The collection of such information would entail disproportionate expenditure of public time and money. Any person, individual or corporate, may recommend a candidate for appointment as a magistrate, and the bodies specifically invited to make such recommendations vary very greatly from area to area.The process of selection of suitable candidates, including interviews, is conducted on a confidential basis and it would not be generally either desirable or practicable to inform unsuccessful candidates of the reason or reasons for the decision not to recommend them to the Lord Chancellor for appointment. Speaking generally, however, the criteria are (i) personal suitability for judicial work (ii) balance of the whole local bench between sexes, political affiliations, occupational and social background. Experience in voluntary, community or public work is also considered a favourable factor. Where these considerations are adequately met, the Lord Chancellor encourages nominations of suitable candidates by advisory committees from members of ethnic minorities.

asked the Attorney-General what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the granting of legal aid to those declared vexatious litigants; and how much has been given to such persons for any stated period of time.

Legal aid cannot be given to such a person, whether or not an order has been made against him under section 42 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 restricting litigation without leave of the court, unless he shows reasonable grounds for taking, defending or being a party to proceedings. I understand that the Law Society has no record of a person against whom such an order has been made engaging in legally aided litigation without leave of the court nor of legal aid being granted to such a person in order to obtain leave.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many million tonne-kilometres of freight were carried in Great Britain in 1981 by (a) road, (b) rail, (c) pipeline and (d) inland waterway.