asked the Minister for Trade what assistance is being given by his Department to British Aerospace in selling the BAe 146.

A wide range of my Department's services to exporters are available to help British Aerospace. In addition, ECGD's normal facilities are available to support sales of the BAe 146. Discussions are taking place between ECGD and BAe and its financial advisers on the particular application of these facilities.

asked the Minister for Trade what actions lie within his responsibilities to help prevent the practice of glue sniffing among young people; if he will assess what action can be taken to prevent the addition of intoxicating substances to glue; and if he will make a statement.

My responsibilities are confined to the supply of any products that can be misused in this way, where they fall within my general responsibility for the safety of goods for the consumer. I understand that removing the intoxicating substances from glue would make it in most cases useless for its proper purpose. The same would apparently be true of the many other products that can be "sniffed". So it appears that any steps I might take to stop the sniffing of products containing intoxicating substances would prevent their legitimate use.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he has received any representations regarding erasers that resemble sweets; and what reply he has sent.

I have received many representations and would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Grinstead (Sir G. Johnson Smith) on 8 November 1982.—[Vol. 31, c. 28–29.]

asked the Minister for Trade if he is satisfied with the operation, enforcement and effectiveness of the new regulations relating to both fibre content and origin labelling in goods.

It is too soon to draw firm conclusions on the operation of the origin marking Order, which has been in force for less than a year. I am keeping its effectiveness under careful review in consultation with the trading standards service. The operation of the fibre content regulations is a matter for my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Industry.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will allow cargo to be carried by passenger charter airlines operating between Canada and United Kingdom provincial airports; and if he will make a statement.

As part of my Department's continuing policy of liberalisation in aviation matters, I have now decided, after a careful examination of the various airport and airlines interests involved, and in the light of discussions with the Canadian authorities, to propose to the Canadians arrangements to allow passenger charter airlines to carry cargo between Canada and United Kingdom airports outside London with effect from 1 April 1983.Certain restrictions will apply to the carriage of cargo from Canada to the United Kingdom in view of the limited freedom which the Canadians are prepared to allow United Kingdom cargo airlines operating from Canada. I hope that the Canadians will agree to dispense with these limitations in due course. I believe that this decision will be particularly welcome at Manchester.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will allow cargo to be carried by passenger charter airlines operating between Canada and United Kingdom provincial airports; and if he will make a statement.

As part of my Department's continuing policy of liberalisation in aviation matters, I have now decided, after a careful examination of the various airport and airlines interests involved, and in the light of discussions with the Canadian authorities, to propose to the Canadians arrangements to allow passenger charter airlines to carry cargo between Canada and United Kingdom airports outside London with effect from 1 April 1983.Certain restrictions will apply to the carriage of cargo from Canada to the United Kingdom in view of the limited freedom which the Canadians are prepared to allow United Kingdom cargo airlines operating from Canada. I hope that the Canadians will agree to dispense with these limitations in due course. I believe that this decision will be particularly welcome at Prestwick.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) what progress there has been in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority in ensuring the proper airworthiness standards of microlight aircraft and powered hang-gliders;(2) whether he has discussed the question of the control of microlight aircraft with the Civil Aviation Authority; and whether any new initiatives are planned in this area;(3) what progress has been made in the discussions regarding the control and licensing of microlight aircraft;(4) which authorities are responsible for the control of microlight aircraft; and if he is planning any change in the control and use of the aircraft.(5) what is the current number of registered microlight aircraft or powered hang-gliders in the United Kingdom.

The problems created by microlight aeroplanes (which include powered hang-gliders) have been a cause of concern to both my Department and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which has the prime responsibility for their regulation; my Department's responsibility is for their environmental impact. We have been working together to see how best to alleviate the annoyance caused by this sport, and to ensure that it is carried out safely. I am satisfied that these responsibilities are properly defined. I have also discussed the subject with the representative bodies. Some means of regulation is undoubtedly desirable, but my Department and the CAA are anxious not to impose undue restrictions on the use of these aeroplanes.Microlight aeroplanes, like all other aircraft, have to be flown in conformity with the rules of the air and air traffic control, and now have to be registered with the Authority. At 11 November 1982, some 978 were so registered. The Authority introduced formal pilot licensing requirements from 1 September this year, and are also drawing up in conjunction with the representative bodies airworthiness requirements in the form of a "permit to fly" for aeroplanes with an empty weight of between 70 and 150Kg. These requirements should be promulgated early next year.My Department has recently commissioned two studies into the noise levels created by these aeroplanes, and, when the results are available, we shall consider what might be done to reduce the noise at source, and whether formal controls should be introduced.

asked the Minister for Trade whether Her Majesty's Government will oppose any changes in the Paris convention governing patents which would give developing countries the right, under the international convention, to award exclusive compulsory licences under patents allegedly underworked or abused, or which would exclude the patent owner himself from operating the patented invention in that country.

Negotiations continue on the sanctions which may be applied in cases of underworking or abuse of patents. The text which resulted from last year's session of the conference to revise the Paris convention and which permitted the exclusive compulsory licence as one of the sanctions is to be re-examined at a meeting of the conference next week. Her Majesty's Government are fully aware of industry's views on the matter and indeed its long-term interests are our prime consideration in the negotiations.

asked the Minister for Trade what were the claims for expenses by the present chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Consultative Council for each quarter from 1 January 1979 to 30 September 1982.

Following is the information:

	1979	1980	1981	1982
	£	£	£	£
Quarter 1	1,784	1,886	2,431	—
Quarter 2	1,718	2,186	2,288	—
Quarter 3	1,823	1,986	2,472	—
Quarter 4	2,070	2,271	2,227	—

asked the Minister for Trade on what date the present chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Consultative Council was appointed; on what date his term of office expires; and if he is eligible for reappointment at that date.

The chairman of this council was first appointed on 18 January 1974 and reappointed in January 1977 and January 1980. His present appointment expires on 17 January 1983. All area ECC chairmen may be considered for reappointment when their term of office expires.

asked the Minister for Trade what annual salary is currently paid for the part-time appointment as chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Consultative Council; and what was the level of that salary in each of the years 1979, 1980 and 1981.

The part-time chairmen of area electricity consultative councils are currently paid at an annual rate of £6,406. The rate was £5,620 between 1 April 1981 and 31 March 1982; £5,250 between 1 April 1980 and 31 March 1981; and £3,780 between 1 January 1979 and 31 March 1980.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the provision of Companies House information through public libraries;(2) how many times over the past six months officials of his Department attended meetings to discuss the provision of Companies House information through public libraries with organisations or groups representing search agents.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what action he intends to take to secure returns from companies in default of section 353 of the Companies Act 1948.

None, since companies are not required by section 353 of the Companies Act 1948 to make returns.

asked the Minister for Trade if he has yet instituted the major review of the Government's policy on the film industry as indicated by the Minister for Consumer Affairs in the House on 21 July,Official Report, column 502; if so, what are the terms of reference of that review; when it is expected to report; and if it will be published.

My review is considering all aspects of the Department of Trade's relations with the film industry, and their implications for other Departments and the organisations concerned. The later stages are unlikely to be completed before March 1983. I shall inform the House of any proposals for action resulting from the review.

asked the Minister for Trade whether, in the review of the British film industry announced on 21 July, Official Report, column 502, he has consulted the following: the National Film Finance Corporation, the British Film Institute, the National Film School, the film industry trade unions, the Association of Independent Producers, and the British Film and Television Producers Association.

I hope to meet all the bodies listed.

asked the Minister for Trade if he has any proposals to dismantle the Interim Action Committee on the film industry.

The future of the Interim Action Committee is under review.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will take into consideration the section on the British film industry in the eighth report of the Select Committee on Education, Science and Arts, concerning the public and private funding of the arts, in the announced review of the film industry.

Yes.

asked the Minister for Trade if the proposed regulation of the European Economic Community to change the tied house system in the licensed trade has been finalised; when he expects it to come into operation; and if he will make copies available to hon. Members.

The Commission's regulation has not yet been finalised and I understand its introduction, which had been planned for 1 January 1983, will now be deferred for six months or a year to allow more time for discussion of the proposal.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will seek to legislate to strengthen the safety rules for helicopters entering or leaving airports when the flight route passes over domestic and industrial buildings adjacent to the airport; and if he will make a statement.

Helicopters are required to observe the rules of the air and air traffic control notified in Statutory Instrument No. 1965/1980, The Air Navigation Order 1980. I am advised that these rules are adequate to ensure the safety of both helicopters and third parties on the ground.

asked the Minister for Trade how many inspectors from his Department are responsible for testing the safety of helicopters operating between Aberdeen airport and the oil rigs in the North Sea; and if he will make a statement.

Statutory responsibility for regulating the safety of helicopters operating between Aberdeen airport and the oil rigs in the North Sea rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. I have asked the chairman to write to my hon. Friend with the information.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) what further progress has been made in his investigations into the safety of helicopters flying from Aberdeen airport to and from the North Sea; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many accidents have occurred to helicopters operating between Aberdeen airport and the North Sea oil rigs in the years 1979 to 1981 and for the current year; and how many casualties were involved;(3) if he will carry out a public inquiry into the operation of helicopters from Aberdeen airport to the oil rigs in the North Sea; and if he will make a statement.

Since January 1979 there has been one reported accident to a helicopter operating between Aberdeen airport and the North Sea oil rigs. It occurred in January 1981 and there were no casualties.Statutory responsibility for regulating the safety of helicopters operating in the North Sea rests with the Civil Aviation Authority, which keeps safety matters constantly under review.Over the past 12 years some eight million passengers have been carried. There have been three fatal accidents, and twenty five people have been killed. Any fatal accident is greatly to be regretted, but in comparison with any public air transport activity the safety record has been a remarkably good one.

asked the Minister for Trade if the receiver dealing with the collapse of Laker Airways has yet filed with the Registrar of Companies a copy of the statement of affairs prepared by the directors of the company; and if the receiver made any comments on the statement.

No.

asked the Minister for Trade what information he has as to the total liabilities still outstanding to the creditors of Laker Airways; and what are the amounts owing to the various types of creditors concerned.

I am informed by the receivers that total ascertained liabilities have been estimated at £260 million. Just under 17,000 people held scheduled tickets on Skytrain with a total value estimated at £3·85 million. Some of them were able to use their return coupons with other airlines. How many remain with unused coupons is not yet known. A further 139,000 people had paid in part or in full for a package holiday. Total liabilities are about £6 million, which can be met in full out of bonding arrangements and the air travel reserve fund. I have no further information on the amounts owing to individual creditors.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will take steps to secure the continuance of the London to Inverness domestic air service.

Following the announcement by British Airways that they intended to withdraw from this route in spring 1983, three applications from private sector airlines were swiftly made to the Civil Aviation Authority for a licence to operate this service. A public hearing is to be held in January. The normal licensing procedures must be allowed to proceed. The three private sector airlines are Dan-Air, British Midland Airways and G B Airways.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will carry out an investigation into the circumstances under which a twin-engined Air Ecosse Bandeirante aircraft was forced to land in a barley field at Hatton in the Aberdeenshire, East constituency on Satuday 6 November; and if he will make a statement.

The incident is presently the subject of a preliminary investigation by my Department's accident investigation branch in order that the Chief Inspector of Accidents may determine whether a full inspector's investigation needs to be carried out.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list, on an annual basis, all cuts in public expenditure in excess of £5 million, which he has made since May 1979 at both current and 1982 prices, indicating in each case the size of the cut as a percentage of the departmental budget for that year.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the relevant Public Expenditure White Papers (Cmnd. 7746, 7841, 8175 and 8494) and to the Autumn Statement laid before the House on 8 November last. I regret that a comprehensive analysis in the form requested could be provided only with a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Minister for Trade, during the years 1971, 1976 and 1981, how many cases of prosecutions against individuals or companies in respect of offences relating to breaches of the Companies Acts were reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions which were not subsequently proceeded with through the courts.

I have been asked to reply on behalf of my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Trade.

Percentage of income paid in income tax and national insurance contributions
	Half average earnings		Three quarters average earnings		Average earnings		One and half time average earnings		Twice average earnings
	Tax	Nic	Tax	Nic	Tax	Nic	Tax	Nic	Tax	Nic
Single Person
1981–82	17·7	7·7	21·8	7·6	23·8	7·7	25·9	7·7	27·5	6·0
1982–83	17·1	8·7	21·4	8·7	23·6	8·7	25·7	8·7	26·9	6·9
Married couple without children
1981–82	10·7	7·7	17·2	7·7	20·4	7·7	23·6	7·7	25·2	6·0
1982–83	9·9	8·7	16·6	8·7	19·9	8·7	23·3	8·7	25·0	6·9
Married couple with one child
1981–82	10·0	7·2	16·3	7·4	19·6	7·5	23·0	7·6	24·7	5·9
1982–83	9·2	8·1	15·8	8·3	19·2	8·4	22·7	8·5	24·5	6·7
Married couple with two children
1981–82	9·3	6·7	15·6	7·0	18·9	7·2	22·4	7·4	24·3	5·8
1982–83	8·6	7·6	15·0	7·9	18·5	8·1	22·1	8·3	24·0	6·6
Married couple with four children
1981–82	8·2	5·9	14·3	6·4	17·7	6·7	21·4	7·0	23·4	5·6
1982–83	7·5	6·7	13·7	7·2	17·3	7·6	21·1	7·9	23·2	6·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what share of expenditure within the European Community budget has been allocated to (a) the agricultural guarantee fund, (b) the agricultural guidance fund, (c) the regional development fund and (d) social fund in 1982; and what has been the percentage increase for each of these budgetary sectors for each of the past two years.

asked the Minister for Trade whether it is his intention to establish a body to monitor imports.

[pursuant to the reply, 12 November 1982, c. 284]: No decision has been taken to establish such a body.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the figures on family income provided in his reply on 2 April to the hon. Member for Woolwich West, Official Report, columns 211–14, in the light of the latest information on earnings levels.

The information, including small revisions for 1981–82, is shown in the following tables. Figures for 1982–83 are provisional. Average earnings are for full time adult male manual workers. For illustration, an increase in earnings of 9 per cent. has been assumed between 1981–82 and 1982–83. The income figures include child benefit (where appropriate). It has been assumed that employees are not contracted out of the earnings related State pension scheme.

Payment appropriations in the main sectors of the Community Budget as a percentage of the total Budget in 1982 are as follows:

	Per Cent.
EAGGF—Guarantee Section	59·9
EAGGF—Guidance Section	3·6
European Regional Development Fund	4·3
European Social Fund	4·9

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional expenditure fell to be met in the year 1980–81 and the preceding years, respectively, by reason of the payment in sterling by the European Assembly of allowances due in Irish pounds; and in which financial year or years he expects such additional expenditure to be recouped.

The Court of Auditors in its special report on the Member's cash office of the European Parliament, published in the Official Journal No. C 202 Vol. 25. 5-8-82, identified 80 cases in 1980 and 1981 where allowances which should have been paid in Irish pounds were paid in pounds sterling. These payments totalled 15,000 ecu (£8,977 sterling, converted at the average ecu/sterling exchange rate for 1980.) The European Parliament in its reply to the Court of Auditors has said that recoveries are being made as necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the change in competitiveness from, respectively, the fourth quarter of 1976 and from May 1979 to date of British manufacturing industry against (a) West Germany, (b) Japan, (c) France and (d) the United States of America and his estimate in each case of the proportion of this change due to the exchange rate.

The information requested is provided in the following table. For completeness the change in relative unit labour costs before allowing for exchange rate movements are also shown.

	Relative unit labour costs unadjusted for exchange rate movements	Exchange rate	Per cent. changes Relative unit labour costs adjusted for exchange rate movement
UK/W. Germany
1976 Q4-1982 Q2	+53	+ 6	+63

All-industries' index of industrial production 1975 = 100, seasonally adjusted
	Three month moving averages
Three months ending	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
January	106·3	103·2	99·6	105·5	107·0	109·3	113·0	100·8	100·4
February	103·9	102·9	99·9	106·0	107·9	110·1	111·7	100·5	100·4
March	102·7	102·5	100·4	106·3	107·9	110·5	110·4	100·2	100·7
April	104·3	101·4	101·0	105·9	109·0	113·5	108·9	100·2	101·0
May	106·3	100·1	101·8	106·5	109·8	114·7	108·0	99·9	101·2

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product.

As explained in my right hon. and learned Friend's Autumn Statement, published on 8 November, public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product at market prices is estimated at 45 per cent. in the current financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, on an annual basis, all cuts in public expenditure in excess of £5 million which he has made since May 1979 at both current and 1982 prices, indicating in each case the size of the cut as a percentage of the departmental budget for that year.

I refer the hon. Member to the relevant Public Expenditure White Papers (Cmnd. 7746, 7841, 8175 and 8494) and to the Autumn Statement laid before the House on 8 November last. I regret that a comprehensive analysis in the form requested could be provided only with a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the three-month moving average of United Kingdom industrial Production month by month from January 1974 to the latest available date.

The information requested is shown in the following table.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the actual public sector borrowing requirement for each of the financial years from 1972–73 to 1981–82, giving, in each case, the figure as a percentage of that year's gross domestic product.

The information is as follows:

Public sector borrowing requirement
	£ million	Percentage of gross domestic product*
1972–73	2,533	3·8
1973–74	4,459	6·0
1974–75	7,999	9·1
1975–76	10,639	9·6
1976–77	8,524	6·6
1977–78	5,594	3·7
1978–79	9,231	5·4
1979–80	9,912	4·9
1980–81	13,194	5·7
1981–82	8,753	3·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the final figures of total Government revenue and public expenditure in 1981–82; what percentage increase in cash terms they represent compared with the figures for 1978–79; and what was the percentage increase in the retail price index during this three-year period.

The figures requested are as follows

	1981–82	per cent. increase on 1978–79
General government revenue £ billion	113·0	73
Public Expenditure Planning Total £ billion	105·7	60
Retail Price index 15 January 1974=100	302·8	50

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what maps of the Falkland Islands are published by her Majesty's Stationery Office; and who have been the purchasers of these maps in the last 12 months.

Maps have been included in:

The Falkland Islands—The Facts.

The Disputed Islands. The Falkland Crisis: A History and Background.

The Falkland Islands Economic Study 1982. Cmnd 8653.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the net cash value of a 4 per cent. wage increase in 1983 to a man earning average industrial wages, after payment of the national insurance increase announced on 8 November, 85 pence a week rent increase, £1 a week increase in travel-to-work fares and allowing for current rates of income tax and the Government's own estimate of the level of inflation.

For a married man, with no children, earning the average weekly wage in manual occupations in manufacturing industries and paying national insurance contributions at the class I employees' contracted-in rate, the value after income tax and NICs of a 4 per cent. increase in April 1983 would be £3·88 per week, assuming that allowances are indexed in 1983 Budget as illustrated in part V of the Autumn Statement. If, in addition, his rent were to increase by 85p, and his travel-to-work fares by £1 per week, then the residual weekly net cash value of the pay increase would be £2·03.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of the fact that in March he proposed a contingency reserve of £2,250 million for 1982–83 for the reasons set out in paragraphs 27 and 28 of Cmnd. 8494–, in November he provided £1,500 million for 1983–84; and if he will make a statement.

I regard £1,500 million as an appropriate size for the Contingency Reserve in 1983–84 in the light of circumstances as they appear now. The figure may be reviewed at the time of the Budget. Present indications are that the Contingency Reserve for 1982–83 is unlikely to be fully spent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage increase there has been in the retail prices index over the past five years.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the light of the fifth report from the Select Committee on Energy, he will introduce proposals to earmark receipts from petroleum revenue tax for energy conservation programmes.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the choice of airlines for Ministers and officials travelling on official business.

It has been the policy of successive Governments for Ministers and officials to use British airlines for official travel wherever possible. Where the routing or time of the journey make this impossible, or the delay involved would be against the public interest, a scheduled flight on a foreign airline may be used, in which case preference is given to well-established international airlines of Commonwealth or NATO countries. Where a British airline offers a seat on a service provided by a foreign airline this may be accepted if suitable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will review the case for introducing deferred payment arrangements in respect of the excise duties on wines and spirits.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to include in the Finance Bill 1983 provision for deferment of the payment of the excise duties on wines and spirits. Deferment will be allowed for an average period of four weeks, thus making the duty payment provisions for wines and spirits comparable with those already in force for beer, cider, made-wine cigarettes and matches.Duty deferment under the Finance Bill legislation will not become operative until after Royal Assent. However, the Scotch whisky industry in particular has for a long time sought to be allowed duty deferment for its sales to the domestic market; and in order to give relief at the earliest practicable date to this industry with its outstanding export record, I am authorising Customs and Excise to introduce duty deferment arrangements for wines and spirits from 15 February 1983 on an extra-statutory basis.To assist the smooth transition to these new duty deferment arrangements, I am also authorising Customs and Excise exceptionally to extend the average period of deferment to five weeks for wines and spirits cleared between 15 February and 14 May 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in introducing penalties for young offenders; and if he will make a statement.

Part I of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 makes substantial changes to the provisions governing the sentencing and treatment of young offenders. We envisage the implementation of this part of the Act in the course of next year, as soon as the appropriate preparations have been made and resources provided where necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to keep him informed of the progress of police investigations into the attack on Mr. Luke Fordjour.

I understand from the commissioner that, following a full investigation of an attack on Mr. Fordjour, the decision was taken on legal advice that there was insufficient evidence to support a prosecution. A complaint againt the officer in charge of the case is currently being investigated.

Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take the necessary steps, if necessary by introducing legislation, to enable judges to have the opportunity of recommending to him capital punishment where, in the opinion of the trial judge, a person convicted of murder of a bestial or vicious type would deserve to be awarded such a penalty.

No. The outcome of the debate on 11 May this year on amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill proposing the reintroduction of capital punishment for all or certain kinds of murder leaves no reason to believe that the majority of Members of this House would favour legislation on the lines that the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether arrangements have been made to remove from the electoral register those at present included but whose status will be changed with the coming into force of the British Nationality Act 1981;(2) if he will take steps to prevent citizens of the Republic of Ireland voting in United Kingdom elections after the coming into force of the British Nationality Act 1981

The Government have made clear that the coming into force of the British Nationality Act 1981 is not intended to affect entitlement to be registered as an elector or the right to vote in United Kingdom elections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will recommend that postal voting for disabled persons be allowed for parish council elections.

We have invited the National Association of Local Councils to give us information about the feasibility and costs of providing absent voting facilities at parish and community council elections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to introduce a system for postal or proxy voting for those confined at home or in hospital during the last two weeks of an election campaign.

We are examining the timetable for absent voting to see whether there is any scope for bringing the closing date for receipt of applications for absent votes nearer polling day. The closing date has, however, to be set sufficiently in advance of polling day to allow postal ballot papers to be sent out and returned before the close of poll.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the £96 million to be allocated in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement to law and order programmes, including the police and prisons, how much he estimates is likely to be applied for the modernisation or expansion of Her Majesty's prison, Bedford.

None; but discussions are starting with the district council at its invitation to acquire land for the limited expansion of this small site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards updating photographic records of long-term prisoners so that a recognisable picture is available for issue to the media for recognition purposes in the event of an escape; and if he will make a statement.

All prisoners sentenced to more than three years' imprisonment or serving an indeterminate sentence should be re-photographed no later than two years from the date of reception and at two-yearly intervals thereafter.Additionally, any prisoner whose appearance has so changed that his reception photograph is no longer a true likeness should be photographed again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigation was carried out by his Department into how Mervyn Leroy Phillips came to suffer a heart attack while detained at Ashford remand centre, as a result of which he died there in June 1981; and if he will publish the results of such an investigation.

Any death in a prison department establishment is referred to HM coroner who is responsible for inquiring into the circumstances. An inquest on Mr. Phillips' death was held in public on 8 October 1981 and the jury returned a verdict of death by natural causes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the smallest geographical areas for which crime figures are available.

The information collected centrally on notifiable offences recorded by the police is for police force areas only.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present percentage value of that element of police pay which reflects the fact that the police may not strike.

This is not reflected by a quantifiable amount but the Edmund-Davies committee took it into account in framing its recommendations on police pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the existing legislation on the Welsh licensed premises referendum with a view to seeking to include a local option by means of a resolution of a district council.

We have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to take forward the recommendations of the Royal Commission on criminal procedure on the tape recording of police interviews with suspects.

The Royal Commission recommended the gradual introduction of tape recording, to be used in indictable cases for the making and reading back of the summary of the interview or of a written statement. During the debate on the Royal Commission's report on 20 November 1981 I accepted the principle of tape recording, while making it clear that problems of a practical nature and of resources had to be overcome.To enable a better assessment of these difficulties to be made I now intend that field trails should be established in about six areas of police divisional size. These trials will begin in the financial year 1983–84 and last for at least two years. To this end a steering committee under Home Office chairmanship will be established. It will consist of representatives of Government departments, and in addition outside bodies which represent those with an interest in the working of the trials will be invited to serve on it. The steering committee will have the following terms of reference:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report by the Chief Constable of the Merseyside police on the investigation by the fraud squad of the Merseyside police into the allegation of the irregular issue of National Health Service prescriptions in the Sefton area of Merseyside referred to in the answer by the Minister for Health on 19 April, Official Report, c. 45; and if he will make a statement.

The Chief Constable of Merseyside tells us that a report of the police investigation into this allegation was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who decided that there was no evidence that a criminal offence had been committed.

asked the Prime Minister if she will ensure that when Ministers reply to a question from an hon. Member by stating that they will write a letter, such letters are automatically placed in the Library.

I will arrange for Ministers to be reminded that, where appropriate, a copy of such letters should be placed in the Library of the House, as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Prime Minister if she will now make a statement on the duties and terms of reference of the appointment of Sir Anthony Parsons as her personal adviser on foreign affairs.

I am not yet ready to make an announcement.

asked the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have had from Mr. Ted Needham, chairman of Coalite, on the issue of assisted passages to the Falklands and temporary homes for settlers.

Mr. Needham has recently returned from a visit to the Falkland Islands. He called on the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 3 November to discuss various matters arising out of that visit. Assisted passages and temporary housing for settlers were among the subjects discussed but no representations were made.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to the statement of the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Official Report, 4 November, c. 125, when Her Majesty's Government will have completed their study of Lord Shackleton's recommendations on the development of the Falkland Islands.

The islanders' preliminary views on Lord Shackleton's recommendations have now been received and we hope shortly to be in a position to announce our decisions on the development of the islands.

asked the Prime Minister if she proposes to hold all-party talks on the future of the Falkland Islands.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the volume of work and evidence before the Franks committee, she will suggest to Lord Franks that two Clerks from the House of Commons should be seconded to his staff.

I understand that the committee considers that the resources already available to it are perfectly adequate.

asked the Prime Minister what number and percentage of the newly trained teachers who qualified in Scottish colleges of education in the summer of 1982 hold qualifications as teachers which will after 31 August 1984 be deemed insufficient for employment as teachers in England and Wales under the revised regulation recently issued by the Department of Education and Science.

All teachers who qualify in Scottish colleges of education in 1982 will continue to be acceptable in future as qualified teachers in England and Wales. But about a quarter of those taking primary courses, some 400, are not graduates and therefore hold qualifications which after this year will not be acceptable for those qualifying as teachers in England and Wales. We have no information on how many do not have qualifications equivalent to 'O' levels in mathematics and English, which will be a requirement for those qualifiying as teachers in England and Wales after 31 August 1984.

asked the Prime Minister whether Geoffrey Arthur Prime's membership of the Paedophile Information Exchange organisation was brought to the attention of the police or security agencies.

I understand that stories that the police found documents in Prime's house or garage indicating that he was a member of the paedophile information exchange are without foundation, and that nothing has been discovered to suggest that he was.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in the expansion of nursery schools in recent years; and if he will make a statement.

Between 1977 and 1981 the number of children receiving nursery education in LEA maintained schools increased by some 35,000 to about 222,000. This increase arose mainly through increased part-time attendance at nursery classes attached to primary schools. Provisional statistics for 1982 indicate a further increase in numbers.

Page asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made on the implementation of the recommendations of the Cockcroft report on the teaching of mathematics; and if he will make a statement.

The Cockcroft report has been warmly welcomed across the whole of the education service. That response was to be expected: the report has set out an analysis of the purposes of mathematics education in schools which is striking in its realism and lucidity. It has put forward recommendations for improving the teaching of mathematics which call for early action by all involved. The Government is ready to play its part in taking that action.Our first priority has been to secure the widest possible dissemination of the conclusions and recommendations of the report. Her Majesty's Inspectors have been active in this respect, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for wales and I are grateful to the members of the Cockcroft committee who have accepted invitations to speak about their work to a wide variety of audiences. Much of the task of dissemination falls on the local education authorities: many have taken steps to draw the report to the attention of at least their secondary schools, but we hope that all authorities will consider what more they can do within the resources available to them to disseminate the report's findings and to stimulate the necessary follow-up at the local level.Awareness of the report is increasing in many secondary schools; its conclusions are not yet so well known in primary schools and among employers of school leavers. My Department is accordingly preparing a booklet for primary school teachers, drawing their attention to the report and its relevance to their work. I have in addition invited Dr. P. G. Wakely, a member of the Cockcroft committee and formerly chairman and managing director of Associated Engineering Developments Ltd. to prepare a short guide to the report for the industrial and commercial audience. Both of these should be available early in the new year.The report identifies six agencies whose active response the committee believed to be essential if changes in mathematical education are to be brought about. The Government accepts that, among these agencies, they should take the lead. Activities at national level will have little effect unless they are matched by complementary action on the part of local education authorities, the examination boards, training institutions, those who fund and carry out curriculum development and educational research, and especially teachers themselves. I and my colleagues intend to invite representatives of each of these groups to meet us to discuss their response to the report and the action they intend to take.The committee placed special emphasis on the importance of in-service support for teachers of mathematics in primary and secondary schools as a necessary condition of improvement. I accept the case it has made. The local authorities have and will retain the dominant responsibility for ensuring adequate programmes of in-service training for their teachers. On 1 September I announced my intention to introduce a scheme for in-service training grants in a small number of selected sectors of the curriculum which should have national priority. Mathematics will be one of those. The emphasis in this scheme will be on the release of teachers to attend a limited range of designated courses. The Cockcroft committee was also concerned with the wider issue of the support provided for mathematics teachers and I expect that local education authorities, who have the main responsibility in these matters, will take particular note of the relevant recommendations in planning their policy for advisory and support services.The committee made a number of recommendations on the supply and training of mathematics teachers. It was concerned with increasing supply so as to make good shortages. At present the supply position looks more favourable, with healthy recruitment to the postgraduate certificate in education in mathematics. Within the current restructuring of initial teacher training my objective has been to maintain the number of secondary training places in mathematics, and I expect enrolments to continue at their existing high level. I expect that falling pupil numbers in secondary schools in the remainder of this decade will reduce the overall demand for secondary teachers, including mathematicians. Buoyant recruitment to training coupled with the prospect of falling demand casts doubt on the immediate need for new measures to boost supply. I shall however continue to monitor the position—at present the increased numbers of newly trained mathematics specialists leaving colleges are obtaining teaching posts—and will give further consideration to the need for additional measures to increase the supply of mathematics teachers.The committee drew attention to the influence which examinations exert on the secondary curriculum and rightly emphasised the need for examinations to support and encourage good teaching practice. The working party on mathematics of the joint council of GCE and CSE Boards is currently preparing draft criteria for examinations at 16+ for submission to my right hon. Friend and me later this year. Before we approve the criteria we shall want to be satisfied that they take account of the analysis and recommendations of the Cockcroft committee.The committee was also concerned, as I am, about the needs of those pupils for whom public examinations at 16+ are not designed. The introduction of graded tests, based on the foundation list developed by the committee, is likely to prove to be the right way forward; and I have already announced the Government's intention to fund a feasibility study of means of providing evidence of achievement in mathematics for lower attaining pupils as recommended in the report. The Government proposes to make available up to £0·5 million in total over the next three years for this study and for complementary research and curriculum development relating to the foundation list of mathematical topics, bids for this work will shortly be invited. Steps are also being taken to implement the committee's recommendation that an appraisal should be made of the educational implications—for all pupils—of the mathematics testing which has been carried out by the assessment of performance unit.Our task is to build on the foundations which the Cockcroft committee has laid: there is much that can be achieved even at a time when resources are necessarily constrained, and I am confident that the education service as a whole will capitalise on the unique opportunity which the report gives us to rethink and improve the teaching of a subject which is vital to us all.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being done with Government money on the effects of emission of radio-nucleides on krill.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the expenditure per head of population for each English local education authority on youth service provision in each year since 1974;(2) what was the expenditure per head of population aged nil to 15 years and aged 11 to 18 years for each English local education authority on youth service provision in each year since 1974;(3) what was the expenditure per head of population on the youth service in England in each year since 1974;(4) what was the total local education authority expenditure for each local education authority in England on youth service provision in each year since 1974;(5) what was the proportion of each individual local education authority's total expenditure spent on youth service provision for each individual local education authority in England in each year since 1974;(6) what proportion of full or part-time youth service staff has a professional qualification in youth work, social work or related fields for

The hon. Member will find much of the available information about youth service expenditure and staffing in England in chapter 10 of the report of the Review Group on the Youth Service (Cmnd. 8686), copies of which are in the Library. I will write to him shortly with further detailed information.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what new system will be introduced in 1983 to work out the travel allowance element in student grants; and what effect this will have.

Details of the new system are still being considered. A further announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report figures to show the percentage increase in student grants over the past four years and the proposed increase for 1983; and what were the rates of inflation for the corresponding periods.

The percentage increase in the ordinary maintenance grant for mandatory awardholders living away from home outside London over the past four years and the proposed increase for 1983; and the percentage change in the retail price index for the corresponding periods is as follows:

Academic Year	Percentage Change in Ordinary Maintenance Grant	Percentage Change in Retail Price Index
1979–80	13·2	16·5
1980–81	14·9	15·8
1981–82	7·3	11·4
1982–83	3·9	7·3
1983–84	4·0	*5·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total intake of medical and dental students, respectively, in the current academic year; and how this compares with the intake for 1981.

In academic year 1981–82, there were 4,926 undergraduate and 1,307 postgraduate new entrants to courses of medicine and dentistry in the universities of Great Britain. No comparable figures for the current academic year are yet available, but early information from the Universities Central Council on Admissions in respect of the numbers of candidates accepted for courses at undergraduate level suggests that last year's level will at least be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the recent meeting of the Under-Secretary of State and the National Union of Students.

I had a wide-ranging discussion with the National Union of Students on a number of points arising from its recent submission on student awards and my right hon. Friend's statement of 8 November. In the course of this I made it clear that while details of the rates and conditions of award for 1983–84 remained to be settled, I could hold out no prospect of major new resources for student support.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many apprenticeships were started (a) in the engineering industry, (b) in the construction industry and (c) in total in the years 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.

The numbers of first-year apprentices recruited by firms in scope to the engineering industry training board were as follows:

Year	Numbers
1979–80	22,822
1980–81	20,541
1981–82	14,639

These figures relate to the training year, which starts in August. The figure for 1982–83 is not yet available but is expected to be about 11,000.For firms in scope to the construction industry training board the number of first year apprentices recruited were:

Year	Numbers
1979	20,770
1980	21,874
1981	17,284

These figures related to calendar years. The figure for 1982 is not yet available.Figures for total apprentice recruitment are not available, but estimates based on extrapolations from industrial training organisations' statistics suggest that about 100,000 apprentices were recruited in the 1979–80 training year and 90,000 in 1980–81. The provisional estimate for 1981–82 is 60,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many doctors have been unemployed in each year since 1975.

The following table gives, at September each year from 1975, the numbers of unemployed people registered at employment offices in the United Kingdom for employment as medical practitioners.

September each year	Numbers
1975	247
1976	218
1977	344
1978	390
1979	431
1980	493
1981	1,020
1982	1,418

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the changes in the method of calculating unemployment levels will enable him to pinpoint unemployment blackspots better than was possible with calculations based on travel-to-work areas.

Although the changed basis for the unemployment figures will allow the actual numbers of unemployed to be compiled for some areas other than employment office areas (or groupings of them), unemployment rates will still be compiled only for travel-to-work areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many Service men who served in the Falklands conflict and have since registered as unemployed after leaving Her Majesty's forces are now unemployed; and how may have been without a job of any kind since they left the Services.

The information is not available. My Department's unemployment statistics do not separately distinguish this group of unemployed people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the new youth training scheme.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 19 October.—[Vol. 29, c. 218.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what arrangements he is making to ensure that when the youth training scheme, provided for in the new training initiative of the Manpower Services Commission, becomes operative, employers do not substitute trainees under the scheme for their regular apprentice intake;(2)if he intends that employers should continue to observe the relevant national and local agreements about apprentice rates of pay where trainees under the new youth training scheme are undergoing the same training as apprentices in the same establishment.

Collective agreements, on apprentice training as on other subjects, are a matter for the parties to the agreements, and not for the Government or the Manpower Services Commission.The general question of the relationship between apprentice training and the youth training scheme will be considered by the youth training board, on which the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress are represented.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what amounts of money have been allocated for their training for skills programmes to the Construction Industry Training Board and the Engineering Industry Training Board for the years 1981–82 and 1982–83; and how this compares with the amounts made available for each of the preceding five years.

Funds were offered under the training for skills programme to the Construction Industry Training Board and the Engineering Industry Training Board in the year 1976–77 to 1982–83 as follows:

£ '000s
	Construction industry training board	Engineering industry training board
1976–77	3,489	5,860
1977–78	3,500	5,455
1978–79	4,800	6,474
1979–80	6,779	9,889
1980–81	12,614	17,440
1981–82	13,981	27,706
1982–83	11,200	31,750

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which Government grants are being made to the Construction Industry Training Board for 1982–83 and 1983–84; and how these sums compare with the amounts similarly made available, excluding levies on employers, in 1980–81 and 1981–82.

£11·2 million has been offered to the construction industry training board under the training for skills programme for the financial year ending 31 March 1983. As yet no formal offer of funds has been made to the construction industry training board for the financial year 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1984; this is still being discussed. In the 1981–82 financial year £13·98 million, and in the 1980–81 financial year £12·61 million were offered to the board under the training for skills programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements have so far been made for the defining and testing of standards of individual competence in the acquisition of craft, technician and professional skills as envisaged in the White Paper "A New Training Initiative: a Programme for Action", Cmnd. 8455; and if he will make a statement.

The Manpower Services Commission is working with a wide range of bodies in industry and further education to develop standards of attainment which are clearly defined, widely accepted and cost effective for all key occupations. In the initial stages, particular attention is being paid to engineering, construction, road transport, clerical and office and computer occupations. I am monitoring progress closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply on the retail prices index to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on 22 October, Official Report, c. 241–42, on what basis the monthly index of average earnings is compiled; to what extent it is a matter of judgment rather than measurement; what sources exist on the method of construction; and what recent changes have been made.

The average earnings index is designed to provide an up to date monthly indicator of changes in average earnings. It is based on returns from a sample of just over 9,000 firms and organisations with a total employment of about 10 million.The method of constructing the index and changes in its scope and coverage were described in the following issues of

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest figures, broken down by Standard Industrial Classification, of unemployment in the travel-to-work areas covering the parliamentary constituency of Bermondsey.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the sample of local education authorities referred to in the answer of the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science on 11 November on which his Department bases its calculations of movements in school meals charges for inclusion in the retail prices index, together with details of any changes made in the sample since May 1979.

For the purposes of compiling the retail prices index, a sample of about 50 local education authorities are asked to supply selected school meals prices each term.The sample is representative of non-metropolitan counties, metropolitan districts and other local education authorities in the United Kingdom. It is not the practice to disclose the names of contributors of information for the retail prices index. The sample dates from the spring term of 1980; previously there was a national statutory charge for school meals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is Her Majesty's Government's response to the recommendation of the recent Rayner scrutiny that there should be a review of relationships between the Employment and Careers Services; and what further Government support will be given to help the Careers Service discharge its role in the youth training scheme.

The scrutiny team, under the direction of Sir Derek Rayner, which looked at the Manpower Services Commission's employment service recommended that there should be

"an independent review of the responsibilities and requirements of the careers service and the employment service in the young person's sector".

The Manpower Services Commission has stated its willingness to co-operate in such a review if the Government were to decide on one.Priority over the next few months must be given to the launch of the youth training scheme. I therefore intend to reconsider the case for a review after the sceme has been brought fully into operation.The Government intend to continue in 1983–84 their present directly-funded support for careers service staffing and to make available to the service micro-computers for their work concerning young people and the youth training scheme.Following a proposal from the national consultative group on computers in the careers service, the Department of Employment, in consultation with the Scottish and Welsh Offices and with the Manpower Services Commission, will develop a standard programme for micro-computers by which the careers service will be able to maintain records of opportunities under the youth training scheme, likely candidates, their placement and progress under the scheme. The Government will make an additional £1 million available spread over the financial years 1983–84 and 1984–85 to local educational authorities in Great Britain which are prepared to make matching contributions to the cost of installing micro-computers in careers offices for this programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in general Government, excluding the Armed Forces, in 1970, 1978, and for the most recent year for which figures are available on a comparative basis in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States of America and France; and if he will show each of these figures as a percentage of total employment, excluding the unemployed.

I have been asked to reply.No later comparative information on general Government employment is available than was given in my reply of 28 January 1982 to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell). As was stated in that reply, because of institutional and other differences between countries, overall comparisons of total general government employment are of limited significance. Accordingly there are no plans to update the information published in the December 1980 issue of

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, on an annual basis, all cuts in public expenditure in excess of £5 million which he has made since May 1979 at both current and 1982 prices, indicating in each case the size of the cut as a percentage of the departmental budget for that year.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the relevant Public Expenditure White Papers (Cmnd. 7746, 7841, 8175 and 8494) and to the Autumn Statement laid before the House of 8 November last. I regret that a comprehensive analysis in the form requested could be provided only with a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Attorney-General if he will seek to obtain a copy of the report prepared for the Greater London Council on the Strongbridge housing association and send it to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has already received from the Metropolitan Police the notes prepared by Mr. Andrew Arden relating to the Strongbridge housing association.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the recent United Nations vote on the Falklands defined the Falklands as including the dependencies.

No. The resolution refers only to "the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)". This, in our view, does not include the Falkland Islands Dependencies.