asked the Minister for Trade how many tonnes of steel have been imported during each of the past three years; and what is the estimated amount for the current year.

The figures in millions of metric tonnes are as follows:

	Million metric tonnes
1979	3·8
1980	4·6
1981	3·6
1982*	3·0
* January-September.

I prefer not to offer an estimate for 1982 as a whole.

asked the Minister for Trade whether, in the forthcoming review of the British film industry, he will consult the Scottish Council for Educational Technology, the Scottish Film Council, and the Association for Film and Television in the Celtic Countries.

I intend to consult appropriate interests in the United Kingdom as a whole. If those bodies to which the hon. Member specifically refers wish to make representations to me, I should welcome it.

asked the Minister for Trade, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley on 15 November regarding his review of Government policy on the film industry, what are the stages of his review which he considers may be completed before March 1983; and if he will make a statement.

I hope by that time to have reviewed particularly the regulatory aspects of the Department of Trade's relations with the industry.

asked the Minister for Trade what progress has been made towards establishing the regulations proposed for the protection of seafarers' health and safety; whether he has yet established the industrial advisory committee for the shipping industry; and if he will make a statement.

The following regulations have already been make:

The Merchant Shipping (Code of Safe Working Practices) Regulations SI 1980 No. 686

The Merchant Shipping (Means of Access) Regulations SI 1981 No. 1729

The Merchant Shipping (Safety Officials and Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations SI 1982 No. 876

The following Regulations are expected to be made early in 1983:

asked the Minister for Trade if he will hold an inquiry into the circumstances of the loss of the British vessel "Nesam".

My Department has commenced a preliminary inquiry under section 465 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 in an endeavour to establish the circumstances and the possible cause of the loss of the "Nesam".

asked the Minister for Trade (1) if he will make a statement on the sinking of the "Nesam";(2) what representations he has received calling for a public inquiry into the sinking of the "Nesam";(3) if he will order a public inquiry into the sinking of the "Nesam";(4) if he is satisfied that the vessel "Nesam", which sank on 14 November, was in a seaworthy condition; and whether the crew was competent.

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

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list the professional and other qualifications of the principal finance officer and principal establishment officer for his Department.

The post of principal establishment and finance officer in the Department of Trade is held by a deputy secretary with substantial relevant experience in establishment and finance matters but no professional qualifications. He is also principal establishment and finance officer in the Department of Industry.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list and describe the studies from within or without his Department relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of his Department together with the recommendations and action taken on those recommendations.

Management work in my Department related to its effectiveness and efficiency covers the whole range of its operations. It includes continuing studies of more effective means of financial and other management control and a continuous review of the need for functions and how they are performed. This work takes many forms, often related to the Government's financial management initiative and all related to the most efficient and effective use of resources. These include participation in the programme of Departmental and broader centrally co-ordinated Rayner scrutinies and efficiency exercises; internal reviews on the same basis; continuing internal programmes of staff inspection and management services studies; work on technological improvements, for example in the fields of computerisation and office automation; work on management information systems; consideration of responsibility cost centres; audit work; appropriate use of consultants; and other ongoing tasks. At any time these result in many hundreds of recommendations for consideration, on which implementing action proceeds as quickly as is practicable. More detailed information would involve a disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for Trade what definition is used by Her Majesty's Government of free competition and fair trading in the course of international negotiations of the level of imports of textiles and clothing to the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Minister for Trade if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. McQuarrie) Official Report, 15 November, c. 6, concerning applications by private sector airlines for a licence to operate the London to Inverness air service, he will make representations to the successful company to consider making intermittent stops at Carlisle for passengers in the north-west of England and south of Scotland, on this service.

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

asked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to his reply of 10 November, Official Report, c. 178, whether he is taking any initiative to resume trade with Argentina on a basis of reciprocity.

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

asked the Minister for Trade (1) if he will investigate the state of security operations at Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement;

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

asked the Minister for Trade if he can make arrangements to ensure that as soon as, and if, supplies of footwear from abroad in excess of any negotiated trade agreement in force arrive in the United Kingdom they are impounded at the port of entry.

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

asked the Attorney-General what steps have been taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure that a full investigation is carried out into the allegations of assault by a police officer on a Nigerian student, who lost his testicle as a result of injuries received in the assault; whether, in particular, the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed the investigating officer to interview the student concerned in person; and when the Director of Public Prosecutions may be expected to make a decision on possible criminal proceedings against the officer or officers concerned.

An investigation into the student's complaint was carried out by a senior officer of the Metropolitan Police in 1978. Following complaints about the manner in which that investigation was conducted, the matter was re-investigated by an assistant chief constable of the Hertfordshire constabulary, who submitted his report to the Director of Public Prosecutions on 11 October 1982.The assistant chief constable made strenuous efforts to interview the student concerned. He first wrote to the student, who had returned to Nigeria some time previously, and received a letter in reply suggesting that he get in touch by telephone. The assistant chief constable then made four pre-arranged telephone calls on consecutive days, none of which appointments were kept by the student. The officer then wrote again, enclosing a written questionnaire, but, whilst it is understood that the questionnaire was received, it has not been completed and returned. Before submitting his report to the Director, the officer made three further telephone calls to Nigeria, again wihout success. he was informed by another person in Nigeria that the student had left his home address and that it was not known when he would return. The officer took the view that the expense of his travelling to Nigeria, in the apparently remote possibility of making contact with the student, was not justified.On 26 October1982 the Director made known to the police his decision that the evidence obtained during the re-investigation was not sufficient to justify the institution of criminal proceedings against any police officer. I have myself considered that evidence and agree with the Director's decision.

asked the Attorney-General what routine contacts take place between the Law Officers' Department and the law officers of United Kingdom dependent territories such as the Falkland Islands.

There are no arrangements for direct routine contacts between my Department and the Law Officers of dependent territories. But the Solicitor General and I, and our officials, are always ready, in collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to exchange views with the Law Officers of dependent territories and to talk with them, when they are in London, on any matters on which they think our views can be of help to them.

asked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions have there been for offences relating to abortion in the last 12 months.

To my knowledge, there have been no prosecutions relating to abortion in the last 12 months.

asked the Attorney-General if Her Majesty's Government will seek to amend the law relating to charities to enable him to direct the Charity Commissioners to conduct investigations and inquiries into the finances and administration of major charities.

I have been asked to reply. No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the use of hypnotism as an aid to the questioning of witnesses in criminal cases.

My Department is aware of the growing interest of the police service in the forensic use of hypnosis and last year held a seminar on the subject attended by representatives of the police service and professional bodies. It is clear that the use of hypnosis on witnesses as an aid to criminal investigation has limitations and drawbacks, particularly as the evidential value of information gained under hypnosis may be open to question. I am therefore actively considering the issue of guidance to chief officers of police on this matter. My Department will be consulting chief officers and professional bodies on the terms of such guidance, which will draw attention to the limitations of the forensic use of hypnosis and suggest firm safeguards for its use. I shall announce my conclusions in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Sammy Zalabany, an Egyptian citizen, of Widmore Drive, Hemel Hempstead, was premitted to enter the United Kingdom; for what reason permission was granted; and when his permission to remain in the United Kingdom was most recently reviewed.

Mr. Zalabany first entered the United Kingdom on 9 March 1974 as a visitor. He was granted settlement in March 1975 following his marriage to a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies born and living in this country. His leave to remain in the United Kingdom was reviewed in August this year but no change has been made in his status.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons frm the Asian sub-continent were refused entry to the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Refusals of leave to enter the United Kingdom are published annually by citizen- ship—nationality in "Control of immigration: statistics"—Tables 1(a) and 1(b) of the issue for 1981 (Cmnd. 8533).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why manually kept confidential records are not to be included in proposed legislative measures to ensure the confidentiality of stored medical data; and what steps he proposes to record police access to such records.

The background to the Government's proposals for legislation to protect automatically processed personal data was set out in the White Paper published last April (Cmnd. 9539). A Bill will be introduced this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what and how many offences, were alleged to have been committed so far in the current year by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity; if any cases were proceeded with; and if any of the alleged offenders are still in the United Kingdom.

The numbers of offences alleged to have been committed, and for which reports have so far been received from the police, is shown in the following table. Twenty-nine of the 140 persons entitled to claim diplomatic immunity who were suspected of involvement in these offences have since left the United Kingdom. There have been no criminal proceedings in connection with any of these alleged offences.

Offences alleged to have been committed by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity: 1 January 1982 to 17 November 1982
Violence against the person	4
Offences against the Theft Act 1968 (including shoplifting)	16
Drink offences (eg drunk and disorderly)	2
Road traffic offences involving drink	19
Other road traffic offences*	115
Firearms offences	1
Sexual offences	1

Offences alleged to have been committed by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity: 1 January 1982 to 17 November 1982
Other offences	8
	166

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the professional and other qualifications of the principal finance officer and principal establishment officer for his Department.

Both are university graduates. They have been appointed to their present offices in the light of their general ability, their previous performance, and their experience of management and administrative posts in the Department. They have received appropriate training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list and describe the studies from within or without his Department relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of his Department together with the recommendations and action taken on those recommendations.

My Department has conducted and continues to conduct a wide range of studies related to the effectiveness and efficiency of its business. These include policy reviews, consultancies Rayner scrutinies, and centrally co-ordinated multi-Department reviews, as well as the day-to-day work of staff inspectors, management services and internal audit staff.Such studies are all part of good management, which is so intrinsic to the task of the Department that it is not practicable to set out all that is undertaken under this heading. Recent measures include Rayner scrutinies into the work of the radio regulatory department, the nationality division, the forensic science service and the criminal injuries compensation board; multi-departmental reviews of statistical services, support services in research and development establishments, personnel management and administrative forms, and a resource control review of the prison services in Great Britain.We are also undertaking work on extending the application of investment appraisal techniques within the Department, and introducing a computerised functional costing system for the prison service and schemes for accountable management in prisons. Internal audit and research and planning functions within the Department have been re-structured and rationalised, and other steps are being taken to improve resource management generally.We are preparing our plans under the financial management initiative announced in Cmnd. 8616—"Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Civil Service". We have introduced a programme of annual performance reviews which will provide systematic information about the Department's functions and their associated costs and will enable progress in key areas to be critically appraised and priority objectives to be readily identified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it is considered necessary for all Poles wishing to visit the United Kingdom to be interviewed at the British embassy in Warsaw; and when this requirement was first introduced.

Following the imposition of martial law in Poland the Government announced that no Pole would be returned to Poland against his or her will. Applications from Poles for visit visas had to be carefully scrutinised to ensure that the applicant intended to return at the end of the visit as required by the Immigration Rules and an interview requirement was introduced. This requirement has now been relaxed for some categories of visitors and the situation is being kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes are being made to the multi-cultural studies curriculum for police cadets at the Hendon police training school; and if he will make a statement.

We understand from the Commissioner that the multi-cultural studies course has not been dropped, as some reports have suggested. A small part of the course, which was not part of the original programme, has been changed to make way for training, which aims to teach the importance of basing opinions and decisions on evidence rather than on rumour and prejudice. The civilian and police teaching staff responsible for multi-cultural studies has been increased from 12 to 15.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the curriculum is devoted to racial prejudice in British culture and society at the Hendon police training school.

The cadets' time is divided between academic training—50 per cent.—physical education—40 per cent.—and vocational training—10 per cent.Although multi-cultural studies, which form part of the vocational training, occupy only one or two lessons a week, the development of social awareness in the cadets is a principal aim of the cadet courses and is a continually recurring theme throughout their training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Hong Kong seamen who had served in the Falkland Islands were detained by immigration officers after they arrived in the United Kingdom; for how long the detention lasted; and if he will make a statement.

None. Hong Kong seamen employed on board ships of the Royal Navy are subject to control under the Immigration Act 1971 but when 87 seamen arrived at RAF Brize Norton on 24 June 1982 they were given leave to enter the country without individual examination by immigration officers. As they had lost their travel and identity documents in action, arrangements were made by the Hong Kong Government Office in London for replacement documents to be issued immediately to enable those who wished to do so to return to Hong Kong with the minimum of delay.Ten more Hong Kong seamen arrived at Southampton on board the QE2. They were interviewed by immigration officers before the ship berthed. Five were given leave to enter the country. Five were returned to Hong Kong at their request.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the detention by immigration officers of Hong Kong seamen who had served in the South Atlantic.

We received one letter from a member of the public through a right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of interference with jurors have come to the attention of the police in the past three years; at which courts; and whether the juror in each case was found to have previous convictions.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the report of the advisory panel on technical transmission standards for direct broadcasting by satellite; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry and I have today published the advisory panel's report. We are most grateful to Sir Antony Part and his two colleagues Professor Alan Day and Professor Roy Griffiths together with their technical assessor Mr. Bernard Rogers for completing such a complex task in so short a time. The Government will now be studying the panel's recommendations as a matter of urgency and hope to be able to announce their conclusions very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about his powers in relation to the Charity Commissioners following correspondence from the hon. Member for Nuneaton.

My right hon. Friend's powers under the Charities Act 1960 consist of appointing the commissioners and presenting their annual report to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what factors led him to exempt driving examiners from wearing seat belts; and which of these factors do not apply in the case of driving instructors.

Driving examiners will be exempt from compulsory wearing only when this would endanger themselves or others. Examiners must delay any intervention until the last possible moment because such intervention will result in a test being failed. This consideration does not apply to instructors.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why he proposes that drivers should be exempt from wearing a seat belt while reversing.

I have no option in this matter. The Transport Act 1981 requires the regulations on compulsory seat belt wearing to include such an exemption.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce regulations to exempt drivers travelling under 10 mph from wearing a seat belt.

No. I consider that such an exemption would be unjustified and undesirable. Occupants of vehicles travelling below 10 mph hould not be immune from injury, particularly when in collision with another moving vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) why he proposes that taxi drivers should be exempt from wearing a seat belt while hiring passengers;(2) if he will introduce regulations to exempt taxi drivers from wearing seat belts at all times.

A limited exemption from compulsory wearing has been provided for taxi drivers solely because of their vulnerability to attack. I see no grounds for a wider exemption.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what regulation applies to fitting of headrests in motor cars.

There are no requirements governing the fitting of headrests or head restraints to motor vehicles in this country.Technical standards applicable to head restraints exist in the form of a Community Directive and a corresponding UN EEC regulation No. 25; the United Kingdom recognises and issues approvals to both.Many head restraints provided by vehicle manufacturers are approved to one or other of these standards, whereas headrests by implication and trade description are not approvable safety devices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider extending the list of those consulted formally on the criteria for the siting of road traffic signs, as set out in the reply of 27 October, Official Report, c. 458–9, to include road users and road safety organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The organisations listed in my reply of 27 October—[Vol. 29, c. 458–9]—are those consulted on the more technical aspects of traffic signing standards and criteria.On more general issues concerning traffic signs we consult a wider range of interests, including road users and safety organisations such as ROSPA, whenever appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to oblige local authorities to adopt unadopted roads and passages where residents are at the moment required to pay themselves for sewer collapses under these roads and passages.

Such legislation would impose a costly burden upon local authorities and their ratepayers. We have no plans to introduce the suggested legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now declare Islington a lorry action area in line with the proposal made to his predecessor on 13 December 1980 by the hon. Member for Islington, Central.

We have recently consulted the local authority associations and other interested bodies about the implementation of lorry action areas but it is too early to say which areas will qualify for designation. Full implementation will require new statutory powers for highway authorities to provide noise insulation but, in order to provide early relief in the worst affected areas, local authorities were invited to submit proposals in their transport policies and programmes for 1983–84, using their existing powers. My right hon. Friend has already announced that he hopes to accept some 60 schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has consulted the trade unions concerned on his proposals to require the invitation of tenders for passenger transport services; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend announced in a written answer on 26 July 1982—[Vol. 28, c. 418–19.]—to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) our proposals for legislation on public transport, including proposals for allowing greater scope for private sector competition. We have been open to approaches from the trade unions as from other bodies since that date and we should be happy to have any comments which they wish to make on the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the financial implications for local authorities of the possible privatisation of some transport services.

An object of the Transport Bill is to make it possible for local authorities to obtain better value for money in the provision of transport services.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the professional and other qualifications of the principal finance officer and principal establishment officer for his Department.

The principal finance officer for my Department, a deputy secretary, is a graduate of Oxford. He has had experience in a range of finance, and finance-related posts at senior level, including the finance and investment programmes of nationalised industries; he has been head of the transport policy review unit, and was head of the management review of the Departments of Transport and the Environment. Earlier he had served for a term with Her Majesty's Treasury. In addition to being principal finance officer, he has responsibility for policy on driver and vehicle licensing, safety and international transport.The principal establishment officer for my Department, a deputy secretary—an appointment in common with the Department of the Environment—is a graduate of the London School of Economics. He has had experience in a wide range of posts at senior level, including a period as head of the central policy and resources directorate of DOE, during which he was also a principal finance officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list and describe the studies from within or without his Department relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of his Department together with the recommendations and action taken on those recommendations.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his departmental forecast of the east-west daily traffic flow on the A427 after completion of the M1-A1 link road in 1995 and in the year 2000.

Provided that the M1-Al link road is ready to open in 1987, flows on the A427 between the M1 and Market Harborough would be between 3,000 and 4,500 vehicles per day and between Market Harborough and Corby 6,000–7,000. Corresponding figures for 2001 are between 3,000 and 5,000 and between 7,000 and 9,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the public inquiry will be held into the proposed M1-A1 link road; and whether the inquiry will determine whether the road is needed or simply decide upon its appropriate route.

The public inquiry which is expected to start in the autumn of 1983 will be able to consider both the need for and the route of the road. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and the Environment will then take their decision on the road in the light of the inspector's report and recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the scheme to establish traffic lights at the A6 trunk road/Waldron Drive junction at Oadby, Leicester, has been approved by him; and when installation will take place.

Yes. They will be installed early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward since May 1979 for the better realisation of a common transport policy within the European Community.

In the European Community the formal position is that it is for the Commission to propose transport measures for adoption by the Council of Ministers. This Government work actively in the Council to achieve progress towards a common transport policy, and has in particular encouraged progressive relaxation of constraints on transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with officers of the British Horse Society.

I was grateful for an opportunity to meet representatives of the British Horse Society recently. We had a useful discussion on a number of issues relating to the problems of horses and road safety. These included provision for horse riders crossing major roads, the possibility of converting disused railway lines to bridleways and publicity aimed at improving other road users' awareness of horse riders.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what projected daily flow of traffic on the A6 through Market Harborough is anticipated in 1985 and 1990; and what is the present daily flow.

Projections for traffic flows on the A6 trunk road through Market Harborough will be available early next year when the Department's consulting engineers submit their report on alternative routes for the bypass. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as I can.At present approximately 2,500 vehicles pass through Market Harborough on the A6 trunk road. In addition there is the usual town-generated traffic, but precise numbers within the town are not known. On the A6 north and south of Market Harborough the average daily flow is about 12,00 and 6,500 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if any financial assistance will be given to Falmouth Container Terminal Ltd. towards its application to construct a container terminal at Falmouth.

The company has said that it intends applying for grant under the European regional development fund and section 8 of the Railways Act 1974. Any such applications would be assessed on merit, but the company is aware of our view that the project should be tested primarily against the willingness of the private sector to take the financial risks involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether records of the employment by his Department of accountants, management consultants and other consultants from outside the Civil Service are kept by his Department.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1982, c. 74]: Yes. My Department employs accountants and consultants on a wide variety of assignments. If my hon. Friend will let me know those types of assignment in which he is particularly interested I will write to him.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied that the channelling of funds by the Manpower Services Commission to education authorities will not detract from the responsibilities of local education authorities.

Yes. When local education authorities offer educational services with financial support from the Manpower Services Commission they do so voluntarily in accordance with their statutory functions.

asked the Prime Minister how much of the European Economic Community social fund allocation to the United Kingdom for training will be allocated to Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively.

The bulk of allocations from the social fund to this country are made in respect of schemes operating on a national basis or in a number of regions. I regret that it is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the distribution of fund support as requested by the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is yet in a position to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight of 21 October.

I replied to the hon. Member on 17 November 1982.

asked the Prime Minister what are the duties and responsibilities of the chief scientific adviser to the Government.

The post of chief scientific adviser to the Government was last held by Sir Alan Cottrell in 1974. The present arrangements for scientific advice are set out in the Government's observations on the First Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, Session 1981–82—on Science and Government—published as Cmnd. 8591.

asked the Prime Minister if she will discuss with the United Kingdom's North Atlantic Treaty Organisation partners a collective policy of not providing North Atlantic Treaty Organisation codification for weapons and equipment supplies to the Republic of South Africa.

There is no need for this. Prior to the establishment of the arms embargo only the United Kingdom was authorised to provide such information. Since then the United Kingdom has strictly upheld the embargo and no NATO information has been supplied to South Africa.

asked the Prime Minister if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to make available to South Africa, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation codification for arms and equipment supplies.

It remains Her Majesty's Government's policy not to provide the South African Government with details of the NATO codification system.

asked the Prime Minister on how many occasions in the last 20 years a Prime Minister's principal private secretary's next appointment has been as a permanent secretary of a Government Department.

There have been seven principal private secretaries to the Prime Minister since 1962, not counting the present incumbent. Four of them have or will subsequently become permanent secretaries, after intervals of seven years, two years, four months and four months respectively after leaving 10 Downing Street.

asked the Prime Minister what statements were made by officials with her authority to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper on the matter of the voting by the United States of America on 4 November at the United Nations on the Falkland Islands resolution.

The statement attributed to a British official by the Sunday Telegraph of 7 November was made by the No. 10 duty press officer in answer to questions from the newspaper's diplomatic correspondent.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to reduce the 10-week period that Poles have to wait before receiving a visa from the British Embassy in Warsaw to visit the United Kingdom.

The imposition of martial law has meant that it has taken longer to process visa applications from Poles because of the need to satisfy ourselves that the latter were bona fide visitors to the United Kingdom. The waiting period for the issue of visas has recently been considerably reduced by the relaxation of the interview requirement for certain Polish applicants, mainly elderly pensioners, and by some reinforcement of the visa section. Many applicants are now receiving their visas in two or three weeks, whilst those it is necessary to interview are having to wait for only five to six weeks. We expect the situation to improve steadily, but the matter will be kept under constant review.

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the European Economic Community Commission's proposal that the United Kingdom should continue to be a substantial net contributor to European Economic Community funds.

The Commission's recent communication on refunds for the United Kingdom for 1983 and after does not suggest what the size of our refunds or our net contribution after refunds should be. The communication provides a basis for discussion in the Community. The policy of Her Majesty's Government is to secure substantial refunds for Britain under the present budgetary system and in the longer term to seek its reform with a view to ensuring equitable net contributions from member countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if the lease for the proposed Theatre museum has yet been signed.

No. Negotiations are still in progress with the Greater London Council on the precise terms of the lease of the Old Flower Market premises for the Theatre museum. I am, however, confident that agreement will be reached in time to enable building work to be started next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether he will consider additional funding for the arts in the Northern region.

Regional funding is a matter for the Arts Council. I understand that the total of its allocations to the Northern region for the present financial year is about £2 million compared with £1·8 million in 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to reply to the report of the Education, Science and Arts Committee in relation to public and private funding of the arts.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack) on 5 November, the Government will consider very carefully the important report by the Select Committee on public and private funding for the arts. The report raises far-reaching issues and the Government will wish to consult widely before giving a full and considered reply. I anticipate that the reply is likely to be available during the spring of 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he is making with his campaign to encourage the business sponsorship of the arts.

Steady progress continues to be made. I have spoken about sponsorship at a number of recent meetings in London and elsewhere including, I am pleased to say, a number of sponsored events.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will consider a departmental inquiry into the need of a new code of conduct of clinical trials following the decision not to proceed on the lines announced with the research into the value of vitamin and other nutritional supplements in the reduction of the incidence of neural tube and allied foetal abnormal developments;(2) if he will consider a requirement that patients who are included in clinical trials are very well briefed as to the methodology and implications of the trial procedures.

The trial to which the hon. Member refers is the proposed Medical Research Council multi-centre clinical trial of folate and vitamin supplementation in the prevention of neural tube defects. Contrary to reports which have appeared in the press, a decision has not been taken to cancel the trial. I am aware that the trial has been the subject of public debate. The council is alive to the sensitivity of the issues raised and is considering them with great care.Guidance on the ethical aspects of clinical research investigations has been given by the medical profession. I understand that both the Medical Research Council and the British Medical Association have issued guidance which deals with the need to obtain the informed consent of patients; that is, consent freely given with proper understanding of the nature and consequences of what is proposed. Full informed consent by the patients will be a prerequisite for entry into the council's neural tube defects trial.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish details of the amount of grant loss to all British universities, institution by institution, due to the removal of the overseas element of the Government grant.

Recurrent grant to universities for overseas students was withdrawn over three years. Other adjustments to recurrent grant were in train at the same time and the reductions at individual institutions attributable to the withdrawal of the overseas student subsidy cannot readily be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure on (a) in-service training and (b) initial teacher training in England in each of the past five years.

The only information available on total expenditure on in-service training is from the Department's 1979 survey of induction and in-service training which showed that total local authority expenditure on in-service training in the financial year 1978–79 in England was £51 million at outturn prices. This figure excludes net institutional expenditure by universities and voluntary colleges on the provision of in-service courses which cannot be separately identified. The expenditure covered training for the full-time equivalent of 4,900 teachers. The survey is to be repeated next year, but available evidence indicates that the numbers of teachers released for in-service training have been broadly maintained.The costs of initial teacher training are not precisely identifiable within higher education and vary widely between institutions. However, the total gross cost of initial teacher training, including the cost of first degree students who subsequently enter PGCE courses, for each of the last five years is estimated to be approximately as follows

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students on mandatory awards would cease to be assessed for a parental contribution if the threshold were revised to £9,000 of residual income in 1983–84.

About 60,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure the financial solvency of the Royal Opera House and the continued viability of the arrangements for its performances in 1983.

I am sure that the grant for the Arts Council in 1983–84 will be sufficient to enable it to support satisfactory programmes at the Royal Opera House during the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply, to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 23 July, 1981, Official Report, c. 238, what changes he is now considering in the definitions of overseas students and the ordinary resident provision in the awards regulations; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is at present awaiting the final outcome of a number of cases concerning the ordinary residence requirement of the Mandatory Awards Regulations which were recently considered by an Appeal Committee of the House of Lords. When this is known my right hon. Friend will give further consideration to questions covering the interpretation of ordinary residence and whether any change of policy is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how much money is spent annually on research into the causes and treatment of retinitis pigmentosa; and whether there are any plans to extend the research into this disease.

The Medical Research Council is the main publicly funded agency for the support of biomedical research in England and Wales, though universities may have their own programmes using funds allocated for teaching and research through the University Grants Committee. In the latest year for which actual expenditure figures are available, 1981–82, the MRC spent some £96,000 on projects relevant to retinitis pigmentosa. I understand that the council is always happy to consider applications for support from scientists with soundly based proposals for research in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the professional and other qualifications of the principal finance officer and principal establishment officer for his Department.

The principal finance officer has been in post since 1978. Before that he had three years' experience of finance work and was then in succession head of the Department's planning unit; in charge of the Cabinet Office unit responsible for the 1975 referendum; and head of the branch concerned with the organisation and supply of schools. The principal establishment officer has been in post for nearly three years following a range of jobs in the Department's main areas of work and a previous career in the diplomatic service. He has attended training courses relevant to his present work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list and describe the studies from within or without his Department relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of his Department together with the recommendations and action taken on those recommendations.

The Department conducts a very wide range of studies related to the effectiveness and efficiency of its business. They include policy reviews, Rayner scrutinies, and centrally co-ordinated multi-Department reviews as well as the continuing work of staff inspections, management services, and internal audit staff. Such studies form an essential part of normal good management and have been given extra impetus by this Government's determination to cut out unnecessary work, simplify administration and, more generally, get the best value for the taxpayer's money.Full details about all of these studies, and the action resulting from them, could be provided in this answer only at disproportionate cost. I will, however give some examples.The Department has completed or has in hand several studies under the aegis of Sir Derek Rayner. Completed studies include:

Scrutiny area	Examples of action taken
Administration of Teachers Pension Scheme (1979)	Consolidation of DES' Darlington Office on one site; improved telecommunications between DES Darlington and DES London; review of relationship between DES Darlington and Paymaster General's Office (Crawley).
Government Statistical Service (1980 multi-department review)	Reduction in number of volumes of statistics published by DES; review of data collected from local authorities; management accounting system introduced in DES' Statistics and Computing Services Branch.
Departmental Museums (1981)	Introduction of legislation to achieve the major recommendation.

The staff inspection unit reviews all parts of the Department on a three-year cycle. Over the three years 1979–1982 there have been substantial changes in complement, regradings and reorganisation of branches as a result of the inspectors' work. A large number of 0 & M assignments are constantly in progress, increasingly in connection with proposals for the introduction of new technology.The Department has also substantially reduced its complement since May 1979 as part of its contribution to meeting the Government's overall Civil Service manpower target of 630,000 for 1 April 1984, following a series of reviews of the scope for relaxtion of central controls and withdrawal from functions no longer deemed essential.The Department has been participating in the multi-Departmental review of running costs and is currently reviewing the efficiency and effectiveness of its financial management in the context of the Government's financial management initiative which was announced in Cmnd. 8616.The objectives and effectiveness of the Department's policies and programmes are reviewed in the normal course of business. Special ad hoc reviews are commissioned as required.The Department is additionally subject to the scrutiny of the Exchequer and Audit Department, and has recently reviewed and strengthened its own internal audit arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost of providing mandatory grants to students.

In the academic year 1980–81, the latest year for which information is available, the cost of providing mandatory grants to students by local education authorities in England and Wales was £679 million of which £281 million related to tuition fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many young people between the ages of 16 and 19 years have stayed on in full-time education as a result of the extra £60 million that was provided by the Government for local education authorities;(2) how many local education authorities in England and Wales increased their expenditure on education maintenance allowances for those aged 16 to 19 years as a result of the extra £60 million provided by the Government.

It will be some time before firm figures are available in respect of student numbers and local authority expenditure on discretionary maintenance allowances in 1982–83. Even then, the extra allocation will not be separately accounted for by authorities. There are indications that staying on at 16-plus is continuing to increase and the Government hope that the additional planned expenditure will assist authorities to cater for this demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there have been any developments on the proposal to supply civil plutonium to the United States of America for use in its fast reactor programme since his answer of 27 July, Official Report, c. 438; and whether it is still intended to proceed with the proposal.

There have been no further developments since my answer to the hon. Member on 27 July. No further discussions on the proposals are planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the professional and other qualifications of the principal finance officer and principal establishment officer for his Department.

The principal finance officer and principal establishment officer posts in my Department are combined. There is no current occupant.The principal establishment and finance officer designate who will take up post on 4 January 1983 is a Bachelor at Law and a member of the Middle Temple. During his career he has had considerable experience of resource management; he has carried out significant responsibilities in the financial field and has been responsible for the supervision and management of teams of highly skilled staff. He has frequently been involved by the establishment and finance division in interviewing, performance appraisal and promotion reviews.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list and describe the studies from within or without his Department relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of his Department together with the recommendations and action taken on those recommendations.

I will answer my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the statistical basis for his assertion on 15 November, Official Report, c. 4, that the total abolition of standing charges for the supply of gas and electricity, respectively, would lead to an increase in unit charges of 15 per cent.

If standing charges were removed from domestic tariffs, the industries would not forgo the revenue but would need to recoup it through increasing the unit rate. The Electricity Council and the British Gas Corporation calculated the consequent necessary increase in the unit rate by comparison with the tariffs currently in operation. Assuming that a flat-rate tariff were adopted and there was no significant resulting change in consumption, these calculations showed that the increase in unit rate would need to be around 15 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what have been the obligations in law upon him as sole shareholder which he has met before the issuing of the prospectus for Britoil.

I am advised that shareholders as such have no legal obligations to discharge before a prospectus is issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the results of the recent offer for sale of shares in Britoil.

Further to my statement today, the following applications were received:

Sale of shares in Britoil
Size of applications (in shares)	No. of applications	No. of shares
Public
100–2,000	*35,424	22,633,200
Over 2,000–10,000	133	773,000
Over 10,000–50,000	104	2,771,500
Over 50,000–500,000	75	14,680,000
Over 500,000	16	28,550,000
Total	35,752	69,407,700
Employees
Pink preferential applications	276	170,100
Purchase applications		180,658
Free shares matching	1,229
purchased shares		180,658
Free shares	1,822	49,194
Total		580,610
* Of which 32,100 were striking price applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much financial assistance was granted in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk districts in each year since 1974; and how many jobs were created by such assistance.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to financial assistance under parts I and II of the Industry Act 1972. Such assistance has been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to assist small firms, in the Cambuslang and Rutherglen areas, who will be affected by the decision of the British Steel Corporation partially to close Clydebridge steelworks.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the professional and other qualifications of the principal finance officer and principal establishment officer for his Department.

The post of principal establishment and finance officer in the Department of Industry is held by a deputy secretary with substantial relevant experience in establishment and finance matters but no professional qualifications. He is also principal establishment and finance officer in the Department of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list and describe the studies from within or without his Department relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of his Department together with the recommendations and action taken on those recommendations.

Management studies in my Department constitute a continuing programme of initiatives to improve its effectiveness and efficiency, with particular regard to the quality of administration; the financial management of both programme and administrative expenditure; and the manpower and other resources necessary for these purposes. Much of this work is highly relevant to the Government's financial management initiative. These aims are pursued by studies of several kinds—departmental and broader centrally co-ordinated Rayner scrutinies and efficiency exercises; on-going internal programmes of management services studies, some conducted on Rayner principles; staff inspections and audit reviews; studies on the Department's need for management information systems; automation by computerisation and new office technology; studies on the feasibility of responsibility cost centres; where advantageous, the use of consultants; and other continuing work to define objectives and explore how best they can be achieved. The resulting specific recommendations are too numerous for these, and the action taken to implement them, to be listed without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what have been the trends in retail prices for textiles and clothing, respectively, in recent years; and how these trends have compared with price changes in general.

(pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1982; c. 275]: Retail prices for textiles and clothing have risen less fast than for other items. The nearest available information for recent years is as follows:

Retail price index: 15 January 1974 = 100
	Annual Averages
	1978	1979	1980	1981	14 September 1982
Furniture, floor coverings and soft furnishings	185·7	209·5	238·1	248·2	254·7
Clothing and footwear	171·0	187·2	205·4	208·3	212·4
All items	197·1	223·5	263·7	295·0	322·9

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will set out, both in terms of value and volume, the proportion of United Kingdom imports of steel from the European Economic Community that have been covered by exports for each of the last eight years, ending at the month for which the figures are most recently available.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1982; c. 276]: Information as is readily available for comparable periods is as follows:

Steel industry Products:
United Kingdom exports to European Community as a percentage of United Kingdom imports from European Community
percentage
	By value	By quantity
1974	28	28
1975	31	27
1976	41	40
1977	51	53
1978	53	58
1979	60	66
1980*	35	35
1981†	‡51	49
1982 January-August	‡46	45

Crude Steel Production
Million tonnes
	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982 Jan.-Sep.
Belgium/Luxembourg	22·7	16·2	16·7	15·6	17·4	18·4	16·9	16·1	10·6
Denmark	0·5	0·6	0·7	0·7	0·9	0·8	0·7	0·6	0·4
France	27·0	21·5	23·2	22·1	22·8	23·4	23·2	21·3	14·3
Greece	0·9	0·7	0·7	0·8	0·9	1·0	1·2	0·9	†0·7
Irish Republic	0·1	0·1	0·1	0·1	0·1	0·1	0·0	0·0	0·0
Italy	23·8	21·8	23·4	23·3	24·3	24·3	26·5	24·8	18·5
Netherlands	5·8	4·8	5·2	4·9	5·6	5·8	5·3	5·5	3·4
United Kingdom	22·3	19·8	22·4	20·5	20·3	21·5	*11·3	15·3	11·0
West Germany	53·2	40·4	42·4	39·0	41·3	46·0	43·8	41·6	28·7
European Community Total	156·5	125·9	134·9	126·9	133·5	141·2	128·9	126·1	†87·7