asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on Civil Service dispersal to the West of Scotland.

The programme of dispersals announced on 26 July 1979 includes at least 2,000 posts for Scotland. The move to East Kilbride of posts in the Overseas Development Administration was completed in July 1981, and of the pensions departments of the Crown Agents office in August 1982. Some 260 Ministry of Defence posts will move to Glasgow in advance of the main move, which is expected to take place during 1985–86.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is satisfied with the progress being made in improving the efficiency of the Civil Service.

Good progress in improving efficiency is being made as is explained in some detail in the White Paper "Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Civil Service" (Cmnd. 8616). But much remains to be done. The White Paper also sets out our continuing programme of efficiency work, particularly the improvement of financial management.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects the report on the pilot survey to establish the ethnic origin of non-industrial civil servants in Leeds to be published.

I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Townend) on 29 November, which stated that Volume 1 of the report, "Ethnic Monitoring in the Civil Service: A Survey in Leeds" was published that day. This part of the report covers the survey of serving civil servants, which took place on 19 May. The results of the job application part of the survey, which ran from 1 May to 30 September, will be published as Volume 2 of the report early in 1983.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the responsibilities of the Management and Personnel Office relating to the Civil Service in time of war.

The MPO co-ordinates in peacetime the nomination of civil servants who would be required for duty in wartime regional government headquarters. It would be responsible for issuing instructions in wartime to all other staff.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many acres of Forestry Commission land have been sold to private buyers since May 1979; and how many of these were stocked with conifer and how many with deciduous trees.

Before 1 April 1982 statistics of the sale of plantations and plantable land were compiled and held centrally only by financial years. From 1 April 1979 to 21 November 1982 a total of 17,895 acres—7,242 hectares—of Forestry Commission plantations and plantable land was sold.A further 23,791 acres—9,628 hectares—of agricultural and other surplus land were sold in the period of 1 April 1980 to 31 March 1982. Details are not held centrally of such land sold in the periods of 1 April 1979 to 31 March 1980 and 1 April 1982 to 21 November 1982, nor of the breakdown of plantation sales between coniferous and deciduous trees. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what poisons are being used on carrots in experiments to test the effectiveness of rabbit population control.

My Department is currently not carrying out any field trials using poison bait against rabbits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what poison he intends to use against foxes in the event of an outbreak of rabies; what trials have been conducted to test the effectiveness of any particular poison; how many foxes were recovered dead from these trials; and what other species of animals or birds were poisoned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has issued advice for destroying foxes by leaving strychnine poisoned fowl heads around; and if he will make a statement.

Rabies control legislation provides for the destruction of foxes in the event of a rabies outbreak. It permits the use of poison as a method of destruction, having regard to the internationally recognised fact that the fox could be a major transmitter of the disease.The Government's eradication plans take account of the need to use strychnine in a rabies infected area. However the Chemical Defence Establishment has been commissioned to produce an alternative poison based upon carbamate which acts on the brain and degrades rapidly. Laboratory tests on this were promising and early this year an initial field trial was held at Kirkcudbright under rigorous controls. Interested organisations, including welfare and conservation groups were informed.The results of the trial using buried bait are currently being assessed. Nine foxes were found dead after the trial and there was some evidence of small rodents taking the bait. Marks were made where baits were buried and baits not used were removed from the trial area. I confirm that full advice has been prepared on all matters arising in relation to control measures which would be taken in the event of an outbreak.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what poisons have been or are currently being used for killing foxes.

The Agriculture Act 1947 permits the gassing of foxes in their earths for pest control purposes. Hydrogen cyanide has occasionally been used in this way, but is no longer recommended by my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether attempts to control Danish fishing in United Kingdom waters are compatible with regulation 2(1) accepted by the Council of Ministers on 30 June 1970 that member States should ensure in particular equal conditions of access to, and use of, fishing grounds for all fishing vessels flying the flag of a member State and registered in a Community territory.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to Council regulation 101/76—formerly Regulation 2141/70 adopted on 30 June 1970—article 2(1) of which contains the words quoted. It is generally agreed that restrictions on fishing both as to the volume of catches and access to waters can be compatible with this regulation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in implementing a common fisheries policy for the European Economic Community.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House on 30 November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make giant hogweed a notifiable weed.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to secure agreement throughout the European Economic Community on a common programme of legislation for farm animal welfare.

There is a programme. Two directives on the international transport of animals have been agreed and work by the European Community Commission on various related issues is in progress. The Council of Agriculture Ministers is actively considering proposals for a directive on minimum standards for laying hens kept in battery cages. The European Community Commission is beginning work on possible legislation for calves whilst, by agreement, the standing committee under the Council of Europe's convention on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, having completed a draft recommendation on laying hens, has turned its consideration to pigs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safeguards the Government will seek to obtain to protect British farmers from any increased or unfair competition on the accession of Spain to the European Economic Community.

I believe that British farmers will for the most part find no difficulty in competing successfully with Spanish producers. In those sectors, notably in horticulture, where that competition is likely to be most intense, my main aim will be to secure an adequate transitional period to allow time for adjustment. Any instances of unfair competition would fall to be dealt with by the Commission under the Treaty in the normal way.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the additional average cost in a standard loaf attributable to the difference between wheat prices on world markets and common agricultural policy guaranteed prices.

At present world prices, about 3½p per standard loaf or a little more.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Bradford metropolitan district council makes a claim to the intervention board for agricultural produce under the European Economic Community subsidy scheme for liquid whole milk; how many gallons of unflavoured and flavoured whole milk, respectively, were supplied by the authority for each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; in each case how many gallons, and at what average purchase cost were supplied (a) to pupils free of charge, (b) for catering purposes and (c) at a charge to the pupils; and what was the average price so charged.

No claims have been received during the past 12 months from Bradford metropolitan district council under the subsidy arrangements for liquid whole milk for schools.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the per capita consumption of butter has fallen during the last three years.

Consumption of butter in the United Kingdom, as recorded in the national food survey, was 4·45 oz per capita per week in 1979 and fell to 3·69 oz in 1981.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements the Council of Ministers has agreed for the special sale of subsidised butter in member States with low levels of intervention stocks and for a change in the rate of subsidy on butter for those receiving social assistance.

On 9 November the European Community Commission introduced a scheme for a special sale of subsidised butter from intervention stocks and aided private storage. Supplies of butter from those sources are insufficient to meet the needs of the scheme in Greece, Italy, Denmark and Luxembourg and the Council has therefore now adopted regulation (EEC) 2989/82 which permits the subsidy to be paid on open market butter in those member States. The Council has also adopted regulation (EEC) 2990/82 which increases the permitted level of Community financing where butter is sold to persons receiving social assistance from 60·4 ECUs to 80 ECUs/100 kg of butter.These measures were described in unnumbered explanatory memoranda dated 8 November 1982, which have been deposited in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the European Community Commission has been notified of the Government's intention to introduce a new scheme of aid for the fishing industry.

The Government's proposals are being notified to the Commission today under the provisions of article 93(3) of the Treaty of Rome. In a telex received on 16 November the Commission has taken note of my statement to the House on 27 October and pointed formally to our obligations under article 93(3) of the Treaty.

asked the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the £15 million aid to the fishing industry which he announced on 27 October will be distributed.

I have today laid before Parliament the Fishing Vessels (Temporary Financial Assistance) Scheme 1982, which provides for payments to owners of fishing vessels registered in the United Kingdom. Applications under the scheme will be accepted from tomorrow and payments will be made as soon as possible. The scheme is on broadly similar lines to the Fishing Vessel Temporary Support Scheme 1981, but with the additional condition of payment that 75 per cent. of a vessel's crew were ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on 27 October.The proposed rate of payment for each eligible vessel will be according to the following scale:

Registered length of vessel (feet)			Payment (£)
	Under 25'		230
25'	and over but less than	35'	360
35'	and over but less than	40'	650
40'	and over but less than	45'	1,560
45'	and over but less than	50'	1,890
50'	and over but less than	55'	3,120
55'	and over but less than	60'	4,360
60'	and over but less than	65'	6,360
65'	and over but less than	70'	8,640
70'	and over but less than	75'	10,380
75'	and over but less than	80'	12,120
80'	and over but less than	90'	13,260
90'	and over but less than	100'	13,860
100'	and over but less than	110'	15,600
110'	and over but less than	120'	16,740
120'	and over but less than	130'	19,080
130'	and over but less than	140'	21,900
140'	and over but less than	190'	28,800
Over 190'			32,280

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether vessels based in the United Kingdom but registered in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man will receive payments under the £15 million aid scheme he has announced for the fishing industry.

Owners of certain vessels based in the United Kingdom but registered in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man were eligible for payments along with United Kingdom registered vessels under the Fishing Vessel Temporary Support Scheme 1981. The Government have decided that it would be appropriate to make payments under the Fishing Vessels (Temporary Financial Assistance) Scheme 1982 to owners of fishing vessels which as at 27 October 1982 were registered in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man but which were based in the United Kingdom throughout such part of the period between 1 March and 27 October as they were in the applicant's ownership. Other conditions of eligibility for these vessels will be the same as those applicable to United Kingdom registered vessels under the Fishing Vessels (Temporary Financial Assistance) Scheme 1982.In the absence of specific enabling legislation payments in respect of these vessels will be made on an extra statutory basis. As I announced on 28 October—

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the way in which the Land Settlement Association's smallholdings scheme is functioning; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from a large number of Land Settlement Association tenants, both individually and collectively, about the operation of the current LSA scheme. In the light of these representations, and of my discussions with the LSA chairman, Mr. Michael Parker, I have been carefully considering the future of the 10 LSA estates. I am now able to announce the changes I propose to make.First, I am convinced that the tenants of the estates should take over the responsibility for the marketing of their own produce and that this should happen as soon as possible. I hope that wherever possible individual estate co-operatives will be formed or that, where appropriate, satisfactory agreements can be made with other existing marketing organisations. The facilities and equipment used at present by the LSA will first be made available for purchase or lease on commercial terms by those new or existing marketing organisations who might wish to take them over in the interests of the tenants. I will accordingly be entering into consultations with the tenants" representatives about implementation of these proposals, with the intention of terminating the current LSA marketing arrangements as from the beginning of April 1983.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue from stamp duty on house purchase in 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82; and what is the estimated income for the current year.

The estimated yield of stamp duty from residential property in the years 1977–78 to 1982–83 is as follows:

	£ million
1977–78	85
1978–79	120
1979–80	250
1980–81*	245
1981–82	315
1982–83†	290

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the tax years 1971–72 to 1981–82 (a) the number of income tax payers paying above the basic rate and (b) the tax collected from the application of these higher rates, both as an amount and as a percentage of total income tax collections.

The information is given in the following table:

Surtax
Year	Number of taxpayers	Amount of surtax	Percentage of total of income tax and surtax
	'000	£ million
1971–72	333	327	5·1
1972–73	375	390	5·9

Income Tax
Year	Number of higher rate taxpayers	Amount of tax at higher rates and investment income surcharge	Percentage of total income tax including investment income surcharge
	'000	£ million
1973–74	392	1,070	13·3
1974–75	752	1,710	14·4
1975–76	1,240	2,170	13·6
1976–77	1,430	2,490	13·6
1977–78	1,060	2,140	11·9
1978–79	763	2,040	10·1
1979–80	670	1,880	8·5
1980–81	780	2,390	9·0
1981–82	1,120	3,700	11·6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the tax year 1981–82 (a) the number of income tax payers in each rate band and (b) the total taxable income falling within each rate band.

Provisional figures are given in the following table:

1981–82
Rate*	Band of Taxable Income	Number of taxpayers†	Taxable Income within band
per cent.	£	Thousands	£ billion
30	0–11,250	20,680	94·1
40	11,251–13,250	480	1·7
45	13,251–16,750	290	1·7
50	16,751–22,250	180	1·3
55	22,251–27,750	70	0·7
60	Over–27,750	100	1·6
Total		21,800	101

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which social security payments, pensions and related payments are not subject to income tax.

The following social security benefits are taxable:

Retirement pension, old person's pension, widow's pension, widowed mother's allowance, widow's allowance, industrial death benefit, invalid care allowance, unemployment benefit, and supplementary benefit paid to the unemployed and to strikers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current estimated accumulated unused tax losses in the corporate sector, excluding public corporations.

The latest figures are approaching £40 billion, compared with about £33 billion a year ago. Nearly 20 per cent. of this total relates to the North Sea sector where unused losses should decline in the next year or two. These estimates are extremely tentative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what value will be added in a year to index-linked bonds already in issue, assuming the inflation rate to be 5 per cent., 6·8 per cent. and 10 per cent.

The value of index-linked National Savings certificates—retirement issue and second index-linked issue—held at end October 1982 was £5,200 million, made up of £4,250 million of principal and £950 million of index-linking-bonus. If these certificates are held until 1 November 1983 the value added will be of the order of:

£385 million if the inflation rate 12 months hence is 5 per cent.

£478 million if the inflation rate 12 months hence is 6·8 per cent.

£645 million if the inflation rate 12 months hence is 10 per cent.

These figures include the 2·4 per cent. supplement to be applied to certificates announced on 22 October, but exclude maturity bonuses accruing over the next 12 months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the reduction in revenue to the Exchequer if petroleum revenue tax were reduced from 75 per cent. to 70 per cent. in the fiscal year 1983–84.

On the basis of the assumptions used for the forecast of North Sea tax revenues in the autumn statement, the cost of reducing petroleum revenue tax from 75 per cent. to 70 per cent. from 1 January 1983 would be about £200 million in 1983–84.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of all mortgages, upon which tax relief is paid, are under £25,000.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1982, c. 603]: I regret that information on which to base a precise estimate is not available, but it is thought that the vast majority—certainly over 95 per cent—of mortgages on which tax relief is being given are under £25,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply of 17 November, OfficialReport, c. 162, what are the different considerations which apply to deep discounted and indexed stock and secondhand bonds.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 November 1982, c. 158]: The legislation to be introduced in next year's Finance Bill on secondhand bonds will have effect from 26 June 1982; and in cases of this kind there is a good reason for publishing details of the legislation in advance of the Finance Bill. Any liberalisation of the tax treatment of deep discounted and indexed stock, however, would have effect from a future date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will sign the United Nations convention on the law of the sea; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are considering this question. An announcement will be made tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will take steps to invite the Contact Five group negotiating the terms of Namibian independence to resolve the impasse which results from disagreements on the parallel phased withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola.

No. The question of Cuban troops in Angola is not part of Security Council resolution 435 and does not therefore fall within the Five's mandate. But we remain in touch with our partners about ways in which individually we can contribute to moving the negotiations for a Namibia settlement forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the purchase value of United Kingdom Government owned properties in Namibia; and what was their location.

The total cost of the three houses owned by the Property Services Agency in Windhoek was 123,000 rand in 1978, then equivalent to £73,662. All three are close to the centre of Windhoek: two are within a few minutes' walking distance, and a third is 4 to 5 minutes' drive.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the purposes of the club 403 project; and if he will list the organisations which have so far indicated their intention to participate.

Club 403 is a test market project to be run in the West Midlands for a nominal period of six months during the next year. Its purpose is to establish what consumers want from a residential viewdata package of information and services, in what form these are required and, further, what the consumer is prepared to pay for the package as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in view of increasing competition from Japan, he will provide additional assistance to the machine tool industry.

My Department is already giving substantial assistance to the machine tool industry. Many machine tool companies are receiving grants under the support for innovation programme and further applications for such assistance will be welcome. The £35 million flexible manufacturing scheme can assist the industry with the costs of adopting more advanced manufacturing technology and will also increase demand for machine tools. A further boost to United Kingdom machine tool demand has been given this year by the £30 million small engineering firms investment scheme where 57 per cent. of orders have been placed with United Kingdom suppliers—a higher percentage than might have been expected from recent experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the investigation by Touche, Ross into the wire drawing industry will be published.

The investigation is commercially confidential. There is no intention to publish a report.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which private firms have made application for assistance from the £22 million fund to aid steel rationalisation.

The identity of applicants under the private sector steel scheme is commercially confidential. The allocation for the scheme has, incidentally, recently been increased to £34·2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many advance factories have been built in the Liverpool travel-to-work area and the Merseyside special development area since May 1979; and how many new jobs have been created.

I have information only in respect of the English Industrial Estates Corporation, for which the Department of Industry is responsible, and which builds factories and workshops for the Government in the assisted areas of England. The information is as follows:

	Units built (May 1979–October 1982)	M2(Floorspace)
Liverpool Travel-to-Work Area	153	47,151
Merseyside Special Development Area	324	95,424

These developments have provided employment opportunities for about 1,500 persons in the Liverpool travel-to-work area and 3,000 persons in the Merseyside special development area.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what changes are being made in the arrangements for the enforcement of European Coal and Steel Community price rules for steel stockholders and traders.

From the end of this year, the United Kingdom Government, in common with Governments in other member States of the European Community, take over from the European Commission responsibility for policing the rules concerning pricing practices by steel stockholders and dealers in this country. Legislation giving the Government powers to enforce the rules comes into operation today.The rules require stockholders and dealers with an annual turn-over of 6,000 tonnes of all steel products or 3,000 tonnes of special steels:

asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government will express their views to the European Court in the current case concerning the German butter boats, having regard to the implications for the future of duty-free privileges on ships and aircraft between the United Kingdom and the rest of the European Economic Community.

We are preparing a legal case for possible presentation. In the meantime we will support any proposals for Community legislation which would protect the excise and VAT relief for the foreseeable future.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied that the joint operation of the Food and Drugs Act and the Medicines Act account for all of the health products such as starch-blocking pills currently available to the general public; whether Her Majesty's Government will seek to close any loophole which may exist in legislation; and if she will make a statement.

I am satisfied that existing regulatory powers are adequate for the protection of consumers. The Medicines Act contains powers which would enable the sale of products such as starch-blockers to be prohibited if they presented dangers to health.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on national security relating particularly to the Government communications headquarters in respect of the actions of two individuals whose names have been supplied to her.

Both the men whose names were supplied to me by the hon. Member were employees of GCHQ who have recently died. There is no reason to connect either of them with Prime; no reason to suspect that either of them was other than loyal and trustworthy in his work; no reason to suppose that either of them could have thought that he was under suspicion of disloyalty or espionage; and no reason to suppose that the Prime case, or fears of being suspected, had anything to do with either of their deaths.

asked the Attorney-General whether, following the conviction of Mr. Frank South, of Newmarket Road, Norwich, on a criminal charge, the Lord Chancellor will dismiss him from his appointment as a magistrate.

Mr. Frank South has tendered his resignation from the bench, and this has been accepted by the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Attorney-General in how many criminal cases in higher courts in the Metropolitan Police area the trial was stopped by the judge because a confession by the accused when in custody was withdrawn at the trial on the grounds that it was improperly obtained.

In the Metropolitan Police area in 1981, 1,393 trials ended in an acquittal on the direction of the judge. It is not possible to establish in what proportion of these cases the only reason for such a result was that a confession statement was held to be inadmissible because it had been improperly obtained, but it is thought that the proportion was not high.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many power stations are due for closure in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987, respectively;(2) how many coal-fired power stations are due for closure in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987, respectively; and what is the annual consumption of coal of the power stations closing in each year.

The CEGB reviews power station closures annually.No decisions on closures have been taken for 1984 onwards. The board recently announced the following closures for 1983:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received the report of the joint Government and industry review of the technical standards of overhead electricity lines he announced in December 1981; and if he will make a statement.

I have now received the report of this review which I initiated at the time of the interruptions to electricity supplies during last winter's severe weather.The review, carried out by a joint Government—electricity supply industry panel under the chairmanship of the Department's chief engineering inspector, Mr. Alan Baldock, established that overhead line design standards were generally satisfactoty. The panel also examined the distribution system in other countries and concluded that the reliability of the United Kingdom system was equal to, if not better than, those of our European neighbours, the United States of America and Canada. However, the panel found design weaknesses of some rural overhead lines and damage caused by trees had exacerbated last winter's supply interruptions.The panel has recommended a programme of improvements to be carried out over the next 10 years, which it estimates to cost between £100 million and £150 million. The panel has also recommended the establishment of a study group to revise the statutory regulations governing the design of overhead lines. I understand that a number of area electricity boards have already adopted measures recommended by the panel and the rest of the industry will be putting them into effect forthwith.This is a valuable report pinpointing a number of key areas where practical and worthwhile improvements can be made to reduce the risk of disruption of electricity supplies in extreme weather conditions.I welcome the panel's recommendation and have strongly commended them to the Electricity Council.I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees in the wool textile industry there are at present; and how many there were in January 1982 and January 1981.

At September 1982 the provisional number of employees in employment in Great Britain in the woollen and worsted industry—minimum list heading 414 of the 1968 Standard Industrial Classification—was 51,200. The corresponding numbers at January 1982 and January 1981 were 54,800 and 57,700, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the potential work force became unemployed from June 1979 to June 1982 in the following countries: (a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) West Germany, (d) Canada and (e) the United States of America.

The following is the information:

Increase in seasonally adjusted unemployment percentage rate: national definitions
	Percentage Points
United Kingdom*	6·8
France†	3·4
West Germany†	3·8
Canada‡	3·5
United States‡	3·8

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of increase between April 1979 and October 1982 in the number of persons registered as unemployed for more than two years for (a) England, (b) each county in England ranked from highest to lowest and (c) each of the economic regions.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1982, c. 488]: The following table gives the percentage increases between April 1979 and October 1982 in the numbers registered as unemployed for over 104 weeks.

	Percentage increase
England	168·3
County
Buckinghamshire	372·2
West Midlands Metropolitan	337·1
Northamptonshire	291·8
Cleveland	276·6
Staffordshire	259·1
Leicestershire	232·6
Berkshire	223·7
South Yorkshire Metropolitan	214·0
Greater Manchester Metropolitan	203·1
Greater London	201·6
West Yorkshire Metropolitan	198·6
Nottinghamshire	195·0
Shropshire	188·8
Cheshire	186·7
Derbyshire	180·5
Bedfordshire	179·6
Hertfordshire	179·0
Lancashire	156·1
Hereford and Worcester	148·6
Essex	143·8
Kent	143·3
Warwickshire	142·0
Wiltshire	140·1
Durham	137·0
Lincolnshire	136·4
Cambridgeshire	134·2
Humberside	131·0
Norfolk	128·3
Surrey	128·0
Devon	127·8
East Sussex	122·2
Gloucestershire	121·7
Oxfordshire	120·7
Somerset	116·3
Cumbria	112·4
Suffolk	110·4
Dorset	108·6
Merseyside Metropolitan	106·4
Avon	104·9
West Sussex	99·9
Hampshire	96·8
Isle of Wight	89·8
Tyne and Wear Metropolitan	89·3
Northumberland	77·2
North Yorkshire	72·7
Cornwall	70·3
Region
South East	169·3
East Anglia	124·2
South West	111·0
West Midlands	281·9
East Midlands	199·5
Yorkshire and Humberside	176·5
North West	145·4
North	128·3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the highest percentage rate for unemployment for the Walsall travel-to-work area prior to May 1979; and if he will give the percentage rate for October 1979, October 1980, October 1981 and October 1982.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1982, c. 593]: Prior to May 1979, the highest rate of unemployment in the Walsall travel-to-work area, based on the current definition of the area, was 7·3 per cent. at August 1977. The corresponding rates at October each year from 1979 were as follows:

October each year	Per cent.
1979	6·1
1980	10·8
1981	17·1
1982	18·9

The rate for unemployed claimants in the area—from now on the count is based on claimants—was 18·0 per cent. at October 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what voluntary training schemes have been set up so far in replacement of industrial training boards.

I refer my hon. Friend to the notes on voluntary training arrangements which were placed in the Library on 14 May, 11 June and 19 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of job losses in the Liverpool travel-to-work area and the Merseyside special development area from May 1979 to the latest available date.

The information is not available in the form requested. The number of net job losses—or gains—may be calculated by comparing employment figures at different dates, but these are not available for areas below regional level except from the censuses of employment. Information is available for the June 1978 census, but results of the following census—for September 1981–are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to reduce unemployment amongst young people and school leavers in the Liverpool travel-to-work area and the Merseyside special development area; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's success in bringing down inflation will benefit the unemployed, including the young unemployed.In the meantime the youth opportunities programme is helping unemployed young people with courses of work experience and training and we have guaranteed a place on the programme by Christmas 1982 to this year's school leavers. Some 33,000 entrants are planned for this year in Merseyside.Next year the new youth training scheme will replace the current programme with a full year of foundation training.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that from 1 April 1983, factory accidents are as fully reported as at present under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

I hope to receive early next year the Health and Safety Commission's proposals for amending the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effects he estimates the 18 per cent. fall in real terms of expenditure in the last seven years on books, equipment and materials in secondary schools will have on the adequacy of educational provision especially with regard to learning the use of the new technologies in the schools.

Although the latest indications are that total expenditure per secondary school pupil in 1981–82 was at a record level in real terms, my right hon. Friend has expressed concern on a number of occasions about levels of expenditure on books and equipment in some local education authorities and schools. Information is not collected on the purchase of specific items of equipment related to the new technologies, but under the Government's micros in schools scheme, 50 per cent. assistance is being provided towards the cost of microcomputers for secondary schools. Over 90 per cent. of secondary schools have now obtained a microcomputer under the scheme, which complements the microelectronics education programme on which the Government are now spending about £4 million per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements have been made for consultations between local education authorities and the Manpower Services Commission for setting up the proposed technical programmes for 14 to 18 -year-old young people by September 1983.

There will be close consultation between all the parties concerned. Discussions are now taking place on the establishment of the national steering group which will oversee the development and implementation of the initiative, and on which the local education authorities and other educational interests will have a substantial representation, together with both sides of industry and commerce.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in the light of his statement of 23 November, he will set out the expenditure on housing for the three years ending with the year 1981–82, the projected expenditure for the current year and the sum forecast to be available for housing expenditure in the year 1983–84.

The information requested is as follows:

Housing Gross Public Expenditure	£ million
1979–80	230·1
1980–81	231·5
1981–82	186·0
1982–83	208·2
1983–84	232·8

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for (a) the Caernarvon-Bangor employment area and (b) the Pwllheli-Porthmadog employment area, the percentage unemployment for males and females, respectively, for January and July of each of the past 10 years.

The information is as follows:

	Caernarfon, Bangor Bethesda, Penygroes		Pwllheli, Porthmadog
	Male	Female	Male	Female
1973
January	10·4	3·4	9·8	3·3
July	7·0	1·7	4·5	0·6
1974
January	8·4	2·6	9·4	3·0
July	8·4	2·1	5·0	0·9
1975*
January	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
July	12·5	3·8	9·3	1·6
1976
January	12·9	4·8	15·1	5·7
July	11·0	6·0	9·8	2·8
1977
January	10·0	6·1	16·4	7·5
July	10·6	7·4	10·8	3·5
1978
January	11·4	6·9	16·5	9·6
July	11·2	8·1	11·3	4·1
1979
January	11·5	7·5	14·2	8·0
July	10·3	7·9	9·5	4·1
1980
January	10·4	6·9	14·2	9·7
July	13·7	9·8	10·5	4·9
1981
January	17·6	10·7	19·6	11·5
July	18·8	11·0	14·0	5·6
1982
January	21·6	12·5	22·8	13·5
July	20·7	12·4	15·2	7·7

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the rate of increase between April 1979 and October 1982 in the number of persons registered as unemployed for more than two years for (a) Wales and (b) each county in Wales ranked from highest to lowest.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 November 1982, c. 555]: The percentage increase for Wales and each county in Wales is as follows:

	per cent.
Wales	167·7
West Glamorgan	320·6
Mid Glamorgan	194·3
South Glamorgan	180·2

	per cent.
Gwent	165·9
Clwyd	135·0
Dyfed	116·6
Powys	92·4
Gwynedd	67·2

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why it was necessary for the new Ysbyty Gwynedd currently being built at Bangor to have its Welsh language direction signs purchased from, and incorrectly painted in, England.

Tenders for the bilingual direction signs for Ysbyty Gwynedd were invited from four firms, two of which were based in Gwynedd. The lowest tender was submitted by a firm in England. Spelling errors are being corrected at the contractor's expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reduce the support given to cereal producers as compared with that for the livestock sector.

This is a matter for decision within the European Community. In each of the last two CAP price settlements lower price increases were agreed for cereals than for livestock.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the ages, locations and times spent in custody of the two 17 to 20-year-old males imprisoned for up to two months in 1981 for drunkenness.

The two males aged 17 to 20 received into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1981 for a period of imprisonment of over one and up to two months in default of payment of a fine for an offence of drunkenness were aged 19 and 20. One was received initially into Birmingham prison and the other into Lincoln prison. One served 16 days and the other served 42 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the ages, locations and times spent in custody of the two men aged 30 years and over who were held for two months in 1981 for drunkenness.

The two males aged 30 and over received into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1981 for a period of imprisonment of over two months in default of payment of a fine for an offence of drunkenness were aged 52 and 53. One was received initially into Exeter prison and the other into Norwich prison. One served 44 days and the other 60 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the ages and lengths of time spent in prison of each of the 64 women imprisoned in 1981 for default of payment of a fine for drunkenness.

The information requested is given in the following table:

Receptions into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1981 of females aged 21 and over in default of payment of a fine for an offence of drunkenness: by age on reception and days served in default
Age on reception	Days served in default
21	8
21	8
21	10
22	*
22	5
22	7
23	2
23	8
23	4
24	5
24	5
24	5
25	4
25	5
26	9
26	5
27	3
27	20
27	5
27	10
28	9
28	12
30	4
32	12
33	5
33	19
33	14
34	5
34	4
34	5
35	5
35	2
35	38
35	7
36	5
36	22
37	7
38	13
39	2
40	5
41	5
43	5
43	4
44	5
44	5
44	6
45	4
45	5
45	5
45	14
47	5
49	9
49	5
50	9
51	5
52	6
52	6
52	5
52	4
52	4
53	5
53	5
66	5
67	5

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the ages, locations and times spent in custody of each of the 14 17 to 20-year-old girls imprisoned in 1981 for default of payment of a fine for drunkenness.

The information requested is given in the following table.

Receptions into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1981 of females aged 17 to 20 in default of payment of a fine for an offence of drunkenness: by age on reception, initial reception establishment and days served in default
Establishment on reception	Age on reception	Days served in default
Holloway prison	17	1
Risley remand centre	18	3
Holloway prison	18	2
Holloway prison	18	5
Pucklechurch remand centre	18	9
Risley remand centre	18	10
Low Newton remand centre	19	4
Low Newton remand centre	19	5
Holloway prison	19	1
Holloway prison	19	5
Low Newton remand centre	20	2
Low Newton remand centre	20	10
Holloway prison	20	5
Risley remand centre	20	5

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the ages, locations, offences and times spent in custody of each of the three women aged 60 years and over imprisoned in 1981 as non-criminal prisoners.

The three females aged 60 and over received as non-criminal prisoners into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1981 were aged 62, 66 and 68. Two were received on committal into Holloway prison and one was received into Risley remand centre. Two were committed for non-payment of rates and one for contempt of court. One served two days in custody after committal, one served eight days and the other served 18 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are currently in prison for not having a television licence.

The information requested is not recorded centrally. However, because of the way in which the records happen to be held, in this case it has been possible to carry out a check of certain individual records which identified only three females in prison department establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1982 who were in default of payment of a fine for not having a television licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were imprisoned in 1981 for not having a television licence; and what was the average length of time spent in custody.

The information requested is not recorded centrally. However, a recent survey exercise showed that in 1981 about 90 females were received into prison department establishments in England and Wales in default of payment of a fine for not having a television licence. Information on the average time they served in custody could be produced only at disproportionate cost; however, in about two thirds of these cases the time served was seven days or less.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which six police areas experiments with tape recorded statements will take place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the areas where the field trials of the tape recording of interviews with suspects are to take place.

The areas have yet to be determined. Among the factors which have to be taken into account in their choice are the need to secure a representative cross-section of police activity, special difficulties which may be presented—for example language problems—and the catchment areas of courts. We will announce the choice of areas as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has sought evidence from foreign and Commonwealth countries, in particular the Commonwealth of Australia, about the tape recording by the police of statements of accused persons.

The steering committee which is to be established to devise and oversee the tape recording field trials announced on 15 November will be taking into its consideration overseas experience.—[Vol. 32, c. 16–17.] Research conducted for the Royal Commission on criminal procedure on tape recording included a survey of overseas experience. The Home Office has already established contact with various state police forces, the federal police and others involved in tape recording of police interviews with suspects in Australia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the practice of the Boundary Commission for England to give him reasons for its final recommendations in respect of individual constituencies and for agreeing and disagreeing with the recommendations of assistant commissioners after local public hearings.

Yes, so far as is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the names of right hon. and hon. Members who have made representations to him concerning the use of CS gas cartridges in Liverpool, Toxteth, on 6 July 1981; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will list in the

Since I answered "No" on 27 July to a question from the hon. Member asking if I would set up a public inquiry into the use of CS in Toxteth in 1981, the following right hon. or hon. Members, in addition to the hon. Member himself, have written to me or asked questions about or in support of the request for an inquiry: the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), the right hon. Members for Crosby (Mrs. Williams) and for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson), my hon. Friends the Members for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Thornton) and for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Steen), the hon. Members for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton), for Liverpool, Toxteth (Mr. Crawshaw), and for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer), the hon. Members for Newton (Mr. Evans) and for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk), my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Runcorn (Mr. Carlisle), my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Southport (Sir I. Percival), the hon. Member for Warrington (Mr. Hoyle) and my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral (Mr. Hunt). In the same period the following organisations have written to me with the same request: the Liverpool graphical society branch of the National Graphical Association, the Merseyside community relations council, the Merseyside police committee—in terms reflecting support from the Liverpool city council—and region 6—docks section —of the Transport and General Workers Union.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has been consulted by Unigate Ltd. about its proposed experimental sales of alcohol by its milk roundsmen on the doorstep in certain areas in Essex and other counties in the South East regarding possible implications for licensing law; and whether he has given any approval to such a scheme.

The company has not consulted the Home Office about the legality of this scheme, which we have no power to approve or disapprove. It has provided the Department with only limited details of it. The responsibility for enforcing the law falls on the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the countries to which the United Kingdom has sold arms in the last 12 months.

The following is a list of 58 countries with which contracts for military equipment were signed during 1981, and which were notified to the Ministry of Defence. As such, the list, though substantially correct, may not be comprehensive, because not all private orders, particularly those of a minor nature, have to be notified to the Defence Sales Organisation. All exports of military equipment as defined in group 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order are of course carefully controlled, and are subject to the granting of an export licence by the Department of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on proposals to develop ALARM for future use as a defence suppression weapon system.

No. A formal request has been issued for proposals for an active defence suppression weapon, and ALARM will be among the solutions proposed. No decision will be taken until the available options have been fully evaluated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the progress of the advanced short range air-to-air missile project.

A joint Anglo-German feasibility study will be completed in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost incurred by his Department in making the film "The Peace Game".

£80,850 in production charges, plus VAT.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will conduct experiments on the tape recording of statements to the police similar to those announced by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for South Fylde (Mr. Gardner) on 15 November, Official Report, c. 16–17.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so. The report of the committee of inquiry into police interrogation procedure under his honour Judge Bennett concluded that Northern Ireland was not the most suitable place in which to begin a system of tape recording, even on an experimental basis, but recommended that the results of experiments conducted elsewhere should be made available to the authorities in Northern Ireland. My right hon. Friend will be closely watching the progress of the field trials recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now introduce a national concessionary fares scheme for pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

Concessionary fare schemes are for individual local authorities to decide in the context of the resources they have available and their judgment of the most effective way of meeting the needs of old people in the circumstances of their local area.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the effect of expenditure decisions by his Department on the quality of trunk roads in the Yorkshire and Humberside region; and if he will make a statement.

The value of major trunk road schemes in the Yorkshire and Humberside region under construction or in preparation is about £270 million at November 1979 prices. None are being delayed on expenditure grounds.Our recent report "Roads England 1982" included two additional trunk road schemes in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. We are also increasing the cash provision for maintenance of trunk roads in the region. The quality of trunk roads will therefore be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any proposals for amendments to the Minibus Act 1977.

We want to see the fullest possible use made of minibuses. We also want them to be operated safely and responsibly. The Minibus Act was an important step forward. The regulations are still, however, complex and some may be unnecessary. I have therefore been consulting widely on possible simplifications and reform and hope soon to be able to bring forward proposals on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with progress made by the local authorities in banning heavy lorries from inadequate roads and unsuitable urban and rural environments.

Many local authorities have made good use of their wide powers to control lorry routes, but more remains to be done, and I have urged all authorities to review the scope for further action.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require vehicle mileage to be recorded in future in vehicle documentation held at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and I are considering means of reducing the incidence of fraudulent alteration of odometer readings on motor vehicles; but a scheme based on DVLC's records would present considerable difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of providing a rail link for (a) Stanstead airport and (b) Manchester international airport.

The costs would depend on the types of link proposed. I understand that the British Railways Board is undertaking detailed studies of rail links to both airports; but it has not yet put proposals to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the construction of the Blythe bridge to Uttoxeter section of the A564 Stoke to Derby link to start.

I am pleased to say that preliminary works will begin later this month with the main work starting early in January.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now make a further statement about the Severn bridge.

I have nothing at present to add to my reply on 9 November to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Colvin).—[Vol. 1, c. 141..]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider withdrawing the toll charges on the Severn bridge during the period when there are lane closures on the bridge.

No. The bridge is open to traffic and, in any event, the lane closures, including those in the early morning, have caused very little delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to respond to the report of the Transport Committee on transport in London.

The Government are considering the Select Committee's report "Transport in London" and also considering their own examination of whether a more fundamental reorganisation of transport responsibilities is required. They will give their response as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much from the British Transport hotels holdings has so far been sold to the private sector.

Over the past two years, the British Railways Board has transferred six of 29 British Transport hotels to the private sector. The board recently announced its intention to sell a further 21 hotels by public tender.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the Serpell report; whether he intends to publish it; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to receive the Serpell committee's report within the next two weeks. As I told the House on 5 May—[Vol. 23, c. 83–84]—I shall regard the committee's conclusions as available for publication.