asked the Prime Minister what statements were made to journalists by officials on her staff on 27 and 28 November relating to the availability to Her Majesty's Government on or after 1 May of the information that the Argentine Government were prepared to withdraw from the Falkland Islands on the basis of Security Council resolution 502, and relating to the sinking of the cruiser "General Belgrano" on 2 May.

My officials briefed journalists only on the latter point. The duty press officer said that the "General Belgrano" was attacked because it posed a threat to British forces.

asked the Prime Minister what rank Mr. Roger Jackling will have as her defence adviser; and what posts he has had in the past five years.

Mr. Roger Jackling holds the rank of assistant secretary; his responsibilities in recent years are described in the Civil Service year books, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make it her policy not to seek the excision from the final report of the Franks committee of material solely on the grounds that it is concerned with the structure and methodology of Government decision-making.

As I said in my statement in the House on 8 July—[c. 470]—the Government will make no deletions from the committee's report save strictly on the grounds of protecting national security or international relations.

asked the Prime Minister pursuant to her answer of 25 November, Official Report, c. 549, on what she bases her judgment that the French already have sufficient Exocet components to complete their deliveries to Argentina under existing contracts which were interrupted at the time of the Falklands conflict.

It is normal practice for manufacturers to order sufficient components to fulfil known contracts.

asked the Prime Minister in how many years since 1945 there have been individual Ministers responsible for the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force, respectively.

Thirty-six. From 1945 to 1964 the Service Departments were the responsibility of a Secretary of State (First Lord of the Admiralty in the case of the Royal Navy). In 1964 the Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry were amalgamated with the Ministry of Defence and responsibility for individual Services passed to Ministers of Defence under a Secretary of State. From 1967, Under-Secretaries of State took the responsibility until, in June 1981, I announced the appointment of a Minister of State for the Armed Forces and an Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, with responsibility for all three Services.

asked the Prime Minister why she will not institute a formal investigation into how the classified standing Cabinet Office instruction on the confidentiality of the Joint Intelligence Committee, together with details of the committee's operation, was made available to The Times newspaper and published in part on Monday 29 November.

I do not think that it would serve any useful purpose to do so, especially as much of the material contained in the article in question had appeared in the press previously.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mentally-disordered prisoners were released at the expiry of their sentences in (a) 1981 and (b) so far in 1982 because no hospital would accept them; what were their dates of release, ages, sex and convictions; and what further offences they have committed since release.

In 1981, 14 prisoners whose transfer to hospital under section 72 of the Mental Health Act 1959 was pending were released from prison on the expiry of their sentences. So far, in 1982, four such prisoners have been released. Details are given in the following table. I regret, however, that up to date information about offences which may have been committed by these persons after their release from prison is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mentally-disordered offenders there were in prison at the latest available date by prison and category of the Mental Health Act 1959 into which they fall.

The number of persons in Prison Department establishments on 30 September whom the medical officer considered to be mentally disordered within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1959 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mentally-disordered offenders are awaiting transfer to a National Health Service or special hospital; and if he will list their ages, sex, prisons, convictions, release dates, lengths of time waiting and the names of the hospitals concerned.

Eighteen prisoners are currently awaiting transfer to hospital under section 72 of the Mental Health Act 1959. Since the difficulty in many cases lies in finding a hospital suitable for the prisoner and able to receive him, it is not practicable to identify the hospitals concerned. The other particulars requested are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will lay before the House a statement of the changes he proposes to make in the immigration rules.

I have today laid before Parliament a statement of changes in the immigration rules. The rules will come into effect on 1 January next year, when the British Nationality Act 1981 comes into force, subject however to the procedure provided in the Immigration Act 1971, under which they may be disapproved by a resolution of either House of Parliament within 40 days of laying.The draft rules contained in the White Paper which I published on 25 November have been the subject of debates in both Houses. In the light of what was said in the debates I have made a number of changes which will strengthen still further the safeguards in the rules to prevent marriages for immigration purposes.The changes are as follows. At present a husband is granted leave to remain for one year, and at the end of that time he may be granted settlement. I have decided to extend this period for a further year. In future a husband will have to obtain two extensions of his leave before he can qualify for settlement, and only if the marriage is still subsisting at the end of that period will he be able to qualify for settlement.I have also made a change in paragraph 158 of the rules, which deals with the deportation of people who remain in defiance of a decision to refuse them permission to stay. The new rules will make it clear that if a man has been refused permission to stay because his marriage has broken down, deportation will normally be the proper course irrespective of the reasons for the breakdown, and irrespective of the time he has been resident as a husband.At present a husband or fiance is not issued with an entry clearance, or given leave to remain, if the officer dealing with the application has reason to believe that the tests laid down in the rules are not satisfied. This means that the onus is on the officer to show that the applicant does not meet the requirements. I have decided to reverse the burden of proof in all such cases. In future the onus will rest on the applicant to satisfy the officer that he qualifies.Also, the rules relating to fiances—who are admitted for three months—are now included in a section dealing with people admitted temporarily, instead of the section for people admitted for settlement.The new rules will apply to all decisions taken on or after 1 January 1983, with the exceptions set out in the section on transitional provisions. The exceptions mean that anyone who benefits under the transitional provisions in the present rules will continue to do so, and that the monetary limits laid down in the new rules for businessmen and others will not extend to anyone who applied for an entry clearance or for leave to enter or remain on or before 25 October this year, or who is admitted as a businessman before 1 January next year and applies to remain in the same capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time for which young offenders remain in allocation centres before being allocated to a borstal.

The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders were awaiting allocation to borstal on any recent convenient date.

On 19 November 1982, 292 young offenders were awaiting allocation to borstal, including 148 who had completed the allocation procedure and were awaiting transfer to the borstal centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders awaiting allocation to borstal on any recent convenient date have been in custody since their sentence for (a) two weeks or more and (b) four weeks or more.

The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial assistance Her Majesty's Government provide to those wishing to emigrate.

Assistance with fares and incidental expenses is available in certain circumstances from Government funds for immigrants to this country who have failed to settle here and wish to return permanently overseas but lack the means to do so themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he authorised the transfer of 12 women from Drake Hall open prison to closed prisons on 27 November; and if he will make a statement.

As my noble Friend told the hon. Member in his letter of 26 November, these women were transferred to conditions of greater security because they did not co-operate with the open regime at Drake Hall. The transfer took place on Friday 26 November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why women in Holloway prison are denied fruit as a supplement to their diet unless they are serving a sentence of three years or more.

All prisoners at Holloway are served fresh fruit at least twice a week as part of their normal diet. Additionally, under arrangements made locally, fresh fruit can be purchased through the canteen to the extent that the canteen facilities allow. It is not practicable to extend this facility to all prisoners, but it has been accorded to those serving sentences of over three years. Fruit may be sent in to unconvicted prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cases are outstanding against him before the European Commission of Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

Seventy cases against the United Kingdom which involve matters for which my right hon. Friend is wholly or primarily responsible are currently outstanding before the European Commission of Human Rights. Of these, 30 cases involve immigration controls or procedures, 30 cases concern rules or procedures in penal institutions and 10 cases cover such issues as criminal justice procedures, the detention of mentally-disordered offenders and the law on privacy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home-Department if he will consider making channel 9 of the citizens band radio solely for the use of emergency messages.

The CB code of practice already recommends that channel 9 should be used only for emergencies and assistance. We are not convinced that the introduction of a mandatory restriction would be any more effective.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as the police authority for the Metropolitan Police district, he will request the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to review cadet training.

A major review of all aspects of cadet training in the Metropolitan Police was instituted in July 1982. The results are expected early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received seeking the ending of energy standing charges and their substitution by the spreading of all costs.

I have received a number of letters advocating the elimination of standing charges in gas and electricity bills and a raising of unit rates to recover the revenue. Under statute, the industries are responsible for their tariff structure. However such a measure would have the effect of reducing small bills at the expense of increasing larger bills.The extent to which current standing charges fairly reflect the costs incurred by the industries in supplying consumers is one of the issues which are being examined by the independent consultants commissioned by the industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the electricity supply and gas industries to respond to the request made to them to consider limiting the standing charges they impose to a maximum of 50 per cent. of any bill, for the purpose of relieving the burden on small consumers; and if he will make a statement.

I expect them to respond once they have received the reports of the independent consultants who are looking at standing charges. These reports are due by the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what would be the cost as a percentage of electricity revenue and of gas revenue of limiting the standing charges imposed by the electricity supply and gas industries to a maximum of 50 per cent. of any bill.

The cost to the industries of limiting standing charges in domestic bills to a maximum of 50 per cent. of any bill is roughly estimated at around one third of 1 per cent. of the revenue of the British Gas Corporation and about one-sixth of 1 per cent. of the annual revenue of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales. The estimated cost to the esi has recently been revised by the Electricity Council as a result of a more detailed analysis of the effects of the proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent agreements have been reached concerning the supply of enriched uranium to Chile; and what safeguards apply.

In September of this year the United Kingdom and Chile exchanged notes on the assurances required in fulfilment of the United Kingdom's obligations to the Nuclear Suppliers Group to cover the supply of enriched fuel to Chile. The fuel will be subject to safeguards under an agreement between the IAEA and Chile which was approved by the IAEA's board of Governors in September. The UKAEA has now concluded a contract to supply this fuel to the Atomic Energy Commission of Chile.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, with the assistance of fuel boards, he will initiate a campaign to provide better information about heating systems and better insulation.

My Department has recently launched a publicity campaign which will provide this information. In addition to press advertisements, information about heating systems and advice to consumers about proper insulation and controls is published. Much of this information was prepared in co-operation with the nationalised fuel industries and private enterprise.A guide for people installing wet central heating systems will be introduced in the new year. This new guide emphasises the benefits of correctly sized heating systems, controls and insulation. It has also been prepared with the help of the fuel industries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount and percentage of total public expenditure in the current financial year which will be accounted for by local authorities.

In 1982–83, £28·3 billion (24½ per cent.) of the total planned expenditure of £114·7 billion was accounted for by local authorities. But local authorities have budgeted to spend £1½ billion above the planned provision for current expenditure, while returns from the local authorities have suggested capital underspending of £1¼ to £1½ billion. Since then additional allocations for capital spending of about £200 million have been issued and authorities have been told they can spend without limit on housing improvement grants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gain to the Exchequer if child benefits were subject to income tax.

At 1982–83 levels of income, benefits and tax rates, the yield from taxing child benefit is estimated at about £1 billion in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the relationship between United Kingdom competitiveness and the exchange rate for the £ sterling.

The competitive position of the United Kingdom and its effect on the current account will be one factor among many affecting the exchange rate. Some aspects of competitiveness such as relative export prices and relative unit labour costs, are affected in the short term by movements in the exchange rate, though the experience is that in the longer term gains to competitiveness from a declining exchange rate are offset by the impact on inflation and domestic costs. There are other facets to competitiveness such as design, after sales service and building up a reputation for meeting agreed delivery dates that are not necessarily affected by cost or price movements at all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to provide that, where interest is payable under the Land Compensation Acts 1961 and 1973, the taxation of this interest is spread over the years in respect of which the interest is payable.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that steel imports are adequately monitored and correctly classified.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total of United Kingdom contributions to the European Economic Community from 1 April to 31 October.

Gross payments to the European Community from 1 April to 31 October 1982, amounted to £1,695 million. Receipts in this period amounted to £669 million, though this figure may be revised as more information is received. Thus, the United Kingdom's net payment for this period was £1,026 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the funding of the Falkland Islands war and related activities, further to the answer of 11 November, Official Report, c. 247.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) on 11 November.—[Vol. 31, c. 247.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, following the breakdown of the Customs and Excise computer, he will relieve firms from having to pay duty either by cash or by banker's guarantee in relation to goods being imported into the United Kingdom under European Economic Community duty-free quotas.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 30 November, Official Report, c. 159, if he is satisfied with the guidelines of the International Monetary Fund regarding extended arrangements; and how often these guidelines are updated.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product is represented by taxation.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 9 November 1982.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis of the impact of the recent fall in mortgage interest rates on the general index of retail prices.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, as a creditor in the Laker Airways liquidation in respect of Her Majesty's Inland Revenue, and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, he has agreed, or has been asked to agree, to the expenditure involved in the case being brought against a group of international airlines; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1982, c.266]: No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current purchasing power of the son's or daughter's services' tax allowance as compared with its purchasing power in 1974; and if he will uprate the allowance.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1982, c. 265]: On the basis of the change in the retail price index between April 1974 and April 1982 the current purchasing power of the allowance is £18. I have no plans to uprate the allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give the percentage reduction in raw steel production between the years 1975 and 1981 for the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and France.

Between 1975 and 1981, crude steel production fell by 23 per cent. in the United Kingdom and by 1 per cent. in France; in West Germany and Italy, production increased by 3 per cent. and 13 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what productivity increase in output per man there has been in the steel industry in each of the last four years.

Crude steel production per person employed in the United Kingdom steel industry increased by 6 per cent. in 1978 and by 11 per cent. in 1979. The steel dispute in 1980 led to a sharp fall—of 36 per cent.—in that year, followed by a strong recovery—of 90 per cent.—in 1981. The average annual change between 1979 and 1981 was an increase of 10 per cent.—Source: EUROSTAT.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why the manufacturing advisory service is not available to companies with fewer than 60 employees.

The manufacturing advisory service is limited to firms with sixty or more employees on grounds of cost effectiveness. Much of the assistance given by the service deals with organisational matters, such as production control, which affects the operation of the whole company. The benefit of such assistance is of restricted value to very small companies.However companies with fewer than sixty employees are eligible for the small firms technical inquiry service. This provides up to five man days of free consultancy or answers to a maximum of four short technical enquiries, sometimes covering the same ground as the manufacturing advisory service but in a way more appropriate for the smaller firms. There has been an encouraging demand for the service since its launch in June of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why the design advisory service is not available to companies with fewer than 60 employees.

Assistance under the design advisory service funded consultancy scheme, which started in July 1982, is at present limited to firms with 60 or more employees in order to avoid overloading the capacity of the scheme in its early days and thus to avoid delays in dealing with applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry to what extent, over the past five years, European Coal and Steel Community funds have been used to supplement redundancy payments paid by the British Steel Corporation.

ECSC funds totalling £100 million have been allocated to provide readaptation benefits to redundant BSC steel workers over the five years 1 January 1978 to 31 December 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to the answer of 28 October, Official Report, c. 520, in view of the decline in numbers of staff in post at the National Physical Laboratory since 1976, if he is satisfied that the existing staffing is adequate to keep up with the changing requirement of developments in technology and the needs of the export market; and if he will make a statement.

The programmes of all the Department of Industry's research establishments are kept under continual review taking into account developments in technology and the needs of export markets. Staff numbers are determined in the light of needs and the Government's overall policy for the size of the public sector. The opportunity is taken, where possible, to use the private sector to carry out suitable work. I am satisfied that the numbers at the National Physical Laboratory are adequate for the programme which has been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish criteria by which advice and assistance could be provided on developing their tourist industries as part of the technical assistance provided by his Department to recipient countries.

The development of tourism is one of the many areas in which we are ready to consider requests for aid from developing countries. All proposals for the use of aid are appraised to ensure their technical, financial and economic viability taking into account their social and environmental implications.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the three largest United Kingdom current aid projects in India, their cost and expected date of completion.

The Rihand thermal power station to which we are giving £117 million of aid should be completed in 1988. We are providing capital equipment for two fertiliser plants at Thal and Hazira at a cost of £46·8 million and £42·9 million respectively. Both should be completed by 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the construction of the airport in the Turks and Caicos Islands to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26 November to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Proctor).—[Vol. 32, c. 588.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the joint development by Club Mediterranée with the Overseas Development Agency on the islands of Providenciales.

There is no joint development as such. The holiday village project is the result of an agreement concluded between Club Mediterranée and the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Club Mediterranée has not yet started construction. In connection with the general development of tourism and to enable the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands to fulfil their obligations to Club Mediterranée, the British Government are financing the improvement of the existing airstrip on Providenciales, and the construction of certain roads. Work on the airport is almost complete and is expected to finish early in January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what facilities or assistance were or have been offered by Her Majesty's Government to Gaston Thorn, the Commissioner of the European Economic Community, to visit and address meetings in the United Kingdom relating to the membership by the United Kingdom of the European Economic Community; and what costs to public funds are likely to be involved.

VIP arrival and departure facilities at London Heathrow airport were according to M. Thorn for his visit on 24–25 November, as is normal practice for visiting foreign dignitaries. The cost to public funds is estimated at about £143.

asked the Minister for Trade what recent contacts have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Japan with the aim of reducing the United Kingdom crude balance of visible trade deficit with Japan.

This year there have been visits to Japan by my right hon. Friend the then Lord Privy Seal in January, by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Trade in February, by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Industry in June, by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development in November, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister visited Tokyo in September and made it very clear that Japan must make far greater efforts to increase imports of manufactured goods as well as to moderate exports in sensitive sectors.Officials from the Departments of Trade and Industry have been following up a number of specific issues in Tokyo, emphasising the Government's concern about trade relations with Japan.

asked the Minister for Trade what progress has been made in the current general agreement on tariffs and trade negotiations to provide better opportunities for British exports, to ensure that non-tariff barriers against such exports are identified and that tariff barriers against British exports are matched by similar barriers for imports into the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister for Trade what progress has been made as a result of the general agreement on tariffs and trade meeting towards action being taken against those of the United Kingdom's trading partners who do not allow free or equal access to United Kingdom exports.

The declaration of the GATT Ministerial meeting explicitly recognised distortions to trade which result from non-tariff measures and high tariff barriers. It was agreed to conduct a review of non-tariff measures to secure the elimination of those not compatible with GATT rules.The Government will continue to take all possible steps, including action through the EC and the GATT, to remove unfair barriers to our exports wherever they may be found.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will introduce measures to eradicate aircraft noise over Ealing and West London; and if he will make a statement.

The present noise abatement measures are designed to minimise the disturbance caused by aircraft using the London airports. We could not eliminate aircraft noise over Ealing and West London without increasing significantly the disturbance caused to others or imposing unacceptable constraints on the operation of Heathrow and thus on the aviation industry.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the most recent meeting of the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the recent general agreement on tariffs and trade meeting in Geneva.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the actions of the general agreement on tariffs and trade conference.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on Monday 29 November.

asked the Minister for Trade what quantities of platinum and vanadium were imported into the United Kingdom in 1980 and 1981; and what were the main sources.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Minister for Trade what effect the French system of controlling imports has had on British manufacturers, particularly with regard to delays caused.

To date I have received no confirmed reports of delays to British exports as a result of the measures announced in Paris.

asked the Minister for Trade what representations he has received urging the establishment of statutory measures for the sale of table wine by the glass in licensed premises.

Representations have been made by the Consumers' Association, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and several members of the public.

asked the Minister for Trade if he has yet replied to British Airways on its proposals for the capital reconstruction of the airline.

The Government have informed British Airways that it is aware of the state of their finances and is considering appropriate measures. It has not yet accepted any commitment to undertake a capital reconstruction of the airline. In the meantime, British Airways will remain eligible for advances from the national loans fund to meet their external finance needs.

asked the Minister for Trade if he has any plans to meet the chairman of British Airways to discuss the future of the corporation.

I am in regular contact with the chairman of British Airways regarding the future of the corporation.

asked the Minister for Trade if he has yet decided on possible methods of supervision of the reinsurance market.

Companies carrying on reinsurance business within the United Kingdom are already subject to supervision under existing legislation. I announced on 8 November in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) that I hope very shortly to lay regulations regarding general business placed with reinsurers. I also intend to lay early next year further regulations requiring insurance companies carrying on business in the United Kingdom to disclose more information about the general reinsurance business which they accept. This should assist my Department to assess the adequacy of companies' reserves.

asked the Minister for Trade how many cars have been imported from Spain in the last three months.

This information can readily be obtained from table III of the June and September issues of the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics (SITC(R2) Group 781 refers), copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the current balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the rest of the European Economic Community in (a) manufactures and services and (b) oil.

For January to October this year there was a crude deficit of £4·1 billion on trade in manufactures and a crude surplus of £3·7 billion on trade in oil with the other countries of the European Community. Information on services is not compiled on a quarterly basis and so it is not available for 1982.However, for 1981 there was a crude deficit of £3·0 billion on United Kingdom trade in manufactures, a surplus of £0·2 billion on United Kingdom trade in non-Government services and a crude surplus of £3·7 billion on trade in oil with the other countries of the European Community.

asked the Minister for Trade which Sheffield steel firms were warned by Her Majesty's Government about the reintroduction of the Berry amendment into the 1982 United States Defense Appropriations Act which was intended to prohibit procurement by the United States of material containing "special steel" produced outside the United States of America.

Her Majesty's Government have been in contact with two Sheffield steel firms, Hadfields Ltd. and the British Steel Corporation, on this matter. It now seems likely that the prohibition referred to by the hon. Member will be waived for fiscal year 1983 in respect of weapons and weapon systems purchased from abroad by the United States Government.

asked the Minister for Trade if he has received representations from the steel industry concerning unfair competition; and what response he has given.

A number of organisations, companies and individuals have made representations alleging instances of unfair competition. Not all have proved to be well founded. Where appropriate, they have been referred to the European Commission for remedial action. We believe that the Community's current anti-crisis measures provide the best protection against unfair competition.

asked the Minister for Trade when the company known as Hillingdon Investments first registered as a company conducting business in the United Kingdom.

21 July 1951. It was then called P. N. Dewe (Hillingdon) Ltd. The name was changed on 26 February 1954.

asked the Minster for Trade (1) if he will publish in the Official Report for each month since January 1979 the imports into the United Kingdom, together with the country of origin, of each of the following items of titanium categorised under SITC (R2) 689.99 and coded (a) 8104 5500 and (b) 8104 5700;(2) if he will publish in the

The information which can be provided within acceptable limits of cost is set out as follows: