asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish the energy technology support unit study of renewable energy sources that was presented to the Advisory Committee on Research and Development in March.

The energy technology support unit's report entitled "Strategic Review of the Renewable Energy Technologies" was published as an ETSU report—R13—on 8 December 1982.The report provides an assessment of the technical and economic prospects for the various renewable technologies in the period to 2025. A comparison is undertaken of the likely costs of the energy from renewable sources with the likely value of this energy under various scenarios. Copies of the report will be lodged in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister which powers of direction possessed by Ministers in relation to nationalised industries and statutory corporations may include directions in respect of the placing and economy of their insurance arrangements.

Statutes vary from industry to industry, but Ministers normally have powers of general direction over nationalised industries exercisable in the national interest. It is conceivable that insurance arrangements may in certain circumstances fall within the scope of these powers, but, in general, such matters fall within the day-to-day management responsibilities of the industries concerned. Information on statutory corporations is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell), Official Report, 29 November, c. 50, which special care baby units cover each health authority; and whether a consultant paediatrician is available, or on call, at each centre.

Special care baby units in Wales are located at the following hospitals:

District Health Authority and Hospital

Clwyd

HM Stanley, St. Asaph

Maelor General, Wrexham

East Dyfed

Bronglais, Aberystwyth

West Wales General, Carmarthen

Gwent

Nevill Hall, Abergavenny

County, Griffithstown

Royal Gwent, Newport

Gwynedd

St. Davids, Bangor

Mid Glamorgan

Bridgend General

East Glamorgan, Church Village

Merthyr General

Pembrokeshire

Withybush, Haverfordwest

South Glamorgan

St. Davids, Cardiff

University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff

West Glamorgan

Morriston

Neath General

Units may treat babies from more than one health authority district. Each unit has a paediatrician available or on call.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of educational research studies that emphasise that Wales has a higher and disproportionate number of pupils in its schools from low social backgrounds, poor housing, familial distress and unemployment, he will take steps to ensure that such pupils are not educationally disadvantaged.

The proportion of socially disadvantaged pupils varies considerably between areas. Local eduction authorities whose duty it is to see that suitable educational provision is available are well aware of the correlation between social disadvantage and levels of educational attainment and of the need to minimise the impact of the one on the other.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current financial position of the Pembrokeshire district health authority, and the costs arising from defects at Withybush district general hospital; and whether, in view of the urgent hospital financial needs identified by the authority, he will increase the resources available to it.

The Pembrokeshire health authority's combined revenue and capital cash limit for the current financial year is at present £13·283 million. Any approved net costs arising from structural defects at Withybush hospital will be funded centrally.

asked the Lord President of the Council what conditions were laid down in the agreement whereby the British Broadcasting Corporation has been permited to film procedures in the House; who granted such permission; and whether such facilities will be granted to any other applicants.

The BBC was granted permission by the Services Committee to make a television film within the Palace of Westminster about the history and architecture of the Palace and the work which goes on there. General guidelines have been laid down by the Services Committee which permit exceptions to be made in this instance from some of the normal rules governing filming in the Palace. However, certain basic principles remain. No proceeding of the House may be filmed; the House collectively and Members individually are not to be hindered in their proper work, and Members' privacy is not to be unreasonably invaded.Consent in this instance is not a binding precedent and future applications will be treated on their merits.

asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will ensure that the courts give priority to custody cases of children to ensure that the case for custody is not prejudiced by the child being out of contact with an applicant for a considerable period.

It is already normal practice for courts, wherever possible, to give priority to cases involving children or the liberty of the subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been received to set off investment in new small companies against income tax under the business start-up scheme; how much money has been invested in small firms in this way during the past two years; and if he is satisfied with the results of this scheme to date.

Claims for tax relief under the business start-up scheme cannot be made until after the end of the tax year in which the shares were issued, and in some cases even later if the company is not already trading. It is, therefore, too soon to have precise information about investments made even in the first year of the scheme. But the approved investment funds are reported to have raised some £12 to £15 million for investment in start-ups and the scheme seems to be gathering momentum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gain or loss to the Exchequer if the married woman's earnings allowance was abolished and replaced by a single person's allowance.

If a single person's allowance were given to a married woman and were available only against her earned income, there would be no effect on revenue as the value of the two allowances is the same. I take it my hon. Friend has in mind a system of independent taxation in which the allowance would be available against the whole of a wife's income. The outcome would then depend upon the precise arrangements that might be adopted for the taxation of married couples, and whether the allowance was transferrable, in whole or in part. The options are discussed in the Green Paper on "The Taxation of Husband and Wife".—Cmnd. 8093.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gain to the Exchequer if the married man's allowance was abolished and he received the single person's allowance.

If the married man's allowance was reduced to the level of the single allowance—and the wife's earned income allowance continued to be available to married women, neither allowance being transferable—the yield at 1982–83 income levels would be about £3,500 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost in a full tax year of raising the £25,000 limit on mortgage tax relief to £35,000 and £50,000, respectively.

Information on which to base a firm estimate is not available, but disregarding any new borrowing that the raising of the limit might generate it seems unlikely that the revenue cost would exceed £100 million for an increase to £35,000, or £150 million for an increase to £50,000. The eventual cost, including the effect of any new borrowing, is likely to be higher.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the Inland Revenue is making preparations for the merger of the taxes staff group with the collection staff group;(2) whether he is taking steps to test the practicality of merging tax audit offices with tax assessment offices;(3) whether he intends to prepare for the merging of tax assessment offices with tax collection offices; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the proposals in the recent Inland Revenue review of the collection service. This proposes that the taxes and collection staff groups should be merged and suggests that, as a quite separate matter, experiments should be conducted in the merging of tax collection offices and PAYE Audit into local tax districts. Final decisions on the review's proposals, including decisions on all these matters, have not yet been taken. A copy of the review is in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show the net cost of employing all the registered unemployed at weekly rates of £75, £100 and £150 (a) after taking into account increased revenue from income tax and national insurance contributions and (b) after also deducting the estimated savings on social security benefits and tax refunds.

Changes in employment would effect the public finances in a number of ways, depending on the causes of the change. But there is no basis for estimating what public expenditures and receipts would be if all the unemployed were working.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the income tax and national insurance payable by a married man with two children on average earnings has changed since May 1979.

For the married man on average earnings with two children and no income tax reliefs other than the married man's allowance, it is estimated that the percentage of his gross earnings taken in income tax less child benefit has been reduced between 1978–79 and 1982–83 from 14·7 per cent. to 14·5 per cent.; while his national insurance contributions have increased from 6·5 per cent. to 8·75 per cent.—assuming he is not contracted out of the earnings-related part of the State pension scheme. Average earnings are estimated for full-time male workers in all occupations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that secondhand furniture dealers are treated in the same way as secondhand car dealers for value added tax purposes.

Schemes similar to that operated by secondhand car dealers have been introduced for particular classes of goods, for example, antiques and firearms.Candidates for relief must be able to satisfy two criteria: a demonstrable distortion of trade due to the application of VAT, and a scheme that is capable of being effectively and economically controlled by Customs and Excise. I have received no evidence that meets these requirements from the secondhand furniture trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether notes on the clause and schedule to the National Insurance Surcharge Bill 1982 have yet been placed in the Vote Office.

Yes. Notes on the clause and schedule were deposited in the Vote Office yesterday evening.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the terms of reference of the group to be chaired by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on the question of free ports.

An inter-departmental working party has been set up under my chairmanship with the following terms of reference:

To identify and evaluate the benefits to industry and commerce of the customs facilities afforded at freeports situated both in the Community and elsewhere and to identify which of these facilities would encourage industrial growth and investment in the United Kingdom.

To consider the extent to which customs facilities currently available in the United Kingdom compare with those permitted in freeports under EC legislation.

To consider whether there is sufficient awareness on the part of both United Kingdom commerce and industry and of potential investors from overseas of the advantages offered by existing customs facilities.

To make recommendations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of implementing the uprating of public service pensions in accordance with the actual formula adopted in the decade from 1950 to 1960, from 1960 to 1970, and in each of the years from 1970 to the most recent uprating; and what would have been the cost if the upratings had been made on the basis of the most recently ascertainable changes in the gross national product.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 November, 1982, c. 297]: I am sorry not to have given my hon. Friend a reply before now about the costs of uprating public sector pensions, and I am afraid that I am able to give only part of the information requested. Assembling information from various sources back to 1950 is, I fear, a considerable exercise and I do not think the expense is justified.However the following table which is based on one published in the Scott report shows the expenditure on retirement pensions for four major public service groups in the period since 1970.

Financial year	Civil Service	Local Government	NHS	Teachers
	£m	£m	£m	£m
1970–71	92	88	42	94
1971–72	109	85	50	107
1972–73	130	95	60	130
1973–74	172	114	78	143
1974–75	197	157	105	180
1975–76	295	221	143	236
1976–77	352	286	193	298
1977–78	390	354	238	367
1978–79	495	418	274	483
1979–80	580	493	379	517
1980–81	755	580	470	650
1981–82	959	700	540	780
1982–83	1,057	740	622	925

The variation in costs from year to year is affected by a number of factors apart from the method used in uprating. These include the number of pensioners, their average length of reckonable service, and pensionable pay. It is not, therefore, possible to calculate what the cost of uprating by GNP would have been without going into detail, year by year, on these factors. However, as a way of obtaining a broad answer to the line of enquiry which I believe lies behind your question, I can say that from 1971, when index linking of public service pensions was introduced, to 1982, the cumulative increase in the RPI was 302 per cent.; in GNP it was 376 per cent.; and the cumulative public service pensions increase was 315 per cent. To have increased these pensions by GNP therefore would have been considerably more costly over the period than increases on the basis actually used.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 6 December 1982, c. 345]: I am satisfied that HM Customs and Excise perform adequate documentary and physical checks on the correctness of declarations of steel imports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidelines to local authorities in respect of fees charged for the grant of music and dancing licences in the light of the increase in fees proposed by some authorities involving a tenfold increase above fees previously charged by magistrates' courts.

No. Under part I of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 an applicant for the grant, renewal or transfer of an entertainments licence is required to pay a reasonable fee determined by the appropriate licensing authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to the answer of 29 November, Official Report, c. 42, he will state the reasons why information as to the number of Iranian citizens refused permission to remain in the United Kingdom since 1 January is not available.

There are at present over 200,000 applications annually for extension of leave to remain, and refusal of permission to remain may be followed by related appeal procedures. At present the record-keeping system cannot provide information on refusals in the detail requested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to the answer of 29 November, Official Report, c. 41, he will now keep separate statistics of people refused admission or given temporary admission to the United Kingdom as visitors according to their country of origin.

We have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the size of sentence for first offenders of cannabis smugglers according to whether they were given (a) a suspended sentence, (b) a sentence up to three months, (c) a sentence over three months but under six months, (d) a sentence over six months but less than nine months and (e) over nine months, for the latest available date.

Separate information for the first offenders could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information for all offenders is given in the following table:

Persons given suspended sentences or immediate imprisonment for offences of unlawful import or export of cannabis by length of sentence
United Kingdom 1981		Number of persons
Length of sentence	Sentence
	Suspended Sentence	Immediate imprisonment
Up to three months	17	33
Over three months up to six months	44	88
Over six months up to nine months	15	25
Over nine months	27	336
Total	103	482

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he discussed the police training aspects of the Scarman report with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Yes; on 14 December 1981. Since then the Metropolitan Police have been involved in the Police Training Council's discussions on the training aspects of the Scarman report and in the work on probationer training, community and race relations training, public order training and supervision and management training initiated by the council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department gives to the New Bridge Association; and if he will make a statement on its work.

The New Bridge Association is a organisation which provides a befriending service for people in and out of prison and assistance with job finding on discharge.The Home Office makes a grant towards the association's job placement activity; in 1982–83 this was £10,700. In addition, the Home Office has offered assistance towards the capital and revenue costs of the association's move to new premises in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as the police authority for the Metropolitan Police district, he is empowered to ask for a report on any aspect of policing in London from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Under section 1 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829, where the efficient administration of the Metropolitan Police force is concerned, I can require the commissioner to make reports to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list in the Official Report the closing hours of shops on weekdays required by law or custom in the member States of the European Communities, excluding the United Kingdom, and the names of those member States where shops are required to close on all or part of the day on Sundays with details in respect of each member State, excluding the United Kingdom.

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to empower magistrates' clerks to collect moneys from employers who deduct maintenance payments from wages or salaries but fail to send them promptly to the court office for redirection.

The Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 provides that an employer who is deducting maintenance under an attachment of earnings order shall forward the payments to the court as and when the deductions are made. Failure to take all reasonable steps to comply with the order is an offence punishable by a fine.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act 1980 to increase the number of permissible annual meetings on dog race-courses.

I have, at present, no plans to increase the number of days on which betting may take place on a dog race-course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will support a quota of foreign material for cable television, if it is introduced.

As my right hon. Friend said in the debate of 2 December—[Vol. 33, c.423]—the Government will be considering carefully, in the preparation of their White Paper on cable, whether any special rules are needed on the amount of programme material from outside the European Community which cable will be able to distribute. We hope to publish the White Paper in the early part of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the estimated energy cost per ton of steel in the United Kingdom compared with Germany, Italy and France.

Information in the form requested is not readily available, if at all. Certain information on the prices paid for different kinds of energy by United Kingdom and other European steel producers was included in a NEDC energy task force report published in November 1981. A copy of this report is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what percentage of steel goods bought inside the United Kingdom market originates from supplies bought for the British Steel Corporation.

If the hon. Member cares to write to me explaining more precisely the information he is seeking, I shall do my best to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many new businesses have been created since May 1979 in Wales; how many new jobs have followed; and if he will make a statement.

We have estimated from information in VAT records that approximately 11,300 new businesses were created in Wales in 1980 and 1981. Similar statistics are not available for earlier years. We do not have figures for the resultant new jobs because this information is not collected. The available information was published in British Business on 24 September, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made towards implementing the Government's intention that the approval of telecommunications subscribers' apparatus for connection to British telecommunication networks should be undertaken by an independent body.

On 14 October my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, issued approvals for five standards under section 16(1) of the British Telecommunications Act 1981. Following the issue of these approvals, the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications is now accepting applications for the approval of subscriber's apparatus within the scope of the five approved standards.The new approval arrangements for such apparatus have come into force immediately, but for the convenience of suppliers who have been working to earlier, slightly different, technical requirements a period of overlap is being provided during which approvals will continue also to be given under the previous arrangements. To provide for this, the Secretary of State's approvals of four of the five standards do not enter into force at once. Details of the five approvals are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in light of the recent meeting of Common Market steel Ministers and the revised survival plan from the chairman of the British Steel Corporation, he will consider recommending the closure of plants for particular periods of the year as an alternative to plant closures; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1982, c. 28]: Temporary plant closures are certainly one means of dealing with a short-term decline in demand, but they cannot resolve the fundamental problem of excess steel capacity in Europe, which can only be cured by permanent plant closures elsewhere in the Community to match the closures we have already undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total amount of net United States direct investment in the United Kingdom in 1981; and what percentage of United States direct investment in European Economic Community manufacturing industry this total represents.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1982, c. 244]: Net United States direct investment is calculated by subtracting from the gross figure loans made by domestic subsidiaries to United States parents, and so is difficult to estimate accurately. But United States direct investment to all countries in 1981 was very low, mainly due to the depressed economic conditions overseas and to high interest rates in the United States of America. According to provisional statistics published by the United States Department of Commerce, gross investment in manufacturing in the United Kingdom in 1981 amounted to $450 million and loans to at least $1 billion, so net direct investment was minus $550 million, compared with $26 million to the European Community. But allowing for the loans, the United Kingdom probably received at least one-third of United States direct investment in manufacturing in the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will announce the extent of Government financial support for the Voluntary Services Organisation and other voluntary agencies in the year 1983–84; and if he will make a statement.

I hope very shortly to be able to inform the societies, members of the British volunteer programme, and the other societies in receipt of grants from the overseas aid and other overseas services vote of their financial allocation for 1983–84, subject to parliamentary approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the financial effects upon the Community when (a) Portugal and (b) Spain join the European Community.

It is generally accepted that both Spain and Portugal will be net recipients from the Community budget. Their actual net receipts after accession will depend on the outcome of the accession and other negotiations in progress, not the least on Mediterranean agriculture. Commission estimates on the basis of the 1981 budget hypothetically extended to a Community of Twelve with no allowance for transitional arrangements or other changes in the Community's policies or financial arrangements are that the two countries' net receipts taken together would have been of the order of 850–1,400 mecus—£500 million to £820 million at the current exchange rate of 1·70 ecu to the pound.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the experience of the Government in selling Britoil shares, how he proposes to safeguard the public interest in his intended privatisation of the British Transport Docks Board, taking into account the absence of interest in the City of London in the flotation.

The Government will of course take appropriate steps to safeguard the public interest in this sale. I have had no advice to suggest there is an absence of interest in the City.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government to prevent evasion of excise duty on motor vehicles; how many prosecutions have been instituted for non-payment of duty in each of the last three years; what information he has as to the nature and scale of particular efforts to reduce evasion; and to what extent advance announcement of such efforts resulted in evaders paying duty.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 18 October—[Vol. 29, c. 51]—about action to deal with evasion. The number of prosecutions for nonpayment of vehicle excise duty in each of the last three years has been:

	Number
1979	108,390
1980	134,939
1981	117,028

In the same three years over 200,000 motorists agreed to pay a mitigated penalty rather than face prosecution. The rate of prosecutions and so on in 1981 was affected by industrial action. So far there have been 21 intensive local enforcement campaigns run with the help of the police and 4 run with the help of London borough councils. Publicity is an important feature of these campaigns and has led to a surge in voluntary relicensing. Its precise quantification is not possible, but, for example, the number of licensed vehicles in West Yorkshire increased by 19,000 following the campaign there in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, whether, in the light of the most recent fatal accident on the A38 near Plymouth, he will reconsider his decision not to provide safety fencing in the central reservation between Exeter and Plymouth.

I very much regret the recent accident in which two people died. To provide safety fencing in the central reservation between Exeter and Plymouth would cost about £1·3 million. I am not satisfied that expenditure of this order can be justified. I shall, however, continue to have the situation monitored.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to monitor the effects of not having a Christmas drinking and driving publicity campaign in the West Midlands and certain other areas; whether he has available comparative information for such areas for previous years when a campaign was conducted; and whether, based on the effectiveness of such campaigns, he has projected likely accident and injury rates for these areas.

I must emphasise that in those areas, of which the West Midlands is one, where we shall not be carrying out a Christmas drinking and driving campaign, our publicity has not been cancelled but only postponed until February. The whole purpose of having control areas is to enable us to evaluate the effect of our campaign in a way which has not been possible in previous years. This evaluation will cover changes in attitudes, knowledge and claimed behaviour, as well as a special study of police accident returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected surplus realised from the sale of houses in the Stockbridge area of Keighley over the cost of purchase.

No sales have yet been completed. I am therefore unable to forecast what proceeds may be realised.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether test reports for inertia brakes on caravans and trailers under directive F1/320 EEC annex VIII, appendix II applies to all European Economic Community countries; and whether West Germany requires separate and different testing procedures.

No member State of the European Community may prohibit the entry into service of caravans and trailers, on grounds relating to their braking systems, if the brakes have been approved to the requirement of the braking directive. However, member States are permitted to make other requirements for parts of the inertia brake assembly, including towing couplings, and we understand that the Federal Republic of Germany does this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from Leeds city council on the unified housing scheme and its effect on council house rents.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I have received letters from the Leeds city council suggesting that the housing benefit scheme will lead to increases in council house rents. However, such increases are a matter for decision by individual authorities. The housing benefit scheme will not of itself affect the level of council house rents.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the savings in 1982–83. and the estimated savings in 1983–84, if mortgage interest ceased to be paid with supplementary benefit.

If mortgage interest ceased to be included in supplementary benefit, it is estimated the savings would be £141 million in 1982–83 and £149 million in 1983–84. These estimates are based on 1981 interest rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of redesigning and reprinting the postal claim form for supplementary benefit to take account of the introduction of the new housing benefit.

Redesigning the form is estimated to require one man-week, and the additional cost of reprinting at £40.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what arrangements will be made in local benefit offices to deal with errors made by claimants on the postal claim form for supplementary benefit from 6 December;(2) how requests for help with completing the postal application form for supplementary benefit will be met by members of staff at local benefit offices; if he is satisfied with these arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Local office receptionists will be ready to give guidance on the completion of the form, but an office interview or home visit can be arranged if this proves necessary. Staff will resolve mistakes and omissions with the claimant by correspondence or telephone, or by office interview or home visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that all local benefit offices have adequate supplies of the form SB9.

I am satisfied that ample stocks of leaflet SB9 are held at both our local offices and those of the Department of Employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that local benefit officers will be able properly to ascertain from a completed postal claim form for supplementary benefit whether or not the claimant should be granted householder or non-householder status.

I am satisfied that a completed form will provide enough information to determine householder or non-householder status. Doubtful cases will be resolved by further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a leaflet, to go automatically to potential unemployed claimants of supplementary benefit together with their postal claim form, which gives comprehensive information about the weekly additions to basic benefit to which they might be entitled.

No. General information about weekly payments for special needs is given in leaflet SB9, which is issued by the unemployment benefit office to all unemployed people claiming supplementary benefit. The claim form itself refers to leaflet SB19, which gives more detailed information about special needs payments and is available on request from the Department's offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which sections of the Children Act 1975 have not been implemented; and when implementation is anticipated.

The position for England and Wales is as follows. We intend to introduce the following low cost provisions probably by the end of 1983:

Section 14–16 and 23.	Freeing for adoption.
Sections 9, 18, 20, 22(3) and regulations under s. 103	Child to live with adopters before order made; new arrangements for supervision of placments, reports to courts and guardians ad litem/reporting officers in adoption cases.
Section 19, 22(1) and (2) and 25.	Minor changes in adoption court proceedings.

The situation on section 64 is set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 7 December 1982.—[Vol. 33, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider transferring responsibility for community based nursing services to family practitioner committees in place of health authorities.

I have no plans to make such a transfer.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an inquiry into the relationship between shoplifting, mental illness and the current treatment of neurosis.

There is sometimes a relationship between shoplifting and certain forms of mental illness, and research into this area is currently being carried out in several centres. Treatment for neurosis and for other forms of mental illness is available in the National Health Service from psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and other specialists as well as from general practitioners. I do not consider that a Government inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what services and supplies, and staffing assistance, the Warwickshire private hospital in Leamington is dependent on the National Health Service; and whether he will make a statement.

The South Warwickshire health authority has confirned that the Warwickshire private hospital in Leamington uses National Health Service pathology services, for which appropriate fees are charged, and National Health Service medical records, which are made available without charge. This is a good example of co-operation between the private and the public sectors in order to provide a reasonable level of service for the treatment of sick people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many neonatal intensive care cots are available in Newcastle; how the provision of such facilities in the Northern region per 1,000 births compares with that in the South East of England; and whether he will improve facilities in the Northern region.

There are currently eight neonatal intensive care cots available in Newcastle upon Tyne, six at Newcastle general hospital and two at the Princess Mary maternity hospital. This represents a doubling of provision in the Northern region over the past four years to a level of 0·2 cots per 1,000 live births in 1981. The present level of provision in the South East Thames region is 0·35 cots per 1,000 live births.This is a field where very welcome and rapid medical advance brings with it a need to provide more services to enable children to be treated who could not have been saved only a few years ago. I am glad to say that planned developments inc the Northern region inlude a unit of eight neonatal intensive care cots at the new South Cleveland maternity hospital. A further major extension of the neonatal intensive care unit at Newcastle general hospital is also under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how successful the circular from his Department to health authorities has been in reducing the working of one in two rotas by junior hospital doctors; and to what extent this has necessitated taking on additional medical staff.

The personnel memorandum in question was issued only last week and does not call for full progress reports until 30 September 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the incidence of adverse reactions to the present vaccine, he has any plans to introduce an acellular pertussis vaccine.

The vaccine being developed at the centre for applied microbiology and research with support from this Department is acellular. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) on 27 October 1982—[Vol. 29, c.435]—progress is satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of providing incontinence pads to homes for the aged; whether he has received any requests for financial help towards the cost of provision of incontinence pads for elderly people in voluntary homes for the aged; and if he will make a statement on the need for more specialist urinary units to help elderly people in particular.

Health authorities have discretion to provide nursing aids and equipment, including incontinence pads, to residents in local authority homes and private or voluntary residential homes, but this is dependent upon the availability of resources and the priority given to this particular service. Information on the cost of providing incontinence pads to homes for the aged is not collected centrally.From time to time the Department receives requests for financial help towards the cost of providing incontinence pads for voluntary homes for the aged. Such requests are normally referred to the appropriate district health authority.The assessment and care of urological problems in the elderly is helped by close collaboration between those specialists concerned with urological problems and those concerned with the elderly. This collaboration may take a variety of forms according to local needs, and the establishment of special urinary units is not considered essential.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men aged between 60 and 65 years are now in receipt of unemployment benefit; and what is the estimated total annual cost of such benefit to the Exchequer.

It is estimated that there will be about 95,000 men aged 60 and over in receipt of unemployment benefit at any one time in 1982–83, and that the cost to the national insurance fund will be about £150 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how far it is Her Majesty's Government's policy that hospitals and local authority social services departments should engage in fund raising activities that compete with the efforts of voluntary organisations.

Our view is that any fund raising activities by health authorities or local authority social services departments should be conducted in consultation and co-operation with voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he has given to health authorities, hospitals and local authority social services departments as to the use of paid professional fund raisers.

We issued guidance to health authorities in December 1980—H.C.(80)11—and May 1981—H.C.(80)11 Part II. I have placed copies in the Library. We have not issued guidance to local authority social services departments, but I am sure they would wish any fund raising activities to be undertaken in consultation and co-operation with voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that partnership of local authorities and local voluntary organisations should be based on the joint report by the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of County Councils, "Working Together".

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take steps to allow payment of Christmas bonus to children who receive attendance allowance while staying with their parents over the Christmas holiday, but who are at school during the relevant week for qualifying; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is his estimate of the cost of paying the Christmas bonus to children who receive attendance allowance while staying with their parents over the Christmas holiday, but who are at school during the relevant week for qualifying.

I regret that the information necessary to estimate the cost of paying the bonus in respect of these children is not available. I have no plans to change the present arrangements under which entitlement to the bonus depends upon entitlement to a qualifying benefit in a specified week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total number of hearings of his Department's tribunals in the last two years for which figures are available; and if he will give separate figures for each type of tribunal.

The information is as follows:

Total number of appeals heard at tribunal hearings
	1980	1981
National insurance local tribunals	39,257	36,883
Supplementary benefit appeal tribunals	49,355	49,864
Medical appeal tribunals	12,426	11,782

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of his Department's tribunal hearings, during the last two years for which figures are available, at which all the tribunal members were not present; if he will express this as a percentage of all hearings; and if he will give the number and percentage of hearings in which there was only (a) one and (b) two tribunal members present.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is yet in a position to announce his decision with regard to the implementation of the Acheson report.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the right hon. Member of 12 November.—[Vol. 31, c. 302.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, pursuant to the answer of 1 December, Official Report, c. 234, he is satisfied that he is able adequately to monitor the functioning and financial management of health authorities without having available to him information on the provision made by authorities for increased expenditure on payments to outside contractors for support services, and for contractual arrangements for patient care, in 1982–83.

The Department will be able to monitor expenditure by health authorities on outside contractors by scrutiny of the 1982–83 accounts when these are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he expects that if the early diagnostic unit at the Royal Marsden hospital were relocated it would no longer be a part of the Royal Marsden special health authority.

I shall consider the future management of this unit when I know whether it would be practicable or desirable to relocate it and, if so, on what site.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes in the operation of the Royal Marsden early diagnostic unit he is considering in order that it may contribute to the national research programme.

We are currently considering the contribution the Royal Marsden early diagnostic unit might make to research into the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the percentage of the adult population which carries kidney donor cards;(2) what is his estimate of the number of adults willing to have their kidneys used after death, in life-saving operations.

A recent gallup poll conducted on behalf of the British Kidney Patient Association found that 19 per cent. of people aged 16 and over carry kidney donor cards, and that 71 per cent. would be willing to donate their kidneys to be used after death for transplant purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients per million population enter end-stage renal failure on average each year; if he is satisfied that the necessary medical provision is made for them; and if he will make a statement.

The number of patients developing potentially treatable end-stage renal failure in any year has been estimated at about 45 per million population. This is equivalent to an annual total of about 2,500 new patients for the United Kingdom. Although the number of new patients being accepted for treatment has increased steadily over the past 10 years, to 26·7 per million population in 1981, it still does not meet the estimated need. Health authorities are continuing to develop renal services within the resources available to them. The Government's main strategy for improving services for kidney patients is to increase the number of kidneys available for transplantation. This is the most satisfactory form of treatment for chronic renal failure and, incidentally, the cheapest. A record number of kidneys are expected to be transplanted this year and I am urgently considering further initiatives to maintain the increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether unemployed persons are allowed, without losing benefit, to register on part-time courses at colleges, especially where such courses can enhance job prospects; what instructions have been given to unemployment benefit offices on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

A person's entitlement to unemployment benefit is not affected by any part-time study he may undertake, provided he remains available for work. Similar rules apply to an adult in receipt of supplementary benefit, although he may also take advantage of the 21-hour rule on part-time study and training, which specifies that a person shall be treated as available for work provided he satisfies the prescribed conditions.The position for young people under the age of 19 in receipt of supplementary benefit is affected by the interplay with the child benefit rules. Any unemployed young person may, provided he remains available for work, follow a course of up to 15 hours a week inclusive of private study without bringing himself within the scope of child benefit and thus putting his own supplementary benefit entitlement at risk. If he wishes to follow a more extensive course of part-time study or training whilst still in receipt of supplementary benefit, he must satisfy the conditions of the 21-hour rule:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what kinds of health checks are made on the oils and fats imported into the United Kingdom for use in margarine manufacture.

All imported foods and ingredients of food are subject to the Imported Food Regulations 1968. As a matter of routine, the enforcing authorities—primarily port health authorities—arrange for sample analytical checks of oils and fats imported for margarine manufacture or other food uses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services pursuant to the answer of the Under-Secretary of State, Official Report, 30 November, c. 134, what has been the increase in the health warning budget since May 1979.

The reference was intended to highlight the increase in the health warning area on cigarette advertisements, which had remained at 6 per cent. from 1971 until 1980, when it was increased to 9 per cent. and now as a result of the latest voluntary agreement is being increased again to 15 per cent. I am sorry if my supplementary answer did not convey this information as I had intended and that inadvertently the word budget appeared in error.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what questions were put to Lord Belstead by the members of the Assembly of Western European Union at its recent meeting in Paris relating to the offer in March by Uruguay to evacuate civilians from the Falkland Islands before an Argentine invasion and what replies he gave.

The text of questions put to my noble Friend Lord Belstead at the Assembly of the Western European Union in Paris on 1 December, together with his replies, appears in the official report of the eleventh sitting of the Assembly, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why certain material in the Public Record Office on the Falkland Islands was closed to bona fide researchers between the invasion and the setting up of the Franks report for a longer period than 30 years.

No material in the Public Record Office on the Falkland Islands was closed during this time for a period longer than 30 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of Her Majesty's Government's decision not to sign the United Nations law of the sea treaty, if the United Kingdom will be able to benefit from those provisions to which it has no objection.

Any rights or benefits accruing under the convention for the parties to it would take effect only as and when the convention entered into force. If the United Kingdom did not become a party, it would continue to enjoy the rights which it benefits from under existing international law.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Commonwealth and European Economic Community countries have declared their intention not to sign the United Nations law of the sea treaty.

No Commonwealth or European Community country has declared its intention not to sign the United Nations law of the sea convention. But, like the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium and Italy will, according to our present information, not be signing the convention at the final session of the United Nations law of the sea conference in Jamaica.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with progress to date in European political co-operation.

Broadly, yes. The Ten are now occasionally able to act together with speed and decisiveness. Their close co-operation at international organisations and conferences has added to their influence. We are, however, continually working for further progress. Members of the Ten need to be more willing to make the necessary efforts to reach a consensus, particularly on matters affecting the vital interests of one or more of them. The range of areas of co-operation among the Ten could also be further extended. We have recently put forward some ideas for greater co-operation between embassies of the Ten in third countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet been able to arrange an independent medical examination of Mr. Keith Carmichael, a citizen of the United Kingdom at present in jail in Riyadh.

The Saudi authorities have agreed to look into the possibility of a medical board incorporating a British doctor seeing Mr. Carmichael. We are continuing to keep a close interest in Mr. Carmichael's case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet received any reply to the representations he has made to the Government of Saudi Arabia concerning the treatment of Mr. Keith Carmichael, a United Kingdom citizen at present in jail in Riyadh.

There has been no formal response to our representations as yet, but our embassy in Jedda has confirmed that the Saudi authorities are investigating the allegations of Mr. Carmichael's ill-treatment.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report, for each month since

Imports of rubber-coated adhesive strips, width not exceeding 10 cm
	1979		1980		1981		January-August 1982
	Area '000 sqm	Value £'000 cif	Area '000 sqm	Value £'000 cif	Area '000 sqm	Value £'000 cif	Area '000 sqm	Value £'000 cif
Total of which originating in;	1,447	915	1,005	719	963	672	755	724
Japan	105	63	320	219	649	353	358	289
Federal Republic of Germany	49	54	92	68	79	56	182	168
United States of America	1,068	504	430	222	75	65	59	81
Belgium-Luxembourg	128	154	70	82	78	89	54	69
France	22	20	32	25	29	45	19	23
Irish Republic	60	78	48	66	18	23	3	2
Other countries	15	43	13	37	35	42	79	90

asked the Minister for Trade what proportion of the exports of the British textile and clothing industries go to the European Economic Community.

In the first nine months of this year, exports to the rest of the Community accounted for 45 per cent. of the value of total exports from the United Kingdom of textiles and textile clothing.

asked the Minister for Trade what change there has been in the volume of air traffic at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Manchester international airports in the past year.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, Traffic at the three airports for the latest 12-month period available was as follows:

	Terminal passengers July 1981–June 1982	Air transport movements July 1981–June 1982
Heathrow	26,739,387	253,275
	(26,730,774)	(258,831)
Gatwick	11,028,055	130,358
	(10,084,843)	(122,165)
Manchester	4,911,062	63,412
	(4,422,262)	(58,971)

The figures for the equivalent period, July 1980–June 1981, are given in brackets.

asked the Minister for Trade what percentage of textile and clothing products are exported.

Exports of textiles and clothing products were 29 per cent. of total sales by United Kingdom manufacturers in terms of value in the first half of 1982.

The information which can be provided within acceptable limits of cost is as follows:Textile and clothing products are defined as products classified to minimum list headings 411–429 and 441–449, respectively, of the Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1968).

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list in the Official Report, in respect of the National Consumer Council, the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months.

There are 51 posts in the approved staff complement of the council and its Scottish and Welsh subsidiaries; two of these are currently vacant. Staff remuneration cost £469,246 in 1981–82. Ten meetings of the full council have been held in the past 12 months, in addition to regular meetings of various council committees.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list in the Official Report, in respect of each nationalised industry consumer council, the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months.

Following is the information covering the last complete financial year—1981–82:

1—Electricity Consumers'/Consultative Councils
Council	Staff Numbers	Staff Costs	Number of Council/Committee Meetings
		£000's
Consumers' Council	8	103·4	35
London	8	77·1	41
South Eastern	5	45·4	28
Southern	4½	40·3	28
South Western	4½	39·4	34

Council	Staff Numbers	Staff Costs	Number of Council/Committee Meetings
		£000's
Eastern	6½	59·5	33
East Midlands	5	45·3	27
Midlands	4½	44·2	27
South Wales	5	55·3	22
Merseyside and North Wales	5	43·2	22
Yorkshire	4	47·0	34
North Eastern	5½	49·9	27
North Western	5	53·4	39
TOTALS:	70½	703·4	397

2—Gas Consumers' Councils
Council	Staff Numbers	Staff Costs	Number of Council/Committee Meetings
		£000's
National	9	97·3	20
Scottish	8	68·7	27
Northern	9½	83·8	22
North Western	10	78·9	23
North Eastern	5	47·3	21
East Midlands	5	52·2	29
West Midlands	9	68·7	33
Wales	6	57·6	36
Eastern	6½	63·4	19
North Thames	6	68·8	26
South Eastern	7½	79·0	29
South Western	6	59·7	42
Southern	7	60·2	27
TOTALS:	94½	885·6	354

3—Transport Users' Consultative Committees
Council	Staff Numbers	Cost £000's	Number of Meetings
Central	6	66·8	34
London	4	34·8	14
South East			9
East Anglia	2	18·0	15
East Midland	2·4	21·8	25
West Midland	1·6	13·8	21
North West	3	28·5	8
Scotland	3	26·3	10
Wales	2·5	43·5	6
South West	2·5		5
Yorkshire	2	18·0	8
North East	2	18·0	14
TOTALS:	31	289·5	169

4—Post Office Users' Councils
Council	Staff Numbers	Cost £00's	Number of Meetings
National	18·5	170·6	23
Scotland	* 2	†	7
Wales	2	16·4	13
Northern Ireland	* 2	5·5	4
	TOTALS	192·5	47
5—Domestic Coal Consumers'	2	21·0	11
* Part-time.
† Borne by S.E.P.D.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list in the Official Report, in respect of the English Tourist Board, the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months.

The number of staff currently employed by the English Tourist Board is 179. In the past 12 months staff remuneration amounted to £1,782,000 and the board met 11 times.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list in the Official Report, in respect of the Simplification of International Trade Procedures Board, the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months.

The number of staff employed by the Simplification of International Trade Procedures Board—SITPRO—is 25 at a cost of £290,250 in the year ended 30 September 1982.SITPRO draws upon the unpaid expert assistance of some 200 business men and the number of meetings held during the past 12 months was 51; these covered meetings of the board, the budgetary steering group, policy and working groups and ad hoc meetings with representative groups of business and trading interests.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will set up an inquiry under the Companies Acts into the relationship between Brookgate Investments and its former insurance and reinsurance subsidiary Fidentia Marine Insurance of Bermuda.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1982, c. 64]: I am watching the present situation closely and am in regular touch with Lloyd's.

asked the Minister for Trade when he last conducted an overall review of the national metrological co-ordination unit in accordance with the requirement laid down in section 7 of "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments"; on what grounds he decided to retain the body and what areas for savings in finance and Manpower were identified.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1982, c. 62]: The national metrological co-ordination unit is a statutory body responsible under the Weights and Measures Act 1979 for co-ordinating enforcement of the average quantity system for packaged goods. The unit, which came into operation in 1980, currently has eight members—unpaid—six full-time staff and cost £160,000 in the last financial year. We reviewed the unit in June and concluded that it is working effectively. No areas for savings were found.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) what representations he has recently received about the sale of dangerous toys;(2) what representations he has recently received about the sale of dangerous electrical goods;(3) if he will list in the

[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1982, c. 60]: My Department has numerous inquiries every day about the safety of toys, electrical goods, and other products. I am worried at the number, particularly of electrical goods of various kinds. I am examining our powers under the Consumer Safety Act and Consumer Protection Act and expect to make a statement in the near future.

asked the Minister for Trade when he expects to announce measures to reduce the incidence of fraudulent alteration of odometer readings on motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 December 1982, c. 362]: There is a clear need to reduce fraudulent sales of second-hand cars and to protect further the consumer. I am examining possible means with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. For example, we are considering a tamper resistant odometer and I have asked the BSI to look at a standard for this; and we are considering recording the mileage of a car at intervals at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre, Swansea. In addition, we are producing a booklet of advice on buying a second-hand car.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 18 November, Official Report, c. 231,who will decide whether 16 and 17-year-olds with special needs will be able to benefit from the youth training scheme; whether the individuals concerned and their parents will be consulted; and whether he will consider allocating a role to the Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults.

Local staff in the careers service and the Manpower Services Commission's employment service will consider with the young people themselves whether those with special needs would benefit from the youth training scheme. Parents will also be involved as appropriate.The Manpower Services Commission will be happy to consider any specific proposals that the Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults wishes to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the current percentages and numbers of the potential working population unemployed, based on the method of calculating unemployment prior to the recent changes; how this compares with the equivalent figures based on the current method of calculating unemployment; what steps he is taking to monitor the relationship between the two figures and the effectiveness of the present method of calculating unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

At 14 October the number of unemployed people on the new basis—claimants—was 3,049,008 and the unemployment rate was 13·1 per cent. The corresponding figures on the old basis—registrations—were 3,295,128 and 13·8 per cent. respectively. The rates are based on the estimated number of employees—employed and unemployed—which differs from the working population in that it excludes members of Her Majesty's Forces and the self-employed.It is not possible to estimate what the figures after October would have been on the old basis. For this reason a back series, to January 1971, of figures on the new basis has been prepared and will be published in the December issue of the