asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his practice to answer questions on the year-by-year expenditure on major nuclear deterrent projects.

No. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said in answer to a question on 11 November 1982—[Vol. 31, c. 208]—and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement to one on 27 April 1982—[Vol. 22, c. 261]—it is not our practice to make available details of year-by-year expenditure on projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to meet the Defence Minister of the Republic of Chile; whether he has plans to develop defence links between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Chile; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet the Defence Minister of the Republic of Chile. It is our policy to keep defence links with all nations under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 December, Official Report, c.412 and 414, what was the distance from the position of 55 degrees 27 minutes South, 61 degrees 25 minutes West, where the "General Belgrano" was torpedoed, to the edge of the total exclusion zone.

Approximately 35 nautical miles, but as my right hon. Friend explained on 13 May—[Vol. 23, c. 1030]—that zone was not relevant in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 29 November, Official Report, c. 104, at what time contact with the "General Belgrano" was first made by one of Her Majesty's submarines.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 29 November, Official Report, c. 104, for how long the "General Belgrano" had been on a course of 280 degrees; and what was her immediately preceding course.

It is not possible to say. Irrespective of the direction in which the ship may have been heading at any one time, she and her escorts represented a threat to the ships of the Task Force, in whose direction they could easily have turned at any moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence Whether HMS "Conqueror" is fitted with an inertial navigation system.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis the family of Major General Thorne was selected for a Christmas visit to the Falklands; and why he has reconsidered this decision.

The normal tour of duty for the Falkland Islands garrison is six months' unaccompanied service. The case for allowing General Thorne's family to visit him in the Falklands was based on the fact that, as commander British forces Falkland Islands, he is serving on a longer unaccompanied tour than any other member of the present garrison, and that for operational reasons he is not in a position to take any mid-tour leave outside his command. It was decided, however, that it would be wrong to allow the visit to go ahead at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will appoint representatives of the National Union of Seamen and of the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association to membership of the Shipping Defence Advisory Committee.

A proposal on these lines has been made by the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association and this is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are being made for the entertainment of the forces stationed in the Falkland Islands.

We are very conscious of the need to provide entertainment for the garrison. Combined Services Entertainment has been arranging regular live variety shows which have been most successful. The next group of entertainers, which includes a comedian, a female illusionist, folk singers, a fire eater, and an all-girl song and dance group, will fly to Ascension on 16 December and will give a series of shows in the Falklands over the Christmas period.In addition the Service Sound and Vision Corporation is now able to arrange for 10 hours 40 minutes of prerecorded radio programmes to be broadcast each week, and there are a large number of TV sets and video recorders with the garrison on which pre-recorded material can be shown.Some sports equipment has already been sent, and a further £10,000 worth has been ordered. The football pitch has been cleared of mines and is in use. There are limited facilities for indoor entertainment available in Portacabin camps at San Carlos and Goose Green. The Service units have canteens, which are supplied by NAAFI, and a junior ranks club is to be set up at San Carlos in January.As well as facilities and equipment provided by the MOD, the public have been very generous in their donations of recreational equipment. This includes gifts of, or funding for, a number of canoes, yachts, fishing boats and sailing dinghies. In addition, £40,000 from the South Atlantic Fund has already been used to purchase a variety of welfare goods.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects his evaluation of the S90 warship designed by Thornycroft Giles to be completed; and if the design is planned as an alternative to the type 23 frigate.

Thornycroft Giles and Associates Ltd. has until the end of January 1983 to submit the results of further research in support of its claims for the S90 design as an alternative type 23 frigate design. It is expected to be possible to complete the evaluation of any such information within about one month of its receipt.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to authorise replacement orders for the two type 21 frigates and the two type 42 destroyers lost in the South Atlantic.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Sir P. Wall) on 16 November—[Vol. 32, c. 150.]

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of correspondence and previous representations to him from the hon. Member for Nuneaton, he will seek to remove the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals from the register of charities under section 5 of the Charities Act 1960.

No.

asked the Attorney-General in how many instances he has given consent, as required under section 8(6) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, for prosecution under section 8(5) of that Act.

Since the Magistrates' Courts Act came into force I have not give my consent under section 8(6) for proceedings to be brought in any case.

asked the Prime Minister whether any arrangements are now in hand for a visit to the united Kingdom by General Zia-ul-Haq.

There are no plans for such a visit at present.

asked the Prime Minister if she will define the phrase "For public and political service" as it is used by her in submitting her list for honours.

The phrase traditionally used is "For political and public service". I define this as meaning service, whether voluntary or paid, to a political party coupled with other service of a public nature to national or local public life.

asked the Prime Minister how many officials are involved in each of the main entry clearance operations with regard to immigration from the Indian Sub-continent, including such actions as interviewing United Kingdom based sponsors, and interviewing potential immigrants based in the sub-continent.

There are 39 entry clearance officers in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan who interview all entry clearance applicants there. Inquiries in connection with entry clearance applications also form part of the duties of the staff of the immigration and nationality department of the Home Office, including the immigration service, although none are employed solely on this work.

asked the Prime Minster if she is satisfied with co-ordination between the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and the Departments sponsoring computer development in industry in relation to the agency's list of recognised bidders.

Yes. Her Majesty's Treasury (CCTA) regularly consults other Departments on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to the work of the Prison Reform Trust to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 13–17 December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of the Minister of State, Official Report, 2 December, c. 290–91, how long the unsentenced inmates suffering from mental disorder had been in custody on 30 September.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what transfers of funds have taken place from housing revenue accounts to rate funds for each local authority in Wales during 1981–82; and what are the estimated figures for 1982–83.

No transfers of funds have taken place from housing revenue accounts to rate funds by Welsh authorities during 1981–82. Nor are any estimated for 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in view of the marked increase in the number of foxes in many areas of rural Wales and the damage to agriculture resulting therefrom, he will consider providing Government funds for the purpose of assisting in the reduction of the pest.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the total number of Members of the House of Commons who would not on normal age of retirement be entitled to claim pension for all their years of service in Parliament; and what would be the actual or estimated costs on an annual basis for these Members to be granted pension rights for such service.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible, and at the same time as I reply to his earlier question on this subject.—[Vol. 32, c. 597.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to terminate Her Majesty's Government financial support for development education at the end of the financial year 1983–84; and if he will make a statement.

I confirm that it is our intention to terminate at the end of financial year 1983–84 financial support from the overseas aid programme for development education. I have nothing further to add to the observations made by the Government, and published in November 1982, on the recommendations on this issue in the Second Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee of this House on the Supply Estimates 1982–83, published July 5, 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of the Minister of State, Official Report, 2 December, c. 246, when the request for laparoscopes was received; how many laparoscopes were requested; and what further discussions with the Indian authorities are necessary.

The requests relating to Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were received in London on 26 October and 2 November respectively. One hundred laparoscopes have been requested for Madhya Pradesh and 108 for Tamil Nadu. We needed to discuss how they would be distributed, the level of training of staff who would use them, and matters such as the adequacy of sterilising facilities in hospitals where they would be used; and whether any further British help beyond supplying the instruments would be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is now able to give the cost to public funds of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer gave to the hon. Member for Down, North (Mr. Kilfedder) on 10 November 1982.—[Vol. 31, c. 150.] It is hoped that all the necessary accounting work will be completed by early 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the report "Special School Leavers", sent to him by the Greater London Association for the Disabled. and in particular on its request for implementation of the Warnock committee recommendation that top priority should be given to the provision of further education places for handicapped 16 to 19-year-olds.

My right hon. Friend welcomes the report. In its White Paper "Special Needs in Education" (Cmnd. 7996), the Government indicated the need for local and regional co-operation in further education for those with special needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure greater recognition of the needs of handicapped young people when planning education or Manpower Services Commission budgets.

The determination of local education budgets is a matter for the local authorities. An increasing number of local authorities are making provision for handicapped young people. Manpower Services Commission budgets are a matter for that body.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made any estimate of the number of children receiving free school meals who are statutorily entitled to this benefit by virtue of the family being in receipt of either supplementary benefit or family income supplement.

It is estimated that some 640,000 pupils received free meals under this criterion on the day of the school meal census in October 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the estimated additional cost if all children statutorily entitled to free school meals took up this benefit.

Approximately £40 million per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made any estimate of the extent of parental financial contributions to maintained schools in England and Wales.

The Department does not collect information which would enable such an estimate to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list figures for expenditure on (a) library books and (b) library periodicals per full-time equivalent student in colleges of further and higher education in each local authority in England and Wales for the years 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82, respectively;(2) if he will provide figures for expenditure on

The information is not available in the form requested. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has withdrawn its guidelines on the maximum distance and time for journeys of children to and from school; and whether he will make a statement.

The guidelines contained in the 1950 Manual of Guidance (Schools No. 1) were formally withdrawn in circular 1/81. LEAs are competent to decide these matters within the framework of the statutory provisions governing school transport.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is implied by the phrase "redistribution of public expenditure" in his statement of 18 November, Official Report, c. 232, about the European Economic Community Joint Council of Employment and Finance Ministers on 16 November.

The phrase "redistribution of public expenditure" was included in the conclusions of the joint council. Ministers wished to signify by it their intention of redistributing public expenditure, without increasing the total, from consumption towards expenditure which would enhance the development of productive capacity thus increasing competitiveness.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is public sector employment as a percentage of the total work force.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 11 November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the numbers and grades of public servants who are participants in pension schemes in which they are not able or entitled to claim their first years of public service for pension purposes on retirement; and how many of such public servants he estimates are in each stated grade.

I regret that information in the form requested is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide cash figures in current prices for each public expenditure sub-heading and total for the years 1978–79 to 1981–82 inclusive and the plans for 1982–83 and for 1983–84 on a comparable basis with the table 2·1 "Public Expenditure Plans" of page 21 of the autumn statement 1982; and if he will express each subheading and total in each case and for each year also in cost terms, base 1981–82 comparable to the totals in cost terms in table 2·2 on page 22 of the autumn statement 1982.

Information on public expenditure was prepared in the form contained in tables 2·1 and 2·2 of the autumn statement so that it could be given to Parliament at the earliest possible opportunity. I regret that directly comparable information for earlier years is not readily available in the form requested. The public expenditure White Paper, to be published early in the new year, will give information for past years in cash and cost terms for each main expenditure programme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on his proposal that a number of firms of accountants be asked to take part in the experimental use of new corporation tax returns for companies.

About 250 firms of accountants, from all parts of the country, will be invited to take part in the trials of the experimental return form. The invitations will be issued during January, and the trials will take place between March and May. Accountants who accept the invitation to take part will be asked to complete a small number of experimental returns for company clients, and, at the end of the excercise, to give their views on the form and some of the issues that it raises. It is hoped that about 1,500 experimental returns will be completed altogether. A number of representative bodies and companies will also be approached for their views.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take action to ensure that the channelling abroad of reinsurance premiums is not used as a device to evade tax liabilities.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance he proposes to give to the Scottish Federation of Fishing Co-operatives for the coming financial year for the promotion and development of fishing co-operatives.

Financial assistance for the Scottish Federation of Fishermen's Co-operatives has been made available by the Scottish Development Agency. The agency is still considering the arrangements for 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance is available in Scotland for the promotion and development of farming and fishing co-operatives.

The promotion and development of agriculture and horticultural co-operation in Scotland is carried out principally by the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society. The society's costs in carrying out this work are financed by my Department. Individual farming co-operatives may qualify for grants made under the agricultural and horticultural co-operation scheme which is administered by the central council for agricultural and horticultural co-operation.The Sea Fish Industry Authority has power under section 3(1) of the Fisheries Act 1981 to give assistance by way of loan, grant or guarantee to persons incurring expenditure in forming, carrying on or extending the activities of fishing co-operatives. In addition, the Scottish Federation of Fishing Co-operatives Ltd. receives financial assistance from the Scottish Development Agency for the promotion and development of fishing co-operatives.Farming and fishing co-operatives may qualify for capital grants from FEOGA for projects connected with the processing and marketing of agricultural and fisheries products.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will appoint to the board of the Sea Fish Industry Authority a representative of fishing co-operatives' interests.

There are no vacancies for appointments of persons by fisheries Ministers, after consultation with the sea fishing industry, as being broadly representative of the interests of the industry. Co-operative interests will be consulted when there is a vacancy in that category. No member of the authority is appointed to represent any particular sector of the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of fish landed in Scotland is caught by fishermen who are members of fishing co-operatives.

The records kept by my Department do not distinguish between landings made by fishermen who are members of fishing co-operatives and those who are not.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide figures for expenditure on (a) library books and (b) library periodicals per full-time equivalent student in colleges of higher and further education in Scotland for the years 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82. respectively.

This information is not available centrally. For information on total book expenditure in central institutions and colleges of further education I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 26 January 1982.—[Vol. 16, c. 341–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what major international companies have announced plans to invest in Hong Kong over the last six months.

Over the last six months, Thomas de la Rue (UK), Ferranti Electronics Ltd (UK), Dow Chemical Co. (USA) and Sea-Land (USA) have announced plans to invest in Hong Kong. In addition four foreign banks and six deposit-taking companies have successfully applied for licensed status.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present position concerning proposals for the delimitation of the continental shelf between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

Officials from the two sides met on 26 November in London for talks on various technical aspects of the draft agreement to set up a court of arbitration for delimitation of the continental shelf. More work needs to be done before a further meeting can be held, probably in the early part of the next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomats have been involved in criminal proceedings arising from breaches of security over the last 20 years; how many of these cases involved a personal relationship with a member of the opposite sex and how many a homosexual relationship; and of those involving a relationship with the opposite sex, in how many instances the diplomat concerned has been (a) male or (b) female; and what has been the average number of (a) male and (b) female diplomats in post throughout the 20 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December, c. 260]: Two members of the Diplomatic Service have been subject to criminal proceedings arising from breaches of security in the last 20 years. The first case was that of Leonard Michael Hinchliffe, who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in 1972 for passing documents to the Russians when he was a registry and cypher officer at the embassy in Khartoum. The second was that of Miss Rhona Ritchie, about which my right Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 30 November. Both cases involved a relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Neither involved a homosexual relationship.At present there are 2,447 male and 740 female members of the diplomatic service in posts abroad. I regret that figures for the average number of men and women in overseas posts throughout the past 20 years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in the Lambeth inner city partnership area how many people were registered as unemployed in total; and how many of these were (a) young people aged 16 to 25 years in each, (b) women and (c) black people in May 1979; and what are the latest available figures.

The following table gives the available information for the Lambeth inner city partnership area, taken as the Brixton, Borough, Stockwell, Streatham and West Norwood jobcentre areas. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adusted.

Registered unemployed (old basis)
Total of which,
		Aged under 25 years	Females	Ethnic minorities
April 1979	9,963	3,627	2,335	*
May 1979	10,334	*	2,430	1,532
August 1982	26,807	*	7,377	4,015
October 1982	28,093	11,770	7,976	*
Unemployed claimants (new basis)
October 1982	24,447	*	6,395	*
November 1982	24,245	*	6,256	*

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the employment office areas or travel-to-work areas that have unemployment rates that are three or more times the national average.

There is none.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people (a) aged under 18 years, (b) aged 18 years and (c) aged 19 years and over have never had a full-time job since leaving school (i) nationally, (ii) in the North-West region, (iii) on Merseyside, (iv) in Kirkby and (v) in the Ormskirk travel-to-work area.

The following table gives, for the age groups and areas specified, the numbers of unemployed claimants at 11 November who had not entered employment since completing full-time education.

	Aged under 18	Aged 18	Aged 19 and over
United Kingdom	147,458	73,028	99,514
North West Region	19,646	11,395	14,752
Merseyside Special Development area	6,185	4,441	5,100
Kirkby jobcentre area	353	253	232
Ormskirk travel-to-work area	233	215	246

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action has been taken with regard to the recommendations of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate in its report on the explosion and fire at Chemstar Ltd. on 6 September 1981; and if he will make a statement.

Of the three recommendations contained in the report two relate to the duties of employers. The report has been made available to inspectors who are advising employers on the recommendations when they see relevant hazards during the normal course of their work.As far as the third recommendation is concerned, preparation is continuing within the Health and Safety Executive on the further guidance on storage and use of potentially hazardous substances to protect persons off site.Work so far in HSE has concentrated particularly on liquefied petroleum gas installations, since it is believed that these represent the more hazardous and numerous plants. The guidance is at present subject to consultation with industry and a final version will be issued in the light of that consultation.The principles of protection that have now been established in the context of LPG are being developed for application across the general field of flammable liquids.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given during the period of operation of the Housing Act 1980, to seeking to extend the right-to-buy procedures and discounts to houses built by county councils for their staff.

County councils generally provide accommodation for purposes related to the specific employment of the tenants and for this reason our view remains that county council accommodation as a whole cannot be made subject to the right to buy. However, county councils have discretion to sell houses and flats on right to buy terms, and I hope that wherever possible they will do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 8 November, Official Report, c. 82, if he is now able to state the level of housing capital expenditure for the period April to 31 October by local authorities generally and by each individual local authority.

English local authorities' gross capital expenditure on housing in the first half of 1982–83 is provisionally estimated to have been £820 million. As I said to the right hon. Gentleman on 8 November 1982—[Vol 31, c. 82]—1 expect to be able to provide the authority by authority figures before the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to direct the depositing of low-level radioactive waste without consulting local authorities; and whether he will make a statement.

Under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 there are statutory requirements for consultation before an authorisation is given:

(i) for disposal of radioactive waste which will require special precautions to be taken by a local or public authority;

(ii) for disposal of radioactive waste on or from the premises of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, or from sites licensed under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended).

In other cases my Department consults relevant local and public authorities, if it seems justifiable, before issuing an authorisation; but there is no statutory requirement to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further considerations he has given to the depositing of low-level radioactive waste inland following the decision of the European Assembly against dumping nuclear waste at sea.

The resolution referred to was debated and passed by the European Parliament at short notice, with only a small proportion of MEPs taking part; and it is therefore doubtful what significance should be attached to it. Policy on the disposal of radioactive wastes on land was set out in the White Paper on "Radioactive Waste Management" (Cmnd 8607), and its implementation is not affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive, together with their backgrounds; and in what circumstances he will seek advice from it before directing the depositing of radioactive waste inland.

The executive is an operational, not an advisory body, which consists of a directorate supported by a unit of full-time staff. The members of the directorate are:

Dr. L. E. Roberts (Chairman), Director of the Atomic Research Energy Establishment, Harwell.

Mr. R. H. Allardice, Director, Process Technology and Safety, UKAEA Northern Division.

Dr. R. H. Flowers, Director of Fuel Processing, UKAEA.

Dr. D. G. Avery, Deputy Managing Director, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Mr. N. R. Geary, Manager, Research and Development British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Mr. M. J. W. Baker, Board Member for Finance, Central Electricity Generating Board.

Mr. R. R. Matthews, Director, Health and Safety, Central Electricity Generating Board.

Dr. A. E. Souch, Chief Engineer, Planning and Service Division, South of Scotland Electricity Board.

The Chief Executive of the Unit is Mr. M. E. Ginniff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of the Under-Secretary, Official Report, 2 December, column 284, on how many notices of applications for listed building consent received during October he had taken a decision by 30 November on whether he would call in the application.

None of the applications referred during October to the west midlands regional office of the Department has so far been called in for the Secretary of State's decision. Out of the 24 private applications notifications of the intention not to intervene were issued to the local planning authority for 1 case in October, 18 in November and 2 so far in December. 3 cases are still under consideration. Of the 6 local planning authority applications, 2 were decided in November and 4 are still awaiting decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will now bring into force section 36(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1972 relating to parking on verges.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to Section 36B of the 1972 Act, as inserted by section 7 of the Road Traffic Act 1974, which will, when implimented, prohibit parking on the verges and footways of urban roads. Implementation has been deferred because local authorities and the police are not yet ready to undertake the work involved in preparing for and enforcing the ban. There are already a number of ways in which action can be taken against such parking under existing law.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, for the years 1975 and 1981, in figures and as a percentage change (a) the annual budget of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, (b) the total number of staff and (c) the number of staff employed in (i) the transport operations department, (ii) the transport systems department, (iii) the safety department, (iv) the traffic engineering department, (v) administration, (vi) the highways department, and (vii) the structures department; and what relative priority has been given to those areas of the work of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory concerned with transport policy and behavioural matters and those concerned with the engineering aspects of road and structure design.

The gross TRRL spend for the financial years 1975–76 and 1981–82 at outturn and at constant prices was:

	1975–76	1981–82
	£m	£m
Out-turn prices	10·0	12·7
1981–82 price base	21·9	12·7

The volume decrease from 1975–76 to 1981–82 was 42 per cent.The average number of staff in 1975–76 was 1,084 and in 1981–82 was 776, a decrease of 28 per cent.The average number of staff employed in the Departments specified was:

Departments	1975–76 (31.9.75)	1981–82	Percentage Decrease
Transport Operations	71	56 and a half	20
Transport Systems	91	51 and a half	43
Safety	103 and a half	60	42
Traffic Engineering	72	56 and a half	22
Admin	101	70 and a half	30
Highways	93 and a half	72	23
Structures	101	71	30

The Department's research programme is formulated in accordance with Rothschild's principles for Government research and development. The needs for research and project proposals are considered on their merits by research requirements committees. Priorities and resources are assigned to reflect ministerial policies: the final selection of projects is agreed by Ministers.Most areas of TRRL research have a policy element, but the figures given show that over the period in question, relative priority was given to civil engineering research which sustained a smaller reduction than average for TRRL research.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the cost in 1982–83 of extending the long-term supplementary benefit rate to long-term unemployed supplementary benefit claimants with children; and what is his latest estimate of the cost of extending it to all long-term unemployed supplementary benefit claimants;(2) what would be the net cost in

Unemployed men aged 60 and over already receive the long-term scale rate after they have been in receipt of supplementary benefit at the ordinary rate for one year. If this provision were extended to all unemployed claimants, the estimated additional costs in a full year, at November 1982 benefit rates, would be £325 million. If the extension were restricted to unemployed claimants with dependent children, the cost would be £150 million. If the provision were introduced in November 1983, the estimated additional costs in 1983–84 would be £145 million and £70 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private hospitals were opened in 1981–82; and how many are at present under construction.

Information about private hospitals under construction is not kept centrally, but I would estimate that about 600 new private hospital beds have been opened during 1982. Arrangements have been made for information about the number of private hospitals and nursing homes registered with district health authorities to be available in future on an annual basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list any hospitals, or sections of hospitals which have been built but not opened due to lack of finance.

The latest information held centrally on hospital facilities awaiting opening was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Crewe (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 22 November 1982.—[Official Report, Vol. 32, c. 375.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the disabled war pensioners' allowance to take account of the increase in clothing costs which have taken place since July 1978 when the allowances were last increased; and if he will make a statement.

The allowances for wear and tear of clothing payable to certain war disablement pensioners are increased each November as part of the general uprating of war pensions and allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, Official Report, 5 July, c. 24, whether his Department will in future keep records of the amounts of money of which his Department is defrauded when this fraud is proved by criminal conviction.

The Department is currently considering a revision of the methods of collecting and processing fraud statistics. The system under consideration would involve the collecting of detailed information on a sample of cases and this would enable an estimate to be made of the amount of benefit overpaid to persons convicted of fraud.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the answer on appeals to the social security commissioners given to the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mr. Race) on 18 January, Official Report, c. 48.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance has been given to family practitioner committees on the treatment of overseas visitors by general practitioners.

No recent guidance has been given to family practitioner committees on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated number of children of statutory school age whose families are in receipt of either supplementary benefit or family income supplement.

There were about 983,000 children of statutory school age in families receiving supplementary benefit in December 1981, and about 206,000 in families receiving family income supplement in April 1982, the latest dates for which information is available. About 1 per cent. of the families receiving supplementary benefit were also in receipt of family income supplement because family income supplement entitlement extends for a 12-month period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated annual cost of providing the long-term supplementary benefit rate to people unemployed for over one year; and what would be the cost if the long-term benefit were restricted to unemployed people with dependent children.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 December 1982, c. 389]: Unemployed men aged 60 or over already receive the long-term scale rate after they have been in receipt of supplementary benefit at the ordinary rate for one year. If this provision were extended to all unemployed claimants the estimated additional annual cost at November 1982 benefit rates would be £325 million. If the extension were restricted to unemployed claimants with dependent children the cost would be £150 million.

United Kingdom trade in containers of sheet or plate iron and steel 1979–82 (value £ thousand)
	1979		1980		1981		1982 (January-August)
	tonnes	value	tonnes	value	tonnes	value	tonnes	value
Containers for the conveyance or packing of goods
(1) Of capacity greater than 50 litres
(a) Casks and drums
Total imports cif	770	603	3,279	2,212	1,108	954	470	626
of which originating in:
United Kingdom	29	13	238	343	404	320	111	190
Netherlands	69	49	613	383	79	65	126	173
France	167	107	328	201	121	124	81	68
Denmark	94	139	11	5	114	121	53	58
Federal Republic of Germany	67	73	1,013	541	96	87	48	45
Irish Republic	49	23	290	202	190	133	15	27
Belgium-Luxembourg	174	87	480	260	21	8	17	22
United States of America	41	72	70	104	6	9	6	11
Switzerland	—	—	166	119	22	35	5	10
Other	81	42	69	54	55	53	10	21
Total exports fob	3,528	3,073	3,932	2,526	*1,116	*815	1,124	932
(b)Boxes and containers
Total imports cif	579	513	3,030	1,826	1,618	1,080	418	257
of which originating in:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of putting all unemployed persons between 16 and 60 years on ordinary unemployment benefits regardless of the length of such unemployment in respect of (a) males and (b) females; and what would be the difference to the tax yield as a result.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1982, c. 278]: It is estimated that the net benefit cost in 1982–83 would be:

(a) about £160 million; and

(b) about £250 million.

The extra tax yield in 1982–83 would be about £25 million and £10 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of putting every unemployed person aged between 60 and 65 years on long-term rates of benefit.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1982, c. 278]: About £220 million.

asked the Minister 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 tinplate coded under S.I.T.C. (R2) 692.41 (a) 7323 1010, (b) 7323 1020, (c) 7323 1099, (d) 7323 2100, (e) 7323 2300, (f) 7323 2500 and (g) 7323 2900;(2) if he will publish in the

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