asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bedford on 14 December, if he will publish the consultants' report on the potential of combined heat and power district heating in the nine cities mentioned in the answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 12 March 1981, Official Report, c. 377.

A copy of the report in its consultative form has been placed in the Library of the House. A final version will be published after local authorities and other interested parties have commented.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the meeting of EEC Energy Ministers on 16 December.

Energy Ministers of the EC member States held an informal meeting in Copenhagen on 16 December to discuss the possible elements of a Community solid fuel policy. The meeting agreed that there was a common interest in progress towards a balanced and comprehensive Community strategy for solid fuels. To this end the Ministers agreed to consider proposals which the Commission has put forward or intend shortly to put forward in a number of areas including promoting the use of solid fuels; the handling and transport of coal; coking coal; the modernisation and rationalisation of coal production; the problem of stocks; intra-Community trade in solid fuels; trade with third countries; environmental questions related to coal; and research, development and demonstration. I regard this as a positive and constructive outcome, which will allow progress to be made on an area of Community policy of particular interest to the United Kingdom. I anticipate that discussion will resume on the basis of specific proposals from the Commission in the early part of 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board for stocking coal; and how much is covered by stocking grant.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 December 1982, c. 325.]: I am advised by the CEGB that the cost to the board of putting coal to stock and reclaiming it is some £1 to £3 per tonne depending on the location and on the level of stocks at individual sites. The cost of maintaining coal in stock is some £5 to £7 per tonne per annum, depending again upon the location and upon interest rates.There are no grants to the CEGB for commercial stocking arrangements. Where the board has put imported coal into stock on the Continent or accepted NCB coal on deferred payment terms it has been compensated for any extra costs by a reducion in the NCB's charges for commercial deliveries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the landed and delivered prices per tonne for imported coal for the latest convenient date for each of the major countries of origin.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell) on 13 December.—[Vol. 34, c.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of public concern at the growing costs of trials, Her Majesty's Government will take steps to reduce these costs.

Her Majesty's Government are constantly endeavouring to reduce the cost of legal proceedings both to the Exchequer and to the litigant, and to obtain better value for the public money spent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which countries surplus stocks of European Economic Community skimmed milk powder are sent as aid; and if there are any plans to send some of these supplies to relieve famine conditions in Vietnam.

This year the European Community has allocated 150,000 tonnes of skimmed milk powder as food aid to the following countries and organisations:

• Angola
• Burundi
• Cape Verde
• Comores
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Ecuador
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Honduras
• India
• Indonesia
• Jamaica
• Lesotho
• Lebanon
• Mali
• Malta
• Morocco
• Mauritius
• Mauritania
• Mozambique
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Pakistan
• Peru
• Philippines
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Swaziland
• Tanzania
• Tunisia
• Uganda
• Zimbabwe
• International Committee of the Red Cross
• The League of Red Cross Societies
• Non-Governmental Organisations
• United Nations Relief and Works Agency
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
• The World Food Programme

There are no proposals before the Council of Ministers to send any food aid to Vietnam.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the constitutional relationship between the United Kingdom Government and the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands; what legal, financial and architectural staff work for the Turks and Caicos Government; and what legal, financial and other technical aid is available from the United Kingdom Government to the Turks and Caicos Government on the Club Meditteraneé projects.

The constitutional relationship is described in full in a memorandum submitted to the Overseas Development Sub-Committee in November 1980 and published at pages 1–5 of the third report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 1980–81. There has been no change in the last two years.The Turks and Caicos Islands Government employ three legally qualified staff, three senior financial staff—excluding auditors—and no architectural staff.Legal, financial and other technical aid is available as necessary from the United Kingdom Government to the Turks and Caicos Government on the Club Med project. It has been agreed in particular that such aid will be available in the event of arbitration proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial contribution Her Majesty's Government are making to the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the year 1983–84; what their contributions have been for each of the previous three years; and if he will make a statement.

I am not yet in a position to announce a contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for 1983–84. Our contributions for the previous three years are as follows:

• 1980–81—£4·5 million (cash)
• 1981–82—£5·0 million (cash)
• 1982–83—£4·0 million (cash)
• £1·0 million (as food aid for those in need in the Lebanon)

In addition, Britain's share of European Community contributions to UNRWA has been, in calendar years:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom has now pledged funds for 1983–84 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency; what was the total given in 1982–83; and if he will make a statement.

I am not yet in a position to announce a pledge to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for 1983–84. Total assistance from the United Kingdom to the agency in 1982–83 was £4 million in cash and £1 million in food aid. In addition, the United Kingdom contributes just over 20 per cent. of the European Community's assistance to UNRWA: the total for 1982 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the annual total of British aid to the Government of the Cape Verde Islands in the years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82.

Following are the figures:

	£ 000s
1979–80	*623
1980–81	25
1981–82	9
* includes £618,000 of bilateral food aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which Vote the £31 million reconstruction programme for the Falkland Islands will be charged.

The £31 million programme for the economic and social development of the Falkland Islands will be charged to the Overseas Aid Vote, presently Class II, Vote 10.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any further statement to make about the report of the Megaw inquiry into Civil Service pay.

The unions have been informed that the Government are prepared to enter into negotiations with them with a view to agreeing an ordered pay determination system based on the recommendations of the Megaw report. It is in the nature of an agreement of this kind that both sides have to accept some limitations on their freedom of action and both sides will no doubt seek safeguards from their respective points of view, including in the Government's case safeguards to the public purse and public policy. Nevertheless, the Government are prepared to accept, in principle, the broad approach of the Megaw recommendations and to negotiate on them with goodwill and the intention to succeed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, what conclusions have been reached on the location of the hazardous waste inspectorate; and whether he will make a further statement on any other outstanding recommendations of the Select Committee on Science and Technology's report on hazardous waste disposal.

The Government have now completed their consideration of the location of the hazardous waste inspectorate and we are now able to announce that because of the very significant role it will play with regard to the environmental waste management responsibilities of local authorities it is to be established in the Department of the Environment and the Scottish Development Department. There will be close liaison with the Health and Safety Executive. The Inspectorate's prime function will be to advise local authorities on their duties to control hazardous waste management. However, the nature of the activity means that in practice advice will also be given on aspects of non-hazardous waste management. Radioactive waste will continue to be covered by the radiochemical inspectorate. The inspectorate will start its work as soon as the necessary arrangements have been made.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has completed his consideration of the two recommendations which have particular application to Scotland—recommendation 24 that all waste disposal authorities in Scotland should be formally grouped into a waste disposal region and recommendation 25 that waste disposal responsibilities should be transferred from district councils to regional councils. The Government's conclusion is that the aims of these recommendations can be met without the need for a formal reallocation of responsibilities. Extensive consultation has shown that there is little desire for and indeed considerable opposition on the part of local authorities to any transfer of waste disposal to regional councils in Scotland. In consequence, the Government's view is that the aims of the proposal for a single waste disposal region for Scotland—co-ordination of waste disposal plans and the provision of facilities and to provide technical services—can be achieved by non-statutory groupings of authorities building on existing arrangement, and such groupings are now being encouraged by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.Recommendation 25 also relates to Wales. The Welsh Office has recently issued a consultation paper setting out four options for changing the administration of waste disposal in Wales. Interested organisations and individuals have been asked to submit comments by 31 December 1982.Progress has been made on a number of other recommendations. Following discussions with major interests in England, the Government are embarking on arrangements for a stronger and more comprehensive consideration of the issues associated with planning for hazardous waste at a regional level—recommendations 23 and 24. All the interests consulted have supported proposals to build on the wide network of existing liaison groups involving the waste disposal authorities, industry and waste disposal contractors. The aim will be to ensure any gaps in geographical coverage are filled and that all parties are able to participate in the consideration of inter and intra-regional issues. These include the preparation and review of waste disposal plans, the provision of scientific services and a local authorities' waste advisory role—recommendations 3, 11, 24 and 31. The arrangements will broadly follow the standard economic regions and will make full use of existing liaison groups. The Department's regional offices will seek to give as much assistance as they can on particular issues and the general question of ensuring proper coverage and the opportunity for full participation.The Government have previously announced their intention to produce a new waste management paper on landfill practice. A landfill practices review group has now been established to prepare this. The subject is extensive, and published advice is likely to appear in instalments.The Notification of New Substances Regulations 1982, referred to in recommendation 12, came into force on 26 November. They provide for both the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of the Environment to receive notifications on new chemical substances before these are placed on the market. The information required will include details of the means by which a new substance might be rendered harmless and will form the basis for a full assessment by the two Departments of any potential health or environmental risks.Recommendation 18 asked that the secure fencing of waste disposal sites be a condition of every site licence. The Government takes this opportunity to reiterate the advice, given on model site licence conditions in waste management paper No. 4, that a requirement for fencing should be included in site licences.Finally, the Government have concluded that decisions on recommendation 10, the registration of producers of hazardous waste and recommendation 13, the licensing of professional handlers of hazardous waste, should be taken for the whole spectrum of hazardous waste once the review of the special waste regulations has reported on those questions as they affect special waste.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reinstate the tradition of holding Remembrance Day on 11 November at 11 am irrespective of which day of the week it falls, and revert to the old tradition by advising two minutes' silence throughout the United Kingdom on that day, in remembrance of those who have died in action in wars in the present century; and if he will make a statement.

After careful consultation it was decided in 1956 that the ceremony and service should be held on a national day of remembrance for all who have given their lives in the service of their country and that, although a link should be maintained with the original Armistice Day, the ceremony should not be dedicated to any particular event. The choice of a Sunday permits the maximum possible number of people throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth to take part. I see no reason for change in the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the several approaches by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West since July, why, by 13 December, no definite information had been supplied concerning the medical treatment of Mrs. S. Ofusu affecting the deportation of herself and her husband; and when he anticipates resolving this issue.

The hon. Member was informed on 7 December that further inquiries were being made into the availability of medical treatment in Ghana for Mrs. Ofusu. A reply to these inquiries has just been received and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as a final decision has been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police forces in Wales that have accepted the recommendation of the Scarman report on the establishment of formal liaison committees or other appropriate consultative machinery regarding community policing; and if he will make a statement.

I issued guidance in June which made clear my firm belief that there is a need in all police areas in England and Wales for an agreed means of regular consultation between the community and the police. Chief constables and police authorities are jointly developing arrangements to suit local needs, and which will be underpinned by the provision in the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill. We shall review progress early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the long delay in publishing the current year's figures for criminal statistics for England and Wales; and if he will take steps to speed up their publication.

Figures for notifiable offences recorded by the police in the first three quarters of 1982 were published at the usual times; those for the third quarter were published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin Issue No. 27/82 on 15 December 1982. The notes in each bulletin give the planned time of the next issue. The annual publication "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1981", Cmnd. 8668, was published on 21 October 1982, on about the same date as last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will permit masts of over 1·5 metres in height for citizens band radio transmissions in areas where topographical features cause reception difficulties.

There are no limits on the height of masts for CB radios other than any arising from local planning requirements. The limit of 1·5 metres, in respect of which there can be no exception, relates to the length of the CB antenna itself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) pursuant to the answer of 15 December, what is the expected cost of the research grant of the University of Manchester for the project relating to waiting time in magistrates courts;(2) if, pursuant to the answer of 15 December, he will define the expression "alternative case management policies" as used in that answer;

The conduct of the research is a matter for the University of Manchester. It will be for the university to select the courts to take part in the study, subject to the courts' own agreement. The study will examine and test alternative methods of dividing cases among courtrooms and determining the order in which and times at which cases are to be listed for hearing. The research grant will amount to £30,000 spread over 21 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, when the research study by the University of Manchester into waiting time in magistrates' courts is completed, he will place a copy of the report of the study in the Library.

The form of any report that may be published will be a matter for the University of Manchester. When the results of the research are available to the Home Office, we shall be glad to consider how hon. Members can best be informed of them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the employees of his Department are registered disabled people; and if he will take steps to increase this proportion at least to the 3 per cent. quota level of the Disabled Persons Employment Act 1944.

The proportion of registered disabled staff currently employed in the Home Office is 0·48 per cent. Wherever appropriate, applications to fill vacancies in the Department are particularly invited from registered disabled persons. But there are difficulties in a number of areas, and principally with the prison officer class, comprising over 52 per cent. of all Home Office employees, where the nature of the duties requires high standards of health and physical ability.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what area of the United Kingdom it is estimated would be cabled if cable television is introduced.

No reliable estimates are possible. The extent and rate of cable development will be determined by many factors, including investors' assessment of the market for cable services and the nature of the requirements which those who instal and operate the systems will have to observe. The White Paper setting out the Government's detailed proposals will be published in the early part of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Community Projects Foundation is doing its work effectively, efficiently, and with economy, and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

A major review of the Community Projects Foundation was carried out during 1980. In the light of that review, a new three-year funding agreement has been brought into effect this year.Inter alia the agreement provides that the foundation's trustees should have a greater involvement in decision taking and that their meetings should be attended by a senior official of the Department's voluntary services unit.We are satisfied that detailed changes in the foundation's working arrangements and the closer contacts with the Department's officials which are also a feature of the new arrangements will ensure that the guide's requirements will be met.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report in respect of the Community Projects Foundation the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months by the appointed members.

The foundation currently employs 78 staff at an annual cost of £698,000.The trustees have held six formal meetings in the past 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Broadcasting Complaints Commission is doing its work effectively, efficiently, and with economy, and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission—which is financed wholly by the broadcasting authorities—came into existence as recently as two years ago, under provisions in the Broadcasting Act 1980—now consolidated with the Broadcasting Act 1981. It was set up following the recommendation of the Annan committee, Cmnd. 7653, that there should be a single independent body to deal with complaints against broadcasting authorities of misrepresentation or unjust or unfair treatment in broadcast programmes, in place of the previously existing arrangement by which each broadcasting body maintained its own complaints body.We are fully satisfied that the commission continues to fulfil the useful purpose for which Parliament set it up. The Department maintains regular contact with the commission on those matters for which, under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1981, my right hon. Friend is responsible: appointing members of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and determining, with Treasury approval, the terms of appointment of members, the numbers and terms of appointment of staff and the amount paid to the commission to meet their other expenses.The commission published its first annual report in July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report in respect of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months by the appointed members.

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission has three staff. Total staff remuneration for the year ended 31 March 1982 was £28,213. The commission has held 23 meetings during 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report in respect of the Commission for Racial Equality the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months by the appointed members.

On 1 December the commission employed 214 staff; expenditure on staff remuneration in 1981–82 was £2,331,210—subject to audit. I understand that during the past 12 months there have been 12 meetings of the commission and 65 meetings of committees or working parties. In addition, commissioners have attended a variety of ad hoc meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Commission for Racial Equality is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments."

The commission's work was reviewed by the Home Affairs Committee in a report—HC46–1—published in December 1981 The Government endorsed the Committee's conclusion that there remained a need for

"a vigorous institution dedicated to the eradication of unlawful discrimination and the promotion of good race relations".

The Committee made a number of recommendations intended to make the commission a more efficient and effective organisation. Some of these have already been implemented. Others are being followed up by the commission and the Department. In accordance with the guide for Departments further reviews of the commission's work will be conducted from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report in respect of the Police Complaints Board the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months by the appointed members.

The information available for the most recent period of 12 months is contained in the board's 1981 report, a copy of which is in the Library. I understand that appointed members meet quarterly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Police Complaints Board is doing its work effectively, efficiently, and with economy, and that it will continue to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments", after his proposed reorganisation has taken place.

I review the board's work regularly, partly by means of the published annual reports which, under section 8 of the Police Act 1976, it must submit to me, and copies of which are placed in the Library. I would not have proposed augmenting the board's functions in the recent White Paper on "Police Complaints Procedures", Cmnd. 8681, and in the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill if I did not believe that it would continue to fulfil a useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report in respect of the Equal Opportunities Commission the number of staff currently employed, the cost of staff remuneration and the number of meetings held in the past 12 months by the appointed members.

On 30 November the commission employed 172 staff, of whom 26 were part-time; expenditure on staff remuneration in 1981–82 totalled £1,427,717. I understand that during the past 12 months there have been 12 meetings of the commission and 15 meetings of committees. In addition commissioners have attended a variety of ad hoc meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rewards of over £1,000 were paid from the funds of the Metropolitan Police in each of the past five years.

One such reward was paid this year; none over £1,000 was paid in the previous four years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid from Metropolitan Police funds for the provision of information leading to the conviction of William Tobin at the Old Bailey in September 1981.

It would not be in the public interest to reveal whether payments of this sort were made in any particular case, or to disclose the amounts of them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the practice of officers of the Metropolitan Police to pay money on behalf of insurance companies to police informants when information has led to a successful conviction; whether such money was paid in this way after the conviction of William Tobin in September 1981 at the Old Bailey; and how much was paid.

In certain circumstances at the request of an insurance company a regard may be paid by the Metropolitan Police on behalf of an insurance company. But it would not be in the public interest to reveal whether transactions of this sort took place in any individual case. Rewards by the Metropolitan Police are paid only after authorisation at a senior level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to the Metropolitan Police of the security measures they took to enable the United States Secretary of State Schultz to go to the theatre on the evening of 16 December.

It is not the practice to disclose the cost of police protection of an individual.

Smith asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet able to publish the detailed specification of the C-MAC system which he has adopted as the standard for direct broadcasting by satellite in the United Kingdom.

Good progress has been made in drawing up the specification. Before it is approved further detailed discussions with the relevant interests are however desirable. I now expect to be able to publish the specification early in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reconsidered the decision to wind up the Poisons Board; and if he will make a statement.

The justifiction for proposing nearly three years ago to abolish the board by 1984 was an expected decline in the scope of the poisons law which would follow the implementation in due course of certain EC directives relating to dangerous substances. Following an interdepartmental review, which has taken account of the progress made with these directives, I have concluded that in the interests of public safety the present controls on the supply and retail sale of poisons—particularly the more dangerous such as strychnine—which will not be affected by these directives, should be retained. Expert advice will therefore continue to be needed on poisons and I have concluded that it would be appropriate to retain the Poisons Board at this time, as the most appropriate forum for obtaining this advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the ages, prison in which held and length of time spent in custody of each of the 28 men aged 60 years and over given individual sentences of imprisonment in 1981 for vagrancy.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1982, c. 289]: The information requested is given in the following table:

Receptions* into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1981 of males aged 60 years and over under sentence of immediate imprisonment for vagrancy: by age on reception, establishment of initial reception and time served under sentence
Age of reception	Establishment of initial reception	Days served under sentence
71	Pentonville	20
71	Pentonville	24
71	Pentonville	30
70	Pentonville	60
69	Pentonville	19
69	Oxford	9

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long each of the 24, 14 to 16-year-old boys spent in custody, who were found not guilty or not proceeded with in 1981 and yet who had been held on remand custody.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1982, c. 289]: Information is not available in the form requested. The available information is given in the following table:

Receptions* on remand into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1981 of males aged 14 to 16 subsequently found not guilty or not proceeded with: by length of time between initial remand in custody and date of disposal at count†
Length of time between initial remand in custody and date of disposal at count†	Number of males
Up to one month	7
Over one month up to two months	5
Over two months up to three months	3
Over three months up to four months	4
Over four months up to five months	2
Over five months up to six months	2
Over six months	1
Total	24
* The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate; detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.
† Including any time spent on bail after initial remand in custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long each of the 53, 14 to 16-year-olds girls given a non-custodial sentence in 1981 spent in custody after being held on remand in custody.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1982, c. 289.]: Information is not available in the form requested. The available information is given in the following table:

Receptions* on remand into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1981 of females aged 14 to 16 subsequently given a non-custodial sentence: by length of time between initial remand in custody and date of disposal at court†
Length of time between initial remand in custody and date of disposal at court†	Number of females
Up to 1 month	33
Over 1 month up to 2 months	16
Over 2 months up to 3 months	2
Over 3 months up to 4 months	1
Over 4 months up to 5 months	1
Total	53
* The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate; detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.
† Including any time spent on bail after an initial remand in custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of grants to voluntary organisations in the United Kingdom from his Department, during the financial year 1982–83 showing the amount awarded to each organisation.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1982, c. 43–45]: In addition to the figures given in respect of grants made by the Home Office to voluntary organisations in the United Kingdom during the financial year 1982–83, the following grant was made:

Grants administered by Criminal Department:

National Association of Victim Support Schemes—£16,300

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all non-statutory bodies to which his Department has made grants for 1981–82 and 1982–83 showing the name of the organisation, the amount of grant and the powers under which the grant is made; and if he will give similar information for grant-aid by other statutory bodies for which his Department is responsible.

Grants to certain non-statutory bodies are shown in Class XV of the Supply Estimates. I regret, however, that a complete list could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. The information necessary to answer the second part of the Question is in some cases not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the scope and effectiveness of the present law restricting the use of gill nets in salmon fishing within Scotland and the area covered by the Tweed Fisheries Act 1857.

The present arrangements are important for the conservation and management of stocks of salmon in the Tweed and other Scottish rivers. As part of the Government's review of legislation on and administration of salmon and freshwater fisheries in Scotland a discussion document was issued in 1979. The comments received indicate that there is wide support for a tightening of the law on the use of gill nets for catching salmon and my Noble Friend will be considering this matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the attendance record of the chairmen of the health boards in Scotland at board meetings and the amount paid to each chairman.

Annual Rate
Health Board	From 1 January 1978	From 1 January 1979	From 1 April 1980	From 1 April 1981
	£	£	£	£
Greater Glasgow	4,685	6,490	8,487·50	9,083
Lothian	4,135	5,747·50	7,517·50	8,043
Grampian	3,585	5,005	6,547·50	7,005
Tayside	3,585	5,005	6,547·50	7,005
Lanarkshire	3,035	4,265	5,577·50	5,968
Argyll and Clyde	3,035	4,265	5,577·50	5,968
Ayreshire and Arran	2,485	3,522·50	4,607·50	4,930
Fife	2,485	3,522·50	4,607·50	4,930
Forth Valley	2,485	3,522·50	4,607·50	4,930
Highland	2,485	3,522·50	4,607·50	4,930
Borders	1,935	2,780	3,637·50	3,893
Dumfries and Galloway	1,935	2,780	3,637·50	3,893
Orkney	1,215	1,706	2,231	2,387
Shetland	1,215	1,706	2,231	2,387
Western Isles	1,215	1,706	2,231	2,387

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of occupiers of dwellings in Scotland were owner-occupiers, at the latest convenient date; and how this compares with the proportion of owner-occupiers in 1972 and in 1962, respectively.

Accurate information on owner-occupiers is only available for the Census years. Details are set out in the table below:

Year	Percentage of owner-occupiers
1961	25·1
1971	29·3
1981	34·9

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is available to his Department as to the number of participating schools in the assisted places scheme using entrance exams as a condition of entry.

This information is not collected centrally as schools are responsible for their own admission arrangements within the terms of the relevant legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now discontinue the assisted places scheme.

Information is not held centrally about the attendance record of Chairmen of Health Boards. The current remuneration of Chairmen remains at the levels set from April 1981 given in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire East on 18 May 1982—Vol. 24, c. 117–118.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the amounts paid to chairmen of Scottish health boards for each individual health board in the years 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and the latest figures for 1982.

The remuneration of chairmen of health boards is as follows:

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library details of the contracts drawn up for the operation of the assisted places scheme between each participating school and the Scottish Education Department.

Copies of the determinations made by my right hon. Friend under section 75A(2) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce a provision into the assisted places scheme that no pupil attending a fee-paying school may be awarded an assisted place.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make provision to publish the occupations by socio-economic groups of parents whose children were awarded assisted places.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to collect centrally information on the rates relief awarded by virtue of their charitable status to certain schools.

No. I understand that this information is not easy to obtain and I see no advantage in requiring local authorities to provide it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the incidence of the condition known as welders lung and if he will estimate the numbers presently suffering from it and the number of deaths directly or partially attributed to it in each of the past three years.

I have no information on the incidence of this condition which is not a prescribed industrial disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities require their tenants to waive their rights to purchase under the Tenants' Rights, etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 before improvements are carried out to their houses; and if he will make a statement.

As far as I am aware, the City of Glasgow District Council is the only local authority to do so. They attempt to make it a condition that the tenant will not exercise his right to buy for 10 years or, if he does, repay the Council a proportion of the cost of the improvement works.In order to put it beyond doubt that any agreements of this type were unenforceable at law, the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Act 1982 amended the Tenants' Rights Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 to make it explicit that no agreement can remove a tenant's right to purchase and that no tenant exercising his right to purchase shall be liable for any charge or financial penalty as a consequence. These amendments came into force in September and were notified to local authorities, including Glasgow, by circular letter in the normal way.In these circumstances, I find it difficult to construe Glasgow District Council's continued use of these agreements as anything other than a conscious attempt to mislead tenants as to their statutory rights. This is a serious departure from the standards to be expected from any local authority in its dealings with the public and is a matter which my Department is pursuing with the District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average level of unemployment in Dundee in each of the past four years in the following industries: (a) engineering and (b) construction.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1982, c. 9]: During each of the past four years the average number of persons registered as unemployed at the Dundee employment and careers offices who had last worked in the engineering and construction industries were as follows:

	Engineering‡	Construction≑
1978*	993	892
1979*	901	760
1980*	1,211	1,118
1981†	1,822	1,649

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of construction workers unemployed in Scotland, Wales and England, respectively; what were the comparable figures three years ago; and what steps are being taken to reduce the figures.

At May 1982, the last date for which figures are available, the numbers of registered unemployed people in Scotland, Wales and England who last worked in the construction industry were 46,521, 28,412 and 291,421 respectively. The corresponding figures at May 1979 were 23,667, 12,911 and 123,434.My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment have introduced a number of measures to help the industry through the recession.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of persons in part-time employment.

The latest available figures are for June 1978 when there were 4,384,000 employees working part-time. Provisional figures show 3· million females in part-time employment in June 1982, and from next year the number of males in part-time employment will also be estimated quarterly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies occurred in the United Kingdom steel industry in 1979, 1980 and 1981, respectively; and how many redundancies there have been so far in 1982.

In the iron and steel industries combined, 11,836 redundancies were reported as due to occur in 1979, 48,756 in 1980 and 39,593 in 1981. The provisional figure for January to November 1982 is 18,304. The information relates only to those redundancies which involve at least 10 employees, and covers Great Britain only.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figures for unemployment (a) nationally and (b) in the London borough of Newham (i) in May 1979 and (ii) the nearest available date.

The unemployment figures are now based on claimants to benefit, and in November 1982 these numbered 3,063,026 in the United Kingdom and 16,548 in the jobcentre areas approximating to the London borough of Newham. The corresponding estimate for the United Kingdom at May 1979 was 1,218,900. A comparable estimate for Newham at May 1979 is not available but on the old basis of the figures the number registered as unemployed in the area at that date was 5,408. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest level of unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Woolmer) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage increase in United Kingdom unemployment since May 1979 compared with France, West Germany, the United States of America, Japan and Holland.

Following is the information:

Percentage increase in seasonally adjusted unmeployment, national definitions, latest month compared with May 1979
Country	Latest month per cent.
United Kingdom*	November 132
France	October 52
West Germany	November 140
United States	November 103
Japan	September 27
Netherlands	October 179
* New (claimant) basis (excluding school leavers)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in the light of the labour force survey for 1981, he will give an estimate of the number of unregistered unemployed in 1981.

The 1981 European Community labour force survey estimates that in Great Britain in the second quarter of 1981 400,000 people were seeking work but were not registered as unemployed. Many of these were women seeking part-time work. In addition the survey identified 50,000 people who were not registered as unemployed and were prevented from seeking work by temporary sickness or holiday; such people have not been included in my Department's figures of unregistered unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures, nationally and regionally; and if he will make a statement.

At 11 November, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,063,026. The comparable regional figures were published in the unemployment press notice issued by my Department on 2 December; a copy is in the House of Commons Library.I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Woolmer) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now unemployed; and what is the total by the previous method of calculation.

At 11 November, the number of unemployed claimants—new basis—in the United Kingdom was 3,063,026. Figures on the old basis are no longer being compiled.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the public response to the recent changes in the construction and presentation of the unemployment statistics.

I am satisfied that the public generally are aware that the change of basis for the unemployment statistics was a necessary consequence of the introduction of voluntary registration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the rate of female unemployment in the United Kingdom, region by region; and what were the comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981.

The following table gives the percentage rates of unemployment for unemployed female claimants at November each year from 1979.On the other hand surveys suggest that a proportion of those registered as unemployed may not have been actively looking for work or be concerned about being out of work. Estimates range between 10 and 20 per cent. of the registered unemployed. These survey estimates have a degree of uncertainty reflecting sampling errors and other survey difficulties and are not necessarily representative of the position in 1981.Estimates of the unregistered unemployed in 1981 taking account of information from the 1981 general household survey and 1981 census of population in addition to that from the labour force survey are currently in preparation and will be published in the February

edition of the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give an estimate of registered non-claimants included in the unemployment count for each month since May 1979.

The information requested is contained in the following table. Since 1981, the number of non-claimants in the summer months has been higher because new school leavers are not entitled to benefit until September. Under the new system of counting the unemployed a special count of non-claimant school leavers registered at careers offices will be made in June, July and August.

Non-claimants registered as unemployed, United Kingdom*
Thousand
	1979	1980	1981	1982
January	—	83·3	105·1	113·6
February	—	85·9	106·6	114·6
March	—	87·7	106·6	113·1
April	—	88·5	106·7	130·8
May	74·5	88·3	108·1	115·3
June	102·6	126·5	234·5	229·0
July	106·8	132·8	312·5	318·4
August	100·4	124·1	303·0	333·8
September	92·7	115·9	228·6	250·1
October	90·7	112·3	142·3	161·2
November	86·8	110·3	126·6	—
December	84·3	105·6	119·6	—
* Includes estimates for Northern Ireland prior to 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the Government will take special measures on Merseyside to reduce unemployment.

Merseyside already has the benefit of more Government incentives to stimulate employment opportunities than any other area in Great Britain. The best way of helping all those who are unemployed on Merseyside and throughout the country is to get the economy right. Our success in bringing down inflation and interest rates will provide the basis of a sustained recovery.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to amend the regulations concerning the return to work of women at the end of their maternity leave.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the new training scheme.

I am satisfied with the progress to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people currently are unemployed in the London area; how many of those are aged under 19 years; and what were the comparable figures for May 1979.

At October 1982, the total number of people registered as unemployed—old basis—in Greater London was 389,055 of whom 53,136 were under 19 years of age. The corresponding numbers at April 1979—figures by age are not available for May—were 137,139 and 10,314, respectively. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made towards the provision of higher quality training places on the youth opportunities programme.

At the end of October about 69,000 New Training Places were approved and available for occupation within the Youth Opportunities Programme. We expect to meet the target of 100,000 places by the end of December.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people were trained under the youth opportunities programme in 1981 and to the latest available date in 1982; and what percentage subsequently secured permanent employment as a result of this training.

About 553,000 young people entered the youth opportunities programme in 1981–82, and it is estimated that about 369,700 young people entered the programme between April and October this year. The most recent survey undertaken by the Manpower Services Commission indicates that about 41 per cent. of entrants in the second quarter of 1981 were in employment at the time of the survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has had from people who complain that they were denied the right to work by trade union activity.

We receive such representations regularly and in substantial numbers. In particular, we recently received around 50 letters from individuals and from groups of individuals complaining that they had been threatened or intimidated by their trade union into striking on the TUC's so-called day of action. We also received a number of similar letters in relation to the recent strike action against the privatisation of British Telecom. In addition to these representations, we have now received over 230 applications for compensation, under the provisions of the 1982 Employment Act, from individuals who claim that they lost their employment between 1974 and 1980 as a direct result of their refusal to belong to a trade union in a closed shop.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 23 November, Official Report, c. 698, whether any study has been made by him of the Swiss system for employment and unemployment support.

No specific study of the Swiss system has been made but the Government constantly monitor conditions in other countries and are always ready to learn lessons from their experience in trying to combat unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest available figure for the proportion of unemployment in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries which is attributable to the United Kingdom; and what is the comparable figure for May 1979.

Information provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development suggests that in May 1982 the proportion of OECD unemployment attributable to the United Kingdom was about 10 per cent. compared with about 7 per cent. in May 1979. As these proportions are based on national figures, which are not directly comparable owing to differences in coverage and concepts, they must be regarded as approximate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the total number of people currently undertaking recognised apprenticeships; and how this compares with corresponding figures for each of the past three years.

The number of people undertaking apprenticeships in manufacturing industry (excluding shipbuilding) in each of the years 1979–1982 is estimated as follows:

	Numbers
1979	153,100
1980	149,500
1981	147,600
1982	114,100

Figures for the non-manufacturing sector are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when last he met the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to discuss the public employment service.

My right hon. Friend and I talk very frequently to the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission about the public employment service. We are concerned to ensure that we get the best possible value for the large sums of taxpayers' money spent on the service, and to reduce costs wherever that is possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will extend the enterprise allowance scheme to the Workington travel-to-work area and the other travel-to-work areas in the North and North-West regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he proposes to extend the enterprise allowance to the whole of the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when next he will review the enterprise allowance pilot scheme in East Lancashire.

We are still evaluating the scheme and any extension will depend both on the results of the current tests and the finance available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received relating to protection against the unreasonable expulsion of trade union members from their unions.

We receive such representations regularly and in substantial numbers. In particular, we recently received some 50 letters from individuals and groups of individuals following the TUC's so-called day of action on 22 September, complaining that they had been threatened with expulsion—and thus, in a closed shop, with the loss of their jobs—if they refused to take industrial action on that day. We have also received a number of similar complaints from employees of British Telecom arising out of the one-day strike on 20 October. Protection against unreasonable explusion from a union in a closed shop is already provided by section 4 of the Employment Act 1980 and will be further strengthened by the proposed changes to the provisions of the code of practice on the closed shop as set out in the draft revised code published on 8 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that delayed payments made under the Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers Compensation) Act 1979 will have interest added to the amount paid.

No. Payments are not delayed any longer than is necessary to establish that all the conditions of eligibility are satisfied.In 1981 certain payments were made which had previously been refused because the Department decided on counsel's advice to make some payments when former employers were still in business on the ground that they were not relevant employers. This was a relaxation of the eligibility conditions and it would not have been right or practicable to make individual interest payments in such cases, or in those where, for example, we exercise our discretion to accept late applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on progress towards the establishment of the youth training scheme in 1983; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chippenham (Mr. Needham) on 23 November 1982.—[Vol. 32, c. 692.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the criteria for the inclusion of short spells of residential training within the new youth training scheme.

Managing agents and sponsor companies will be able to include short period of residential training in individual schemes subject to the Manpower Services Commission's area manpower boards agreeing that any residential period is contributing to the scheme's overall objectives and is properly integrated with its other parts.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Commission about the health hazards arising from asbestos and other related products.

We are in regular contact with the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission about the measures the commission is taking and proposes to take to deal with the health hazards of asbestos and products containing it.This summer, I welcomed proposals for a number of new measures: the licensing of work with asbestos insulation and coating; for the prohibition of asbestos insulation, of the spraying of asbestos, and of the importation and use of crocidolite (blue asbestos); for the reductions in the control limits for exposure to asbestos at the workplace; and for reviews of the medical evidence and developments in control relating to asbestos. These are being pursued urgently by the Commission.In addition, I understand that proposals for legislation covering further new controls on asbestos recommended by the advisory committee on asbestos are in preparation and will be published for consultation in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy towards the future of the skillcentres.

The current and future operation of skillcentres has been a subject of a recent review by the Manpower Services Commission. The report of that review has been considered and accepted by the commission, and is currently being studied by Ministers. My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the present level of training facilities available to the unemployed.

The Government are this year providing places for up to 630,000 unemployed young people under the youth opportunities programme at a cost of £750 million. We are spending £250 million to enable more than 60,000 unemployed adults to train or retrain under the training opportunities scheme. A sum of £70 million has also been made available to industry under the training for skills programme primarily to support initial skill training for up to 35,000 first year or redundant apprentices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest available figures on long-term unemployment compared with May 1979.

At October 1982, the number of people registered as unemployed—old basis—for over 52 weeks in the United Kingdom was 1,169,558. The corresponding number at April 1979—figures are not available for May—was 366,711.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of increase between April 1979 and November 1982 in the number of persons registered as unemployed for more than a year in (a) the area covered by the London borough of Southwark and (b) the South-East of England.

Between April 1979 and October 1982, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available, the numbers registered as unemployed—old basis—for over 52 weeks in the area covered by the Bermondsey, Borough and Camberwell jobcentres, which corresponds closely to the London borough of Southwark, increased by 211 per cent. The corresponding increase for the South-East region was 268 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures for Sheffield under the new counting system.

At 11 November, the number of unemployed claimants in the Sheffield jobcentre area was 26,123.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff are employed in jobcentres; how many job placements were made through jobcentres in the last year; and what was the average number of placements for each member of staff.

On 1 December 1982, 9,538 staff were employed in jobcentres and 1,207 staff in managing jobcentre operations, including headquarters staff. Of these 7,899 were concerned with placing work. During the year ending 5 November 1982 1,532,623 placings were made through jobcentres so that on average 194 placings were made for each member of staff connected with placing work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 29 November, Official Report, c. 35, if he is satisfied with the efficacy of his Department's assistance to females under 24 years in seeking employment.