asked the Minister for Trade what steps he takes to monitor promotional visits to Japan by representative organisations from the English regions; and if he will list the visits planned for 1983.

The Department of Trade monitors only those trade missions that are financially supported under the British Overseas Trade Board's outward missions scheme. Sponsoring organisations that have applied for such support to send trade missions to Japan in 1983 are:

• British Menswear Guild
• Scottish Council (Development and Industry)
• North of England Development Council
• National Federation of Scale and Weighing Machine
• Manufacturers
• National Wool Textile Export Corporation
• London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Manufacture

Visits to Japan to attract inward investment are monitored by the Department of Industry. The following English representative organisations have visits to Japan planned for 1983:

asked the Minister for Trade when he expects his Department's revised estimates of air passenger traffic to be made available.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 20 January 1983.—[Vol. 35, c. 189.]

asked the Minister for Trade (1) what percentage of United Kingdom coastal shipping trade was carried in United Kingdom ships in each of the past five years;(2) what was the percentage of United Kingdom coastal shipping trade carried by ships under each of the five main non-United Kingdom flags in each of the past two years;(3) what percentage of cargo carried by United Kingdom shipping is accounted for by United Kingdom coastal trade.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade what was the percentage contribution to the earnings of United Kingdom flag ships in cross trades arising under each of the main categories of shipping activity such as tankers, bulk cargo, liner trade and so on.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade how many countries, accounting for what percentage of world shipping, have now signed the United Nations liner conference code.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade if, pursuant to his answer of 18 January, Official Report, c. 87, he is yet able to reply to the criticisms of the Civil Aviation Authority directorate of operational research and analysis report 8203: "Reaction to aircraft noise near general aviation airfields" contained in the Travers Morgan planning critique commissioned by the Airfields Environment Federation.

Yes. The further report to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend's question of 18 January—[Vol. 35, c. 86]—has now been published. A copy of the report: DORA Report 8213 "Reaction to aircraft noise near general aviation airfields: An examination of critiques of the DORA study" has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister for Trade what volume of coal was imported in 1982 from each of the following countries: the Federal Republic of Germany, Australia, Poland, the United States of America, South Africa and other countries.

[pursuant to the reply, 8 February 1983, c. 309]: The available information is set out below:

United Kingdom Coal Imports, January—November 1982
	(thousand tonnes)
Consigned from:
Federal Republic of Germany	287·4
Poland	217·1
South Africa	54·7
Australia	1,104·1
United States of America	1,927·1
Other countries	360·1

asked the Minister for Trade if he will ensure in the renegotiations of the EEC-China textile agreement that any growth in permitted Chinese access is kept to a minimum and in particular that any increases will not exceed those granted to the dominant multi-fibre arrangement's signatory countries.

pursuant to the reply, 7 February 1983. 256.]: As the Community's bilateral agreement with China does not expire until 31 December 1983, negotiations for its renewal are not expected to begin for some months, and the Community's detailed negotiating position has therefore not yet been decided. We would however, expect the Community to adopt an approach similar to that for the recent bilateral negotiations under the multi-fibre arrangement.

asked the Minister for Trade, in view of Turkey's continuing refusal to co-operate in the European Community's régime for textiles and clothing, if he will take steps to prevent a recurrence of an estimated 4·5 million T-shirts entering the United Kingdom from Turkey in 1982 against a notified level of 1·2 million pieces.

[pursuant to the reply, 8 February 1983 c.309]: The Commission now hopes that it will be possible, for the first time, to negotiate a voluntary restraint arrangement with Turkey covering a range of sensitive textile and clothing products. Discussions with the Turkish authorities are expected to begin later this months. In the interim the Government have made special arrangements for imports of T-shirts from Turkey to be closely monitored.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will have consultations with (a) the motor insurance industry and (b) representatives of consumer interests, to lay the ground for appropriate British representations to ensure that the improvements are made in the draft second directive on motor insurance-liability to third parties.

I have been asked to reply.Representatives of motor insurers and of consumer interests have already been consulted on the draft second directive on motor liability insurance and I am grateful for their comments. These will be taken fully into account in determining our response to the proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has studied the possibility of a relationship between the level of calcium, magnesium and iron ions in hard water and the incidence of heart disease.

My Department has not supported any work in this particular area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what estimates are available to him of the statistical likelihood of heart attacks for those with hypertension and those with normal blood pressure;(2) if he has any information as to the effect on life expectancy of persons with mild and high hypertension.

My Department is aware of a number of publications reporting on studies which conclude that hypertension adversely affects life expectancy. One such study has indicated that for persons aged 55 to 64 there was approximately two thirds increased risk of a heart attack for those with mild hypertension; and the risk was some twofold for those with severe hypertension.Last year I agreed to the Department's participation in the World Health Organisation's long-term multinational study for monitoring trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease which in the coming years is expected to provide additional information on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the percentage of the adult population in Scotland with mild or high hypertension.

Such information for the whole Scottish adult population is not available. However, several studies of sub-populations in Scotland have been carried out which give indicators. The largest of these studies known to my Department indicates that, depending on age range and level of blood pressure selected, some 25 per cent. of the middle-aged population may be considered to be hypertensive; probably less than 1 per cent. has severe hypertension. However, percentages appear to vary slightly between areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the annual cost to the National Health Service of providing drugs to treat coronary heart disease.

There is no central record of the specific diseases for which drugs are supplied, but in 1981 the estimated net ingredient cost of prescriptions for preparations acting on the cardiovascular system and diuretics was £22·748 million. Not all of these drugs will have been prescribed specifically for coronary heart disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number of deaths in Dundee and Scotland, respectively, from coronary heart disease in each of the past five years.

Coronary heart disease is not separately identified in the international classification of diseases, but is included within the classification ischaemic heart disease. Figures for deaths from this cause in Dundee and Scotland are published in table C2.16 of the annual reports of the Registrar General for Scotland for 1977 to 1981 copies of which are in the Library. Figures for 1982 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each district and island council in Scotland for the years 1978–79 to date, the amount of rate fund contribution made to the housing revenue account expressed in total, percentage and on a per council house basis.

The information requested is as follows:

Authority	1978–79		1979–80		1980–81
	Percentage of total expenditure met by Rate Fund Contribution	Rate Fund contribution per house	Percentage of total expenditure met by Rate Fund Contribution	Rate Fund contribution per house	Percentage of total expenditure met by Rate Fund Contribution	Rate Fund contribution per house
Berwickshire	6	37	—	—	—	—
Ettrick and Lauderdale	5	25	—	—	—	—
Roxburgh	7	36	2	12	1	4
Tweeddale	4	14	8	39	4	23
Clackmannan	4	16	13	68	13	75
Falkirk	19	83	13	70	11	62
Stirling	14	55	18	89	25	165
Annandale and Eskdale	—	—	6	31	9	65
Nithsdale	—	—	—	—	8	31
Stewartry	1	4	12	66	5	33
Wigtown	—	—	4	18	1	8
Dunfermline	16	73	9	44	7	43
Kirkcaldy	1	5	6	30	—	—
North East Fife	5	18	1	5	—	—
Aberdeen	10	48	14	85	19	132
Banff and Buchan	2	13	—	—	2	18
Gordon	14	95	6	44	6	55
Kincardine and Deeside	7	36	7	40	2	11
Moray	6	41	—	—	—	—
Badenoch and Strathspey	18	107	21	170	13	127
Caithness	16	80	10	58	25	166
Inverness	6	31	1	8	11	82
Lochaber	29	205	11	100	11	104
Nairn	—	—	—	—	2	13
Ross and Cromarty	19	165	14	140	13	148
Skye and Lochalsh	26	192	16	130	19	198
Sutherland	12	72	—	—	—	—
East Lothian	10	43	—	—	—	—
Edinburgh	4	20	9	51	2	12
Midlothian	4	20	8	44	5	33
West Lothian	21	93	21	114	17	103
Argyle and Bute	18	121	10	79	11	101
Bearsden and Milngavie	20	104	18	119	25	206
Clydebank	21	102	19	111	7	50
Clydesdale	1	5	3	14	—	—
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	26	106	19	96	30	198
Cunnock and Doon Valley	15	55	13	59	11	60
Cunninghame	9	36	10	54	21	128
Dumbarton	20	89	20	112	14	82
East Kilbride	9	36	17	101	15	104
Eastwood	9	34	22	120	14	81
Glasgow	17	89	24	165	22	188
Hamilton	26	124	23	138	24	158
Inverclyde	15	78	7	44	4	27
Kilmarnock and Loudoun	16	69	17	88	2	11
Kyle and Carrick	2	6	1	4	4	25
Monklands	27	107	21	105	29	182
Motherwell	17	71	16	81	17	106
Renfrew	17	70	19	92	11	56
Strathkelvin	9	34	21	109	16	101
Angus	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dundee	14	57	7	37	—	—
Perth and Kinross	—	—	—	—	—	—
Orkney	30	310	19	238	12	148
Shetland	27	278	2	22	38	695
Western Isles	21	172	32	306	23	272

	1981–82		1982–83
Authority	Percentage of total expenditure met by Rate Fund Contribution	Rate Fund contribution Per House	Percentage of total expenditure met by Rate Fund Contribution	Rate Fund contribution Per House
Berwickshire	—	—	—	—
Ettrick and Lauderdale	—	—	—	—
Roxburgh	4	34	2	21
Tweeddale	13	77	11	70
Clackmannan	10	57	14	93
Falkirk	17	105	16	111
Stirling	39	281	30	238
Annandale and Eskdale	9	71	5	48
Nithsdale	17	77	9	44

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many council houses were sold in 1982 in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee, respectively; and what proportion they constitute of each city's local authority housing stock;(2) how many council houses were sold in Scotland in 1982; and what proportion they constitute of the total local authority housing stock.

Information is not yet available for the whole of 1982. The information set out in the following table is for the period 1 January to 30 September 1982:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has accrued to local authorities as a result of council house sales in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, respectively, and Scotland as a whole.

The information requested, for council house sales in the period 1 April 1979 to 30 September 1982, is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has reached conclusions following his consultations about the proposed withdrawal of certificates of approval from certain list D schools; and if he will make a statement.

In the statement which I made on 1 December 1981—[Vol. 14, c. 77–78]—I said that I would continue to keep under review the scale of provision in the list D schools in the light of demands being made on their services. This has been done, and during the period since my last statement the number of pupils has declined from 1,110 to 910 now.There has therefore continued to be a fall in demand for places in list D schools, and it was against that background that my Department issued a consultative memorandum proposing the withdrawal of certificates of approval from Tynepark school, Haddington; Balgowan school, Dundee; St. John Bosco's school, Aberdour; and Dale school, Arbroath.I have considered with great care the many responses to the consultative memorandum which have been submitted and the range of views contained in them; and my hon. Friend the Minister responsible for health and social work has visited all the four schools in question in the period since the memorandum was issued. I have concluded that I would be justified in withdrawing the certificate of approval from the four schools. I am required by statute to give six months' notice of my intention to withdraw my certificate of approval from any school and my Department will in any event be consulting the managers of the schools concerned on timing, with particular reference to arrangements for the children at present in the schools.This decision implies no reflection on the quality of care and service which these schools have provided in the past, for which many young people have had cause to be grateful. It reflects rather the inevitable effects of demographic and other changes which the Government cannot realistically ignore.I intend now to examine how the remaining list D schools might best be used within the range of the services available for child care and the demands likely to be made on the schools in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the number of academic posts that will have been frozen as a result of cuts in education expenditure, he is satisfied with the level and availability of the teaching of occupational health.

My right hon. friend has no reason to believe that the present level and availability of teaching in occupational health is unsatisfactory. He recognises, however, that this is an area where teaching and research resources are thinly spread and that there may be scope for greater co-ordination and rationalisation. The University Grants Committee is keeping developments under review.

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

I have today laid before Parliament a statement of further changes in the immigration rules to replace the statement laid before Parliament on 6 December and disapproved by a resolution of the House on 15 December. The rules as changed will come into effect on 16 February.In the light of the debate in the House on the present rules, I have concluded that the right course is to retain the changes introduced in those rules under which a British citizen woman may be joined here by her husband or fiance. I also think, however, that it should continue to be for an applicant husband or fiance to show that he qualifies under the rules for leave to enter or remain, rather than for immigration officials to show that he does not. I have decided not to retain the provisions which increased the length of temporary stay for a husband and amended the grounds for deportation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons with no previous convictions have so far received custodial sentences from Oxford magistrates who tried cases resulting from Operation Major carried out in Oxford on 2 September 1982;

I understand from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police that the information requested by the hon. Member is as follows:Twenty persons with no previous convictions have so far received custodial sentences; the press was notified on 2 September by the police of the operation; 213 police officers took part in the operation; nine persons were held in custody for eight hours or more while further inquiries were made before they were released without charge; two police dogs were used during the operation; there was no evidence available to the police at the time of the operation that any person detained by them was mentally handicapped, but it has subsequently been established that one person held for more than two hours was to some degree so handicapped; of the persons released without charge, none was fingerprinted, all were photographed but their photographs have been destroyed; of those persons arrested 165 appeared in a magistrates' court on the same day; it is not known to the police how many had legal representation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Litter Act 1958 each year since the Act was passed; how many resulted in convictions; and what was the average penalty imposed each year.

The number of defendants proceeded against and the number found guilty of offences under the Litter Acts 1958 and 1971 have been published annually, from 1958 and 1975 respectively in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—for 1980 and 1981 in table S1.1(a)(iii) of "Supplementary tables, Vol. 1" and for earlier years in table 1(a)(iii) or its equivalent in the Command Paper. The number found guilty for the years 1958 to 1974 is given in table 1 below. Information on the average amount of fine imposed is available only from 1971 and is given in table 2 below. Information for 1982 is not yet available.

Table 1 Defendants found guilty of offences under the Litter Acts 1958 and 1971
England and Wales Year	Number of defendants found guilty
*1958	262
1959	2,370
1960	2,527
1961	2,322
1962	2,457
1963	2,648
1964	2,866
1965	2,803
1966	2,670
1967	2,851
1968	2,342
1969	1,865
1970	1,777
1971	1,855
1972	2,275
1973	2,531
1974	2,157
* Partyear.

Table 2 Average amount of fine imposed for offences against the Litter Acts 1958 and 1971
England and Wales	Average amount of fine
Year	(£)
1971	6
1972	8
1973	9
1974	10
1975	13
1976	15
1977	15
1978	17
1979	19
1980	20
1981	21

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to the ethical position of doctors in hypnotic induction in the context of the proposed guidelines to be issued on its forensic use by the police.

This is one of the matters which is being taken into account in preparing the guidelines to chief officers of police. Professional bodies are to be consulted about the guidelines shortly and may wish to comment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the roads, he will introduce legislation to require the police in all cases to enforce the law on the licensing of road vehicles and on the holding of an MOT certificate.

No. The responsibility for the enforcement of road traffic legislation generally rests with chief officers of police, and there is no case for making an exception for these offences. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has the primary responsibility for the enforcement of the law on vehicle excise duty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the law to make robbery or breaking the law, where death results from such action or is a contributory cause, chargeable on the grounds of manslaughter or murder.

No. If someone with intent does an act that is unlawful and dangerous, and death results, he is already chargeable with manslaughter; and in certain circumstances—if he intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm, for example—with murder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to combat crime in general and attacks upon persons in particular, he will introduce legislation to clarify the law so that a person who attacks someone for the purpose of robbery or burglary shall be guilty of murder if the person so attacked subsequently dies irrespective of whether the medical cause of death is heart failure, shock, and so on.

No. We do not consider that the law requires clarification for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to secure the termination of the practice of holding remanded prisoners in police or court accommodation instead of in prison.

We are taking all possible steps to increase the effective capacity of prison accommodation in London and the south-east, where the present difficulties have arisen, by transferring prisoners to prisons outside the Metropolitan area and by a number of other measures, which my hon. and learned Friend described in reply to a debate on the Adjournment secured by the hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs) on 23 December.—[Vol. 37, c. 1134–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payment was made from the Government to the Metropolitan police and Greater London Council in each of the past three years in respect of prisoners remanded in custody and held in police or court accommodation instead of prison because of lack of accommodation in the latter.

The charges levied by the Metropolitan Police and met entirely out of the Prisons Vote in respect of each of the past three financial years for the use of police accommodation to hold prisoners were as follows:

	£
1980–81	3,935,713
1981–82	582,895
1982–83*	2,315,033
* To December 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to remove from the police the discretion whether or not to prosecute for offences under the law relating to the compulsory wearing of seat belts.

No. The responsibility for the enforcement of the road traffic laws and regulations and for deciding whether to institute proceedings in any particular case rests with individual chief officers of police and there is no case for making an exception for this offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange a conference of police authorities and football club managements to discuss the use of temporary police stations and cells within or near the grounds with a view to combating hooliganism at football grounds.

I understand that arrangements for the use of premises for such police purposes are already made where this is considered necessary by the chief officers of police and the football club managements concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects discussions on the draft regulations making full scale civil defence a statutory obligation upon local authorities to be completed so that he may lay regulations before Parliament.

I shall be meeting representatives of local government associations later this month at their request to discuss the proposed regulations, and thereafter my right hon. Friend will be considering the representations that have been made to him with a view to laying regulations before Easter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce legislation updating the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 and harmonising United Kingdom laws on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes with those pertaining in the European Community.

Legislation updating the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 will be introduced as soon as possible to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the Council of Europe's convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. Signatories to the convention will be required to adhere to a common minimum standard of care but there are no plans to harmonise United Kingdom laws with those in other countries of the EC. It will be open to the United Kingdom to take advantage of the provision in the convention permitting member states to adopt higher standards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any steps are taken by his Department to ensure that permission to enter the United Kingdom for any purpose is refused to those who were involved in wartime Nazi organisations such as the Waffen SS and similar bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Immigration officers have the names of certain wartime Nazis in respect of whom my right hon. Friend, or his predecessors, have given a personal certification that admission to the United Kingdom would not be conducive to the public good. When identified upon arrival at a United Kingdom port, such persons would be refused leave to enter without right of appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding admitting to the United Kingdom those involved with extreme right-wing Italian groups; whether refusal automatically occurs if such groups have been involved with terrorism; and if he will make a statement.

All cases are dealt with on an individual basis taking into account the information available to the immigration officer at the time that entry is sought. Under the immigration rules, involvement in terrorism would be regarded, prima facie, as a ground for refusal of leave to enter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will be setting up an inquiry into shopping hours in the light of the rejection by the House of the Shops Bill on 4 February; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are considering whether, in the light of views expressed by hon. Members in the debate on 4 February, an inquiry would now serve a useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Lord Jellicoe's review of the prevention of terrorism legislation to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Lord Jellicoe's report of his review of the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 is published today. I am most grateful to Lord Jellicoe for making such a careful and perceptive study. The Government will wish to take full account of views which may be expressed in Parliament and elsewhere. I hope to make known the Government's preliminary reaction to some of the recommendations when the renewal of the 1976 Act is considered in a few weeks' time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with representatives of countries rescheduling debts concerning the international implications of such rescheduling; and if he will make a statement.

The terms of official debt rescheduling agreements are normally discussed in the Paris club by officials representing creditor countries concerned. Commercial debt rescheduling negotiations are conducted by the banks. But the implications of debt rescheduling do, of course, feature in the frequent discussions about the operation of the international financial system that my right and hon. learned Friend has with his colleagues abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the gross domestic product per head in the United kingdom in 1982, 1981, 1979 and 1972.

Figures are not yet available for the fourth quarter of 1982. Figures for 1979, 1981 and the first three quarters of 1982 are given on page 14 of "Economic Trends", January 1983. Figures for 1972 are on page 45 of "Economic Trends Annual Supplement", 1983 edition. Both publications are in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report progress on his negotiations with the Civil Service unions on the recommendations of the Megaw Commission report.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 21 December 1982 that the unions had been informed that the Government were 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. The Council of Civil Service Unions responded on 5 January and a meeting took place on 27 January. Although that meeting was largely concerned with matters of procedure, both sides emphasised that they approached the negotiations with good will and the intention to succeed. Detailed negotiations are now being carried forward as quickly as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the value of revenues arising from taxation of oil and gas production from the Scottish sector of the North sea.

The United Kingdom continental shelf is not divided into sectors. It would in any case be impracticable to allocate North sea revenues to any particular geographical area. The most recently published estimate of North sea revenues appears in the 1982 autumn statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what taxable income would be required to produce a net annual income of £250,000, £500,000 and £700,000, respectively, assuming that income is all unearned and the taxpayer is a married man with one dependent child.

[pursuant to the reply, 7 February 1983, c. 281]: The information for 1982–83, assuming that the taxpayer concerned has no relief other than his personal allowance, is as follows:

Net Income*	Gross Income liable to tax
£	£
250,000	965,920
500,000	1,965,920
700,000	2,765,920
* Including child benefit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much capital gains tax has been collected in the most recent period for which figures are available from income accruing from underwriters' profits used for re-insurance premiums which return income chargeable in the United Kingdom;(2) if he will make a statement outlining how the Inland Revenue treats for tax purposes the interest earned on overseas re-insurance premiums which is returned to the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to the reply, 7 February 1983, c. 280]: I am not clear what the hon. Gentleman has in mind. If he will write to me in more detail about the transactions involved, I shall be happy to let him have a full reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the present limit for relief for income tax purposes in respect of interest on mortgages or other loans incurred for house purchase was fixed on the loan of a capital sum of £25,000; what would be the equivalent limit today after allowing for the fall in the value of the £ sterling; how the £25,000 limit compared at the time of its introduction with (a) the average cost of a house and (b) the average building society loan for a house purchase; and what is the comparison with the present averages.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what figure the £25,000 limit for tax relief on mortgage interest payments would have to be set to compensate for inflation since the introduction of the limit.

[pursuant to the reply, 1 February 1983, c. 83]: The £25,000 limit was introduced in the Finance Act 1974, with effect for the financial year 1974–75. If the limit were raised in line with the retail prices index from the start of 1974–75 to December 1982—the latest date for which the index is available—it would be £76,700. The remaining information is given in the table below.

	£25,000 as proportion of:
	(a) Average house price	(b) Average building society loan for house purchase
2nd quarter 1974	2·3	3·9
3rd quarter 1982	0·9	1·5

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the United Kingdom budget contribution to the European Community.

I refer my hon. Friend to pages 8 to 10 of volume two of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1983–84–1985–86", Cmnd. 8789, published on 1 February 1983. On the same day, the Council established the draft supplementary and amending budget No. 1 for 1983 making provision for our basic refund for 1982 The European Parliament is considering the draft this week.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply of 3 February, Official Report, c. 150, whether Her Majesty's Government are considering with other allied Governments steps that can be taken to bring Josef Mengele to justice; and if she will make a statement.

The prosecutor of the Frankfurt am Main criminal court issued a warrant for the arrest of Dr. Josef Mengele on 19 January 1981, but Dr Mengele's whereabouts are uncertain and it is not known whether he is still alive.Her Majesty's Government would respond positively to any request from the Federal German authorities for assistance in bringing Mengele to justice.

asked the Prime Minister whether the sensitivity of the information contained in the papers referred to in her reply to the hon. Member for Salford, East on 4 February, Official Report, c.209, arises from considerations(a) of national security, (b) of potential prejudice to claims of widows of deceased service men and (c) of any other matters.

These papers have been retained solely on grounds of national security.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the Minister for Overseas Development to the Republic of Zimbabwe.

I had a most useful and interesting, albeit brief, visit to Zimbabwe at the end of last month. I am very grateful for the warm welcome I received and for the arrangements that were made for me by the Zimbabwe Government.I had very full discussions with Zimbabwe Ministers and officials concerned with various aspects of our aid programme, and I was able to see some of the activities that we are helping to fund, including a land resettlement scheme. I was particularly glad to be able to reaffirm our £30 million pledge of assistance to the land resettlement programme. I also discussed possible ways of using our aid programme to assist the Zimbabwe Government in dealing with its current balance of payments problems.I welcomed the opportunity to meet key representatives of the private sector during my visit, and it was most encouraging to hear of their commitment to Zimbabwe's continued development and prosperity. The Zimbabwe Government clearly recognise the important role of the private sector, and during my visit I signed an agreement for the provision of a £20 million mixed credit facility—£5 million of aid and £15 million of export credits—which it is intended should assist Zimbabwe industry in obtaining essential imports of capital goods from Britain.I was very glad that so soon after taking office I was able to take this opportunity to see something of what is one of our major aid programmes in Africa. It is our belief that Zimbabwe has a key role in the future development of Southern Africa, and I hope that I was able during my visit to underline Her Majesty's Government's support for the Zimbabwe Government in any efforts it takes to secure the country's peaceful and prosperous future as a multiracial state.

asked the Attorney-General whether, pursuant to the answer of 22 December 1982, Official Report. c. 555, he is yet in a position to update the list of the Official Secrets Act prosecutions provided in the reply to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 1 August 1978, Official Report, c. 230–31, in the same format as is contained in that list.

The details of proceedings that have been commenced under sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act of 1911 since 1 August 1978, set out in the manner of appendix II to the Franks report are:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any timetable has yet been agreed for Spain's accession to the European Economic Community.

There is no timetable. The European Council of 3 and 4 December reaffirmed its political commitment to the enlargement of the Community with Spain and Portugal and asked the Council to press ahead with the negotiations with both countries as rapidly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, for each of the years 1979–80 to date in respect of council houses in Wales, what was (a) the average weekly rent charged, estimated or budgeted for and (b) the target average increase in weekly rents sought by the Government.

The average unrebated weekly rent charged by local authorities in Wales and the average weekly increase—as compared with the previous year—assumed for public expenditure planning purposes are as follows:

£ per dwelling per week
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
Average unrebated weekly rent	6·50	8·12	11·46	14·00
Average weekly increase assumed	0·42	1·80	3·25	2·50

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what publicity is given to the continuing support given by the Government for commuter rail services.

My right hon. Friend and I refer frequently in speeches and elsewhere to the level of support given by the Government to the railway passenger network, including commuter services, and details of the total are published in the Railways Board's annual reports and accounts. I hope that the development of sector management will make it easier to identify the allocation of support between the various passenger business sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton may expect to receive a reply to his letter of 21 May and 22 October 1982, addressed to the Department of the Environment's regional office in Leeds, concerning the claim of Mr. E. W. Barnett, of Rising Sun farm, Topcliffe Common, Thirsk, for alleged vibration damage arising from the A168 Boroughbridge to Thirsk road; and if he will make a statement.

I am writing today to my hon. Friend in reply to his letters of 21 May and 22 October 1982, and I very much regret the excessive delays in this correspondence. I have investigated the cause of the delays and am taking steps to ensure there is no repetition.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many seat belt exemption certificates have been paid for from public funds.

The latest information available is that 98 medical exemption certificates have been issued, from a total of 492 examinations which have been paid for from public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications there have been for exemption certificates for seat belts from people who because of physical disability are unable to put on belts; in how many cases the applications were rejected; whether there were any special circumstances justifying the refusals; and if he will ensure that the regulations are so implemented that physical inability to put on a belt will lead to the issue of an exemption certificate.

The only information on applications for exemption certificates available to my Department is in respect of free examinations provided for those on low incomes or who are disabled, through DHSS medical boarding centres. This is limited to overall numbers of applications for free examinations and certificates issued. Unless specific cases are drawn to our attention by individuals applying for exemption the Department would not know the medical reasons for the application.The decision whether to issue a certificate of exemption is entirely a matter for the doctor in the circumstances of each individual case. It is not for Ministers to interpret the law, but it seems reasonable to regard the putting on and taking off of a seat belt as an integral part of the process of wearing. It would therefore be reasonable for a doctor to take into account any problems involved in putting on the belt in considering whether to issue a certificate.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the condition of trunk roads in London; and if he will make a statement.

I consider that the 143 miles of trunk roads in London are generally being maintained to an acceptable standard. We are spending nearly £5 million in the current year on this. Where there are certain deficiencies, we are actively engaged in putting these right. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind perhaps he would care to write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends, following delivery of the two three-car prototype diesel multiple units from BREL and Metro-Cammell and after they have been tested for performance, quality and price, to give sanction for further orders for these units to be placed on the basis of competitive tender.

My right hon. Friend welcomes the development of these prototypes and will consider any proposals that the British Railways Board puts to him, in due course, for construction of a new generation of cost-effective vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the report on the inquiry into the Okehampton bypass has yet been received.

I am glad to say that we have just received the report on the Okehampton bypass and expect to receive shortly the inspector's report on the concurrent inquiry into the adjacent section of the A30 between Okehampton and Whiddon Down. The Okehampton bypass report is a long and complex document, which will require careful study. My right hon. Friends have, however, made special arrangements to consider it and will announce their decisions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many apprenticeship training places were available to industry in (a) the Yorkshire and Humberside region, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) Kirklees for 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many apprenticeship training places were available in industry in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of people undertaking apprenticeships in manufacturing industry—excluding shipbuilding—in each of the years 1978–1982 are estimated to be:

	Numbers
1978	156,200
1979	153,100
1980	149,500
1981	147,600
1982	114,100

Figures for the non-manufacturing sector are not available. Over the period support from public funds for apprenticeships was increased from £9½ million in 1978–79 to over £50 million in 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men and (b) women under the age of 21 years are registered as unemployed in the London borough of Wandsworth.

At October 1982, the latest date for which an age analysis is available, there were 1,619 male and 1,029 female unemployed claimants aged under 20 years—under 21 not available—in the area covered by the Balham, Clapham Junction and Tooting jobcentres, which corresponds closely to the London borough of Wandsworth.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether any change is proposed in the level of staffing at the jobcentre at Thorne, near Doncaster; and for what reason.

The number of staff employed at Thorne jobcentre has been reduced by one from 31 January. This reduction is part of a more general reduction in the staff of the employment service as a result of the elimination of work arising from the ending of the compulsory registration of unemployment benefit claimants at jobcentres and the implementation of the recommendations of a recent Rayner scrutiny report aimed at ensuring that staff and other resources in the service are used as efficiently and economically as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the estimated and actual expenditure on special resettlement scheme grants for the employment of disabled people in the years 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 on the job introduction scheme, adaptations to premises and equipment, assistance with fares to work, special aids to employment, and business on own account; how many disabled people were helped on projects involved in each case; and what is the estimated expenditure on each of these schemes in 1983.

The information is as follows:

Job Introduction Scheme
	Estimated expenditure	Actual expenditure	Beneficiaries
	£	£
1977–78	260,000	35,904	216
1978–79	100,000	211,896	1,279
1979–80	334,000	297,201	1,504
1980–81	457,000	269,433	1,072
1981–82	425,000	354,588	1,434
1982–83	531,000	—	—

Adaptations to Premises and Equipment Scheme
	Estimated expenditure	Actual expenditure	Beneficiaries
	£	£
1977–78	500,000	11,040	21
1978–79	588,000	39,196	48
1979–80	330,000	50,090	94
1980–81	381,000	64,233	83
1981–82	150,000	71,469	93
1982–83	177,100	—	—

Fares to Work Scheme
	Estimated expenditure	Actual expenditure	Beneficiaries
	£	£
1977–78	144,000	78,543	305
1978–79	264,000	108,640	614
1979–80	510,000	183,621	433
1980–81	334,000	202,565	235
1981–82	250,000	230,607	272
1982–83	295,400	—	—

Special Aids to Employment Scheme
	Estimated expenditure	Actual expenditure	Beneficiaries
	£	£
1977–78	135,000	80,312	669
1978–79	133,000	136,655	787
1979–80	230,000	203,542	830
1980–81	345,000	213,935	775
1981–82	310,000	312,461	765
1982–83	751,800	—	—

Business on Own Account Scheme
	Estimated expenditure	Actual expenditure	Beneficiaries
	£	£
1977–78	110,000	10,447	15
1978–79	13,000	12,886	20
1979–80	16,500	7,507	7

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider making available to firms wishing to employ registered disabled people, capital grants for adapting premises and equipment prior to those firms hiring disabled people, and increasing the current capital grant limit of £6,000.

The adaptations to premises and equipment scheme is intended to give grants to employers to pay for adaptations to secure the employment of a specific disabled person in a particular job. They are already available both in respect of existing and of potential employees, but the Manpower Services Commission is considering how the scheme might be more widely used to provide additional employment for disabled people. There are no plans to increase the maximum grant of £6,000.

Number and percentage of Employers in Great Britain who were subject to quota (ie those with 20 or more workers)
On 1 June	1979		1980		1981		1982
	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Were satisfying quota	17,045	35·3	16,340	35·1	14,734	33·6	13,468	31·8
Were below quota and had been issued with permits to engage people not registered as disabled in the previous twelve months	22,412	46·4	22,001	47·2	21,183	48·4	18,796	44·4
Were below quota and had not been issued with a permit in the previous twelve months	8,822	18·3	8,225	17·7	7,890	18·0	10,032	23·7

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each year since 1978 the number and percentage for firms that have been issued with bulk permits not to employ the quota of disabled persons.

The number and percentage of firms which are subject to quota—that is those with 20 or more workers—who were issued with bulk permits in the 12 months prior to 1 June each year since 1978 are as follows:

	Number	Percentage
1979	21,789	45·1
1980	21,660	46·5
1981	20,841	47·6
1982	18,572	43·9

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will extend the exceptional introductory period of the job introduction scheme beyond the present 13 weeks, and increase the £45 a week currently payable.

There are several ways in which this scheme might be developed. The national advisory council

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make the special aids to employment available to registered disabled people who are seeking employment.

Special aids for employment are provided for registered disabled people to enable them to obtain or keep a specific job. Aids are considered for unemployed registered disabled people as soon as a suitable job is identified and has been offered. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the number and percentage of firms in Great Britain satisfying the quota by employing at least 3 per cent. registered disabled people; what are the number and percentage of firms in Great Britain below the quota which obtained permits in the previous 12 months before engaging people not registered as disabled; what are the number and percentage of firms in Great Britain below the quota which had not been issued with a permit in the previous 12 months; and how these numbers and percentages compare with the figures in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.

The information requested is set out in the following table for the years 1979 to 1982 and relates to 1 June in each case. Figures for 1983 are not yet available.on the employment of disabled people considered improvements to the scheme, including a proposal to extend the introductory period, at its meeting on 28 January 1983. It will be considering the matter further and we shall look carefully at any advice it gives.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will increase (i) the percentage of travelling costs payable under the fares to work scheme beyond the current 75 per cent. and (ii) the upper limit of £49·50 a week; and whether he will make a statement.

There are already arrangements for increasing the 75 per cent. where it is clear that the registered disabled person involved would have significant difficulty in paying the rest.The upper limit of the weekly allowance paid under the fares to work scheme was raised from £49·50 to £55 in November 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in Accrington; what it was in May 1979; what has been the percentage increase over this period; and if he will make a statement.