asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons

Date	Committee	Visit	Cost*
Session 1979–80:			£
6–8 February 1980	Defence	West Germany	2,694
24 February—4 March 1980	Defence	United States of America	2,699
18 March 1980	Transport	Belgium	917
14–18 April 1980	Agriculture	Netherlands and France	5,495
28 April—10 May 1980	Foreign Affairs	Gulf States, Thailand and Jordan	21,323
21–22 May 1980	Industry and Trade	Belgium	2,511
4–6 June 1980	Education, Science and Arts	Luxembourg and Belgium	1,411
7–14 June 1980	Education, Science and Arts	United States of America	6,956
9–17 June 1980	Energy	United States of America and Canada	14,452
10–18 June 1980	Employment	Canada	11,025
11–12 June 1980	Agriculture	Belgium	1,322
16–18 June 1980	Scottish Affairs	Irish Republic	1,915
2–3 July 1980	Foreign Affairs	France	999
13–15 July 1980	European Legislation	Luxembourg and Belgium	2,385
14–18 July 1980	Energy	France and West Germany	4,091
22–24 July 1980	Transport	Dover and France	2,155
17 October—1 November 1980	Industry and Trade	Tokyo, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong	28,496
Session 1980–81:
5–16 January 1981	Home Affairs	United States of America and West Indies	10,592
9–20 February 1981	Foreign Affairs	Zimbabwe	11,579
15–21 March 1981	Education, Science and Arts	Italy, West Germany and Denmark	6,429
22–28 March 1981	Defence	United States of America	10,284
30 March—2 April 1981	Employment	Belgium and West Germany	1,239
30 March—3 April 1981	Agriculture	West Germany and Denmark	4,452
7–9 April 1981	Foreign Affairs	Gibraltar	2,830
28 April 1981	Agriculture	Belgium	992
28–30 April 1981	Foreign Affairs	Spain	3,815
12–22 May 1981	Social Services	Sweden	8,362
17–19 May 1981	Foreign Affairs	Luxembourg and Belgium	1,671
30 May—12 June 1981	Education, Science and Arts	United States of America	13,033
16–26 June 1981	Energy	United States of America	20,691
17–25 June 1981	Employment	Norway and Sweden	4,050
1–3 July 1981	Industry and Trade	Belgium	2,989
12–22 July 1981	Transport	United States of America	14,987
14–16 July 1981	Public Accounts	Luxembourg and Belgium	2,828
15–18 September 1981	Scottish Affairs	Germany	3,219
25–31 October 1981	Foreign Affairs	United States of America	11,826
26–30 October 1981	Defence	West Germany	3,014
26–30 October 1981	Transport	France, West Germany and Denmark	7,903
Session 1981–82:
5–6 November 1981	European Legislation	Belgium	988
16–20 November 1981	Energy	Norway, Denmark and West Germany	6,593
30 November—3 December 1981	Defence	France	245
11–21 January 1982	Home Affairs	India and Bangladesh	9,900
28 February—4 March 1982	Foreign Affairs	Caribbean and Central America	29,702
1–13 March 1982	Employment	United States of America	13,506
21–26 March 1982	Defence	France	5,392
5–8 April 1982	Social Services	France and Belgium	4,567
19–22 April 1982	Agriculture	Belgium and France (visit cancelled)	*776
21–22 April 1982	Foreign Affairs	France	1,040
17–19 May 1982	Agriculture	West Germany (visit cancelled)	*215
18–27 May 1982	Foreign Affairs	East and Central Africa	10,675
13–15 June 1982	Defence	France	812
13–22 June 1982	Home Affairs	United States of America and Canada	4,914

The information is as follows:

(Leith) asked the Attorney-General if he will take action, under the Contempt of Court Act 1981, against those newspapers that have abused the sub judice principle in connection with the Nilsen case, namely, the Scottish Daily Express, the Daily Record and the Sunday Mail.

I am sure that those responsible for publications and broadcasts concerning the circumstances surrounding the arrest and charging of Mr. Nilsen will be mindful of the contempt of court laws, of the provisions of section 8 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 and of the general principles that every man is innocent unless and until proved guilty in a court of law and is entitled to a fair trial. For my part I am continuing to monitor such reports with all those considerations in mind. As far as the particular publications to which the hon. Member refers are concerned, I do not propose to take any action.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland.

I hope to be able to publish the report by the end of February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish the Department's definition of developmental value whether applied to aid and trade provision or projects financed under the regular geographical bilateral aid programme.

The Overseas Development and Co-operation Act gives the Secretary of State power to provide funds for the purpose of promoting the development or maintaining the economy of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom or the welfare of its people. There can of course be no simple definition of developmental value. The Department assesses all projects, including those under the aid and trade provision, to determine whether they will contribute to sound economic growth or to improving the social welfare of the country concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will publish the evaluation of aid and trade provision projects referred to in his reply to the Foreign Affairs Committee, paragraph 5, Cmnd. 8734.

The studies are not yet under way, permission for them from the various authorities concerned having only recently been obtained. A series of projects will be looked at and a report drawing together the various findings will then be prepared. This report is planned for April 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out in a table all contracts awarded to British firms with help from the aid and trade provision, listing the British company involved, the project and its nature, the amount of the British content, the number of jobs sustained or created in the United Kingdom by the contract and the amount of money spent on each project to date.

The information requested is listed as follows, except for that on employment aspects which could be provided only at disproportionate costs:

Contracts awarded to British firms with help from the aid and trade provision
Country	Company	Project	United Kingdom content £ million	ATP expenditure to date £ million
Projects where ATP disbursements completed:
Bangladesh	GEC	Combined Cycle Plant	17·297	4·68
Belize	Plessey	Telecommunications Equipment	3	0·688
Burma	Mackies	Jute Mill Expansion	10·592	2·154
Burma	Kelvin Diesels	Marine Diesel Engines	7·35	1·202
Burma	Mackies	Jute Carpet Backing Plant	5·882	1·178
Burma	Cementation and APV International	Pharmaceutical Plant Design Study	0·2	0·188
Caribbean (through Caribbean Development Bank)	BAe	HS748 Aircraft	2·596	2·596
Cyprus	NEIReyrolle	Dhekelia B Power Station	1·5	0·366
Egypt	Rolls Royce	Electricity Generation	28	10·02
Egypt	Ransomes Rapier	Draglines/Irrigation	7·5	2·606
Guinea Bissau	BAe	HS748 Aircraft	3·5	1·292
Jordan	Wimpey	Potash Project	35	10
Kenya	Bre Metro	Soda Ash Wagons	3·098	1·279
Malaysia	BAI	Airport Study	50	0·443
Malaysia	STC	IOCOM Submarine Cable	23	9·018
Morocco	Davy McKee	Nadar Rod Mill	51·5	13·505
Mozambique	Hunting Geology	Mineral Inventory	4·23	1·031
Pakistan	Austin and Pickersgill	3 SD18 Ships	27	9·572
Philippines	Balfour Beatty	Mini Hydro Survey	0·1	0·1
Senegal	BAe	HS748 Aircraft	3	1
Tanzania	British Leyland	Bus Chassis	0·96	0·481
Tanzania	BICC-Burndy	Compression Connectors	0·05	0·025
Tanzania	Bre Metro	Railway Equipment	25	3·5
Tanzania/Zambia	Gloucester	Railway Bogies for Tazara	5·4	0·189
Vietnam	JBE	Haipon Power Station	9·6	02·88
Vietnam	Austin and Pickersgill	SD 14 Ships	18	4·463
Zambia	British Leyland	Buses	1·76	1·76
Projects where ATP disbursements not completed
Brazil	NEI/Klockner	Jacui Power Station	90·8	9·219
Burma	JBE	Gas Turbines	15·625	3·072
Burma	JBE	Gas Turbines	11·044	2·021
Colombia	Balfour Beatty	Bridging	1·07	0·277
Egypt	GEC	Switchgear	7·5	1·885
India	NEI	Super Thermal Power Plant	231·0*	5
Indonesia	Balfour Beatty	Mrica Hydro Electric Project	50	3·045
Kenya	Plessey	Telecommunications	2·815	0·566
Kenya	Ferguson Ailsa	Tugs for Mombasa Port	13·54	1·922
Kenya	Bre Metro	Railway Coaches	23·7	1·835
Madagascar	BAe	Maintenance for HS748 Aircraft	21	0·445
Mexico	Davy McKee	Sicartsa Steel Mill	200	32·942
Paraguay	Balfour Beatty	Power Transmission Scheme and Extension	16·593	3·176
Peru	Balfour Beatty	Mini Hydros	25·625	1·754
Philippines	Balfour Beatty	Rural Electrification	14·5	2·83
Philippines	Balfour Beatty	Wood Burning Power Stations	8·592	1·954
Sri Lanka	Brush Electrical	Locomotives	7·952	2·864
Zimbabwe	GEC/Balfour Beatty/Westinghouse	Railway Electrification	27·465	7·029
Zimbabwe	PED Ltd.	Hwange Power Station: High Pressure Pipework	3·6	0·312
Contracts awarded but aid agreement not yet signed.
Egypt	Seltrust Engineering	W Sebaeya Fertiliser Plant	14·55	Nil
Malaysia	GEC	Viewdata System	2·365	Nil
* Associated with total aid funding of £117 million of which only part is charged to the ATP.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will consider the financial and staffing implications and means of distribution of the descriptive Overseas Development Administration annual report accepted in principle by him in sufficient time to permit the first publication to cover the year 1982–83.

We are now looking carefully at all the factors, including timing, that would be involved in publishing a descriptive annual report. We shall take full account in our consideration of the point made by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the proposed closure of Winchester school of art by Hampshire county council; whether this has been considered under his chairmanship by the board of the national advisory body on local authority further and higher education; and if he will make a statement.

Up to 17 February my right hon. Friend had received 64 letters making representations about the proposed closure of the Winchester school of art. I can inform the hon. Member that the Hampshire county council's further education sub-committee decided on 8 February to establish a working party to consider alternative options for art and design provision in the county. No final decision on the future of the school will be taken before the council's meeting on 26 May.The matter has not been considered by the national advisory body for local authority higher education—NAB. It would not be appropriate for the NAB to do so until it has received the local education authority's proposals in response to the NAB's planning exercise for 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the cost per student in the university sector and in maintained sector advanced education, respectively, in (a) 1982–83, (b) 1983–84, (c) 1984–85 and (d) 1985–86.

It is not possible to provide the information requested. The outturn of expenditure for 1982–83 will not be available until later in the year. For subsequent years the implications of the number of students which institutions can accept consistent with the Government's expenditure plans for them are under discussion with the bodies concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received proposals for stabilisation of national egg production; and whether he will bring forward proposals for such a scheme.

I am aware that the poultry industry has been discussing possible ways of stabilising the United Kingdom eggs market, but no proposals have so far been put to me formally by the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many young offenders sentenced to borstal training or detention centres are physically incapable of participating in their regime of the institution;(2) how many young offenders sentenced to the tough regime detention centres in 1982 had to be transferred elsewhere for medical reasons; and what were those reasons.

No records are held centrally. The following information has been obtained from the detention centres operating a tougher régime. The numbers of trainees transferred elsewhere for medical reasons in 1982 were 29 from New Hall, 42 from Send, three from Foston Hall and 35 from Haslar. The other information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the numbers of prisoners currently sleeping in other than certified accommodation by prison and type of accommodation.

No inmates are currently sleeping in prison accommodation that has not been certified for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Her Majesty's Government prohibit the use by class B radio amateurs as part of their self-training of Morse code on the wavebands which they are allowed to use.

The purpose of the class B radio amateur licence is to allow the use of telephony only and the transmission of Morse code is confined to those qualified to hold a class A licence. However, we are reviewing the position in respect of self-training in Morse and the subject is to be discussed with the Radio Society of Great Britain at a meeting to be held in March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those measures taken by his Department designed to protect animals used in laboratory experiments since May 1979.

My right hon. Friend made arrangements in September 1979 for the recommendations in the report of the advisory committee on the administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 on the experimental procedure known as the lethal dose—LD—50 test to be sent to the responsible authorities at all places registered under the 1876 Act and requested that they be drawn to the attention of all licensees under the Act. The report's recommendation that primates should be made subject to the same safeguards as those afforded to dogs, cats and equidae was notified individually to licensees later in 1979. In consultation with other Departments, detailed guidelines on the performance of the LD50 test are in the process of preparation.Experiments continue to be closely controlled by my right. hon. Friend's licensing powers under the Act and by his inspectors. The legislation is under review, and an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will now take steps to reduce the waiting time for United Kingdom passport holders to enter the United Kingdom from India;(2) whether he will review the allocation of special vouchers to India;(3) if he will transfer to applicants in India those special vouchers allocated to British passport holders in East Africa which are not taken up.

The allocations of special vouchers for particular countries are kept under review. Waiting times in India could be reduced only by increasing the number of vouchers available in India for which my right hon. Friend has no present plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department has given the returning officer for Swansea about the boundaries to be used for the forthcoming local elections.

Home Office officials have told the chief executive of Swansea city council that new district ward boundaries will come into operation for the district council elections on 5 May 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates he arranged for the printing of Command Papers 8797-I and 8797-II, respectively.

A printing demand for both the report and the maps was sent to Her Majesty's Stationery Office on 21 December 1982 enabling printed proofs of the report to be supplied to the Boundary Commission.After a final proof of the report had been signed by the Commission on 1 February, HMSO was authorised to print and warehouse final copies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the confidential nature of the work of health visitors will be protected under clause 10 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill.

My right hon. Friend has undertaken to prepare amendments to clause 10 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill to incorporate additional safeguards for those holding evidence on a confidential basis; and the Government are satisfied that the provisions of the clause will adequately protect the confidential nature of the work of health visitors and all others to whom the clause will apply.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received from Mr. Andrew Mackinlay about Falkland Island maps; and if she will publish the text of her reply in the Official Report.

I have received three letters from Mr. Mackinlay about Falkland Island maps. It is not my practice to publish letters to third parties.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list those measures taken by his Department to support the tourist industry since May 1979.

My Department continues to support and encourage the tourist industry mainly by grant-aiding the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board, and by providing the English Tourist Board with funds to operate the scheme of project assistance under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969. From 1 August 1982 that assistance scheme was extended to the whole of England. Since August 1980 the Department has provided exchange risk cover on loans from the European Investment Bank to tourism projects in assisted areas. The Department will also provide exchange risk cover on loans to tourism projects under the new community instrument. As has been announced by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry, loans under the NCI will be arranged through the European Investment Bank and will be available to small and medium sized firms in all areas.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list his powers in relation to investigating the grounding or total loss on the British coast of vessels registered under a flag of convenience.

Any ship lost or stranded on or near the coasts of the United Kingdom may be the subject of a preliminary inquiry or formal investigation under sections 465 and 466 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894. Nevertheless, we would normally regard the investigation of such a casualty as primarily the responsibility of the flag state.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the circumstances under which the MV Johanna came to be abandoned off Hartland Point.

The MV Johanna is a Panamanian registered vessel and I understand that the Panamanian authorities are investigating the circumstances leading to the grounding. They have agreed to provide my Department with a copy of their findings in due course.

asked the Minister for Trade who is responsible for regulating aircraft flights below the air space controlled by the Civil Aviation Authority; and what limitations are imposed on the number of such flights and their routes to prevent nuisance from aircraft noise, particularly at night.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1982, c. 453]: The reference to the Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Control Regulations 1981—SI 1981/34, made under section 60 of the Civil Aviation Act 1980—should have been SI 1981/34, made under section 8 of the Civil Aviation Act 1949 now consolidated into section 60 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.

asked the Secretary of state for the Environment what are the nature, purposes and management of London Voice Ltd., a project to which his Department has approved a grant under the 1978 Inner Urban Areas Act by Islington council; and what was the amount of grant approved.

London Voice Ltd. is a firm of magazine publishers employing 33 people. The Department approved a first year rent grant of £13,500 under section 10 of the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978 on the basis of the information supplied by Islington borough council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many home owners there were in 1945, 1951, 1964, 1970, 1974, 1979 and 1982.

The available information is as follows:

Owner-occupied dwelling stock: Great Britain
	millions
1945	3·3
April 1951	4·1
December 1964	7·8
December 1970	9·4
December 1974	10·3
December 1979	11·4
September 1982	12·2

The estimates for 1974, 1979 and 1982 are based on 1971 census results and such information as is available about subsequent gains and losses. They are subject to review in the light of 1981 census results.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has come to a decision on which areas of the north-west are to be designated under the proposal to extend Operation Groundwork to other parts of that region.

I have been very pleased by the enthusiasm with which local authorities in the north-west have responded to the initiative. Bids for designation were received in respect of 15 areas, involving in all 24 local authorities.I have asked the Countryside Commission to advise and assist local authorities in the following areas to set up Groundwork trusts: Macclesfield, Oldham-Rochdale, Rossendale, Salford-Trafford and Wigan.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of investment by industry in private railway sidings and private railway wagons.

I am glad to say that there has been substantial investment by industry in private sidings and wagons that operate both within firms' own premises and on the national railway network. Figures for the level of this investment are not available to the British Railways Board.The Government encourage the use of rail for the movement of freight through grants under section 8 of the Transport Act 1974. These grants cover up to 60 per cent. of the cost of the facilities. They are available only to the minority of investment schemes, where the goods would otherwise go by road. Most investment by industry in rail freight takes place without reference to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the index numbers for the cost of rail fares, bus fares and motoring costs at the latest available date taking May 1979 as a base of 100, and at the end of April 1979 taking March 1974 as a base of 100.

The information requested is as follows:

	Rail fares*	Bus fares	Motoring and cycling costs
March 1974	100	100	100
April 1979	272	248	212
May 1979	100	100	100
January 1983	183	177	151
* Includes London Transport underground.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the accident and mortality figures for motor cycle riders at the ages of 18, 17 and 16 years in 1979, 1980 and 1982, respectively in, (a) Great Britain and (b) Greater London.

The information is as follows:

Casualties among users of motor cycles*and mopeds (including passengers)
GREAT BRITAIN	Age 16	Age 17	Age 18
Motor cycle users
1979 Killed	26	212	177
Killed or injured	2,004	11,422	9,485
1980 Killed	32	206	173
Killed or injured	2,226	12,034	10,037
1981 Killed	23	191	166
Killed or injured	2,294	11,313	9,675
Moped users
1979 Killed	27	4	6
Killed or injured	4,722	1,573	584
1980 Killed	30	12	1
Killed or injured	4,579	1,530	594
1981 Killed	29	10	2
Killed or injured	4,155	1,602	594
GREATER LONDON
Motor cycle users
1979 Killed	1	12	14
Killed or injured	224	1,243	1,099
1980 Killed	1	13	13
Killed or injured	251	1,168	1,116
1981 Killed	—	12	10
Killed or injured	226	1,137	1,013
Moped users
1979 Killed	1	—	1
Killed or injured	470	170	69

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the statutory instrument to allow local authorities to place speed humps in roads will be laid before Parliament.

My intention is to lay the necessary regulations before Parliament as soon as possible after the Easter recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many objections to the A406 Falloden Way-Finchley High road, Greater London road scheme have been lodged; and on what grounds the objections were made.

There are 337 current objections. Of these 71 are objections to the side road orders, 19 to the compulsory purchase orders, 152 to the certificates for exchange land and 95 covering all of these orders.The grounds for objections are varied but they are based mainly on the following:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether any local authority covering an area affected by the A406 Falloden Way-Finchley High road, Greater London road scheme has lodged an objection.

There are objections from the Greater London council, and the London boroughs of Camden and Islington.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport under which statutory provision the public inquiry into the A406 Falloden Way-Finchley High road, Greater London road scheme was instituted.

The powers are as follows:

Side Road Variation and Supplementary Orders

Highways Act 1980 [Schedule 1 paragraph 7]

Compulsory Purchase Orders

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory provisions exist enabling or requiring him to hold a public inquiry into a proposed road scheme.

The provisions covering both trunk and local authority roads are as follows:

• Highways Act 1980
• Section 302
• Schedule 1, Paragraph 7
• Schedule 1, Paragraph 14
• Acquisition of Land Act 1981
• Section 2
• Section 13
• Schedule 1, Paragraph 4
• Town and Country Planning Act 1971
• Section 215

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the A406 Falloden way-Finchley High road, Greater London road scheme falls within the Government's main priorities for trunk roads, set out in "Policy for Roads: England 1980".

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will receive a deputation from Northolt to discuss the termination point of the proposed Hayes bypass; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that it would not be right for me to do so. The proposed Hayes bypass is a metropolitan road scheme and therefore it is the responsibility of the Greater London council.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answers to the hon. Member for Swindon on 9 February, Official Report, c. 370, and 14 February, Official Report, c. 76, if it is his intention that orders for three-car diesel multiple units should be placed on any other basis than competitive tender.

My right hon. Friend will not make any decision until he receives proposals from the British Railways Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the diplomatic exchanges that have taken place between the representatives of Her Majesty's Government and representatives of the Association of South East Asian Nations countries on British relations with Brunei when full independence is achieved.

We have been in touch with member countries of ASEAN about the situation when Brunei resumes full responsibility as a sovereign and independent state at the end of the year. However, these diplomatic conversations must remain confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he was consulted by the United States administration about the resumption of American supplies of military equipment to Guatemala in view of British military commitments to Belize; and if he will make a statement.

We were informed in advance by the United States Government that they would announce the resumption of certain limited military sales to Guatemala.The United States Government are aware of our concern and we continue to keep in close touch over the issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations with Guatemala and indicate if there has been any recent change of policy on either side on the future of Belize.

Guatemala broke diplomatic relations with Britain in 1963, and consular relations in 1981. Our consular interests are looked after by the Swiss embassy in Guatemala city.As to recent developments, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Radice) on 9 February.—[Vol. 36, c. 988.] Guatemala continues to maintain a territorial claim against Belize. British policy on this subject has not changed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government recognises any residual obligations to the Kurds or Armenians as a signatory of the treaty of Sevres of 1920; and if he will make a statement.

The treaty of Sevres of 1920 never entered into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult the other members of the European Economic Community about the possibility of limiting arms supplies to the belligerents in the war between Iraq and Iran.

The supply of arms is a matter for individual Governments. We see little prospect of a consensus in this case. We are neutral in the war between Iraq and Iran and have not supplied lethal equipment to either side.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the Official Report or in any other convenient place the text of the formal exchange of letters concluded between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Lebanon.

The exchange of letters between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Lebanon concerning British participation in the multinational force will be published before long as a Command Paper in the treaty series.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many colonies had United Kingdom representatives sent out specially to hear representations concerning the then British Nationality Bill; what were the costs involved; and what comments have been received following the Royal Assent to the Act.

No representatives were sent to the dependencies specifically to discuss the British Nationality Bill, but governors were informed and consulted at every stage. Their comments since Royal Assent have been mainly concerned with the administration of the Act, and have been fully taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people under 20 years of age were employed under special Manpower Services Commission and community schemes in the (a) Caernarvon and (b) Porth Madoc travel-to-work areas in January 1983.

Some 465 and 177 young people, respectively, were engaged on youth opportunity programme and community industry projects. Detailed information on the number of people aged under 20 years employed on community programme schemes is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each of the employment exchange areas in Wales (a) the total number of employees in employment and (b) the total number of unemployed persons, at the most recent date at which this information is available.

The latest available figures giving numbers of employees in employment at employment office area level relate to the 1978 census of employment. The results of the 1981 census in respect of employment office areas are not yet available. I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what advice his Department has given the returning officer for Swansea about the boundaries to be used for the forthcoming local elections.

The chief executive of Swansea city council has been advised that new community boundaries will be brought into effect in Swansea on 1 April 1983 by means of a communities order shortly to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he proposes to issue to health authorities on the use of commercial contracts in the National Health Service in Wales.

I asked the health authorities in December 1981 to consider and report on the potential for securing services in appropriate fields by competitive contract and I have received their advice. More recently, the health management efficiency group, which the health authorities have established at my suggestion, has been considering whether it might assist the health authorities by developing guidelines for competitive contracting.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average annual number of applicants for premature voluntary release from the armed forces for each of the following periods: June 1970 to February 1974, March 1974 to April 1979 and May 1979 to the latest available date.

The information is not available in the form requested. The average annual number of applications from April 1972 for premature voluntary release by all male officers and RN and RAF service men are as follows. Figures for Army service men were not collected prior to 1978. However, the number of premature voluntary release exits are shown separately.

	Average annual numbers
	Applications for premature voluntary release by officers and RN and RAF service men	Premature voluntary release exits by Army service men
April 1972—March 1974	8,612	4,887
April 1974—April 1979	9,423	4,959
May 1979—December 1982	4,622	2,276

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the average annual earnings of the armed forces for the years 1974–75 to 1982–83.

A table giving an all-ranks military salary index for the years 1975 to 1981 is published in section 4 of the 1982 Statement of Defence Estimates, volume 2, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. The base level for this index at 1 April 1975 was £3,125 per annum, and the value of the 1982 index, to be published in the 1983 statement, is 236·1. The table also provides illustrative rates of pay by rank.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will take into account the employment effects in the United Kingdom when making his decision whether to buy the British Aerospace ALARM anti-radar missile, or the United States anti-radar missile.

All relevant factors, including employment implications, will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many copies of "Nuclear Defence: Key Points" have been printed and at what cost; whether they have been distributed through Her Majesty's Stationery Office; and what other channels of distribution have been used.

Nine thousand copies of "Nuclear Defence: Key Points" have been produced for the Ministry of Defence by the Central Office of Information at a cost of £7,253, inclusive of the COI management charge and excluding VAT. They have been distributed on request from the Ministry of Defence. No other channels of distribution have been used.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all films and videos produced by his Department on nuclear weapons and (a) the cost of each production and (b) the cost of copies and distribution.

The Ministry of Defence, through the Central Office of Information, has produced two films which provide information relevant to the nuclear debate—"A Better Road to Peace" and "The Peace Game"."A Better Road to Peace" cost £16,703 in production charges, plus a COI management charge of £2,622 to cover staff costs and technical facilities. "The Peace Game" cost £80,850 in production charges, plus a COI management charge of £16,250.The cost of copies and of distribution of "A Better Road to Peace" has been £13,121 and of "The Peace Game" £19,416.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue staff have been made redundant since May 1979.

A total of 433, of whom 430 were cleaners and three data processors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue if the rates of duty on spirits, on beer and on wine were increased by 10 per cent.; and if he will estimate the effect on the retail prices index in each case.

The extra revenue, including the additional receipts of VAT, would be about £45 million, £145 million and £40 million, respectively, in a full year. It is estimated that the changes would raise the retail price index by 0·1 per cent. 0·1 per cent., and less than 0·1 per cent., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue if the rate of duty on tobacco were increased by 10 per cent.; and if he will estimate the effect on the retail prices index.

The extra revenue, including the additional receipts of VAT, from increasing the total duty on tobacco products by 10 per cent. would be about £235 million in a full year. It is estimated that such a change would raise the retail prices index by about 0·3 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gain to the Revenue if the present rates of gaming licence duty were doubled.

It is not possible to predict the effect on activity in casinos were the present rates of gaming licence duty to be doubled. However, total revenue resulting would be unlikely to amount to double the Budget estimate of £14 million for receipts of gaming licence duty in 1982–83.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report figures comparing gross domestic product per capita, at current prices, of each member state of the European Community in each of the years 1979 to 1982.

The latest available figures are for 1981. Estimates for 1979, 1980 and 1981 of gross domestic product per capita, at current prices, converted to United States dollars using market rates of exchange are given in table 21 on page 86 of the OECD's "National Accounts, Volume 1, 1952–1981", a copy of which is in the Library Corresponding estimates converted by means of purchasing power parities are given in table 2 on page 98 of the same publication.It is well recognised that the use of market exchange rates to convert estimates of gross domestic product from national currencies to a common unit of measurement can give very misleading results because exchange rates do not necessarily reflect the relative purchasing powers of the national currencies in terms of the goods and services available in the countries being compared. A more realistic comparison is obtained by using purchasing power parities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the cumulative increases and the average

Unit labour costs in manufacturing: percentage changes over previous year

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

Belgium

3·5

8·3

4·5

5·3

15·7

14·4

2·4

5·2

1·1

1·8

6·6

—

—

Denmark

8·7

1·0

3·1

9·0

16·6

10·2

3·6

7·9

5·7

7·6

9·2

—

—

France

6·7

6·0

5·4

8·8

16·1

16·1

5·8

8·9

7·6

8·9

12·3

—

—

Germany

13·4

8·3

5·1

7·3

8·7

7·5

0·9

4·3

4·6

2·7

8·6

4·3

*4·0

Greece

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Ireland

11·1

10·2

11·2

10·8

15·6

26·9

7·2

11·5

8·1

13·0

19·5

—

—

Italy

14·3

12·1

6·0

12·9

18·4

34·6

10·5

17·5

11·2

9·6

13·6

—

—

Luxembourg

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Netherlands

56

7·1

6·2

8·1

10·1

16·4

-0·4

4·3

2·6

2·7

2·0

—

—

United Kingdom

13·0

10·3

4·9

5·0

23·6

32·6

12·4

11·0

14·8

14·7

22·7

8·5

*4·9

USA

7·1

0·0

0·3

1·8

13·3

8·7

3·5

5·8

7·2

8·5

11·1

6·6

*8·8

Canada

6·1

0·5

3·2

4·4

13·2

17·9

9·0

7·3

4·3

8·6

10·9

10·3

†l7·2

Japan

5·6

12·0

3·7

10·5

26·2

12·5

-1·9

1·3

-0·5

-1·7

2·7

4·0

*3·8

* (Q3)

† (Q2)

The information is as follows:

	Overall percentage Increase	Annual average Increase
1945 to 1951	24	3·7
1951 to 1964	55	3·4
1964 to 1970	31	4·6
1970 to 1974	48½	10·4
1974 to 1979	106	15·5
1979 to 1982	43½	12·8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the effect of the revised procedures for spending the 1982 European Economic Community rebate in consequence of the negotiations with the Budget Committee of the European Assembly; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1983, c. 151.]: The arrangements for granting and paying the refunds for 1982 will be similar to those for the 1980 and 1981 refunds, except that part of our entitlement will be granted in the form of support for energy measures under a separate regulation proposed for this purpose. Copies of the draft regulations proposed by the Commission have been deposited with the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the index of unit labour costs for each year from 1970 to 1982, based on 1970=100, for each member of the European Economic Community, the United States of America, Canada and Japan, respectively.

I regret that information is not readily avialable in the specific form requested. However, the following table gives annual percentage changes in unit labour costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the breakdown by standard industrial classification of unemployment for the Birmingham travel-to-work area for May 1979 and to date.

The following table gives for May 1979 and May 1982, the last date for which an industrial analysis was made, the numbers of people registered as unemployed—the old basis of the count—in the Birmingham travel-to-work area analysed by orders of the 1968 standard industrial classification. The information relates to the industries in which the unemployed persons last worked.

Standard Industrial Classification, 1968	May 1979	May 1982
Agriculture, forestry, fishing	113	324
Mining and quarrying	89	188
Food, drink and tobacco	964	2,549
Coal and petroleum products	18	44
Chemicals and allied industries	338	1,027
Metal manufacture	1,012	3,264
Mechanical engineering	916	3,360
Instrument engineering	104	223
Electrical engineering	832	3,072
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	26	42
Vehicles	2,521	11,717
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	5,269	14,958
Textiles	196	369
Leather, leather goods and fur	38	71
Clothing and footwear	227	579
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	196	604
Timber, furniture, etc.	231	596
Paper, printing and publishing	325	966
Other manufacturing industries	730	2,599
Construction	4,130	11,292
Gas, electricity and water	223	535
Transport and communication	1,161	2,945
Distributive trades	3,456	9,603
Insurance, banking, finance and business services	780	2,154
Professional and scientific services	1,405	3,704
Miscellaneous services	3,319	9,677
Public administration and defence	1,318	3,197
Not classified by industry (including school leavers)	10,900	23,854
Total	40,027	113,513

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the unemployment figures at the Northfield jobcentre in May 1979 and to date.

At May 1979, the number of people registered as unemployed—the old basis of the count—in the Northfield jobcentre area was 2,701. The number of unemployed claimants—the new basis of the count—in the area at January 1983 was 10,079. The figures on both the old and new bases at October 1982 were 10,145 and 9,813, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representation there is of small businesses in rural areas on the Retail Trades (Non-food) Wages Council.

Employers are represented on the Retail Trades (Non-food) Wages Council by members appointed by 21 organisations, including several who are able to speak for small businesses throughout Great Britain, including those in rural areas. A list of all the organisations is as follows:

• Association of Retail Distributors
• Booksellers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland
• British Hardware Federation
• British Multiple Retailers' Association
• British Stationery and Office Products Federation
• China and Glass Retailers Association
• Consumer Credit Association
• Co-operative Employers Association
• Drapers' Chamber of Trade
• Federation of Sports Goods Distributors
• Independent Footwear Retailers Association
• Mail Order Traders' Association
• Menswear Association of Britain Ltd
• National Association of Cycle and Motor Cycle Traders Ltd
• National Association of Retail Furnishers
• National Association of Shopkeepers
• National Association of Toy Retailers
• National Chamber of Trade
• Radio, Electrical and TV Retailers Association (RETRA) Ltd
• Scottish House Furnishers' Association
• Scottish Retail Distributors' Association Ltd

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make an extra emergency float of money available for paying out the 380 non-recipients of Girocheques on Saturdays in Worksop who do not receive their benefit on time;(2) what telephone number distressed non-recipients of Girocheques in Worksop on a Saturday should ring to contact the emergency services of his Department; whether he will make more than one line available; and if he will ensure full manning of these telephones.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Friday, 11 February—[Vol. 36, c 491.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will ensure that recipients of unemployment benefit in Worksop due to receive their Girocheques on Saturday 19 February will receive them on time.

As the hon. Member knows, he re is no guarantee of delivery on Saturdays: unemployed people are advised not to expect their cheques before the third day following attendance at the benefit office. For those attending on a Thursday, this is Monday. Many people do receive their cheques on Saturday. There are, however, factors outside the control of either this Department or the Department of Health and Social Security, or the Post Office, such as the industrial action by British Rail staff last Friday, which delayed the delivery of cheques to Worksop. Such events cannot be anticipated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has made to tile Post Office about the late delivery of Girocheques in Worksop following parliamentary questions from the hon. Member for Bassetlaw on Tuesday 8 February.

Representations were made to the Post Office both in Worksop and in Reading before and after the hon. Member's questions on Tuesday 8 February. The approach to Post Office officials in Reading was made by staff of the Department of Health and Social Security computer centre responsible for the special liaison arrangements there.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the non-arrival of Girocheques in Worksop on Saturday 12 February, he will now arrange for cheques to be dispatched from Reading on Thursday and transfer all those registering for benefit on Thursday to the previous Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

The hon. Member already knows that officials are considering the feasibility of changes and that I shall write to him when decisions have been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many local offices of his Department receive regular complaints about non-arrival of Giro-cheques on Saturdays.

Precise figures are not available. Many local offices receive complaints from individuals, but few receive complaints about bulk delays. When such delays occur regularly, the solution is generally a matter for the Post Office. Rerouteing the mail, in liaison with the DHSS computer centres, resolves the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of Girocheques distributed from the Reading computer centre on an average Friday in 1979 compared to Fridays in 1982; and how many extra staff have been provided to cope with this increase.

Examples of the information requested are (1) 71,978 cheques sent out from the Reading computer centre on 20 July 1979 as against 109,711 on 23 July 1982, and (2) 18,197 staff in the unemployment benefit service at 1 August 1979 and 26,981 at 1 July 1982. Changes in staffing levels at the Reading computer centre are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. The figures given are not directly comparable because a system of fortnightly attendance and payment for unemployed people was started from September 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of qualified inspectors of mines who will be available to carry out inspections of collieries in the Health and Safety Commission's plan of work for 1983–84.

It is impossible to state precisely the number of inspectors who will be available to carry out inspections of collieries in 1983–84, but the Health and Safety Commission's plan of work provides for 97 inspectors at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of inspectors of mines in the Health and Safety Executive in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively.

The number of inspectors of mines in post during the last five years was as shown in the following table:

at 31 December	Inspectors
1978	100
1979	98

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons, and what percentage of the work force, were on the disabled employment register at the latest available date and on dates one and two years previously; and, on those dates, what was the level of the total United Kingdom work force.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1983, c. 109–110]: The information requested is available for Great Britain, and is as follows. Figures for the register of disabled people are at April of each year, and the rate is expressed as a proportion of the estimated mid-year numbers of employees—employed plus the claimant unemployed.

	1980	1981	1982
Register of disabled people	470,588	460,178	447,259
Percentage all employees	2·0	2·0	1·9
Total employees	23,801,000	23,538,000	23,278,000

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish for the latest available date and the previous two years the average level of compliance with the quota for the employment of disabled persons by (a) all employers, (b) the public sector and (c) the private sector.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1983, c. 109–110]: On 1 June in each of the last three years, the average percentage of registered disabled people employed by employers in the three requested categories was as follows:

	1980	1981	1982
	per cent.	Per cent.	per cent.
a.All employers who were subject to quota (ie all employers with 20 or more workers except Crown Bodies)	1·5	1·4	1·3
b.The public sector (approximate figures)	1·2	1·1	1·1
c. The private sector (approximate figures)	1·7	1·5	1·5

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions have been brought over the period 1980–81 and 1981–82 against employers who failed to fulfil the statutory 3 per cent. quota of disabled people.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1983, c. 109–110]: There have been no prosecutions brought against employers for failure to comply with the provisions of the quota scheme during the period 1980–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of people registered under section 2 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 have been unemployed for (a) up to two weeks, (b) over two and up to four weeks, (c) over four and up to six weeks, (d) over six and up to eight weeks, (e) over eight and up to 13 weeks, (f) over 13 and up to 26 weeks, (g) over 26 and up to 52 weeks and (h) over 52 weeks.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1983, c. 109–110]: The numbers of unemployed disabled people who are likely to be capable only of work in sheltered conditions, together with the percentage of the total each number represents, are as follows. The information relates to 14 October 1982.

Duration of unemployment	Registered severely disabled people		Unregistered severely disabled people
		Per cent.		Per cent.
(a) up to two weeks	83	1·1	29	0·7
(b) over two and up to four weeks	77	1·0	45	1·0
(c) over four and up to six weeks	76	1·0	54	1·2
(d) over six and up to eight weeks	71	0·9	52	1·2
(e) over eight and up to 13 weeks	163	2·2	101	2·3
(f) over 13 and up to 26 weeks	414	5·6	248	5·7
(g) over 26 and up to 52 weeks	696	9·3	402	9·2
(h) over 52 weeks	5,910	78·9	3,448	78·7

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what, for each of the last two years to the latest available date, have been the percentage increases in unemployment for (a) the registered disabled, and (b) the unregistered disabled.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1983, c. 109–110]: The percentage changes in unemployment for (a) the registered disabled and (b) the unregistered disabled are as follows for the two years ending October 1982 and October 1981, the latest comparable dates available.

Year ending	Registered disabled people	Unregistered disabled people
	per cent.	per cent.
October 1982	-0·4	+9·8
October 1981	+18·6	+24·3

October 1982 is the latest date for which these percentage comparisons can be produced. Registration for employment at jobcentres became voluntary in October 1982 and figures for disabled people so registered in later months are therefore not comparable with earlier periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment for the latest available date how many (a) registered disabled people and (b) people from the total United Kingdom work force had been unemployed for (i) up to two weeks, (ii) over two and up to four weeks, (iii) over four and up to six weeks, (iv) over six and up to eight weeks, (v) over eight and up to 13 weeks, (vi) over 13 weeks and up to 26 weeks, (vii) over 26 and up to 52 weeks, (viii) over 52 weeks; and what percentage of the work force in each group each figure represents.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1983, c. 109–110]: The numbers unemployed and those numbers expressed as a percentage of the work force in each group among registered disabled people and the total work force in Great Britain within the periods requested is as follows. The information is not available for the United Kingdom as a whole. The information relates to 14 October 1982.