asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to announce whether a concession on television licences can be made to physically disabled and mentally disordered persons living in local authority residential accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

I have concluded that it is particularly anomalous that physically disabled and mentally disordered residents of homes run by local authorities or voluntary or private organisations should receive different treatment from old persons resident in similar homes provided for under the same legislation. I therefore propose that the former should become eligible for the 5p television licence. Similarly, I intend that physically disabled and mentally disorderd people resident in those categories of sheltered housing in which old persons at present receive the concession should also benefit. I shall lay regulations, which will extend throughout the United Kingdom, to this effect before the House before long. Up to 43,000 people may benefit from this change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from the Merseyside county council concerning nuclear-free zones; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representation he has received from the Merseyside steering committee on nuclear disarmament concerning nuclear-free zones; and if he will make a statement.

We have received a letter dated 27 January from the steering committee on the Merseyside county council endorsing the resolution on the proposed civil defence regulations, which was passed by the national conference of nuclear-free zones on 3 December 1982. No reply has yet been sent. We are consulting the local authority associations on the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce legislation to make kerb crawling an offence; and if he will make a statement.

As I indicated in my reply to questions by the hon. Member on 11 June 1981 and 1 March 1982, the Government think it right to await the outcome of the review by the Criminal Law Revision Committee and the policy advisory committee on sexual offences before reaching conclusions on the need for, and nature of, any changes to the law in this area. The Criminal Law Revisions Committee published on 9 December 1982 a working paper inviting comment on its provisional recommendations for possible changes in the law, which include the creation of certain new offences to deal with the accosting of women by men.—[Vol. 6, c. 179, Vol. 19, c. 19.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received calling for the introduction of legislation to make kerb crawling an offence.

Since my reply to a question by the hon. Member on 1 March 1982 I have received representations from two hon. Members.—[Vol. 19, c. 19.] The matter was also raised by the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on the occasion of the last Christmas Adjournment

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenditure has been incurred in printing Command Papers 8797-I and 8797-II.

A total of £65,250.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have so far been killed in England and Wales by plastic bullets.

None.

asked the Minister for Trade what action has taken to press the European Commission to act speedily upon the anti-dumping submission regarding Taiwanese doors presented to it by the British Woodworking Federation, through the European Joinery Federation; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to his reply of 8 February to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, Official Report, c. 308–309, when he expects completion of his further consultation about the Cork committee's recommendations concerning the qualifications required for appointment as a liquidator and the provision by a voluntary liquidator of an insurance bond as security against fraud, dishonesty or professional negligence.

Consultations are still taking place. I cannot say when they will be completed.

asked the Minister for Trade when he expects to introduce regulations implementing European Economic Community directives on the packaging and labelling of dangerous household substances.

The EC directive on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances was implemented by the Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1978—SI1978 No. 209. Three subsequent amendments to the directive have been implemented by the Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances (Amendment) Regulations 1981—SI1981 No. 792—and 1983—SI1983 No. 17. These regulations apply to dangerous substances supplied for any purpose, including household use. A further amendment to the directive, 79/831/EEC, cannot be implemented until agreement has been reached in Brussels on some technical annexes.

asked the Minister for Trade when he expects to publish the annual report of the national metrological co-ordinating unit as required by section 9(1) of the Weights and Measures Act 1979.

The report covering the period 1 April 1981 to 31 March 1982 has been published today. I have arranged for copies of the report, which includes the audited statement of accounts, to be placed in the Library.

asked the Minister for Trade when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on Caledonian MacBrayne will be published.

The report is published today. The commission has examined the efficiency and costs of Caledonian MacBrayne and has identified a number of key areas where performance can be significantly improved. The commission's priority recommendations are that the company should take urgent action to minimise revenue losses; complete the current market analysis project effectively and as soon as possible; consider a reduction in the fleet; discontinue the present system of discounts for commercial vehicles; and appoint a full-time chief executive.

thousand tonnes
	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	*1982
UKCS crude oil production	1,116	11,533	37,321	52,844	76,475	78,680	87,617	100,244
Disposals to United Kingdom refineries	924	8,049	21,772	28,404	38,298	39,542	37,424	38,902
Total product exports	13,924	15,988	14,160	13,194	12,988	14,110	12,256	12,669
UKCS crude as a percentage of refinery throughput	1·0	8·2	23·3	29·5	39·1	45·8	47·8	50·4
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in the tripartite talks between Her Majesty's Government, the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers with regard to modification in the payment of benefits to those suffering from industrial diseases of the lungs in that industry.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 February 1983, Vol. 36, c. 69]: A report on the activities of the working party on pneumoconiosis, under my chairmanship, has now been completed and I have placed a copy

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the exports of products derived from North sea crude oil expressed as percentages of North sea crude production in each year since 1974.

It is not generally possible to attribute petroleum products to any particular source of crude oil as United Kingdom continental shelf—UKCS—and imported crude oils and feedstocks are processed together at United Kingdom refineries. Exports of petroleum products derived from this "mixed throughput" are shown in the following table together with the proportions of UKCS oil in the crude oil and feedstock throughput at refineries. This percentage gives no more than a broad indicator of the crude oil source for product exports.in the Library of the House. The report recognises the competence of pneumoconiosis medical panels in carrying out their functions, and suggests no fundamental change in their role. The working party also recognised that the percentage of cases where there was disagreement between a panel and a coroner's pathologist was small. Whilst the working party accepted that there is little scope for reducing this percentage still further, it agreed that attempts to do so should none the less be made. The report outlines the various measures that have been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what information he has as to the number of firms with under 1,000 employees, or the nearest convenient figure, which now possess microcomputers; and what proportion this is of the total.

No figures are available for the number of firms which possess microcomputers. An independent survey published in 1982 estimated that 38,800 business microcomputers would be sold during 1982, but it is not possible to ascertain how many of these would be sold to firms with fewer than 1,000 employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received from the unions and management of British Aerospace concerning the future development of the A320 airbus.

Department of Industry Ministers have on several occasions met delegations comprising Members of Parliament and trade unionists representing British Aerospace employees. Written representations have also been received from CSEU, TASS-AUEW and the Engineers and Managers Association. Ministers have had frequent meetings with the management of British Aerospace on matters relating to the A320 project.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether Her Majesty's Government are making any contribution to the European year of craft trades and small and medium-size enterprises.

European Regional Development Fund: Quota Section Aid committed to England in each of the years 1980 to 1982 (£' 000)
	Industrial Projects		Infrastructure Projects
Region	Total	Amounts for Designated Inner City Districts	Total	Amounts for Designated Inner City Districts
1980
England	44,359	21,504	32,750	19,190
of which
North	18,832	—	7,470	900
Yorkshire and Humberside	1,893	1,893	16,344	14,263
North-West	21,992	19,611	8,105	4,027
East Midlands	125	—	571	—
West Midlands	—	—	—	—
South-West	1,517	—	260	—
1981
England	6,003	5,778	67,059	36,612
of which
North	3,500	3,500	34,203	19,663
Yorkshire and Humberside	450	450	9,785	6,372
North-West	1,828	1,828	12,173	10,577
East Midlands	—	—	4,621	—
West Midlands	—	—	—	—
South-West	225	—	6,277	—
1982
England	29,387	104	87,247	40,678
of which
North	28,741	—	30,835	17,988
Yorkshire and Humberside	393	104	19,595	9,646
North-West	253	—	28,078	13,044

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 14 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson).—[Vol. 37, c. 21.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what manufacturing activities are permitted in free ports under EEC regulations; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 February 1983, c. 410]: A wide range of manufacturing, activities are permitted in free ports under EEC regulations. For details I refer my hon. Friend to Council directive 69/75 of 4 March 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table showing for each of the past three years the amounts of money committed from the quota section of the European regional development fund in respect of industrial and infrastructure projects in each region of England, and in the inner city districts designated by the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978 within reach of these regions, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1983, c. 298]: The following table shows the amounts committed from the quota section of the European regional development fund in each of the years 1980 to 1982 in respect of industrial and infrastructure projects in each region of England and in the inner city districts within these regions which are designated under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many sports fields attached to educational playing fields have been (a) sold and (b) remain unsold as a result of the recent Government circular.

The Department do not collect information about the disposal of playing fields attached to schools and other educational establishments. On the subject of advice about surplus playing fields, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 November 1981—[Vol. 13, c.45.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the cost of providing free school meals for all children attending primary schools, given a 70 per cent. uptake.

This would involve additional expenditure of about £200 million a year in respect of England.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will withdraw the publication "Works of Art—A Basic Guide to Capital Taxation and the National Heritage," in view of the fact that it makes no reference to the imposition of value added tax on acceptances in lieu or private treaty sales of works of art to the nation.

No. The basic guide to capital taxation and the national heritage, produced by the Office of Arts and Libraries, is designed, as its title makes clear, to inform the public about capital transfer tax in relation to acceptances in lieu and private treaty sales. Value added tax is a separate issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the recommended allowances and related parental-income scales for continuation allowances for students over compulsory school age taking full-time further education courses.

I assume that the hon. Lady is referring to discretionary grants paid by local education authorities to students on non-advanced further education courses. No rates are suggested by the Government, but the Council of Local Education Authorities has recommended to authorities that, where such grants are paid, the rates should be calculated in the same way as those applying to mandatory awards. Authorities are free to act on this advice or not as they consider appropriate.

asked the Prime Minister whether compensation has been sought on behalf of those victims and their dependants who have lost limbs and life as a result of the indiscriminate laying of mines without records by Argentine forces in the Falklands.

No. Those invalided from the armed forces by reason of their service and the dependants of those killed are eligible for awards from the Department of Health and Social Security and from the Ministry of Defence. Payments may also be made to injured servicemen and to dependants from the South Atlantic fund.

asked the Prime Minister how many persons are employed on the work of the family policy unit; how many of these are civil servants paid out of public funds; and under which civil expenditure heading this is to be found.

There is no such unit. Work on policies affecting the family is undertaken by Ministers and officials as part of their normal work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to purchase auditory response cradles for the evaluation of babies' hearing abilities.

No. It is for health boards to determine, in the light of local needs and circumstances, their own spending priorities, including items of capital equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has evaluated the technique of transcutaneous nerve stimulation for physiotherapy within the National Health Service.

My Department is aware of this technique and has recently provided funds for a research project to evaluate the technique in relation to a specific condition.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people have been placed within the Manpower Services Commission under youth opportunities programmes and work experience schemes during the past two years.

During 1981 and 1982 there were no young people on work experience on employers premises schemes under the youth opportunities programme within the Manpower Services Commission in Scotland. Over the same period, some 780 young people were directly trained by the MSC on work preparation and short training courses under the youth opportunities programme in skillcentres in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportions of those called for jury service in the Scottish courts are subsequently (a) exempted under statute, (b) administratively excused and (c) found to be ineligible.

No such statistics are kept either at individual sheriff courts or centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prison officers have applied since May 1979 to purchase the quarters they have occupied; and if he will list these in the Official Report designating the number at each Scottish prison

No applications were received prior to 6 July 1981 when the scheme for the sale to staff of Scottish prison service quarters was introduced. Between 6 July 1981 and 18 February 1983, 825 applications to purchase quarters were received. Some 485 applicants accepted the district valuer's valuation for the properties and requested that the sale transactions proceed to the issue of a formal offer to sell. The figures for the individual establishments are as follows:

	Applications	Valuations Accepted
Aberdeen	Nil	Nil
Barlinnie	149	80
Castle Huntly	5	3
Cornton Vale	17	13
Dumfries	38	26
Dungavel	6	Nil
Edinburgh	146	78
Friarton	23	16
Greenock	7	1
Glenochil	123	65
Inverness	30	20
Longriggend	17	2
Low Moss	44	31
Noranside	1	Nil
Penninghame	Nil	Nil
Perth	85	58
Peterhead	44	24
Polmont	85	63
SPS College	5	5
Shorts	Nil	Nil
TOTAL	825	485

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what would be the cost per 1,000 new day care places for those under five years of age in Scotland.

No estimate is available since day care for children can be provided in a number of different ways.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland is he will estimate the cost of providing free school meals for all primary school children, given a 70 per cent. uptake.

The additional cost involved in providing free school meals for 70 per cent. of all primary school children in Scotland is estimated to be about £24 million a year, at current prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what has been the standardised mortality rate for (a) males aged 15 to 64 years and (b) females aged 15 to 64 years as a result of diseases of the respiratory system, by social class for (i) Glasgow and (ii) Scotland in each of the past five years;(2) what has been the standardised mortality rate for

The specific information requested is not available. Similar information at Scotland level only, however, is shown in tables 6a, 6b and 6c of "Occupational Mortality 1969–1973" published by the Registrar General for Scotland, a copy of which is in the Library. It is intended to publish a further study covering the period 1979–83 in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the standardised mortality rate for (a) males aged 15 to 64 years and (b) females aged 15 to 64 years by social class and house tenure (owner-occupied, privately-rented or local authority tenancy) for (i) Glasgow and (ii) Scotland in each of the past five years.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now appoint a resident sheriff for the Stornoway and Lochmaddy courts.

I have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have so far been killed in Scotland by plastic bullets.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to present to Parliament the report of the parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland.

The report will be presented to Parliament tomorrow, together with the draft of an Order in Council for giving effect to its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many apprenticeships there were in the construction industry in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Scotland in each of the last five years.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 February 1983, c. 224]: There are no comprehensive statistics on apprenticeship provision and separate figures for Edinburgh are not available. The following table gives the number of apprentices who undertook courses approved by the Construction Industry Training Board in Scotland in each of the last five training years.

Apprentice intake to Construction Industry Training Board approved craft and technician training courses in Scotland
Training Years (September to August)	Number of Apprentices
1977–78	2,975
1978–79	3,697
1979–80	3,907
1980–81	3,719
1981–82	3,178

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give, in tabular form, so much information as he has as to (a) the countries in Latin and Central America, Africa and Easterm Europe faced with growing indebtedness to international banks, and the total in each case, (b) the amount by which their annual exports exceed the cost of servicing the debt, (c) the instances in which rescheduling has been agreed and (d) the degree of involvement of British banks.

(a) Table 13 of the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin provides data on bank lending to all countries. The growth of such debt can be ascertained by comparing earlier versions of this table with the latest version.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would be lost if no income tax were deducted from persons earning less than the national average wage; and what percentage this represents of the personal income tax take.

Provisional estimates for 1982–83 suggest that around £11·5 billion income tax is due in a full year from single people or married couples with income less than average male earnings for all occupations and around £8·5 billion from those with incomes less than average male manual earnings; these amounts represent respectively 37 per cent. and 28 per cent.—revised—of the total income tax due in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss to the Inland Revenue if corporation tax were reduced to (a) 40 per cent. (b) 30 per cent. and (c) 20 per cent.

The loss of revenue in a full year at current income levels is very tentatively estimated at:

	£ million
(a)	1,300
(b)	2,500
(c)	3,300

For these illustrative purposes it has been assumed that there would be no change in company behaviour. In particular the yield and rate of advance corporation tax is assumed to be unchanged—but for

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of allowing income from shares purchased on behalf of employees in an authorised share saving scheme to be exempt from income tax on the first £500 of such income.

I regret that the information is not available on which to base an estimate of this cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer of Wednesday 9 February to the hon. Member for Tynemouth, Official Report, c. 365, what is his estimate of the cost to the Revenue of raising the mortgage interest relief limit from the present figure of £25,000 to £76,700 in order to update the figure in line with the retail price index.

Information on which to base a firm estimate is not available. Disregarding any new borrowing that the raising of the limit might generate the revenue cost in a full year at 1983–84 income levels would probably not exceed £175 million. The eventual cost, including the effect of new borrowing, is likely to be considerably higher.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in his forthcoming Budget, he will take action to increase to a penal extent taxation on payments of excessive golden handshakes to those vacating directorships.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion, but would draw his attention to section 43 of the Finance Act 1982, which restricts the tax relief available on large payments on termination of employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give (a) the current account balance of payments for every quarter since 1974 and (b) the contribution to the current account balance of payments of North sea oil and gas exploitation in every quarter since 1974 or in every year since 1974, whichever is readily available.

Figures for the current account of the balance of payments are published in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics." Table A1 of the February edition and the 1982 annual review contain the current account figures requested.Identifiable balance of payments entries associated with the development and production of United Kingdom continental shelf oil and gas are shown in table 13 of the balance of payments article in

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how many persons have capital in excess of £100,000, £150,000, £500,000, £1,000,000 and £2,000,000.

The latest detailed figures on the size of individual wealth holdings are for 1978. It is estimated that the numbers of individuals with identified wealth in excess of £100,000, £150,000 and £500,000 were then approximately 195,000, 95,000 and 10,000, respectively. These figures are as defined for table 4·13, amended, of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1982", a copy of which is in the Library. There is insufficient information upon which to base estimates relating to larger holdings of wealth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the loss of revenue as a result of the export of capital since the lifting of exchange controls.

The removal of exchange controls will not have affected the size of net capital outflows directly. Net capital outflows are the necessary counterpart to the current account surplus earned in recent years. Since it is not possible to say what the composition of these net outflows would have been in different circumstances, it is not possible to estimate how revenue has been affected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what would be the yield to the Treasury if income received by occupational pension funds was subject to tax.

The yield if the investment income received by occupational pension funds was subject to tax is estimated to be £1,800 million for 1982–83.The estimate does not take account of any changes in the nature and extent of pension provision which might occur as a result of changes in pension funds' liability to tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing United Kingdom public sector debt held outside the public sector on the following dates: June 1970, March 1974, April 1979 and at the latest available date expressed (a) in pound sterling money terms and (b) in pound sterling real terms 1981 equals 100.

The available figures are shown in the following table:

Public sector debt held outside the public sector*(31 March each year) Total
	Current prices £ million	Constant 1981 prices† £ billion
1970	43,541	188·5
1974	54,593	161·0
1979	108,113	150·6
1982	147,971	141·9

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) pound sterling's value against the US dollar and (b) the pound sterling effective exchange rate at the following dates: (i) 4 March 1974, (ii) 4 May 1979 and (iii) latest available date.

The value of the pound sterling against the US dollar on 4 March 1974 was $2·2820; on 4 May 1979 it was $22·0742; on 18 February 1983 it was $12·5435.The effective exchange rate for the pound is not readily available for individual days in 1974 and 1979 as the current index—1975 average = 100—was not used in those years. However, the Bank of England has retrospectively calculated monthly average values of the index. The average value for March 1974 was 108·4, and for May 1979 was 86·3. On 18 February 1983 the index was 80·7.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how many businesses obtained reductions in rateable value on their premises in 1982; and in how many cases this was as a result of a reduction in trading.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue from income tax paid by United States citizens engaged in North sea oil-related work in each year since double taxation relief treaties came into effect.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if European Community regulations place any restrictions on the ownership of land within free ports; and, in particular, whether free ports may be established on private land.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 February 1983, c. 408]: I am not aware of any restriction in European Community regulations on the ownership of land within free ports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if European Community regulations permit national Governments to exempt firms in free ports from any health, safety, labelling or similar legal obligations; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 February 1983, c. 408]: I am not aware of any EC regulations which would affect the discretion of national Governments in relation to health, safety and similar matters in free ports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many retirement pensioners will gain, and how many will lose, under the changes to mortgage repayment in April as a result of the impact on their entitlement to the age allowance; how much will be saved by the Government as a result; and what will be the average monthly loss or gain.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 February 1983, c. 347]: No retirement pensioners will lose entitlement to age allowance as a result of the changes in the arrangements for giving mortgage interest relief, because payments of mortgage interest will continue to be taken into account in calculating the figures on which entitlement to age allowance is based. Some retirement pensioners who at present have option mortgages will benefit because, under the new arrangements, the interest they pay will become deductible in calculating their income for the purposes of the age allowance income limit. The number of pensioners who could be affected is not known but is likely to be very small. The total cost to the Exchequer cannot be estimated. The maximum monthly benefit to retirement pensioners is £21·25 if married or £12·62 if single.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet received the Keith committee report on revenue powers; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 February 1983, c. 348]: My right hon. and learned Friend has recently received the first part of the report. It is being considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income has been forgone by the Treasury as a result of the amendment of the Oil Taxation Act 1980 which permitted oil companies to set against petroleum revenue tax the cost of delivering oil to their customers as opposed to the previous allowance to land oil in the United Kingdom only.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1983, c.152]: There is no Oil Taxation Act 1980. The provision referred to in the question is presumably s.20 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1979 which removed an anomalous discrepancy between the cut-off point for petroleum revenue tax relief for expenditure, and the tax valuation or sale point of the oil. It is not possible to estimate the cost of this change from the information available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the principal implications for the United Kingdom of the quota increases agreed at the interim committee on 10 and 11 February.

The United Kingdom's quota is increased from SDR 4·4 billion to SDR 6·2 billion. This represents 6·9 per cent. of the total fund quotas and 6·6 per cent. of the voting rights. In sterling terms the increase is equivalent to some £1·28 billion.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of persons (a) of working age and (b) of retirement age, who have moved into Wales to live, and out of Wales to live, respectively, in each of the past three years.

Estimates based on a sample of changes notified to the National Health Service central register are as follows; the figures refer to moves within the United Kingdom only and do not include international migration.

Migration between Wales and other parts of the United Kingdom
Number
	June 1980	June 1981	June 1982
Movers to Wales
Working Age*	35,000	33,200	32,700
Retirement Age†	3,200	3,400	3,100
Movers from Wales
Working Age*	32,500	33,000	31,400
Retirement Age†	2,700	2,800	2,800

£ million
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83*
Marketing Year
Beef Premium Scheme	†0·0	0·1	4·2	0·4	0·3
Suckler Cow Premium Scheme	—	—	1·9	1·8	1·8
Sheep Variable Premium Scheme	—	—	7·5	12·6	23·0
Annual Premium of Ewes	—	—	—	7·7	5·3
Calendar Year
EC School Milk Subsidy	0·4	0·9	0·8	0·4	0·2
Dairy Herd Conversion Scheme	0·5	*0·0	—	—	—
Milk Non-Marketing Premiums	0·8	1·2	2·2	2·4	1·4
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Scheme (includes Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme)	4·9	7·2	11·0	10·0	14·6
Hill livestock Compensatory Allowances	13·4	14·6	19·8	23·0	23·5
Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Scheme (Includes Farm and Horticulture Capital Grant Scheme)	6·6	6·9	8·9	8·9	13·2
EC Marketing and Processing Grants	0·5	0·1	0·4	0·6	0·7
Total	27·1	31·0	56·7	67·8	84·0
* Estimate.
† Less than £0·05 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with trade unions concerning the future of the Property Services Agency offices in Wales and their strategic involvement in coping with civil emergencies and disasters.

None; discussion with the trade unions representing the staff of the Property Services Agency is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. However, my Department is in touch with the Property Services Agency and will be consulted before any decisions of significance for employment in Wales are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers there are in Wales at the latest available date; and how many of them are part-time.

At June 1982 the number of principal farmers and partners totalled 26,897, of which 7,231 were part-time. In addition there were also 7,711 other partners and directors doing farm work, of which 2,760 were part-time.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount paid to farmers in Wales in grants, loans, and subsidies in each of the most recent five years for which figures are available.

Total United Kingdom payments are shown in table 26 of the "Annual Review of Agriculture 1983" White Paper (Cmnd. 8804). The only separate figures for Wales which can be readily identified are as follows:

asked the Attorney-General if, in view of the fact that Patrick Auld, a 21-month-old child, had to attend the Crumlin road Crown court on Tuesday 8 February to appeal against a £50 fine for failing to turn up for jury service, he will take steps to prevent a repeat of such a mistake; and if he will estimate the costs involved in this; if he will set out the reasons for this mistake; and what action has been or will be taken against those responsible.

This mistake was due to an isolated clerical error. Immediately the true circumstances came to light, the fine was remitted.No further action is required.The cost involved in this was the cost of a recorded delivery letter and the cost of making an entry in an internal book of account. To this must now be added the cost of answering the question.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will publish in the Official Report as much detailed information giving for as long a period as possible the number of cases where the Director of Public Prosecutions has been asked to investigate claims and charges against the police and the cases have not progressed for stated reasons, including the double jeopardy rule; in how many latter cases private prosecutions or civil actions have followed; and with what results in each stated instance.

The information requested by the hon. Member cannot be given. The Director of Public Prosecutions does not investigate any allegations, whether against police officers or civilians. The double jeopardy rule, as the term is used in relation to complaints against police officers, is not a consideration that affects the Director's decision whether or not to institute criminal proceedings in cases that are referred to him, but refers to the institution of disciplinary proceedings, which are not a matter for the Director. No record is kept of private prosecutions or civil actions in respect of matters that have been referred to the Director.

asked the Attorney-General if, in view of the high level of legal costs awarded by courts, he will move to appoint a committee of inquiry to ascertain why the costs are high; and whether action might be taken to reduce them.

The bill of costs in any individual case may, at the request of either party, be examined by the appropriate officer to ensure that the amounts charged are reasonable. More generally, procedures are reviewed from time to time with costs in mind. In view of the large number of reports and inquiries relating to this subject in recent years, it is not thought that at this juncture a further inquiry is more likely to yield useful results than the normal processes of administration and reform.

asked the Attorney-General if he has been asked to consider any action pursuant to the section 165 inquiry into Corporate Management Planning Ltd.; what action he is considering; and if he will make a statement.

The affairs of this company are being investigated by the south Yorkshire police, who will forward a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions in due course. I do not propose to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from India on the removal of the military base on Diego Garcia and Mauritian sovereignty; if the United Kingdom representative on the United Nations committee on the Indian ocean voted on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

The Government of India have indicated to us their opposition to the presence of military forces of non-littoral states in the Indian ocean and their support for Mauritius' claim to the Chagos Archipelago.The Mauritian claim has not been the subject of a vote by the United Nations ad hoc committee on the Indian ocean.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to amend the Diplomatic Privileges Act of 1964 to enable local authorities and other public organisations to recoup loss of rates and payments, where overseas representatives are at present protected by diplomatic privelege.

No. The Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964, in respect of the premises of the mission and in respect of diplomatic agents, provides for exemption from municipal dues and taxes, except those payable for specific services rendered. Where such exemption has been granted under the 1964 Act, it is the practice for the Treasury to bear the non-beneficial portion of the rates—the part not reflecting specific services rendered—while the mission concerned bears the beneficial portion.It is the practice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to make representations to heads of mission in cases where the mission itself or a member of its staff owes money to any public or private organisation and where diplomatic immunity precludes legal action against the debtor.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to co-ordinate action with other countries of the European Community in order to ascertain the fate of Community citzens and nationals who disappeared in Argentina after the military coup in April 1976, following their arrest by the security forces, in order to establish whether they are alive or dead.

The European Community Governments concerned have made frequent bilateral representations to the Argentine Government about their missing nationals. The Ten have frequently discussed and have taken a consistent stand against violations of human rights of this kind. Regular discussion of these tragic disappearances takes place at the annual meetings of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which receives annually the report of the United Nations working group of independent experts investigating individual cases. We consider that this approach at present offers the best hope of progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed by his noble Friend the Minister of State with the Government of Turkey during his recent visit; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend visited Turkey from 12 to 16 January to attend celebrations in Ankara marking 400 years of Anglo-Turkish diplomatic relations and to have talks with the Turkish Government. He discussed with Turkish Ministers many matters which interest both Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report his reply to a message submitted on 16 February by the executive committee of the Council of Churches in Namibia to each member of the western Five contact group concerning the current position in Namibia.

We are studying the message from the Namibian Council of Churches, together with our colleagues in the Five. I shall ensure that any formal reply is published as the hon. Member proposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British embassies have a scientist in post; and which embassies do not.

Of the 124 British embassies and high commissions around the world, there are seven with one or more officers on their staff whose titles refer specifically to responsibility for scientific affairs. This latter total does not include officers at specialist missions—for example, the United Kingdom mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency—nor those who have some responsibility for reporting on scientific subjects but whose titles do not specifically refer to science. There are also a good many diplomats serving in British embassies who have scientific qualifications, but whose present functions are not specifically related to science.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to instruct British embassies to press the advantages of British information technology and to follow up inquiries about British firms and products.

Working closely with the British Overseas Trade Board—BOTB—and the British Information Technology Export Organisation, diplomatic service posts are already under instruction to press the advantages of British information technology. Commercial officers serving in priority export markets are given specialised training in this field and posts are kept aware of developments and opportunities.Inquiries about British firms and products are processed in the usual way through the BOTB.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will compare the forms and value of agricultural support for wheat producers in (a) Great Britain, (b) the European Economic Community and (c) the United States of America.

Under the Community system, which is operated in Great Britain, wheat producers obtain their returns entirely from the market. Market prices are supported by levies which bring the price of imports up to a minimum threshold level; by intervention buying operated throughout the year for feedgrain and, usually, at a rather higher price level—the reference price—for wheat of breadmaking quality during part of the season; and by export refunds, to enable surplus grain to be exported on to the world market.In the United States the market price is identical with the world price since there are no import levies or export subsidies. However, Government loans are available to producers which they may redeem either from sale proceeds or by delivering the grain to a Government agency: the rate at which these loans are made tends to set a floor to the market since the producers eligible for loans have no incentive to sell their grain for less than the loan plus interest. In addition, producers receive deficiency payments to bridge any gap between the average market price over the first five months of the season, or the loan rate if higher, and a target price. Loans and deficiency payments are normally made only to producers who undertake to restrict the area sown to wheat to a given level. In 1982–83 further inducements, in the form of cash and free grain from Government stocks, are available to producers who make additional reductions in the sown area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total United Kingdom butter consumption for each year since 1973; and, in each year, what proportion was subsidised, including New Zealand imports at a reduced levy.

The following figures show total United Kingdom butter consumption and the total amount of butter on which subsidy was paid in the United Kingdom—including New Zealand imports at a reduced levy—for the years 1973–82. These figures are not directly comparable since there is a time lag between payment of subsidy, or import with a reduced levy, and consumption. It is not possible therefore to say what proportion of butter consumed in any one year was subsidised.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the total cost of subsidies paid from Community funds to sugar exporters within the European Community in each of the last five years;(2) what was the amount of subsidy paid to sugar exporters from European Community funds in each member state in each of the last five years.

Community expenditure on export refunds for sugar over the past five years is detailed in the following table.The figure for 1982 is a provisional forecast of expenditure prepared by the Commission. I regret that a breakdown by member states is not yet available.Part of these costs is financed through a levy on European Community producers.

Table EC Expenditure on Export Refunds for Sugar 1978–1982
mecus (£ million)
	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982 provisional
Belgium	115(77)	162(105)	46(28)	66(37)
Denmark	32(21)	28(18)	6(4)	18(10)
Germany	152(101)	97(63)	60(36)	76(42)
Greece	—	—	—	—
France	300(199)	345(224)	149(90)	203(113)
Ireland	—	3(2)	3(2)	—
Italy	—	—	—	14(8)
Luxembourg	—	—	—	—
Netherlands	39(26)	43(28)	19(11)	26(15)
United Kingdom	2(1)	7(5)	3(2)	6(3)
EC Total	640(425)	685(445)	286(173)	409(228)	744(410)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total sugar beet acreages, under the A, B and C quotas, in each member state of the European Community in each of the last five years.

Quotas apply to quantities of sugar produced, not to area sown. The total area sown to sugar beet—other than for the production of alcohol—in each member state in each of the past five years is as follows. There is no production in Luxembourg.

	(thousand hectares)
	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Denmark	75	73	75	76	76
Germany	411	405	414	464	428

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total production of sugar beet, under the A, B, and C quotas, in each member state of the European Community in each of the last five years.

This information is not readily available. Community statistics are recorded in terms of sugar, not of sugar beet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards negotiations for a new international sugar agreement in 1984.

The Government have consistently favoured Community accession to the international sugar agreement and will support the granting of a mandate to the Commission enabling it to take a full part in the negotiation of a new agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers there were in England at the latest available date; and how many of these were part-time.

The information requested is set out at page 6 of "Statistical Information Notice 35/83", published on 4 February 1983.I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount paid to farmers in England in grants, loans and subsidies in each of the most recent five years for which figures are available.

Information on public expenditure under the common agricultural policy and on national grants and subsidies in the United Kingdom is provided in table 26 of the "Annual Review of Agriculture 1983" White Paper (Cmnd. 8804) which was presented to Parliament yesterday. Separate figures for England are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of new entrants in 1982 to the general duties branch of the Royal Air Force as pilots or navigators did so on short service engagements of eight or 12 years' duration.

Nearly one third.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the unions and management of British Aerospace concerning the possible development of ALARM as an active defence suppression weapon.

British Aerospace management has made representations to Defence Ministers on numerous occasions. A number of representations have also been received from unions, for the most part through hon. Members, including my hon. Friend himself.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that any service man or civilian who was involved in the nuclear bomb testing programme will be given his full medical and radiation dose records on his request.

Medical records held by the Ministry of Defence are, like all other medical records in this country, subject to the principle of medical confidentiality, which means that a doctor can only normally release them, with the individual's consent, to another doctor for medical purposes for the benefit of the individual. Radiation dose records are, however, treated as confidential to the person concerned and, on request, the Ministry of Defence will release to the individual, or his authorised representative, the summary statement of his radiation dose received during the nuclear tests.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the reference for the quotation from Admiral Gorshkov included in his Department's advertisement in The Sunday Times colour supplement on 21 November 1982; and why his Department has not yet responded to the inquiry by the Advertising Standards Authority on this matter.

The advertisement contained two quotations: one from "No Soft Options" by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Hill-Norton, and the other from an article by ET Wooldridge in "Orbis", Vol. XVIII, No. 4.The Advertising Standards Authority's inquiry was made to the advertising agency concerned. I understand that the agency will be replying to the authority in the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the liaison between his Department and the Sports Council.

Yes. My Department enjoys an excellent liaison with the Sports Council at both headquarters and regional levels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to be able to announce his proposals for reform of the rating system.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr. Fitch) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East, (Mr. Atkinson) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of Stare for the Environment when last he discussed with the representatives of local authorities plans for the abolition of the rating system; and if he will make a statement.

Local authority representatives submitted views as part of the consultation associated with the Government's Green Paper "Alternatives to Domestic Rates" (Cmnd. 8449) early last year. These have been carefully considered. I will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about additional grant for derelict land reclamation in the northern region; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has received representations from the North of England County Councils Association and from Durham county council asking for an increase in the allocations for derelict land in the northern region. As my right hon. Friend announced on 15 February,—[Vol. 37, c. 161–72]—the resources available for expenditure on reclamation in England as a whole have been increased from some £45·0 million this year to £75 million for 1983–84. Regional allocations will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the north of England county council association on derelict land reclamation in the northern region.