asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much his Department spent in the past 12 months on education and publicity aimed at countering discrimination against disabled people; if he will set out in the Official Report full details of the expenditure incurred; and how much is to be spent in the financial year 1983–84.

It is not possible to identify this expenditure separately within the Government's policy of promoting equality of opportunity for disabled pupils and students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of entrants at 11-plus in the assisted places scheme received (a) the maximum and (b) the minimum grant in each of the past two years.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to increase funds for unemployed students or students in hardship enrolled on Open University courses.

The Open University's recurrent grant for 1983 includes £500,000 to assist unemployed students with their fees. There are no plans to increase this sum. The University also allocates funds each year to alleviate hardship—the amount in 1982 was £405,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give fresh guidance to local education authorities regarding payment for part-time teachers during holiday periods; and if he will make a statement.

Teachers' pay is negotiated in the Burnham committees, and my right hon. Friend publishes their recommendations in statutory documents. It is for local education authorities as employers to apply the salary scales and other provisions set out in those documents. Copies of the current statutory documents, which include reference to the remuneration payable to part-time teachers, are in the Library of the House. My right hon. Friend issues no other guidance concerning payment to teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent in the past 12 months on education and publicity aimed at countering discrimination against disabled people; if he will set out in the Official Report full details of the expenditure incurred; and how much is to be spent in the financial year 1983–84.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what parental income scale will apply to the assisted places scheme in school session 1983–84.

I propose to lay regulations before the House in due course providing for an income scale as shown by the following examples:

Relevant Income £	Parental Contribution £
5,622	NIL
5,655	18
5,889	39
6,500	108
7,000	180
7,500	261
8,000	411
8,500	561
9,000	711
9,500	861
10,000	1,011
10,500	1,161
10,820	1,257

I propose also that the dependant's allowance should be £850.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce legislation to amend section 22 of the Solicitors Act 1974 with a view to widening the classes of people who can pursue conveyancing for fee, gain or reward; and whether he will make a statement.

The Royal Commission on Legal Services and the Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland made conflicting recommendations on this matter. The Government will make their views known when they have completed their consideration of the recommendations.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce legislation to bring back a scale of charges for conveyancing similar in principle to that which existed before January 1973.

A scale of charges could act to inhibit healthy competition.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that the right of barristers to draft deeds on transfer is not negated by restrictive practice agreements.

No. Professional conduct rules are intended to safeguard standards for the benefit of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report or place in the Library the letter he sent to the secretary of the National Council for Civil Liberties regarding the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill.

I have placed in the Library a copy of the memorandum which I prepared in response to comments made on part II of the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill by the National Council for Civil Liberties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what official guidance his Department is making available through citizens' advice bureaux about advice to be given to the public about all aspects of the British Nationality Act 1981.

Supplies of the main Home Office information leaflet were distributed to citizens' advice bureaux last year. Copies of the new application forms and explanatory material have been sent to a large number of individual bureaux at their request.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, when reviewing electoral law, he will consider introducing a provision whereby persons born outside the United Kingdom may be permitted to stand for election as parliamentary candidates only if reciprocal arrangements exist for persons born in the United Kingdom to stand for election in the country concerned.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has imposed any restrictions on the numbers and grades of staff employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Since May 1979, the commission's approved staff complement has been reduced from 171 posts to 166½. The commission is also required to contain staff costs within approved cash limits. In order to do this, it has found it necessary to operate with less than its full complement of staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley) on 1 February, Official Report, c. 61–2, whether he has any information as to the number of police officers in Wiltshire who have been trained in the use of baton round equipment; and if he will take steps to collect such information for all police forces.

Both the extent and the nature of training in the use of this equipment, which is the responsibility of individual chief officers of police, may alter over a brief period. We have no reason to believe that it is necessary to hold centrally details of the numbers of officers trained, in one force or all forces in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will seek negotiations with the Government of the United States of America about the implications for the export to the United States of America of British military aircraft and aero engines of the specialty metals amendment to the Military Appropriations Bill 1983.

My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement will be discussing the issue with the United States Department of Defence during his current visit to the United States. Congress has waived the need for United States specialty metals to be incorporated in weapons and weapons systems procured under the "two way street". We await formal advice on how the waiver is to be interpreted, but if it imposes restrictions on the export of United Kingdom defence material to the United States under the "two way street" we will press for amending legislation to be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the purchase of (a) British made helicopters and (b) helicopters of other manufacture.

Following the former Secretary of State's announcement in the House on 1 July 1982, we have placed orders with Westland Helicopters Limited for an additional 11 Sea King helicopters for the Royal Navy, and with Boeing Vertol in the United States for three Chinooks for the Royal Air Force. We expect shortly to order from Westlands three additional Lynx for the Royal Navy. We also plan to order from Boeing Vertol up to five more Chinooks as announced in Cmnd. 8758. The need for further purchases of helicopters is kept under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made by his Department of the Westland 30 helicopter and the proposed EH 101.

We are currently assessing the suitability of several helicopters, including a military version of the Westland 30, to meet future Royal Air Force requirements. We have also carried out a technical and financial assessment of the Westland 30 on behalf of the Department of Industry in the context of Westland's application for launch aid. So far as the EH101 is concerned, a period of joint project definition has been completed in collaboration with Italy and proposals for the launch of a full development phase of the project are now under consideration by both Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the country of manufacture of the cars officially supplied to United Kingdom diplomatic staff at United Kingdom embassies and high commissions in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for January 1980 and January 1983, respectively, the unemployment figures for (a) Wales and (b) each county in Wales, separately, distinguishing males and females by age, using the following categories (i) under 18 years, (ii) 18 years, (iii) 19 years, (iv) 20 to 24 years, (v) 25 to 29 years, (vi) 30 to 34 years, (vii) 35 to 44 years, (viii) 45 to 49 years, (ix) 50 to 54 years, (x) 55 to 59 years, (xi) 60 to 64 years, (xii) 65 years and over and (xiii) the total for all ages disaggregating each of the age categories into the following categories of the weekly duration of unemployment (1) one week or less, (2) over one week and up to two weeks, (3) over two and up to four weeks, (4) over four and up to six weeks, (5) over six and up to eight weeks, (6) over eight and up to 13 weeks, (7) over 13 and up to 26 weeks, (8) over 26 and up to 39 weeks, (9) over 39 and up to 52 weeks, (10) over 52 and up to 65 weeks, (11) over 65 and up to 78 weeks, (12) over 78 and up to 104 weeks, (13) over 104 and up to 156 weeks, (14) over 156 weeks and (15) the totals.

The detailed information in respect of January 1983 is not yet available. I shall write to the hon. Member.

Age	Up to 26 weeks	Over 26 and up to 52 weeks	Over 52 and up to 104 weeks	Over 104 and up to 156 weeks	Over 156 weeks
Under 18	1,057	241	90	—	—
18 to 24	2,866	1,238	959	360	51
25 to 34	1,754	865	732	342	108
35 to 44	982	492	460	268	128
45 to 64*	1,481	932	1,112	497	392
65 and over	2	5	9	10	10
All ages	8,142	3,773	3,362	1,477	689
* Includes females aged 60 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in Walthamstow/Leyton; and what has been the percentage increase since May 1979.

At January 1983, the number of unemployed claimants in the area covered by the Walthamstow and Leytonstone jobcentre was 10,959.Between May 1979 and October 1982 the number of people registered as unemployed—the old basis of the count—in the area increased by 188 per cent. Between October 1982 and January 1983 the number of

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent in the past 12 months on education and publicity aimed at countering discrimination against disabled people; if he will set out in the Official Report full details of the expenditure incurred; and how much is to be spent in the financial year 1983–84.

It is not possible separately to identify expenditure in this way. A key aim of Government policy is to promote the integration of disabled people by increasing public awareness of their problems, by encouraging full use of their abilities and skills and by breaking down the barriers they often face. This is reflected in a whole range of activities carried out in Wales by both the statutory authorities and voluntary organisations, many of which receive Government support.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of unemployed in the Newham area of east London; and if he will subdivide this (a) by age in the following categories (i) under 18 years, (ii) 18 to 24 years, (iii) 25 to 34 years, (iv) 35 to 44 years and (v) 45 to 64 years and (b) by duration in the following categories: (i) up to 26 weeks, (ii) 27 to 52 weeks., (iii) 53 to 104 weeks, (iv) 105 to 156 weeks and (v) over 156 weeks.

At 13 January, the number of unemployed claimants in the area covered by the East Ham, Plaistow and Stratford jobcentres, which corresponds closely to Newham, was 17,443. An analysis of this figure according to the age and duration categories specified was as follows:unemployed claimants—the new basis of the count—increased by 3 per cent. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the jobcentres in Suffolk, indicating which are due for closure.

The jobcenteres and employment offices in Suffolk are as follows:

• Beccles
• Brandon
• Bungay
• Bury St. Edmunds
• Felixstowe
• Halesworth
• Haverhill
• Ipswich
• Leiston
• Lowestoft
• Mildenhall
• Newmarket
• Stowmarket
• Sudbury
• Woodbridge

A number of these will be reviewed in the course of the next 18 months, but at present there are no definite plans to close any.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors are employed in Scotland now; and what was the number in 1979.

The number of Her Majesty's factory inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive in Scotland at 1 February 1983 was 68. The number of factory inspectors employed in Scotland at 1 February 1979 was 81.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the homeworking advisory committee last met; when it will next meet; whether its agenda has been agreed; what items are to be discussed; what representations he has received in support of maintaining the committee; and when he will announce a decision about the future of the committee and of the homeworking unit within the Wages Inspectorate.

The homeworking advisory committee last met on 24 January 1979. No further meetings are being arranged at present. We have received no recent representations about the committee. We have no present plans for changes to the homeworking unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department spent in the past 12 months on education and publicity aimed at countering discrimination against disabled people; if he will set out in the Official Report full details of the expenditure incurred; and how much is to be spent in the financial year 1983–84.

Expenditure by the Manpower Services Commission is directed towards promoting the abilities of disabled people and equal opportunities for them in employment. Details of anticipated expenditure —excluding staff costs—for the 12 months ending 31 March 1983 and the estimated expenditure for 1983–84 are as follows:

'Fit for Work' Campaign	Anticipated Out-turn 1982–83	Estimate 1983–84
	£	£
Exhibitions—conferences	11,000	15,000
'New Outlook' newspaper	32,000	43,000

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action local authorities have taken to ensure that young people employed under the Government's youth training programme are adequately protected from the dangers of excessive noise at work.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 February 1983, c. 527]: Under the youth training scheme managing agents, including local authorities, will have a contractual responsibility to take necessary steps to secure the health, safety and welfare of all young people participating in the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many injuries in the farming industry were reported in 1982 arising from exposure to dangerous levels of noise;(2) how many injuries were reported in the road haulage industry during 1982 arising from exposure to dangerous levels of noise;(3) how many injuries were reported during 1982 in the mining and engineering industries arising from exposure to dangerous levels of noise.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 February 1983, c. 527]: In 1982 there were 624 cases—provisional figures—of occupational deafness in all industries, reported under the industrial injuries scheme as a prescribed disease. Not all of the processes covered by the scheme occur in the categories of industry mentioned. I am investigating the possibility of obtaining a further breakdown of the figure and will write to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate the business connections between building societies and insurance companies.

No. I understand that the Director General of Fair Trading has the situation under observation.

asked the Minister for Trade what are the arrangements for discussing consumer affairs at ministerial level within the European Community and with other member states.

Although there are no arrangements for regular meetings of Ministers responsible for consumer affairs within the Community, consumer affairs are discussed within the Council of Ministers whenever this is appropriate. Bilateral ministerial discussions on consumer affairs also take place from time to time; for example, I plan to discuss these matters with the French Minister for Consumer Affairs when I visit Paris at her invitation on 22–23 March.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will cause an investigation to be made into possible insider share dealings in the firm of Berwick Timpo plc, in the two or three days before the company called in the receivers when the shares dropped from 20p to 5p and the Stock Exchange expressed concern over the matter.

I understand that the Stock Exchange has instigated a preliminary inquiry into dealings in the shares of Berwick Timpo plc and will report its findings to my Department in due course.

asked the Minister for Trade when he intends to give effect to the provisions of part II of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 providing that, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, services must be supplied with reasonable care, within a reasonable time and at a reasonable price.

I refer the hon. and learned Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 15 December 1982.—[Vol. 31, c. 153.]

asked the Minister for Trade from whom he has received complaints in the past year concerning abuses by doorstep salesmen; and by which local authorities he has been approached over the past two years concerning such abuses.

In the past year I have received about 20 complaints from, or on behalf of, individual consumers about the activities of doorstep salesmen. In the past two years, Greater Manchester council, South Yorkshire county council and Oxfordshire county council have made representations concerning the doorstep sales provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

asked the Minister for Trade if he has received the review by the Civil Aviation Authority of its future administration; and if he will make a statement.

The chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority has sent me the initial conclusions of the review that he has been carrying out, and I am at present studying them.

asked the Minister for Trade if a decision has yet been made on the resiting of the Civil Aviation Authority's headquarters.

I understand that the authority has decided that in principle it wishes to move its headquarters to a site outside central London provided that certain practical operational problems can be overcome.

asked the Minister for Trade what discussions he has had with the United States Administration about the application of United States laws to the subsidiaries in the United Kingdom of United States corporations, in particular in relation to the countering of the Arab trade boycott of Israel; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 24 February 1983, c. 487]: This is a long standing problem on which our discussions with the United States Administration have recently been intensified because of the impending review of the United States Export Administration Act. The Act is one of the principal laws which is applied extra-territorially and regulations made under it include those relating to the countering of the Arab trade boycott of Israel. We have made it clear that we regard the application of these laws to companies registered and doing business in the United Kingdom as quite unjustified and contrary to international law.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the cost of erecting a central safety fence along the stretches of the A38 road between Exam and Plymouth (a) at the end of the three-lane carriageway as it converges near the Lyneham Inn, Plympton, to a point opposite the Smithaleigh Farm entry, (b) the area of Drybridge and (c) Lynhay Hill between the slip road to Ashburton east exit and the subsequent slip road exit from the Ashburton area.

The estimated cost of providing central reserve safety fencing at these locations is of the order of £150,000. Costs for the individual lengths are:

	£
i. Lynham Inn to Smithaleigh	40,000
ii. Drybridge	45,000
iii. Linhay Hill	65,000

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish any recent figures showing the effect of training upon motor cycle rider accidents.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport for which car ferry crossings—floating bridges—his Department is responsible.

Ferries are generally owned or operated by local authorities, harbour undertakings or private operators, but fares on the following four ferry services must be approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport:

• Blyth—Cambois in Northumberland
• Bournemouth—Swanage in Dorset
• Dartmouth—Kingswear (Higher Ferry) in Devon
• Renfrew Ferry across the River Clyde

Certain ferries may not be closed without the consent of the Secretary of State, and under section 2 of the Ferries (Acquisition by Local Authorities) Act 1919 he is the confirming authority for regulations regarding the working of ferries acquired by local authorities under that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his powers to assume responsibility for car ferry crossings—floating bridges—currently undertaken by local authorities.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the average and maximum waiting period for motor cycle driving tests in London, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and nationally.

Waiting periods for motor cycle driving tests are:

	Part I at HGV Centres (weeks)		Part II (weeks)
	Average	Maximum	Average	Maximum
London (Metropolitan Traffic Area)	22	35	13½	18
Leeds	16	16	4	4
Manchester	8	11	8	10
Birmingham	20	20	8	12
Nationally	10	35	8½	18

Part I waiting periods are for those tests conducted by the Department. The information requested is not available for appointed training organisations, who conduct part I tests during training courses, but several training organisations report it to be much shorter.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the EC Transport Council meeting which he attended on 23 February.

The Council held a wide-ranging discussion on inland transport policy and considered a communication from the Commission on how progress could be made. In setting out the United Kingdom's views, I emphasised the importance of balanced transport policies within which each mode could make its full contribution to meeting transport needs, on the basis of fair competition. I stressed the need for a new and sustained initiative towards liberalising road tranport, reducing transport costs and removing unnecessary barriers to trade. Ideally there should be complete abolition of quantitative restrictions on road haulage between member states, and at the very least substantial and frequent increases in the number of Community road haulage permits. Second, the Council should rapidly complete agreement on important proposals to improve the organisation at frontiers where inefficiencies are currently costing industry hundreds of millions of pounds a year. Third, higher priority needed to be given to the current review of EC drivers' hours legislation where the current over-rigidity of the rules hampered the efficiency and flexibility of our transporters.The meeting was intended to discuss broad priorities, rather than reach specific conclusions. There was, however, considerable support from other member states for easing restrictions on international road transport, which I expect the Commission to take into account in putting forward proposals for revision of the current Community quota system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government still retain the use of the factory constructed at Warren Row, near Wargrave, Berkshire, during the second world war.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department spent in the past 12 months on education and publicity aimed at countering discrimination against disabled people; if he will set out in the Official Report full details of the expenditure incurred; and how much is to be spent in the financial year 1983–84.

There is expenditure within a wide range of my Department's programmes which is directed to promote the integration of disabled people in the community, in particular to enable them to occupy housing which is adapted to their needs. Where it is appropriate and useful to do so in support of policy, the Department conducts and publishes studies in relation to these needs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current acreage and the location of sites and properties in Berkshire at the disposal of the Property Services Agency or administered by it.

The information requested is as follows:

Berkshire
Address	Acreage (Hectares)	Ala (M2)
Crown
READING
Crown Buildings, Coley Park	8·650	10,920
Bennett Road	—	33
35 Ardler Road	0·910	58
South Street	0·121	522
NEWBURY
DTC Link Road 2·471	300
HERMITAGE
Buffer Depot	3·300	4,056
READING
Liverpool Road	—	1,787
Manor Farm Industrial Estate	1·720	5,410
Artillery House	—	2,386
BRADFIELD
UKWMO	0·031	11
ENBORNE
UKWMO	0·030	11
STREATLEY
UKWMO	0·030	11
NEWBURY
Reception Centre	0·730	1,225
HGVTS Turnpike Road, Shaw	—	2,524
33 Chandros Road	—	80

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will be seeking the views of the Ordnance Survey advisory board on the proposal to establish a trading fund for the Ordnance Survey.

Following the debate in another place of Lord Shackleton's motion, the Government have been considering how best to proceed. It is hoped to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Ordnance Survey advisory board will be required to make an annual report to Parliament of its activities and of the advice it gives to the Secretary of State and to the Ordnance Survey director general.

The Ordnance Survey advisory board has been appointed to advise the Secretary of State and the Ordnance Survey on the framework of policies and measures within which the Ordnance Survey should operate. The board is not required to make an annual report to Parliament of its activities and advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the establishment of a trading fund for the Ordnance Survey would improve the public accountability of the survey, as required under section 1(1) of the Government Trading Funds Act 1973.

Under a trading fund regime, Ministers will remain accountable for the work of the Ordnance Survey exactly as at present. The Government believe that under such an arrangement management accountability will be improved by giving Ordnance Survey more clearly defined tasks, greater freedom as to how it performs them, and then holding OS management firmly responsible for the results achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the Ordnance Survey has received by way of licence fees from all sources during each of the past five years.

Ordnance Survey copyright receipts for the past five financial years were:

	£ million
1981–82	6·3
1980–81	5·5
1979–80	5·8
1978–79	3·7
1977–78	3·8

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider his decision not to allow cylists to push their cycles along Tower wharf.

I have already given the most careful consideration to this request for access to Tower wharf. It would not be right to extend its present use in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the numbers of council house relets for each year since 1970; and if he will also present the data as a percentage of the total number of council dwellings.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for the city of Leicester for each year since 1979 the number of applications to buy council houses and the number actually sold.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will review the efficiency and methods of the Northern Ireland land registry, taking into consideration the working and results of the corresponding registry for England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. A review of the organisation and efficiency of the Northern Ireland land registry started in October 1982, with close and helpful advice from the land registry for England and Wales. There has been a substantial reduction in the backlog of work already: I am now considering proposals for eventual computerisation of the operations of the Northern Ireland land registry.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent in the past 12 months on education and publicity aimed at countering discrimination against disabled people; if he will set out in the Official Report full details of the expenditure incurred; and how much is to be spent in the financial year 1983–84.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many claims for compensation have been made arising from injury or death from the use of plastic bullets in the Province; and how many have been settled to the latest date;(2) in how many cases regarding injuries sustained by plastic bullets compensation has been awarded; and if he will state the amounts of such awards.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 February 1983, c. 545]: Forty-three claims have been made against the police authority for Northern Ireland in respect of injury or death allegedly caused by plastic baton rounds fired by the police. As at 18 February, one claim had been settled out of court and one had been rejected by the courts.In addition, some claims have been made under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977. Information regarding the exact number of such claims and awards could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but the number of awards is thought to have been small. The number of claims in respect of injuries allegedly caused by baton rounds fired by Army personnel is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the age, sex, date of fatality and circumstances of sustaining the fatal injury of all those who have died as a result of the use of plastic bullets, and giving the coroner's verdict in each case for 1981 and 1982.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 February 1983, c. 545]: The names, age, sex and date of death of those who have died as the result of the use of plastic baton rounds are as follows:

	Name	Age	Sex	Date of death
1.	Stephen Geddis	10	Male	30 August 1975
2.	Brian Stewart	13	Male	10 October 1976
3.	Michael Donnelly	20	Male	9 August 1980
4.	Paul Whitters	15	Male	15 April 1981
5.	Julie Livingstone	14	Female	13 May 1981
6.	Carol Ann Kelly	12	Female	22 May 1981
7.	Henry Duffy	45	Male	22 May 1981
8.	Nora McCabe	30	Female	9 July 1981
9.	Peter Doherty	33	Male	31 July 1981
10.	Peter McGinness	41	Male	9 August 1981
11.	Stephen McConomy	11	Male	19 April 1982

I am writing to the hon. Member with the information he has requested about the circumstances in each case and the coroner's verdict on the fatalities between 1981 and 1982. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Sir T. Kitson) on 22nd February, what steps she has taken to seek competitive tenders from British food firms for the supply to British forces in the Falkland Islands of commodities such as tinned beef.

Competitive tenders are already sought from United Kingdom firms for all central purchases of food by the Ministry of Defence for the Armed Forces, whether in the Falkland Islands or elsewhere. British bacon, British turkeys, and British pork have been supplied to the forces in the Falklands. All tinned beef is purchased from United Kingdom suppliers although the origin of the meat is not recorded. Overall the food purchased centrally by the Ministry of Defence is of British origin where available and whenever this represents value for money, and does not conflict with our international obligations.

asked the Prime Minister what assessment she has made of the effect of her guidance to Government Departments that, where all other matters are equal, they should buy British; and if she can give examples where British goods have been bought in preference to foreign goods in such circumstances.

It is the Government's policy to buy British goods whenever they are competitively priced and well made. This policy has been effective. In 1981, Government Departments purchased 96 per cent. of the goods and services they required from British firms. I hope that this figure will increase further, as British suppliers improve their competitiveness.

asked the Prime Minister how many semiskilled and unskilled workers have gained help from the employment transfer scheme at the latest available date.

Comprehensive statistics are not available in the form requested. However a sample survey of the 5,078 beneficiaries of the employment transfer scheme in 1982 suggests that about 37 per cent. of them were semi-skilled or unskilled.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much butter has been sold in the United Kingdom over the last three complete years.

Figures on sales of butter are not available. Consumption of butter in the last three complete years is as follows:

	1980	1981	1982
Butter consumption			290,000
(metric tonnes)	367,000	334,000	(forecast)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date he expects the transfer of ownership of the national collections of industrial and marine bacteria to take place.

Further to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend on 5 November 1982—[Vol. 31, c. 9–10]—and following the transfer ceremony on 26 November 1982, the formal transfer of the collections to the National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Limited will take place on 1 March 1983. A copy of the final agreement with the company has today been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will extend home responsibilities protection for a year in which the person being cared for and in receipt of attendance allowance dies shortly before the end of the year; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will extend home responsibilities protection to cover cases where a person receiving care spends more than four weeks in hospital and therefore loses attendance allowance if the carer can demonstrate that she or he is still effectively precluded from regular employment; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to change the basis for eligibility of home responsibilities protection.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which organisations and how many hon. and right hon. Members and other individuals, respectively, have made representations to him about the inadequacy of the death grant in (a) 1982 and (b) 1983 to the nearest convenient date; and if he will make a statement.

In 1982 I received 792 representations calling for an increase in the level of the death grant. Of these, 230 came from right hon. and hon. Members on behalf of various individuals and organisations, 245 came from individuals and 317 from organisations.So far for 1983 I have received 39 such representations of which 27 came from hon. and right hon. Members on behalf of various individuals and organisations, 11 from individuals and 1 from an organisation.Organisations fell into the following main groups:—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much his Department spent in the past 12 months on education and publicity aimed at countering discrimination against disabled people; if he will set out in the Official Report full details of the expenditure incurred; and how much is to be spent in the financial year 1983–84.

It is not possible to isolate expenditure for this purpose. A key aim of Government policy is to promote the integration of disabled people by increasing public awareness of their problems and abilities, and breaking down the barriers they often face. Ministers take every opportunity to emphasise this and it is reflected in a whole range of activities carried out not only by Government Departments and other statutory authorities, but also in the support the Government give to disability organisations in the voluntary sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much higher in real terms social security expenditure is estimated to be on the disabled in 1982–83 compared with 1978–79.

Benefit expenditure on disabled people and the long-term sick, as defined in table 2.12.2, page 62 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1983–84 to 1985–86", Cmnd. 8789-II, was 9 per cent. higher in real terms in 1981–82 than in 1978–79. Expenditure cannot be expressed in real terms for 1982–83 until the overall increase in prices during 1982–83 is known; in cash terms it is expected to be 19 per cent. higher than in 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will require pharmacists to inform customers where a drug is available over the counter more cheaply than the price to the customer of the equivalent drug prescribed in a National Health Service prescription.

A pharmacist's National Health Service terms of service require him to dispense only in accordance with an order written on a prescription form signed by a doctor or a dentist. If, however, a medicine prescribed can be supplied without a prescription at a price below any charge due under the NHS, the pharmacist can, if he wishes, inform the patient of this fact.Any extension of these limited arrangements must await the Government's conclusions on the report of the informal working group on effective prescribing and I will ensure that this suggestion is taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria his Department use in determining target prices for the purposes of the drug tariff; if he will make the target prices for all drugs approved by his Department available to hon. Members; and, pursuant to the letter of 21 February to the right hon. Member for Doncaster, what is the target price for glycerol trinitrate.

The criteria used for determining drug tariff target prices for those generic drugs that are widely prescribed and generally available involve the calculation of a weighted average price based on the trade prices of several established manufacturers of generic drugs, whose products are available nationwide. Drug tariff prices for prescribed branded preparations are the trade prices charged by their manufacturers. All these prices are subject to adjustment under the reimbursement arrangements for the pharmacies which dispense the drugs. This adjustment is achieved by withholding a percentage from the ingredient costs reimbursed, to cover discounts and other advantageous terms obtained by pharmacies. The withholding operates on a sliding scale according to monthly turnover, and is subject to review when the results of periodic inquiries into reimbursement are known. One such inquiry is under way at present.I am sending the right hon. Member a copy of the 1982 drug tariff, with amendments, and am having a further copy placed in the Library. This statutory publication explains the terms for reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacists contracted to the National Health Service, and is issued free to prescribers as well as pharmacists. The prices that the right hon. Member seeks are on pages 18–42 and the withholding (discount) scale is on page 128. The 1983 drug tariff is now being printed:The current drug tariff prices for glycerold trinitrate are:

	Pence
300 micrograms, per 100 tablets	62
500 micrograms, per 100 tablets	41
600 micrograms, per 100 tablets	56

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many social workers there are in each London borough by grade; and how many are training officers.

Figures of the number of Social Workers by grade, and the number of training officers, in each

	Directory, management, professional and advisory staff	Senior Social Workers	Other Social Workers	CommunityWorkers	Trainee Social Workers	Social Work (Welfare) Assistants	Total
Borough
Barking	11·0	26·0	29·0	0·0	0·0	6·0	72·0
Barnet	30·0	22·7	74·0	1·0	6·0	22·8	156·5
Bexley	12·0	21·0	54·9	0·0	3·0	16·0	106·9
Brent	33·0	26·0	148·4	10·0	0·0	14·0	231·4
Bromley	15·0	20·0	81·9	0·0	16·0	13·5	146·4
Camden	63·0	34·0	210·6	18·0	0·0	23·7	349·3
City of London	6·0	4·6	13·5	0·0	0·0	0·0	24·1
Croydon	51·0	17·8	89·3	12·6	17·0	9·0	196·7
Ealing	28·0	21·0	105·2	8·9	0·0	14·0	177·1
Enfield	16·0	22·5	80·1	6·0	0·0	23·0	147·6
Greenwich	25·0	61·1	84·0	0·0	0·0	17·0	187·1
Hackney	37·0	19·0	133·7	0·0	0·0	13·7	203·4
Hammersmith	62·0	59·8	78·3	6·0	2·0	25·0	233·1
Haringey	42·5	22·0	128·7	14·0	0·0	17·0	224·2
Harrow	42·5	0·0	80·9	3·0	9·0	26·3	161·7
Havering	24·0	28·0	63·6	2·0	0·0	14·0	131·6
Hillingdon	28·0	68·7	13·5	6·5	19·1	18·5	154·3
Hounslow	38·0	54·5	40·7	3·8	11·0	12·8	160·8
Islington	36·0	33·1	138·8	2·5	0·0	0·0	210·4
Kensington	36·0	26·0	117·5	4·0	1·0	18·6	203·1
Kingston-upon-Thames*	11·0	23·0	46·5	2·0	3·0	11·5	97·0
Lambeth*	39·0	85·0	199·2	14·5	0·0	24·5	362·2
Lewisham	46·0	70·2	184·3	14·0	0·0	42·1	356·6
Merton	19·5	13·0	49·5	3·0	1·0	14·0	100·0
Newham	23·0	24·0	99·6	2·0	0·0	12·4	161·0
Redbridge	17·0	13·0	55·3	1·0	6·0	9·5	101·8
Richmond·upon·Thames	12·0	10·0	35·6	0·0	2·0	3·0	62·6
Southwark	53·0	37·0	192·1	5·0	3·0	33·0	323·1
Sutton	13·0	23·3	61·5	0·0	5·0	11·0	133·8
Tower Hamlets	32·0	37·0	124·3	4·0	8·0	18·0	223·3
Waltham Forest†	41·0	33·2	112·1	0·0	23·0	24·5	233·8
Wandsworth	52·0	85·4	155·2	9·0	11·0	54·8	367·4
Westminster	53·3	75·5	127·2	2·0	0·0	12·0	270·0
* 1977 figures.
† 1980 figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the national salary scales for social workers by grade.

Salary scales for social workers employed by local authorities are a matter for the national joint council for local authorities' administrative, professional, technical and clerical services, and for individual employers. Detailed information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many low birthweight babies needing intensive care were refused it because of a shortage of (a) cots and (b) trained nurses in each region;(2) what records are kept in his Department of the number of mothers in premature labour sent to district hospitals without neonatal intensive care facilities; and how many of their babies die soon after birth or survive handicapped.

The data are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what means he ensures that local supplementary benefit offices will keep records in older to enable identification of current supplementary benefit claimants who, although they will receive housing benefit instead of supplementary benefit after April 1982, may eventually become entitled to the long-term scale rate.

An instruction to this end was issued to local office staff on 15 October 1982.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the top income tax rates on (a) earned income and (b) unearned income in all countries of the European Community, the United States of America, Canada and Japan.

The information requested is given in the table:

	Maximum rates of income tax—earned (employment) income	Maximum rates of income tax—unearned income
	per cent.	per cent.
Belgium	74·8 (79.1)	72·0 (76·3)
Denmark	39·6 (66·4)	39·6 (66·4)
France	69·55	69·55
Germany	56	56
Greece	63·6	See Note 4
Ireland	60·0	60·0
Italy	72	72 (76·2)
Luxembourg	58·4	58·4
Netherlands	72·75	72·75
United Kingdom	60·0	75·0
United States of America	50·0 (55·5)	50·0 (55·5)
Canada	34·0 (50·3)	34·0 (50·3)
Japan	71·25 (88·35)	75·0 (93)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what stage has been reached in the negotiations between the International Monetary Fund and Brazil; and if he will make a statement.