asked the Minister for Trade what percentage, for the latest available year, of cross trade earnings of United Kingdom shipping were earned from voyages terminating in the ports of European Community countries other than the United Kingdom.

In 1978, the latest available year, the percentage was 39·5 for freight revenue from cross trade voyages into the nine European Community countries.

asked the Minister for Trade if there are any constraints imposed by the French Government on British car manufacturers when selling in the French market.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what obstacles have been created by European Community directives to the establishment of duty-free manufacturing sub-zones near airports in Europe; and if he has studied the ways in which these have been established in the United States of America.

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

asked the Minister for Trade (1) what representations his Department has received in the last three years from civil airline operators for the introduction of secondary radar (SSR) facilities at civil and military airfields in Scotland;(2) what representations his Department has received in the last three years from Scottish airport owners for the introduction of an airway between Edinburgh-Glasgow and Aberdeen;(3) what representations his Department has received in the last three years opposing the introduction of airways in Scotland; and from which organisations;(4) how many representations his Department has received in the last three years from civil airline operators for the introduction of an airway between Edinburgh-Glasgow and Aberdeen.

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

asked the Minister for Trade how many claims have been made to the Export Credits Guarantee Department to the latest date by companies affected by economic sanctions against Argentina during the Falklands conflict; how many have been resolved; and how many are still outstanding.

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

asked the Minister for Trade if he will publish a table showing (a) the total amount of the United Kingdom manufacturing exports which went to the original six members of the European Community, to the nations which now comprise the European Community and to the rest of the world, respectively, in 1982 and in each of the previous 20 years, (b) the comparable figures for imports of manufactured goods from these three groups of nations, (c) for each group the positive or negative balance of manufactured goods trade and (d) the export to import ratios for manufactured goods trade in each category.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what percentage of the United Kingdom's manufactured exports went to the original six members of the European Community, to the nations which now comprise the European Community and to the rest of the world, respectively, in 1982 and in 1972.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what were the main factors which have caused the United Kindom's balance of trade in manufactured goods to deteriorate with the European Community over the past 10 years; and what were the main factors which caused its balance in manufactured goods to improve with the rest of the world over the same period.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what information he has as to the number of liquidations and bankruptcies in the Oldham metropolitan district council area for each year since 1979.

The nearest information on bank ruptcies is the number dealt with by the county court at Oldham as given in the following table:

Year	Number of net cases
1979	12
1980	21
1981	24
1982	40

I regret that information on company liquidations by individual area is not available centrally.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) when he intends to lay the necessary draft order to increase the limit of value in the Hire Purchase Act;(2) what progress he is making with his study of comments on draft regulations under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

I have today laid before the House a draft Order in Council to increase the limit of value in the Hire-Purchase Acts from £5,000 to £7,500. This will largely restore the protection for consumers intended by Parliament when the limit was last increased in 1978 but at the same time should keep the burden on the credit industry to the minimum. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will make a similar Order, subject to negative resolution, under the Hire-Purchase (Northern Ireland) Act 1966. If approved, the orders will take effect on 1 June 1983.I have completed my study of the comments received on the draft regulations implementing the remaining provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, and I hope to lay the regulations before Parliament shortly.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will estimate the number of jobs in the European Community which depend on exports to the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for reducing the pay of probation service trainees from a scale of £4,551 to £5,529 a year to £3,558 to £5,382 a year; what is the percentage reduction in real terms; what is the estimated cash saving in aggregate; what representations he has received against the cut; and what consultations he has had.

The special and generally more favourable treatment in salaries and other financial support given to probation students sponsored by the Home Office, as compared with other social work students, had its origin in a need found in the early 1970s to attract more applicants. In recent years the number of suitable applicants has much exceeded the numbers required.The new rates are based on reductions ranging from 23 per cent. at the lower end of the scale to 0·5 per cent. at the upper end, the object being to give priority to attracting suitable mature recruits eligible for the upper points on the scale. They only apply to new entrants, not to students already in training. It is estimated that the saving in a full year will be £300,000.The change was proceeded by discussions with organisations representing employers and chief officers in the probation service and with the National Association of Probation Officers. A number of representations has subsequently been received in particular, from or on behalf of NAPO.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the institutes in which animal experimentation is taking place.

In view of the number of threats to and violent attacks upon persons believed to be involved in animal experimentation it would not be in the public interest to make available the names of the 527 places currently registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 for the performance of experiments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about independent local radio for South Yorkshire.

Following the IBA's proposals in the third report of the local radio working party, there was public support for an additional independent local radio service in Doncaster. However, the provision of a service for Doncaster could have implications for other approved ILR development in the area, in particular the ILR service for Barnsley which I approved following publication of the working party's second report. I therefore asked the IBA, as I announced on 14 July 1981 in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for East Grinstead, (Sir G. Johnson Smith) to look at the development of ILR in South Yorkshire as a whole.After further local consultations the IBA has submitted to me the following revised proposals, which I have approved. The IBA has re-examined the viability of a station serving Barnsley alone; and it has concluded that the proposed Barnsley service should be included with ILR for Sheffield and Rotherham. This addition to the Sheffield and Rotherham francise will be made when that contract is readvertised. Doncaster, and Bassetlaw with parts of Boothferry, will be advertised as a separate service; but it will be open to applicants for the Doncaster franchise to propose some form of association with Sheffield and Rotherham/Barnsley, either as a separate but associated contract, or as a composite ILR service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to seek to introduce legislation to amend section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 relating to contributions for expenses of persons returning abroad; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the wide variations between one police force and another on the availability of anti-riot equipment and training in its use, if he will take steps to ensure that police officers sent to perform mutual aid duties in police areas whose equipment and training differs from their own, are adequately protected; if he will provide further advice to police authorities about the benefits to all forces of having compatible equipment and tactics; and if he will make a statement.

It is for each chief officer of police in England ad Wales, in agreement as necessary with his police authority and taking into account advice issued centrally, to decide what public order equipment to acquire. Chief officers arrange training in the use of the equipment. We are satisfied that those concerned, both locally and in the Association of Chief Police Officers and the local authority associations, are aware of the need for police officers to have proper protection on public order duties, in the provision of mutual aid as well as within their own force areas. The police training council, on which both the police and the local authority associations are represented, has endorsed the development of arrangements for standardised public order training which take account of the mutual aid scheme. The Department will report progress on that development to the next meeting of the council, on 27 April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which regional police forces have already obtained, or are planning to instal, computers primarily intended to support (a) command and control systems, (b) criminal information systems, and (c) fully computerised criminal intelligence systems; what is his role in approving the function of the computer in each of these cases; and what independent discretion chief constables have in deciding which of these types of system is required.

A chief officer of police who wishes to obtain a computer system for any purpose requires the agreement of the police authority to the expenditure involved. My right hon. Friend's specific approval of the functions to be performed by the system is not required, but the Department provides guidance as appropriate, and is involved in research and development work. According to Home Office records, the information requested in the first part of the question is as follows:(i) "

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which inquiries each assistant boundary commissioner has heard since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

The information available from the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what lees have been paid to each assistant boundary commissioner since May 1979; and, in the case of each inquiry, how much was paid for attendance and how much for writing up.

I understand from the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England that the information could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refuse permission to enter the United Kingdom to any member of the European assembly seeking to attend meetings in the United Kingdom to discuss the internal affairs of Northern Ireland.

Anyone seeking to enter the United Kingdom would be dealt with under the immigration rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those sections of the Children Act 1975 which have not been implemented in Scotland.

The following sections of the Act which apply to Scotland have not yet been implemented:

1, 2, 9, 14–16, 18–20, 22(1), (2) and (3), 23, 25, 47–55, 66, 70, 78, 80, 95–97 and 102.

Relevent paragraphs in schedules 3 and 4 consequential to these sections also remain to be implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those sections of the Children Act 1975 not as yet implemented in Scotland but upon which consultation is taking or has taken place; and if he will report the outcome of such consultation.

Consultation has been taking place about implementation of the following sections:

(a) 14–16 and 23: freeing for adoption.

(b) 9, 18, 20, 22(3) and regulations under section 103: reports to courts, supervison of placements and appointments of curators ad litem.

(c) 19, 22(1) and (2) and 25: minor changes in adoption proceedings.

(d) 80: reviews of children in care.

(e) 66: safeguarding children's interests before the children's hearings and in consequential proceedings in the Sheriff Court.

(f) 78: safeguarding children's interests before Sheriffs in proceedings relating to the assumption of parental rights.

The resource implications for local authorities of implementing groups

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider introducing legislation for Scotland containing similar provisions on the right to purchase to those in the Housing and Building Control Bill.

The Housing and Building Control Bill is in many respects concerned with aspects of the Housing Act 1980 which differ in approach from the Tenants' Rights Etc.(Scotland) Act 1980. In addition some of the changes being made will bring the position in England and Wales closer to the existing position in Scotland. However, where changes are made which would be applicable to the existing legislation for Scotland we will certainly consider adopting them in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing associations have been created in Scotland since 1974; and how many housing association houses have been built in Scotland since that time.

Since the passing of the Housing Act 1974, 214 housing associations have been registered with the Housing Corporation in Scotland. Some 9,030 houses have been built between 1 April 1974 and 31 January 1983, and over 13,000 have been comprehensively rehabilitated by registered associations. Information about associations not registered with the Housing Corporation is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing associations in Scotland are charitable housing associations; and what is the total number of houses owned by them and by all housing associations in Scotland.

Nineteen charitable housing associations are registered with the Housing Corporation in Scotland. Nearly 21,000 completed houses are owned by housing associations registered with the Housing Corporation, of which an estimated 3,700 are in the possession of charitable housing associations. In addition, a number of houses are in housing association ownership pending the carrying out of works of rehabilitation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland of how many houses in Scotland the Housing Corporation is at present the landlord.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide support for the recommendation in the recently published report by the Highlands and Islands Development Board which proposes the setting up of a Council for Gaelic language, Comhairle Na Gaidhlig.

My right hon. Friend is currently considering the report of the Highlands and Islands Development Board's Gaelic working party and his officials will be discussing its recommendations with the board in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for grants and loans for the building of crofter housing have been approved in each of the years 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively.

The information is as follows:

Number of approved applications for assistance under the crofters building grants and loans scheme
	1979	1980	1981	1982
New Housing	151	153	116	90
Housing improvement	130	164	225	178
Total	281	317	341	268

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the level of financial assistance given by him to support the Western Isles bilingual project in primary schools.

A research project by Jordanhill college of education received grants from my Department for this purpose totalling £85,222 over the years 1975–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet a delegation from the villages of Cowie, Fallin, Plean and Throsk, as requested by the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire, before tabling the order for new Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland.

No. My right hon. Friend is under a statutory duty, as soon as may be after the Boundary Commission has submitted its report to him, to lay the report before Parliament together with the draft of an Order in Council for giving effect, whether with or without modifications, to the recommendations contained in the report. The Boundary Commission submitted its report on 18 February and my right hon. Friend laid the report and the draft order on 24 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce measures to extend the alcoholic drinks ban to junior football grounds; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so but we will continue to keep a watch on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of finance allocated to the Highlands and Islands Development Board by Her Majesty's Government in the years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82 for the purpose of providing grant and loan aid to firms setting up business within the board's areas.

In making allocations to the Highlands and Islands Development Board my right hon. Friend does not distinguish between board assistance to new enterprises and to existing businesses wishing to expand, and the board does not maintain separate statistics of assistance offered to projects in these categories. Total finance allocated to the HIDB for grant and loan assistance was as follows:

	£
1979–80	11,000,000
1980–81	11,480,000
1981–82	12,458,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firms received grants and loans from the Highlands and Islands Development Board to set up businesses in the board's area in the years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82; and how many male and female employees gained a job and are still in employment.

The Highlands and Islands Development Board's statistical records do not differentiate between new and existing firms receiving grant and loan from the board, nor between male and female jobs created. Information on numbers of firms for which the board approved assistance, and on total additional employment predicted, will be provided as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, why the Scottish criminal record office is obtaining a police national computer interface.

The Scottish criminal record office, which is not at present computerised, already has a link to the police national computer. The work being done on computerisation of the office will include provision for giving quick and efficient access from the same terminal to information on both the SCRO and PNC systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Fraserburgh economic development study which has been sent to him by the Scottish Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

As I told my hon. Friend on 11 November 1982, the study was commissioned by the Scottish Development Agency, and it is for the agency in the first instance to consider what action might be necessary and appropriate. [Vol. 31, c. 213.]

asked the Prime Minister what is the latest position regarding the proposed visit to London of a deputation from the League of Arab States led by the King of Morocco, for the purpose of explaining the decisions of the Fez conference; and, in view of the extensive time taken over preparations for this visit, whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that it would not be convenient either for the Prime Minister herself or for any other Cabinet Minister to receive for personal discussions a deputation containing a formal representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, without a prior declaration that that organisation explicitly recognises Israel's right to exist and has abandoned acts of terrorism.

We have made it clear from the outset that we warmly welcome His Majesty King Hassan's proposal that he should lead an Arab League delegation to London. We have now agreed with the Moroccan authorities that the visit should take place on 18 March and I look forward to seeing the King and his delegation then. Our policy on contacts with the PLO remains that set out by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last November in his reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Amery).

asked the Prime Minister what are Her Majesty's Government's estimates of the cost of construction of any new airport on the Falkland Islands using (a) civil contractors and (b) Royal Engineers; and if she will supply a breakdown of the reasons for the difference.

Experienced civil contractors will be invited to tender for the airfield improvements needed in the Falkland Islands; we will have no firm estimates of Falklands construction costs until those tenders are received and assessed. The Royal Engineers are not trained, equipped or organised for a major airfield construction task.

asked the Prime Minister what is her policy towards the joint communiqué issued by the Governments of Venezuela and Panama on 19 January concerning her visit to the Falkland Islands.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the joint communiqué issued on 18 January at the conclusion of a three-day visit to Venezuela by the President of Panama. That communiqué covered a large number of subjects, and included a short reference to my visit to the Falkland Islands. All Governments are free to express their own views.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the considerations of security involved in answering parliamentary questions touching on naval dispositions and the extent of British knowledge of Argentine movements and intentions, she will make available to right hon. Members, on Privy Council terms, a full account of the events leading up to the sinking of the General Belgrano.

No. There is nothing that can usefully be added to what has already been said.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Post Office, from the Federation of Sub-postmasters or from relevant trade unions concerning the possible widespread closure of rural sub-post offices which could arise from changes in methods of payment of pensions and benefit' s.

	Net expenditure			Cash increase	Pay/Prices	Real change
	Pay costs	Non-pay costs	Total	over year	increase
	£m	£m	£m	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
1978–79	766	296	1,062	—	—	—
1979–80	960	345	1,305	22–9	17–5	+4–6
1980–81	1,207	409	1,616	23–8	20–5	+2–7
*1981–82	1,348	444	1,792	10–9	12–4	-1–3
†1982–83	1,486	509	1,995	11–3	7–8	+3–2
* Provisional.
† Budgets.

The 1982–83 figures are estimated on the basis of the provision within local authorities budgets for that year.

I have traced about 40 representations from the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, individual members of the federation, Post Office advisory committees and trades unions concerning the possible effect on sub-post offices of changes in DHSS payments methods. Nearly half of these were received shortly after the issue, in December 1980, of a consultative document, Cmnd 8106, which set out the Government's original proposals for improving the arrangements for paying social security benefits.The Department and the Post Office consult frequently on all aspects of DHSS business handled by post offices, including the effect of changes in DHSS procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the total sums involved in cases where prosecutions have been brought as a result of investigations carried out by his Department's special social security fraud investigators in Scotland; and if he will break down the figure by region.

Information about the amount of known overpayment or of the total sums involved in the specimen charges raised in cases where prosecutions have been brought is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library the figures and calculations on which his estimate that real expenditure on the personal social services between 1978–79 and 1983–84 will rise by 9 per cent. is based, distinguishing between expenditure on wages and salaries and non-wage related expenditure, identifying separately the increases required to meet demographic change and inflation and differentiating between funds raised, respectively, from ratepayers, central Government rate support and block grant, and other central Government support by joint financing and other estimates headings.

The figure of 9 per cent. real growth refers to the period 1978–79 to 1982–83 (not 1983–84 as stated in the question). For that period the following is the information requested. The expenditure figures are net current expenditure on personal social services by local authorities in England.Demographic and similar pressures are estimated to involve an increase of about 2 per cent. a year in the level of expenditure. Rate income, and central Government block grant support, is not allocated to specific services and thus no breakdown of personal social services expenditure in this form can be given.However the above figures do not include joint funding contributions by health authorities to local authorities. These are as follows:

Joint finance: Allocations and expenditure 1978–79 to 1983–84
	Total health authorities		HA contributions to LAs
	Allocations	Expenditure	Current	Capital
	(£m)	(£m)	(£m)	(£m)
1978–79	34·5	31·2	14·9	11·9
1979–80	41·5	39·8	22·2	15·9
1980–81	61·0	60·1	31·8	191
1981–82	75·3	72·8	*40·0	*20·2
1982–83	84·7	†88·7	†50·0	†20·0
1983–84	96·0	—	—	—
* Provisional.
† Estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many vacancies there are for consultant psychiatric posts in the National Health Service; and if he will break the figures down by region.

At 30 September 1982 there were 216 consultant posts without a permanent holder in psychiatric specialities in England, some one third of which were partly or wholly occupied by locums. A break down of the figures by region is given in the following table.

Consultant Posts without a permanent holder in psychiatric specialties at 30 September 1982: England
	Posts without a permanent holder		Locums in post
	Number	whole-time equivalents	whole-time equivalents
Northern	14	13.5	8.0
Yorkshire	14	13.5	4.5
Trent	26	26.0	3.7
East Anglia	8	7.5	1.7
N W Thames	15	10.2	4.8
N E Thames	21	17.7	4.5
S E Thames	8	8.0	4.0
S W Thames	8	5.7	2.4
Wessex	9	8.6	1.5
Oxford	13	12.4	2.7
S Western	7	7.0	3.0
W Midlands	17	17.0	5.9
Mersey	10	9.5	3.8
N Western	35	34.0	3.9
London post-graduate teaching hospitals	4	2.7	1.2
Special Hospitals	7	6.2	4.2
Total	216	199.6	59.8

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied regarding the safeguards in artificial insemination facilities provided by the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

Last year the Government established the inquiry into human fertilisation and embryology chaired by Mrs. Mary Warnock. This has been asked to consider 'what policies and safeguards should apply to all forms of artificial fertilisation and embryology, including artificial insemination, whether facilities are provided within the National Health Service or elsewhere. The Inquiry is expected to report in the latter half of 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths from leukaemia have occurred among nurses, orderlies, hospital cleaners, dental assistants, x-ray technicians and medical research workers during each of the latest 10 years.

Leukaemia deaths by occupation unit are available only at the time of the production of the Registrar General's decennial supplement on occupational mortality. The latest available figures are for 1970–72 and are shown in the following table. There are no single occupational units which contain hospital cleaners or medical research workers. The figures for the decennial supplement based on the 1981 census will not be available before 1985

Number of deaths*from Leukaemia for specified occupations units of men, married and single women, 1970–72—England and Wales
Occupation Unit	Men	Married women †	Single women‡
Hospital or ward orderlies; ambulance men	3	—	—
Nurses	4	11	14
Radiographers (medical and industrial)	—	—	1
Medical workers not elsewhere classified (including dental assistants)	—	—	—
* At ages 15–64 years.
† By own occupation.
‡ Deaths of widowed and divorced women are not analysed by specific occupationunits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will intervene to oppose the proposal of the south east Thames regional health authority to close the radiotherapy facilities at St. Thomas's hospital.

I understand that the south east Thames regional health authority is still considering the future of radiotherapy services in the region. If any proposal is eventually made to close facilities it would be subject to the formal consultation procedure and in that event I would want to see the results of the consultation before coming to any conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the reasons for the proposed closure of the radiotherapy facilities at St. Thomas's hospital;(2) whether the proposed closure of the radiotherapy facilities at St. Thomas's hospital would lead to financial savings; and what effect it would have on patient care.

No such proposal has been submitted to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to ensure that members of the south east Thames regional health authority personally visit the radiotherapy department at St. Thomas's hospital before deciding on its future.

It is entirely for the authority to determine when to visit particular hospitals. I understand, however, that arrangements have been made for members to visit the radiotherapy department at St. Thomas's hospital before the authority's March meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that students at Sussex university have access to National Health Service general practitioners.

Yes. The university is served by three general medical practitioners in contract with the East Sussex family practitioner conunittee with a total list of 5,874 patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average list size of general practititioners in the Brighton family practioner committee; and what is the national average list size.

At 1 October 1981 the average list size of general medical practitioners who were unrestricted principals in contract with the East Sussex family practitioner committee was 2,091. The corresponding figure for England was 2,201.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about his requirement of qualifications for those who fit orthoses; and whether he intends to meet those who have made representations.

I have received representations from the British Surgical Trades Association and the Orthotic and Prosthetic Training and Education Council, as well as letters from 24 hon. Members. I am considering these and will be replying to them as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has of the extent to which unqualified persons may be prescribing drugs or operating on patients in the private sector of medicine; and if he will make a statement.

None, though I am aware of recent press reports of a person who, though not holding a medical qualification, prescribed drugs and carried out operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the draw down from the Overseas Development Administration budget in each financial year for the four years beginning 1983–84 against the aid and trade provision; and if he will list estimated commitments in a manner relating to his reply to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stevenage, Official Report, 17 February, c. 271–73.

Except for the information contained in the Supply Estimates, it is not the Government's practice to disclose forward planning figures for individual items within the aid programme. The main Supply Estimates for 1983–84 to be published shortly will for the first time show separately the planning allocation which corresponds to the aid and trade provision as recommended in para 16(c) of the second report from the Foreign Affairs Committee on the Supply Estimates 1982–83 (Session 1981–82) and accepted in the Government's observations on that report [Cmnd. 8734].

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that the emergency relief to be provided from the overseas aid budget for Ethiopia will be devoted purely to the use of Ethiopian civilians and will not become available for the use of the Ethiopian armed forces.

No special steps are being taken. I have every confidence that the Save the Children fund will retain full control of the use of the £100,575 we have provided for them for a supplementary feeding centre at Korem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any communications relating to the diversion of European aid to Ethiopia for the use of the Ethiopian armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of allegations that European Community food aid has been diverted to the Ethiopian armed forces. The Commission delegate in Ethiopia has extensive facilities for monitoring the distribution and use of food and development aid from the Community, and has on several occasions looked carefully into allegations of misuse, but has never found evidence to confirm such allegations. The British ambassador and his staff also travel extensively in the country and have not so far come across any evidence of abuse.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library details of the contract with Fairclough Civil Engineering for the provision of airport and harbour facilities at Port Stanley; and whether any payment has already been made.

Fairclough International Construction Limited has not been engaged for work on airport or harbour facilities at Port Stanley. The firm has been engaged by the Crown Agents on behalf of the ODA to provide personnel for a programme of repair to the roads in Port Stanley. No payment has yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has had for expenditure on the telephone system in the Falkland Islands.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has had for expenditure on a sewerage system in the Falkland Islands.

We have been asked to provide additional sewers to service new housing in Port Stanley.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of the renewal of power and water systems in the Falkland Islands.

Design studies into the rehabilitation, renewal and extension of power and water systems in Port Stanley, and the estimated costs thereof, will be undertaken shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what scientific equipment has been supplied for the use of the grassland trials units; and what has been the cost.

The grasslands trials unit was established in 1975 and has been provided with scientific equipment worth approximately £350,000. I regret that details of this equipment are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to help with flood relief in Ecuador.

Her Majesty's Government have this year given emergency aid worth about £42,000 in the form of cash, insecticides, children's clothing and other relief items, and the air freight costs of medical supplies donated by British companies. The European Community has contributed 100,000 ecus (approximately £61,000) from its budget for the local purchase of food. Our share of the budget is about 20 per cent. We are continuing to monitor the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has received the revised corporate plan for the British Steel Corporation; and when he intends to make a statement.

The British Steel Corporation presented its corporate Plan for 1983–86 to the Government on 14 February. The Government are assessing it and will announce their response as soon as possible.

Asked the Secretary of State for industry what was the level of manufacturing output (a) in May 1979 and (b) at the latest available date.

The index of industrial production for manufacturing stood at 107·9 in May 1979 (1975=100, seasonally adjusted). In December 1982 it is provisionally estimated to have been 86·8. Too much emphasis should not be placed on a single month's figures however. In particular, production during the second quarter of 1979 included some "catching up" from the road haulage dispute and severe weather of the first quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will now announce the Government's decision on the 1983 corporate plan of British Leyland.

I am making available in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office a report by BL on its recent performance and details of the corporate plan. The plan is essentially an updating of the strategy contained in the 1982 corporate plan for returning the company's businesses to viability in the medium term.In his statement to the House on 26 January 1981 my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State announced that the Government had agreed to fund the first two years of the 1981 corporate plan—that is, to provide up to £620 million in 1981–82 and £370 million in 1982–83. The 1981 plan also identified a need for a further £150 million of equity funding after March 1983, although no commitment was sought that this sum would be provided by the Government. The 1983 plan confirms that further funding will be required after March 1983. The BL board has however made clear its intention of seeking private sector equity for the company's mainstream businesses within the next two years, and in anticipation of the proceeds to be derived in this way the request for further Government funding in the 1983 plan is reduced to £100 million.In the light of a review of BL's recent performance and prospects, the Government have decided to approve the 1983 corporate plan and its associated funding requirement subject to the regular monitoring of progress in achieving the Plan. This means that, in addition to the £100 million out of the £990 million already made available which is likely to be carried forward into 1983–84, a further sum of up to £100 million will be made available to the company if needed during 1983 and 1984. The BL board and the Government will, of course, continue to monitor progress.The assistance is being discussed with the Commission of the European Communities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will review, as a matter of urgency, the recently adopted Inland Revenue practice of treating gratuities payable to sub-postmasters on retirement and based upon their years of service as unearned income taxable as a whole within one financial year.

Retirement gratuities paid to sub-postmasters are assessable as earned income under the normal rules of schedule E. If my hon. and learned Friend would like to write to me giving details of any case where the gratuities have been treated as unearned income I should be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total receipts, including pay-as-you-earn, national insurance contributions, Schedule D, corporation tax and other taxes during 1982, in respect of the area covered by the Ipswich Inland Revenue office.

Approximately £245 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 16 February to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight), Official Report, c. 152, whether the staffing survey which investigated the gains in efficiency if provincial stamp offices were closed consulted the Law Society before reaching its conclusions.

The survey of the controller of stamps branch of the Inland Revenue was an internal review carried out by the Department's own staffing inspectors. The Law Society was not consulted at that stage. If after consideration of the staffing inspectors' report the board had concluded that there was a case for closing the local offices the Law Society would have been consulted before any decision was taken. The board is at present discussing the position of the Sheffield and Glasgow offices with the Law Society and the Law Society of Scotland respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority the Government give an assurance to a public company that the Treasury will meet its liabilities.

Such assurances are given under the Crown's general powers and reported to Parliament at the time: any expenditure arising from them would require Parliamentary authority.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish figures showing the percentage increase in volume of manufacturing output per employee for each of the European Community States, Japan, the United States of America and Canada and the average of all Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries in the periods: (a) 1970 to 1973, (b) 1973 to 1978 and (c) 1978 to the latest date for which comparable figures are available.

Figures are not available for the average of all Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Information for individual countries is as follows:

Manufacturing industry output per wage and salary earner
	Percentage change
	1970 to 1973	1973 to 1978	1978 to 1980	1978 to 1981
Belgium	+ 17	+24	+ 9	na
Denmark	na	na	*+ 4	na
Eire	na	na	no change	na
France	+ 15	+ 13	+ 7	+ 7
Federal Republic of Germany	+22	+ 12	+ 4	+ 4
Greece	na	na	+ 8	na
Italy	+11	+ 8	+ 12	na

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each of the Crown services for which a trading fund has been established under the Government Trading Funds Act 1973, the current financial objectives set out in a Treasury minute laid before the House of Commons under section 4(1)(b) of that Act.

The current financial objectives set under section 4(1)(b) of the Government Trading Funds Act 1973 are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each of the Crown services for which a trading fund has been established under the Government Trading Funds Act 1973, the proportion of the payments made into the trading fund made by the Minister of the Crown responsible for the administration of the service in respect of activities deemed essential in the national interest but requiring financial subsidy, in the way that he proposes to fund certain activities of the Ordnance Survey under an agreement.

Payments made into the trading funds in respect of activities deemed essential in the national interest are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether action will be taken against the Customs and Excise staff who smashed the front door and raided the house of Mr. Alan Waters, in addition to having them pay compensation for the damage, pain and suffering caused to Mr. Waters and his family.

The Commissioners of Customs and Excise deeply regret the incident, which occurred in September last year. They fully investigated the circumstances and are satisfied that an honest mistake was made by their officers in the pursuit of a legitimate inquiry into an alleged importation of illegal drugs. Mr. Waters and his family were not involved. The commissioners have already paid the cost of repairing the damage to the property and are negotiating with Mr. Waters' solicitor the appropriate compensation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the reduction in capital spending, in 1983 prices, on the expenditure planned in 1979 for each of the years since then, taking 1979 as the base year.

The 1979 public expenditure plans in Cmnd. 7439 were expressed in 1978 survey prices whereas public expenditure is now planned in cash. A comparison of total expenditure planned in 1979 with subsequent revised plans for the years 1980–81 to 1982–83 was given on page 2 of Cmnd. 8789 published on 1 February. Corresponding information is not available for a comparison of the plans analysed by economic category.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide a table showing percentage changes in trade weighted values of the currencies of each of the EC countries, Japan, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Australia, Norway, the United States of America and Canada (a) between February 1974 and April 1979 and (b) between May 1979 and the latest available date.

The information is as follows:

Percentage changes in effective exchange rates indices (1975 = 100):
	February 1974 (average) to April 1979 (average)	May 1979 (average) to 23 February 1983
Belgium	+17·6	-16·4
Denmark	+14·7	-20·1
France	+3·0	-18·8
Germany	+30·7	+2·6
Ireland	-25·3	-2·7
Italy	-34·8	-23·1
Netherlands	+25·2	+1·6
United Kingdom	-19·6	-7·2
Japan	+27·1	+9·8
Switzerland	+66·7	+5·8
Austria	+29·3	+2·4
Sweden	-2·7	-26·2
Australia	-30·0	+2·9
Norway	+3·4	-9·6
USA	-8·3	+26·1
Canada	-18·2	+4·6

Data for Luxembourg is not readily available; but as the Luxembourg franc is maintained at parity with the Belgian franc its effective exchange rate index would probably show similar changes, with any differences being explained by differences in the trade-related weights employed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies at the latest and most convenient stated date have applied to the Inland Revenue to buy back their shares under the Finance Act 1982; and how many applicants (a) have been cleared, (b) are awaiting clearance and (c) have been refused.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 15 February.—[Vol. 37. c. 97.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he takes to prevent evasion of value added tax.

The main responsibility for preventing evasion lies with the national network of local VAT offices which seeks to ensure that businesses whose taxable turnover is above the registration threshold are registered and that once they are registered, they correctly declare their liability and remit any tax due. Control is exercised by visits to businesses to examine records and activities. The frequency and duration of visits depends on the size and complexity of the business and the results of computer checks on its periodic returns. Suspected evasion is investigated either by the local VAT offices, or by specialist local investigation units, or by the national Investigation Division, depending on the complexity of the suspected fraud.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual loss of revenue if the value added tax threshold were raised to an annual turnover of (a) £30,000, (b) £40,000 and (c) £50,000.

It is estimated that if the exemption limit was raised to £30,000 taxable turnover a year the revenue loss would be about £65 million in a full year. This is on the assumption that (i) the deregistration limit was also increased to £30,000 taxable turnover a year and (ii) the proportion deregistering of those eligible to do so was similar to the proportions when the limits were raised in the past. Raising the registration and deregistration limits for VAT to £30,000 could, however, cause such a change in the nature of the tax as to result in a substantially larger loss of revenue.For the larger increases in

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses would be exempted from value added tax if he tax threshold were raised to an annual turnover of (a) £30,000, (b) £40,000 and (c) £50,000.

It is estimated that if the annual registration exemption limit for VAT were raised to £30,000, £40,000 or £50,000 about 300,000, 410,000 and 520,000 persons respectively would cease to be under a legal obligation to be registered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of businesses registered for value added tax.

About 1·39 million persons are currently registered for VAT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total cost of collecting and administering value added tax;(2) if he will estimate the cost of collection and administration of value added tax for all value added tax registered businesses with an annual turnover of up to

The total cost to Customs and Excise of collecting VAT in 1981–82 was about £144 million. Averaged over the whole of the registered trading population this works out at about £105 per registered person. No reliable information is available about the cost of administration related to different categories of businesses; but the cost of collecting VAT from a small firm is believed to be less than the average for all businesses.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the restrictions which now exist on the member states of the European Community on establishing their own level of tax threshold for value added tax.

Article 24.2(c) of the EC Sixth Directive on VAT restricts increases in the registration exemption limit to those which

"maintain its value in real terms".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will express the value of the pound sterling for each year since 1969 as a percentage of its value in that year.

The information is as follows:

Year	Per cent.
1969	100
1970	94
1971	86
1972	80
1973	73
1974	63
1975	51
1976	44
1977	38
1978	35
1979	31
1980	26
1981	23
1982	21

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for the capital account of the annual accounts laid by the duchy of Cornwall to be published in a form which adequately identifies the assets held by the duchy, showing both the cost of their purchase and some indication of their current market value.

No; the accounts will be presented in accordance with the provisions of the Duchy of Cornwall Management Act 1982 and in the format directed by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury under the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall (Accounts) Act 1838.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements will be provided for bodies seeking charitable status in Scotland to consult officers of the Inland Revenue if the work of registering charities currently undertaken in Edinburgh is transferred to Bootle.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which bodies or organisations he intends to consult in relation to the first part of the Keith committee report on revenue powers.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson).—[Vol. 37, c. 1046.] After publication I will look forward to receiving representations from all interested parties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library and publish the first part of the Keith committee report on revenue powers.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson).—[Vol. 37, c. 1046.] The report will be published as a command paper and will be placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for tax relief under the business start-up scheme have been allowed to date, and at what cost to the Exchequer.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 February 1983, c. 540]: Claims for tax relief under the business start-up scheme cannot be made until after the end of the tax year in which the shares were issued, and in some cases even later if the company is not already trading. It is therefore too soon to have precise information about investments made even in the first year of the scheme, but the scheme is gaining momentum.

Income Tax Threshold in National Currency		Threshold in £ Sterling	Rate of Income Tax	Rate of Income Tax and Social Security Contributions
		£	Per cent.	Per cent.
Single Person
Belgium (Fr)	152,900	2,015	19·3 (20·4)	27·4 (28·5)
Denmark (Kr)	19,400	1,430	14·4 (41·2)	18·9 (45·7)
France (F)	33,790	3,100	18	27·2
Germany (DM)	7,470	1,940	18	35
Greece (Dr)	168,500	1,480	5·9	14·4
Ireland (£IR)	2,362	2,035	25	32·5
Italy (L)	2,982,170	1,345	10	16·7
Luxembourg (Lfr)	202,270	2,660	12·3	22·8
Netherlands (fl)	11,415	2,685	16·3	35·2
United Kingdom (£)	1,565	1,565	30	38·75
Married Couple
Belgium (Fr)	192,150	2,560	21·7 (23)	29·55 (30·7)
Denmark (Kr)	36,800	2,705	14·4(41·2)	18·9 (45·7)
France (F)	44,605	4,090	7·2	13·6
Germany (DM)	12,940	3,360	18	35
Greece (Dr)	227,100	1,990	7·6	15·9
Ireland (£IR)	4,400	3,790	See note 5	See note 5
Italy (L)	4,497,570	2,025	16	22·3
Luxembourg (Lfr)	287,730	3,785	12·3	22·8
Netherlands (fl)	14,570	3,430	16·3	35·2
United Kingdom (£)	2,445	2,445	30	38·75
Married Couple with two Dependent Children (see note 7)
Belgium (Fr)	234·125	3,080	22·05 (23·4)	29·9(31·1)
Denmark (Kr)	36,800	2,705	14·4(41·2)	18·9 (45·7)
France (F)	64,835	5,920	7·2	13·6
Germany (DM)	12,940	3,360	18	35
Greece (Dr)	407,700	3,580	17·1	24·5
Ireland (£IR)	4,400	3,790	See note 5	See note 5
Italy (L)	4,984,000	2,245	16	22·3
Luxembourg (Lfr)	446,180	5,810	12·3	22·8
Netherlands (fl)	14,570	3,430	16·3	35·2
United Kingdom (£)	2,445	2,445	30	38·75

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer of 1 February 1982, Official Report, c. 19–22, and give the latest comparisons of the current income tax rates of the member states of the European Economic Community, showing at what levels of income, tax becomes payable and at what rate, giving £ sterling equivalents, and showing separately the effects of income tax alone and the combined effect of income tax and social security contributions by the wage earner.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 February 1983, Vol. 36, c. 8]: The information requested is given in the table:income tax. Because of the various reliefs mentioned in note 4, these rates differ in many of the countries from the nominal starting rates on the statutory income tax scales.The threshold figures for the married couple and the married couple with two children in Ireland are an exemption limit. Immediately above that limit income tax may not exceed 60 per cent. of the difference between total income and the exemption limit, if that is less than tax calculated on the normal basis. Since the ordinary personal allowances and other standard reliefs total substantially less than the exemption limit the effective starting rate for an income just above the exemption limit is 60 per cent. (67·5 per cent. including social security contributions). The nominal starting rate of tax is 25 per cent. (32·5 per cent. including social security contributions).6. The combined rate of income tax and social security contributions is the actual income tax rate plus the rate of compulsory social security contributions payable by employees with income at the income tax threshold level, adjusted (where appropriate) for income tax relief for the contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will now approve the proposal that district heating schemes served by combined heat and power stations be developed in one or more of the nine cities as suggested by the Atkins report.

I have not yet completed my examination of the Atkins report.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss the question of financial support for the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next proposes to meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss investment in the industry.