asked the Minister for Trade what is the level of British car exports to each country; and what

asked the Minister for Trade what is the level of future increases in imports that will be

The available information is as follows:possible

The bilateral agreements negotiated under the MFA contain over 500 quotas, the growth rates for which vary according to product and country. The annual growth allowed on the United Kingdom quotas for group I products will on average be less than 1 per cent. Precise United Kingdom growth rates are not yet available for group II and group III products. However, for the Community as a whole, annual growth rates in group II lie between 1·4 per cent. and 4·3 per cent.; and in group III between 2·7 per cent. and 6 per cent.The agreements with the preferential low-cost Mediterranean suppliers vary in their length and their coverage. In a number of cases restraint levels for 1983 are still being finalised, and very few levels have yet been set fr 1984. It is therefore not possible at present to give growth rates corresponding to the figures quoted for the MFA agreements.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each standard international trade classification section and division for manufactures the weighted average common external tariff used for the purposes of the Kennedy round at the most recent date and any such information he has on the incidence of the common external tariff on United Kingdom imports of manufactures.

Very limited information on the level of the common external tariff of the European Community before the Kennedy round reductions is shown in "The Kennedy Round of Trade Negotiations 1964–67" Cmnd. 3347 (1968) paragraph 13. However, estimates were made by UNCTAD at standard international trade classification section level and to some extent at division level. These are published in "The Kennedy Round estimated effects on tariff barriers" UN (1968) table A2. The recent overall weighted average for manufactures is given in "The Multilateral Trade Negotiations 1973–79" Cmnd. 7724 (1979) paragraph 15.Weighted averages of tariffs on United Kingdom imports of manufactures at SITC section and division level in 1980, the latest year for which complete information is available, are as follows. Information on United Kingdom duties paid for earlier years, in less detail, is shown in the annual reports of the Customs and Excise.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the percentage increase in the volume of imports of finished and semi-finished manufactures since the second quarter of 1979 on the basis of 1975 and of current weights;(2) whether he will publish in the

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the volume of imports and exports of (i) manufactures and (ii) finished manufactures, in each quarter since May 1979, as a percentage of 1975 using current weights.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister for Trade if he will bring up to date the information on trade in consumer goods given in the reply of 31 July 1981, Official Report, c. 638, to the hon. Member for Grimsby.

Updated and revised information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will bring up to date the information in his reply dated 8 April 1982, Official Report, c. 487–88, concerning current-weighted imports and exports by volume; and if he will also give the current-weighted increases in price.

The information requested is as follows:showing the increase in the volume of imports and exports since 1975 of the goods covered in table C14 of the

Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, together with the increase in

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will bring up to date the information given in the reply of 14 May 1982, Official Report, c. 343, concerning United Kingdom and German export prices.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister for Trade what quantities of footwear from China were imported via other European Community member states over the past five years.

I regret that this information is not available in the exact form requested. The following available information records the value of licences issued to import Chinese footwear in free circulation in another member state. These licences will not necessarily be taken up either fully or in part.

The information on changes in volume and UVI's is as follows:

asked the Minister for Trade how many new companies were registered in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years; and what proportion of these had fewer than 200 employees.

The following companies have been registered in the United Kingdom:

asked the Minister for Trade what progress has been made in the European Community draft advertising directive; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the draft.

Discussions on this directive are continuing in Brussels; our aim is to secure agreement on a basis compatible with our self-regulatory system for the control of advertising standards.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the consultations which have taken place so far concerning the proposals set out in the report of the Cork committee on insolvency law and practice.

[pursuant to the reply, 14 March 1983, c. 70]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Consumer Affairs to the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Weetch) on 10 February 1983.—[Vol. 36, c. 452–53.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the estimated proceeds from the sale of land by Stirling university to the Wang corporation; and whether the Government will permit the university to keep all such proceeds for the purposes of the university.

My right hon. Friend would not wish to anticipate the terms of the proposed sale. The university will be allowed to retain up to half the net proceeds of the sale for use in accordance with the conditions laid down in the arrangements for such retention announced by my right hon. Friend on 21 January 1982 in reply to the hon. Member for Kingswood (Mr. Aspinwall).—[Vol. 16, c. 182–83.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what proportion of mature students there were and there will be in higher education in the academic years 1978–79 to 1984–85;(2) what was, and what he estimates will be, the proportion of full-time to part-time students in higher education in the academic years 1978–79 to 1984–85;(3) how many students he estimates will take up full-time degree courses at

The readily available information for academic years 1978–79 to 1982–83 is as follows. The proportion of home students entering higher education in Great Britain for the first time when aged 21 and over—corresponding to the definition of a mature student used for higher education planning—was:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent in each of the past five years on leukaemia research in the northern region; and how much he estimates will be spent in the next two years.

Funds from the science budget for the support of basic medical research are not allocated on a regional basis. I understand that consultants at hospitals in Newcastle, Sunderland, Hexham, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees are participating in the Medical Research Council's series of trials aimed at improving the treatment of patients with leukaemia, but that no financial support has recently been sought in this connection. The council is always ready to consider soundly based proposals for new research into leukaemia. Research into leukaemia is also in progress at universities in the northern region, in part using funds for teaching and research in universities made available through the University Grants Committee; details are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the figures for central and local government expenditure on arts and libraries for 1984–85 onwards set out in the public expenditure White Paper Cmnd. 8789, are firm or illustrative.

The internal breakdown of the arts and libraries programme for 1984–85 and 1985–86 in table 2.10A of Cmnd. 8789 is illustrative only. The levels shown respectively for central and local government capital and current expenditure are based broadly on the Government's 1983–84 plans, projected in line with assumptions about future public expenditure generally and rounded to the nearest £10 million. The Government will develop firm plans for these services as the Supply Estimates, rate support grant settlements and capital allocations come to be decided for the years in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table giving, by quarter since their inception, for Scotland (a) the number of dwellings insulated under the local authorities' energy conservation programme and a breakdown of the body which completed the work, (b) the cost of the programme, (c) the number of dwellings insulated under the home insulation scheme and a breakdown of tenancies to whom the grants were paid, (d) the amounts of the payments, (e) the number of 90 per cent. grants paid and their cost, and (f) the financial allocation for each of the past financial years to each of these schemes and the allocation for the current financial year.

The following tables give the information available on the local authority energy conservation programme and the homes insulation scheme. A breakdown of tenures in respect of grants paid under the homes insulation scheme for Scotland is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the number of (a) men and (b) women held in solitary confinement in prisons in Scotland on 1 March;(2) what is the longest period of time a person at present in solitary confinement in a prison in Scotland has been kept under these conditions.

The expression "solitary confinement" is not used in the prison rules. Under the rules an inmate may be confined to his cell only (a) if under punishment, (b) pending adjudication on a report for an offence against the prison rules, (c) in the interests of good order and discipline or (d) in the interests of the inmate himself.On 1 March 1983, 17 male inmates were confined to their cells under one or other of these provisions. No woman inmate was confined to her cell on that date.The longest period for which an inmate at present confined to his cell has been held under these conditions other than at his own request is six weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each prison in Scotland the approved prison officer staffing and the vacancies for such staff that exists in each prison.

The information at 1 March 1983 is set out in the following below:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list, by health board area, the numbers of hospitals which are below complement of state registered nurses and by the percentage by which they are below complement.

Information of this kind is not held centrally. It is for health boards to decide how many nurses should be employed in each of their hospitals and what priority to give to recruiting up to or beyond that figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now ask the Local Government Boundary Commission to investigate the possibility of bringing the district council boundaries of Dundee and Perth and Kinross into line with the new parliamentary constituency boundaries.

No. The commission is, however, under a statutory duty to review all local government administrative boundaries in Scotland in the five years from 16 May 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the income received from dog licences in Scotland for the years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82; what was the cost of collection for each year; and how many licences were issued in each year.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many strip searches of female prisoners have taken place in prisons in Scotland from 1 November 1982 until the nearest convenient date.

1,607 strip searches of female prisoners took place in Scottish prisons in the period from 1 November 1982 to 14 March 1983. This figure includes searches on admission, transfer and discharge, following visits and for routine and special security purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities received grants directed into educational and non-educational expenditure under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 in 1981–82; and how much was paid to each authority.

The attached table shows the amount of grant paid to local authorities under section 11 in respect of educational and non-educational expenditure in 1981–82. The figures are not yet final and are subject to audit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Nauoff Rosan, Hussein Said and Marwan al-Banna, self-confessed terrorists, were allowed to enter and remain in the United Kingdom; how long they remained; and how many times they left the United Kingdom and returned.

Nawaf N. Miflin Al-Rosan was granted a visa as a visitor at the British Embassy in Baghdad on 20 October 1981 and on arrival in the United Kingdom on 21 October, he was given leave to enter for one month. On 13 November he applied to remain here as a student and was granted an extension to 21 April 1982. A further extension to 30 September 1982 was granted on 20 April 1982.Ghassan Hassan Ahmed Said was granted a visa as a visitor at the British Embassy in Amman on 5 September 1980 and, on arrival in the United Kingdom on 17 September, he was given leave to enter for one month. On 20 October he applied to remain here as a student and was granted an extension to 30 November 1980; subsequent extensions of stay as a student were granted to 28 February 1982. On 7 April 1982 he left the United Kingdom and on his return on 22 April 1982, was granted leave to enter for three months.Marwan Yousef Moh'd Bana was granted a visa as a student at the British Consulate General in Jerusalem on 14 August 1979 and on arrival in the United Kingdom on 12 November 1979 he was given leave to enter for two months. An extension to 30 June 1980 was granted on 16 January 1980. On 20 February 1980 he left the United Kingdom and on his return on 26 March, he was granted leave to enter to 30 June 1980. On 14 July 1980, his stay was extended as a student to 31 October 1980. He left this country on 14 August 1980 and returned on 2 September when he was granted leave to enter for two months. Extensions of stay as a student were subsequently granted to 31 October 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the extent of terrorist activity by persons who have entered the United Kingdom from other countries, he will reconsider his practice of not making public the reasons why individual passengers are admitted to the United Kingdom.

No. The information obtained about individuals in the course of the operation of the immigration control is normally confidential and as a general rule we do not think it right to make publicly available the reasons why individual passengers are admitted, or refused entry, to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will undertake research into electric immobilisation devices to assess their compliance with the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1964

No. Experiments assessing the effect of this technique, if they may cause pain, require my right hon. Friend's licence under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876. He does not himself fund or conduct such experiments. I understand, however, that proposals for a research project into the effects of using this technique, mainly in relation to the welfare of farm animals, are being considered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Her Majesty's Government will introduce postal votes for parish council elections.

We have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on civil defence in the Greater London area in the latest year for which figures are available; what was the expenditure per head of population; and how this latter figure compares with the average for England and Wales.

In 1981–82 the GLC, the London boroughs, the City of London and the Metropolitan Police spent £945,318—£0·14 per head of population—on civil defence, including £744,912 in Government grant. The corresponding average expenditure in England and Wales was £0·16 per head of population. In addition, the Government spent £19·3 million—£0·39 per head of population—on civil defence in England and Wales including the GLC area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will introduce legislation to establish further controls over the maximum working hours of young people and of older employees in shops, with particular reference to required meal breaks;(2) whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Shops Act 1950 so as to reduce substantially the hours during which it is permissible for a young person to be employed in a shop from the present 48-hour maximum in a normal week and from the present 60-hour maximum during any six weeks in the year at times of seasonal or exceptional pressure;(3) whether he will introduce legislation to establish controls over the maximum hours a person over the age of 18 years can be required to work in a retail shop.

We have at present no plans for legislation in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to require the hours of working and the times for meal breaks of young persons employed in shops to be displayed in the shop.

We have no plans for legislation to add to the requirements of section 32 of the Shops Act 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to increase the fines for contravention of the Shops Act 1950 in so far as it relates to the hours of work of young persons.

From 11 April 1983, when part III of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 comes into operation, the present maximum penalties for contraventions of part II of the Shops Act 1950 will be increased from their present levels to level 1 in the standard scale (£25).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip searches of female prisoners have taken place in prisons in England and Wales from 1 November 1982 until the nearest convenient date.

No central records are held; the following information which has been obtained from establishments holding female prisoners relates to strip searches carried out during routine cell searches and special searches authorised by the governor, deputy governor or chief officer. The total number of searches recorded is 1,430 between 1 November 1982 and 13 March 1983 inclusive. In addition, standing instructions provide that every prisoner is to be strip searched on every reception into, and discharge from, a prison establishment and on location in the segregation unit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what attitude immigration officers will be required to adopt towards members of the European assembly seeking to visit Northern Ireland during the course of their proposed investigation into matters in that Province in the light of the view of Her Majesty's Government that they will put at risk the lives of innocent people, Official Report, 24 February, c. 1058.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member's question on 28 February.—[Vol. 38, c. 7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration is being given in aid to developing countries in respect of aquaculture projects as proposed in recommendation 961 adopted by the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe on 25 January.

Aquaculture will continue to be an important part of our fisheries aid programme and particular emphasis is expected on research using the considerable experience and facilities available in the United Kingdom. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the research we have commissioned in this field.

asked the Prime Minister in what areas of industry Japanese inward investment would not be welcomed by Her Majesty's Government.

We welcome any Japanese or other foreign manufacturing investment in the United Kingdom which benefits the United Kingdom economy in terms of technology transfer, new investment, exports and jobs. Inward investment produces more than 10,000 jobs a year in this country. For example, Wang announced a few months ago a £38 million manufacturing investment that will generate 700 direct jobs and as many indirect jobs over the next five years. And we would, of course, welcome a decision by Nissan to build a car plant in the United Kingdom.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 March.