asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research has been undertaken by his Department into the incidence of deafness in children and young people as a result of excessive noise at discotheques and similar places of entertainment; and what are the results of such research.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the deep concern felt by the mother of Colin Barnard at the fact that he was cremated without her being notified by the police in Stoke Newington, whether, as a general rule before such cremations, he will ensure that all persons who have reported relatives as missing should be notified, and details published in the local press, so that such people may make an examination of the deceased persons.

We understand from the Commissioner that he very much regrets the distress caused in this case. The present system for matching unidentified persons found with those reported missing and recorded by the police central agency, the Metropolitan police missing persons bureau, generally works well and avoids both unnecessary occasions of distress for the next of kin and the need for widespread circulation either within or outside the police. A review of the procedures of the missing persons bureau is already in hand, in which this case will be examined closely, to established whether any changes are required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the lights installed at the junction of Hyde park corner and Park lane is having on the Metropolitan police's obligation to ensure expeditious traffic flow in central London.

In the view of the Commissioner and the GLC the installation of these lights has been beneficial to traffic flow overall. The Commissioner will continue to assess the situation in consultation with the GLC with a view to deciding whether the scheme should be further modified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of prosecutions for acts of vandalism, the average cost of each case, the average fine imposed and the average cost of the offending damage for the last year for which figures are available.

The number of persons proceeded against for criminal or malicious damage is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" under offence classification numbers 56–59 and 149—table S1.1(A) of the "Supplementary tables, Vol. 1"for 1981. Information on the costs of court cases is not collected centrally, but the average fine imposed in 1981 for offences of criminal or malicious damage is estimated to have been about £40. Comprehensive information is not collected centrally on the value of property damage, but almost half of the offences of criminal damage recorded by the police in 1981 involved property valued at £20 or under.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the difficulties confronting Mr. J. Nkomo of Zimbabwe, whether he will offer to him and others in a similar situation political refugee facilities in the United Kingdom.

If any application for refugee recognition were made, it would, in accordance with normal practice, be considered on its individual merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any application for political asylum has been received from Mr. Joshua Nkomo.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to revise his Department's circulars concerning Her Majesty's Government's repatriation scheme; whether he will seek to improve the administrative criteria governing the operation of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

As I told my hon. Friend in answer to a question on 3 February—[Vol. 36, c. 169]—we are making arrangements for the issue of a fresh circular containing updated information. Before issuing the circular we are reviewing the administrative criteria governing the operation of the repatriation scheme under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 with a view to seeing what improvements can be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give a list of the principal kinds of food exported from the United Kingdom to countries ouside the European Community without export restitutions.

The principal kinds of food in question are fish and fish products—other than certain presentations of mackeral and saithe—sheepmeat, some fruit and vegetables, sugar and isoglucose produced outside production quotas, tropical products, vegetable oils—other than olive oil—and processed foods containing few or no common agricultural policy ingredients.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if pesticides used in agriculture for growing and storage can contaminate fresh foods.

Conditions of use are laid down under the pesticides safety precautions scheme, which are designed to ensure that any residues are within internationally accepted limits. These limits provide wide safety margins.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which preservatives used in fresh food do not have to be declared to the consumer; and if he will make a statement.

The declaration of preservatives when used as ingredients in food is controlled by the Food Labelling Regulations 1980. No preservative which is permitted to be used in food is exempt from this control.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report his advice to farmers in the event of nuclear war.

It would not be practicable to publish this detailed technical advice in the Official Report. As stated in the answer I gave on 17 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander)—[Vol. 37, c. 454]—no date has yet been set for the publication of this material, but when released it will be placed on sale as an HMSO priced booklet.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a Minister from his Department last met the Tanzanian high commissioner in London.

My right hon. Friend's most recent meeting with the Tanzanian and other high commissioners took place on 16 March this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many nursery schools there are in Wales; what were the corresponding figures for 1970, 1975 and 1980; and if he will make a statement.

There are currently 64 maintained nursery schools in Wales. The corresponding figures for 1970, 1975 and 1980 were 44, 64 and 69, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to cease the practice, recently introduced by his Department, of presenting the numbers of claimants for unemployment benefit as the numbers of people unemployed.

The claimant figures will continue to be presented as the measure of unemployment. Where it is necessary to distinguish them from the registration, basis this will be done.

asked the Prime Minister to what factors she attributes the increase in crime during the period of her Administration.

It is clear from research that there is no single—or simple—cause of crime. Crime appears to be associated with a range of factors, such as a record of crime in the family, ineffective supervision and discipline, family discord, and weak relationships between parents and their children. Another factor which has to be taken into account is the general increase in expectations coupled with the increased opportunity for crime arising from the more widespread ownership of cars, televisions and other consumer durables.

asked the Prime Minister what responsibilities the United Kingdom still has under the Lancaster house agreement in relation to the internal affairs of Zimbabwe.

The United Kingdom has no responsibilities under the Lancaster house agreement in relation to the internal affairs of Zimbabwe, which is of course an independent country. However, as a cosignatory of the Lancaster house agreement we maintain a close interest in developments in Zimbabwe.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on contacts with Her Majesty's Government by the United States ambassador accredited to the Organisation of American States during his recent visit to London.

Ambassador Middendorf's visit to the United Kingdom included a call on officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for a general discussion on Latin American issues of concern to us and the United States administration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the increase in revenue if the operation of the age allowance were restricted to persons retired from full-time employment and in receipt of national insurance retirement pension.

There would be a yield of about £50 million—in a full year at 1982–83 levels of income and tax rates—if the present age allowance for those aged 65 or over were restricted to those who are retired from full-time employment and in receipt of a national insurance retirement pension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise officers are employed at Wick; and what are their functions and their ranks or official grades.

The number of permanent staff in post in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise at Wick on 10 March 1983 and their principal functions were as follows:

	Staff employed in Aberdeen and covering work in the city and environs				Staff employed in Aberdeen but covering departmental work in the Grampian region, Highlands, the Orkney and Shetland Islands and most of the Western Isles
	Airport and oils warehouses	Customs	Excise	Management	Administration and relief staff	VAT	Training investigation and personnel	Total
Assistant Secretaries	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1
Senior Principals	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	2
Principals	—	—	—	5	—	—	—	5
SEO	1	1	1	—	1	7	3	14
HEO	4	2	3	—	8	19	5	41
EO	12	12	7	—	27	31	3	92
AO	9	14	1	—	12	12	4	52
CA	—	2	1	—	3	7½	½	14
Personal Assistant	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	1
Typist	—	—	—	—	2	3	—	5
Messenger	—	—	—	—	1	2	—	3
Revenue Assistant	—	—	3	—	—	—	—	3
								233

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will express proposed Government expenditure for 1983 as (a) an amount per person in the United Kingdom and (b) an amount per taxpayer.

Central Government expenditure in 1983–84, as shown in table 5.2 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, is estimated to amount to £123,600 million. This is equivalent to £2,200 per person in the United Kingdom. Most people pay some form of tax; it is estimated that 24·9 million people—counting married couples as two taxpayers—pay income tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the reply dated 18 April 1982, Official Report, c. 8–9, concerning the increase in the real money supply together with his estimate of the effect which the changes since the first quarter of 1981 have had or will have on the rate of inflation.

The information on the real money supply is as follows:

	Customs	Excise	VAT	Total posts
SEO	⅓	⅓	⅓	1
HEO	½	½	1	2
E0	½	½	1	2
CO	1	—	—	1
CA	⅓	⅓	⅓	1
Revenue Assistant	—	1	—	1
				8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise officers are employed at Aberdeen; and what are their functions and their ranks or official grades.

The number of permanent staff in post in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise at Aberdeen on 10 March 1983 and their principal functions are shown on the following schedule.

Percentage increases in the real money supply* (Not seasonally adjusted)
	Percentage
1973
1	1·1
2	3·5
3	3·1
4	3·5
1974
1	-4·3
2	-3·7
3	-3·4
4	0·2
1975
1	-7·1
2	-2·9
3	-1·4
4	-1·4
1976
1	-3·8
2	0·8
3	0·7
4	-1·5
1977
1	-6·0
2	1·3
3	0·8
4	3·3
1978
1	-0·3
2	1·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government have yet reached any conclusions about the recommendations in the report of the working party on free ports.

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon, and learned Friend's Budget speech.—[Vol. 39, c. 153–54.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend Inland Revenue form P509 to include Northern Ireland.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the level of income in current prices and expressed as a percentage of national average earnings above which single people, married couples and married couples with two children in each case in 1982–83 and in 1983–84 pay less income tax and national insurance contributions, less child benefit where applicable, as a total sum of money in constant prices and as a proportion of gross earnings than they did in 1978–79, using for 1983–84 the assumptions contained in the Red Book forecast.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in accordance with the note by the Treasury at appendix 5 of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee Report, Session 1981–82 on "The Government's Economic Policy: Autumn Review" and with the answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Cunningham) on 23 November 1982, Official Report, c. 418, he will update the figures for 1982–83 and for 1983–84 on the basis of announced changes for those on 75 per cent., 100 per cent., 200 per cent. and 500 per cent. of national average earnings, for single, married, and married plus two children families, including data on gross earnings, income tax, national insurance contributions, child benefit, net earnings and indirect taxes in each case and for 1983–84 using the Red Book forecast.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the light of recent judicial criticism, he will bring forward proposals to amend section 13 of the Capital Gains Tax Act 1979.

In practice the relief provided by this section appears to be operating satisfactorily so far. However, I have asked the Inland Revenue to review the position in greater depth in the light of the comments made by the courts. As a result, I am not proposing to amend the provisions in the forthcoming Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the net French contribution to the European Community budget for each of the past four years.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 March 1983, c. 238]: The Commission has calculated that French net contributions to (-) and receipts from (+) the Community's allocated budget were as follows:

	Million ecu
1979	-78
1980	+431
1981*	+576
1982*	+14
* Estimated.

These figures do not take account of United Kingdom refunds paid in 1980–82.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals for simplifying the procedures and reducing the costs involved in the purchase and sale of property.

It is for the individual to select the most effective method to suit his purpose and means. In so far as conveyancing is concerned, the Government are considering the recommendations on conveyancing of the Royal Commission on legal services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those landlord authorities which have not complied with the duty placed on them by section 43 of the Housing Act 1980 to make and thereafter maintain arrangements to inform and consult secure tenants about matters of housing management; and what arrangements have been made to monitor implementation of the duty;(2) if he will list those landlord authorities which have not complied with the duty placed on them by section 44 of the Housing Act 1980 to publish information about the rules governing the allocation of housing accommodation; and what arrangements have been made to monitor implementation of the duty;(3) if he will list those landlords of secure tenants who have not complied with the duty placed on them by section 41 of the Housing Act 1980 to provide information to secure tenants about the terms of their tenancies by 3 October 1982; and what arrangements have been made to monitor implementation of the duty.

In 1981 I commissioned a research project into local authorities' implementation of the tenant's charter provisions of the Housing Act 1980, and I expect to receive the report on this project later this year. Authority by authority information on the implementation of each of the individual provisions of the charter is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to arrange for the Minister with responsibility for sport to pay an official visit to the Republic of South Africa to review developments in sport in that country.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the documents and reports on South African sport by governing bodies in sport which he has considered recently; and if he will make a statement.

I have received none and, as my hon. Friend knows, the Government's policy towards sporting links with South Africa rests on the 1977 Commonwealth statement on apartheid in sport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to call in the National Coal Board's planning application for a new mine at Asfordby, Leicestershire.

I have decided that this application should not be called in. Accordingly, Leicestershire county council has been informed today that it may now determine the application.In coming to my decision, I have considered the developments since March 1982 when permission to mine the north-east Leicestershire coalfield in accordance with the board's original planning applications was refused. The board's revised proposals show a substantial reduction in the amount of land required for spoil disposal. In addition, working parties have been set up to examine aspects of spoil disposal for the coalfield as a whole, following the recommendations in the March 1982 decision letter concerning the need to explore the possibility of remote disposal of spoil and the question of underground disposal of waste.While I have concluded that it would not be right either to call in this planning application or to delay a decision on 'call-in until after the working parties have reported, I must emphasise that this decision relates to the Asfordby application alone. I believe that before any planning applications are submitted for any other mines in the northeast Leicestershire coalfield, and without prejudice to the other aspects of any such applications, it is essential that there should be an agreed long-term strategy for spoil disposal. The next step in the development of that strategy will be the publication of the reports of the working parties, which is expected in July of this year. Any strategy will need to be sufficiently flexible to take account of changes in the technology or economics of colliery waste disposal that there may be over the years ahead. In relation to Asfordby, as well as any other proposed mines, I expect the board to take account of any such changes—whether arising from the studies of the working parties or otherwise—which might help to modify the environmental impact of coal mining in this area and in particular to reduce the amount of land taken out of agricultural use at any one time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further consultations he is carrying out on the Mobile Homes Bill [Lords].

In the light of the debate on the Committee stage of the Bill, the Government are considering the possibility of modifying the way in which mobile home occupiers acquire their rights under the Bill. We are, without commitment, consulting representatives of mobile home occupiers and site owners, and others, on an approach whereby certain terms would be implied into all agreements between site owners and occupiers. I have placed a copy of the consultation letter, which explains this approach more fully, in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of housing capital expenditure in the first three quarters of 1982–83 by local authorities generally and by each local authority.

Capital expenditure on housing by local authorities in England in the first three quarters of 1982–83 is estimated to be £1,390 million. This represents only 67 per cent. of authorities basic HIP allocations and only 52 per cent. of these allocations plus the prescribed proportion of their housing capital receipts in the first three quarters of the year. In addition to housing capital receipts, housing authorities also generated, in the first three quarters, some £200 million of non-housing receipts which are available to increase capital expenditure, including on housing. Authority by authority figures showing expenditure in relation to basic HIP allocations, the prescribed proportion of housing capital receipts and non-housing capital receipts are given in a table which I am placing in the Library today.The allocations shown include additional amounts totalling £110 million for 213 local authorities, formally approved as part of the Government's measures to help to avoid an overall capital underspend on housing in 1982–83. Additional allocations for bids so far approved only in principle—up to a further £62 million—and for expenditure on home improvement grants will be made retrospectively in the light of outturn.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many baton rounds were fired by the Army in each Royal Ulster Constabulary divisional area, or Army equivalent, in each of the past 12 months.

The information requested is as follows:

Month and RUC Division
1982
March	B Division: 1;
April	N Division: 4
May	N Division: 14
	N Division: 17;
	O Division: 1
June	N Division: 3
July	N Division: 12
August	B Division: 50;
	D Division: 15;
	N Division: 12
September	Nil
October	N Division: 8
November	B Division: 1
December	Nil
1983
January	C Division: 3
February	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of widows of armed forces pensioners who are not at present eligible for or receiving an armed forces pensioners' widow's pension; and if he will estimate the cost of extending such pension rights to all of these widows.

There are three groups of service widows who do not qualify for an award from my Department even though their husbands were in receipt of an armed forces pension. They are as follows:

i. those whose husbands retired before 6 April 1978 and married them after retirement;

ii. whose husbands gave less than the minimum qualifying period of service for a forces family pension (five years' service over the age of 18) but who were receiving a pension for a disability attributable to their service (a widow's pension may be awarded only where death is also attributable to service); and

iii. those who would otherwise qualify for a special widow's pension under the arrangements announced by the then Under-Secretary of State for the Royal Navy on 8 November—[Vol. 973, c. 262–64]—but who were disqualified because they are receiving a war widow's pension from the Department of Health and Social Security.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will estimate the potential annual cost of extending pension rights to all armed forces pensioners' wives who are not at present eligible for such an eventual forces widow's pension;(2) if he will estimate the number of armed forces pensioners whose wives are not now eligible for a forces widow's pension.

There is insufficient information to provide a reliable basis for such an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why there are no Royal Air Force personnel or Ministry of Defence policemen at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Upper Heyford other than a commanding officer at each base.

These stations are administered by the United States air force. Ministry of Defence police may be deployed from other locations if required.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of total road building in England was transport supplementary grant aided in 1978–79 and 1982–83 respectively.

Transport supplementary grant assists the local authority road building programme. Of the total spending on new construction of roads, which includes trunk roads and motorways built by the Department, the local authority proportion was 49 per cent. in 1978–79, and is forecast to be about 40 per cent. in 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of total road maintenance in England was transport supplementary grant aided in 1978–79 and 1982–83, respectively.

Transport supplementary grant assists road maintenance expenditure by local authorities on their own roads. Of the total maintenance spending, including that on the Department's trunk roads and motorways, the local authority proportion was 85 per cent. in 1978–79, and will be about 80 per cent. in 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing so much information as is available to him as to (a) the per capita expenditure in £ sterling on health care and (b) the percentage of gross domestic product spent on health care in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the United States of America, (iii) Australia, (iv) Germany, (v) Denmark, (vi) Canada, (vii) France and (viii) Belgium for 1979 and the most recent year for which figures are available.

The situation has not changed since I replied to the hon. Member on 21 January 1983.—[Vol. 35, c. 247.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of waiting time for hospital treatment in each area in the west midlands regional hospital area.

Information on the average length of waiting time is not collected centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the regional health authority about this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report an outline of the procedures, set out in a letter to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, to be followed where supplementary benefit is claimed by a person who has received a vaccine damage payment.

Where a claim for supplementary benefit is made on behalf of a person for whom a vaccine damage payment is held on trust, the trustees are asked if they intend to invest the award and for details of the investment(s); if there are any major items of expenditure for which any part of the award is earmarked; and if they have any other proposals for the award. The case is then submitted to the office of the chief supplementary benefit officer for consideration and advice.The purpose of this procedure is to determine whether, in accordance with regulation 4(7) of the Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulations, all or part of the vaccine damage payment falls to be disregarded in the vaccine damaged person's supplementary benefit assessment

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he has so far received on the consultation document on solvent abuse.

Those consulted were asked to reply by 29 April. The replies so far suggest that the consultative approach has been well received, but it is far too early to assess the balance of views to be expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is considering any legislation to combat solvent abuse.

No, as I am awaiting the outcome of the consultations with statutory, voluntary, professional and retailers' organisations that I announced in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Paddington (Mr. Wheeler) on 19 January 1983.—[Vol. 35, c. 126.]

asked the Minister for Trade what view he has reached on the representations made to him by the United Kindom shipping industry, following the Falklands campaign, regarding the future of the Merchant Navy; and if he will make a statement.

I am grateful to the GCBS and to the seafaring unions for their thoughtful responses to my invitation to give me their views on the future of the Merchant Navy, following the Falklands war.There was a very wide difference of view, often contradictory, between these responses as to what the Government should do to help the Merchant Navy. In order that the House may be fully aware of what the GCBS and the seafaring unions put to me in writing, I am placing copies of their submissions in the Library.I am replying individually by letter to the GCBS and to the seafaring unions on their specific proposals. In these letters I shall deal in particular with the smaller, though still very important, matters which they raised with me, and in this answer deal only with their major proposals. I shall place these letters also in the Library of both Houses. I wish hon. Members to know exactly what has been proposed, and what has been accepted or rejected by the Government, and why.The main strands of proposals, expressed in differing and sometimes contradictory ways by the different bodies, were, first, an extension of state control, state ownership, and protectionism, generally; and, secondly state subsidy. I am rejecting totally any new proposals in this area.As regards the first, the House and the industry should be in no doubt that this Government have no intention whatsoever of setting up in any form a nationalised shipping line; nor of paying operating subsidies to maintain the fleet at a given uncommercial size. Furthermore, they have no intention whatsoever of bringing in controls to require United Kingdom shippers, whether nationalised industry or private sector shippers, or foreign shippers, to use any percentage whatever of United Kingdom shipping contrary to their commercial judgment.Furthermore, this Government have no intention whatsoever of setting up a cabotage regime for United Kingdom ports. Nor do we intend to restrict the oil-related business in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea to United Kingdom vessels only. On the contrary, it remains the firm policy of this Government to maintain the open trading system in this country, and to press strongly other countries' Governments to liberalise their regimes and to open up their markets to United Kingdom shipping. Protectionism and cargo reservation is growing elsewhere in the world. It must be halted and then reversed for the sake both of the United Kingdom and world trade.The United Kingdom shipping industry depends crucially on the opportunities offered to it by a world open trading system. Over two thirds of our international freight earnings come from cross-trading—that is, trading between two ports, neither or which is in the United Kingdom. These earnings, and the jobs they sustain, depend on the willingness of other countries to keep their ports open to British shipping, and they would not be so willing if we closed our ports to theirs. This means that a fleet protected by the Government, and dependent on the cargoes the Government could reserve to it, could only be smaller than today's fleet and offer less employment, notwithstanding today's difficulties of world recession and world over-tonnaging.Furthermore, just because some other countries get away with some other measures of protectionionism, it does not follow that the United Kingdom would also be allowed to practice protectionism at home but benefit from open trading elsewhere in the world. On the contrary, the United Kingdom is regarded as such a long-time upholder of the principles and practice of open trading, that for the United Kingdom to abandon open trading for protectionism would start a rapid move towards protectionism around the world—greatly to the damage of the United Kingdom.As far as proposals for new subsidies for the shipping industry are concerned, the Government also reject all such proposals, whether they come from the GCBS or from the seafaring unions. British shipping must become competitive on a true commercial basis, and not fall back on new subsidies. Government subsidies not only mean that other industries have, in effect, to subsidise the shipping industry, but also Government subsidy blunts the incentive to create the necessary, truly commercial, competitive edge. Furthermore, the United Kingdom already has a very favourable tax regime for shipping.For their part, the Government are responsible for regulating the industry in the interests of safety and the environment. They will ensure that the burden of regulation is minimised, and that decisive action is taken against unsafe foreign shipping in British ports. I have recently made useful reforms in both these areas, about which I have told the House in previous parliamentary answers. I am continuing to look for further ways in which, consistent with safety, I can reduce such burdens even further as part of my campaign to help the merchant fleet to become more competitive.The Government are also responsible for international negotiations affecting the access of our merchant fleet to the world's shipping markets; and we shall continue to assist by opposing attempts to restrict the industry's ability to compete for trade worldwide. The common position of the European Community on the United Nations liner conference code, which will shortly be coming into force, is a major step in this direction: and the United Kingdom is playing a leading part in current negotiations to apply similar principles in shipping routes outside the Community.The GCBS and the seafaring unions have all told me they would welcome a continuing and regular form of tripartite discussions with the Government. I regard this as a constructive suggestion. I shall shortly be inviting representatives of the various bodies to meet me to give me their views on how best such tripartite discussions could take place. I would see such discussions concentrating on ways of improving competitiveness by reducing operating costs.I have also received from the GCBS and the seafaring unions helpful suggestions for improving the ability of the Merchant Navy to perform its important role in times of emergency and war. Consideration of them and of the scope for incorporating defence features in merchant ships is principally for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. Issues of defence planning arise not so much from the size of the fleet as from the characteristics of ships. The adequacy of the fleet for defence purposes is kept under review, and detailed contingency plans are maintained. Despite the contraction, the merchant fleet remains capable of fulfilling these plans. Members of the NATO Alliance are pledged to pool their merchant shipping in the event of a war affecting the Alliance.I believe that the decline of the British Merchant Navy can be halted and reversed. This will not be achieved by a feeble retreat into protectionism and subsidy. What is needed to reverse the current decline, and what can and should be done, is for management to perform its proper function and to deal effectively and urgently with the fact that United Kingdom crew manning levels, in far too many cases, are as much as 25 per cent. or more higher than those of European competitors—European competitors with high technical and safety standards, and with the extra crew costs, conceded over the years, such as reductions in tours of duty entailing heavy repatriation expenses which, taken together, have multiplied the number of men that need to be employed to fill one seagoing job. In this area alone there is substantial room for cost reduction to produce real competitiveness. It is up to management, not the Government, to sort out such crippling factors in United Kingdom uncompetitiveness and, by sustained analysis of the market, to select those areas of world shipping where a competitive United Kingdom fleet should still have an important role.As far as the seafaring unions are concerned, they must face up to the fact that it is no use, on the one hand, bemoaning the decline of the merchant fleet while, on the other hand, too often pressing for high manning levels beyond the needs of safety, and pressing for other crew-related changes which contribute yet further to higher costs—higher costs which are themselves critically responsible for the very decline of the United Kingdom fleet that the unions so deplore.The United Kingdom merchant fleet, and the jobs and prosperity that go with it, can be increased, but only if management and unions will unite in making the fleet more competitive—without the ultimately debilitating feather bed of subsidies or protection.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he proposes to take any further measures, in addition to those already announced, to reduce the cost burdens imposed on the shipping industry by regulations.

In order to increase the competitiveness of the Merchant Navy, I have been considering the costs involved in proposed regulations relating to the occupational safety of seafarers. I have postponed the requirement in regard to aluminium ladders for access to and from ships until 1 April 1984. In addition, I am proposing

(i) to replace the requirement to apply a slip-resistant surface to open deck areas used regularly for transit with a requirement to keep such areas so far as is practicable free from oil, ice or other substances which might cause slips;

(ii) to reduce the required lighting levels in certain areas aboard ship to those recommended by the International Labour Organisation;

(iii) to restrict to newly constructed ships the requirement to provide rest platforms in long vertical ladders and to dispense with protective hoops round such platforms; and

(iv) not to apply the regulations to United Kingdom ships bare-boat chartered to foreign operators.

I am still considering points made in regard to arrangements for entry into dangerous enclosed spaces. I am satisfied that these proposed changes would not significantly reduce the effective protection that would have been afforded to seafarers working aboard ship if the regulations had been made in their original form.

asked the Attorney-General how many men were taken to court for non-payment of maintenance in (a) 1980, (b) 1981 and (c) 1982.

I regret that the information requested by the hon. Member could not be provided without disproportionate cost. It is possible that one of the results of the statistical exercise referred to in the answer of my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Home Office, to the hon. and learned Member for Accrington (Mr. Davidson) on 10 February may provide some of the material for 1983, and, if so, I will certainly communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Attorney-General how many new court orders for maintenance were made in (a) 1980, (b) 1981 and (c) 1982.

I regret that the information requested by the hon. Member could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Attorney-General (1) how many existing court orders for maintenance are currently in arrears; and what total amount of money is involved;(2) how much money is paid by way of maintenance payments under court orders; how much of this is by way of small maintenance payments paid gross and how much by way of large maintenance payments paid net of tax; and in each case how many maintenance payments are involved.

This information is not collected and it would not be possible to do so since orders made in High Court and county court proceedins are for payment to be made direct to the recipient party.

District council	Total housing stock	Dwellings in need of repair or improvement
		Owner occupied	Housing Executive	Private rented	Other tenure or vacant	Total	Percentage of total stock
Londonderry	21,876	2,141	176	562	596	3,475	14
Limavady	6,650	920	60	140	490	1,610	24
Coleraine	14,467	1,779	439	600	278	3,096	21
Magherafelt	8,692	1,941	212	485	411	2,999	35

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many guns and other weapons have been captured from proscribed organisations in the past 10 years; how many of these it is estimated had been sent from the United States of America; and how many had been made in the United States of America.

Some 6,783 weapons have been recovered by the security forces in Northern Ireland in the

asked the Attorney-General how many court orders for maintenance are worded in such a way as to require the money to be paid direct to children; and what is the total amount of money paid annually in this way.

I regret that the information requested by the hon. Member is not available and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many Housing Executive dwellings there are in each of the local council areas of Londonderry, Limavady, Coleraine and Magherafelt;(2) how many dwellings there are in the local council areas of

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chairman that the information as at December 1982 is as follows:

District council area	Number of NIHE dwellings
Londonderry	12,613
Limavady	3,309
Coleraine	6,112
Magberafelt	3,182

Up-to-date information on the number of unfit dwellings is not available, but the following table gives the most recent statistics as compiled for the house condition survey 1979 by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. A breakdown between urban and rural areas is not available.period 1 January 1973 to 14 March 1983. They consisted of 2,425 rifles, 375 machine guns, 2,677 hand guns, 778 shotguns, 17 rocket launchers and 511 mortars.The available records do not identify the other information sought.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any warning was given to prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, that strip searches would be introduced if prisoners were found smuggling items into the prison.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, prior to 22 October 1982, there had been any reports of prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, attempting to smuggle items into the prison.

There have been various occasions when it has been suspected that prisoners at Armagh have brought in unauthorised items; but it would not be appropriate for me to give details.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the usual examination of prisoners subject to strip search in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, involves an internal viewing of the body orifices.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, since the introduction of strip searches into Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, any prisoners have been found in possession of illegal items while being searched; and what items.

No items have been discovered during searches since October 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, have been charged before the governor, the board of visitors or courts with smuggling items into Armagh prison; and which items.

Possession of unauthorised articles can be dealt with under prison rules by confiscation or by disciplinary proceedings.During the six months from 1 August 1982 to 28 February 1983, six prisoners were charged before the governor with possession of unauthorised articles. The articles were keys, letters and cigarettes.It is not possible to say with certainty that all the articles had been smuggled in by the prisoners themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the criteria now used for deciding to strip search a prisoner attending court for a remand hearing from Her Majesty's prison, Armagh.

These are matters for operational judgment and it would not be appropriate for me to go into detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether metal detectors had been in use in examining remand prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, Armagh, before the discovery of the two keys discovered in the search of Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, on 22 October.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many and which prisons in Northern Ireland metal detectors and explosive detectors are used for searching prisoners.

Metal detectors are used as an aid in searches of prisoners in Maze (Cellular), Magilligan and Armagh prisons. Equipment for detecting explosives is not used in any prison establishment in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will announce a new financial target and a performance aim for the electricity supply industry in England and Wales.

In agreement with the industry, I have set the target of a return of 1·4 per cent. on average total net assets for the period 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1985. This is fully consistent with the standstill in prices overall in 1983–84 which I announced last November. I have also agreed with the industry a performance aim to reduce its controllable unit costs in real terms by 4·25 per cent. over the financial target period.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has set objectives for any of the industries for which he is responsible.

Following the statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry about the relationship between the Government and the nationalised industries, I have settled objectives for their respective boards with the chairmen of the Central Electricity Generating Board, the National Coal Board and the British National Oil Corporation.The Central Electricity Generating Board's objectives were settled with Sir Walter Marshall, CBE, FRS, in the following terms: