asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if, in proceeding against Marine Joseph Paterson, convicted in the High Court in Edinburgh on 1 March of offences of violence in Dundee, he took account of Marine Paterson's service experiences in the Falkland Islands.

Yes.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church commissioners, if he will state (a) the current membership of the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches, giving the date and length of appointment, (b) the new members to be appointed for 1 April, (c) when he expects to appoint a new chairman of the advisory board, (d) if he will list the qualities that have been taken into account when making the appointment and (e) if the views of the advisory board were sought before making the appointment of chairmen.

The Church Commissioners are not responsible for the appointment of the chairman and members of the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches. Under section 42(1) of the Pastoral Measure 1968, these appointments are made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York jointly after consultation with the Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. I feel sure that the Archbishop of Canterbury would be ready to correspond with the hon. Gentleman about his question if he cares to write to him.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list the number of churches declared redundant in each of the last 10 years; and of these, how many have been made over to (a) other denominations, (b) alternative uses and (c) the redundant churches fund or (d) have been demolished.

The following table indicates the number of churches declared redundant between 1 April 1969, the operative date of the Pastoral Measure 1968, and 31 December 1982. I hope the hon. Gentleman will find it helpful to have the figures for the slightly longer period. I should, however, explain that from 1969 to 1979 the figures are given for each year ending 31 March, whereas from 1980 they are on a calendar year basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many community psychiatric nurses there are working for each of the area health boards in Northern Ireland and in the Belfast, East parliamentary constituency;(2) how many community psychiatric nurses there are working in Northern Ireland.

There are 73 community psychiatric nurses in Northern Ireland employed in the four health and social services boards as follows:

	Mental illness	Mental handicap
Eastern board	22	4
Northern board	8	—
Southern board	10	4
Western board	22	3

The nature of their work is such that community psychiatric nurses are not limited to districts within each board area and it is not possible therefore to provide a breakdown of these figures for parliamentary constituencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the total number of National Health Service patients in Northern Ireland each year are considered to be suffering from mental illness.

This information is not held centrally. However, in 1981 a total of 11,499 patients were treated for mental illness in psychiatric hospitals or in psychiatric units in general hospitals. This represents 4·6 per cent. of all patients treated in hospitals in Northern Ireland in that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the total budget for the National Health Service in Northern Ireland is spent in caring for the mentally ill.

It is not possible to identify accurately the expenditure on the programme of care for the mentally ill. However, it is estimated that approximately £35 million was spent on caring for the mentally ill as in-patients of hospitals and residents of hostels during 1980–81, representing some 10 per cent. of the £348 million expended by Boards during that year on direct caring services. This figure is based on the cost of accommodation and treatment of the mentally ill in institutions excluding the cost of administration and the family practitioner services. In addition, it does not take account of costs in the community health services, day and out-patient services, ambulance services and personal social services relating to the care of the mentally ill outside these institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Warley, East on 10 March, Official Report, c. 499, he will elucidate the changed method of providing funds for purchases by the Ulster Museum which has been operative during 1980–81 to 1982–83 inclusive; what sums have been devoted to expenditure on purchases during each of those years; what sums were devoted to expenditure on purchases during each of those years; what sums were devoted to expenditure on general expenses, including salaries, during each of those years; if, under the system which has operated for those three years, fixed sums for purchases are in practice earmarked at the beginning of the financial year; and if there is any liability to surrender any unexpended balances to the Consolidated Fund.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration is being given to the needs of the Londonderry area for advanced further education; and how such needs will be met.

The Government statement on the future structure of higher education in Northern Ireland, which was published in March 1982, envisaged fuller use being made of Magee University college, as an integral part of the new institution which will be formed by the merger of the Ulster polytechnic and the New University of Ulster. While the detailed disposition of courses around the four major campuses of the new institution has not yet been determined, the steering group which is planning the new institution is well aware of the need to ensure that the requirements of the Londonderry area are catered for. In addition advanced further education courses are also provided in Londonderry by the North West college of technology.I am anxious that there should be close and effective co-operation between the new institution and the North West college of technology in meeting the needs of the Londonderry area. Discussions have already taken place on this between the steering group, which is planning the new institution, and the Western education and library area board, which is responsible or the North West college of technology. I wish to promote the maximum co-operation between the institutions concerned, and I have therefore decided that a small group should be set up to assess the overall needs of the Londonderry area and to consider the respective roles and relationships of the North West college and of the new institution in meeting these needs.Accordingly I have asked Mr. Tom Cowan, a former senior chief inspector of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland, to chair a small group with the following terms of reference:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what has been the highest maximum demand upon the electricity grid in England and Wales in the current winter and the highest over the last five winters; and what margin of spare capacity was available on each occasion;(2) what is the plant margin of generating capacity in the electricity supply industry in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

I am advised by the CEGB that the highest demand met by the board's system (restricted maximum system demand), and the amount of its own plant available at that time were:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was for 1980 and 1981 the consumption of oil in the United Kingdom by each of the sectors: agriculture, iron and steel, other industry, road transport, households, fuel producers, other fuel users and non-fuel users; and if he will indicate in each case the tonnage of the several petroleum products used.

The information is published in tables 40 and 42 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1982, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the top 20 world oil producers in 1982 in order of production and show the quantities produced in terms of daily barrels and millions tonnes per year.

The following table gives estimates of crude oil production in 1982. These estimates have been derived from oil trade reports.

Crude oil production by 20 largest producers in 1982
	Average million daily barrels	Million tonnes
1. USSR	11·9	600
2. USA	8·7	430
3. Saudi Arabia	6·5	330
4. Mexico	2·7	140
5. UK	2·1	100
6. China	2·0	100
7. Iran	1·9	100
8. Venezuela	1·9	100
9. Canada	1·5	70
10. Indonesia	1·3	60
11. Nigeria	1·3	60
12. United Arab Emirates	1·2	60
13. Libya	1·1	50

asked the Minister for Trade what assessments he has made of the lessons to be learned from the collapse of the Laker airline in February 1982.

The failure of Laker Airways has lessons for many individuals and commercial companies, but I do not think that it calls for changes in legislation or action by the Government.

asked the Minister for Trade what were the totals of glass imports and exports for each of the past four years.

Following is the information:

(£ million)
	1979	1980	1981	1982
Imports cif	214	193	215	257
Exports fob	171	199	187	201

asked the Minister for Trade what assistance is being given by Her Majesty's Government to help the British film industry.

My Department administers the Films Acts and in particular the distribution of moneys to eligible films from the British film fund. The National Film Finance Corporation makes loans to makers of films, from money advanced from the British film fund. In addition my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister for the Arts make annual grants to the Scottish film council, the British Film Institute and the National Film and Television School.

asked the Minister for Trade what were the principal areas of deficit in trade in manufactured goods with the European Community for 1982; and what were the respective imbalances in £ sterling.

The dominant commodity heading, accounting for about half the total deficit in this trade in recent years, has been road vehicles, in which there was a crude deficit of £2·2 billion in 1982.

asked the Minister for Trade what further help his Department is giving to Radmark Engineering in Ashfield to fulfil a contract for Coal India.

I understand that Coal India has recently written to Radmark Engineering cancelling the order. I will certainly do all I can to help. Radmark will no doubt reconsider its legal position in the light of the cancellation.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will give separately the balance of visible trade on the oil and on the non-oil account for the last available three-month period.

For the last quarter of 1982 the United Kingdom had a surplus on trade in oil of £1,736 million compared with a non-oil deficit of £474 million.

asked the Minister for Trade what further discussions he has had with the chairman of British Airways concerning financial reconstruction of the airline.

My right hon. and noble Friend and I are in frequent contact with the chairman of British Airways on a wide range of matters, including British Airways' financial position. The Government are considering British Airways' request for a capital reconstruction but have not yet come to any firm conclusion about it.

asked the Minister for Trade what has been the percentage change in the value of computer hardware and software imported into the United Kingdom over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

The value of computers including spares imported in 1982 was 109 per cent. higher than that in 1978. Over the same period, the value of exports rose by 88 per cent. Information on imports of software is not available.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will take further steps to collect information concerning the extent of doorstep selling activities.

I am always willing to receive any information the hon. Member or others may have on misleading doorstep selling.

asked the Minister for Trade what were the surpluses or deficits in manufacturing trade with the Federal Republic of Germany and Japan, respectively, in 1982.

In 1982, there were crude deficits on trade in manufacturers with the Federal Republic of Germany and with Japan of £3·3 billion and £2·0 billion respectively. In the crude balance imports were valued on a cif basis and exports in a fob basis.

asked the Minister for Trade when he expects to complete his consideration of the Insolvency Law Review Committee's recommendations for the personal liability of, and other matters connected with, directors involved in previous insolvencies.

I am urgently considering the committee's recommendations but cannot say when I will be ready to make proposals. My hon. Friend can be assured that I regard this as a matter of priority.

asked the Minister for Trade what is the present position in respect of the proposed draft directives from the European Community Council relating to the mobility of hairdressers and the mutual recognition of qualifications.

The European Directive 82/849 EEC on the right of establishment of hairdressers was adopted by the Council of the European Communities on 19 July 1982. Laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this directive must be brought into force by 23 January 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will prosecute the Cambridge Heath Press Ltd. in view of the fact that it last filed its accounts in accordance with the Companies Act on 27 July 1982, being for the period ended 31 March 1981, and that the company is in arrears with its accounts for the period ended 31 March 1982, which should have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies by 31 January.

The Registrar of Companies has begun his normal reminder procedure in respect of this company. If this is unsuccessul, prosecution will be considered.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will give active encouragement to the European Commission, through the Council of Trade Ministers, in promoting the new draft regulations on equal car selling prices within the member states.

The European Commission already has in hand proposals for a regulation under the competition rules. These will be published in the Official Journal for general comment and I see no need to raise the subject in the Council at present.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will review the 97 orders made under the Companies Acts and now in effect with a view to the further clarification and simplification of business law.

My present priority in this area is consolidation of the Companies Acts, which will make a major contribution to the clarification and simplification of company law. The consolidation is likely to incorporate certain of the regulations made under the Companies Acts. The need for a review of the remaining regulations will be for consideration after consolidation.

asked the Minister for Trade what has been the percentage change in the seasonally-adjusted volume of exports and of imports of manufactured goods since May 1979.

Between May 1979 and January 1983, the seasonally-adjusted volume of exports fell by 12 per cent., whilst that of imports rose by 1 per cent.

asked the Minister for Trade what consultations have so far been undertaken by Her Majesty's Government with regard to the proposals of the European Community Commission to end the wine, spirits and soft drinks tie in the brewery industry.

The Government have consulted widely on successive drafts of the Commission's proposals affecting brewery ties. Views have been received on behalf of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of drinks (including brewers and their tenants) as well as from those representing consumers, lawyers and commercial interests generally. I have also received many letters from hon. Members. Their views have been taken fully into account in discussions with the Commission.

asked the Minister for Trade what were the gross and net overseas earnings of the British merchant navy in 1982; and what percentages were in the cross-trades.

Earnings statistics cover vessels owned and chartered from abroad by United Kingdom resident shipping companies. In 1982 gross overseas earnings are estimated at £2,824 million and net earnings at £737 million. The proportion attributable to the cross trades is only available for 1982 for dry cargo vessels; it was 46 per cent. of dry cargo gross earnings, which in turn account for 52 per cent. of total gross earnings.

asked the Minister for Trade what was the percentage change in the balance of trade in manufactured goods in January compared with January 1980, January 1981 and January 1982.

Percentage changes in trade balances are not meaningful because trade balances are highly volatile and may be positive negative or zero. The following table provides the balance of trade in manufactures in the requested periods.

United Kingdom trade balance in manufactured goods balance of payments basis, seasonally adjusted
	£ million
January 1979	-365
January 1980	-411
January 1981	-722
January 1982	-156
January 1983	+534

asked the Minister for Trade what has been the change in the size of the United Kingdom owned and registered merchant shipping fleet in the latest available 12-month period.

In the year to end-December 1982, the latest period for which information is available, the United Kingdom-owned and registered merchant fleet declined by 4·7 million deadweight tons, a fall of 15·9 per cent. over the year.

asked the Minister for Trade what was the estimated value of exports achieved by the mechanical engineering sector during the last three years for which statistics are available.

The estimated value of exports of mechanical engineering products in 1980 and 1981 was £6,141 million and £6,293 million respectively. A provisional estimate for these exports in 1982 is £6,667 million.

asked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Basildon on Friday 17 December 1982, Official Report, c. 286, whether the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has yet completed the study of the costs of protectionism; and if he will make a statement.

No, this study has not yet been completed. The OECD secretariat is currently in consultation with member states, compiling an inventory of relevant data. It is a very complex subject and the study is unlikely to be completed before 1984.

asked the Minister for Trade what steps have been taken to establish airworthiness requirements for microlight aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

The Civil Aviation Authority has published a code of airworthiness requirements for microlight aeroplanes specifying structural and performance standards necessary for the issue of a permit to fly. The code will be phased in over a period between 1 July 1983 and 1 July 1984.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will estimate the improvement to United Kingdom trade prospects resulting from the measures contained in the Budget Statement.

United Kingdom firms' ability to sell and compete both in overseas markets and at home will be helped above all by the continuing emphasis in the Budget on controlling inflation and maintaining stable business and financial conditions. In addition, the cut in national insurance surcharge, and the range of measures to help small and medium-sized firms should improve United Kingdom trade prospects.

asked the Minister for Trade what action is being taken to expand trade with African states other than the Republic of South Africa.

Promotion of trade with these countries mobilises the full resources of the British Overseas Trade Board in support of individual companies and in encouraging awareness of market opportunities. High-level inward and outward Ministerial exchanges also continue to be an important element in the development of our commercial bilateral relations with these countries.

asked the Minister for Trade what were the United Kingdom balance of trade figures with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1982; and what is the percentage change compared with 10 years before.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what decision he has reached on the proposed airway between Edinburgh-Glasgow and Aberdeen: and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 14 March 1983, c. 70]: Because of the increasing traffic on the routes between Edinburgh/Glasgow and Aberdeen, National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the joint Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation Authority body responsible for the safety and expedition of air traffic, decided that, in the interests of air safety, the existing advisory routes should be upgraded to airway status. In December 1979 these proposals were put to the National Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee (NATMAC), which comprises representatives of over 20 organisations concerned with aviation.As a result of representations made by the British Gliding Association (BGA), NATMAC, following further discussions under the aegis of NATS, agreed to change the alignment of the airway to avoid the Portmoak gliding site. This compromise solution will entail complications for the air traffic control authorities; the airlines will have to fly a less direct route, thereby increasing fuel costs; and there will be some restrictions of air gliding activities. Nevertheless, it was generally accepted that in the interests of safety, this was the best solution available.I have received all the papers, including many representations from the gliding fraternity, consulted my Ministerial colleagues concerned, and I have met the interested parties on several occasions. Having looked at all the evidence, I have concluded that the NATS compromise must stand. However, I have agreed that the effects of the introduction of the new airway will be watched closely to discover whether, after a year's experience of the airway in operation, there are any improvements to be made, consistent with the over-riding safety and operational considerations.I believe that the compromise described above, changing the route to the benefit of the gliders, plus the agreement to watch closely over the next 12 months how events work out in practice, constitute a fair balance between the interests of the gliders on the one hand and, on the other, the concerns of the airlines, their passengers, the sporting interests of parachutists, and national defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during his recent visit to the Falkland Islands, he studied the requirement for housing facilities for employees of contractors working on the airport at Port Stanley.

I did not look at the details of proposals to provide housing for contractors' employees as airport work will be handled through the Property Services Agency on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 March, Official Report, c. 405, when he expects the final departmental attribution of payment for the work to keep the road between Port Stanley and the airport open through the next Falkland Islands winter to be made.

Work is in hand to repair the road system in Port Stanley and to the airport. The Overseas Development Administration and the Ministry of Defence respectively, have provided provisional funding for these two programmes. Final responsibility will be settled in due course but this issue will not delay this essential work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he had any communication from Club Mediterranée concerning its construction plans on the Turks and Caicos Islands.

I have received a copy of the agreement between Club Med and Johnston Construction Co. Although not a legally-binding document, it expresses the intention of both parties to work together with a view to signature of a contract by 31 March. Club Med officials will shortly be visiting London to discuss certain details of the project with my officials.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries in Africa receiving United Kingdom overseas aid in 1982–83 together with the amounts in each case; and if he will express these sums as a percentage of total United Kingdom overseas aid to African countries.

Final figures for overseas aid in 1982–83 will not be available for some months, but the latest estimates of expenditure for that year on bilateral aid to African countries are given below. They exclude figures for CDC investment, certain forms of technical cooperation, food aid, disaster and refugee relief and certain pensions payments.

	Estimated expenditure £'000	Percentage of total
Algeria	10	*
Botswana	5,930	3·61
Cameroon	270	0·16
Egypt	5,990	3·65
Ethiopia†	460	0·28
Gambia	2,130	1·30
Ghana	6,130	3·74
Kenya	20,430	12·45
Lesotho	4,700	2·86
Liberia	340	0·21
Madagascar	360	0·22
Malawi	8,950	5·45
Mauritius	1,450	0·88
Morocco	90	*
Mozambique	1,690	1·03
Namibia	210	0·13
Nigeria	1,140	0·69
Seychelles	3,220	1·96
Sierra Leone	3,190	1·94
Somalia	1,640	1·00
South Africa‡	380	0·23
Sudan	34,380	20·95
Swaziland	3,120	1·90
Tanzania	20,420	12·44
Tunisia	80	*
Uganda†	2,980	1·82
Zaire	830	0·51
Zimbia	12,500	7·62
Zimbabwe†	19,900	12·13
Francophone/Lusophone countries not listed above	1,180	0·72
Total	164,100
* Less than 0·1 per cent.
† Includes refugee student scheme.
‡ Technical co-operation for the benefit of black South Africans.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to the answer of 10 March, Official Report, c.467, he will list the individual projects which have been approved under the 1977 project grant to Tanzania.

Following is the list:

• Mtwara power station.
• Health sector project.
• Mtwara village godowns.
• Mwenta water supplies.
• Mtwara oilseeds research.
• Mtwara hatchery unit.
• Mtwara rice production (equipment).
• Kilimanjaro dairy farms.
• Lindi rural water supplies.
• Mtwara village grain store.
• Rural water supplies (Finn water project).
• Ngongo dairy development.
• Village water supplies.
• Cassava improvement.
• Strategic grain reserves.
• Lindi village grain stores.
• Lindi agricultural mechanisation.
• Lindi oilseeds research.
• Lindi poultry feed mill.
• Mtwara veterinary centre.
• Lindi rice production (equipment).
• Seed multiplication centre.
• Mtwara rural water supplies.
• Poultry development.
• Naliendele water supply.
• Village book-keeping improvement (equipment).
• Rural health service rehabilitation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the level of aid in total and to each country in the Commonwealth countries of Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Estimated disbursements of United Kingdom bilateral aid to Commonwealth countries in Africa in FY 1982–83 total about £116 million. The estimates for individual countries are set out in the reply to a question by the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold) on 21 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests were made to him for additional assistance on his recent visit to the Southern Africa development co-ordination conference.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the most recent steps he has taken to help the international efforts being made to assist the 400 million people who are disabled in the Third world.

We have no sectoral aid allocations within the aid programme and therefore no funds specifically set aside for the disabled. However, a number of projects funded under our regular aid programme contribute directly or indirectly to the welfare of the disabled in developing countries and help to prevent disability, in particular some of those we fund jointly with voluntary agencies. For example over the past nine months we have agreed to joint fund with Oxfam fhe following projects to disabled persons:

• India—Prerana Trust soap manufacturing by disabled.
• Bangladesh—Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed.
• Burma—Mary Chapman school for deaf and dumb—extension to school building.
• India—Prabha Institute training handicapped women.
• India—Kerala Federation of the Blind—guidance counselling service.
• India—St. Joseph's Prashanthi Nivas—rehabilitation of destitutes and handicapped.
• India—Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata—rehabilitation of the physically handicapped.
• India—Leprosy Patients Welfare Society—rehabilitation.
• Indonesia—Centre for Cerebral Palsy—rural rehabilitation of handicapped.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make arrangements to meet representatives of the Third world group for disabled people to discuss their future programme and the ways in which his Department may be able to help;(2) what financial assistance he has given so far to the Third world group for disabled people; and what future plans he has.

The Third world group of the national IYDP committee received grants from the ODA of £3,000 and £5,000 in the last two years. I have no plans for providing further assistance at this stage, but would be willing to meet representatives of the group.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he makes, when deciding on aid priorities, of the effect of the quality of British aid spent on British goods and services on the domestic economy, and in particular employment.

Our aid spending produces, directly and indirectly, a very satisfactory level of orders for British goods and services. My Department consults closely with the Departments of Trade and Industry in taking account of the effects of aid spending on the economy, and on employment.

asked the Prime Minister on what evidence she bases her view that it was an Argentine ship that raised the Argentine flag on Thule.

I have made it quite clear that we have no definite evidence that it was the crew of an Argentine ship that raised that flag.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government have made any assessment of the number of jobs that would be created, and the effect on activity in the supplying industries, if the sewerage system were to be brought up to modern standards.

Although much of our sewerage system is not modern, most of it is operating satisfactorily. To remedy deficiencies and to provide new services water authorities are carrying out investment plans for sewerage costing some £220 million in 1982–83. The Government's Expenditure Plans published in February will allow a 30 per cent. increase in investment by water authorities over the next three years and an increase in the proportion spent on sewerage is expected. The employment consequences of that will depend on the precise nature of the works.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with co-ordination between the Department of Health and Social Security and the Home Department about the formulation of the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill; and if she will make a statement.

The Police and Criminal Evidence Bill, which is based in part on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedures, gives effect to the policy of the Government that the police should be given adequate powers to enable them to protect the public from crime and that at the same time the safeguards for the individual provided by the present law should be strengthened.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether in the light of public consultation, he has reached conclusions on the proposals of the All-Wales working party on services for mentally handicapped people.

Yes. On 29 July 1982 I announced that, subject to a satisfactory outcome to public consultation, I was prepared to back the 10-year strategy proposed by the working party. There were 85 written responses to the consultation from a wide range of statutory bodies, voluntary organisations, professional interests, trades unions and individuals. Although there were many helpful detailed suggestions for improvements or changes of emphasis, the responses were over-whemingly in favour of the proposed strategy and, in particular, of its concentration on the development of personal social services for mentally handicapped people in their home communities. This broad welcome for the strategy was repeated at the inaugural meeting of the All-Wales health forum on 29 October 1982.In the light of this reassuring response I announced on 10 February 1983 the choice of vanguard areas under the strategy. The strategy will involve building up expenditure over the 10 years to £26 million per annum of additional recurring annual amounts. These will be provided from the funds made available each year for the hospital, community health and other health services element of the Welsh Office block public expenditure Vote.The response to consultation enabled me to make important improvements to the strategy without changing the working party's principal proposals. In particular the principles of providing care for mentally handicapped people in their own homes or in alternative ordinary domestic housing, of developing equal access to services available to the general public and of especially intensive development in vanguard areas to test the viability and self-sufficiency of the new pattern of services are reaffirmed, as in the emphasis on the close involvement of the representatives of consumers of services at all stages.I have today placed in the Library of the House the revised version of the strategy document which will form the basis of developments.I have also decided which individual projects will receive Welsh Office funding to launch the strategy in the financial year 1983–84 and have placed in the Library a copy of a press notice which announces details of these decisions. The emphasis of the first phase of centrally funded development is on providing the foundations for developments over the period of the strategy as a whole. It will enable all county areas in Wales to make a start. A total of £1·6 million is available for the first year. Of this, the initial allocation to voluntary organisations totals well over £300,000 and a sum of £200,000 is being reserved to ensure that essential staff training is provided to meet the needs of the new services.As the working party suggested, lead responsibility for local developments will rest with the personal social services authorities working in full co-operation with health, housing, education authorities and other service providers as well as the voluntary organisations and the representatives of mentally-handicapped people and their families. Personal social services authorities are therefore being asked to draw up in co-operation with these other interests proposals for local developments for the period of the strategy and to submit these to the Welsh Office before the end of October 1983. Welsh Office funding of developments from 1984–85 onwards will be designed to implement these approved plans.Developments will be financed largely by means of specific payments from the Welsh Office subject to Parliamentary approval of the relevant provisions of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Bill, which is currently before the House. It is my intention, in so far as expenditure relates to local authority developments, to make over the sums involved permanently through the rate support grant once the new services are substantially in being. There will be discussions with the local authority associations about the mechanisms and timing of this transfer.Health authorities will also receive some support for their essential contributions to community services from the funds specially provided for the strategy, but the bulk of these will go to the social services authorities and voluntary organisations. Health authority developments will also be funded through the sums set aside each year by the Welsh Office for special NHS developments in services for mentally-ill and mentally-handicapped people. I also expect health authorities to develop

	1979	1980	1981	1982
Clwyd	Llangollen County Infants School	Ruthin County Junior School	Penycae Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled Infants School	Llandegla Voluntary Controlled Primary School
	Llangollen Voluntary Controlled Junior School	Ruthin County Infants School Rhosllanerchrugog Primary School		Bryneglwys Voluntary Controlled Primary School
		Old Colwyn Voluntary Controlled Primary School

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many kilometres of motorway were planned to he built in Wales in each of the years 1981 and 1982; what was the actual number under construction; and how many were completed.

No motorway construction was planned for 1981 and 1982 but the completion of the 13-kilometre length of the M4 from Pencoed to Stormy Down (Bridgend northern bypass) was delayed by unforeseen difficulties until September 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which circulars, regular reports, or regular forms requiring information, that are sent by the Welsh Office to local authorities in Wales, are printed in a bilingual format.

Seventeen forms seeking statistical information and printed in bilingual format are sent annually to local education authorities in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report by education authority area (a) the primary schools or departments and (b) the secondary schools or departments to which he has consented to closure for each of the years 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing by range of income and for (a) single persons, (b) married couples without wife's earned income and (c) other married couples the estimated annual value of claims for mortgage relief and the cost to the Exchequer, assuming the present level of mortgage interest prevails throughout the year.

The information on the cost of mortgage relief (which is equivalent to the value of claims) is given in the following table. The total amounts are consistent with the figures for the average per mortgagor supplied to the hon. Member on 7 March 1983—[Vol. 38, c. 281–282]—and are based on the same assumption about interest rates.

Cost of mortgage interest relief in a full year at 1982–83 income levels
Range of total income (lower limit) £	(a)	(b)	(c)
	Single people	Married couples without wife's earned income	Married couples with wife's earned income
1,500	neg.	neg.	neg.
2,000	5	5	neg.
3,000	15	10	neg.
4,000	20	20	10
5,000	25	40	20
6,000	40	65	30
7,000	50	105	45
8,000	25	110	60

Corrected figures for reply of 31 January (Vol. 36, c. 20–22) Number of incomes and estimated average rates of income tax payable by range of total income 1982–83
Range of total income	(a) Single people		(b) Married couples without wife's earned income		(c) Married couples with wife's earned income
	Number of incomes	Income Tax as proportion of total incomes	Number of incomes	Income Tax as proportion of total incomes	Number of incomes	Income Tax as proportion of total incomes
£	Millions	per cent.	Millions	per cent.	Millions	per cent.
(i) Under 65
15–20,000	0·05	27·6	0·2	23·7	0·5	21·1
20–30,000	0·03	32·6	0·1	29·0	0·2	25·3
(ii) Over 65
15–20,000	0·01	34·4	0·02	28·3	0·02	23·9
20–30,000	0·01	40·2	0·02	34·2	0·02	30·4

Corrected figures for reply of 7 March (Vol. 38, c. 281–2) Numbers receiving mortgage interest relief and average relief by range of total income, 1982–83
	Numbers receiving mortgage interest relief Thousands	Average relief per mortgagor £	Numbers receiving mortgage interest relief Thousands	Average relief per mortgagor £	Numbers receiving mortgage interest relief Thousands	Average relief per mortgagor £
(i) Under 65
15–20,000	25	760	125	670	400	450
20–30,000	15	900	70	930	170	710
(ii) Over 65—no corrections required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up-to-date the information given in his replies of 8 March 1982. Official

Companies
£ millions
	Gross trading profits†	Capital allowances claimed‡	Stock relief claimed║	Interest payments¶
All Companies*
1970	6,088	2,525	—	1,752
1971	7,017	3,724	—	1,877
1972	8.162	4,638	—	2,145
1973	10,471	5,527	2,500	3,229
1974	11,628	6,689	4,000	4,272

Revised estimates since 1970 are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in support of the Government's policy of reducing public expenditure and the fact that most peers of the realm have several large incomes, many from public sources, he will arrange for their travel fares to and from their homes to be taxed in the same manner as hon. Members.

I do not consider that it would be right to propose any change in the law governing the tax treatment of these allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will express the value of the pound sterling at the end of 1982 in terms of its value in 1945 in percentage terms.

The value of the pound sterling in December 1982 was 9 per cent. of its value in 1945.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the stamp duty consultative document announced in the Budget speech.

An internal review of the stamp duties has examined the scope for modernising and streamlining these taxes. The review has shown that there is scope for considerable reform. A number of the duties could be repealed with little loss of revenue; others contain anomalies, some in favour of the taxpayer, some in favour of the Exchequer, which need correcting. The consultative document which is being issued today by the Inland Revenue with my approval considers, in relation to each of the duties, the case for change. Many of the issues are highly technical, and before decisions are taken the Government would welcome comments on the questions raised in the consultative document.Copies of the consultative document have been placed in the Library of the House. It will be helpful if comments on the document could be sent to the Inland Revenue by 30 September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an analysis showing how the selling price of £4·70 was calculated for printing the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1983–84; and how this compares with the price of £4·30 for the 1982–83 Report.