asked the Minister for Trade if he will list in the Official Report the value and number of domestic light bulbs over 28 volts imported from Yugoslavia from 1978 to the most recent convenient date.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is consulting the relevant unions on the report on the coastguard resource control review; and when he expects to be able to publish the report.

The review team report on the resource control review of Her Majesty's Coastguard was sent to my departmental trade union side on 9 March, with a request for its views before I take decisions on its recommendations. I am placing a copy of the report in the Library, and I shall make further copies available on request.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the past two years the increase in United Kingdom exports to the oil producing countries, together with his forecast for the current year in the light of the fall in the price of oil.

The value of exports to the oil exporting countries from 1975 to 1982 is set out in the March issue of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics"—table B.19. I prefer not to venture an estimate for 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were unemployed in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in February 1983, expressed (a) numerically and (b) as a percentage; and what are the corresponding figures for males and females, respectively.

The following table provides the information requested on the numbers of unemployed claimants in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area on 10 February 1983:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage increase in (a) total and (b) male unemployment in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area and Scotland, respectively, between January 1982 and January 1983.

The percentage increase in (a) total and (b) male unemployed claimants—the new basis of the count—in Scotland between January 1982 and January 1983 was nine per cent. and 8·9 per cent., respectively. Figures for the Edinburgh travel-to-work area are not available on a comparable basis. but the following table gives the numbers of (a) total and (b) male unemployed registrants—the old basis of the unemployment count—at January 1982 and the number of unemployed claimants—the new basis—at January 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what has been the numerical and percentage change in the numbers employed by age group in both Dundee and Scotland between May 1979 and the latest available date;(2) what has been the numerical and percentage change in the numbers employed per standard industrial classification order in both Dundee and Scotland between May 1979 and the latest available date.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes there were in industrial rateable values in each Scottish region in the financial years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82.

Information confined to industrial rateable values alone is not available centrally. The following table gives rateable values relating to industrial and freight transport subjects in the authorities concerned as at 1 April 1979, 1980 and 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether an Order in Council has now been made in the terms of the draft Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order.

Yes. The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1983 was made on 16 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the future role of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I am today publishing a policy statement on the role and future operation of the inspectorate. This follows the completion of a scrutiny of the inspectorate within the programme co-ordinated by Lord Rayner. Copies of the statement and the scrutiny report are available in the Library.It is important that the country gets value for the massive resources which are invested in education, and the inspectorate has a key role to play in this. It will provide an audit of the system by assessing and reporting on the quality of education being provided. It will identify cost-effective ways of meeting educational needs and indicate desirable and attainable norms of quality. It is already nearing completion of a study of the management of secondary schools and further work of this kind will be undertaken.The education system has to adapt to meet changing needs and has to find ways of improving the quality of education. The inspectorate plays a crucial part in the system and the value of its work has been widely recognised. It has to give a lead in bringing about change as in the implementation of the Government's action plan for 16 to 18-year-olds.Its findings must be made more readily available to the customers of the education system—pupils, students, parents and employers. One way in which this will be achieved is by publishing promptly reports of general inspections of schools and colleges. Not only will this influence the institutions inspected, but other schools and colleges will examine their own standards in the light of the reports, and parents and employers will be better informed about what they should require of the education service. This will lead to greater accountability to the general public.To carry out the enhanced role of the inspectorate there will have to be careful matching of staffing resources to the tasks being undertaken. It is important that staffing should be flexible and that it should be possible to bring in teachers and others who are leaders in their field to work on particular projects.Copies of the policy statement are being sent to each education authority and to a wide range of other bodies concerned with education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase the resources allocated to the unemployed voluntary action fund.

I had already announced that £300,000 would be allocated to the fund in 1983–84. In the light of representations received from the trustees, I have now decided to increase that figure to £500,000 and, in addition, I am making available a further £50,000 in the present financial year. I hope that this increase in the level of funding will enable many more worthwile projects to get under way.

asked the Attorney-General what proportion of papers, considered worthy of preservation, are retained by Government Departments for periods in excess of 30 years for administrative purposes or other special reasons.

Departments may, subject to the Lord Chancellor's approval, retain 30-year-old records under the provisions of section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958. Details of the categories of papers retained under these provisions are given in a leaflet for readers to be issued shortly by the Public Record Office. I am sending a copy of the final draft of this leaflet to the hon. Member and I shall place a further copy in the Library.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the categories of papers considered worthy of preservation which are normally retained by Government Departments for periods in excess of 30 years for administrative purposes or other special reasons.

This varies widely between Departments, but the overall proportion is estimated to be no more than 1 per cent. of all records selected for permanent preservation in any one year.

asked the Attorney-General which Cabinet, Cabinet Committee, or Chief of Staff Committee and sub-committee files relating to the Falklands or Anglo-Argentine relations have been removed from public scrutiny at the Public Record Office.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 March 1983, c. 177–178]: I understand that records falling into these categories which had been temporarily returned to the Departments concerned under the provisions of section 4(6) of the Public Records Act 1958 have now been restored to the Public Record Office.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be attending a dinner given by President Kaunda.

asked the Prime Minister if she plans to meet the Trades Union Congress general council.

I have at present no plans for such a meeting.

asked the Prime Minister how many official visits she has paid to seaside towns in the United Kingdom since 1979.

Eighteen.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the course of her visit to the north-west announced in her answer of 8 February, Official Report, c. 295, she will meet representatives of both sides of the textile and clothing industries.

I visited the north-west on 17–18 February. I did not hold a meeting of the kind suggested.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on recent proposals by wages councils for increased wages in their respective industries.

Wages councils should take account of the effects of increases in minimum rates on employment. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment emphasised that when he wrote recently to the two retail wages councils.

asked the Prime Minister when Her Majesty's Government will be replying to the House of Lords report on direct elections to the European Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

The European assembly's proposals for a uniform electoral procedure would require member states to hold European assembly elections under a list system of proportional representation with three to 15 member constituencies and to give the vote to all their nationals irrespective of their place of residence in the community. The report on these proposals by the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities makes no recommendation on the electoral system and does not therefore call for a reply. On the franchise, the Committee recommends that the Government should give the vote in time for the 1984 European Parliament elections to all

"British subjects"—

"who have within a fixed period of, say, 10 years, been registered as electors for parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom".

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the progress being made at the disarmament talks.

It would be wrong to expect quick results from negotiations for balanced and verifiable agreements, but the response of the Soviet Union to the far-reaching Western proposals has so far been disappointing. We must continue to negotiate with patience and determination.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied that the arrangements for the surveillance of mail to Ministers and Government Departments are adequate to ensure the safety of staff and Post Office staff handling such mail.

We are always seeking to improve our arrangements for screening mail, but our system has prevented serious injuries to staff for many years and the vast majority of postal bombs have been intercepted.

asked the Prime Minister what are the responsibilities of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Lord Privy Seal and the Secretary of State for Industry for information technology in the Government service.

The responsibility for identifying, implementing and managing the application of information technology in Government Departments rests with the Ministers in charge of those Departments.The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for approving supply for those Departments—including information technology equipment, services and related administrative expenditures—and for the technical advice and procurement support given to Departments by the central computer and telecommunications agency of the Treasury.The Lord Privy Seal is responsible for general policies on Civil Service management, efficiency and personnel work—one aspect of which will be the impact of information technology—and for the training support given to Departments by the management and personnel office. The Secretary of State for Industry has no direct responsibility for information technology in Government. He seeks to promote the use of information technology in the private and public sectors wherever it can improve performance and be of real help.

asked the Prime Minister what facilities are provided for cycle parking at No. 10 Downing Street for visitors and staff.

Staff who cycle to work are able to park their bicycles on the premises, and there is usually no problem over the parking of visitors' bicycles.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list those headquarters buildings within central Government with cycle parking facilities for (a) staff and (b) visitors.

I regret that the information requested by the hon. Member is not readily available an could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will reverse the decision that workers at the Timex factory, Dundee who accepted voluntary redundancy received an ex gratia payment that is part of their final pay to be considered as pay in lieu of notice, in order to allow them to qualify for unemployment benefit; and if she will make a statement.

Decisions on unemployment benefit entitlement are made not by the Government, but by the statutorily appointed independent adjudicating authorities and I am unable to intervene in their decisions.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the substance and outcome of her talks with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland in Brussels on Tuesday 22 March.

My meeting with Dr. FitzGerald, which took place in the margins of the European Council, lasted about 45 minutes. The talks were informal and introductory in character and covered a number of matters of concern and interest to us both.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement following the meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 21 and 22 March.

I attended the European Council in Brussels on 21–22 March with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Copies of the conclusions have been placed in the Library.The Council took place against the background of the European monetary system realignment at which my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer played a distinctive role.The Council discussed the Community strategy for reestablishing economic stability and encouraging productive activity without renewed inflation. It agreed on the need for effective action to improve employment prospects for young people and called for a report by June on the progress achieved by the Community and its member states.In a preliminary discussion of the forthcoming economic summit in Williamsburg it was agreed that the Community should make a substantial effort to support the recovery of the international economy which is now appearing. The Council judged that falling oil prices could make a positive contribution to such recovery provided excessive changes in prices were avoided and efforts to conserve energy and develop new sources were not impaired.The Council heard a report of recent discussions between the Community and the United States on made in agricultural products and noted arrangements for these discussions to continue.Progress was made on removing the obstacles in the way of Spanish and Portuguese accession to the Community, notably in respect of arrangements for olive oil, fruit and vegetables. Agriculture Ministers have been asked to take early decisions on these matters.On the budget, it was agreed that the Commission would now make specific proposals about the long-term future financing of the Community to include a lasting solution to the British budget problem. The Foreign Affairs Council will report its conclusions to the next meeting of the European Council in June and will also then report its decisions on the arrangements for the interim period until the lasting solution can be implemented. Provision for refunds for the 1983 budget year will be incorporated in the draft Community budget for 1984.With regard to the middle east, it was agreed that the parties must seize the present opportunity to achieve the urgent objectives of the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the Lebanon and a resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive peace settlement. A declaration by the Palestinian people and the PLO that they were in favour of peace negotiations would be a major step forward, as would a commitment by Israel to refrain from enlarging existing settlements or creating new ones in the occupied territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list and describe the studies from within or without his Department relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of his Department together with the recommendations and action taken on those recommendations.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1982, c. 341–42]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are today publishing a policy statement on the functions and future operations of Her Majesty's inspectorate. This follows the completion in 1981 of a scrutiny of the inspectorate within the programme co-ordinated by Lord Rayner, the report of which is also being published. Copies of both documents are available in the vote office.We are all aware that, despite much dedicated effort, standards of education need to be improved. Families as well as the education system have a vital part to play. Much can be and is being done to improve the performance of our schools and colleges and their ability to ensure that each pupil receives an education appropriate to his or her needs both as an individual and in relation to the society in which he or she will live. In this task of securing higher standards, the inspectorate plays an important and effective role which this Government intends to strengthen.

[pursuant to his oral reply, 22 March 1983, c. 715]: I have today invited the Business and Technician Education Council and the City and Guilds of London Institute to establish joint arrangements for a national system of pre-vocational education which will include the Certificate of Pre-Vocational Education—17-plus—qualification, on behalf of and accountable to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales.These arrangements will fill an important gap in our provisions for young people who wish at 16 to stay on in school or go to FE college for a year in order to continue their full-time education so as better to prepare themselves for the world of work, or for specific vocational courses.The central role in the system will be played by a joint board for pre-vocational education accountable to my right hon. Friends through the councils of the two bodies. The board will have a chairman and 13 other members. The chairman will be appointed by my right hon. Friends. The chairman and members will act in a personal capacity and will reflect the interests of teachers from schools and FE, the local authorities, industry and commerce and Wales. Five members will be nominated by the Business and Technician Education Council and five by the City and Guilds of London Institute. The Royal Society of Arts, the GCE boards collectively and the CSE boards collectively are entitled to nominate one member each. The Government's support for the work of the board will be reflected by the appointment of assessors from the Education Departments, Her Majesty's inspectorate, and the Manpower Services Commission.The joint board will have three essential tasks:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list his powers and the powers of local education authorities in respect of proposals to withdraw funding from or close Church schools.

Where a local education authority intends to cease to maintain any voluntary school it must publish proposals for that purpose in accordance with section 12 of the Education Act 1980. These proposals fall to my right hon. Friend to decide; he has no powers to require the closure of any maintained school other than through approving proposals published by the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the changes announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech will be available in updated pamphlets covering all forms of assistance to industry and new enterprise, such as the enterprise allowance.

The Budget changes will be reflected in the British Business "Guide to Industrial Support" which is being published on Friday 25 March, and in the booklet "How to make your business grow" issued on the same day as part of the current campaign to market small firms measures. Pamphlets on individual schemes will be revised as and when details are settled.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when volume two of the report on the pilot ethnic survey of certain non-industrial civil servants in Leeds, covering applicants for Civil Service posts in the area, will be published; and what action the Government intend to take next.

I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that volume two of "Ethnic Monitoring in the Civil Service: A Survey in Leeds" is published today. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library. This volume covers the survey of applicants for civil Service posts in Leeds for the period 1 May to 30 September 1982. Of those issued with the questionnaire 89·1 per cent. completed the ethnic origin question, 5·3 per cent. of whom classified themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority.The Government have decided to gain broader experience of ethnic monitoring by arranging to hold surveys of the ethnic origin of non-industrial civil servants in the north west economic planning region and in the county of Avon during the autumn. some recruitment schemes in both areas will also be monitored.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give, for each wages council and for each division of the wages inspectorate; (a) the number of establishments covered by wages council orders, (b) the numbers of workers covered by wages council orders, (c) the numbers and percentages of wages council firms inspected and found to be infringing wages council orders, (d) the numbers and percentages of workers found to be underpaid, and (e) the numbers of workers paid arrears and the amount of such arrears;(2) if he will publish for each year from 1977 to 1982 information on the numbers and proportions of inspections by wages inspectors which

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figures for the number of unemployed in Newham for 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and the number in each year who were under the age of 25 years and the number each year who had been continuously unemployed for 12 months or more.

The following table gives, for the East Ham, Plaistow and Stratford jobcentre areas, which correspond closely to Newham, the total number of registered unemployed, together with the number who were aged under 25 years and the number who had been unemployed for more than 52 weeks. The figures relate to October in each of the years specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment through the operation of the small firms employment subsidy, what was the estimated ratio of sustained new jobs to the total number of jobs subsidised.

I regret the information requested is not available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of employees in employment were in manufacturing industry in each year from 1972 to 1982.

The following table gives, for Great Britain, at September in each of the years specified, the proportion of employees in employment in manufacturing industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage increase in (a) total and (b) male unemployment in the United Kingdom between January 1982 and January 1983.

Between January 1982 and January 1983 there was an increase of 10·9 per cent. in the number of male unemployed claimants and 11·4 per cent. in the total number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom The figures on which these percentages are based include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed since October 1982 under the auspices of the community programme who live within each of the areas covered by the Hereford city council and the south Herefordshire district council respectively; and how many schemes are involved.

In the area covered by Hereford city council there are two community programme projects which will employ 12 people, and in the area covered by south Herefordshire district council one project employing one person. Nine workers have started on the programme since October 1982.It is expected that a further 30 places will be created by Hereford and Worcester county council and a similar number by local voluntary organisations. In addition, Hereford city council has decided to set up a community programme agency, and is considering how many places to apply for.

asked the Secretary of Sate for Wales what is the annual estimate of population for the county of Gwynedd (a) on which the rate support grant settlements have been made for each year from 1970 to 1983 and (b) on the basis of latest available census information.

The county of Gwynedd came into existence on 1 April 1974. The estimates of population used in the rate support grant settlements since that date, and the dates to which the estimates refer, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many suicides there were in Wales in each of the last 10 available years.

Cause of death is classified by the international classification of diseases—ICD. Information on suicide and self-inflicted injury, ICD 950–959, is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the numbers of dwellings currently owned by area health authorities in Wales.

About 260.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what provision is being made to control hydatidosis in mid-Wales.

The sum of £35,000 is included, as a new service, in the 1983–84 Estimates for agricultural support, Wales—Class XVI, Vote 2. Pending parliamentary approval of the 1983–84 Estimate, expenditure of up to £15,000 required from April onwards to continue a control programme previously funded locally, will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the total cost per annum for the travel of hon. Members on parliamentary and constituency duties.

The total cost of hon. Members' travel on parliamentary and constituency duties during 1981–82 amounted to £2,538,900.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of the Minister of State, Official Report, 14 March, c. 27, when the agreement was made with the Government of India to provide 100 laparoscopes.

Officials of the Government of India were informed in a series of discussions with our high commission in Delhi in early March of our readiness to supply the laparoscopes. Details of supply arrangements are now being discussed with the Indian authorities and a formal agreement will follow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions in the last year when a Minister in his Department has discussed with the Tanzanian high commissioner the subject of bilateral British aid to Tanzania.

The Tanzanian high commissioner called on my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Sir N. Marten) on 28 July and 1 September 1982, and I had the pleasure of a call from him on 21 March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all research establishments receiving grants or loans from his Department with the amount of assistance provided in 1981–82 and planned for 1982–83.

A grant of £169,400 was paid to Long Ashton research station in 1981–82. Since then no grants or loans have been made to any research establishments. My Department commissions research on contract with a number of establishments and organisations, including the Agricultural Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Sea Fish Industry Authority, food research associations, Hydraulics Research Station Ltd. and various universities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent Her Majesty's Government have reviewed and revised policy towards the conclusions of the Brambell report on conditions of animals in intensive farming.

The Government's policy on animal welfare in intensive farming was set out in their White Paper (Cmnd. 8451) responding to the Agriculture Committee's report on animal welfare in poultry, pig and veal calf production. Following the advice of the Farm Animal Welfare Council—FAWC—and with approval of Parliament, the Government have revised the welfare codes of recommendations for cattle and pigs and issued new regulations controlling certain mutilations of farm animals. Comments on proposals for revision of the codes for domestic fowls and turkeys are being considered. The FAWC is reviewing the welfare codes to recommend those parts that may most suitably be made mandatory.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has made a re-examination of the rules and enforcement methods applying to the export of live animals.

Yes. In the light of that re-examination the Agriculture Ministers in Great Britain made the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981. We also actively supported the adoption of the further European Community measures to protect animals during international transport which were adopted by the Council of Ministers as directive 81/389/EEC.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of milk produced in the European Community is not consumed in the Community.

It is estimated that Community milk production in 1982 represents 4,113,000 tonnes of butterfat and 9,368,000 tonnes of solids not fat. The equivalent of 14·6 per cent of the butterfat production and 11·7 per cent. of the solids not fat production were exported in 1982 and were thus not consumed in the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what funding is available to local authorities or passenger transport authorities wishing to finance, or part-finance, the development of railway schemes within their local authority area.

The sources of funding are:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the proportion of new construction cost assessed by his Department in the annual road track statements allocated to goods vehicles has fallen from 26·9 per cent. in 1975–76 to 21·4 per cent. in 1982–83.

The proportion of new construction costs allocated to goods vehicles over 3·5 tonnes gross vehicle weight has fallen from 25·9 per cent. in 1975–76 to 22·8 per cent. in 1982–83 because during this period the number of these goods vehicles fell while the number of cars, light vans and motor cycles increased. As a result, the latter vehicles now carry a greater share of road cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation requiring that (a) all new cars sold in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1985 are equipped to run on lead-free petrol and (b) all petrol stations have lead-free available for sale no later than 1 January 1985.

No. The decisions already announced by this Government will reduce the annual lead emissions from motor vehicles from 1986 onwards to around one third of the average level during the 1970s.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the percentage change in real terms in capital spending on trunk roads and motorways in England since 1978–79.

There has been an impressive increase on the previous Administration's performance in 1978–79. At constant prices capital spending is expected to be more than 17 per cent. higher in 1982–83 than it was in 1978–79. The following table gives the details for each year since 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities in order of the level of rates they impose starting with the highest.

The following is a list of local authorities placed in order of the level of their local rates-precepts in 1982–83, along with the actual level of these local rates-precepts in that year.