asked the Minister for Trade why annual supplement No. 3 of the monthly review of external

asked the Minister for Trade (1) if he will tabulate in the Official Report the figures for the level of imports at constant prices from the Republic of China in 1974 and at the latest date for which figures are available for each of the countries of the European Community; and if he will give the percentage change in each case;(2) if he will tabulate in the

asked the Minister for Trade how many proposals have been submitted to the Council by the Commission as part of the programme to dismantle

The figures for 1963 to 1969 are as follows:Of China in 1974 and at the latest date for which figures are available for each of the countries of the European Community; and if he will give the percentage change in each case.

Data at current prices are in the following table. Information at constant prices on trade between individual countries is not available.technical barriers to trade under article 100 of the treaty of Rome since 1969; how many of these have now been adopted by the Council

One hundred and ninety-five proposals have been submitted to the Council by the Commission since 1969 as part of the programme to dismantle technical barriers to trade under article 100 of the treaty of Rome.One hundred and thirty-seven of these proposals have been adopted as directives, of which 115 have been adopted since 1973, five of those being adopted in the last 12 months.The sectors where the most progress has been made in dismantling barriers are motor vehicles, agricultural tractors, measuring instruments, and dangerous substances.

asked the Minister for Trade what has been the average annual growth since 1 January 1973, of (a) total British exports and (b) British exports of manufactured goods, to the other member states of the European Community and to the rest of the world; and if

asked the Minister for Trade if he will publish a table showing the annual permitted quotas of tariff-free imports of various categories of steel products into the United Kingdom from Yugoslavia and into each other member state of the Community prior to enforcement of the EC bilateral agreement (83/ECSC—OJ No. 41) on 1 April; and if he will provide a separate table showing the revised annual national quotas for each product and category as from 1 April.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what was the overall growth between 1972 and 1983 (a) in notional terms and (b) in real terms of (i) total British exports and (ii) British exports of manufactured goods to the European Community excluding Greece, and to the rest of the world; and if he will also provide separate figures within that category for the United States of America, Japan and the European free trade area.

Information at constant prices on trade with individual countries or areas is not available. Figures of increases at current prices are as follows:he will also provide separate figures within that category for the United States of America, Japan and the European free trade association.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will review safety standards for light aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the accident statistics for light aircraft, as held on the British register, do not reveal a pattern to prompt a general review of safety standards.The four fatal accidents which occurred this month, two in England and two in France, are the subjects of field inquiries by the Chief Inspector of Accidents, and any evidence which suggests possible means of avoiding accidents in the future will be acted upon promptly.

asked the Minister for Trade if he is yet able to estimate the effect on the United Kingdom balance of payments of the agreement concluded between the European Community Commission and the Japanese which obliges Japanese industry to sell video recorders to the United Kingdom at prices higher than it had been willing to offer before the agreement.

No.

asked the Minister for Trade how much money in total he has made available to firms in Peterborough in the form of (a) loans and (b) grants since May 1979.

Companies using the export assistance services which are under the guidance of the British Overseas Trade Board may obtain financial assistance towards the cost of exhibiting at overseas trade fairs, carrying out market research abroad, visiting overseas markets as a member of a trade mission, and—under the market entry guarantee scheme—undertaking properly planned marketing programmes for the development of new export markets. Selective assistance is also available from the overseas project fund towards the pre-contractual expenses of large package or turnkey projects and towards the cost of certain types of feasibility and consultancy studies. Assistance is largely in the form of grants or reductions in costs although under the market entry guarantee scheme there is a premium of 3 per cent. of the funding and recovery in successful cases from a levy on sales receipts, and assistance from the overseas projects fund is repayable on success.Many thousands of companies have been assisted under these arrangements since May 1979, and the cost of collecting statistics of funding provided to firms in individual cities would not be justified.No loans or grants have been made to firms in Peterborough by other parts of my Department since May 1979.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the failure of the talks in the United States of America on investigations into British airlines and their operations.

At consultations held in Washington on 26–27 April the United States delegation did not accept our contention that United States anti-trust laws could not be unilaterally applied within the field bilaterally regulated by the air services agreement. The Government are now considering urgently what further steps to take in order to bring about a resolution of the dispute.

asked the Minister for Trade what percentage of British firms in South Africa voluntarily apply the European code of conduct with respect to their employees.

The information requested is given in paragraph 4 of the Department's analysis and summary of companies' reports, a copy of which was placed in the Library on 30 March 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what he estimates the percentage self-sufficiency or over capacity of the United Kingdom manufacturing facility for polyethylene film products is.

My Department does not collect figures of the capacity of this industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much aid has been given by the European Community to the north west region during each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The following table provides this information for the EC aid schemes for which my Department is responsible and for which a breakdown of aid by region is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the figures for import penetration in table 15/13 of the Monthly Digest of Statistics were last updated; what is the reason for the delay in producing figures for quarterly periods after December 1980; and if he will now publish figures for the fourth quarter of 1982 or the latest quarter for which it is possible to provide figures.

Import penetration figures for periods up to the 12 months ended September 1982 were included in table 15/13 of the February 1983 and subsequent editions of the Monthly Digest of Statistics. An article commenting on the figures was published in the 18 March 1983 edition of British Business and more detailed information has been given in Business Monitor MQ12. Data for the period ended June 1982 had previously been published in 21 January edition of British Business.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will initiate an inquiry into the reasons why the United Kindom's share of Japanese investment in the Common Market has decreased from about 80 per cent. to 12 per cent. over the past 10 years.

No, for the reasons I set out in the reply to my hon. Friend on 7 December 1982.—[Vol. 33, c. 453.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money, in total, he has made available to firms in Peterborough in the form of (i) grants and (ii) loans since May 1979.

Industry in Peterborough qualifies for financial assistance under a variety of schemes run by my Department. All financial assistance is in the form of grants.Since May 1979, 13 offers of assistance totalling £1·2 million have been made to companies in Peterborough under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. In the same period there have been a further 13 offers of assistance amounting to £8·1 million under the Science and Technology Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the payment of tax by self-employed freelances in the Scottish film industry will now be levied through the PAYE system; and if he will make a statement.

Freelance workers in the film industry who are self-employed will continue to be assessed to tax under cases 1 and 2 of schedule D. But, following a review by the Inland Revenue and discussions with representatives of the film industry, a number of workers previously treated as self-employed for income tax purposes are considered to be employees engaged under contracts of service. Any employee who disagrees with his treatment may of course appeal to the commissioners. Employers have been advised to apply PAYE in such cases from 6 April 1983. In many of these cases the effect of the change will be to bring the tax treatment into line with the national insurance treatment. An Inland Revenue press release announcing this was issued on 30 March and I have placed a copy in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the following information on Civil Service earnings broken down as far as possible between men and women and different occupational groups (i) mean, quartile and median figures for gross hourly and weekly adult earnings and (ii) numbers of employees with gross earnings below (a) £85 per week/£2·12 per hour and (b) £90 per week/£2·25 per hour; and if he will provide the above information for the following specific occupational groups within the Civil Service (w) cleaners, (x) messengers, (y) security staff and (z) telephonists.

The following figures relate to the national annual rates of pay arising out of the recent agreement on pay between the Treasury and the negotiating team representing the Council of Civil Service Unions. These new rates will be with effect from 1 April 1983 but payment will not be authorised until the constituent unions have confirmed their acceptance. No detailed figures are available on the current average earnings of civil servants and it is not possible to give separate figures for men and women.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will introduce legislation to prevent building societies making special advances to companies whose accounts are in default;(2) if he will introduce legislation to prevent building societies making special advances to companies which are in arrears over delivering documents to the Registrar of Companies.

No. It is the duty of the directors and management of a building society when considering whether to make an advance to a company not only to consider the adequacy of the security for the advance but to make an appraisal of the prospects of the company, including its management, in relation to its ability to service and repay the loan. One element of this appraisal, amongst many others, will be whether statutory documents are properly filed at the companies registration office. But it would be wrong to single out this one factor for the purposes of a statutory prohibition on lending; the more so when other competitive lenders are not subject to that prohibition.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply dated 14 March, Official Report, c. 64, concerning manufacturers' input prices, whether burning oil is included in the inputs for fuel; and with what weight.

Burning oil is not included in the inputs of fuel. The input price index is constructed on a net sector basis. Mineral oil refining is part of manufacturing industry so the use of refined oil represents a transaction between one sector and another within manufacturing. It is not an input into the manufacturing

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis by both Vote and public expenditure sub-programme of the £34 million shown in table Ib of Cmnd. 8817 as an attribution from other main programmes into programme 15 (Scotland).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in a table the effect of changes sector taken as a whole. Crude oil is the raw material used by the oil refining part of the manufacturing sector and has a weight of 25 per cent. in the overall materials and fuel index.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis by Vote within Class XV (Scotland) of the economic classification of supply expenditure, in the same form as table Ic of Cmnd. 8817.

The information requested is as follows:

The £34 million shown against Scotland in table lb of the Chief Secretary's memorandum is allocated as follows:in income tax and national insurance contributions, mortgage relief, the change to mortgage income tax relief at source and the effect of tax clawbacks for underpayment of mortgage relief in 1982–83 on take-home pay of an individual assuming average gross earnings and an average mortgage, the table to show take-home pay in Budget week, the first pay-day after 6 April, the date when income tax changes take effect, and subsequent pay days.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the international study of foreign exchange market intervention commissioned at the Versailles summit.

I discussed the report of this study with my colleagues from other summit countries in Washington on 29 April, and we agreed to publish it as a useful addition to the body of information and analysis on exchange market intervention. I have arranged for copies of the report to be available for purchase from the Treasury, and have today placed a copy in the Library of the House together with a copy of the statement by Finance Ministers made after their meeting on 29 April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the total amount received by the Government from all taxes and royalties accruing from North sea oil and gas since May 1979.

[pursuant to the reply, 28 April 1983, c. 430]: The total tax take from the North sea—that is, royalties, petroleum revenue tax, supplementary petroleum duty and corporation tax attributable to North sea oil and gas production (before any ACT set-off)—was £20·5 billion from May 1979 up to the end of 1982–83.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I also spoke to Mrs. Ghandi on the telephone to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of telephone services between this country and India. Later I attended a memorial service for Lord Boyd of Merton at Westminster Abbey. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Prime Minister if she will instruct members of the Government not to appoint any one individual to the board of more than one nationalised industry.

No. The boards of nationalised industries are selected in accordance with the provisions of the governing statutes and members are chosen for the experience which they bring to bear. There is no reason why someone should not hold more than one appointment, and in some cases a member of one board automatically becomes a member of another by virtue of his office.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to pay an official visit to Uxbridge.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received about the possibility of combining the operations of Her Majesty's Stationery Office laboratory and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist; and what response has been sent.

None.

asked the Prime Minister to how many charities the Government made a financial contribution in 1982–83.

I regret that this information is not collected centrally. Information about each Department's funding of voluntary bodies is collected annually, but is not yet available for 1982–83. I shall send it to my right hon. Friend as soon as it is ready. Grants by Government Departments to voluntary bodies totalled almost £140 million in 1981–82.

asked the Prime Minister whether the satellite tracking station marked on the 1982 Ordnance Survey map of Port Stanley near Moody Brook is still functioning.

No, the facilities were dismantled by the European Space Research Organisation about three years ago.

asked the Prime Minister what assessments she makes of trends in the level of employment in manufacturing industry; and whether she has any plans to revise these in the light of the Confederation of British Industry's quarterly survey referred to by her in her answer of 26 April, Official Report, c. 730.

The Department of Employment's latest provisional estimates of manufacturing employment in Great Britain show a fall of 14,000 between January and February this year. This is less than the average decline of 34,000 a month in the previous four months — the period covered by the CBI quarterly survey published in January — but it is too soon to regard this as indicating a change in trend. However, the latest CBI survey, published last week, shows that manufacturers expect the reduction in employment in the four months from April to be less than in the previous four months. The survey also shows that firms expect rises in output and improved order books, which are necessary before employment in manufacturing industry increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the response to his Department's community programme; how many schemes are currently in operation; and how many people are involved.

I am satisfied with the operation of the community programme. By 31 March 1983, 4,262 projects had been approved, with a total of 80,119 places. Of these, 3,068 projects were actually in operation and 39,527 places had been filled.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of school leavers is still without employment 12 months after leaving school.

The precise information is not available, but at January 1983 there were 9,310 unemployed—claimants—school leavers under 18 years of age in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for more than 52 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are employed in the United Kingdom in the manufacture of video recorders.

The information is not available. The Department's employment statistics are analysed according to the 1968 standard industrial classification, which does not separately distinguish the manufacture of video recorders.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much money in total he has made available to firms in Peterborough in the form of (a) loans and (b) grants, since May 1979.

Although payments have been made to firms in Peterborough under various special employment measures, I regret that the information requested is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the 54 area manpower boards responsible for the youth training scheme have met since they were constituted.

Fifty of the boards have met so far. The remaining four will hold their inaugural meetings in May.

asked the Secretary of State fir Employment what consultation is taking place between the Manpower Services Commission large companies unit and area manpower boards over the introduction of agreements on youth training schemes; and whether the cost of those schemes negotiated nationally is being apportioned on an area board basis.

The large companies unit consults Manpower Services Commission area offices on all proposed schemes. Responsibility for approving schemes negotiated at national level rests, however, with the youth training board, not 'with area manpower boards. The cost of such schemes is apportioned on an area basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultation exists between the Manpower Services Commission large companies unit and appropriate trade unions over the introduction of youth training schemes.

When negotiating schemes centrally, the large companies unit deals with the potential managing agent or sponsor. The unit seeks evidence from the managing agent or sponsor as to whether it has the support of the recognised and appropriate trade unions. Any contact with the appropriate union is made through the managing agent or sponsor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Bedfordshire on the number of house burglaries and crimes of violence that have been associated with drug-oriented groups in Bedfordshire.

I understand from the chief constable of Bedfordshire police that during 1982 there were 2,588 burglaries of dwellings and 1,735 crimes of violence in Bedfordshire. The numbers of offenders detected were 852 and 1,336 respectively. Figures are not collected of the number of these offences committed by drug-oriented groups but the chief constable estimates that about 15 per cent. of the offenders who committed burglaries were associated with drug-oriented groups. He is unable to make a similar estimate for offenders involved in crimes of violence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Bedfordshire on the number of chemists which have been burgled in Bedfordshire during the last 12 months.

I understand from the chief constable of Bedfordshire police that 31 chemists were burgled in 1982 and four to date this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of house burglaries and crimes of violence that have been associated with drug-oriented people and groups.

This information is not held centrally: estimates from police forces could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the steps taken to secure a joint approach to the drug problem within the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

The main forum for co-operation between member states of the European Community is the Council of Europe co-operation group to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in drugs—the Pompidou Group; its membership comprises the 10 EC countries, together with Norway, Sweden and Turkey. Ministers and officials meet at regular intervals to exchange views and to carry forward a broad programme of co-operation. From time to time committees of the Council of Europe have also considered particular aspects of drug misuse. The Naples convention of 1963 provides for mutual assistance between the customs authorities of EC member states, while cooperation between law enforcement agencies also takes place through the international criminal police organisation—Interpol—and the Customs Co-operation Council. In addition, there are close bilateral contacts between countries on operational matters and on individual cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the need to review the operation of the Shops Act 1950; and what decision he has reached.

Since the debate on 4 February on the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Whitney), representations have been received from the all-party group for the retail trade, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, organisations representing the retail trade, local authorities, consumers and tourism, religious organisations and members of the public. We are currently considering in the light of these representations whether a review of the operation of the shops legislation would be desirable and what form such a review might take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the actions of the police at the public inquiry into the A406 Falloden way-Finchley high road scheme.

We understand from the commissioner that up to 29 April, the inspector conducting the inquiry has had on 10 occasions to seek the assistance of the police when people attempting to disrupt the proceedings have refused to leave. Three of these people had to be removed, with the minimum of force; a further 12 were escorted out by the police. Senior police officers have met some of the objectors, to explain the role of the police at public inquiries and the relevant law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the cost of providing escort duties for prisoners married outside prison for each of the last 10 years.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the number of marriages involving prisoners which have involved the prisoner leaving the prison for the marriage service for each of the last 10 years;(2) how many prisoners married while in prison for each of the last 10 years.

Under the present law marriages cannot be solemnised within a prison department establishment and any prisoner who is allowed to marry has to leave the establishment for the ceremony. The number of such ceremonies is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last 10 years the number of prisoners who escaped while on their way to be married.

Information for the period prior to 1976 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since 1976 one prisoner who was permitted to leave prison under escort to get married has escaped. This escape took place in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those bodies and organisations which were consulted on the question of removing a prisoner's right to be married outside prison before the Government introduced their Marriage Bill; and if he will place in the Library copies of all the correspondence.

The relevant provisions in the Marriage Bill will enable marriages to be solemnised in prison department establishments and will not remove any rights. The circumstances in which prisoners are at present allowed to marry have to be limited because of the difficulties which can be created by a ceremony outside the establishment and these provisions will enable us to reduce the delays and restrictions. A prisoner who wishes an outside wedding ceremony will, however, generally be allowed one if he is suitable for temporary unescorted absence or if an escort can be provided without seriously affecting the regime for others in the establishment and the security risk is not unacceptable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department following the closing date for tenders on 29 April, to whom the ex-Haldon open prison site has been sold.

My noble Friend will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the sums of money the Government allocated during each of the last three years, and are allocating in the current year, towards research into developing a suitable energy absorbing device for incorporation into the front guard of heavy goods vehicles.

During the last three years the transport and road research laboratory has spent about £6,000 per year on testing experimental front guards for heavy goods vehicles, and expects to spend a similar sum this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the difficulty agricultural cattle hauliers have over the length of drivers' working hours, if he will review the application of drivers' hours legislation to them.

The transport of live animals from farms to local markets and vice versa is subject only to domestic rules which give little difficulty. Other cattle transport is subject to the European Community drivers' hours regulation, which is under review. In this review I am pressing, as a matter of priority, for greater flexibility in the way the total weekly driving hours may be used.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions during the present public inquiry into the A406 Falloden way-Finchley high road, Greater London road scheme, he inspector has ordered adjournments; for what durations; and on what grounds.

Apart from adjournments normal to all inquiries, there have been adjournments for exceptional reasons on 11 occasions. On four occasions an evening meeting had to be adjourned and abandoned, but on the other occasions the inquiry proceeded after a break of some 10 to 15 minutes. The grounds for adjournment were disruption by some objectors and the need for a cooling-off period.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many persons have been ejected forcibly from the public inquiry into the A406 Falloden way-Finchley high road scheme; and whether these persons have been subsequently prevented from giving evidence or stating objections.

Following the lack of success of repeated warnings by the inspector and a refusal to leave the inquiry, some persons then refused the request of the Corps of Commissionaires to leave. The police intervened at the request of the inspector. Three people resisted the request of the police to leave and were removed with a minimum of force. Two repeated offenders have not been readmitted, being excluded for the duration of the inquiry, and they have been advised that they can submit evidence or state objections to the inquiry in writing.

asked the Secretary of State for transport (1) to what factors he attributes the failure to announce his decision on the public inquiry into the Melton Mowbray inner relief road, in view of the statement by the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) in an official letter to the hon. Member for Melton dated 3 February that it was hoped to announce the decision by the end of February;(2) when he expects to announce his decision on the public inquiry into the Melton Mowbray inner relief road.

Consideration of the inspector's report has taken longer than we hoped. Sensitive issues are involved and there were many objections to the proposals. Consideration of the report has also been delayed due to pressure of other work in our east midlands regional office.My right hon. Friends expect to announce their joint decision very soon.

asked the Secretary of Stare for Transport when construction of the Newport, Shropshire, bypass will start.

As I announced on 29 April 1983, the work is expected to start in mid-May. A public meeting is being arranged for the evening of 19 May to explain how the contract will be carried out. Details will be published this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the four tipper trucks requested by the Falklands Administration in August 1982 and referred to in his answer of 25 April, Official Report, c. 205, were replacements for equipment lost during the hostilities or additional equipment required for reconstruction work; what type and specifications they are; and what are the reasons for the long delay in their dispatch to the Falkland Islands.

These four items represent the balance of a request for 10 classed as replacements. The request covered both war damage and replacement of worn out equipment. They are Bedford Model TK of 7-tonnes capacity, 4x4 with tipper mechanism supplied by Anthony Hoist. In addition to delays arising from shipping congestion, there were delays in manufacture over availability of chassis and fitting bodies. Two were available for shipping in November 1982, four in January 1983, and the final four in April 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the resolution on world population and development adopted by the joint committee of the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries of the European Community consultative assembly on 24 February, the Overseas Development Administration will brief British Members of the European Parliament on the role and scale of population projects in the British development aid programme.

In view of the importance of the relationship between population and economic and social development, we welcome the ACP/EC resolution. The ODA will be happy to provide British Members of the European Parliament with the information suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if compensation will be sought from the Club Mediterranée by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and Her Majesty's Government as a result of the failure of the club to fulfil its agreement to complete the building of a holiday village on Providenciales by 31 December 1982.

This is primarily a matter for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the loss of revenue to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government as a result of the failure of Club Mediterranée to complete a holiday village on Providenciales by 31 December 1982.

I am seeking this information from the territory. When it is received, I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what has been the effect on the recurrent expenditure of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government of the building of an international airport on Providenciales in 1982–83; and what estimated additional expenditure will arise in 1983–84;(2) what is the cost of the additional numbers of police, customs and immigration officers on the island of Providenciales, consequent on the development of the new airport.

Once the airport and associated infrastructure work on Providenciales are in full operation, the effect on the recurrent expenditure of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government is estimated to be as set out in appendix 2 on page 30 of the House of Commons second report from the Foreign Affairs Committee—HC 112. It is not practical to attempt to estimate the effect on recurrent expenditure in the years 1982–83 and 1983–84 during the period of construction and the lead up to full operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many beds will be provided in the holiday village to be built by the Club Mediterranée on the island of Providenciales; and when the project is scheduled to be completed under the contract signed with Johnston Construction Co. Ltd.

Five hundred and seventy-six beds will be provided. Under the contract completion is scheduled for October 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a copy of the contract signed between Club Mediterranée and Johnston Construction Co. Ltd. for the building of a holiday village on the island of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands has been received by his Department.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is taking any steps to strengthen sanctions clauses in agreements with national and multinational companies which involve the use of overseas aid funds, either by way of grant or loan.

Officials responsible for aid programme funds are provided with guidance, which is under continual review, covering the way in which agreements with recipient Governments and contracts between those Governments, or their public authorities, and commercial companies should be handled. This guidance is detailed and comprehensive; certain agreements or contracts may require particular safeguards or sanctions clauses and these are considered and adopted as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid Her Majesty's Government have given since April 1982 to Sierra Leone; and what capital investment in Sierra Leone has been financed by Her Majesty's Government.

Aid expenditure, including technical co-operation, for Sierra Leone in 1982–83 was approximately £2·860 million. The capital aid element derives from a grant of £3·5 million agreed in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had about the International Development Association seventh replenishment; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 25 April—[Vol. 41, c. 206]—to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Barnett).We shall continue to play a full part in the negotiations of the replenishment. No conclusion is likely to be reached for several months, however, and it is too early to speculate on what the final outcome might be.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the square footage and the number of Government factories in Wales which have been vacated since May 1979 and the number of tenants whose businesses have failed.

Since May 1979, 383 companies have vacated 425 factory units—4·88 million sq ft—owned by the Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales and Cwmbran Development Corporation. Of these 383 companies it is estimated that approximately half have failed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount of rent paid by hospitals in Wales.

Information on rent paid by hospitals is not available centrally. Health authority annual accounts for the financial year 1981–82 show that the total amount of rent paid for all premises used by the NHS in Wales was £1,023,541.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he proposes to make any changes in the structure establishment or staffing of the Government accountancy service.

A major restructuring of the Government accountancy service took place in July last year. The number of accountants will be doubled in the next 10 years and they will be involved increasingly in the management of Government business, particularly in strengthening financial management. A new post of Accountancy Adviser to the Treasury is to be created, the holder of which will be the head of the Government accountancy service in succession to Mr. K. J. Sharp, whose contract expires in October this year, and as such will continue to have the same responsibilities as Mr. Sharp has had, in addition to his responsibilities in the Treasury.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the Official Report a copy of the letter sent by him to the chief executive of the London borough of Newham on 21 April regarding the Newham North East London Polytechnic Compulsory Purchase Order 1980; and what were the detailed reasons why it took him from May 1980 to April 1983 to reach this decision.

No. I have already sent the hon. Member a copy of the letter in question, which conveyed my right hon. Friend's rejection of the compulsory purchase order on the grounds that it was premature. The time taken to complete consideration of the order was required to give the joint education committee for the North East London polytechnic a chance to propose revisions to the polytechnic's development plan in the light of changing circumstances; and to consider objections to the order, and the London borough of Newham's responses to requests for clarification.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is now able to state how many places will be available in the academic years 1983–84, 1984–85, and 1985–86 in (a) universities and (b) polytechnics and the proportion of the 18 to 19-year-old age group these figures represent.

I cannot add to the information given in my reply of 14 March to the right hon. Member. —[Vol. 39, c. 2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has issued any guidelines about youth service provisions to local education authorities with a high percentage of ethnic minority young people.

The recommendations of the review group on the youth service about the needs of young people who belong to ethnic communities are among those which are currently under consideration in the light of comments received on the report. The Home Office has issued a circular to local authorities about the administrative arrangements for funding under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the youth service has the resources to make an appropriate response to the problems facing ethnic minority young people.

The distribution of block grant to local authorities takes account of the incidence of young people from ethnic minorities. Expenditure on the youth service has broadly been maintained, and local authorities are able to apply for specific grant support under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he takes into account the percentage of ethnic minority young people in allocating funds to the youth service.

The factors currently taken into account in distributing block grant to local authorities, to which I referred in replying to an earlier question from the hon. Member on 28 March—[Vol. 40, c. 26]—include, in relation to expenditure on the youth service, numbers of young people born outside the United Kingdom or living in households whose head was born in the New Commonwealth or Pakistan.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on how many occasions parents have taken a local education authority to court because of the local education authority's failure to comply with section 4 of the Education Act 1980; and in how many cases the court has ruled in favour of the local education authority.

This information is not collected by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to the answer of 23 March, Official Report, c. 440, he will publish so much information as he has available about truancy through Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools and from local education authorities; and if he will list the local education authorities that have provided information about truancy in each of the past five years.

My right hon. Friend shares the hon. Member's concern in this matter. However, the information from Her Majesty's Inspectorate is made available to the Department in a variety of ways and is not in a readily publishable form. Most authorities have provided, either directly to the Department or through Her Majesty's Inspectorate, some commentary or information about school attendance in their areas over the last five years, though not on a sufficiently consistent basis to allow comparisons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Greenland voters elected to leave the European Community in a referendum; what procedures have been activated in the interim; and what further steps will be taken to enable Greenland to leave the European Community.

In a referendum on 23 February 1982, Greenland opted by a small majority for withdrawal from the Community. In June 1982 the Danish Government submitted to the Council of Ministers a proposal for a treaty amending the EC treaty to provide for Greenland's withdrawal from full membership, and her addition to annex IV to the EC treaty, which regulates relations between the Community and the listed overseas countries and territories of member states. The form of any future relationship is a matter for negotiation. The Commission submitted its opinion on the future relationship between Greenland and the Community on 3 February 1983. The Council had preliminary discussions of this in February and April and will discuss the matter again in May. The European Parliament's opinion is still awaited. But the proposal raises a number of important issues, particularly as regards fisheries, and it is not possible at this stage to predict when negotiations are likely to be concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the principal achievements of Her Majesty's Government within his Department's responsibilities since May 1979.

I have today placed in the Library copies of a report bringing together accounts of the various measures taken since May 1979 in relation to the responsibilities of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to implement section 12 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

No decision has been taken on a date for the implementation of sections 12 to 14 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.Our review of the financial implications of implementation, undertaken in consultations with the Local Authority Association, is, however, nearing completion. The question of implementation will be urgently considered in the light of the results of the review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on progress to date on transferring the facilities of the Princes Risborough laboratory to the main Building Research Establishment site at Garston; what financial and staffing resources have been allocated for timber research during the 1983–84 financial year; and how they compare with the 1982–83 outturn.

Regarding the move of the Princes Risborough laboratory, a detailed scheme for accommodating the required facilities on the main Building Research Establishment site at Garston will be finalised shortly. Work on planning and programming the move, which will take place on a phased basis, is in hand.In addition to timber research, the programme of the Princes Risborough laboratory includes work on the performance of building components and jointing systems, maintenance, and on safety and environmental aspects of the use of pesticides in industry and the home. Some 33 staff will be working on timber research during the 1983–84 financial year compared with 29 staff last year. BRE's outturn expenditure on timber research in 1982–83 was £900,000 including the costs of work carried out in-house and that carried out externally. The comparable figure for 1983–84 will be approximately £1,060,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the achievements and publications since 20 July 1982 of the structural integrity division of the Building Research Establishment; and what is its current programme of work.

Since 20 July the structural integrity division has completed a further five investigations either to assess the implications of structural failures or developments in constructional methods and materials. The following reports have been published or are in the process of publication:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the report of his inspector into the Nottingham street compulsory purchase order; and when he proposes to issue his decision upon it.

The report of the inspector who held an inquiry into the Melton Borough Council (Nottingham Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 1982 was received on 23 February 1983. Provided there are no unforeseen difficulties, I expect a decision on the order to be issued in about three months' time.