Written Answers

Written Answers To Questions

Wednesday 4 May 1983

National Finance

European Investment Bank

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums were borrowed by enterprises in the United Kingdom from the European Investment Bank in 1982; what proportion of total lending by the European Investment Bank in that year this represented; and if he will provide a regional breakdown of the loans made.

The information is as follows:

1982	£ million	Percentage of total EIB lending
Total EIB lending in United Kingdom	273·8	10·4
Regional breakdown:
England
North-East	—
North	—
North-West	68·9
South-East	—
South-West	7·5
Yorkshire and Humberside	27·1
West Midlands	2·0
Northern Ireland	—
Scotland	88·8
Wales	15·0
Other*	64·5
Total	273·8
* includes projects covering more than one region.

European Community Loans

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums were borrowed by the United Kingdom in 1981 and to date in 1983 from the new Community instrument for lending and borrowing, Ortoli facility; which projects were involved; and what proportion of total lending the United Kingdom's borrowing represented in this period.

The information requested is as follows:

	£ million	Percentage of total NCI loans
1981
Improvement of water supply system in the north east by construction of the Kielder dam in the North Tyne and a pumping station to transfer water to the Wear and Tees	20·0	6
1983 (position as at 29 April 1983)

	£ million	Percentage of total NCI loans
Global loan to the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation Ltd. (ICFC) to finance small and medium scale ventures in non-assisted areas of the United Kingdom	10·0	*40
Midland Bank group global loan to finance industrial and tourism developments promoted by small firms outside the assisted areas of the United Kingdom	5·0
CEGB—cross-channel-link—to help finance the construction of a power link under the English Channel	20·0
National Westminster Bank global loan to finance industrial and tourism developments promosted by small firms outside the Assisted areas of the United Kingdom	5·0
Total 1983 as at 29.4.83	40·0
* A number of NCI loans are on the point of being signed and this proportion will fluctuate over the year.

Governor Of The Bank Of England

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, pursuant to the answer of 15 March, Official Report, c. 128, he will publish in the Official Report the circumstances under which the Governor of the Bank of England may be disqualified under the Bank of England Charter 1946.

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 8 of the Bank of England Charter 1946, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

Balance Of Payments

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of payments between the United Kingdom and the other member states of the European Community, including Greece, in services, interests, profits and dividends for transactions involving the private sector and public corporations for 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively.

The figures are as follows:

Year	£ million
1979	+1221
1980	+470
1981	+585

Figures for 1982 are not yet available.(Taken from table 12.1 of the "United Kingdom Balance of Payments, 1982 Edition" (Pink Book)).

Exchange Rate

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the real exchange rate between the £ sterling and the deutschmark in each quarter since the fourth quarter of 1976.

For the reasons explained in my reply to the hon. Member of 11 December 1981—[Vol. 14, c. 511–12]—no such calculation can satisfactorily be made.

Corporate Savings

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the reply dated 11 March, Official Report, c. 18–19, concerning corporate savings, whether he will provide similar information for manufacturing, together with an estimate for 1982.

The information is not available.

Index-Linked Bonds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information is given to prospective purchasers of second index-linked issue bonds concerning the need for eight days' notice before encashment; and how this notice may affect the rate of interest paid when bonds are relinquished.

In a note to the current 2nd index-linked issue prospectus, prospective purchasers are told that

"although the Certificate Office will normally put the repayment in the post within 8 clear working days of receiving an application, this cannot be guaranteed and it is advisable to apply as early as possible".

The repayment application form advises holders wishing to encash to

"apply at least 8 CLEAR WORKING DAYS before you require repayment".

If the certificate has been held for at least one year the purchase price is revalued in line with changes in the monthly retail prices index between the date of purchase and the date of repayment. The working period between the application and the repayment will affect the return on the certificate only if the repayment takes place in the following month. This would normally, though not always, increase the repayment value because a higher retail prices index would usually apply in the later month.

Adoption Agencies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how allowances payable to adopters by adoption agencies under schemes approved by the Secretary of State for Social Services under section 32 of the Children Act 1975 will be treated for tax purposes.

Whether these payments are in law taxable will depend on the details of the particular adoption allowance scheme introduced by an adoption agency. The pattern of schemes approved so far indicates that such payments would in general be taxable income in the hands of adopters. However, these schemes are intended to facilitate the adoption of children who would not otherwise readily be adopted, and allowances will be paid only after taking into account the adopter's financial resources—including child benefit—available to support the adopted child. In view of this and of the experimental nature of these schemes we have agreed that the Inland Revenue should introduce an extra statutory concession under which income tax will not be charged on payments under these schemes.

Imf/Ibrd Development Committee

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the recent meeting of the International Monetary Fund — International Bank for Reconstruction and Development development committee.

I attended a meeting of the IMF/IBRD development committee in Washington on 28–29 April under the chairmanship of Mr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan, the Finance Minister of Pakistan. The meeting considered the world economic situation with special reference to the problems of developing countries. Among the particular issues addressed by the committee were the lending plans of the World Bank and of the other multilateral development institutions, the funding of the International Development Association, the external debt problems of certain countries, and the linkages between trade and development. I am placing in the Library a copy of the communiqué, which sets out the committee's conclusions on these subjects.I also attended a meeting of Finance Ministers from economic summit countries, at which a statement, which has already been placed in the Library, was issued. At both meetings stress was laid on the importance, in the general interest, of industrial countries following policies likely to promote sustainable and non-inflationary growth.

Take-Home Pay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in a table the effect of changes 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.

[pursuant to the reply, 3 May 1983, c. 9]: The table is as follows: This has been compiled for a married man earning £.161·80 per week — estimated average male earnings for all occupations in 1982–83—with a new mortgage repayable over 25 years of £16,000—which is the average size of new mortgages taken out at the beginning of 1982–83. Mortgage interest rates were reduced from 13½ to 12 per cent. in September and to 10 per cent. in December 1982.Line 7 of the table shows take-home pay after deduction of national insurance contributions and income tax collection through PAYE. PAYE codes were not generally changed in 1982–83 in response to the fall in interest rates, and excess mortgage interest relief— line 4(ii) of the table — was therefore allowed in the latter months of 1982–83. Taxpayers will repay this excess relief in 1983–84 through an adjustment to PAYE codes—line 4(iii).Line 11 of the table shows take-home pay after the net mortgage payment to the lender.

Weekly pay and deductions at average earnings for a married man with a mortgage of £16,000 taken out in 1982–83
				£ per week
	August 1982	November 1982	Budget week	First pay-day after 6 April '83	First pay-day after 10 May '83	Subsequent pay days
Mortgage interest rate	*13·5	*12	*10	*10	*10	*10
1. Average earnings	161·80	161·80	161·80	161·80	161·80	161·80
Deductions from pay
2. National insurance contributions†	14·16	14·16	14·16	14·56	14·56	14·56
Income tax
3. Tax due assuming married men's allowance only	34·43	34·43	34·43	34·43	22·31	32·41
Less
4. Mortgage interest relief given through PAYE
(i) Relief due at prevailing rate of interest	12·46	11·07	9·23	—	—	—
(ii) Excess relief included in PAYE code	—	1·39	3·23	—	—	—
(iii) Recovery of excess relief	—	—	—	-1·43	-1·43	-1·43
(iv) Total mortgage interest relief given through PAYE code=(i)+(ii)+(iii)	12·46	12·46	12·46	-1·43	-1·43	-1·43
5. Total income tax collected=3-4(iv)	21·97	21·97	21·97	35·86	23·74	33·84
6. Total deductions from pay=2+5	36·13	36·13	36·13	50·42	38·30	48·40
7. Take home pay before allowing for effect of mortgage payment to lender=1-6	125·67	125·67	125·67	111·38	123·50	113·40
8. Mortgage payment (gross)	43·38	39·25	33·93	‡33·93	‡33·93	‡33·93
9. Less interest relief given at source	—	—	—	9·23	9·23	9·23
10. Net mortgage payment to lender=8-9	43·38	39·25	33·93	‡24·70	‡24·70	‡24·70
11. Take home pay after net mortgage payment to lender=7-10	82·29	86·42	91·74	‡86·68	‡98·80	‡88·70
* Percentage.
† National Insurance Contributions at the contracted-in-rate.
‡ Assuming that, if the lender has proposed a switch to a "constant net" basis of repayments, the borrower has exercised his right to keep his payments at the lower level provided for by Section 28 of the Finance Act 1982. If the borrower has not exercised that right, his net payments to the lender would be £1·74 a week higher, and the figures in lines 7, 10 and 11 in the last three columns would be—

	First pay day after 6 April	First pay day after 10 May	Subsequent pay days
	£	£	£
7. Take home pay	111·38	123·50	113·40
10. Net mortgage payment to lender=8 minus 9	26·44	26·44	26·44
11. Take home pay after net mortgage payment to lender=7 minus 10	84·94	97·06	86·96

Wales

Earnings (Gwynedd)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest available estimates of the average weekly earnings of full-time male, female, manual and non-manual workers in Gwynedd.

The new earnings survey for April 1982, the latest available survey, gives a figure for average gross weekly earnings in Gwynedd of £119·0 for full time manual male employees. Information concerning earnings of full non-manual and female workers is not available.

Employed Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimate of the number of employees in employment in Wales; and how this compares with the mid-year figures for 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.

The latest estimate is that there were 896,000 employees in employment in Wales in September 1982. This compares with estimated figures for June 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 of 1,029,000 1,001,000, 935,000 and 900,000, respectively.

Perinatal Mortality

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take to reduce the rate of perinatal mortality in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The rate of perinatal mortality in Wales has been a cause of concern for a number of years. Although there has been a gradual reduction in the rate per 1,000 live and still births from 24·4 to 14 in the decade since 1971, the rate is both too high in absolute terms and in comparison with those prevailing in England and Scotland. The Welsh Office has consulted the medical and nursing professions in Wales on measures needed to reduce perinatal mortality and has convened a symposium of expert opinion and given detailed consideration, to the recommendations made.In the light of this advice my right hon. Friend has decided to undertake a specific initiative aimed at improving the quality of maternity care and thereby reducing the causes of perinatal mortality.One part of this initiative will be the establishment of a small catalyst team comprising a doctor provided from within the Welsh Office and a midwife seconded from the NHS, who will be supported centrally by a sligtly larger survey group. Membership of the survey group is envisaged as two obstetricians, one academic and one service; a paediatrician; a specialist in community medicine and a midwife from the NHS together with a senior nursing officer and a senior medical officer from the Welsh Office. Action to monitor and advise on the improvement of maternity services at the unit level will be taken by the catalyst team, whose work will involve the dual task of reviewing the circumstances of individual perinatal deaths and still births and of working with health authorities in what ever ways are necessary to assist them to develop continuing arrangements for such reviews.The survey group will have two main functions. Firstly it will supervise the work of the catalyst team, supporting the team in the planning of its work and monitoring its effectiveness. Secondly, it will work with the team to provide an all-Wales perinatal mortality survey.The other part of the initiative will be the establishment at the national level of a broadly based expert committee to consider and disseminate the Wales perinatal survey group's reports and to advise on the development of maternity services generally. This Wales maternity services forum will comprise representatives of all the interested professional groups and the health authorities.

Table 1 Persons proceeded against for drugs offences by nationality and year
United Kingdom					Number of persons
		Nationals of
Year	Total	United Kingdom	America (excl. USA and Canada)	Europe (excl. UK)	Africa	Asia	USA	Canada Australia New Zealand	Not recorded
1977	13,658	11,488	598	504	229	271	371	165	32
1978	14,463	12,071	774	592	233	270	381	128	14
1979	15,072	12,380	836	610	269	396	350	152	79
1980	18,130	14,627	1,137	842	438	472	337	165	112
1981	19,081	15,836	1,100	682	511	402	309	131	110

Table 2 Persons found guilty of drugs offences by nationality and year
United Kingdom					Number of persons
		Nationals of
Year	Total	United Kingdom	America (excl. USA and Canada)	Europe (excl. UK)	Africa	Asia	USA	Canada Australia New Zealand	Not recorded
1977	12,704	10,730	521	476	212	242	338	155	30
1978	13,394	11,174	719	563	212	250	346	117	13
1979	14,054	11,576	743	579	246	371	325	144	70
1980	16,919	13,658	1,037	797	398	444	323	160	102
1981	17,667	14,714	965	642	476	362	288	124	96

The detailed arrangements will now be the subject of consultation with the health authorities and the representative professional bodies. Subject to the comments received the initiative will commence later this year and will continue at the outset for two years. The cost will be met by the Welsh Office.

My right hon. Friend and I hope that this initiative will yield a better standard of care for mothers and their newly born children in Wales through the lessons it will reveal and the advice and support it will offer to those on whom we rely for maternity services.

Home Department

Firearms

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he has received on the subject of the use of firearms in connection with armed crime.

Establishing the total number of letters received during a given period in which this subject has been mentioned would be very difficult because it is likely to have been raised in connection with other firearms matters. The number of letters relating solely to this subject which have been received within the last six months is fewer than 15.

Drugs Offences

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for drug offences took place in each of the past five years; and what was the nationality of those (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted.

The readily available statistical information on the nationality of persons prosecuted and convicted of drugs offences is given in the following tables. Comparable information for 1982 will become available later this year.

Peter Sutcliffe (Exorcism)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and why, with whose authority and with what official assistance Father Anthony Lawn was permitted to carry out exorcism of the prisoner Peter Sutcliffe; and what is the general entitlement of prisoners to such treatment.

Father Anthony Lawn has not at any time carried out exorcism of the prisoner Peter Sutcliffe. There is no general entitlement to such treatment; the spiritual needs of a prisoner are a matter for the chaplain concerned.

Civil Defence (Nuclear Attack)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely scale of any nuclear attack on the United Kingdom for purposes of planning civil defence.

Neither the weight nor the pattern of a nuclear attack on the United Kingdom can be predicted with certainty as they would depend on the strategic intentions of an aggressor at the time of attack. We advise those working in the field of civil defence to plan for a range of possible attacks, including conventional bombing, a nuclear attack confined to military targets, and a full-scale nuclear attack aimed at destroying both military installations and major cities.

Police (Beat Duty)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police officers in the United Kingdom are now on beat duty compared with the number so engaged in May 1979.

I can answer only for England and Wales. We know that chief officers of police share our view on the importance of deploying officers on foot patrol. They have been able to increase them because of the improvement in the strength of the service, by releasing police officers from administrative posts wherever possible, and as part of the process of reviewing the deployment of officers to meet current objectives and priorities. Exact figures for all forces could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but the Metropolitan Police have returned over 1,000 officers to beat duty and the Commissioner proposes to deploy at least 650 more.

Crime Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving breaking and entering at single resident dwellings were recorded in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years for which records are available; and how many of these resulted in injury or death.

The number of burglaries and aggravated burglaries in dwellings in England and Wales for each year from 1971 to 1981 is published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1981", table 2.9. The corresponding figures for 1982 appear in Home Office statistical bulletin 3/83, published 14 March 1983. Copies of these are in the Library of the House. Information showing the type of dwellings involved is not collected centrally.

Police And Ambulance Services

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the average time required by police and ambulance services, respectively, to respond to a call for help.

The information necessary to enable an estimate to be made with regard to the police service is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I understand from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Security, that this is also the position with regard to the ambulance service.

Industry

Polyethylene Film Products

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total tonnage of polyethylene film produced in the United Kingdom (a) in the calendar year 1982 and (b) in each of the first two months of 1983; and what percentage this was of the total production of the European Community.

Data on United Kingdom production of polyethylene film are collected in the Business Statistics Office's quarterly inquiry only from establishments with 75 or more employees. The results of this inquiry are published in Business Monitor 276.1, which includes a provisional estimate of 247,000 tonnes for production of polyethylene film in 1982. They indicate that United Kingdom production of extruded polyethylene film for the last three years are as follows:

Tonnes
	1980	1981	1982
Low and medium density	229,144	217,885	223,884
High density	21,384	23,193	23,312
	250,528	241,078	247,196

Source: Business Monitor PQ 276.1.

I regret that the other figures requested are not available.

Value Added

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing by median, quartiles and deciles the gross value added per head in 1979 and 1980 and for any later years available in industrial classes 31, 33, 34, 35, 37 and 45.

Median and quartile estimates of gross value added per head in 1979 and 1980 for the required industrial classes are shown in the following table. Estimates relating to deciles are not available. Comparable figures for 1981 will become available later this year.

Analysis by Quartile of Gross Value Added per head for Selected Classes
Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1980)				£ thousands at current prices
	1979			1980
	Lower Quartile	Median	Upper Quartile	Lower Quartile	Median	Upper Quartile
Class
31 Manufacture of metal goods not elsewhere specified	4·6	5·9	7·7	5·1	6·7	8·6
33 Manufacture of office machinery and data processing equipment	6·0	8·3	13·9	6·0	10·6	16·4
34 Electrical and Electronic engineering	4·9	6·4	8·4	5·6	7·5	9·9
35 Manufacture of motor vehicles and parts thereof	5·0	6·7	8·2	5·3	7·2	9·0
37 Instrument engineering	4·3	6·2	8·2	5·3	7·0	9·3
45 Footwear and clothing industries	2·8	3·9	5·2	3·2	4·3	5·8

Notes:

1. Source—Annual Census of Production.

2. Data based on responding establishments employing 20 or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the distribution of gross value added per head given in his reply dated 2 March, Official Report, c. 152, is broadly consistent with that of the United Kingdom's principal competitors.

I am not aware that any comparable information is readily available for our principal competitors.

Industrial Investment

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing total industrial investment in the United Kingdom as a proportion of gross national product for 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977 and the latest available year.

Total investment in the United Kingdom in the industries covered by the index of industrial production*, including assets leased from the service industries, expressed as a percentage of gross national product is as follows:

Year	Percentage
1962	6·9
1967	7·0
1972	5·0
1977	6·5
1982	5·3
* Orders II-XXI, Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1968.).

Office And Service Industries Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many grants have been made under the office and service industries scheme to businesses conducting feasibilty studies of locations to the Yorkshire and Humberside region in 1981, 1982 and 1983; and how many businesses have actually relocated to the region in the same years.

From July 1981, when the feasibility study grant was introduced under the office and service industries scheme, to February 1983, no such grants have been offered for studies of potential locations in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

The number of businesses relocating from non-assisted areas to the Yorkshire and Humberside region with the aid of a grant under the office and service industries scheme is as follows:

Calendar Year	No. of Projects	Offer Value £000	Estimated Employment
1981	4	504	215
1982	4	168	53
Jan-February 1983	2	230	73

Liverpool

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total cost of the factories which have been built in Liverpool by the English Industrial Estates Corporation in each of the last three years; how many square feet they comprise; and how much is currently vacant.

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

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Police Officers (Witnesses)

38.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what progress he is making to introduce new procedures to enable police officers to spend less time at court waiting to be called as witnesses.

A committee of procurators fiscal has met and responded to statistics submitted by the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents. Recently some information on this subject has been received from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland). This material is under consideration at present. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and I are to meet Sheriff Principal Gillies and court officials shortly to discuss the results of an experiment which has been held with a view to reducing the time spent at court by all witnesses.

Travelling People

39.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will review his present policy of non-harassment of travelling people in relation to prosecution; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans at present to review the policy of non-harassment of travelling people in relation to prosecution. Each case will continue to be considered by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate personally and a decision on whether to prosecute will be taken on the basis of all the circumstances including the availability of alternative sites.

Education And Science

Multiple Sclerosis, Cystic Fibrosis And Muscular Dystrophy

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what has been the total support by the Medical Research Council for research into (a) multiple sclerosis, (b) cystic fibrosis and (c) muscular dystrophy in each of the past five years;(2) if he will make special funding available for the extension of research into multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.

It is for the Medical Research Council to decide on priorities for fundamental medical research within the cash sums allocated to it annually from the science budget. Those sums are determined by my right hon. Friend with advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. The MRC has in recent years supported a considerable volume of work relevant to multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy. I shall write to the right hon. Member with such information relating to expenditure on this work as is available.

Student Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will increase the level of student grants for students who must live in guest houses in expensive cities such as London and Birmingham.

No. The general levels of accommodation costs for those living away from home in London and elsewhere are already reflected in the higher rates of grant payable to such students.

16-Plus Examination

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made with the production of draft national criteria for examination at 16-plus.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have given the joint council of GCE and CSE boards our provisional comments on its proposals for draft criteria in physics, French and history. We are currently considering proposals in a further 11 subjects. We have made clear our belief that those involved in this work are breaking new ground; and while more work is needed on the criteria—work in which the Secondary Examinations Council will have an important part to play—much progress has been made. We are most grateful to the joint council and to its working parties for the considerable time and effort which have been freely devoted to this important exercise.

Prime Minister

"Newsnight"

asked the Prime Minister why Her Majesty's Government did not consent to a Government representative appearing on BBC "Newsnight" on Friday 29 April.

Because we decided instead to issue a statement to "Newsnight" setting out our position. We are free to choose whether or not we accept an invitation to appear on television.

National Compensation Fund

asked the Prime Minister if she will set up a study on the advantages and disadvantages of a national compensation fund financed initially by the Treasury, to cover death, injury and some types of damage; and if she will make a statement.

No. Substantial provision already exists in the social security system for people who are widowed or disabled, and there are also preferential schemes which compensate for death or injury due to service in the armed forces, accidents at work or criminal assault. I am not persuaded that the establishment of a new fund would be a justifiable use of scarce resources.

Purchasing Policy

asked the Prime Minister when she will write to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree about the priority supplies agreement for prison workshops and workshops for the disabled, pursuant to her written answer on 10 March, Official Report, c. 459; and if she will make a statement.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on Tuesday 3 May.

Northern Ireland

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report the text of her letter to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) dated 16 October 1982 setting out the Government's policy on Northern Ireland.

It is not for me to publish the texts of letters to third parties.

Transport

Tonbridge-Hastings Line

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is ready to make an announcement on the future of the Tonbridge to Hastings line.

As I have made clear, the Government are prepared to approve a substantial new investment in the Tonbridge-Hastings line, leading to a continued and improved through service on the London-Tonbridge-Hastings route.The type of equipment to be used has yet to be settled; when it is I shall make an announcement.

Inter-City Services

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about investment in British Rail's inter-city services.

The Railways Board has identified an immediate business need for 60 Mark III day coaches. I have given consent to the board's proposal to order these coaches at a cost of £11·163 million at 1983 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on British Rail's inter-city prospectus.

In his statement of 22 June 1981 — [Vol. 7, c. 21–22] — my predecessor asked the Railways Board to bring forward plans for an inter-city business that would achieve a fully commercial performance by 1985, and to start on the necessary changes immediately. On 30 November 1982, in a written reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack)— [Vol. 33 c. 144] —I told the House that if the board submitted satisfactory proposals for the future of the inter-city business, the way would be clear for a decision on the electrification of the east coast main line. The board has recently submitted to me a prospectus for the inter-city business for the period to 1988. It is intended to show a "base case" without additional main line electrification, and so it does not include electrification proposals, which the board is putting to me separately. The prospectus sets out an interim strategy, which is being further reviewed and developed. It does not show the business achieving even a small profit before 1988. While the prospectus indicates some welcome progress, I have told the board that it does not yet provide the satisfactory path to profitability that is required. The board is working on a longer-term strategy for inter-city, which I hope to receive during the summer.

Environment

London Borough Of Islington

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total of central Government funds paid to the London borough of Islington annually from 1979–80 to 1982–83 (a) including rate support grant, (b) excluding rate support grant and (c) money paid for all other projects and special activities in those years; and what is the estimated spending in those categories for 1983–84.

The available information is given in the table.Because grant payments systems have changed over the period, comparisons between years are of limited value.

Central Government Grants to the London Borough of Islington 1979–80 to 1983–84
£ million
Type of grant	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
RSG needs and resources	*37·l	*42·2	—	—	—
block grant	—	—	†25·2	‡27·5	\|\|28·8
domestic element	3·5	3·6	3·7	3·8	3·9
Rate rebates	0·7	1·2	2·2	3·2	ֵ
Rate rebates for the disabled	0·1	0·1	0·1	0·2	ֵ
Housing subsidy	30·7	32·2	¶33·9	•37·2	▀42·0
Rent rebates	1·8	2·0	¶2·0	•3·3	ֵ
Rent allowances	1·1	1·1	¶0·3	•0·4	ֵ
Slum clearance	0·3	0·3	¶0·3	•0·3	▀0·3
Exchequer contribution towards Improvement Grants (including HIS)	0·5	0·5	¶0·6	•0·8	▀1·1
Urban Programme#	2·5	2·2	3·6	4·8	ֵ
Other revenue grants*	0·8	1·1	1·6	ֵ	ֵ
Capital grants	4·3	6·1	5·6	ֵ	ֵ
Total including RSG (needs and resources/block grant and domestic element)	83·4	92·6	79·1	ֵ	ֵ
Total excluding RSG	42·8	46·8	50·2	ֵ	ֵ
* No grant was allocated to GLC and Metropolitan police in these years.
† Second supplementary report, after holdback, including amounts due to GLC and Metropolitan police.
‡ First supplementary report, after holdback, including amount due to Metropolitan police.
║ Main report, before holdback.
¶ Figures from unaudited final claims which may be modified on basis of audited claims.
• Advances subject to adjustment on basis of final audited claims.
▀ Estimates based on first advance claim form.
*Covering libraries, social services, sheltered employment, etc.
# The Urban programme resource allocations to the Islington Partnership in the years in question were £5·9 million, £7·7 million, £8·8 million and £10·35 million. Most of these resources are allocated to the Borough and exchequer grant is paid at the rate of 75 per cent. of the Borough's cost in spending them—that is direct revenue costs and loan charges for the duration of the loan. The figures in the table are actual grant payments

Docklands (Voluntary Sector Projects)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what voluntary sector projects established in docklands were funded under urban aid between 1978 and 1981 with grants guaranteed for three or five years; and if he will make a statement of his intentions concerning those projects when these grants expire.

Seventy three voluntary organisations received grants for three or more years under the docklands urban programme between 1978 and 1981.The funding of projects under the urban programme is normally limited to a maximum period of five years. If the project requires further funding at the end of that period, the organisation is expected to look for alternative sources, including applying to the local authority for assistance under its main programmes. This general rule applies in docklands as it does elsewhere, although the London Docklands Development Corporation will consider on their merits fresh applications for projects previously funded under the urban programme, which would help in achieving LDDC's objective of regenerating its area.

Local Self-Government

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the draft European charter of local self-government; and what is his policy (i) towards the principles of the draft charter and (ii) towards the text as presently drafted.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from local authorities in support of the draft charter which the conference of local and regional authorities of Europe has proposed should attain the status of a convention of the Council of Europe. The Government are not satisfied that the draft charter provides a suitable basis for a binding international instrument. Negotiations on the content and form of a charter are in progress in the steering committee for regional and municipal matters of the Council of Europe with a view to the matter being considered by a meeting of local government Ministers in Rome in 1984.

Children's Play

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the Prime Minister's answer of 22 April, Official Report, c. 193, whether he is yet in a position to make a further announcement concerning the arrangements for children's play.

The Government have been concerned to expand and enhance the sport, recreation and leisure opportunities for the family, and for people of all ages, and has therefore substantially increased the funds available through the Sports Council and other programmes. For children and young people aged 5–16, play remains a vital leisure pastime: it is also necessary in their personal and social development.

Financial year	Fees and other income excluding grant‡	Grant-in-aid	Total expenditure\|\|	Staff in post at 1 April (excluding Board members)¶
	(£)	(£)	(£)
1963–64*	—	5,000	—	—
1964–65	3,157	196,000	210,771	—
1965–66	92,783	495,600	457,474	77
1966–67	281,498	500,000	754,324	175
1967–68	210,802	500,000	770,324	215
1968–69	286,304	475,000	758,535	204
1969–70	292,886	450,000	740,003	191
1970–71	459,571	420,000	934,780	188
1971–72	433,986	450,000	884,468	166
1972–73	598,709	200,000	791,510	104
1973–74	740,359	199,000	875,455	137
1974–75	927,316	230,000	1,079,218	164
1975–76	1,409,003	275,000	1,626,273	215
1976–77	1,651,850	330,000	1,914,751	231
1977–78	1,634,120	360,000	1,933,539	218
1978–79	1,988,236	406,000	2,412,470	237
1979–80	2,639,798	479,000	3,117,802	251
1980–81	2,932,217	564,000	3,469,117	235
1981–82	†	1,679,884	†	195
1982–83	†	172,342	†	26
1983–84	—	•250,000	—	—
Notes on table:
* there are no figures for fee income, expenditure or staff numbers for 1963–64 because the Agency was registered as a company on 16 March 1964.
† accounts for 1981–82 onwards are not yet available.
‡ in addition to the figures shown in this column, from 1969–70 to 1973–74 inclusive the Agency received a deficiency grant of about £4,000 a year from the Ministry of Finance, Northern Ireland, to support the establishment of an NBA oiffice in Belfast.
• amount in printed Estimates for 1983–84
║ the figures for expenditure include both current expenditure and the amount allocated each year as a contribution to fixed assets.

In many areas, and for a variety of reasons, children and young people have few opportunities for safe, organised play outside school. Provision for organised play and recreation has been patchy, particularly in the inner cities. We must therefore encourage and promote the provision of more and better facilities and opportunities; we must also ensure better training and information and seek to draw in locally parents, the many authorities and agencies and organisations which are or could be involved.

The voluntary sector has always played a major role and will continue to do so. I have been approached by representatives of the independent voluntary agencies who are now engaged in forming the new organisation they believe is required to give a fresh impetus to the development of facilities and leaders. Over the next few weeks they will be establishing the body, its board and electing its chairman. The Government and the Sports Council have agreed in principle to give support. Discussions will continue and I will make a further announcement in due course.

National Building Agency

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the table set out by the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young), in reply to the hon. Member for Melton on 22 July 1982, Official Report, c. 297–8, regarding the financing of the National Building Agency; and whether the accounts for this body have been finalised, and the organisation finally dissolved.

It is not yet possible to say when the National Building Agency, which is in members voluntary liquidation, will be finally dissolved. The table in my reply of 22 July 1982 is reproduced as follows, updated to 1983–84.

¶ figures for 1965–66 to 1968–69 and 1980–81 to 1982–83 show staff in post as at 31 March or 1 April (as available). Figures for 1969–70 to 1979–80 show average numbers of staff in post over the year; figures for 1 April are not readily available for these years.

Source:

For the grant-in-aid figures, Department of the Environment.

For the other figures, National Building Agency.

Structure Plans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on progress made over structure plans since the reply by the hon. Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw) to the hon. Member for Melton on 7 July 1982, Official Report, c. 152.

All the 72 structure plans needed to cover England have now been submitted, and of these 68 have been approved. The two plans approved since 7 July 1982 are:

South West Hampshire—14 September 1982
Central and North Lancashire—9 February 1983

Of the four plans outstanding, three have already been the subject of examinations in public, and an examination of the fourth—Avon—is to begin next month.

Council Houses

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of council homes available for rent in each of the years 1978 to 1982.

Estimates of the number of local authority and new town dwellings in England as at the end of each year from 1971 to 1981 appear in table 101 of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1971–1981" which is available in the Library.The estimates are based on 1971 census results and such information as is available about subsequent gains and losses. The figures as at December 1982 will be published later this year in the light of the 1981 census results, when figures for earlier years will also be reviewed. However, it is estimated that during 1982, 30,300 newly built dwellings were added to the stock of local authorities and new towns in England and 188,600 were sold.

Single Resident Dwellings

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of single resident dwellings in the United Kingdom he estimates are inhabited by persons over the age of 65 years.

The information as requested is not available. However in 1981 people aged 65 and over living as single person households were estimated to form about 60 per cent. of all single person households in Great Britain.

Property Services Agency

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the remuneration received by the Property Services Agency advisory board; how many meetings took place in 1982 and 1983 to the most recent practicable date; and if he will make a statement.

Members of the advisory board receive no remuneration. Meetings are held monthly. There were 11 in 1982 and four have been held so far this year.

Rates

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1983, c. 471–77]: Following is an amended list of local authorities placed in order of their local rates-precepts in 1982–83, along with the actual level of these local rates-precepts in that year.

List of local authorities placed in order of the level of their local rates* or precepts in 1982–83
	Local rate or precept poundage in 1982–83 (pence)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	197·5
Manchester	186·2
Haringey	181·8
Sheffield	181·8
Rochdale	173·5
North Tyneside	163·8
Brent	161·1
Waltham Forest	160·8
Walsall	158·1
Newham	157·0
Avon	156·0
Wigan	154·0
Humberside	153·0
Sunderland	151·8
Cleveland	150·0
Cheshire	149·4
Northumberland	149·0
Tameside	149·0
Bury	147·5
Bedfordshire	147·2
Doncaster	146·9
Liverpool	144·0
Barnsley	143·5
Isles of Scilly	143·3
Cumbria	143·0
Berkshire	142·8
St. Helens	140·8
Gateshead	139·8
Derbyshire	139·0
Nottinghamshire	139·0
Durham	137·0
Bradford	136·6
Knowsley	136·5
Staffordshire	134·0
Hertfordshire	134·0
Dorset	133·0
Sandwell	131·9
Gloucestershire	131·5
Hereford & Worcester	131·5
Oxfordshire	131·5
Calderdale	131·2
Suffolk	130·5
Northamptonshire	130·0
Coventry	130·0
Leicestershire	129·5
Warwickshire	129·3
South Tyneside	129·0
East Sussex	128·6
Hampshire	128·4
Buckinghamshire	128·1
Wirral	127·5

	Local rate or precept poundage in 1982–83 (pence)
Isle of Wight	127·0
Rotherham	126·5
Lancashire	126·5
Wolverhampton	125·9
Essex	125·9
Birmingham	125·5
Wakefield	125·5
Harrow	125·0
North Yorkshire	125·0
Devon	124·8
Somerset	124·0
Kent	123·5
Shropshire	123·5
Wiltshire	122·6
Oldham	122·1
Surrey	121·3
Hounslow	121·2
Cambridgeshire	121·0
Lincolnshire	121·0
Bolton	120·1
Norfolk	120·0
West Sussex	119·0
Cornwall	117·5
Leeds	117·0
Dudley	116·1
Stockport	115·6
Salford	115·5
Solihull	114·5
Kirklees	113·2
Trafford	112·5
Bexley	111·8
Sefton	111·4
Hillingdon	108·5
Havering	105·6
Barking and Dagenham	105·4
Enfield	101·7
Ealing	97·2
Barnet	96·3
Merton	94·2
Sutton	92·4
Redbridge	89·4
Bromley	87·0
Kingston-upon-Thames	85·5
Richmond-upon-Thames	81·4
Southwark	80·6
Hackney	78·3
Camden	74·7
I.L.E.A.	71·0
South Yorkshire	69·8
Tower Hamlets	69·3
Croydon	67·2
Greenwich	62·3
Lewisham	59·9
Lambeth	59·2
Islington	59·1
Hammersmith and Fulham	57·5
Merseyside	54·0
Tyne and Wear	51·2
Thamesdown	50·5
Wansbeck	46·0
Harlow	45·1
West Yorkshire	44·5
Greater Manchester	42·0
West Midlands	40·3
Derwentside	40·2
Burnley	40·1
Darlington	40·0
Middlesbrough	39·5
Langbaurgh	39·2
Sedgefield	37·8
Stevenage	37·6
City of London	37·3
Blackburn	37·0
Norwich	36·8

	Local rate or precept poundage in 1982–83 (pence)
Wear Valley	35·6
Kensington and Chelsea	35·2
Leicester	34·7
Crawley	34·5
Greater London Council	34·4
Brighton	34·2
Reading	34·0
Rossendale	33·2
Carlisle	33·0
Hyndburn	32·8
Chester le Street	32·8
Chesterfield	32·5
Basildon	32·4
Bristol	32·2
Adur	31·3
Great Yarmouth	31·2
Harrogate	30·8
Hertsmere	30·5
Scunthorpe	30·0
Blyth Valley	29·5
Corby	29·0
Cleethorpes	28·8
Easington	28·6
Pendle	28·0
Peterborough	28·0
Durham	27·7
Thanet	27·6
Copeland	27·4
Portsmouth	27·1
Nuneaton and Bedworth	26·5
Mansfield	26·5
Bassetlaw	26·3
N.E. Derbyshire	26·2
Wyre Forest	26·1
Dartford	26·1
Bolsover	25·8
Kingston-upon-Hull	25·7
Ipswich	25·6
Stockton on Tees	25·1
Eastbourne	25·0
Blackpool	25·0
Hartlepool	25·0
Elmbridge	25·0
The Wrekin	24·8
Westminster	24·7
Bournemouth	24·5
Warrington	24·0
Lincoln	24·0
Hereford	23·8
Welwyn Hatfield	23·6
Preston	23·6
Thurrock	23·5
Lancaster	23·5
Chester	23·4
Watford	22·8
Canterbury	22·7
Rushcliffe	22·6
Northampton	22·5
RibbleValley
22·4
Allerdale	22·1
Barrow-in-Furness	22·0
Rushmoor	22·0
South Wight	22·0
Halton	22·0
Worcester	22·0
Worthing	22·0
Scarborough	21·9
Newcastle-under-Lyme	21·7
Shepway	21·6
Southampton	21·5
Ashfleld	21·4
High Peak	21·3
Crewe and Nantwich	21·1

	Local rate or precept poundage in 1982–83 (pence)
Ellesmere and Neston	21·0
Redditch	21·0
Sevenoaks	20·9
Tonbridge and Malling	20·9
Erewash	20·8
Derby	20·7
Luton	20·6
Glanford	20·5
North Warwickshire	20·4
Richmondshire	20·2
North West Leicester	20·2
Three Rivers	20·0
East Yorkshire	20·0
Medina	20·0
Wellingborough	20·0
East Hertfordshire	19·8
Milton Keynes	19·7
Basingstoke and Deane	19·6
Vale Royal	19·5
Nottingham	19·5
Boothferry	19·4
Kettering	19·2
Ashford	19·2
Tendring	19·1
Wy Chavon	19·1
Epsom and Ewell	19·1
Tynedale	19·1
Fareham	19·0
Rother	18·9
West Derbyshire	18·9
Melton	18·8
Gedling	18·8
Gravesham	18·7
Oxford	18·7
Hart	18·5
South Bedfordshire	18·4
Tunbridge Wells	18·4
Waverley	18·4
Woodspring	18·2
West Lindsey	18·2
Amber Valley	18·1
Southend-on-Sea	18·0
West Norfolk	18·0
Stratford-upon-Avon	17·9
North Wiltshire	17·9
Dacorum	17·8
Rugby	17·6
Great Grimsby	17·5
Stoke-on-Trent	17·5
Epping Forest	17·5
Craven	17·5
Shrewsbury and Atcham	17·4
Bracknell	17·3
North Hertfordshire	17·3
East Staffordshire	17·1
South Holland	17·1
North Bedfordshire	17·0
Weymouth and Portland	17·0
Hastings	17·0
Congleton	16·9
East Lindsey	16·6
West Lancashire	16·6
Christchurch	16·5
Wyre	16·5
Lichfield	16·5
Tamworth	16·5
Leominster	16·4
Alnwick	16·4
Carrick	16·2
Guildford	16·2
East Hampshire	16·1
Winchester	16·1
Rutland	16·1

	Local rate or precept poundage in 1982–83 (pence)
Poole	16·0
Castle Point	16·0
St. Albans	16·0
Newark	16·0
Runnymede	16·0
Beverley	16·0
North Norfolk	15·9
Daventry	15·9
Teesdale	15·9
Fylde	15·9
Wandsworth	15·8
Dover	15·8
Castle Morpeth	15·8
South Shropshire	15·8
Waveney	15·8
South Derbyshire	15·7
Mid Suffolk	15·7
Mid Sussex	15·7
Gosport	15·7
Rochford	15·6
Surrey Heath	15·6
Lewes	15·6
Restormel	15·5
Caradon	15·5
Cheltenham	15·5
Warwick	15·5
Slough	15·4
Teignbridge	15·4
Woking	15·4
North Kesteven	15·3
Hambleton	15·3
Kerrier	15·2
Penwith	15·2
North Shropshire	15·1
Charnwood	15·1
Macclesfield	15·0
South Kesteven	15·0
Stafford	15·0
Maidstone	15·0
Boston	15·0
Northavon	14·9
Harborough	14·9
North Devon	14·9
Reigate and Banstead	14·9
Horsham	14·9
Swale	14·8
Broxtowe	14·8
Braintree	14·7
Mole Valley	14·7
Spelthorne	14·7
Eastleigh	14·6
Torbay	14·5
Oswestry	14·5
Malvern Hills	14·4
Bromsgrove	14·4
Ryedale	14·4
Newbury	14·3
Arun	14·3
Bridgnorth	14·3
Test Valley	14·2
Sedgemoor	14·2
Fenland	14·2
Staffs. Moorlands	14·2
South Ribble	14·1
South Hams	14·1
Torridge	14·1
Forest of Dean	14·1
St. Edmundsbury	14·1
Vale of White Horse	14·0
Mid Bedfordshire	14·0
Taunton Deane	13·9
Chorley	13·8
Blaby	13·7

	Local rate or precept poundage in 1982–83 (pence)
Huntingdon	13·5
North Cornwall	13·5
Oadby and Wigston	13·5
Mid Devon	13·5
Plymouth	13·4
Rochester upon Medway	13·4
Havant	13·4
Holderness	13·4
Kennet	13·4
Stroud	13·3
Chichester	13·1
Exeter	13·0
Cambridge	13·0
South Staffordshire	13·0
Broxbourne	12·9
Wokingham	12·8
East Devon	12·8
South Oxfordshire	12·6
Berwick-upon-Tweed	12·5
York	12·5
Cannock Chase	12·5
Tandridge	12·3
South Bucks	12·1
New Forest	12·1
Cotswold	12·0
Salisbury	12·0
Chiltern	11·9
Eden	11·9
Colchester	11·8
West Somerset	11·8
Hinckley & Bosworth	11·8
Cherwell	11·8
West Devon	11·7
Hove	11·7
Purbeck	11·7
Tewkesbury	11·6
Suffolk Coastal	11·6
Windsor and Maidenhead	11·6
Aylesbury Vale	11·6
Forest Heath	11·4
Wycombe	11·4
Maldon	11·3
Breckland	11·3
East Northampton	11·3
Brentwood	11·2
Wimborne	11·0
Kingswood	11·0
Babergh	10·8
Wansdyke	10·7
Broadland	10·6
South Norfolk	10·6
South Lakeland	10·5
South Herefordshire	10·4
West Wiltshire	10·4
Selby	10·3
West Oxfordshire	10·1
Wealden	9·9
South Northampton	9·8
Uttlesford	9·3
South Cambridgeshire	9·2
Gloucester	9·0
West Dorset	8·8
Mendip	8·3
East Cambridgeshire	8·2
Chelmsford	7·9
Yeovil	7·9
Bath	7·7
North Dorset	7·6
Gillingham	6·1

Notes:

(1) Local rates are inclusive of special district expenses and parish precepts.

Homeless Persons

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment from the returns received by his Department from local authorities for households about whom inquiries were completed under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 (a) in how many cases advice and assistance only was given, (b) in how many cases the household was found not to be homeless, nor threatened with homelessness within 28 days and (c) what was the total number of inquiries completed under the Act; and if he will give this information for England as a whole, for Greater London, for the metropolitan authorities, excluding London, for the non-metropolitan areas, and for each English local authority area for each of the years this information has been collected.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 May 1983, c. 27]: I shall write to the hon. Member.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Hong Kong (Live Animal Imports)

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many animals such as civet cats, badgers, barking deer, foxes and pangolins on the listed or endangered species list were imported into Hong Kong from countries other than China during each of the past five years.

Statistics on import of exotic animals, including endangered species, from countries other than China in the last five years are:

1978 – 0
1979 – 40
1980 – 1
1981 – 0
1982 – 87

West Bank

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which states other than the United Kingdom currently recognise the legality of the Jordanian annexation of the West Bank in 1952.

That is for those concerned to say. But as far as we know, no United Nations member state raised objection to the entry of Jordan into the United Nations as a state on both banks of the Jordan in 1955, or has since raised objection.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government as to the lawful sovereignty over the West Bank.

We believe that Israel should put an end to the territorial occupation which it has maintained since 1967, and that the future o f the territories in question should be determined in negotiations which must place the Palestinian people in a position, by an appropriate process defined within the framework of the comprehensive peace settlement, to exercise fully its right to self-determination.

United Nations

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what proportion of votes in the United Nations the member states reached an agreed position in 1982; and on how many occasions the member state holding the Presidency of the Council of Ministers spoke on behalf of the Ten in that year.

In 1982 there were 179 votes in the United Nations General Assembly, of which the Ten voted together on 74. A further 196 resolutions were adopted by consensus to which the Ten contributed. Overall the Ten adopted a common position on 72 per cent. of the resolutions which came before the Assembly. The Presidency spoke on behalf of the Ten on 90 occasions.

British Missions (Bank Of England Officials)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 26 April, Official Report, c. 301, what are the diplomatic functions of Bank of England officials attached to British missions overseas; and to what extent such staff are responsible to the head of the mission concerned.

The main diplomatic function of these officials is to report on and represent British interests in discussion of financial and economic matters in the countries and organisations to which they are accredited. They are all fully responsible to their head of mission.

South America (Ministerial Speeches)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will place in the Library copies of all speeches delivered in South America by the Minister of State.(2) whether the speeches delivered in Montevideo by the Minister of State represent Government policy.

I did not deliver any formal speeches during my recent visit to South America.

North Atlantic Assembly

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what change has been made in the United Kingdom parliamentary delegation to the North Atlantic assembly.

Lord Ardwick has replaced Lord Lovell-Davies as a representative from the Opposition at the North Atlantic assembly.

Scotland

Watch Industry

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to protect the watch industry in Scotland.

The best way to protect the watch industry in Scotland is to secure the overall viability of the entire Timex operation at Dundee. My right hon. Friend and I are doing everything we can to achieve that objective.

Spanish Teaching

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his reply of 12 April, OfficialReport, c. 676, he will make a statement on his plans to improve the availability of the teaching of Spanish in Scottish schools and to combat shortages of teachers of Spanish.

My right hon. Friend announced that new syllabuses in Spanish at credit and general level would be introduced in phase 3 of the Munn/ Dunning implementation programme. Decisions on the appropriate numbers of teachers in individual subjects will be a matter for education authorities to determine; I am not aware of any general shortage of teachers of Spanish.

Job Prospects

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss with them the job prospects for Scotland.

I have no plans at present to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress, though of course I do frequently meet STUC representatives both formally and informally to discuss various aspects of the Scottish economy, including employment.

Ethnic Minorities (Grants)

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the introduction of a grants scheme under section 11 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966 to help local authorities provide facilities in areas with significant ethnic minorities population.

I have received representations from the hon. Member, Strathclyde regional council, and the Scottish Council for Racial Equality. The Government's position is as set out in my reply of 14 March to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall)—[Vol. 39, c. 31–32.]

Housing Associations (House Sales)

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make an up-to-date statement on the exact number of tenanted houses owned by housing associations which have been sold to sitting tenants; and whether any have been sold in the Link Barnton scheme.

Further to the written answer that I gave to my hon. Friend on 7 March, the total of houses sold by housing associations to sitting tenants is now 22. None of the houses sold is in the Link Barnton scheme. —[Vol. 38, c. 294–95.]

Multi-Storey Flats (Fire Precautions)

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute a review, in conjunction with the fire services and local authorities, of fire dangers and precautions in multi-storey blocks of flats in Scotland.

I am not aware of any need for such a review. The building standards regulations relating to fire precautions in multi-storey flats include requirements for fire mains, lifts, means of escape and internal layout of flats. The regulations are constantly under review and were updated in March 1982. Multi-storey flats whose construction was approved before the regulations first took effect would be subject to local byelaws, which made broadly similar provision for fire precautions.

Economic Prospects

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) to discuss the economic prospects of Scotland in comparison with those of the rest of the United Kingdom.

I am meeting the chairman of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) on 16 May. I expect that the economic prospects of Scotland will be among the topics discussed on this occasion.

Unemployment

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in Scotland.

On 10 March 1983 the number of unemployed claimants in Scotland was 341,500, a fall of 5,900 from the February figure. The seasonally adjusted figures show a slight increase in unemployment over that month, but by less than the average for recent quarters.

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take to reduce the current level of unemployment in Scotland.

We shall hold firmly to our present economic strategy, which offers the best hope of a lasting reduction in unemployment, while maintaining an extensive programme of special employment and training measures to help those unable to get a job.

Job Losses

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the total number of jobs lost in each of the coal, steel and manufacturing industries in Scotland since May 1979.

The closest period to that requested for which consistent estimates are available for all three industries is June 1978 to September 1981. According to the census of employment the estimated numbers of persons employed in coal mining, the iron and steel industry and manufacturing industries fell respectively by 4,000, 11,000 and 119,000.

Leith (Job Creation)

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been created in Leith as a result of the Scottish Development Agency's involvement in local projects.

Since the Leith economic action programme was set up by the combined efforts of the Scottish Development Agency and local authorities in 1981, the agency estimates that 450 jobs have been created or safeguarded. It is expected that a further 30 permanent jobs in Leith will accrue from the first round of successful projects recently announced under the LEG-UP scheme.

British Gliding Association

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet representatives of the British Gliding Association; and what matters he expects to discuss.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for a meeting with the association.

Hospitals (Privatisation)

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the progress made towards the commercialisation of catering, cleaning and laundry services within National Health Service hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

The responses received from management and staff interests to the draft circular on contracting out in the National Health Service are being assessed, and the terms of the circular to health boards will be decided shortly.

Improvement Grants

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now abolish the 1964 qualifying date for improvement grants by local authorities.

This is one of the issues I shall consider further after more progress is made in the current review of improvement grant arrangements which I am undertaking in consultation with COSLA.

Information Technology Centres

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the setting up of the proposed information technology centres for the unemployed in Scotland; and when reaching his decisions on their location, whether he will keep in mind the claims of the Maryhill area

The Manpower Services Commission, and the Department of Industry, has allocated funds to set up a total of 24 information technology centres in Scotland. Of these, four are already operating and the remainder are expected to be in operation by the end of this year. The allocation includes provision for four information technology centres in Glasgow, and the Manpower Services Commission is actively considering the possibility that one of these might be located in the north west area of the city.

Rating Reform

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he will announce the Government's proposals for rating reform in Scotland

I have nothing to add at present to the answer I gave to a similar question from the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Hogg) on 15 November 1982. —[Vol. 32, c. 46.]

Building Standards

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the various comments by the Scottish Association of Chief Building Control Officers on the proposal to remove minimum space standards for housing in Scotland from the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1981 and 1982.

The comments of the chief building control officers and those of other respondents to our consultation paper are being carefully considered together with the advice of the Building Standards Advisory Committee.

Angling

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what methods of monitoring the level of salmon stocks and the recording of rod and line anglers' catches are currently employed in the country.

My Department's scientists have research programmes on a number of river systems which involve an assessment of stock levels based on the counting and tagging of fish entering and—or leaving these rivers. They are also seeking information on smolt production throughout Scotland.Statistics of catches by all legal methods are collected and published annually under authority of section 15 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Act 1951.

Housing Standards (Barrett Dwellings)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Fife, Central Official Report, 27 April, c. 362, concerning Barrett-built dwellings in Dundee, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, and Edinburgh, below the basic minimum accepted housing standards, what was the total number of dwellings involved in each of the four local authority areas.

The following is the information requested:

Local Authority Area	Number
Dundee	28
Dunfermline	12
Edinburgh	52
Kirkcaldy	6

Employment

European Social Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the United Kingdom's receipts from the European social fund in each year since 1973; under which categories of aid particular amounts were received each year; and if he will express these disbursements as a percentage of total grants made from the fund in each year and as a proportion of the Community's labour force.

The information requested is set out in the following tables. The fund has operated under its present structure of 10 separate "areas of intervention" only since it was reviewed in 1977. The figures in table 2 therefore relate only to the complete years 1978 to 1982 inclusive.

Table 1
Year	United Kingdom allocation (commitments) in £ million*	United Kingdom allocation as proportion of total† ESF allocations (percentage)	United Kingdom labour force as proportion of total EC labour force (percentage)\|\|
1973	24	28·2	23·7
1974	26	22·0	23·6
1975	46	24·8	23·8
1976	44	19·6	23·9
1977	85	26·1	23·9
1978	75	19·7	23·8
1979	130	25·4	23·7
1980	135	23·3	23·4
1981	141	24·9	¶22·3
1982	258	‡30·0	•—
* Source: Annual notification of Commission's decisions on applications.
† Source: 10th annual report on the European Social Fund (pp.90–91).
‡ Estimated—official figures not yet available.
║ Source: EUROSTAT.
¶ Includes Greece, whereas previous figures relate to the Community of 9 member states.
• Comparative figures not yet available.

Table 2: Breakdown of United Kingdom allocations by area of intervention (1978–82)
United Kingdom allocations (in £ million)
Areas of intervention	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Young people	25·4	67·5	71·9	85·1	151·5
Women	—	0·4	0·1	0·5	0·8
Migrant workers	0·5	0·6	1·2	0·9	9·6
Textile workers	4·1	2·5	1·2	2·0	3·1
Handicapped people	7·3	10·7	9·3	17·0	22·9
Regions	36·6	49·9	50·4	33·2	65·4
Technical progress	0·3	—	0·7	2·2	3·7
Groups of undertakings	—	—	0·5	0·2	—
Pilot Schemes	—	0·3	0·3	0·2	0·6

Note 1: Because of rounding, these figures may not add up exactly to the totals given in table 1.

Note 2: The United Kingdom received no allocations under the fund's area of intervention for former agricultural workers in these years.

Disabled Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why he has ceased publication in his Department's gazette of the public sector quota figures on the disabled; and if he will publish in the Official Report the latest information for (a) national Government Departments, (b) county councils, (c) district councils, (d) Greater London area councils, (e) Scottish regional councils, (f) Scottish district councils, (g) Scottish Islands councils, (h) area health authorities, (i) Scottish health boards, (j) other bodies within the National Health Service, (k) nationalised industries and public authorities, (l) electricity boards and (m) regional water authorities.

Publication of these figures has not ceased. The figures for 1982 are contained in the April 1983 edition of the Employment Gazette, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Temporary Workers

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he will take on the opinion adopted on 27 April by the plenary session of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Community on the European Community Commission's proposals on temporary workers' employment conditions; and what effect he estimates this proposal will have on employment.

We will study it, but the opinions of the Economic and Social Committee are delivered to the Council of Ministers and the Commission. This opinion will be taken into account in future discussions in the Council machinery of the Commission proposal on temporary work. The proposal would restrict the uses of temporary labour and impose new statutory obligations on employers. The effect would be to introduce rigidity into the labour market, limit employers' flexibility, and reduce employment opportunities. This is of course only a proposal, and will proceed with many opportunities for amendment and discussion, as is the open way adopted in the Community.

Kraft Food (Factory Closure)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the closure of the Kraft Food factory on Merseyside.

I understand that Kraft Foods Ltd. has suffered from excessive capacity in Europe for some time and is closing a plant in Germany and reducing the scale of operations at Kirkby in order to concentrate producton in what the company regards as more promising plants in Belgium and Germany. This further loss of jobs, many of

Unemployed for over 52 weeks
	Slough travel-to-work area		Reading travel-to-work area
Registered unemployed	Male	Female	Male	Female
January 1979	461	109	775	143
January 1980	356	84	656	156
January 1981	414	115	845	194
January 1982	1,405	397	2,101	428
Unemployed claimants
January 1983	1,765	434	2,825	577

Trade

Captive Balloons (Advertising)

asked the Minister for Trade when he expects to lay before the House his amending regulations relating to the use of captive balloons for advertising purposes at present controlled by the Civil Aviation (Aerial Advertising) Regulations of 1971.

I am afraid it is not yet possible to say when I expect to lay these regulations before the House. Discussions with interested parties are continuing, particularly on the nature of planning controls to be exercised by local authorities over captive balloons used for advertising purposes.

Company Law

asked the Minister for Trade when he expects the Council of Ministers to reach agreement on the text of the seventh European Community company law directive on group accounts.

which have been supported by the Government's temporary short-time working compensation scheme, is a matter for concern.

All the facilities of the Manpower Services Commission will of course be available to help those who may be made redundant to find alternative employment or train for new jobs.

Safety Measures

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received any representations in the light of the findings of the Health and Safety Executive report on the risk to workers from safety measure cuts.

We have not received any representations following the publication on 18 April by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories of his report, "Manufacturing and Service Industries: Health and Safety 1981".

Unemployment Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total numbers of (a) men and (b) women unemployed in the (i) Slough and (ii) Reading travel-to-work areas for more than one year, for each year since 1979.

[pursuant to the reply, 28 April 1983, c. 421–221: The following table gives the figures for registered unemployed at January each year from 1979 to 1982 and the figures for unemployed claimants at January 1983, the latest available.

Agreement on this directive is likely to be reached at the Council of Finance Ministers on 16 May.

Defence

Deaths Overseas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women have died overseas since 1945; and in what countries and numbers are their known graves.

The information requested could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

Falkland Islands

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to use Falklands ponies as pack animals to supply men working in remote sites on the islands.

The possibility of using the local ponies for this purpose is currently under active investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any payments have been made to Falklanders for Falkland ponies; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps there are in the Falkland Islands.

Two.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has made any assessment of the relative speed of movement across Falklands terrain by pony and by Land Rover.

No purpose would be served — the terrain is extremely varied.

Glasgow (Disposal Package)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the recent review of the composition of the dispersal package for Glasgow has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

The make-up of the dispersal package announced on 1 February 1980—[Vol. 977, c. 798]—has been reviewed in the light of subsequent organisational changes and manpower reductions. The revised package now assembled contains 1,520 posts and is as follows:

Formations dispersing to Glasgow
Area of work	Number of Posts
Service and Civilian Personnel Management	520
Stores Management and Procurement	71
Defence Equipment Codification	442
Army Pensions	88
Equipment Standardisation	82
Air Technical Publications	100
Defence Research Information Centre	69
Common Services Staff	148
Total	1,520

This increased package may be subject to further changes to reflect the continuing search for economy and efficiency in the Department, but is expected to exceed the earlier commitment to provide 1,400 posts for Glasgow.

Royal Naval Armament Depot, Gosport

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now able to make a statement on the timetable for the relocation within the Royal Navy armament depot complex at Bedenham/Elson/Frater in Gosport of the facilities that are currently provided at Royal Navy armament depot, Priddy's Hard.

Transferring of facilities from Priddy's Hard to other sites within the Royal Navy armament depot Gosport is planned to take place over a number of years and is expected to be completed by the end of the decade. Preparatory work was begun in 1976. Some explosives processing facilities have already been relocated and the transfer of the remainder should be accomplished by the end of 1985. The reprovision of administrative, support and stores tasks will then follow.

Gruinard Island

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent developments concerning attempts to decontaminate Gruinard Island.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurenent gave to the hon. Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 28 January 1983—[Vol. 35, c. 553.] The arrangements for this year's field trials have not yet been settled, but it is hoped that once again these will take place during the summer months.

House Of Commons

Members' Salaries (Report)

asked the Lord President of the Council when Her Majesty's Government now expect to receive the report of the Committee on salaries of hon. Members; and when he expects to make an announcement in connection with this subject.

The Government have just received the TSRB report on parliamentary pay and allowances and will now be considering it in the usual way.

Social Services

Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money was paid in unemployment benefit from his Department's offices covering the London borough of Islington in each of the years from 1979 to 1982, inclusive; and what is the percentage increase or decrease involved between 1979 and 1982 inclusive in both cash and real terms.

This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of people claiming supplementary benefit in Glasgow in each of the past five years.

The numbers of supplementary benefit cases in action in Glasgow local offices for each of the last five years were as follows:

February	thousands
1979	77·5
1980	76·3
1981	84·5
1982	97·9
1983	118·9

Source: 100 per cent count of cases in action.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why questions 12 and 13 on form CH 126 must be answered if the persons concerned have been continuously present in the United Kingdom but not if they have been abroad for one day.

Persons who receive this form are required to answer questions 12 and 13 only if they have not been continuously present in Great Britain since the date stated on the form.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances a member of the Civil Service is qualified or disqualified for child benefit when a person not a civil servant in the same circumstances would be disqualified or qualified; and what the relevance of the Department of the Civil Service is to child benefit entitlement.

Provided that circumstances, such as liability to United Kingdom income tax, are the same, a member of the Civil Service and a person who is not a civil servant have equal entitlement to child benefit. The question on form CH 126 about a civil servant's Department provides a check that the civil servant has not been seconded, for example, to another Government or comparable international organisation and may obviate the need for further inquiries about liability to United Kingdom income tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances a person who has been domiciled and resident in the United Kingdom since birth and has paid in full all taxes and national insurance contributions is not entitled to child benefit because they have been abroad for any period.

If a person responsible for a child and entitled to child benefit is absent abroad temporarily, or for less than 26 weeks, then child benefit may continue in payment. In the case of a longer absence, entitlement may be reinstated immediately on return to Great Britain if the absence was for not more than three years or if the person or that person's spouse becomes employed or self-employed. Otherwise entitlement may be reinstated after being in Great Britain for at least 182 days in the preceding 52 weeks.Child benefit is not payable if a child is absent abroad from Great Britain for more than 182 days in the preceding 52 weeks, and had not been receiving full-time education abroad in a continuous period of up to three years, or is not being treated for illness.The rules are complex and if my right hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, I shall gladly look into it if the details are provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether a foreign national who has never paid any taxes or social security contributions is entitled to child benefit if they have been continuously present in Great Britain since 10 October 1981; and if they are not why they have only to answer the first question on form CH 126.

Yes, provided that his children also satisfy the conditions for presence in Great Britain. Child benefit would not, however, be payable if the tax exempt income of that person or his spouse were to exceed the total income chargeable to tax in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether form CH 126 issued by his Department is intended only for immigrants.

No. It is issued to all claimants who have indicated that they have not been continuously present in Great Britain during the 53 weeks preceding their claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his reply dated 14 March, Official Report, c. 50–51, concerning the cost of extending unemployment benefits, whether he will provide in each case the net benefit cost and the savings in other benefits.

With regard to the abolition of the one-year limit on entitlement to unemployment benefit, the estimated cost to the national insurance fund of £1,650 million in 1982–83 would have been offset by estimated savings in other benefits of about £1,200 million. The net cost would therefore have been about £450 million An up-to-date estimate of savings in 1983–84 is not immediately available, but I shall let the hon. Member have an estimate as soon as possible.It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the savings on other benefits if earnings related supplement were restored, as there is no information available on the amounts of the supplement for which those presently receiving supplementary benefit would become eligible.

Mobility Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it takes an average of eight weeks for a medical examination to take place following a request for such an examination from the mobility allowance unit to his regional office for Merseyside.

A recent analysis by the Department's north western region has shown that, on average, 20 working days elapse between that region's receipt of a request for a medical examination in connection with a claim for mobility allowance and the dispatch of the report to the Department's mobility allowance unit. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I should be glad to look into it.

Dietary Supplements And Starch-Blocking Pills

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the total value of dietary supplements sold in the United Kingdom in 1982 and in each of the three preceding years; and if he will provide comparative figures for the total value of medicines and the total value of starch-blocking pills sold in each of those years;(2) whether his Department has reached a decision on the legal status of starch-blocking pills; and what decision has been taken or when he expects to reach a decision.

The information requested is not collected by the Department. The following estimates have been provided by the relevant manufacturing association:

	Value of Non-Prescription Medicines sold in the United Kingdom £ million	Value of Specialist Health Food Products sold in the United Kingdom £ million	Value of Products containing starch blockers sold in the United Kingdom £ million
1979	233	21	—
1980	269	26	—
1981	311	29	—
1982	350 (approximately)	34	0·3

Following reports that products containing starch blockers are ineffective as slimming aids it is believed that sales of these products in the United Kingdom are now insignificant.

As a result of action taken by the Department, medicinal claims are no longer made in respect of these products. They are not therefore considered to be medicinal products within the meaning of the Medicines Act 1968.

Hospital Patients' Money

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the replies of 15 February, Official Report, c. 137, when he now expects to publish the revised guidance on the payment, management and use of hospital patients' money: and if he will now publish the report of the Rayner scrutiny team on the payment of social security benefits to people in hospital and long-term residential care.

We hope to be able to issue the revised guidance for consultation in July. The draft report of the Rayner scrutiny team on benefits to those in hospital and residential care is complex and lengthy, and we are still considering its recommendations. We do not propose to publish it, but no major changes of policy or procedure will be made without appropriate prior consultation.

Hospital Beds (Manchester)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultation his Department had with the North-Western regional health authority about its proposals to rationalise the numbers of beds in Manchester hospitals; what advice his Department gave the authority; and if he will make a statement.

A joint study of hospital services in Greater Manchester by the North Western regional health authority and the Department carried out in 1981 concluded that the development of services for under-resourced districts and services for the elderly, mentally ill and mentally handicapped in North Western region depended in part upon the release of resources from over-financed services in other districts. The regional health authority and I agreed on this policy of making better use of resources to speed up progress in developing priority services and to develop services in under-resourced districts at the 1982 annual review meeting with the regional health authority, which I chaired. The policy is reflected in the action plan I sent to the regional chairman following that meeting, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the annual savings to be made from the rationalisation of hospital beds in Manchester hospitals as proposed by the North-Western regional health authority;(2). with regard to the proposed rationalisation of hospital beds in Manchester, if he will list the reasons for the proposed changes given by the North-Western regional health authority, together with his comments on each of them;(3). with respect to the proposals of the North-Western regional health authority to rationalise hospital beds in Manchester, what is the estimated time lag between the removal of general surgical beds at Manchester Royal infirmary, gynaecological beds at St. Mary's hospital and opthalmic beds at the Royal eye hospital and their replacement in other parts of the region; and if he will make a statement;

(4). if he will assess the employment implications for Manchester as a result of the loss of jobs following the rationalisation of hospital beds in Manchester.

I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. Morris) on 29 March 1983. [Vol. 40, c. 117–18.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether in the light of the proposals of the North-Western regional health authority to rationalise hospital beds in Manchester, he has any plans to increase the funds to health districts in the rest of the region.

The allocation of funds to district health authorities in North Western region is the responsibility of the regional health authority. If the RHA reduces the provision of funds at any time to a district or a service, it is free to allocate those funds to other districts or services where it judges the needs to be greater.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, with respect to the proposals of the North-Western regional health authority to rationalise hospital beds in Manchester, if he is aware of similar proposals for rationalisation in other conurbations.

A number of regional health authorities are examining the scope for transferring resources from over-provided acute services to fund priority developments in other patient services. In London, substantial acute bed reductions have already taken place largely to release funds for neglected districts and services for the elderly, mentally handicapped and mentally ill, and further rationalisation is planned. Mersey RHA has plans for reductions in surplus acute beds in Liverpool to release funds for developments in under-funded districts. It is too early to know how the pattern of services in other conurbations will be affected, but changes in the pattern of provision must follow changes in population distribution and health needs if we are to ensure that health resources are used in the most effective way.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, with respect to the proposals of the North-Western regional health authority to rationalise hospital beds in Manchester, what consultations the authority had with the University of Manchester before or after the publication of the proposals; what conclusions were reached; and what views were expressed to the authority by the university.

The joint report of the North Western regional health authority and the Department on the strategy for hospital services in Greater Manchester was sent on publication to the University of Manchester, which submitted comments on the implications of the report for the level of undergraduate teaching facilities. The Regional University Liaison Committee is now considering the regional health authority's proposals for acute bed reductions in central Manchester district.

Occupational Deafness

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take in respect of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's recent report on occupational deafness.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 25 April 1983.—[Vol. 41, c. 262.]

Housing Benefit Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those authorities unable to implement fully the housing benefit scheme on 4 April and the numbers of tenants involved.

I shall be making a statement in the near future about the outcome of the main start of the housing benefit scheme.

Death Certificates

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the 20 recommendations that have been made concerning an improved system of medical certification of the fact and cause of death, Official Report, 27 May, c. 370; and what is their present status.

The recommendations referred to in the reply to the question from the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Cunningham) on 27 May 1982 are numbers 1—two recommendations—2—two recommendations—4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 34, 70, 71, 72, 105, 106 and 110 of the summary of recommendations in the Brodrick report. The present status of those recommendations was given in my reply to the hon. and learned Member on 13 April 1983.—[Vol. 40, c. 429.]

Psychologists

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what purpose psychologists engaged by his Department have been interviewing unemployed men and women; how many are so engaged; whether the interviewees were told in advance or later that their interviewers were psychologists; and if he will end the practice.

I have been asked to reply.The Manpower Services Commission, like the armed forces and many large companies, has for a number of years employed occupational psychologists on work concerned with matching individual and job requirements, training and the organisation of work. In the public employment service there are 60 occupational psychologists, of whom 30 work in employment rehabilitation centres. Their work includes advising and helping individual unemployed people in their search for work. In most cases people are told in advance when their interviewer is to be an occupational psychologist. I understand that the commission will ensure that this happens in all cases in future.

Northern Ireland

Prisoners (Injuries)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners have been injured in each of Her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months; and how this compares with each of the last 10 years.

The number of prisoners who sustained injuries in each of the prisons for the calendar years 1981, 1982 and 1983 (to 31 March) was as follows:

	1981	1982	1983 (to 31 March)
HM Prison, Belfast	600	356	67
HM Prison, Magilligan	192	480	112
HM Prison, Maze (Cellular)	489	548	181
HM Prison, Maze (Compound)	275	305	56
HM Prison, Armagh	40	91	34
	1,596	1,780	450

Figures for previous years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Angling

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what methods of monitoring the level of salmon stocks and the recording of rod and line anglers' catches are currently employed in the Province.

The monitoring of salmon stocks in Northern Ireland is based on statutorily required catch returns from commercial salmon fishermen and systematic visual counting of spawning redds in rivers supplemented by electronic counting devices in a few of the more important salmon rivers.The holders of angling licences in the conservation area for which the Foyle fisheries commission is responsible are required to make catch returns to the commission at the end of the angling season. There is no similar requirement in the area controlled by the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland although angling catches are monitored on some waters controlled by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

Fair Wages Resolution

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the Government's policy on the fair wages resolution in Northern Ireland.

On 16 December 1982 the House resolved that "The Resolution of this House of 14 October 1946 relating to Fair Wages clauses in Government contracts be rescinded as from 21 September 1983". After that date, Northern Ireland Government Departments will no longer require the incorporation in contracts they make of clauses reflecting the terms of that resolution, or the resolution of the former Northern Ireland House of Commons of 11 February 1947. No steps have been taken to rescind the latter resolution because, like all resolutions of the Northern Ireland Parliament, it automatically lapsed with the abolition of that Parliament in 1973.

Overseas Development

Crown Agents

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the 1982 annual report and accounts of the Crown Agents for overseas Governments and Administrations are to be published.

The 1982 report and accounts are being published on 4 May and copies have been laid before the House. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Gibraltar

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give an estimate of the additional money that will be provided from United Kingdom public funds to Gibraltar by way of aid, investment, subsidies or management services and redundancy payments following the closure of the dockyard and other service facilities.

The total costs of the proposed commercial development of the Gibraltar dockyard will not be known until discussions now taking place have been completed. No final decisions about commercialization

	Total DAC Countries		Of which UK		OPEC		USSR
	Per cent.	$ million	Per cent.	$ million	Per cent.	$ million	Per cent.	$ million
	GNP		GNP		GNP		GNP
1970	0·34	6,900	0·39	482	1·18	398	0·15	767
1971	0·34	7,600	0·45	622	1·10	452	0·20	1,008
1972	0·36	9,200	0·42	673	1·43	704	0·20	1,173
1973	0·29	9,100	0·36	649	2·25	2,133	0·17	1,132
1974	0·34	11,600	0·40	787	2·53	4·579	0·15	1,055
1975	0·36	13,800	0·39	904	2·92	6,239	0·13	1,008
1976	0·33	13,953	0·39	885	2·32	6,104	0·13	1,047
1977	0·33	15,733	0·45	1,114	2·03	6,263	0·12	1,035
1978	0·35	19,992	0·46	1,465	2·46	8,292	0·11	1,090
1979	0·35	22,820	0·52	2,157	1·88	7,786	0·13	1,421
1980	0·38	27,264	0·35	1,852	1·74	9,129	0·15	1,731
1981	0·35	25,635	0·44	2,195	1·46	7,836	0·15	1,657

Comparative figures are not yet available for 1982.The above figures for the United Kingdom for 1970–75 inclusive differ from those supplied in my answer to the right hon. Member of 28 April—[Vol. 41, c.

407–8.]. The figures used in that answer for those years were taken from OECD(DAC) reports published prior to 1980. In 1980 the OECD's method of calculating official aid was revised to achieve full comparability between all OECD donors. The revised figures given in the present answer provide a consistent set of figures for the whole period.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Food Additives And Contaminants Committee (Reports)

asked the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food if reports to him by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee are made public.

Yes.

Whirling Disease

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will indicate the number and location of whirling disease cleared sites which have had movement restrictions lifted and subsequently experienced a recurrence of the disease; and if he will make a statement;(2) pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Barnsley,

Official Report, 14 February, c. 78, if his Department's investigation into the recurrence of whirling disease is now complete; and, if so, if he will make a statement.

There has been a recurrence of whirling disease on only one site where movement restrictions had been placed as a result of the disease and and the contribution of Her Majesty's Government thereto will be taken until these discussions with the Government of Gibraltar have been completed. I understand that redundancy payments are likely to be in the order of £5 million.

Overseas Aid Programmes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of gross national product, estimated where necessary, and what amount in $US the Development Assistance Committee countries have contributed to official overseas aid programmes in each year from 1970 to 1982; and what was the comparable amount contributed by the Organisations of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union over the same period.

The information requested, drawn from OECD(DAC) statistics, is as follows:subsequently lifted following clearance and disinfection. This is the site mentioned in my reply to the right hon. Member of 14 February. On two other sites, where movement restrictions had been placed because of whirling disease and then lifted, movement restrictions have been reimposed because of infectious pancreatic necrosis.The site where there has been a recurrence of whirling disease is the Ampney trout farm, Ampney Crucis, Nr Cirencester, Gloucestershire. My fish disease scientists are still investigating the recurrence of the disease at that site.

Energy

Power Stations (Fuel Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the price paid per useful therm for coal and heavy oil burnt in power stations each year since 1973.

The following table sets out the cost in pence per therm—based on gross calorific values—of coal and oil burnt in power stations each year since 1973:

Average cost of fuel burnt in power stations—Great Britain
Pence/therm
	Coal	Oil for burning
1973	2·9	2·8
1974	4·1	6·7
1975	6·2	8·9
1976	7·4	10·2
1977	8·8	12·6
1978	9·8	12·2
1979	11·3	13·9
1980	14·1	21·1
1981	16·1	26·6
1982	17·3	26·5

Separate national figures for the thermal efficiencies of coal and oil-fired power stations are not available over this period. The average thermal efficiencies for all steam stations—excluding nuclear—are as follows:

	Percentage
1973	29·9
1974	30·3
1975	31·3
1976	31·7
1977	31·5
1978	32·0
1979	31·8
1980	32·1
1981	32·0
1982	32·6

Using those single measures of efficiency the following table, indicative of fuel costs in terms of pence per "useful" therm, may be derived:

Approximate average cost of fuel burnt in power stations—
Great Britain(pence per "useful" therm)
	Coal	Oil for burning
1973	9·7	9·3
1974	13·5	22·2
1975	19·9	28·4
1976	23·4	32·1
1977	27·9	40·1
1978	30·7	38·1
1979	35·5	43·8
1980	43·9	65·8
1981	50·4	83·0
1982	53·2	81·2

It should be borne in mind that thermal efficiencies, and as a result generation costs, vary significantly from station to station.

Fuel Bills (Assistance)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the Government schemes and subsidies which are aimed at helping domestic consumers cope with rising fuel bills.

A number of schemes are operated to help meet fuel bills and to encourage conservation measures. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services was responsible for the payment of some £325 million in the financial year to March 1983, in the heating additions to supplementary benefit. Supplementary benefit recipients can also qualify for lump sum payments towards high bills in special circumstances and for assistance with some conservation measures. Assistance with loft insulation and associated lagging of tanks and pipes is also widely available through the homes insulation scheme of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. My own Department provides grants to voluntary organisations to establish home insulation projects. Under the voluntary code of practice the gas and electricity industries operate a number of "pay as you go" schemes to assist consumers and cooperate with the Department of Health and Social Security in the "fuel direct" scheme to help those in debt pay off bills through regular deductions from supplementary benefit. The industries have also recently introduced new arrangements to limit the standing charge component of the bills of small consumers.

British Throwsters Association

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the Under-Secretary of State's meeting with representatives of the British Throwsters Association at his Department on 21 April.

My noble Friend, the Earl of Avon, was pleased to have the meeting with the British Throwsters' Association, to discuss electricity costs in the yarn processing industry. A number of the points that were made will be passed on to the Electricity Council.

Central Electricity Generating Board (Coal Stocks)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the Central Electricity Generating Board has stockpiled coal on the Continent; and how large the stocks are.

The CEGB has about 3 million tonnes of coal in stock on the Continent.

Energy Conservation

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has received any requests to publish comparisons of the cost efficiency of energy conservation set against spending on nuclear power.

The Department published in January a thorough study entitled "Investment in energy use as an alternative to investment in energy supply", as a contribution to the Sizewell inquiry. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has given consideration to the proposal to create an energy efficiency office at the Department of Energy to coordinate conservation policy; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are considering the proposal to create an energy efficiency office. A statement will be made at the appropriate time.

Volume 42: debated on Wednesday 4 May 1983

Written Answers To Questions

National Finance

European Investment Bank

European Community Loans

Governor Of The Bank Of England

Balance Of Payments

Exchange Rate

Corporate Savings

Index-Linked Bonds

Adoption Agencies

Imf/Ibrd Development Committee

Take-Home Pay

Wales

Earnings (Gwynedd)

Employed Persons

Perinatal Mortality

Home Department

Firearms

Drugs Offences

Peter Sutcliffe (Exorcism)

Civil Defence (Nuclear Attack)

Police (Beat Duty)

Crime Statistics

Police And Ambulance Services

Industry

Polyethylene Film Products

Value Added

Industrial Investment

Office And Service Industries Scheme

Liverpool

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Police Officers (Witnesses)

Travelling People

Education And Science

Multiple Sclerosis, Cystic Fibrosis And Muscular Dystrophy

Student Grants

16-Plus Examination

Prime Minister

"Newsnight"

National Compensation Fund

Purchasing Policy

Northern Ireland

Transport

Tonbridge-Hastings Line

Inter-City Services

Environment

London Borough Of Islington

Docklands (Voluntary Sector Projects)

Local Self-Government

Children's Play

National Building Agency

Structure Plans

Council Houses

Single Resident Dwellings

Property Services Agency

Rates

Homeless Persons

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Hong Kong (Live Animal Imports)

West Bank

United Nations

British Missions (Bank Of England Officials)

South America (Ministerial Speeches)

North Atlantic Assembly

Scotland

Watch Industry

Spanish Teaching

Job Prospects

Ethnic Minorities (Grants)

Housing Associations (House Sales)

Multi-Storey Flats (Fire Precautions)

Economic Prospects

Unemployment

Job Losses

Leith (Job Creation)

British Gliding Association

Hospitals (Privatisation)

Improvement Grants