asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether Her Majesty's inspectorate, in corresponding with local education authorities, does so on the assumption that the correspondence will be seen only by the chairman of the education committee or that it will be made available to any member of the council.

When Her Majesty's inspectorate corresponds with local education authorities it is on the assumption that the immediate recipient will ensure that the correspondence is made known to all who need to be aware of it in accordance with local arrangements. However, who sees Her Majesty's inspectorate's correspondence with individual members or officers of an authority is at the discretion of those individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table tabulating for 1982–83 the current price costs of each of (a) mandatory student awards in England, (b) mandatory student awards in Wales, (c) discretionary student awards in England and (d) postgraduate awards, distinguishing in each case between the amounts allotted for maintenance and for fees.

Information regarding discretionary awards and postgraduate awards is not available in the form requested. Outturn expenditure on mandatory student awards by central Government and local education authorities in cash for the financial year 1982–83 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether deductions due in respect of life insurance premiums when calculating residual income of parents for student grant purposes are gross premiums or net premiums; what guidance has been issued to local education authorities on this point; and in what part of what document any such guidance is contained.

The provisions governing deductions in respect of life insurance premiums are contained in the Education (Mandatory Awards) (Amendment) Regulations 1983 (SI. No. 114). Guidance to Local Education Authorities on the provisions is given in the explanatory note to the S1 and in paragraph 2 of Awards Circular Letter 1/83. It is clear from both documents that the gross amount of any premiums of a kind which attract tax relief under section 19 or 20 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 should be deducted in calculating a parent's residual income for awards purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list all circulars, briefs and other documents sent to local education authorities since 1 October 1982 giving guidance on the application of the Student Grants (Mandatory Awards) Regulations.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest document produced by his Department to provide guidance to students and parents on student grants and parental contributions thereto.

A booklet entitled "Grants to Students: A Brief Guide, 1982", published in July 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the current price cost in England in 1982–83 of free school meals, distinguishing between those for pupils and those for teachers and supervisors.

It is not possible to answer my lion. Friend's question as detailed information about local authority expenditure on school meals in 1982–83 will not be available until the autumn of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the current price cost in 1982–83 of public education in England, plus spending by the universities in Great Britain and the cost of mandatory awards in England and Wales.

Information on outturn expenditure on education by government in the financial year 1982–83 is not yet available. The outturn cash value of central Government grant to universities totalled £1,312·4 million in the financial year 1982–83. Outturn expenditure on mandatory student awards by local education authorities in England and Wales totalled £690·5 million in the financial year 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many school pupils from Wales have been granted financial assistance under the assisted places scheme.

Information about pupils' home areas is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may, however, wish to know that the number of assisted pupils in participating schools in Wales as at September 1982 was 220.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of total public expenditure on housing in Wales in 1982–83 at 1982 cash prices distinguishing between gross and net housing costs and between capital and current account spending and giving separate sub-totals for rent and rate rebates and rent allowances, but excluding housing costs payable with supplementary benefit.

Planned expenediture on housing in Wales is as set out in table 16·5 of my right hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock) on 21 February 1983.—[Vol. 37, c. 324–32.]Expenditure on rent rebates and rent allowances under the unified housing benefit scheme is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. Estimates of total expenditure on these benefits in Great Britain are set out in table 2·12 of Cmnd. 8789. Rent rebates are not treated as public expenditure and their costs are excluded from that table.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the current price cost in Wales in 1982–83 of free school meals, distinguishing between those for pupils and those for teachers and supervisors.

Information on local authority expenditure on school meals in 1982–83 will not be available until later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the current price cost in 1982–83 of that part of public education in Wales the cost of which falls within the responsibility of his Department.

The latest estimate of expenditure in 1982–83 on public education in Wales for which my right hon. Friend has responsibility is £638 million cash.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost in 1982–83 at current 1982 prices of state bursaries paid by his Department and of discretionary awards paid by Welsh local educational authorities.

In 1982–83 state bursaries paid by the Welsh Office amounted to £237,000. The latest estimate of expenditure by local education authorities in Wales on discretionary student awards is some £7·5 million in 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any of his officials have at any time over the past year discussed with Cardinal Hume or any senior church official the involvement of Monsignor Kent or any other churchman in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament activities; and, if so, how often; on what dates; who held the discussions; and to what purpose.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any decision has yet been taken as to the replacement of Jet Provosts for the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement.

An air staff target for a new basic trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force is being prepared. This will be issued in the usual way, and industry will be invited to make proposals. No decision on a new aircraft can be made until these have been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what controls exist on the use of drugs by military doctors; and if he will estimate the savings that these controls produce as a percentage and in pound sterling.

A service medical officer may prescribe any drug considered necessary for a patient's treatment subject to the following constraints: the drug should have a United Kingdom product licence or be supplied as part of a recognised trial; the prescription should comply with existing United Kingdom statutory requirements; approved rather than proprietary names should be used whenever appropriate; drugs from the stockpile held for mobilisation and other emergency purposes should be used whenever appropriate, to ensure turnover of stocks that might otherwise become date-expired. Demands for new drugs and innovations in treatment are referred to the Ministry of Defence for investigation and approval before supply can be authorised. The level of medical stocks available for use by service medical officers is carefully monitored. It is not possible to estimate the savings made by these procedures, but medical supply purchases have been contained within authorised budgets over the last three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what benefits or services have been provided to troops on Ascension Island by the south Atlantic fund, other than in respect of service during the period of hostilities with Argentina.

Contributions totalling about £11,400 have been made by the Royal Air Force central fund, from money donated to the South Atlantic fund, towards the provision of leisure facilities for service men on Ascension island, including the conversion of a building for use as an airmen's club, and sports and video equipment. Many of those who contributed so generously to the South Atlantic fund specifically requested that their money should be used for the welfare of those serving in the South Atlantic.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that no British forces are deployed in any way that may intimidate the Government of Grenada.

It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to use the armed forces to intimidate other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received any requests from returning officers for the use of RAF helicopters to transport ballot boxes to the count after the close of poll in parliamentary or local government elections; what is the approximate cost per hour of the use of helicopters for such a purpose; and what proportion of these costs is charged to the returning officer.

There is no record of any such request.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that neither transporter erector launches nor ground launched missiles will be deployed in the United Kingdom before December 1983.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Lanark (Dame Judith Hart) on 2 May.—[Vol. 42, c. 37–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the safety precautions taken in the transporting of nuclear military equipment between military establishments in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The movement of military nuclear material within the United Kingdom is governed by very strict safety regulations, which are at least as stringent as those applied to the transportation of civil radioactive materials and are in full accord with all relevant international standards and regulations. Movements are kept to a minimum and strict precautions are also taken to safeguard the security of the cargo.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total current price cost in 1982–83 of administering income tax.

The information is not yet available, but on the basis of the breakdown for 1981–82 the cost is likely to be in the region of £655 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of current price gross domestic product in 1982–83.

Current price gross domestic product in the financial year 1982–83 was forecast in the financial statement and Budget report as £275 billion —expenditure measure at market prices. No estimate of the outturn is yet available. A provisional estimate will be published in the regular quarterly press notice on gross domestic product which is due to be issued by the central statistical office on 21 June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his latest current price estimates of revenue during 1982–83 from (a) income tax, (b) employees' national insurance contributions, (c) employers' national insurance contributions, (d) employers' national insurance surcharge, (e) self-employed national insurance contributions, (f) voluntary (Class 3) contributions and (g) state scheme premiums.

Net receipts of income tax in 1982–83 were £30,477 million. Receipts from the national insurance surcharge were £2,831 million. Outturn figures for the other items are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about revised external financing limits for the nationalised industries following the reductions in national insurance surcharge proposed in the Budget on 15 March.

Revised external financing limits for nationalised industries in 1983–84 are set out in the following table. The adjustments offset the additions to internal resources which arise from the proposed reduction in national insurance surcharge. No industry will be worse off than previously and their plans should be unchanged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he expects the increases in real take-home pay to be for (a) a single person, (b) a childless married couple and (c) a married couple with two children on 75 per cent., 100 per cent. and 200 per cent. of average earnings between 1978–79 and 1983–84; and what were the corresponding increases between 1973–74 and 1978–79.

Estimates are shown in the following table. For the period 1978–79 to 1983–84 they are consistent with the assumptions about the increases in earnings and prices in 1983–84 underlying the FSBR. For married couples it is assumed that only the husband is earning and the children in the last family type are assumed both to be under the age of 11. Other definitions are as given in the answer to the hon: Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Cunningham) on 23 November 1982.—[Vol. 32, c. 418–20.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been found guilty of failing to wear a seat belt since the introduction of the compulsory use of belts; and what were the penalties imposed.

The information requested is not yet available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the amount of time the 366 applicants for United Kingdom residence who arrived from Eastern bloc countries in 1982 had to wait for their application to be determined.

The figure of 366 refers not to applications made by persons who arrived here in 1982, but to applications for asylum by nationals of East European countries which were under consideration by the Home Office on 31 December 1982. Of these, 351 were in respect of Polish citizens; 147 were lodged by Poles in the United Kingdom who were protected from removal from the United Kingdom by the undertaking, given by the Government immediately following the imposition of martial law in Poland, that no Pole would be forced to return to Poland; 204 were lodged by Poles overseas. It is not possible to give average times for the determination of applications of asylum: we attempt to give priority to those cases where a decision is most urgently needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is given to refugees as to the legal advice which is available to them to support their applications for residence.

An applicant for refugee status who sought our advice on this matter would be given the address of the London representative of the United Nations high commissioner for refugees or that of the United Kingdom immigrants advisory service. Applicants refused extensions of stay who have a right of appeal are advised in writing of the assistance they can obtain from the United Kingdom immigrants advisory service. We are considering the form of future arrangements which would enable applicants for refugee status to have their cases referred automatically to UKIAS.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will raise the maximum amount of winnings to be paid in any one week from bingo in clubs above £2,500.

The maximum weekly prize for linked bingo was raised from £2,000 to £2,500 in March 1982. There are no plans for any further increases at present; but the position will be reviewed in the light of progress on the Gaming (Amendment) Bill which received a Second Reading on 4 May in another place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept in his Department about the immediate destination of deportation of those refugees who have come to the United Kingdom seeking residence but whose applications are refused.

Refusal of an application for asylum does not necessarily mean that the applicant is required to leave the United Kingdom as he may qualify to remain here under other provisions of the immigration rules. Details of persons deported are recorded by nationality and do not include the basis on which a person had unsuccessfully applied to remain in the United Kingdom. I regret therefore that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that members of boards of visitors or their defendants would be compensated if they were injured or killed in the course of their duties.

Where injury or death was not covered by either the criminal injuries compensation scheme or a pension scheme or a personal insurance policy, a claim for ex-gratia compensation would be sympathetically considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for each month since implementation of the British Nationality Act for those whose applications for British citizenship has been rejected on the basis of inadequate command of the English language; how command of the language is being assessed in such cases; and what criteria are used and by whom.

The British Nationality Act 1981 came into force on 1 January 1983. No figures are yet available for refusals of those applications for naturalisation as a British citizen made under the 1981 Act where a knowledge of the English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic language is a requirement. In 1982, 200 applications, 2·4 per cent. of the total number of naturalisation applications completed during the year, were refused because of insufficient knowledge of the English language. The criteria for assessing knowledge of the language in respect of naturalisation applications made under the 1981 Act are similar to the criteria for such applications made under the 1948 Act except that under the 1981 Act the language requirement may be waived if, because of the applicant's age or physical or mental condition, it would be unreasonable to expect him to fulfil it.Guidance notes issued by the Home Office for use of local police officers when interviewing applicants under the 1981 Act state that it is important to know whether the applicant has enough knowledge of one of the appropriate languages to mix easily in the society in which he moves and to fulfil his duties as a citizen. The notes also advise that if, when an applicant is first seen, his knowledge of the appropriate spoken language is so poor that a satisfactory interview cannot be completed unless an interpreter is used no further inquiries need to be made and the papers should be returned to the Home Office with a report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what pay scales govern the payment of staff employed to count votes in parliamentary elections; and what difference there is between the day time rates and the rates paid between midnight and 6 a.m.

Counting staff are employed by the returning officer and it is for him to decide what rates of pay they receive. The maximum sum that the returning officer is entitled to claim from the Consolidated Fund for the employment of counting staff and all clerical and other assistance at a parliamentary election is prescribed by the Returning Officers' Expenses (England and Wales) Regulations 1979. These regulations are under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he advises returning officers to take into account consideration of cost when deciding whether to count the votes in a parliamentary election in a county constituency overnight or the following day.

No. Rule 44(1) of the parliamentary elections rules in schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 requires the returning officers to make arrangements for counting the votes in the presence of the counting agents

"as soon as practicable after the close of the poll".

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of total public expenditure on housing in Scotland in 1982–83 at 1982 cash prices, distinguishing between gross and net housing costs and between capital and current account spending and giving separate sub-totals for rent and rate rebates and rent allowances, but excluding housing costs payable with supplementary benefit.

Table 15.5 of "Public Expenditure to 1985–86—A Commentary on the Scottish Programme", copies of which are available in the Library, sets out the latest available estimates of total public expenditure on housing in Scotland in 1982–83 by my Department, Local authorities, the Housing Corporation, the Scottish Special Housing Association and the new towns. Expenditure on rent rebates and rent allowances under the unified housing benefit scheme is the reponsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. Estimates of total expenditure on those benefits in Great Britain are set out in table 2.12 of Cmnd. 8789. Rate rebates are not treated as public expenditure and these costs are excluded from that table.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the current price cost in Scotland in 1982–83 of free school meals, distinguishing between those for pupils and those for teachers and supervisors.

Detailed information about expenditure on school meals in 1982–83 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the current price cost in 1982–83 of student awards in Scotland in 1982–83, distinguishing between amounts allotted for maintenance and for fees, between mandatory and discretionary awards, and including a separate estimate for administration.

The latest figures for the financial year 1982–83 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to take selective action in the current year against any Scottish local authorities for their high level of budgeted expenditure.

I have decided to initiate action under section 5 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966, as amended, against five authorities, and they are being informed today. I am proposing that rates reductions should be made by Shetland islands council, Lothian regional council, Glasgow, Kirkcaldy and Stirling district councils. The councils now have the opportunity to make representations to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been expended and what sums have been committed to date for the current financial year and for what purposes as a result of the decisions he has taken on the Black report on angling; and on what date the major items of expenditure were authorised.

No additional expenditure has been incurred or committed as a result of consideration of the Black report on angling.

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

The total estimated expenditure on rents paid by health and social services boards for hospitals and related properties, in the financial year 1982–83, is £116,690.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what he attributes the fall by over half between 1980–81 and 1982–83 in the number of dogs licensed in Northern Ireland.

Details of the number of dogs licensed in the full year 1982–83 are not yet available. However 24,199 dogs were licensed in the period April to December 1982 and given that the period January to March represents the Peak licensing period it is not expected that the total number of dogs licensed in 1982–83 will differ significantly from the number licensed in 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many of the persons who refused to complete their census return forms in the 1981 census were prosecuted for failure to complete such forms; what percentage this is of the total who did not comply with the legal requirements; what were the sentences passed; and in how many remaining cases legal proceedings are in progress;(2) how many persons in Northern Ireland refused to complete their census returns at the 1981 census;(3) how many persons in each council area in Northern Ireland refused to complete their census forms in the 1981 census.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will de-rate "self-help" television transmitters established by small communities for which national provision has not been made.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of total public expenditure on housing in England in 1982–83 at 1982 cash prices, distinguishing between gross and net housing costs and between capital and current account spending, giving separate sub-totals for rent and rate rebates and rent allowances, but excluding housing costs payable with supplementary benefit.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost of the new marquees and associated fittings placed on the terrace of the Houses of Parliament.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what purpose a contract for work at Ascension Island has been awarded to J. and R. Watson of Edinburgh; and of what value.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those items approved in the 1983–84 community programme for Bradford metropolitan district council and the items rejected; and what were the reasons for rejection in each case.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has yet received from British Rail (a) full details of its case for electrification of the east coast train line from Kings Cross to Newcastle or (b) any preliminary assessments or material.

Last year we received from the railways board proposals for electrification from Hitchin to Leeds and Newcastle, and detailed proposals for the first stage, from Hitchin to Huntingdon. I understand that the board will shortly be submitting final detailed proposals for electrification of the whole line from Hitchin to Leeds and Newcastle.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to require the fitting of daytime running lamps to new motor cycles.

The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has been continuing to study a wide range of motorcycle conspicuity aids, including fluorescent clothing, headlamps and daytime running lamps. The indications are that the effectiveness of these aids varies according to such factors as ambient lighting levels and the presence and mix of other traffic, but that, overall, fluorescent clothing, headlamps and running lamps all appear to perform equally well.The TRRL will continue to study the problem, but I do not consider on the evidence at present available that the benefits of running lamps are sufficient to justify making their fitting compulsory, especially taking into account the representations I have received from the British Motorcyclists' Federation and others.Our advice to motorcyclists continues to be that they take steps to make themselves as conspicuous as possible on the road by means of one or more of the various aids available.

asked the Prime Minister what rules apply to public servants in respect of involvement with projects in which a spouse or close relative are directly interested; and whether any rules apply in such circumstances to public servants resigning from the public service and subsequently taking a direct interest in the same project.

It is a fundamental principle of the rules which govern these matters in the civil service that civil servants must not subordinate their duty to their private interests; neither are they to put themselves in a position where their duty and their private interest conflict and they must not make use of their offical position to further those interests. Moreover an officer who comes into official contact with any matter concerning a business organisation in which he has an interest must disclose his interest to his department. Subject to this there are no specific restrictions on the outside business interests of civil servants. It is the implicit and well understood assumption that private interests may incude those of a spouse. The rules which are especially relevant are at paragraph 9870 9874 and 9876 of the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, a copy of which is in the Library. A civil servant is also subject to the rules governing the acceptance of outside business appointments by Crown servants. A copy of these rules is also available in the Library.

asked the Minister for Trade if, in view of the Under-Secretary's statement in the Second Reading Committee on the Merchant Shipping Liner Conference Bill, Official Report, 28 April 1982, c. 38, that the Government were opposed to an extension of the cargo sharing principle to the bulk trade, he will oppose the recommendation made by the group of experts report to the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations conference on trade and development that importers and exporters of dry bulk cargoes should consider including a clause in the sales and purchase contracts that buyers and sellers mutually agree that ships owned or operated by shipowners in developing countries will be favourably considered subject to the rates, terms and conditions being accepted at the United Nations conference on trade and development and elsewhere.

The Government strongly welcome the fact that the group of experts, to which my hon. Friend refers, did not conclude that cargo sharing in the dry bulk trades was either necessary or desirable. We endorse this view entirely. We could not accept cargo reservation in any bulk trades. The recommendation that developing country vessels should be favourably considered, subject to their rates, terms and conditions being acceptable, means only that developing country ships should be considered on the same basis as those of developed countries, and enjoy no higher consideration whatsoever, and does not carry any cargo sharing implications. The Government have not, therefore, opposed this recommendation. We have drawn it, together with the other recommendations of the group of experts, to the attention of the General Council of British Shipping and the British Shippers' Council.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list the imports of cars from and exports of cars to (a) Spain, (b) Australia, (c) Poland, (d) the USSR, (e) Korea, (f) Czechoslovakia and (g) Yugoslavia, respectively, for the past year and the appropriate duties and quotas applicable to such imports and exports.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to his reply of 2 March, Official Report, c. 151–4, concerning labour productivity in certain industries, whether he will publish in the Official Report

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many workers in the steel industry (a) in a table showing for each industry the average gross value added per head, the average less the lower quartile, and the upper and lower deciles.

Estimates of average gross value added per head, of the lower quartile and of the difference between them for the required sectors are shown in the following table for 1979 and 1980. Estimates relating to deciles are not available.1982 and

During 1982 the European Commission agreed to contribute to benefits for a total of 23,440 steelworkers who had become or were soon to become redundant. The figure to date in 1983 is 2,448. Readaptation benefits are made to individual steelworkers and not to steel plants.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will estimate the total numbers employed by (a) United States and (b) Japanese companies in the United Kingdom, together with the proportion of United States industrial investment in the European Community, both including and excluding oil, which came to the United Kingdom in 1981 and 1982.

The information available on employment in the United Kingdom by United States and Japanese companies relates to manufacturing industry. The latest figures, for 1979, are published in Business Monitor PA 1002, report on the census of production 1979, summary tables, a copy of which is in the Library. Industrial investment overseas is recorded as overseas direct investment. However direct investment includes loans to companies from affiliated companies overseas. In 1981 United States companies were large net borrowers from United Kingdom subsidiaries and as a result United States direct investment in the United Kingdom excluding oil is estimated by the United States Department of Commerce to be minus $61 million excluding oil compared with an annual direct investment of $873 million in the European Community. The corresponding figures including oil were $1,478 million for the United Kingdom and $2,622 million for the European Community. However, United Kingdom subsidiaries lent their United States parent companies at least $1 billion in 1981. Excluding these loans the United Kingdom received over half of United States direct investment in the European Community in 1981 including oil and at least one-third excluding oil. Statistics for 1982 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will estimate the percentage of production of (a) the aerospace and (b) shipbuilding industries that is defence related.

The relevant proportions, including Ministry of Defence procurement and exports, are of the order of one-third in the case of the shipbuilding and marine engineering industries, and two-thirds in the case of the aerospace industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his reply dated 14 March, Official Report, c. 53, concerning housing benefit, whether he will publish a breakdown of the estimate to show the numbers on rent allowances, those on supplementary benefit, and the numbers in different classes of accommodation such as council housing.

The estimated breakdown is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reply has been sent to the Northampton district division of the British Medical Association following its recent letter to the Prime Minister's office concerning the allocation of National Health Service resources to the Oxford region in general and the Northampton district in particular; and whether he will make a further statement on the calculation of likely population changes when deciding on these allocations.

No reply has yet been sent to the further letter from Dr. D. H. Major of the Northampton district division of the British Medical Association, but I will ensure that my right hon. Friend receives a copy when a reply is issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage on average of doctors trained in the United Kingdom he estimates subsequently work abroad (a) temporarily and (b) permanently.

I regret that information on which a sensible estimate could be based is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors trained abroad are currently working in the United Kingdom; and from which countries the majority come.

Relevant statistics are not available for Northern Ireland, but in Great Britain at 30 September 1980 18,667 doctors who had qualified outside the United Kingdom were working in the NHS hospital, community health and general medical services. The six countries where the majority of these doctors had qualified were:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was spent by his Department in 1982–83 on each of rents, rates and mortgage interest to recipients of (a) supplementary pensions and (b) supplementary allowances.

The information will not be available until the late summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the total current price cost in 1982–83 of the social security programme; and of this what was the expenditure on administration.

The latest estimate of the total cost in 1982–83 of the social security programme is £32,600 million, of which £1,360 million was in respect of administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when Her Majesty's Government will be replying to the report of the Social Services Committee on the age of retirement.

The Government response will be published very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether National Health Service employees who took early retirement between 1 April and 31 July 1982 benefited from the National Health Service pay settlement in 1982 in respect of their pensions; and if he will consider retrospective payments where appropriate in view of misconceptions which have arisen.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, West (Mr. Carlisle) on 24 February 1983—[Vol. 37 C. 522.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will obtain and study a transcript of the Thames Television "TV Eye" programme on the Children of God shown on 8 April; and if he will now order a full inquiry into the activities of this cult, sometimes also known as the Family of Love, particularly in regard to its effect on children.

I have received the transcript and will study it so far as it relates to mental health and family life. My right hon. Friend will then consider, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action if any may be appropriate and either he or the Home Secretary will then write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the assumptions underlying his calculation in table 2·12 of Cmnd. 8799-II which shows the planned expenditure on rent allowances falling from £329 million in 1983–84 to £300 million in 1984–85.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has reached any conclusions in his review of the code-making procedures of the Race Relations and Sex Discrimination Acts.

After consideration of those sections of the Race Relations and Sex Discrimination Acts relating to the making and approving of codes of practice, and taking into account the views of the Select Committee on Employment, the Government have concluded that these provisions should be amended.At present the Secretary of State is required either to reject in its entirety a draft code submitted to him by the Commission for Racial Equality or the Equal Opportunities Commission, or to lay it without amendment before Parliament for approval. He may not make any amendment in the light of the views of Parliament, or others. The Government therefore will amend the relevant provisions in both Acts to enable the Secretary of State to amend codes before presenting them to Parliament for approval. The Government intend that codes made before the amending legislation would be resubmitted under the new provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what the percentage increase in unemployment has been from May 1979 to March 1983 in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the European Community as a whole and (c) the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries as a whole.

The latest available information for a common date is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will study the Swedish legislation banning asbestos with a view to the possibility of similar legislation in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware of the Swedish legislation. Although in principle this prohibits the use of asbestos, in practice it does permit its use, subject to certain conditions.The advisory committee on asbestos has recommended the prohibition of asbestos insulation, the prohibition of the spraying of asbestos, and the prohibition of the importation of crocidolite and products containing it. Action is being taken by the Health and Safety Commission to implement these recommendations and we look forward to receiving their proposals in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers the Health and Safety Executive was responsible for in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively.

The numbers of employees in premises for which the Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work etc., Act 1974 and the relevant statutory provisions are estimated as:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total number and value of payments made under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 to date; and what is the number and estimated value of claims currently under consideration.

As at 4 May, 4,308 payments amounting to a total of £25,188,163 have been made since the Act came into force on 4 July 1979. Fifty-one applications are currently under consideration. It is not possible to estimate the value of these because it is not known how many will be approved, and certain payment information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs were lost in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 in (a) electronics, (b) engineering, (c) food, (d) chemicals and pharmaceuticals, (e) tobacco and (f) textiles.

Information about jobs losses or job gains is not available, but an indication of the net effect can be seen by comparing the levels of employees in employment at different dates. The following table gives, for the manufacturing elements of the industries specified, the changes in the estimated numbers of employees in employment in Great Britain between December of each year from 1978. The figures are based on the relevant minimum list headings or orders of the 1968 standard industrial classification.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the current price cost in 1982–83 and in 1983–84 in England, Scotland and Wales of all the income maintenance payments and allowances for which his Department is responsible, distinguishing between the different schemes involved and also showing the costs of adminstration.

The income maintenance payments and allowances for which the Department of Employment is responsible are as follows. Costs in 1982–83 represent an outturn forecast. In 1983–84 the figures are based on the published esitmates plus the additional allocation for the enterprise allowance scheme annonced in the Budget. All costs are expressed in cash terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the officials of the Manpower Services Commission who were in any way involved in drawing up the £29 million project for a managing agency for the administration of youth training in the north-west; to whom the agency has been awarded; and who are the principals or directors of the managing agent selected.

I assume the hon. Member refers to proposals put forward by Link organisation for a series of youth trilling scheme managing agencies in various parts of the country which, if approved, would in total involve expenditure of £29 million including managing agency fees of £1·5 million. The proposals are subject to approval by the appropriate representative area manpower boards; one proposal in inner Liverpool has so far been agreed in principle.The directors of Link organisation are Mrs. C. A. Rees, Mr. J. Cordrey, Mr. E.J. Bewment and Mr. G. W. Brimyard, who is also secretary. Mrs. Rees was chief training adviser of the recently abolished distributive industry training board. The drawing up of proposals for a managing agency, which confers no exclusive rights, is the responsibility of the potential managing agent.A large number of local officers of the MSC are involved in the several areas concerned in advising Link organisation, like other potential managing agents, in the drawing up of their proposals. Those arising in the North-West region were specially referred to MSC head office at the time when Mrs. Rees's husband was the MSC regional director there.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many written inquiries were made to each of the wages councils for each year since 1981; and what percentage of all inquiries made to each of the wages councils this represents in each year.

I understand from the secretary of wages councils that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has anything to add to the reply to the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 31 March, Official Report, c. 243–4, relating to correspondence with wages councils.

No.