asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement setting out his policy and criteria for reaching decisions on references to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

asked the Minister for Trade how much money, in total, he has made available to firms in Welwyn-Hatfield in the form of loans and grants since May 1979.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) on 3 May 1983—[Vol. 42, c. 5]—which is equally true for firms in Welwyn-Hatfield.

asked the Minister for Trade what proportion of the cost of imports of manufactures from the European Community represents freight and insurance; what is the corresponding figure for the rest of the world; and if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing

My right hon. and noble Friend's statutory responsibilities are set out in the Fair Trading Act 1973; in accordance with the legislation, he considers each case on its merits.

asked the Minister for Trade, further to his reply dated 15 March, Official Report, c. 79–80, concerning trade in consumer goods, whether he will publish in the Official Report, a table showing the terms of trade and relative volume on the basis of current weights, together with an explanation for the increase in the terms of trade for machinery and fall in the relative volume.

The information is as follows:the balance of trade in manufactures with the European Community and with the rest of the world in the first quarter of 1983 on a balance of payments and on a trade statistics basis.

It is estimated that in the year ending March 1983 the proportion of the cost of imports of manufactures which represents freight and insurance from the European Community is 1·8 per cent. and from the rest of the world 5·6 per cent. The balance of trade in manufactures in the first quarter of 1983 are given below:

asked the Minister for Trade whether his Department issues recommendations to British manufacturers about the labelling of their products with their country of origin.

Guidance notes have been published for business interests and enforcement authorities on the Trade Descriptions (Origin Marking) (Miscellaneous Goods) Order 1981, which requires a wide range of British and foreign goods to be origin marked. Where origin markings are not required by law, I warmly welcome voluntary action to help consumers identify British goods of quality.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will introduce a timetable for the progressive reduction of the maximum permitted concentration of lead in paint for household use.

My Department is already discussing with the industry implementation of the recommendation in the recent report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution about lead in paint.

asked the Minister for Trade how many businesses have gone bankrupt in north Staffordshire since 1979; and if he will categorise them according to whether they employed (a) more than 100, (b) between 20 and 100, or (c) less than 20 employees.

I regret that there are no official figures available for company liquidations by area within England and Wales.The nearest available information on bankruptcies in north Staffordshire is the number of net cases administered by the county court at Stoke-on-Trent, which was 173 in the four years 1979 to 1982. This figure covers all individuals and partnerships and separate details of unincorporated businesses—including their numbers of employees — are not available centrally. For England and Wales as a whole, unincorporated businesses account for between 75 and 80 per cent. of total bankruptcies.

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) Jugoslavia, respectively for the past year and the appropriate duties and quotas applicable to such imports and exports.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1983, c. 170]: The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of unemployment in the Coatbridge and Airdrie travel-to-work area; and what it was in May 1979.

On 14 April 1983, the latest date available, there were 5,013 unemployed benefit claimants—the new basis of the unemployment count—in the Coatbridge area, and 4,582 in Airdrie. The Coatbridge and Airdrie jobcentre areas do not form a self-contained travel-to-work area but are part of the larger North Lanarkshire travel-to-work area; consequently separate unemployment rates cannot be provided for Coatbridge and Airdrie. The unemployment rate for the North Lanarkshire travel-to-work area on the same date was 19·8 per cent.On 10 May 1979, there were 2,728 people registered as unemployed—the old basis of the count— in the Coatbridge area and 2,165 in Airdrie; and the unemployment rate for North Lanarkshire was 11·1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to make any changes in the present rules governing parole, particularly in respect of prisoners convicted of drug offences.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals before him for changes in the present arrangements for parole. The nature and circumstances of the offence, including any observations by the sentencing judge, are already taken fully into account by the Parole Board for Scotland and my right hon. Friend when considering cases for release on parole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many specially equipped ambulances are available for cardiac cases; and to which hospitals in the Greater Glasgow area they operate.

None of the ambulances operated by the Scottish ambulance service is specially equipped to handle cardiac cases, but a vehicle based at the Western infirmary, Glasgow has been equipped to convey and tend patients requiring intensive care. The running costs of this vehicle are met by the Greater Glasgow health board and it is available for use as necessary in the board's area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of motorway are (a) currently open and (b) currently being built in Scotland.

Currently, 147 miles of motorway are in use in Scotland; no new motorways are presently being built, but a start on the final section of the southward extension of M74 between Draffan and Millbank is expected to be made later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the current price cost in 1982–83 of public education in Scotland.

The estimate is £1,506 million for educational expenditure for which my right hon. Friend is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost of rate rebates, excluding those paid with supplementary benefit, in Scotland in 1981–82 and 1982–83.

For 1981–82, £53·571 million. For 1982–83 the total is not yet available.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she Vv ill list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 10 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

asked the Prime Minister how many hon. Members she has met to discuss factory closures since May 1979; how many jobs and factories were involved; and in which cases the factory concerned has not closed.

I have met 40 hon. Members about factory closures involving some 19,330 jobs. The other information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Burton on Trent.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister how many employees are at present covered by profit-sharing schemes.

In each of the two most recent years for which figures are available — 1980–81 and 1981–82—about 250,000 employees on average have been allocated shares under profit-sharing schemes approved for the purposes of tax relief under the Finance Act 1978. Over 100,000 employees are now participating in approved savings-related share option schemes for which we introduced a new tax relief in 1980. The Government do not keep records of the total number of employees involved in profit-sharing schemes of every kind, but an independent survey in 1981 estimated that companies employing about 1½ million employees had some form of employee share scheme.

asked the Prime Minister what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to support the preparations for the United Nations International Youth Year in 1985.

The Government are grant-aiding a co-ordinating committee in England. Similar committees have been or are being established in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and we are considering the arrangements for giving them financial assistance.

asked the Prime Minister if she will meet local government representatives.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in discussions with the European Community about proposals to make cheap feed available to the pig industry, he will seek to ensure that similar assistance is made available to the poultry industry.

The Commission is working on plans for the release of 2 million to 3 million tonnes of surplus wheat for animal feed at reduced prices. I shall seek to ensure that any scheme of this kind does not distort competition between the different sectors of the livestock industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies his Department has undertaken of acidity levels of lakes and rivers; what instances have been recorded of aquatic life being disrupted owing to freshwater acidity levels; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has undertaken no studies of acidity levels of lakes and rivers, but, as part of the national programme of fisheries research and development, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland is carrying out research into changes in the acidity of Scottish freshwater systems. I understand that some salmon nursery areas in Cumbria and the headwaters of the River Tywi in Dyfed may have been adversely affected by low pH.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the European Commission has completed the procedure provided for in article 93(2) of the European Community Treaty in respect of the 1980 and 1981 fishing vessel temporary support schemes.

The Commission has adopted a decision declaring that the two schemes are incompatible with the common market within the meaning of article 92 of the EEC Treaty and that such subsidies must accordingly no longer be granted.In fact all payments have been completed under these schemes.

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

The principal objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure that the vitally important energy sector functions as efficiently and effectively as possible within the context of economic policy as a whole.The two main thrusts of our policy have, therefore, been, first, to set a framework which allows market forces to operate in the energy sector with a minimum of distortion, and, secondly, to ensure that those parts of the energy sector which necessarily remain in the public sector and enjoy monopoly privileges are subjected to compensating disciplines which stimulate efficiency.To the end of ensuring that the energy market operates as nearly as possible as a free market we have sold to the private sector Britoil and Amersham International; removed BGC's statutory monopoly of the purchase of UKCS gas and greatly reduced the scope of its monopoly over gas sales; and enabled private suppliers to have access to BGC's transmission and distribution system. BGC has also been directed to dispose of its Wytch Farm oil licence and to prepare for the disposal of its offshore oil fields. We have also introduced the Energy Bill, which will open up the electricity supply industry to private sector competition.Within the public sector we have exerted pressure for efficiency and cost restraint through tight financial disciplines, performance aims and independent efficiency examinations of the CEGB, NCB, BGC, YEB and UKAEA. We have also taken steps to strengthen the commercial management of the energy nationalised industries.We have established energy pricing policies based on sound economic principles to provide appropriate signals to investors in energy production and to consumers. Within the context of this policy we have encouraged the industries to be responsive to consumers' needs. For industrial consumers the electricity supply industry has introduced more flexible tariff arrangements while the gas industry has restrained prices in response to market conditions. Contract gas prices will be frozen until October 1983 and there will be a standstill in average electricity prices in 1983–84. For domestic users, new arrangements have been introduced to limit the impact of standing charges in the bills of small consumers of gas and electricity and a revised code of practice has been adopted to help those who face difficulties paying their bills.We have encouraged oil exploration and development with the aim of maximising economic oil production over time. For the first time, production in 1982 topped 100 million tonnes, putting Britain in the top half dozen world oil producers. We have announced that no production cutbacks will be imposed before 1985 and that there is no case for imposing development delays. The seventh round of offshore licensing in 1980–81 licensed more blocks than the previous two rounds together and there has been an encouraging response to the eighth round, which has opened up new territory for exploration and renewed interest in the southern basin gas blocks. In 1982 exploration and appraisal activity was at near record levels and gas flaring from oilfields in the North Sea was halved since its peak in June 1979. Approval has been given for BGC's Morecambe Bay offshore gas development. This had given rise to £318·7 million of orders to United Kingdom equipment suppliers to the end of 1982.The Offshore Supplies Office has encouraged United Kingdom firms to win orders from the development of oil and gas fields on the UKCS and overseas. In 1982 the United Kingdom won 73 per cent. of a total of £2·2 billion orders placed for goods and services for the UKCS and since 1979 United Kingdom industry has averaged 72 per cent. of an annual market of about £2·3 billion.Orders have been confirmed for new advanced gas cooled reactor nuclear power stations at Torness and Heysham and encouraging progress has been made in constructing nuclear stations to time and cost. A public inquiry is under way into the CEGB's proposed pressurised water reactor nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk. The Government's commitment to the fast reactor programme has been re-affirmed.While working towards the achievement of financial viability in the coal industry the Government have assisted the NCB in dealing with its financial problems, with grants of over £1½ billion since it took office, and have supported investment of £3·16 billion invested in the coal industry during the same period which has led to improved productivity. The coal firing scheme introduced in 1981 has helped industry to convert equipment for oil and gas fired equipment to coal burning. This scheme has been extended to the end of the year.The Government's energy conservation policy, based on the economic pricing of fuels, has encouraged considerable improvement in the efficiency of energy use, leading to energy savings of more than 4 per cent. In particular, the energy conservation demonstration projects scheme has done much to encourage innovations in industry, commerce and local authority sectors: over 200 projects have been approved under the scheme, and these have already led to replications in over 300 cases.The economic potential for combined heat and power schemes for district heating has been the subject of a major study by outside consultants, the recommendations of which are now being closely examined.A thoroughgoing review of the organisation of the Government's efforts in the energy conservation area has been undertaken under the aegis of Lord Rayner; and we are pressing ahead towards the implementation of the recommendations in the Rayner report.We have concentrated renewable R and D expenditure principally on wind power and geothermal energy work, which has the greatest economic and technical promise.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the arrangements made by area electricity boards for the reduction of the standing charge for low users of electricity.

I am pleased that almost all the area electricity boards have adopted in full my right hon. Friend's suggestion that standing charges should be limited to a maximum of half of a domestic consumer's bill. The arrangements have been widely welcomed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many annex B applications for the development of North sea oilfields have ben handled in the last 12 months; and how many are currently being considered.

Development plans for two oilfields have been approved within the last 12 months—Alwyn North in October 1982 and Clyde in December 1982. Operators are currently discussing proposals for four further oilfield developments with my Department although no formal development programmes have yet been submitted for approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will report progress on the eighth round of offshire licensing.

[pursuant to the reply, 17 February 1983, c. 203]: I have today annunced the conditional award of petroleum production licences for a further 63 blocks in the eighth round. These lie in the southern North sea, the west Orkneys, the east Shetland platform, the Forth approaches and the mid-North sea high.Since the passage of the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act last year there has been a marked upswing in interest in gas exploration and development activities. These new licences will provide a further boost to gas exploration and will also open up several areas about which little is currently known.I announced licence awards for seven blocks in the cash tender area on 17 February. Today's awards, therefore, bring the eighth round to a successful conclusion.I have placed details of the awards in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference of the Prison Board's review of prison service staff, mentioned in paragraph 3.07 of the 1982 report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons; when the review is likely to be completed; and if its findings will be made public.

The reference in paragraph 3.07 of the report relates to a joint review by the Home Office and the Treasury of the current and prospective manpower requirements of the prison service. The review is designed to assist the Government in assessing the manpower requirements of the prison service in the course of the annual public expenditure survey. A first report was produced in August 1982; it is an internal management document and we have no plans to publish it or any subsequent reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an advisory committee of citizens band users to assist in the self-policing of the open channel.

No, but the radio regulatory department is discussing with representatives of CB radio user associations possible ways of encouraging more responsible use of CB radio.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time which elapses between a death and an inquest in England and Wales.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to repeal the offence of begging under section 3 of the Vagrancy Act 1824.

No. The Select Committee on Home Affairs recommended in its third report that the begging offence in section 3 of the 1824 Act should be retained, at least for the time being. The Government, in their reply to the report, said that they accepted this recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the ways in which those prisoners held in police cells are disadvantaged in comparison with those on remand in prison.

Because police and court cells are intended to be used only for short periods of detention, they do not provide the standards of accommodation and facilities which would normally be found in prisons. Conditions in individual holding centres vary, but many of them offer poorer facilities for such activities as washing, visiting, recreation, exercise and medical treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current (a) actual and (b) authorised strength of each police force; and how these figures compare with the strengths in May 1979.

The information in respect of police forces in England and Wales is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the rates of pay of members of the Metropolitan police in the ranks of (a) inspector and (b) sergeant.

Annual basic pay ranges from £9,369 to £10,749 for sergeants and from £11,328 to £12,789 for inspectors. In addition, all members of the Metropolitan police are paid London weighting of £762 a year and a London allowance of £1,011 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further progress has been made on the introduction of direct broadcasting by satellite; and if he will make a statement.

The BBC is continuing with its plans to have two DBS services in operation by September 1986. It has signed heads of agreement with Unisat for the provision of two DBS channels, and contracts are due to be signed shortly. Substantial investment will be required before the introduction and during the period of take-up of the new services, and this will be financed by borrowing. The BBC's existing borrowing powers are insufficient, and should in any case remain available if necessary for the existing Home Services. A supplemental Royal Charter is therefore being prepared which would allow the corporation to borrow for the provision of satellite services up to £150 million, with the possibility of an increase to a maximum of £225 million with the permission of the Secretary of State. A draft of the supplemental Royal Charter has been placed in the Library of the House.The IBA has now submitted proposals for DBS broadcasting by independent companies in the latter half of this decade. I am considering these, and will bring forward proposals as soon as I am able.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost of university education in Scotland in 1982–83.

Recurrent and equipment grant to universities in Scotland is estimated to total about £180 million in the academic year 1982–83. Fees paid to universities on behalf of home students will total about £20 million. Payments for capital expenditure in the financial year 1982–83 were £5·4 million.These figures do not include the cost to public funds of student maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Government propose to provide further support for the Royal College of Music centenary appeal; and if he will make a statement.

Since the appeal was launched in February last year it has raised from industry, commerce and other private sources around £1·9 million in donations and promises and building work totalling £850,000 is now under way. £200,000 was spent in financial year 1982–83 and under the terms of its original agreement, which I described in the answer to my hon. Friend on 8 March 1982—[Vol. 19, c. 313.]—the Government have met £100,000 of this. Subject to parliamentary approval of the Department's Estimates for 1983–84, a further £100,000, being the balance of the original £200,000 offered, will be paid in the present financial year when total expenditure reaches £400,000.The Government also intend, on behalf of the taxpayer and again subject to parliamentary approval, to make further contributions towards the cost of approved building and asssociated expenditure undertaken as a result of the appeal, of £100,000 as and when the appeal, from sources other than the Government, has received a total of £2 million, and of a second £100,000, as and when it has received a total of £3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet decided whether to introduce a system of student loans; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have at present no intention of replacing any part of the student grant by a loan. We remain interested in finding means of widening access to higher education without excessive cost to the taxpayer, and in this context will continue to examine the whole system of student support. Student loans may have some part to play in this, but we would introduce any reforms, whether or not involving loans, only after widespread consultation; the first step would be the issuing of a cnsultative paper.

asked the Attorney-General how many complaints have been received, either by himself or by the Director of Public Prosecutions, which relate to the supply of what is commonly called the "morning after" pill; and whether he proposes to institute criminal proceedings in connection with any of the complaints.

One complaint has been made direct to my Department and three to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Each complaint alleges that the supply and administration of such post-coital medications contravenes sections 58 and 59 of the Offences against the Persons Act 1861 and that a woman using such medication may commit an offence under section 58 of the Act.Such pills are intended to be taken by women following unprotected intercourse to inhibit implantation in the womb of any fertilised ovum. The sole question for resolution therefore is whether the prevention of implantation constitutes the procuring of a miscarriage within the meaning of sections 58 or 59 of the Offences against the Persons Act 1861. The principles relating to interpretation of statutes require that the words of a statute be given the meaning which they bore at the time the statute was passed. Further, since the words were used in a general statute, they are prima facie presumed to be used in their popular, ordinary or natural sense.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the value of investments in new and rehabilitated housing property developments undertaken by the Crown Agents during the last financial year in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow, respectively.

Neither the Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations nor the Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board have undertaken such developments, nor do they have the power to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has any plans to make special provision to encourage smaller firms to undertake collaborative research as proposed by the Alvey committee.

The Government recognise that small firms can make a useful and constructive contribution to the Alvey programme and hopes that they will do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to been in a position to name the members of the directorate to be set up to co-ordinate the Government's response to the Alvey report; whether he will consider appointing someone with experience of small business; and if he will list the members of the supervising board under Sir Robert Telford, together with their remuneration.

No appointments other than those announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in his statement of 28 April have yet been made, but we hope to make further announcements shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, before his statement of 28 April on advanced information technology, he discussed his proposals with the EEC Commission; and whether his proposals on confidentiality are intended to ensure that multinational companies taking part in the programme do not share the results of research with associate companies within the European Community.

The proposals contained in the Report of the Alvey committee were developed in full knowledge of the discussions on the European Community's ESPRIT programme and it is intended that the programmes should complement one another. Discussions on the Alvey programme have taken place between officials of the Department of Industry and officials of the EEC Commission in the context of ESPRIT but there have been no specific discussions on the proposals announced to the House on 28 April. As to the dissemination of results arising from the programme, we are aware of our international obligations and it is our intention to comply with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money, in total, he has made available to firms in Welwyn-Hatfield in the form of loans and grants since May 1979.

This information is not available, as records of selective assistance are not kept by constituency areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many of the schemes listed in his Department's publication "How to make your business grow" provide Government cash; how many provide advice; and what is the number of north Staffordshire businesses that have taken advantage of each category of schemes since May 1979;(2) what has been the cost in each year since 1979, of the schemes listed in his Department's publication "How to make your business grow"; and what proportion of it has been spent in north Staffordshire.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many cars are manufactured in the United Kingdom each week for each employee; how the figures for Japan, West Germany, France, Sweden, Italy and the United States of America compare; and if he will give comparisons for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Figures of employment on a basis consistent with those of car production are not available readily, if at all.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will announce the remaining seven members of the Engineering Council.

I have appointed the following members until 31 May 1985

• Professor B. Crossland
• Professor W. A. Gambling
• Mr. M. Harker
• Mr. R. Malpas
• Miss D. O'Cathain
• Mr. J. Stevenson
• Mr. J. Waters

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 May 1983, c. 70.]: The information is not immediately available in the precise form sought, but the following may be helpful:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which areas in the United Kingdom received most funding from the European Investment Bank in 1982.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer) on 4 May 1983.—[Vol. 42, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish "Roads in Wales: 1982"; and if he will make a statement about the delay in publishing this report.

"Roads in Wales 1983" has been published today. This is not an annual report, but a periodical one published at my discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the comment made in paragraph 4.3(X) of the "All Wales Strategy for the Development of Services for Mentally Handicapped People", published by his Department, what progress has been made in ensuring that voluntary organisations in Wales respond in an integrated and united manner to questions relating to the development of the strategy.

The voluntary bodies in Wales with an interest in services for mentally handicapped people formed, on 23 March, a standing conference of voluntary organisations whose objectives include the provision of a forum through which the views and experience of the voluntary sector can be applied to the development and implementation of the all-Wales strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of industrial production in Wales in 1982 compared with 1981.

The overall index of industrial production in Wales in 1982 is estimated to have stood at 93·5 (1975=100), and compares with an equivalent figure of 96·3 for 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons in (a) mid-Glamorgan and (b) Wales were in receipt of rent rebate in February 1983.

The latest available information is for October 1982 when 16,000 persons in mid-Glamorgan and 80,000 in Wales were in receipt of rent rebates.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the rate support grant as a percentage of total rate fund expenditure for each local authority in Wales for each year since 1978–79.

It is not possible to provide meaningful figures for years before 1981–82 as rate support grants then were not directly linked to the expenditure of individual councils. Information for subsequent years is as follows. Percentages for 1981–82 and 1982–83 are based on block grant and total expenditure figures published in the most recent supplementary rate support grant reports for those years. The percentages for 1983–84 are provisional estimates based on local authorities' claims for block grant, constrained by a common factor to ensure grant paid does not exceed grant provision as specified in the Welsh rate support grant report for 1983–84. As such they do not reflect the grant adjustments that will be made in a future supplementary report to take account of authorities' performance in relation to the expenditure guidance issued for the present year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many farms in Wales have been registered under the present extensions to the less favoured areas to be approved by the European Community Commission; and if he will make a statement.

None. The Commission has yet to give its opinion on the United Kingdom application for an extension of the less-favoured areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the present state of the fishing industry in Wales and the effect of the European Community fishing policy.

The common fisheries policy agreement broght to a close a period of uncertainty for the fishing industry and is establishing a base upon which the industry can plan for the future. Proposals for restructuring, and the management of national quotas, are still under consideration; decisions will be taken in consultation with the industry. The substantial aid provided by the Government over the last three years illustrates their commitment to fishing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has decided to extend the right to buy to local authority tenants living in dwellings that are held under statutory powers other than part V of the Housing Act 1957.

Following consultations with the local authority associations, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales have decided to use their powers under section 2(5) of the Housing Act 1980 to extend the right to buy, with certain exceptions, to non-part V dwellings. The Housing (Extension of the Right to Buy) Order 1983 was laid before the House yesterday, and will come into effect on 31 May.The order will extend the right to buy to all non-part V dwellings let to secure tenants of local authorities in England and Wales apart from tenants of the following dwellings:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with local councils and other interested parties with responsibilities in the Solent area the extent of controls over potentially polluting or dangerous activities in their waters.

If the hon. Member's question concerns offshore oil and gas exploration in the English Channel, both the Department of Energy and my Department have offered to meet the local and county authorities concerned in this matter. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Energy to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings (Mr. Warren) on 20 April.—[Vol. 41, c. 96.]If the hon. Member is concerned about any other matter perhaps he will care to write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants are available for leisure centres.

The main source of grant for leisure centres is the Sports Council which assists with the provision of sports facilities of all kinds. Grants are also available under my Department's urban programmes if the project has the support of a local authority and contributes to the alleviation of urban stress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been Her Majesty's Government's expenditure on the research programme, to quantify the effect of acid rain, at the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology in each year since 1979.

Expenditure on research on acid deposition for the years in question was: