asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much farm borrowings have increased in the past year.

The average level of hank advances outstanding to United Kingdom agriculture increased in 1982 by £618 million or 18 per cent. compared with 1981. In addition, outstanding loans by the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation and similar bodies, together with estimated instalment credit, increased between the two years by £30 million or 5 per cent., giving an increase of 17 per cent. in borrowings from these sources taken together. The continuing increase in bank advances, though at a slower percentage rate than in recent years, reflects, first, the recovery in the industry's new investment in fixed assets, secondly, the growth in its working capital requirements, and thirdly, the increased share supplied by the banks of the total credit needs of agriculture. The banks have recently increased their long-term lending and mortgage lending to agriculture. But the statistics of farm borrowings have to be kept in perspective. Survey results have shown that the industry's external liabilities bear the same relationship to the value of its total assets now as they did in the mid-1970s.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value to the British consumer of butter subsidies granted under the various Community schemes in 1981 and 1982.

In 1982 the total value of Community subsidies and price and levy reductions on butter supplies in the United Kingdom was £101 million. The comparable figure for 1981 was £85 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times he has paid official visits to Wales since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Wales is of course responsible for agriculture in Wales, and throughout the last four years he and I have had close liaison on all matters concerned with Welsh agriculture. I have frequently met Welsh farm leaders and held regular meetings with the chairman of the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales. In 1982 I visited dairies in the Llandyrnog area and I am currently considering an invitation to visit the Pembrokeshire branch of the National Farmers Union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the present extent of United Kingdom self-sufficiency in the production of all major temperate foodstuffs; and how it compares with similar figures 10 years previously.

The information requested is given in the following table. Further details are contained in tables 8 to 18 of the Annual Review of Agriculture 1983 —Cmnd. 8804.

United Kingdom production as a percentage of total new supplies for major agricultural products
	Average of 1971–73	1982 (forecast)
Wheat	53	106
Barley	94	128
Potatoes	95	85
Beef and Veal	79	90
Mutton and Lamb	44	64
Pork	97	101
Bacon and Ham	44	41
Butter	20	64
Cheese	55	71
Eggs	98	100

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the alleged refugees from Vietnam who have landed in Hong Kong will in due course be able to claim entry into the United Kingdom as Hong Kong citizens.

The dependencies do not have separate citizenships. The acquisition of British dependent: territories citizenship in a dependency is a matter for the authorities of that country. Entry to the United Kingdom for those subject to control under the Immigration Act: 1971 is governed by the published immigration rules—House of Commons Paper 169.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the circumstances of the demonstration by supporters of the Provisional Irish Republican Army in London on Saturday 7 May.

We understand from the Commissioner that on the afternoon of Saturday 7 May approximately 1,200 supporters of the "Britain Out of Ireland Movement" marched from Hyde park via Whitehall to Jubilee gardens, where several speakers addressed the crowd. Five arrests were made for minor offences by protesters, but there were no reports of violent behaviour or damage to property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refuse permission to enter the United Kingdom to any Iranian or Iraqi whom he understands to be a member of their countries' armed forces and whose purpose in entering the United Kingdom is to undergo training which will be of military use.

Any application to enter the United Kingdom from a person who is subject to immigration control is considered in accordance with the immigration rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long Matthew Paul had been in custody when he was found hanged on Friday 6 May in Leman street police station; whether he had been charged; whether charges were contemplated; and, if so, what those charges were.

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that Matthew Paul was arrested at 2.5 am on 5 May in connection with a murder investigation. Three other persons were arrested in relation to the same matter later that day. Matthew Paul was found dead in his cell at 1.50 pm the following day, 6 May. He had not been charged, but the three others were charged with murder on 7 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the Government's proposals for new legislation on scientific procedures on living animals; and if he will make a statement.

In a White Paper published today I propose new legislation to control scientific experiments on living animals. This legislation, which will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits, will repeal the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 and bring in completely new controls.I believe that the measures proposed will greatly strengthen protection for animals without unduly prejudicing the undoubted benefits to humanity of the necessary minimum of animal procedures.The main changes proposed will be as follows.Controls are to be imposed on a wider range of procedures involving animals in laboratories. For the first time suppliers of animals for use in laboratories will have to be registered. Animals commonly used for experimentation will have to be obtained from these registered suppliers. All aspects of the regulation of accommodation and care of animals in laboratories will be put on a statutory basis.A new system of licensing for all projects is proposed to ensure that suffering is kept to an irreducible minimum, and that reliable alternative methods not involving animals are used whenever practicable. Particularly stringent controls will apply to all applications for project licences to test cosmetics on animals.A new statutory committee, the Animals Procedures Committee, is to be established, and will have wide powers to advise on any matters which I refer to it as giving rise to special concern. For example, all applications to test cosmetics on animals will be referred to this committee.The Home Office Inspectorate will be strengthened and will have new and enhanced duties in operating the new controls.The White Paper is based on a wide range of representations I have received, especially on the recommendations of my Advisory Committee on Animal Experiments, and on the draft Council of Europe convention for the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. I am proposing stricter controls than the minimum the convention would permit, particularly in refusing to allow any exception to the prohibition on the infliction upon animals of pain which is both severe and enduring.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much (a) coal fuel costs and (b) nuclear fuel costs have risen since 1973.

I am advised by the CEGB that coal and nuclear fuel cycle costs in pence per unit of output from its coal and nuclear power stations for 1973–74 were as follows:

Coal (p/kwh)	Nuclear (plkwh )
0·3746	0·1165

The relative costs for nuclear fuel in 1981–82 are not directly comparable because of accounting changes. These are set out in the notes, and after incorporating the changes the figures for 1981–82 are as follows:

Coal (p/kwh)	Nuclear (p/kwh)
1·8366	1·4471

The nuclear fuel costs largely reflect those for Magnox stations as these account for the bulk of nuclear generation. They do not therefore reflect the more efficient fuel use in the AGR and the considerably lower fuel costs for the AGR as against the most recent coal stations. The most recently commissioned coal and nuclear stations show costs as follows:

	Coal (plkwh) Drax (first half)	Nuclear (p/kwh) Hinkley Point B
1981–82	1·59	0·77

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the mass of spent fuel discharged from each Magnox reactor of the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board for each year of operation and for each station.

In my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 9 March 1983, I stated that the quantity and isotopic composition of the plutonium exported to the United States under the barter arrangements between 1959 and 1970 could not be

te U
Year	Bradwell	Berkeley	Hinkley point A	Trawsfynydd	Dungeness A	Sizewell	Oldbury	Wylfa	Total
1971–72	68	104	13	65	145	135	128	14	672
1972–73	87	110	98	11	90	146	92	60	694
1973–74	67	115	160	228	102	134	143	98	1,047
1974–75	81	89	165	135	146	133	103	180	1,032
1975–76	81	100	127	102	128	136	109	85	868
1976–77	74	104	136	72	123	129	101	184	923
1977–78	84	38	164	130	61	115	125	91	809
1978–79	61	61	113	98	65	102	77	113	690
1979–80	44	79	117	112	31	81	115	192	771
1980–81	3	37	144	47	—	130	108	256	725
1981–82	6	—	101	98	18	66	91	209	589
1982–83	52	22	112	129	87	81	91	227	801
	708	859	1,450	1,227	996	1,389	1,283	1,709	9,621

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the net feed of uranium into each Magnox reactor of the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board for each year of operation and for each station.

It is the practice with Magnox refuelling to replace the fuel discharged with an equal quantity of new fuel. In general, therefore, there is no net feed of uranium to the reactor beyond the initial charges of fuel which were as follows:

	te U
Bradwell	478·8
Berkeley	461·4
Hinkley Point A	706·0
Trawsfynydd	587·0
Dungeness A	613·5
Sizewell	641·0
Oldbury	583·8
Wylfa	1,191·8
TOTAL	5,263·3

There are two exceptions to this situation (i) in one or two instances modification of the fuel element design has given rise to a small net input of uranium during the period of changeover and (ii) small quantities of uranium—about 1 per cent.—are either fissioned or converted to plutonium during irradiation in the reactor.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in view of the decision of the South Eastern electricity board not to implement the Government's preferred rebate scheme for low consumers of electricity, if he will issue a directive to the industry which will ensure comparable treatment to all users of electricity, irrespective of their home area.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) on 11 April, Official Report, c. 324, whether the South Eastern electricity board is among those which have not adopted his proposal that standing charges should be limited to a maximum of half of any bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) on 11 April, Official Report, c. 324, whether the South Eastern electricity board is among those that have not adopted his proposal that standing charges should be limited to a maximum of half of any bill; which the other boards are; and whether, in the interests of comparability throughout the United Kingdom, he will consider using his powers of direction in this matter.

My right hon. Friend's proposal was that standing charges should be limited to a maximum of half of a domestic consumer's bill. The South Eastern electricity board has adopted a different approach, giving less relief from standing charges. I understand also that the North Eastern electricity board is not applying the rebate scheme to prepayment customers. I regret that these boards have not adopted my right hon. Friend's proposal in full.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer to the hon. Member for St. Pancras North on 11 April, Official Report, c. 324–5, which consumer representatives were consulted about standing charges.

Discussions were held with the chairman of the Electricity Consumers Council and the National Gas Consumers Council.In addition, we took account of the views on various aspects of standing charges put to us on various occasions by a large number of other organisations. I refer the hon. Member to the reply from my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange (Mr. Parry) dated 19 November, 1982 —[Vol. 32, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the price of a barrel of North sea oil in May 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982; and what is the present price.

The price of Brent blend, the current United Kingdom reference crude, sold under term contracts was as follows:

	US $ f.o.b.
May 1979	18·30
May 1980	34·25
Before 20 May 1981	36·25
From 20 May 1981	39·25
May 1982	36·60
May 1983	30·00

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will announce a decision regarding the future of the geothermal energy experiments in Cornwall.

The current three-year phase of geothermal energy experiments in Cornwall will not be completed until the end of September. Proposals for further work to be carried out by the Camborne school of mines over the next three years are under active consideration. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy for what purpose British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. has recently fenced in additional land at its Chapelcross site and applied for a new site licence from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

The recent fencing of land already in BNFL ownership at Chapelcross was for managerial purposes related to security and the organisation of the site; in particular, the opportunity has been taken to bring part of an effluent discharge pipeline within the fenced area. It is not connected with the site licence. The issue of a new site licence followed a review initiated by the Health and Safety Executive into inspection and control arrangements which is part of normal NII procedure for the updating of licences.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what financial or other encouragement is provided for research into alternative sources of power such as that from wind and waves.

I refer my hon. Friend to the Official Report for 9 May 1983, c. 621–22, giving details of the £13 million to £14 million my Department expects to spend in 1983–84 on research and development into new and renewable energy sources. In the period 1979–80 to 1982–83 my Department spent £50 million in this area. In addition to this financial support, my Department encourages the use of renewable energy sources by making available information on our research, in the form of reports and journal articles, to the extent that commercial confidentiality allows.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the offshore and onshore investigative and research operations in all forms of energy and activity affecting the Western Approaches and Cornwall as notified to his Department since May 1979.

I am having the information gathered and I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what procedures have been adopted for the payment of social grants to the National Coal Board following the improvements in redundancy terms effective from 11 March 1981.

I indicated during the Committee stage of the Coal Industry Bill — 11 February 1982, Official Report, c. 49–51—that the National Coal Board has negotiated with the mining unions very substantial improvements in the benefits payable under the industry's pension schemes to or in respect of persons becoming eligible for the RMPS on or after 11 March 1981, and that the Government would agree with the board the procedures for reimbursing the cost of paying these early and enhanced pensions. I made it clear in bringing the 1982 Bill before the House that social grant payments are expected to continue and that suitable statutory powers will be sought to permit this.I can now report that the Government have agreed with the board a set of ground rules for determining the amount of the board's cost of paying the pensions that would normally be reimbursed. It provides for the cost to the appropriate pension scheme associated with the additional benefits payable to, or in respect of, a new entrant to the RMPS, estimated on an actuarial basis, to be paid by the Government in instalments, starting after the end of the year in which the redundancy took place. This arrangement means that the cost of each new redundant person will be met in 10 annual instalments and thus there will be continuing payments of social grants in respect of these cases.Payments to the staff superannuation scheme in respect of non-industrial staff, half the cost of which the Government reimburses under section 6 of the Coal Industry Act 1977 in cases where redundancy arises in relation to pit closures, are being reorganised in the same way, by 10 annual instalments with continuing payment of grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the meeting of the governing board of the International Energy Agency at ministerial level which he attended in Paris on 8 May.

The governing board of the International Energy Agency—IEA—met at ministerial level in Paris on Sunday 8 May under the chairmanship of Mr. William Birch of New Zealand. I represented the United Kingdom. Copies of the communiqué are available in the Libraries of both Houses.Ministers considered the current position in the world oil market. They agreed that the easing of the oil market was a welcome development for the world economy. However, they expressed concern over the longer term possibility of renewed instability in energy and oil markets, with adverse effects on the world economy. They therefore reaffirmed their intention to pursue policies of oil substitution, energy conservation and energy research and development. The IEA will monitor developments in the oil market closely.Ministers also considered energy requirements and security for the next two decades. They recognised the continued likelihood of heavy reliance on imported energy, particularly oil but also gas, and agreed on the need for balanced policies including the use of gas on an acceptably secure basis. OECD Ministers heard a report on these discussions by the chairman of the IEA meeting the following day.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations have been made to him following the publication of the Severn barrage committee's report in July 1981; and if he will make a statement.

Many comments were received on the report from local authorities, organisations and individuals. Most of these supported the committee's recommendation of further studies to establish the viability of a barrage from Brean Down to Lavernock Point and to look at the wider implications. I have given careful consideration to all the views expressed.I have also received detailed proposals for a jointly funded study from the Severn tidal power group. This group comprises Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons, GEC Power Engineering, Taylor Woodrow Construction, Northern Engineering Industries and Balfour Beatty. The study would be directed towards the assessment of the technical and financial viability of a barrage built and operated by the private sector.I have decided that this is the right way to proceed. Subject to agreement on the terms and conditions of contract, matching funds will be provided for this study from my Department's non-nuclear R and D budget, up to a total of £250,000 over two years. This support will be given on the understanding that no Government commitment will exist after the two-year study is complete.The initiative taken by the STPG in this matter is most welcome. The Severn barrage could make a significant contribution to our future electricity needs, and offer a valuable complement to coal-fired and nuclear power stations.Private sector involvement at this early stage will ensure that the commercial implications of the project are realistically evaluated.Details of the proposed study will be worked out over the next few months. Local Authorities and other interested parties will be consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to his answer of 26 April , Official Report, c. 721–2, he can yet say when the report of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools will be published.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate has not yet completed its report on the effects of local authorities' expenditure policies on education in England in 1982. As I stated on 26 April, it was my intention, had the election not intervened, to publish the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to extend mandatory awards to students on higher national diploma three-year sandwich courses, so that the middle year training element is covered by a mandatory award; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the rate of mandatory awards for the academic year 1983–84.

I announced on 8 November 1982 —[Vol. 31, c. 42]—that the main rates of grant would be increased by 4 per cent. for the academic year 1983–84 and the parental contribution scale would be adjusted upwards by 8 per cent. in line with earnings over the past year. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have therefore agree that the main rates of grant for 1983–84 should be increased as follows:

For students:

(i) living away from home and attending an establishment in London: from £1,900 to £1,975;

(ii) living away from home and attending an establishment outside London: from £1,595 to £1,660;

(iii) living in the parental home: from £1,225 to £1,272.

The minimum maintenance payment will remain at the same level as for 1982–83, £410.There will be no other changes with significant financial implications in the awards regulations for 1983–84. Further consideration will be given to the method of reimbursement of students' travel costs, which will remain unchanged for 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek powers to transfer the responsibility from his Department to the Museums and Galleries Commission for administering acceptances of heritage objects in satisfaction of capital transfer tax; and whether he will make a statement.

Any transfer of ministerial responsibilities under the National Heritage Act 1980 would require legislation in a future Parliament. Departmental arrangements for administering those responsibilities are always open to review and the hon. Member's suggestion could be considered in the next Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had on the parking problem on the A487 road at Penygroes; and if he will make a statement.

The Gwynedd county council, which maintains the trunk road through Penygroes as my right hon. Friend's agents, has reported that it has received a few representations, including one from the hon. Member, favouring relaxation of the existing parking restrictions. A substantial car park has been provided recently and there is no need to relax the restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average waiting time for a hip joint replacement operation at each of the main centres in Wales where this operation is carried out; how many such operations were carried out at each centre during each of the past five years; and how many patients are on the waiting list of each consultant who carries out this particular operation in Wales.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many students are currently (a) entitled to free school meals and (b) receiving free school meals in (i) mid-Glamorgan and (ii) Wales.

Information on the number of pupils entitled to free school meals is not available centrally. The number of pupils in maintained schools in mid-Glamorgan who received a free school meal on 24 September 1982, the latest census date, was 16,605. The corresponding figure for all maintained schools in Wales is 76,276.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many times since May 1979 Ministers from his Department have attended European Community price review negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

None. My Department participates at ministerial and official level in the formulation of the United Kingdom negotiating stance. The delegation led by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food negotiates on behalf of all the United Kingdom Agriculture Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will institute an inquiry into the effects of the drug Distalgesic on patients in Wales.

No. The Committee on Safety of Medicines is currently reviewing the safety of distalgesic and I have no doubt will recommend any action it considers necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) council houses, and (b) flats were sold in the Cardiff district to sitting tenants in each of the last five years.

The numbers of dwellings sold to sitting tenants in each of the last five years were as follows:

	Number
1978	131
1979	186
1980	16
1981	298
1982	1,420

Separate figures for houses and flats are not available for the years 1978 to 1980. In 1981 and 1982 no flats were sold.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners were in practice in Wales in 1979 and at the latest date.

At 1 October 1979, the number of unrestricted principals was 1,339: the corresponding figure in 1982 was 1,431.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were unemployed and what was the percentage rate in May 1979 and March 1983, respectively, in each of the travel-to-work areas most closely corresponding to the constituency of Brecon and Radnor.

In best fit terms the information is as follows:

	May 1979		March 1983
Travel-to-work area	Registrants unemployed	per cent.	per Claimants	per cent.
Brecon	341	4·8	622	8·7
Llandrindod Wells	406	5·4	972	12·9

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were unemployed in April 1979 and January 1983, respectively, in each of the following categories: (a) up to 26 weeks, (b) 26 to 52 weeks, (c) 52 to 104 weeks, (d) 104 to 156 weeks and (e) over 156 weeks in the travel-to-work areas most closely corresponding to the constituency of Brecon and Radnor.

In best fit terms the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) school leavers, (b) people under 25 years, (c) people aged 25 to 44 years, (d) people aged 45 to 54 years and (e) people aged 55 years and over, respectively, were unemployed in April 1979 and January

TTWA	School Leavers	Under 25	25 to 44 Years	45 to 54 Years	55 Years and Over
April 1979 (Registrants Unemployed)
Brecon	7	97	129	38	75
Llandrindod Wells	2	100	152	61	127
January 1983 (Claimants Unemployed)
Brecon	13	224	231	64	107
Llandrindod Wells	25	313	354	89	189

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) school leavers, (b) people aged under 25 years, (c) people aged 25 to 44 years, (d) people aged 45 to 54 years and (e) people aged 55 years and over, respectively, were unemployed in April 1979 and January 1983,

TTWA	School Leavers	Under 25	25 to 44 Years	45 to 54 Years	55 Years and Over
April 1979 (Registrants Unemployed)
Cardiff	402	5,273	5,496	1,840	2,253
January 1983 (Claimants Unemployed)
Cardiff	1,066	11,272	10,440	3,099	3,750

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were unemployed and what was the percentage rate in May 1979 and March 1983, respectively, in the travel-to-work areas most nearly corresponding to the following parliamentary constituencies (a) Ynys Môn and (b) Clwyd South West, respectively.

In best fit terms the information is as follows:

	May 1979		March 1983
TTWA	Registrants Unemployed	per cent.	Claimants Unemployed	per cent.
(a)
Holyhead	2,309	12·0	4,372	22·7
(b)

April 1979 (Registrants Unemployed)
TTWA	School leavers	Under 25	25 to 44 years	45 to 54 years	55 years and over
(i) Holyhead	33	757	852	325	422
(ii) Denbigh	—	117	142	57	104
Llangollen	—	72	145	59	97
Wrexham	98	1,514	1,720	550	862

In best fit terms the information is as follows:respectively, in the travel-to-work areas most nearly corresponding to the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff, Central.

In best fit terms the information is as follows:

	May 1979		March 1983
TTWA	Registrants Unemployed	per cent.	Claimants Unemployed	per cent.
Denbigh	395	5·8	729	10·6
Llangollen	361	7·5	772	16·1
Wrexham	4,612	10·2	8,448	18·7

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) school leavers, (b) people aged under 25 years, (c) people aged 25 to 44 years, (d) people aged 45 to 54 years and (e) people aged 55 years and over, respectively, were unemployed in April 1979 and January 1983, respectively, in the travel-to-work areas most closely corresponding to the following parliamentary constituencies: (i) Ynys Môn and (ii) Clwyd South West.

In best fit terms the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were unemployed in April 1979 and January 1983, respectively, in each of the following categories: (a) up to 26 weeks, (b) 26 to 52 weeks, (c) 52 to 104 weeks, (d) 104 to 156 weeks, and (e)

April 1979 (Registrants Unemployed)
TTWA	Up to 26 weeks	Over 26 weeks and up to 52 weeks	Over 52 and up to 104 weeks	Over 104 and up to 156 weeks	156 weeks and over
(i) Holyhead	971	491	413	164	317
(ii) Denbigh	222	77	51	26	44
Llangollen	164	74	59	31	45
Wrexham	2,030	990	765	305	556
January 1983 (Claimants Unemployed)
(i) Holyhead	2,053	794	873	417	410
(ii) Denbigh	362	104	137	62	65
Llangollen	354	144	124	52	51
Wrexham	3,563	1,459	1,571	1,213	851

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were unemployed and what was the percentage rate in May 1979 and March 1983, respectively, in the travel-to-work areas most closely corresponding to the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff, Central.

In best fit terms the information is as follows:

	May 1979		March 1983
Travel-to-work	Registrants unemployed		Claimants unemployed
area	Number	per cent.	Number	per cent.
Cardiff	14,587	7·3	27,894	13·9

Travel-to-work area	Up to 26 weeks	Over 26 and up to 52 weeks	Over 52 and up to 104 weeks	Over 104 and up to 156 weeks	156 weeks and over
	April 1979 (registrants unemployed)
Cardiff	7,180	3,743	2,193	825	921
	January 1983 (claimants unemployed)
Cardiff	12,622	5,603	5,315	2,735	2,286

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state up to the latest convenient date the number of factories completed by the Welsh Development Agency, the number now under construction and the number of those constructed which have been allocated.

At the end of March 1983 the Welsh Development Agency had completed 1,093 advance factories, bespoke units and extensions, and another 132 were under construction. Of the total number completed, 777 have been allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the total cost of all factories which

In best fit terms the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were unemployed in April 1979 and January 1983, respectively, in each of the following categories (a) up to 26 weeks, (b) 26 to 52 weeks, (c) 52 to 104 weeks, (d) 104 to 156 weeks and (e) over 156 weeks in the travel-to-work areas most closely corresponding to the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff, Central.

In best fit terms the information is as follows:have been built in Wales, up to the latest convenient date, by the Welsh Development Agency; and what will be the cost of those factories to be built by the agency and now under construction.

Between January 1976 and March 1983 the Welsh Development Agency spent £183 million on factory construction. Factories under construction or planned will cost about £20 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the future plans of the Welsh Development Agency.

I have reviewed in detail the achievements and future intentions of the agency with its chairman and board members. The agency intends to diversify its activities so as to make Wales more attractive as a location for inward investment and high technology development. I have already announced the setting up of WINvest: Wales Investment Location—to unify and develop arrangements for attracting inward investment. I am also considering the establishment of a technology centre, perhaps named WlNtech to provide a point of focus for such development, acting in collaboration with other organisations already in the field. A fuller statement on these matters has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the fall in manufacturing output in Wales since May 1979.

As measured by the Welsh index of industrial production, manufacturing output in Wales is estimated to have fallen by 21 per cent. between the second quarter of 1979 and the last quarter of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply of 15 June 1982 to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor, Official Report, c. 229, whether he has secured progress in making monuments in his care more attractive to visitors.

Last autumn I commissioned a consultant, John Brown Tourism Marketing and Development Services, to carry out a study of the presentation and promotion of the ancient monuments in my care with a view to making them more attractive to visitors. I recently received the consultant's report. It is detailed and wide ranging; stimulating and constructive. It recommends a completely new approach to the presentation of monuments in Wales and makes over 100 detailed recommendations intended to make the monuments more enjoyable, more enlightening and more profitable, without detracting from their historic and cultural value. It points the way to the long term future of ancient monuments in Wales.Certain of the detailed recommendations can and will be implemented without delay. I accept in principle the new approach which the report suggests. My Department is considering ways of implementing this approach. It could involve a variety of arrangements bringing in local authorities, other public bodies, as well as private organisations and individuals. In Wales the ancient monuments can be a real asset to tourism. It is vital to ensure that this asset is used to the best advantage.Copies of the report are being placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons in (a) mid-Glamorgan and (b) Wales are currently in receipt of a special heating allowance.

I have been asked to reply.The numbers of cases in action in the Department's offices situated in Mid Glamorgan and in Wales on 15 May 1979 and on 15 February 1983 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will provide an analysis under appropriate headings of the £1·7 billion of aid provided to the north east by the Government referred to on 31 March, Official Report, c. 487.

The figure was made up of industrial and other assistance to the northern region under national and regional schemes during the period May 1979 to March 1983 amounting to some £705 million, and public expenditure in the region on infrastructure provision directly relating to industrial development estimated at £1,000 million.The £705 million is made up as follows:

	£ million
Regional Development Grants	469
Urban Programme	102·5
Regional Selective Assistance (S7)	*51
National Selective Assistance (S8)	*†2·5
English Industrial Estates Corporation	47
Temporary Short Time Working Compensation Scheme	32
Support for Innovation	1
	705
* Value of offers.
† Excluding expenditure in Cumbria.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give (a) the number of public call boxes for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available and (b) the loss to British Telecom attributable to maintaining them for each year.

The information for the years up to 31 March 1982 has been published in the British Telecom publication "Statistics 1982" and in its annual reports and accounts for the various years. The information for 31 March 1983 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate of the level of South African investment in United Kingdom industry.

The latest available information on the level of South African direct investment in the United Kingdom relates to the position at the end of 1978. This is published in table 14 of "Business Monitor MA4, 1978 Supplement, Census of Overseas Assets 1978", a copy of which is in the Library. The figure is £333·4 million, excluding oil, banking, and insurance.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will seek to expedite the production by the British Standards Institution of its specification for telecommunications equipment; and if he will make a statement.

I keep under constant review the possibilities for expediting the drafting of standards for telecommunications apparatus. Some slippage has occurred because of the complexity of the task and because of the need to obtain consensus. However, seven standards are complete, a number are close to completion and the programme as a whole as targeted by the 1981 Act is substantially on course.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what changes have taken place in industrial output over the last year in the United Kingdom; and how such changes compare with those in other leading European countries.

	NLF and PDC and other loans	Subsidies under section 7 and 8 etc.	Construction grants under section 11 etc.	Shipbuilding redundancy payments
1977–78	—	27·4	0·3	—
1978–79 NLF*	55	10·6	0·3	4·7
1979–80 NLF*/PDC	†181	31·2	0·1	15·5
1980–81	110	39·9	0·1	20·1
1981–82	107	45·9	0·3	14·4
1982–83	76	43·8	—	16·0
Total 1979–80 to 1982–83‡	474	160·8	0·5	66·0
* National loans fund advanced on an interim basis.
† Net. All outstanding NLF loans were repaid in full with interest on 21 December 1979 and were replaced by PDC.
‡ Does not include payments made in 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what provision the Government are making to help British Shipbuilders obtain orders in current market conditions.

We already provide considerable assistance. Since early 1979 British Shipbuilders has received £700 million of taxpayers' money to help meet its losses, and to restructure. This includes support through the intervention fund, which enables BS to quote prices which do not cover its costs. Support is also given through the home shipbuilding credit scheme, which encourages United Kingdom owners to place their orders in United Kingdom yards.The Government are currently considering detailed proposals from the chairman of BS for extra help in the light of the deterioration of the market. These will need to be considered against the background of a full business plan for the future of the corporation, which BS is now preparing, and in the light of our international obligations. I have told Sir Robert Atkinson that in the meantime the

Between the three months ended February 1982 and the three months ended February 1983, industrial production in the United Kingdom rose by two per cent.Between the same two periods, industrial production in Italy fell by seven per cent., in Germany by five per cent. and in France by one per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the prospects for United Kingdom manufacturing output through 1983.

The most recent official assessment of the prospects for United Kingdom manufacturing output is contained in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1983–84. This suggested that over the forecast period, output in the manufacturing sector could rise at much the same rate as the rest of the economy, increasing by about 1·5 to 2 per cent. in 1983 as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will update the figures for public money provided to British Shipbuilders, given to the hon. Member for Tynemouth on 25 October 1982, Official Report, c. 291–92 and show the total of funds under each heading in pounds of current value.

The following table gives details of support for BS through the national loans fund, public dividend capital and other loans, subsidies under the Industry Act 1972 and payments made under the shipbuilding redundancy payments scheme.Government will give careful consideration to specific requests for help on a case by case basis within the framework of the international rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the specific policies implemented since May 1981 that have been aimed at assisting the growth of the Cornish tin mining industry.

Among items known to the Department are that the method of assessing the rateable value of tin mines has been reviewed and made more equitable from 1 April 1983. Financial assistance has been provided to a mumber of companies under both the Industry Act 1972 and the Mineral exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972. Through the auspices of the Department, South Crofty Ltd. received a major loan from the European Investment Bank to assist in modernisation of its mine.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list by size, location and cost (a) all factories constructed and (b) all land acquired for industrial purposes by his Department and the English Industrial Estates Corporation in the Falmouth-Camborne-Hayle special development area since May 1979.

The information is as follows:

Location	Units	Size (sq ft)
1. Falmouth Special Development Area
(a) Tretoniggie Industrial Estate, Falmouth	2@	23,278 each
Parkengue, Kernick Road Industrial Estate, Penryn	1	22,873
	3@	9,817 each
	10@	500 each
	10@	1,000 each
Total	26	113,880
(b Bicklan, Water Road, Falmouth		10·75 acres
2. Camborne Special Development Area
(a) Druids Road, Poole Industrial Estate, Camborne	1	89,943
Wilson Way, Poole Industrial Estate, Camborne	1	48,129
	1	20,609
Total	3	158,681
(b) Nil

EC aid to Cornwall
Year	European Regional Development Fund Grants*		European Investment Bank Loans†
	Grants £ million	Number of Projects	Loans £ million	Number of Projects
1980	6·8	7	Nil	Nil
1981	5·1	7	7·3	5
1982	1·5	9	Nil	Nil
* Grants committed under the quota section of the European regional development fund in respect of approved industrial and infrastructure projects in the assisted areas.
† Loans disbursed to firms investing in projects which create or safeguard employment in the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money, in total, has been offered to firms in the Falmouth-Camborne-Hayle special development area in the form of (a) loans, and (b) grants since May 1979.

Some of the assistance which has been made available to industry in the Redruth travel-to-work area—which includes Camborne and Hayle—and Falmouth under the Industrial Development Act 1982—formerly the Industry Act 1972—since May 1979 is as follows:

	£ million
Payments of regional development grants	4·8
Section 7 grants offers of regional selective assistance	2·4
Section 8 grants offers of selective financial assistance	NIL

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much aid has been given by the EC to Cornwall, and for what projects, during each of the most recent years for which figures are available.

The following table provides, for each of the years 1980 to 1982, the number of projects in Cornwall in respect of which grants or loans have been received from the European regional development fund and the European Investment Bank, respectively, and the total amounts granted.Detailed analyses by project of the allocations from the European regional development fund were published in "British Business" for 22 February 1980, 27 June 1980, 6 February 1981, 6 March 1981, 17 July 1981, 5 February 1982, 2 July 1982 and 14 January 1983.Principles of commercial confidentiality preclude the disclosure of the particular projects which have benefited from European Investment.Firms in the area can also benefit from national schemes of assistance under the Science and Technology Act 1965; and there are also many other ways in which firms could benefit, as for example under the small engineering firms investment scheme and the loan guarantee scheme. But details cannot be identified without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is Scotland's share of the development aid made available under the second series of European regional development fund non-quota measures—1983 to 1987—as a proportion of the total available to the United Kingdom.

These Commission proposals for a second series of ERDF non-quota measures are still being considered by member states. The amount of aid for eligible areas in Scotland cannot be established until agreement has been achieved. The Government are pressing for an early decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in relation to the European regional development fund non-quota measures 1983 to 1987, he will support in the Council the European Parliament's proposals for a new non-quota section aimed at favouring remote and sparsely populated areas.

The European Commission has proposed that eligibility for non-quota section aid should be widened to include areas affected by serious problems arising from their situation as peripheral or insular regions or their depopulation. Provided that other United Kingdom interests were also adequately covered, the Government would be able to support this proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if talks are still going on between his Department, the British Steel Corporation and private steel firms on the proposed Phoenix 2 joint venture;(2) when he expects to receive proposals from the British Steel Corporation and private steel firms on the proposed Phoenix 2 joint venture;(3) when he expects to announce a conclusion to current talks between his Department, the British Steel Corporation and private steel firms on the proposed Phoenix 2 joint venture;(4) if he will make a statement on the progress of current talks between the British Steel Corporation and private steel firms on the proposed Phoenix 2 joint venture.

Talks are going on between BSC and private steel companies on a possible Phoenix 2 joint venture. However, no firm proposals from the companies have been received by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is now able to comment on the experiment on joint management of advisory services between the small firms service and the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I are now able to announce the results of the experiment on the joint management of the advisory services of the small firms service and the council for small industries in rural areas. The experiment was conducted to see whether there was wasteful duplication between these two public sector advisory organisations. A copy of the full report has been placed in the Library of the House.The results of the experiment, including the use of CoSIRA's initiatory approach in the urban environment of south Bristol, have been encouraging. The different objectives, working methods and skills of the two organisations have been found to be complementary rather than a wasteful duplication. The two organisations are now building on, and broadening, their present co-operation. Increasingly they appear together at promotional events and co-operate on publications for small firms. Where appropriate the SFS uses CoSIRA offices and is represented on CoSIRA county committees. Senior management of the two organisations meet regularly. Together the organisations represent to Government the interests of small firms. The main conclusions are that although, in theory, the possibility of duplication exists, it is not a material factor in practical terms, and that there is no justification for radical changes to existing successful operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will extend his Department's awareness schemes to include heat recovery technology.

Government assistance under the support for innovation arrangements for manufacturing firms using substantial amounts of energy and wishing to commission consultants to undertake design, specification and tender work in connection with a heat recovery project in their factory will be introduced on 1 June. The help will cover consultancy to a value of £3,000 plus half the cost of necessary additional work above that figure, subject to a maximum Government grant of £10,000 for consultancy on any one project. Notes for the guidance of applicants for this support will be published in due course.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 May 1983, c. 240]: Of the schemes summarised in the booklet "How to make your business grow", 58 concern financial assistance and 19 relate to advisory services. There are many difficulties in making cost estimates of the sort requested: of definition, of — in some schemes —distinguishing between large and small firm beneficiaries, of deciding how to allocate "costs" in loan guarantee and some taxation measures, of lack of existing information in some cases, and so on.It is not therefore possible to give figures either of total cost or cost for each year since 1979, nor are figures available on a travel-to-work area basis for either take-up rates or spending under the schemes.A study which I have commissioned is now under way and I hope that it will be possible eventually to give some estimates and analysis. But the total will not be available on a travel-to-work area basis, though figures for some schemes may be.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the proposals to provide compensation for pilots put forward at his request by Samuel Montagu; what the details of those proposals are; what consideration, and by whom, is now being given to those proposals, and when he expects to reach a conclusion; what proposals his Department has to introduce more voluntary and less compulsory regimes into pilotage in light of technological and navigational advances; and what consideration the Pilotage Commission, following discussion with himself, is now giving to reorganisation of the pilotage service.

My hon. Friend's question raises the three central and difficult problems of pilotage that have vexed shipping in United Kingdom ports for many years, namely alleged overmanning, alleged restrictions and high cost arising out of pilotage, and the most flexible and effective way to organise the pilotage services. I am glad to be able to tell my hon. Friend that important advances are now being made in all three areas.Last August I invited the merchant bankers, Samuel Montagu, to look at financial proposals originally put forward by the Pilotage Commission. This involved Samuel Montagu in investigating whether the present number of some 1,400 marine pilots was surplus to the commercial needs of shipping in British ports. Samuel Montagu carried out a widespread investigation of the present number and activities of pilots, and suggested a reduction of some 40 per cent., that is about 600 pilots, who might be surplus to the commercial needs of shipping in British ports today. The cost of this commercially unnecessary number of pilots places a heavy extra cost on shipping at a time when I have been undertaking a continuing and widespread campaign to increase the competitiveness of the Merchant Navy by the removal of burdens upon it. Samuel Montagu has put forward an interim scheme for the compensation of piliots which succeeds in fulfilling three important criteria namely, first, that it should be voluntary as far as pilots taking it up is concerned; second, that it succeeds in removing a substantial part of the cost of pilotage from the shipowners; and third, that it places no extra burden on Government funds. I have invited the Pilotage Commission to take the report forward in consultation with the interested parties. I hope that all parties will be able to reach agreement quickly, and thus help to end a very long-standing and complex complaint for shipping using United Kingdom ports.Regarding compulsory or voluntary pilotage regimes, many experts believe that the advance of modern navigational aids has, and can increasingly be expected to, reduce the needs in certain circumstances for a pilot. Compulsory pilotage regimes that were once regarded as essential for safety reasons may no longer be so. I am therefore now considering under what circumstances, and to what extent, there should be a shift away from compulsory regimes to voluntary ones.The Pilotage Commission has proposed that a widespread reappraisal of the pilotage service should be undertaken. In particular, the commission believes that the possibility of a central pilotage authority which would be the pilots' employer, and responsible for the provision of all pilotage services in the United Kingdom, should be examined.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement about the request from the Heathrow Airline Scheduling Committee that there should be some relaxation of the present ban on charter flights from Heathrow.

After careful consideration, I have decided that there should be a modest relaxation of the ban on whole-plane charters at Heathrow first introduced on 1 April 1978. From 1 June 1983 airline operators will be allowed to mount ad hoc sole use or special event charters from that airport for a trial period. This relaxation will not apply to series charters or inclusive tour whole-plane charter flights and the Heathrow scheduling committee has agreed to ensure that none of the modest number of additional flights anticipated will operate during the current night-quota period. These arrangements will be kept under review each year and will end when the proposed 275,000 air transport movement limit is introduced with the completion of the fourth terminal at Heathrow. In all other respects, the Government's Heathrow-Gatwick policy remains as set out in the then Secretary of State for Trade's statement on 13 May 1981 and, in particular, the requirement that no airline that is not presently operating scheduled international passenger services to Heathrow is allowed to start such services from that airport.

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

In each year of this Government, Department of Trade Ministers have undertaken a very substantial programme of overseas visits to promote our export trade and support the efforts of British industrialists. Ministers, in some cases with a group of industrialists, visited over 30 countries during 1982 alone.There are encouraging signs of an increased uptake of our services to exporters. The Department's work in assisting exporters, under the guidance of the British Overseas Trade Board, has settled down well under the new organisation of the five overseas trade divisions. The organisation provides an extensive range of assistance and services covering information and advice on world markets, practical help in entering new markets and establishing a sales operation, and a continuing flow of selling opportunities from overseas. As a result of reorganisation, some careful management planning, and the greater use of data processing, we have been able to maintain and expand the level of our services while achieving a significant reduction in manpower consistent with the Government's plans to reduce the size of the civil service overall.A particularly important area has been our support for companies seeking overseas project business. Our projects and export policy division focuses the whole range of Government services, including ECGD support and the aid and trade provision, in support of our firms pursuing overseas projects. Taking only projects valued at £50 million or more, the Department was last year associated with successes worth about £1·4 billion to the United Kingdom which will generate over 55,000 man years of work for contractors, subcontractors and equipment suppliers throughout the country.Our export competitiveness has been helped by the significant increase in productivity of industry in the past few years, accompanied by much more realistic pay settlements. The recent record has been a good one with a growth in the volume of our exports of 2 per cent. last year at a time when world trade probably declined by 2 per cent. With some of our major markets beginning to show signs of expansion and the improvement in cost competitiveness we are now well poised to take further advantage of opportunities overseas.The Department supported the European Commission in the successful conclusion of the Tokyo round of multilateral trade agreements in 1979 which updated and reinforced the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade. The Department has, with the Commission, subsequently participated fully in the various GATT committees implementing the GATT agreements resulting from the Tokyo round.The Department participated fully in the European Community's preparations of the ministerial meeting of the GATT in November 1982. This meeting saw realistic commitments in the ministerial declaration to support the open trading system and the setting up of a useful work programme to build on and supplement the results of the Tokyo round, including the work in GATT on the service industries of great importance in United Kingdom employment and overseas earnings.We have participated fully in the renegotiation of the European Community's instruments for the protection of our industries from increases in imports from third country sources.The Department, with the Department of Industry, has ensured the tightest possible protection for the United Kingdom clothing and textile industries in the renegotiation of the GATT multi-fibre arrangement. It has put forward United Kingdom interests in the renegotiation of the Community's bilateral agreements with supplying countries under the arrangement, and in the complementary arrangements with the Mediterranean countries.We have continued to help British industry pursue complaints against injury by dumped or subsidised imports and to claim the benefits of duty relief and duty suspension available under Community legislation. In January 1983 the Department set up an anti-counterfeiting unit.The Department had a leading role in the agreement reached in 1980 to establish a common fund for commodities, which the United Kingdom ratified on 31 December 1981.The Department contributed to the exercise resulting in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement about new facilities for free ports in the United Kingdom.The Department has continued to pursue maximum benefits for United Kingdom interests under our treaty rights and obligations as members of the European Community and under its preferential trade agreements, particularly with EFTA and Spain. It has played its full part in pressing for the strengthening of the internal market of the Community, including in the field of services.In July 1982 the Department published the White Paper on standards quality and international competitiveness— Cmnd. 8621—setting out the Government's proposals for strengthening our national standards system as a means of improving the international competitiveness of British Industry. The proposals were well received and the Department is co-ordinating action within Government to put them into effect. This includes the national quality campaign launched last month, as well as other measures of support for the whole standards initiative.The Department has pursued matters of concern to consumers.The Department has given financial support for organisations representing the consumer interest and published a strategy for reform of nationalised industry consumer councils. It has developed and refined the law relating to the sale and supply of goods and services and to weights and measures, arranged implementation of the average system of quantity control over packaged goods and enhanced its service for the design approval of weighing and measuring equipment. Liaison with the Director General of Fair Trading has been maintained on a wide range of subjects including the development of voluntary codes of practice. New safety regulations and prohibition orders have helped to reduce the sale of dangerous goods to the public.The Competition Act 1980 abolished the Price Commission and instituted new methods for efficiency audits of nationalised industries and other bodies. Six reports have been published; a further three are in train.The Department has taken steps to encourage a healthy and competitive civil aviation industry. The Civil Aviation Act 1980 paved the way for privatisation of British Airways and other steps have been taken to restore the airline to profitability. The Act also redefined the statutory framework of the licensing of air transport. The Secretary of State on appeal has directed the Civil Aviation Authority to license additional carriers on some important routes: this offers a wider choice to the traveller. He has also authorised a large programme of capital expenditure at many of our major airports, and has terminated the aviation security fund.In international discussions we have carried forward our commitment to the liberalisation of air services, particularly within Europe, with the aim of giving our airlines greater freedom to follow their own commercial judgment. We have secured routes from London to several major European destinations for a second United Kingdom carrier and have opened up the Hong Kong route to British Caledonian and Cathay Pacific in addition to the existing British Airways service. Within the European Community we have maintained our attempts to make progress in securing liberalising measures on regional services, air fares and competition to secure an approach that is in better harmony with the spirit of the Treaty of Rome.The Department was heavily involved in the part the Merchant Navy played in the operations in the south Atlantic last year. Planning with our NATO allies on the use of merchant shipping in time of emergency and war has been developed. The Merchant Shipping (Liner Conference) Act 1982 will enable the United Kingdom to implement the United Nations convention on a code of conduct for liner conferences, which will come into force in October 1983. In the field of maritime safety and the prevention of pollution the Department has played a leading role in the work of the International Maritime Organisation on adequate international standards, and in negotiating a European understanding on a common system of enforcement of those standards on ships visiting our ports, in order to eliminate the threat of substandard ships. Measures have been introduced to protect the health and safety of merchant seamen at work. More effective provisions have been made for dealing with maritime pollution incidents.In tourism, one of our leading service industries, we have made a start on removing duplication between the British Tourist Authority and English Tourist Board, increased the budget for section 4 project assistance and made it available to the whole of England.A wide-ranging review of policy towards the film industry has been started. In companies legislation, the Department has promoted two major measures: the Companies Act 1980 and 1981. The 1980 Act included provisions making insider dealing illegal, required fuller disclosure of directors' interests and gave better protection for minority shareholders. The 1981 Act provided a facility for companies to purchase their own shares; strengthened the law on disclosure of interests in shares; improved the companies inspection system; and extended the powers for the courts to disqualify directors. Since the relevant provisions were brought into force 10 months ago over 100 companies have bought their own shares and the Inland Revenue has approved in principle over 450 applications. In addition, the Department took advantage of these two measures to implement the second European company law directive on the distinction between private and public companies and the capital of public companies; and the fourth European company law directive on company accounts.In the field of securities trading, Professor L. C. B. Gower was commissioned in July 1981 to review the legal protection of the investor. The Department has just issued new regulations governing licensed dealers in securities and has brought to a satisfactory conclusion negotiations on the European directives dealing respectively with the particulars to be published when securities are submitted to official stock exchange listing; and to be published subsequently on a regular basis.In respect of insurance, the Department has promoted substantial legislative measures, the Insurance Companies Acts 1980, 1981 and 1982. The first extended aspects of supervisory provisions to Northern Ireland, the second implemented the European life establishment directive, as well as containing useful improvements in domestic law; the third was a consolidation measure.The Department has continued to develop the supervision of insurance, particularly by the issue of new regulations covering increased reporting to the Department by insurance companies; the most recent extended substantially the reporting of reinsurance and the controls on advertising by offshore insurers.The Department has continued to negotiate actively on a European directive on freedom of services, and on other European matters of concern to British insurers.In 1981 the Department published a comprehensive Green Paper—Cmnd. 8302—on the reform of the law on copyright, designs, and performers' protection; a wide range of response is now being analysed. The Department has continued to advance the British interest in patents, trade marks and copyright in international negotiations.The Department published in 1982 the report of the insolvency law review committee—Cmnd. 8558—and initiated public consultation on the recommendations on comprehensive proposals to produce a modern and reformed body of insolvency law.The Department has, since May 1979, reduced the number of its staff by just over 11 per cent.

asked the Minister for Trade what information he has as to the proportion of central Government funds used by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux for the purpose of salaries, wages and expenses in the last year for which figures are available; and how many staff were employed by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux in that year.

Grant-in-aid to NACAB in 1981-82—excluding grant for SACAB and GLCABS—was spent as follows:

	£000	per cent.
Staff costs	1,853	44·8
Travel and entertainment	188	4·5
Office expenses	238	5·7
Books and publicity	116	2·8
Capital equipment	36	0·8
Establishment expenses (rent, rates, lighting, heating, office maintenance)	195	4·7
Grant to bureaux	1,214	29·4
Other	299	7·3
	4,139	100

At 31 March 1982 the numbers of staff employed by NACAB were as follows:

	Full-time	Part-time
Central Office	93	10
Area Offices	119	14
Total	212	24

asked the Minister for Trade why the United Kingdom share of world trade in manufactures has declined since 1979; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the United Kingdom's share of world trade in manufactures in each year since 1970 and for 1982 in whole or in part on (i) 1975 weights and (ii) current weights.

Extremely difficult trading conditions have prevailed in world markets throughout this period. However the hon. Member will be pleased to note that the United Kingdom share increased during 1982. The figures are as follows:

United Kingdom share of volume of world*exports of manufactures† per cent.
	Current weighted	1975 weighted
1970	10·4	12·1
1971	10·4	12·3
1972	9·5	11·2
1973	9·4	11·2
1974	8·9	10·6
1975	9·1	10·7
1976	8·8	10·4

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the first three months of 1983 and for the 12 months ended on 31 March 1983 the United Kingdom trading deficit with the rest of the world, respectively, in manufactures less precious stones and in total trade less crude oil and precious stones.

The information is as follows:

United Kingdom Balance of Trade
£ million, balance of payments basis
	European Community (original six)	Rest of the world
	Visible balance	Visible balance
3 months ending 31 March 1983
(a) Manufactures less precious stones*	-1,914	+1,230

Proposal	Object	Stage Reached
Proposal for a Council Directive concerning the authorisation of scheduled international air services for the transport of passengers, mail and cargo between Member States.	To liberalise Community airlines' access to air routes between regional airports in the Community and to provide more flexible procedures for governments' approval of fares charged on these routes.	Under consideration by the Council; expected to be considered again June 1983.
Proposal for a Council Directive on tariffs for scheduled air transport between Member States.	To liberalise procedures for governments' approval of tariffs for the carriage of passengers and cargo by Community scheduled airlines on inter-Community routes.	Under consideration by a Council Working Group.
Amended proposal for a Council Directive on the co-ordination of the laws of Member States relating to self-employed commercial agents.	The approximation of Member States' laws etc. concerning the relationship between commercial agents and their principals in order to facilitate contracts where parties are in different Member States; facilitate trade in goods between Member States under single market conditions; and improve the economic position of agents vis-a-vis their principles.	Under consideration by a Council Working Group.
Proposal for a Council Directive on the co-ordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities other than of the close-ended type.	To permit certain unit trust-type funds to be marketed freely throughout the Community provided they have been authorised by one Member State in accordance with agreed minimum standards.	Under consideration by a Council Working Group.
Proposal for a Council Directive on the co-ordination of requirements for the drawing up, scrutiny and distribution of the prospectuses to be published when securities are offered for subscription or sale to the public.	To require persons offering unlisted securities to the public, to prepare prospectuses along the lines of those required for listed securities, and to have them vetted by a competent authority before publication.	Under consideration by a Council Working Group.
Proposal for a Council Directive on the approval of persons responsible for carrying out statutory audits of the annual accounting documents of certain types of companies.	To require Member States to introduce minimum standards for company auditors.	Under consideration by a Council Working Group.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing those draft directives currently under discussion in the European Community dealing with services and insurance, the object of each proposal and the stage in the legislative or consultative process which each has reached.

Information concerning the outstanding proposals for Council directives within the area of my Department's responsibility is set out in the following table:

asked the Minister for Trade which countries impose higher tariffs on the import of European Community cars than is imposed by the European Community on imports to the European Community from those countries.

I regret that this information is not readily available in the form requested. The majority of third countries have higher tariffs on imports of motor cars than does the Community. However, no tariff is payable on Community exports to the EFTA countries or to Japan; and the duty in the USA is only 2·8 per cent.

asked the Minister for Trade if, in the light of recent concern about the continued growth of buying power by larger firms, he will make a further reference of this matter to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under section 78 of the Fair Trading Act 1973.

The Commission's last investigation took nearly four years; its report "Discounts to Retailers" was published only two years ago. A further investigation of the same kind would not yet be justified, given the Commission's clear conclusion in 1981 that non-costrelated discounts had not in general operated against the public interest. But I continue to monitor developments closely.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate as an anti-competitive practice the agreement of the major petrol companies to fix the price of four star petrol at 179.1p.

The Director General is keeping competition in the petrol market under review. I understand he has no evidence that there is a price-fixing agreement among the major petrol companies. If the hon. Member has any such evidence he should get in touch with the director general.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will take steps to arrange that before the Monopolies and Mergers Commission issues its reports on takeover cases referred to it, it seeks the views of the workers in the concerns under investigation, or their trades unions.