asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on current Government policy towards the provision of aid to the Third world.

The Government's policy towards the provision of aid to the Third world remains as set out in the statement made to the House by my predecessor on 20 February 1980. This policy was spelt out at greater length in my speech to the Society for International Development on June 16.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish details of overseas aid given to Indonesia in each of the past four years.

Total gross disbursements of United Kingdom bilateral aid to Indonesia, including CDC loans, in each of the calendar years 1979 to 1982 were:—

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the sale of the British Gas Corporation's interest in the Wytch Farm oilfield.

British Gas is currently engaged on detailed negotiations with a view to finalising a sale to the Dorset group of independent British oil companies. It would not be right for me to make a statement until these negotiations, which are commercially confidential, have been concluded.

asked the Attorney-General how many people were evicted for non-payment of rent in 1982.

It is regretted that statistics are not collected of the number of people evicted for nonpayment of rent. It is estimated that in England and Wales during 1982 a total of 3,120 warrants for possession of residential property were executed on behalf of private landlords, and 11,960 on behalf of social landlords, mainly local authorities. These estimates are based on a sample of three months' data—February, June and October—collected during the year.

asked the Attorney-General how many people were subject to residential property possession orders in 1982.

It is regretted that statistics are not collected of the number of people subject to residential property possession orders. Estimates are available, however, of the numbers of residential property possession orders made by county courts, and these are set out in tabular form at annex A.

asked the Attorney-General how many advisory committees are concerned with recommending persons for appointment as magistrates; what regular procedures exist for reviewing the appointment of members of these committees; how many members have served for more than 10 or 20 years, respectively, what percentage of the total membership these represent; and how many are middle class and how many are working class among those with affiliation to each political party.

There are 96 advisory committees which recommend persons to the Lord Chancellor for appointment as magistrates with a total membership of 966. These committees cover the whole of England and Wales except for the counties of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside where appointments are made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under a similar system. The Lord Chancellor's committees are reconstituted every three years, when about half the members retire by rotation. Thirty-eight members have served for more than 10 years and three for more than 20 years. The percentages of the total that these figures represent are 3·9 per cent. and 0·3 per cent respectively. No record is kept of class description of members and in any event the term "middle class" and "working class" are not capable of precise definition. Not all members of advisory committees are affiliated to any political party.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many company liquidations there have been in the first half of 1983; and how these figures compare with (a) 1979, (b) 1980, (c) 1981 and (d) 1982, respectively.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give further consideration to the use of channel 9 of citizens band radio as a mandatory emergency wavelength.

I am not convinced that a mandatory restriction would be any more effective than the recommendation in the CB code of practice that channel 9 should be used only for emergencies and assistance. As part of a general revision of the CB licence, however, I am considering how this recommendation might be given greater prominence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the itinerary of the Minister of State's visit to Liverpool on 25 and 26 August was not made available to hon. Members representing Liverpool constituencies.

My private secretary wrote to the hon. Member on 22 August in the usual manner to inform him of the visit. Letters went also to the hon. Members for Birkenhead and Bootle. A tour of Knowsley industrial park was added to the programme at very short notice and I must apologise to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) that he was not informed of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's visit to Liverpool on 25 and 26 August.

During my visit I was pleased to open the Bootle information technology centre. I also held discussions with Merseyside task force, viewing the initiative underway at Knowsley industrial park; and Merseyside development corporation, with whom I toured the garden festival site and the BAT Industries new enterprise workshops.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report details of trade between the United Kingdom and Indonesia in each of the past four years.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the light of the order for the A320 Airbus recently announced by British Caledonian Airways, he will now make a statement on his Department's proposals for the provision of launching aid for this project.

The Government have noted the British Caledonian order with interest. It is a factor that the Government will bear in mind, among others, in assessing the case for launch aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he intends to take over the refusal by the West German authorities to import British beer; and if he will make a statement.

We share the view of the European Commission that the German beer purity laws are not compatible with Article 30 of the EC treaty and we have encouraged it to take action under article 169 of the treaty. The Commission is now considering the German reply to its reasoned opinion issued in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ban the import of pit bulldogs.

No. However, under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 it is an offence to cause, procure or assist at the fighting or baiting of any animal. If my hon. Friend has any evidence that illegal activities are taking place, I would hope that she would make it available to the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) regional development grant payments of over £25,000 to firms in the county of Merseyside between June 1979 and September 1983, inclusive, (b) those firms in receipt of such regional development grants which subsequently closed their plants in Merseyside, (c) the number of redundancies declared by firms in receipt of regional development grants during the same period and (d) the number of additional jobs created by the firms listed in (a).

[pursuant to his reply, 24 October 1982, c. 23]: Regional development grant payments of over £25,000 made between 1979 and June 1983 were published in "British Business" on 19 October 1979, 7 December 1979, 22 February 1980, 6 June 1980, 29 August 1980, 28 November 1980, 13 February 1981, 15 May 1981, 7 August 1981, 6 November 1981, 12 February 1982, 7 May 1982, 13 August 1982, 29 October 1982, 4 February 1983, 6 May 1983 and 29 July 1983. To provide the other information requested would require a disproportionate use of resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are in work; how this compares with the figures for 1977, 1963 and 1953, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

The employed labour force in March 1983 numbered 22,862,000, after making an allowance for undercounting, in Great Britain. In earlier years the figures were:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unemployment rate of those aged (a) under 25 years and (b) over 55 years, respectively.

On 14 July 1983, the latest date for which the quarterly age analysis is available, the estimated unemployment rates for the United Kingdom were 21·9 per cent. for those under 25 years of age and 9·6 per cent. for those aged 55 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people had been unemployed for 12 months or more in October 1983, or at the most recent date for which figures are available.

On 14 July 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available, there were 1,102,581 claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for more than 52 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for Merseyside;(2) what plans the Government have to reduce unemployment on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

We are, of course, concerned about the high level of unemployment on Merseyside. The area will continue to benefit from the very highest levels of Government assistance. It has, amongst other things, special development area status, a development corporation, an inner city partnership and an enterprise zone. The role of the Merseyside task force in strengthening the area's economy and improving its environment is to be enhanced; but future employment prospects on Merseyside and elsewhere depend mainly on our industries improving their competitiveness and on world trading conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the unemployment figures for the Merseyside special development area and the Liverpool travel-to-work area at the latest date; and what were the figures for May 1979.

On 8 September 1983 there were 141,996 unemployed claimants in the Merseyside special development area and 93,302 in the Liverpool travel-to-work area. On 10 May 1979 there were 80,933 and 57,060 registered unemployed respectively.The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the unemployment rate among the ethnic minorities in October 1983.

The latest available data, from the 1981 labour force survey, show that in the second quarter of 1981 17 per cent. of the ethnic minority work force in Great Britain were seeking work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places have been allocated to the construction industry under the youth training scheme; how many of these are for (a) craft, (b) clerical, (c) technical and (d) general operative places; how many of these have been taken up to date; and if he will show the position by regions.

The following table gives information about places provided by the construction industry training board under the youth training scheme. These account for the majority of places in the construction industry, though some places are also provided through other managing agents.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people left school in South Yorkshire in the summer, and, of these, how many (a) entered employment, (b) joined the youth training scheme and (c) are currently unemployed.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations his Department received and whom it consulted before drafting the Redundancy Payments (Local Government) (Modification) Order 1983, S.I. 1983, No. 1160.

The order was prepared in consultation with the Department of the Environment, the Department of Education and Science, the Home Office, the Scottish Office, the local authority associations, trade unions in the local government field and all the bodies listed in the order.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cost to central and local government of the changes made by the Redundancy Payments (Local Government) (Modification) Order 1983.

The long-term effect of the order is expected to be broadly neutral. Those made redundant and leaving local government altogether will clearly be entitled to payments based on total service, which may be longer than service with the last employer alone in a small minority of cases. Conversely, those made redundant but redeployed elsewhere in local government will no longer be entitled to payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what other employees or groups of employees enjoy similar benefits to those given to local government workers by the Redundancy Payments (Local Government) (Modification) Order 1983.

I assume my hon. Friend has in mind the provisions for aggregating service for redundancy payments purposes. Similar provisions apply, under a variety of statutory and negotiated arrangements, to National Health Service staff, registered dock workers, merchant seamen, and workers in the electricity supply industry. Employees in the private sector are also entitled to aggregate continuous service with associated employers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what commitments were received by his Department after the drafting of the Redundancy Payments (Local Government) (Modification) Order 1983 and before the order was made on 28 July.

A number of drafts were circulated at various times to interested parties in the local government field. Comments received mainly concerned the identity of the employing bodies to be included.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated number of people employed in the production, distribution and sale of tobacco and tobacco products.

The Department's statistics are analysed according to minimum list headings of the 1968 standard industrial classification. In June 1983, the provisional number of employees in employment in the manufacture of tobacco and tobacco products—MLH 240—in Great Britain was 24,100.The classification does not separately distinguish the distribution and selling side of the business.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he proposes to advertise his decision to change his Department's method of payment for employees made redundant by bankrupt employers so as to draw it to the attention of all those eligible;

My Department is considering both these issues. I will write to the hon. Member about them as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the dairy industry in Wales.

The state of the dairy sector will be considered as part of the current annual review of agriculture. However, the Welsh dairy herd has continued to expand both in numbers and production.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what functions, other than training of the Belize defence force, have been agreed for the units of the armed forces of the United Kingdom in Belize for the purposes of paragraph 2 of the British Note of 1 December 1981.

The only other function of the British armed forces in Belize is to assist in defence against external aggression.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the United Kingdom delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation are citizens of any country other than, or in addition to, the United Kingdom.

All members of the United Kingdom delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as listed in Her Majesty's diplomatic service overseas reference list are solely British citizens.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will provide answering machine facilities during the hours when Her Britannic Majesty's embassy in Paris and consulate in Calais are closed.

The British embassy in Paris is manned 24 hours a day, so no automatic answering machine is needed. There has been no career consulate in Calais since 1980, when it was closed for reasons of economy. The honourary consulate there falls within the district of the consulate-general in Lille, which is equipped with an answering machine.Outside office hours the French authorities refer any British nationals in Calais who wish to speak to a British consular officer to the British consulate-general in Lille, where a telephone answering machine gives the telephone number of the duty consular officer. These arrangements are cost effective and, so far as we are aware, work satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the present relations between Her Majesty's Government and Indonesia; and if he will make a statement.

Our relations with Indonesia are good.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how Her Majesty's Government will vote at the United Nations this week regarding the seating of the Kampuchean delegation.

The report of the Credentials Committee, which again recommended acceptance of the credentials of democratic Kampuchea, was accepted on 20 October by the General Assembly without a vote.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to the forum talks taking place in the Republic of Ireland over Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions in the new Ireland forum are a matter for the political parties involved. Such discussions cannot affect the fundamental position that there will be no change in the status of Northern Ireland as a part of the United Kingdom without the consent of a majority of people of Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

At present eight meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for November. The usual written forecast was deposited in the House on 27 October.The Energy Council will meet on 4 November. Energy Ministers are expected to discuss the Community's energy objectives for 1990. In addition, Ministers are expected to discuss the solid fuels initiative including coking coal; energy demonstration projects; the rational use of energy and the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas resources.The Special Council will meet on 9 to 12 November to discuss the future financing of the Community and other issues covered in the Stuttgart declaration in preparation for the European Council in Athens. Our main concern will be to reach agreement on an effective control of the rate of increase of agricultural and other expenditure and on an arrangement to ensure a fair sharing of the financial burden so that no country has to pay a share disproportionate to its relative national wealth.The Economic and Finance Council is expected to meet on 14 November. In preparation for the Athens European Council it is possible that the Council will further discuss economic and monetary matters. Ministers may also have an initial discussion of the Commission proposal on financing of European innovation loans.The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 14–15 November. It is expected to consider the Commission's proposals for a Community agricultural structure programme which includes extension of less favoured areas; the Commission's proposals for imports of butter from New Zealand; imports of frozen beef under GATT from third countries; the Commission's proposals for amending or phasing out monetary compensatory amounts—MCAs—and a review of the sheepmeat regime.The Development Council will meet on 15 November and is expected to discuss Community assistance to national food aid strategies, food aid policy, and guidelines for the 1984 aid programme to non-associates.The budget Council will meet on 22 November to consider the European Parliament's amendments and modifications to the 1984 Draft community budget.The Council of Environment Ministers will meet on 28 November. Items which are likely to be on the agenda include the draft directive on environmental assessment of public and private projects, the draft regulation on action by the Community relating to the environment, the draft directives on air pollution, mercury in the aquatic environment, the transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste, and a working group interim report on the introducion of unleaded petrol It is also possible that the draft directive on beverage containers will be on the agenda.The Foreign Affairs Council is expected to meet on 28–29 November to discuss Greenland's future relationship with the European Communities; the institutional arrangements for determining the Community's food aid programme for 1984 and onwards, and arrangements for voluntary restraint on steel imports from third countries in 1984. Ministers may also discuss the Commission's consultations with the United States Administration about quotas and duties imposed on EC special steel imports into the United States, and possible action by the community in the trade policy field as a follow-up to the OECD ministerial meeting and the Williamsburg summit of May 1983.The Council will also prepare its position on various aspects of the Portuguese accession negotiations in preparation for the ministerial negotiating conference with the Portuguese which is expected to take place in the margins of the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest pupil to teacher ratios for each local education authority in England.

In January 1983 the provisional pupil-teacher ratios within maintained primary and secondary schools were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the West Midlands college of higher education, Walsall;(2) if he will receive a delegation consisting of hon. Members representing constituencies in Walsall, representatives from the West Midlands college of higher education and the local authority to discuss the consequences of the National Advisory Body's recommendations upon higher education in Walsall and the west midlands.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting the National Advisory Body's advice—which will not be finally determined for some weeks yet—on the provision in 1984–85 at the West Midlands college of higher education and elsewhere in the local authority sector of higher education. I would, however, be happy to meet a delegation as suggested by the hon. Member—if he still so wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which universities, apart from Liverpool, have established chairs of general practice.

I understand that chairs of general practice have been established at the medical schools of the following institutions:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Leicester
• University of London: United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospitals (2 chairs) St.Mary's Hospital Medical School
• University of Manchester
• University of Southampton
• University of Wales (Welsh National School of Medicine)
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Dundee
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Glasgow
• Queen's University, Belfast.

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.

In view of the good response to the Royal College of Music's appeal, which has now raised over £2 million from non-Government sources, and to enable the college to commit itself to the construction of a new opera theatre, the Government have agreed on behalf of the taxpayer to increase their total contribution to £500,000. Of this, £300,000 has already or will shortly be paid under the terms of the agreement described in the answer to my hon. Friend on 10 May 1983. [Vol. 42, c. 237–38.] The remaining £200,000 will now be paid on completion of approved building work associated with the appeal, half in the current financial year and half in 1984–85, subject to the appeal raising from all sources £2·5 million and £3 million respectively by the time when payment is sought and, in the case of the final £100,000, subject also to parliamentary approval of the Department's Estimates for 1984–85. The Government hope that their offer will encourage further donations from non-Government sources to enable the Royal College to achieve its aim of raising £4 million in total.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 October.

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 whether she will visit Handsworth.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister in which sectors of industry she expects a significant increase in jobs.

Jobs will be created where firms improve their competitiveness and generate new markets for their products. No one can predict developments in different sectors of industry with certainty.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to abate the ministerial salaries of Ministers of the Crown who hold national office in a political party; and if she will make a statement.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what duties were undertaken at the Department of Employment by the hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) while Under-Secretary of State; what are his present duties; and if she will make a statement.

asked the Prime Minister what new ministerial responsibilities have been conferred on the hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) following his promotion from Under-Secretary of State to Minister of State, Department of Employment; and if she will make a statement.

My hon. Friend retains the responsibilities he had as Under-Secretary for industrial relations, union reform, employee rights, employee participation, job satisfaction; dock labour; health and safety at work; redundancy pay; pay, hours of work, holidays, wages councils.In addition, he has assumed responsibility for international labour matters and financial and staff management in the Department of Employment and will have a leading role in taking the Trade Union (Amendment) Bill through the House. I am satisfied that the additional responsibilities assumed by my hon. Friend require and justify his appointment as a Minister of State.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will increase the level of publicity and support provided by Her Majesty's Government to the work of the Western European Union; and if she will make a statement.

We are fully committed to the provisions of the modified Brussels treaty of 1954 which forms the legal basis for the Western European Union. But we see no need to increase the present level of support or to supplement the organisation's own publicity effort.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will increase the level of publicity and support provided by Her Majesty's Government to the work of the Council of Europe; and if she will make a statement.

We consider the work of the Council of Europe very valuable over a broad range of its activities, and especially in the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. but see no need to increase the present level of our support or to supplement the organisation's own publicity effort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the number of violent offences committed in the metropolitan area for the most recent period of 12 months, by nature of the offence, the time of day it was committed, the area in which it was committed, and the sex of the victim.

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information readily available is as given in the following tables: