asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of the United Kingdom's net budget contribution to the European Community is attributable to the inclusion of the dairy sector in the common agricultural policy;(2) what is his latest estimate of the net contribution which the United Kingdom will require to make to the European Community in respect of the year 1983; and what were the comparable actual figures in respect of each of the previous 10 years.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the consequences of the decision of the European Assembly to block the payment of the rebate for 1983 to the United Kingdom;(2) if he will take steps to withhold from the United Kingdom's contributions to the European Community the agreed rebate of some £450 million which has been blocked by a decision of the European Assembly on 27 October; and if he will make a statement.

The amendment to the 1984 draft budget proposed by the European Parliament would place United Kingdom and German refunds in respect of 1983 in the reserve chapter 100 rather than blocking them. The United Kingdom will be arguing in the November Budget Council for reinstatement of the draft budget entries. It is too early to be considering whether any further steps will be needed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much are the import levies on maize and rice from Africa, Pacific and Caribbean countries; and how much they are from countries outside the Africa, Pacific and Caribbean group, in each case at the most recent convenient date.

Maize — other than for sowing — imported into the United Kingdom from Africa, Pacific and Caribbean countries bore levy—including monetary compensatory amounts—of £36·6853 per tonne on 28 October 1983. Maize from other third countries bore levy — including monetary compensatory amounts — of £37·7324 per tonne on the same date.Importations of rice, which is not subject to monetary compensatory amounts, into the United Kingdom bore levy on 28 October 1983 according to the following table:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received seeking the introducion of mortgage tax relief for tenant farmers who purchase retirement homes which while working they cannot occupy because of the obligation to reside in the farmhouse; and whether he has any plans to bring forward legislative proposals.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to exempt community councils in Scotland from liability to corporation tax and to exclude them from the Taxes Act definition of a company, in order to ensure that any income derived from the investment of surplus funds is not taxed.

No. It would not be right to treat Scottish community councils differently from the many other bodies which serve a particular need or community but which do not enjoy exemption from corporation tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Government subsidy per tonne of coal produced in each of the European Community countries including the United Kingdom.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington (Mr. Boyes) on the same subject on 6 July 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report of the scientific and development branch on hand-held radar speed detection devices.

We hope that the scientific research and development branch will be able to complete this part of their work by the end of the year. Their findings will be made public as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce legislation to give voting rights to British citizens absent on holiday on polling day.

In the next Session of Parliament, subject to the availability of parliamentary time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation which will enable the police to deal with persons who abuse solvents in a manner similar to those who abuse alcohol.

Earlier this year the Government circulated a consultative letter to statutory and voluntary bodies concerned with solvent misusers on ways of tackling solvent misuse. In the light of the responses to that consultation, the Home Secretary is considering with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any changes in the powers available to the police would be desirable. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security hopes to make a statement before the Christmas Adjournment on additional measures to combat solvent misuse.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the Metropolitan police's authorised firearm officers have asked to be taken off the firearms list.

Since 1 January 1983, 81 Metropolitan Police officers have been removed from the list of authorised firearms officers at their own request. The reasons given by the officers for removal from the list are as follows: 33 because of postings to new duties; 30 for domestic or personal reasons; 17 because of illness or age. In one case no reason was given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) juveniles were held in custody in police or court cells at the latest available date.

On the night of 27 October, 259 prisoners were held in police cells, all of whom were adult males.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a public inquiry under the Police Act into the shooting of Stephen Waldorf.

No. the question of disciplinary proceedings is still being considered, and the Commissioner will be reporting to my right hon. and learned Friend on the implications of the case for firearms procedures in the Metropolitan Police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning incidents of public disorder which occurred in Balham, London, between 17 June and 1 July 1983; what was the ethnic breakdown of the persons involved; and if he will make a statement concerning the substance of the report.

I understand from the Commissioner that the only such incident of note occurred at about 6 pm on 29 June at Balham London Transport station. Police tried to detain a man suspected of robbery and were confronted by a predominantly black crowd of about 50 people. Other Local officers and six district support units attended the scene, but the suspect escaped during the disturbance. Five other men were arrested for public order offences, and seven police officers received minor injuries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning incidents of public disorder which occurred in All Saints Road, North Kensington, on Monday, 1 August 1983; what was the ethnic breakdown of the persons involved; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the report.

I understand from the Commissioner that at 4.30 pm on 1 August two police officers arrested a man in All Saints Road on suspicion of committing a drug offence. The man was placed in a police van and a large crowd, mostly black, gathered and tried to open the doors of the van. Other officers quickly arrived and dispersed the crowd, allowing the van to leave.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning incidents of public disorder which occurred in Brixton, London, between 29 March and 4 June 1983; what was the ethnic breakdown of the persons involved; and if he will make a statement concerning the substance of the report.

I understand from the Commissioner that the only such incident of note during this period occurred in Railton Road, Brixton, during the early evening of 4 June. Two police officers arrested a man suspected of a drug offence. The man tried to escape, and while detaining him the officers were attacked by a group of ten to 15 men. The officers were punched and kicked and one of their radios was stolen as they tried to call for assistance; the suspect made his escape and the assailants dispersed. Some time later the police received information that one of the attackers was still on Railton Road. The man was arrested and taken away in a police van, while a crowd numbering about 150 gathered and stoned the van. After the van had left, the crowd overturned a police car which was temporarily unattended in Railton road and set it alight. Six district support units were deployed in the area and one of these recovered the police car. The crowd quickly dwindled and normal policing of the area was then resumed. One man was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer and theft of a radio. The crowds involved in the incident were predominantly black.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning incidents of public disorder which occurred in Stonebridge, London, between 20 May and 3 June 1983; what was the ethnic breakdown of the persons involved; and if he will make a statement concerning the substance of the report.

I understand from the Commissioner that two incidents of public disorder took place in Stonebridge park during this period. In each, the crowd involved was predominantly black. At about 7.30 pm on 31 May an officer on patrol in the Stonebridge park estate saw a man wanted for questioning in connection with a serious assault. The man made off and was enabled to escape by a group of men obstructing the police officer. Other officers arrived and approached a youth club into which the men who had obstructed their colleague had run. A disturbance took place outside the club, during which three officers received minor injuries and a police car was damaged by a brick. Four men were arrested before the crowd, which numbered about 100, dispersed.At about 3 pm on 3 June three officers went to the Estate to collect an abandoned safe. A milk crate was thrown at one of them, striking him in the face. The man believed to be responsible was chased and arrested, but a crowd of about 40 people gathered and a disturbance followed in which one officer was hit on the head by a bottle. More officers attended and the crowd dispersed without further incident.

asked the Solicitor General for Scotland how many cases involving injury attributable to glue sniffing or solvent abuse have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal's offices or to the Crown Office, for each of the last five years, including 1983 to date.

The information sought is not available. Generally, where a person abusing solvent injures himself that would only be reported to the procurator fiscal if that person died. Where it is known that solvent abuse may have played a part in the commission of an offence resulting in injury to a third person this fact will be brought to the attention of the court, but, it is not possible to say how many cases fall into this category.

asked the Attorney-General if he will prosecute Mr. Gerald Long for falsifying company records at Times Newspapers Ltd. contrary to the provisions of the Companies Acts.

Neither I nor the Director of Public Prosecutions is in possession of any evidence to suggest that any such offences have been committed and no report to that effect has been received. If the hon. Member has evidence that he believes discloses such offences perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the economic progress made in the United Kingdom since the last Budget.

Yes. Inflation is running within the Budget forecast and bank interest rates have come down. Output is up and the underlying increase in unemployment shows a marked fall.

asked the Prime Minister what subjects she expects to be raised at the next meeting of the European Council.

Heads of Government will discuss progress in the major negotiation called for at the June European Council at Stuttgart to tackle the most pressing problems facing the Community, namely the Community's future financing arrangments, including the particular problems of certain member states and the need for greater budgetary discipline; the common agricultural policy; the development of Community policies and issues relating to enlargement.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Boddam.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he plans any changes in the arrangements for early retirement enhancement as they apply to the Ministry of Defence service children's education authority.

No. Full-time teachers employed by the Ministry of Defence service children's education authority may, except in certain circumstances, elect to be covered by the teachers superannuation scheme and are then subject to the qualifying conditions for the early payment of its retirement benefits.Employers who wish to enhance those benefits must meet themselves the costs of enhancement and administration. The arrangements allowing enhancement for teachers employed by local authorities or in maintained or grant-aided establishments in England and Wales do not cover teachers employed by the Authority, and questions about benefits, beyond those provided under the teachers superannuation scheme, are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has completed consideration of the report of the review group on the youth services; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about his response to the report of the review group on the youth service.

Consideration of the report's outstanding recommendations is well advanced and will now take in relevant material in the recently completed report on the review of the National Youth Bureau, a copy of which report has been placed in the Library. The Government's considered response will follow as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much public money was spent on the proposed Liverpool cathedral school which was later abandoned.

This is a question for the Liverpool education authority which bore the statutory responsibility for implementing the proposals to establish this school approved by my right hon. Friend on 6 November 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when his Department was informed of the sale of the land of the former St. James secondary school by the then Liverpool city council;(2) what action his Department took after being advised of the sale of the land of the former Liverpool St. James secondary school by the then Liverpool city council.

A letter received by the Department on 6 June claimed that the cathedral school site had been sold. This claim was put to the authority which confirmed the sale on 30 June. The Department took up the matter in letters dated 19 and 21 July, copies of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the sale of the land of the former Liverpool St. James secondary school.

The suggestion that the authority might be considering the disposal of the premises of the former St James secondary modern school in advance of my right hon. Friend's decision on the statutory proposals published on 17 September 1982, was put to my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Dr. Boyson) by a member of a deputation opposed to those proposals which he received at the Department on 24 March 1983. My hon. Friend asked that he be sent details to enable the Department to consider the matter: a letter was received on 6 June. My right hon. Friend received a letter dated 21 April from the Liverpool Association of Parents Concerned with Education which, among other things, drew attention to the granting of planning permission for the development of the site as part of a housing scheme. Further representations were made when my right hon. Friend and I met the leader of the city council and some of his colleagues on 2 August and when the hon. Member brought a deputation of parents from Harrington school to see me on 3 August.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will order a public inquiry into the sale of the land of the former St. James secondary school, Liverpool.

No; an inquiry caused to be held under section 93 of the Education Act 1944 would not assist my right hon. Friend in the exercise of his statutory functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the use by student unions of their funds for political purposes; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General recently issued guidance to higher education institutions about the limitations on the use of their student union's funds. This guidance makes clear that it will not generally be lawful for union funds to be spent on the furtherance of political purposes unconnected with a union's own purposes as defined in its constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet considered the report on the review of the national youth bureau; and whether he will now make a further statement on the outstanding recommendations from the report of the review group on the youth service.

I received Mr. Cockerill's report on 14 September and immediately arranged for its publication which took place on 19 October. I shall now be considering the proposals in Mr. Cockerill's report taking account of comments from interested bodies and others requested by the end of November. I shall, in particular, be considering further the review group's recommendation that a national youth advisory council be established upon which Mr. Cockerill commented in his report. The Government's considered view of this and other outstanding recommendations for Government from the review group's report will be announced as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list the functions of the Church Commissioners in respect of which he answers parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement.

I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in answering his question. I have written to him with an explanation.The Second Church Commissioner answers parliamentary questions upon all functions of the Church Commissioners. The commissioners are required to direct the income from the assets entrusted to them primarily toward the support of the pay, pensions and housing of the stipendiary ministry of the Church of England. They have also other statutory responsibilities notably in the sphere of pastoral reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies are registered with his Department for qualified doctors and nurses.

On 2 September, the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at Government employment services in the United Kingdom were two for medical practitioners and administrators and 1,686 for state registered and state enrolled nurses and state certified midwives.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish details of the take-up of the enterprise allowance, region by region and district by district, in Yorkshire and Humberside.

At 21 October the number of people accepted onto the enterprise allowance scheme since the scheme was extended nationally on 1 August 1983 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications there were to industrial tribunals for unfair dismissal due to trade union membership or trade union activities for the years 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982; how many such cases were actually heard in each year; and in how many of such cases the claimant was successful.

Because of past problems over the accuracy of data input, reliable information on the number of complaints of unfair dismissal on grounds of trade union membership and activities is not available. The following figures should therefore be treated with considerable caution:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many jobs have been lost in the sweet and confectionery industry on Merseyside over the past four years;(2) how many jobs have been lost in the edible oil industry on Merseyside in each of the past four years to the latest available date.

I regret that the information is not available. The number of net job losses or gains may be calculated by comparing employment figures at different dates, but these are not available for areas below regional level except from censuses of employment. Information is available from the June 1978 census but local results of the following census—for September 1981—are not yet ready.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the implications of the proposed closure of the Huntley and Palmers factory on Merseyside.

Any closure of this size must be a blow to employment prospects on Merseyside. However, I understand that the proposed redundancies are to be spread over five months and that several hundred people will be offered alternative jobs at a sister plant in nearby Aintree. The Manpower Services Commission will of course do all it can to help the remainder find new jobs or retraining opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now extend the youth training scheme to all unemployed 17-year-olds.

We have no plans to do so at present. Seventeen-year-old school leavers who are unemployed are already eligible for a place on the scheme. Most other unemployed 17-year-olds will have already had up to a year on the youth opportunities programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will now approve the code of practice of the Equal Opportunities Commission for the elimination of sex and marriage discrimination and the promotion of opportunity in employment; and if he will make a statement;(2) when he expects the Equal Opportunities Commission code of practice for the elimination of sex and marriage discrimination and the promotion of equality of opportunity in employment to be laid before Parliament; and when he proposes that it shall come into effect.

The Equal Opportunities Commission has not yet submitted its code of practice to my right hon. Friend for approval. I cannot therefore say when he will lay it before Parliament or when it will come into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of persons who have been granted early retirement under the revised job release scheme over the six months period from April 1983 in Scotland and in Great Britain as a whole; what percentage this represents of the present total of unemployed persons; and what is the number of persons who have applied for job release and been refused as a result of the stricter conditions in the revised scheme.

The information (where available) is set out in the table:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many apprentices there have been in the United Kingdom manufacturing industry for every year since 1979.

The numbers of people undertaking apprenticeships in manufacturing industry in each of the years 1979–1983 are estimated to be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the intermediate nuclear forces talks in Geneva.

Progress has been most disappointing. The Russians have failed to take advantage of NATO's flexibility, in particular our amendment to the offer of an interim agreement; for example, our offer that NATO would not seek by Pershing 2 and cruise missile deployments in Europe to match all SS20 deployments throughout the Soviet Union and our suggestion that some aircraft could be included. We shall study carefully what the Russians say in Geneva to clarify Mr. Andropov's interview of 26 October in Pravda, and shall welcome any positive elements. But the Russians are still insisting on retaining a monopoly of the relevant INF missiles.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which heads of foreign missions in the United Kingdom require their staff with diplomatic immunity nevertheless to pay parking fines which they incur.

It is our understanding that the heads of the following 10 diplomatic missions require their staff to pay their parking fines, although the list may not be exhaustive:

• Australia
• Canada
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• South Africa
• Sweden
• United States of America

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's present relations with the Philippines.

We enjoy good relations with the Philippines and value our friendship with her as an influential member of ASEAN.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to realign the A1 in the vicinity of Charlton Mires, north of Alnwick.

I am pleased to say that the statutory procedures for Alnwick bypass stage II have now been completed, and that work on this scheme is expected to start early in the summer of 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has as yet made an assessment of the experimental signs along some motorways telling motorists the local radio frequencies for traffic news; and if he will make a statement.

The results of the experiment are being analysed by the transport and road research laboratory and the broadcasting organisations. I shall make a statement when this analysis is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what approaches have been made to him by British Airways in connection with leasing of Boeing 737–200 aircraft; and what information he has called for from them;(2) if he will make statement on Her Majesty's Government involvement in the leasing of Boeing 737–200 aircraft by British Airways.

The British Airways board sought the Secretary of State's approval to acquire 14 Boeing 737–200 aircraft on a short-term lease. Following discussions with British Airways on the proposal the Secretary of State gave his consent. British Airways has emphasised that the short-term lease provides it with flexibility to review its requirements for the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the next generation of short-stage aircraft, including the A320 Airbus becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to exclude motorway traffic from central London after the completion of the M25 road system.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has of accidents caused by bus coaches which have been fitted with secondhand tyres; and if he will take steps to ensure that only new tyres are fitted to such coaches.

We have no evidence that accidents have been caused by the fitment of secondhand tyres on coaches.Existing legislation prohibits the use of any tyre on a vehicle if it does not conform with requirements of the Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the working groups set up to look into the transfer of ships to the United Kingdom register have completed their work; and what conclusions they have reached.

The two working groups whose formation was announced in December 1982 have completed their work and a copy of the report has been placed in the Library. They found that some of the costs that have in the past been incurred upon the transfer of ships to United Kingdom registry were avoidable. To minimise such costs in future, they agreed upon revised procedures, which have been incorporated in instructions to my Department's marine surveyors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table indicating the expected outturn of grants to be given during the present financial year to the Voluntary Service Overseas organisation; how these compare with corresponding figures for each of the past five years; and if he will maintain this level of the grant in real terms for 1984–85.

The estimated outturn of our grant to Voluntary Service Overseas for this financial year and the corresponding figures for the previous five years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total amount of overseas aid given to the Philippines in each of the past four years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid the Government have offered to Mozambique on the occasion of President Machel's recent visit to the United Kingdom.

Under the United Kingdom-Mozambique retrospective terms arrangement 1983, the British Government will waive repayments totalling £22·5 million on existing aid loans. Further technical co-operation assistance will give Mozambicans the opportunity to study in Britain at a cost of £350,000 over the next two years. Some 11,500 tonnes of cereals will be provided to combat the effects of severe drought. We have also agreed to provide assistance to the health sector in the form of anaesthetic machines and expertise to train local staff in their use. As part of Britain's support for the Southern African development co-ordination conference, a grant of £10·1 million was announced for the rehabilitation of the Limpopo railway line, subject to agreement on various aspects of the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was invested in new machinery and factories per worker in 1982; what are the comparative figures for (a) the United States of America (b) Germany, and (c) Japan, respectively; and how these compare with similar figures for 1978.

The latest information available from OECD statistics, relating to 1981, and comparable figures for 1978, are shown in national currencies and converted to pounds sterling at official exchange rates:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many jobs he estimates to have been lost in non-assisted areas, especially the west midlands, by the policy of grants to assisted areas;(2) how many jobs he estimates to have been created during the last 20 years by grants to assisted areas; and what is the cost per job to the taxpayer.

Estimates of the effects of regional industrial policy are not available beyond 1981. It is estimated that, over the period 1960–81, regional industrial policy raised employment in the main United Kingdom assisted areas, as defined in 1979, by the order of half a millin jobs. Most of these jobs represent a diversion of activity from other parts of the country, but no estimates are available of the number of jobs lost in the west midlands, or in the non-assisted areas generally.The cost per job is difficult to estimate because it depends on the life of jobs created by policy; and the net cost to the taxpayer also depends on the extent of flowbacks to the Exchequer. It is estimated that in the 1970s the gross public expenditure cost of creating an additional job in the British assisted areas was of the order of £35,000 at 1981 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the countries from which coal has been imported in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 to the latest available date, together with the tonnage from each of those countries.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by Governments during the last 20 years on regional aid to assisted areas.

For the years 1963–64 to 1982–83 it is estimated that gross expenditure on regional preferential assistance to industry in the assisted areas of Great Britain has been approximately £19,000 million at 1982 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will establish an Industry Act scheme for poultrymeat and eggs to enable British poultrymen and egg processors to compete on equal terms with their continental competitors.

We prefer Industrial Development Act schemes to encourage particular technologies or innovation without reference to the sector in which applicants operate, and to support individual firms in sectors like poultrymeat and eggs under those schemes against the criteria of sections 7 and 8 of the Industrial Development Act according to their location. A number of firms from the poultrymeat and eggs sector have recently been in receipt of such assistance, or have applications in appraisal at present.

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 the Philippines over the past four years.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Rolls-Royce RB211 engines have either been fitted to or ordered for the Boeing 757 aircraft; and what proportion this represents of fittings originally expected.

Rolls-Royce has, to date, secured firm orders for RB211–535 engines to be fitted to 51 Boeing 757 aircraft. In addition, the company has conditional orders and options for -535 engines on another 52 B757s. This gives a total of 206 engines not including spare engines, and represents approximately 60 per cent. of the orders placed for Boeing 757s so far. Initial sales of the Boeing 757 have been slower than originally expected owing to the deep recession in the airline industry, but the aircraft has had an excellent entry into service, and we remain confident that it has very strong prospects for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the report of Professor Gower on investor protection; and when he expects to publish it.

Professor Gower hopes to deliver his report by the end of this month. I expect to publish it as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has been advised of the proposed takeover of J. Bibby Edible Oils Ltd., Liverpool, by Bunge and Co. Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

The Office of Fair Trading is currently looking at this proposed takeover to establish whether there appears to be a merger qualifying for investigation under the Fair Trading Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for the registration of a company name have been referred by the Registrar of Companies to British Telecommunications for either comments upon the name or non-objection to the name; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the views of British Telecom have been sought by the Registrar of Companies in respect of three applications for the registration of company names and that, in two of those cases, no objection was received. In the third case, the applicant decided not to proceed with the registration.The use of the word "British" is not normally allowed in company names unless the company to be registered is pre-eminent in its field. Accordingly, another applicant was invited to obtain the views of British Telecom in respect of an application to register a PLC with a very similar name.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied that no grants of public money to the Prestige Group will fail to be repaid if that company is disposed of by the American Home Products Corporation, as is proposed by that parent company.

Assistance provided by the Department of Trade and Industry is subject to terms and conditions which, if not met, may lead to recovery. Except for the details of grant payments published in British Business, details of the Department's dealings with recipients are confidential. This includes details of grant recoveries in individual cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the levels of imports of newsprint and the decision by the European Community to approve a 10 per cent. duty; and whether he expects that the Community will agree on the supplementary quota for 1983.

A supplement to the present 1983 tariff quota of 2·5 million tonnes is under consideration and proposals are awaited from the European Commission. If agreement on the supplement is not reached then the duties provided for in the common customs tariff may be reimposed upon exhaustion of the present tariff quota.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Council of Ministers meeting on the internal market which took place on Wednesday 26 October.

The meeting of the Council held on 26 October which I attended covered a wide range of topics affecting the operation of the internal market of the European Community, and in particular dealt with the priority issues identified by the two previous European Councils: Community certification of goods of third country origin, the proposed common commercial policy regulation and measures to reduce frontier formalities.There was a useful discussion of the question of Community certification of products of third country origin, and it was agreed to resume discussion at expert level of the 21 proposals for directives which have hitherto been blocked, with the aim of establishing which might be adopted without the need for any clause to deal with third country goods. It is expected that this work will proceed in parallel with the further examination of the proposed common commercial policy regulation with the objective of making progress towards solutions on both issues by the Athens European Council early in December.Agreement was reached on all the main outstanding issues in the proposed frontier facilitation directive. When adopted this directive should bring a number of practical benefits to exporters and tourists to other Community countries in the form of improved procedures for resolving difficulties betwen member states, better co-ordination between customs posts at adjacent frontiers and reduced waiting times at frontiers, through streamlined checking procedures for goods vehicles and fast lanes for transit traffic. Agreement was also reached on the funding for a three-year Community programme to improve the infrastructure for innovation and technology transfer. Ten million ecu will be made available but there will be a review after 18 months to determine, in the light of the programme's track record, whether any additional funding would be justified. Uses to which the funds will be put include pump-priming support for closer links between academic research and industry such as science parks, improved mobility of researchers and collaborative programmes to exploit technological advances.Agreement was reached on a number of other measures, including a directive on textile names and labelling which will enable consumers throughout the community to be informed more precisely than hitherto about the materials from which garments have been manufactured; a directive on proprietary medicinal products which is a modest but useful step to facilitate intra-Community trade in these products and directives on cosmetics and measuring instruments which update Community standards for those products.The Commission of the European Communities outlined a substantial programme of further work on the internal market, and in particular proposals for improvements in European standards marking to facilitate trade within the Community. This programme will be discussed at future Meetings of the Council, the next of which will be towards the end of November.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps he has taken to maximise the inclusion of British components in modern civil aircraft; what steps he is taking to seek to secure the inclusion of a high percentage of British airframe and engine components in the Airbus family of aircraft; and if he will make a statement;(2) what information he has regarding the percentage of British components in the Boeing 767 aircraft, and if he will make a statement;(3) what information he has as to the percentage of British airframe components and engines fitted to

As far as can be established without disproportionate cost, the percentage of initial British components in the Boeing 727, 737 and 767 aircraft is under 5 per cent. This compares with between 20 and 25 per cent. in the Boeing 747 and 757 aircraft where Rolls-Royce engines are fitted. The 8757 figure will rise by 3 to 4 per cent. when the RB211–535E4 is introduced, late next year. The percentage in the McDonnell Douglas MD82 is minimal, as compared with between 20 and 25 per cent. in the Lockheed Tristar. These percentages are necessarily approximate because of the extent to which a choice of alternative equipment is offered to airlines by individual airframe manufacturers. The percentage will, in effect, increase over time with the purchase of engine spares and replacements.The total United Kingdom content in the current models in the Airbus programme, which British Aerospace joined as a full partner only in 1979, is about 10 per cent. Equipment selection for the Airbus A320 is still at a very early stage. If the project proceeds, the Government will wish to be satisfied that the selection procedures are fair and transparent: it will be for British suppliers to seek to win a greater share than on current Airbus models by demonstrating that their products are competitive in price and quality. The proposed IAE2500 engine, which would have a 30 per cent. Rolls-Royce content, is a potential powerplant for the A320.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of nitrate fertilisers imported in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the 10 previous years, respectively.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of nitrate fertiliser production in the United Kingdom in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

Estimates of United Kingdom production of nitrate fertilisers are not available. Figures of sales of ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate mixtures for the past 10 years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government will extend the small engineering firms investment scheme to firms which employ under 500 people but which may be subsidiaries of larger firms either resident or foreign.

The purpose of the small engineering firms investment scheme 2 was to assist United Kingdom-based engineering companies to invest in advanced capital equipment in order to improve their manufacturing ability and productivity; the maximum employment level was set at 500 to direct support to genuinely independent small and medium-sized companies. There is nearly always some advantage—technical, financial, trading or management —in being a member of a group. This is why it was decided that a company which is part of a group exceeding 500 employees would be ineligible for SEFIS 2 support.The scheme closed on 30 September 1983 and there are no plans for SEFIS 2 to be reopened in the foreseeable future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will seek urgently to meet the independent directors of Times Newspapers to discuss the fact that the conditions attached by Ministers in 1981 regarding the ownership of The Times have not been fulfilled;(2) if he is satisfied that Her Majesty's Government were not misled before giving consent to the takeover of Times Newspapers by Mr. Rupert Murdoch; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will meet Mr. Harold Evans to discuss matters relating to the takeover of Times Newspapers.

In his reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) yesterday my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal made a statement in connection with Mr. Harold Evans' recent book "Good Times, Bad Times." He set out the information available to him at the time of the takeover of Times Newspapers Ltd. in 1981. I have nothing to add to his statement.My right hon. Friend made his consent to transfer of Times Newspapers Ltd. conditional upon the articles of the company being altered to provide for the appointment of independent national directors and for their consent to be obtained to any future disposal of any interest in the newspapers. As to the company's adherence to those provisions of its articles relating to ownership of the newspapers, on 18 February 1982—[Vol. 18, c. 173.]—my right hon. Friend answered questions concerning a purported transfer of the titles to the newspapers from the company to its parent News International Ltd. I see no reason for a meeting with the independent national directors in that regard.Following Mr. Evans' resignation as editor of

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the proposals to locate the Trident nuclear weapon and cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

Since the beginning of September my right hon. Friend has received about 30 letters from Members of Parliament and from members of the public on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are made for the recruitment into Her Majesty's armed forces of suitable volunteers in British dependent territories.

Subject to immigration clearance, citizens of British dependent territories are eligible to serve in Her Majesty's armed forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had any recent discussions with the United States Secretary of Defence concerning the size of the British contingent in Belize.

Belize was one of the topics covered during my right hon. Friend's recent discussions in the United States, but details of the exchanges are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide the latest balance of trade figures on the two-way street of defence sales and procurement between the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

For 1982, the last year on which we agreed balance of trade statistics, the ratio of defence trade between the United Kingdom and the United States of America was reduced to 2:1 in favour of the United States of America.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many new recruits under the age of 20 years have been taken into the armed forces during the first nine months of 1983.

20,499.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is now in a position to award a contract for a type 22 frigate to the Vosper Thornycroft shipyard in Southampton.

As was envisaged by my predecessor on 12 May 1983—[Vol. 42, c. 472]—we have obtained tenders for two further type 22 frigates of the batch III design from Vosper Thornycroft, Cammell Laird and Swan Hunter shipbuilders. These responses are being evaluated and we hope to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, how many contracts have so far been awarded under the cardinal points system; and whether he will make a statement.

Cardinal points specifications are a fairly recent derivative of the "performance" specifications which have been used in Ministry of Defence procurement for some time. Four contracts have so far been placed following competitive tendering on the basis of cardinal points specifications. Over 30 further cases are in the pipeline.The use of "cardinal points" specifications is one of the methods of contracting through which the Ministry of Defence seeks to maximise the scope for contractors to meet its requirements in a way which enables the Ministry to obtain maximum freedom of choice. The method is used for purchases in those areas where firms have developed or are developing equipment to meet wider markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the S90 design for the new frigate was rejected.

After an exhaustive analysis of the S90 proposal, which took into account advice from the design consultants Y-ARD, and the marine technology board of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council, it was concluded that the proposed design was fundamentally unsuited to the key requirements of the type 23 frigate. It lacked sufficient space and did not meet our requirements on speed, endurance, seakeeping, damaged stability and noise.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what acreage (a) freehold and (b) leasehold was owned by his Department in Scotland as at 1 April; and if he will break down the totals by regional government areas.

The Ministry of Defence held the following acreages in Scotland on 1 April 1983:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many United States service men are stationed at each of the following bases (a) Machrihanish, (b) Holy Loch, (c) Edzell and (d) Thurso.