asked the Under-Secretary of State, answering in respect of the Arts, what information he has as to the type of artistic activities for which increased business sponsorship of the arts was available in 1982–83, compared with such sponsorship in 1981–82.

The largest beneficiaries from business sponsorship are believed to be classical music, opera and ballet, art galleries and the theatre, in that order. The Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts believes that all the arts have shared to some degree in the recent increase in sponsorship.

asked the Under-Secretary of State, answering in respect of the Arts how much of the Greater London council's current expenditure on London's culture he would expect to he taken up by the London boroughs in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council.

The Government are undertaking consultations on their proposals for the arts following local government reorganisation, and have asked for comments by 31 January 1984. In the main the Government will look to the local boroughs to support most of the arts and museum institutions and activities hitherto funded by the Greater London council, except in those special cases named in the consultation proposals where alternative forms of central financing are envisaged. But all representations will be carefully considered before decisions are taken.

asked the Under-Secretary of State, answering in respect of the Arts, what representations he has received from regional arts associations regarding the allocation of funds in the various regions; what action he has taken to rectify any imbalance in allocation; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend's predecessor as Minister for the Arts received representations about the Arts Council's distribution of funds to three regional arts associations during 1982–83. Funds are distributed by reference to a variety of factors including the level and range of artistic activity and there is no simple per capita basis which the Arts Council judge appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many overseas students attended courses at the following universities in 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983, respectively: Manchester. York, Nottingham, Hull, Salford, Aston, Birmingham, Leicester, Kent, Cambridge, Oxford, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Lancaster, Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, London, Keele, Exeter, Southampton, Essex, East Anglia and Liverpool; and what were their countries of origin.

The total numbers of full-time students for the period 1980–81 to 1982–83 who were domiciled overseas are as follows. For earlier years, similar information—but identifying students on the basis of fees charged—was published in table 17 of the annual publication "Statistics of Education, Volume 6," copies of which are in the Library.

Universities	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
Manchester	*1,272	*1,250	*1,123
York	172	178	159
Nottingham	481	504	501
Hull	425	360	327
Salford	697	618	691
Aston	798	782	651
Birmingham	1,048	976	822
Leicester	258	230	195
Kent	609	647	638
Cambridge	1,040	1,041	1,074
Oxford	1,364	1,248	1,272
Leeds	1,455	1,340	1,195
Sheffield	902	648	563
Newcastle	1,012	1,024	969
Lancaster	424	375	378
Aberystwyth	183	196	208
Bangor	291	235	189
Cardiff	851	881	850
London	†7,708	†7,821	†7,559
Keele	151	153	185
Exeter	301	312	301
Southampton	570	547	522
Essex	724	784	781
East Anglia	421	387	393
Liverpool	671	636	503

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he is satisfied that there are sufficient powers under existing legislation to ensure that head teachers and staff of independent schools are of exemplary character;(2) what definition he accepts of the word 'proper' when exercising his functions under the provisions relating to independent schools in the Education Act 1944 and when considering the suitability of head teachers of such schools.

Part III of the Education Act 1944 does not require that head teachers and staff of independent schools should be of "exemplary character". It permits and requires my right hon. Friend to take action only if he is satisfied that any teacher

"if not a proper person … to be a teacher in any school".

This formulation achieves the right balance between preserving the independence of the schools and safeguarding the interests of their clients. In considering whether someone is not a proper person to be a teacher in any school, any disqualification from service in maintained schools would be taken into account. However, as the Act requires careful consideration of the circumstances of each case, it would be inappropriate to attempt a standard definition.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the research groups receiving grants from his Department, stating the nature of the research being undertaken; by whom it is undertaken; and what is the amount of the grant given to each group.

This information is published annually by the Department in "List 1: Current Educational Research Projects supported by the Department of Education and Science". A copy of the current list, dated 1 January 1983, is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the criteria against which he awards grants for educational research purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Ministers assess priorities for educational research by reference to the costs and to the extent to which the findings can be expected:

(a) to guide policy decisions that need to be taken;

(b) to improve the quality of the educational process in areas of policy concern;

(c) to facilitate the implementation of policy decisions; or to evaluate the effects of the implementation of policy decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation in support of the findings of its report on Britain's disabled school children entitled "Beyond the School Gate", a copy of which has been sent to him; what reply he is sending; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend received a letter from the royal association and a copy of the report yesterday. A reply will be sent as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which youth service organisations Ministers of his Department have recently met; whether the recommendations of the report of the Review Group on the Youth Service were discussed; and whether further meetings with youth organisations are planned.

Since early September meetings have taken place with representatives of the British Youth Council, the National Association of Youth Clubs; the National Association of Boys Clubs, the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, and with a group of members of the Review Group on the Youth Service.All these discussions have helped the Government take forward their consideration of the recommendations in the review group's report and further meetings with youth organisations are planned on a range of subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a breakdown, by product group, of total United Kingdom domestic sales of electronic goods and of the import penetration ratios in such goods.

Estimates of total United Kingdom domestic sales—defined as United Kingdom production less exports plus imports — for 1982 of electronic goods by selected product groups are given in column (1) of the following table. The ratio of imports to column (1) —a measure of import penetration—is given in column (2). Where entrepôt trade exists, as in electronic data processing equipment, this ratio overestimates import penetration.

Electronic Goods Sold in the United Kingdom in 1982
	Total Sales in the UK*	Ratio of imports to column (1)
	£ million	percentage
	(1)	(2)
Electronic Data Processing Equipment	1,650	105
Telegraph and Telephone Equipment	1,250	10
Radio and Electronic Capital Goods	1,710	32
of which:
Public Broadcasting Equipment	45	55
Radar Equipment and Navigational Aids	790	18
Medical Apparatus	130	90
Other Electronic Capital Goods	750	36
Electronic Consumer Goods and Miscellaneous Electronic Equipment	1,510	70
of which:
Television Receivers	590	32
Other Electronic Equipment	920	95
* Components may not add to totals because of rounding.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he has studied the Trades Union Congress Docks statement on aerospace; if he will publish in the Official Report a copy of any reply he sends to the Trades Union Congress; and if he will make a statement.

I have studied with interest the statement on "Britain's Aerospace Industry" drawn up by the general council of the Trades Union Council. In acknowledging receipt of this document, my predecessor indicated that my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont), the Minister of State, Department of Industry, would be ready to discuss the relevant issues with the general council's nationalised industries committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration was given in deciding not to refer the purchase of The Sunday Times by Mr. Rupert Murdoch to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, to the income that would accrue from impending dividends from the holdings in Reuters of The Times and The Sunday Times and to the potential sale value of the shares.

All relevant financial matters were considered in the light of the information available at the time and in accordance with the Fair Trading Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of Stale for Trade and Industry how many firms have gone into receivership or liquidation in each year since 1979 in Coventry, the west midlands and nationally.

The figures are:

	1979	1980	1981	1982
Company Liquidations*
England and Wales	4,537	6,890	8,596	12,067
Bankruptcies†
England and Wales	3,214	3,704	4,820	5,365
West Midlands county	153	190	217	309
Coventry	18	27	28	43
* Compulsory and creditors' voluntary; not available by area.
† Net cases administered, after consolidations and recissions. Covers all individuals and partnerships; in England and Wales the self-employed account for between 75 and 80 per cent, of the total. Figures for England and Wales include deeds of arrangement—46 in 1982—not available by area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the air traffic services of the Civil Aviation Authority will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The report is published today. Whilst praising the high standards of safety and service achieved by the Civil Aviation Authority's air traffic control, the commission makes a number of criticisms of the way the authority is run and suggests a total of 49 remedies to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Some of these are already being implemented.The commission was asked whether the authority was pursuing a course of conduct contrary to the public interest. In view of the authority's high standards and the measures it is already taking to remedy the shortcomings identified by the commission, the commission conclude that it is not.The authority will be publishing its prelimiary response to the report within three to four months and, in the light of this, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often the power vested in the Commissioners of Customs and Excise under section 152(d) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, and its predecessor section 288(d) of the Customs and Excise Act 1952, has been exercised in the last 30 years; and in what circumstances.

The only occasion on which the power conferred on the Commissioners of Customs and Excise by section 152(d) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and the section in the 1952 Act which it replaced, is known to have been exercised in the last 30 years, was the case of Glenstone Page Laws, a United States citizen who on 24 July 1978 was sentenced at Reading Crown court to nine years imprisonment for smuggling heroin into the United Kingdom contrary to section 304 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952.Representations were made by the United States Department of Justice for the return of Laws to the United States for him to face charges and to give evidence there; as a result of those representations the chairman of the Board of Customs and Excise exercised the power under section 288

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the Inland Revenue's investigation into tax evasion in the clothing trade in London.

One of the Inland Revenue's duties is to investigate tax evasion wherever it arises. it would be wrong to disclose information about particular groups or categories of taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his answer on 27 October, Official Report, c. 184, to the hon. Member for Norwood', he will now make a statement about the result of the Inland Revenue's study of legal advice in relation to stamp duty on certain conveyances.

I have nothing to add at this time to the reply the hon. Member was given on 27 October. — [Vol. 47, c. 184.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to consolidate the Finance Acts.

Consolidation is of course a matter for the Law Commission. Virtually all Customs and Excise legislation has been consolidated since 1979, culminating with VAT and car tax this year. On the direct tax side, consolidation of capital gains tax was completed in 1979, and work on capital transfer tax should be finished next year. A new consolidation of income and corporation taxes legislation was put in hand this September, and we hope that a Bill will be ready for introduction early in the Session 1987–88.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what responsibility he has as governor of the European Investment Bank for approving the salaries of the president and vice presidents of the bank; and what are the current level of salaries in each case.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 November 1983, c. 8]: Under article 13(5) of the European Investment Bank statute, the board of governors has ultimate responsibility for determining the remuneration of the president and vice presidents of the bank. The board of governors decided on 25 January 1958 that the salaries of the president and vice presidents of the European Investment Bank should be the same as those of the president and vice presidents of the commission. These are 5,190,244 and 4,701,308 Belgian francs respectively—approximately £65,000 and £58,900. See: EC regulation No. 440/83 of 21 February 1983 — Official Journal L/53/2; regulation No. 3821/81 of 13 December 1981—Official Journal L/386/4 — and regulation No. 1546/73/EC—Official Journal L/155/8.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways it is possible for the European Community to increase its expenditure beyond the 1 per cent. value added tax limit without the sanction of this House.

It is not possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives he plans to promote the privatisation of rail services among private sector firms.

I have told the chairman of the Railways Board that I shall welcome proposals from him for more private sector finance and participation in the development of railway services. We shall continue to encourage British Rail to respond positively to any realistic and commercially attractive proposals from the private sector for operating railway lines. It is now for the private sector to respond to these opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make regulations compelling coach and lorry drivers to wear seat belts.

It is not at present mandatory for coaches and heavy goods vehicles to be fitted with seat belts and indeed a number of practicable problems need to be resolved before such a requirement could be contemplated. For the moment therefore there can be no question of requiring the drivers of these vehicles to wear belts.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the introduction of new aircraft noise regulations; if he will indicate in the Official Report the number of representations he has received indicating whether they are in favour of or against the new noise regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Since June I have received over 20 representations from hon. Members, airline operators, aircraft manufacturers and other interests; of these about two-thirds were in favour of retaining the legislative ban on the use of United Kingdom registered non-noise-certificated subsonic jet aircraft after 1 January 1986.I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Mr. Soames) on Friday 28 October 1983. [Vol. 47, c. 227.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has studied the Trades Union Congress Docks statement on aerospace; if he will publish in the Official Report a copy of any reply he sends to the Trades Union Congress; and if he will make a statement.

I have studied the Trade Union Congress statement with interest. In acknowledging receipt of this document, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King), when Secretary of State for Transport, indicated that this Department would be represented at the general council's nationalised industries committee's discussions with the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy that sections of motorways should not be coned off at times of intense traffic pressure, such as summer holiday and bank holiday weekends.

Our policy is to minimise motorway lane closures, as far as is practical, particularly when heavy traffic is expected, but they cannot be completely excluded at holiday and bank holiday times.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-operation between the Department of Trade and Industry, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue in dealing with commercial fraud; and if she will make a statement.

Within the constraints placed upon them by their respective statutory obligations, the departments enjoy a good working relationship in dealing with commercial fraud.

asked the Prime Minister if Mr. Harold Evans has been considered by Her Majesty's Government for a public appointment at any time since 1981.

It has been the policy and practice of successive Governments not to disclose the names of individuals considered for public appointments.

asked the Lord Privy Seal why a date has been fixed after which prepaid envelopes for Her Majesty's Service are to be withdrawn instead of their being allowed to be used and replaced by the new stationery.

A specified date for withdrawal of old style official paid stationery has been asked for by the Post Office for its own accounting and operational reasons. All other Government departmental official paid mail is now invalid and the Post Office is having to run parallel systems for the old style mail and the new style House of Commons stationery. At the request of the House of Commons the Post Office has agreed to postpone the date of withdrawal until 31 March 1984, the end of its accounting year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total amounts given by his Department in grants to voluntary organisations during the last financial year.

The total amount of grant given by the Home Office to voluntary organisations in 1982–83 was £15,558,717. This sum was distributed as follows:

	£
Grants administered by the VSU
Grants to voluntary organisations including special programmes	7,835,702
Grants for refugees	1,122,715
Other Grants
After-care hostel grant scheme including day activity centres	3,699,000
National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders	487,000
BULLDOG supported work scheme	392,000
Grants to National Marriage Guidance Organisations	1,110,000
Association of Victim Support schemes	21,300
International Social Service of Great Britain	161,000
UK Immigrants Advisory Service	721,000
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents	9,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider the policy of granting British dependent territories citizenship to persons from the remaining dependencies, following the decision to confer British citizenship on the Falkland islanders.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley police as to the cost of policing the perimeter of RAF Greenham common in the last 12 months.

I understand from the chief constable that information is not held in precisely the form requested. The total cost of policing in connection with RAF Greenham common between 12 December 1982 and 3 November 1983 is estimated at £1,520,000 of which £951,000 is the estimated additional cost incurred, for example on overtime. These figures include both the cost of day to day policing outside RAF Greenham common and the cost of policing major demonstrations in the area during the period.

asked the Secretary of State of the Home Department if he will ascertain from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis the number of incidents of public disorder which have occurred in the Metropolitan police district in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

The Metropolitan police do not collect this information, partly because of difficulties of definition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of those aged under 18 years being detained on youth custody orders at present in Winson Green prison, Birmingham; what were the numbers in November of 1981 and 1982; what steps he proposes to ensure that youths are not kept in prison; and if he will make a statement.

On 30 September 1983, the latest date for which information is available, there were about 25 youth custody trainees aged under 18 in Her Majesty's prison Birmingham. There were approximatel 10 young prisoners and borstal trainees aged under 18 in that establishment on 30 November 1982 and about 20 on 30 November 1981. As expected, the youth custody centres cannot hold all young offenders sentenced to youth custody arid accordingly a substantial number have to be held in prison accommodation. In accordance with section 12 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982, priority in the use of youth custody centre places is accorded to youth custody trainees with sentences between four and 18 months and to juveniles with sentences not less than 21 days. In view of the shortage of youth custody centre places and the high level of vacancies in the detention centres plans are being made to change some detention centre accommodation to use for youth custody. In the longer term additional youth custody centre places will become available under the prison building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total additional cost of policing the anti-nuclear demonstration in London on 22 October.

The additional costs of policing the demonstration by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the other demonstrations about nuclear defence policy held in London on 22 October was £51,066.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are currently living in households in Wales that are dependent upon supplementary benefit.

Information is not analysed by the number of households, but in December 1982 it is estimated that there were 430,000 claimants and dependants in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many unoccupied hospital beds there are in each Welsh area.

During the first quarter of 1983 the average daily numbers of beds which were available but unoccupied were as follows:

Health Authority	Unoccupied Beds
Clwyd	604
East Dyfed	352
Gwent	674
Gwynedd	283
Mid Glamorgan	962
Powys	245
South Glamorgan	612
West Glamorgan	616
Pembrokeshire	106

These figures are based on a midnight count of beds and therefore do not reflect the occupation of beds by day case admissions who do not stay overnight.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients are on waiting lists in each of the Welsh areas.

The information as at 31 March 1983 is as follows:

Health Authority	Persons awaiting In-Patient Admission	Persons awaiting first Out-Patient Consultation
Clwyd	4,833	5,791
East Dyfed	2,007	4,264
Gwent	7,465	7,927
Gwynedd	1,628	2,907
Mid Glamorgan	10,151	14,246
Powys	101	339
South Glamorgan	6,385	13,400
West Glamorgan	4,613	13,344
Pembrokeshire	1,552	1,879

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the number of radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and remedial gymnasts per 1,000 patients in Wales in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and give the latest figures; and if he will make a statement.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, notwithstanding the restriction of the present feasibility study to the financial implications of the Severn barrage, he has considered other implications, including the effects on the environment; and whether he will consider making Government finance available to meet the costs of studies into these aspects also.

The Government accept that such studies would be necessary before a decision to build the barrage could be taken. No decision on funding such studies will be made until the results are available of the current study by the Severn tidal power group. The Government have entered into no commitment beyond that study.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the relative industrial energy savings resulting from (a) conservation measures and (b) recession induced reductions.

The most recent analysis which has been completed is for the period 1973 to 1980. This suggests that in broad terms about half the decline in the industrial energy consumption in this period was the combined result of price effects and non-price conservation measures, the remainder arising mainly from a combination of output and temperature effects.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the annual revenue received by Her Majesty's Government from British Gas for the last 10 years.

British Gas has incurred the following liabilities for tax and gas levy since 1973–74:

	Taxation	Gas Levy
	£ million
1973–74	81	—
1974–75	85	—
1975–76	92	—
1976–77	97	—
1977–78	149	—
1978–79	236	—
1979–80	247	—
1980–81	227	129
1981–82	191	394
1982–83	208	523

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of fuel provided to power stations consisted of (a) coal and (b) nuclear fuel in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

Information on fuel used at public supply power stations, on a coal equivalent basis, is published in table 9 of my Department's monthly bulletin "Energy Trends", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. On this basis, the percentage shares of coal and nuclear electricity are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the international development of the fast breeder reactor would obviate much of the plutonium and americium now being discharged into the sea by Sellafield and other nuclear establishments; and if he will initiate further international discussion as to the commercial development of fast breeder design.

The levels of discharges from the sites are established by the relevant authorising Departments taking into account the health and environmental considerations and the nature of the existing nuclear generating and reprocessing plants. It would be premature to specify at this stage what discharges would be authorised following the international development of the fast reactor. My right hon. Friend announced on 5 September that the Government had decided to open formal negotiations to seek agreement on the joint development of fast reactors with other European countries; these discussions are still in progress.

asked the Minister of State for Energy whether he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Council of Energy Ministers on 4 November.

I attended the Energy Council on 4 November. The Council prepared a report requested by the Special Council.The Council confirmed that solid fuels were an essential element in the energy strategy of the Community.

	1979	1980	1981	1982*
Radiography†
Radiographers in post‡	823·5	838·8	852·2	864·3
Total Attendances║	2,185,727	2,154,820	2,228,212	2,253,897
Rate per 1,000 patients	0·38	0·39	0·38	0·38
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists and Remedial Gymnasts in post¶	873·9	908·7	952·3	979·6
Total Attendances	3,305,011	3,398,065	3,441,147	3,487,589
Rate per 1,000 patients	0·26	0·27	0·28	0·28
Occupational Therapy•
Occupation Therapists in post	267·4	304·1	319·5	318·7
Total Attendances	446,988	546,982	562,788	609,398
Rate per 1,000 patients	0·60	0·56	0·57	0·52

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of the Alvey commission on microelectronics in Scotland.

Implementation of the report on advanced information technology, which was prepared by the Alvey committee, is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 28 April 1983. Naturally, I hope that industry and educational institutions in Scotland will participate actively in this programme of research.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the number of radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and remedial gymnasts per 1,000 patients in Scotland in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and give the latest figures; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is set out in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the yield from the sale of assets, excluding housing, in each of the Scottish new towns for 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.

Amounts realised from the sale of assets are as follows:

	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
Cumbernauld	0·5	2·5	0·3	0·5
East Kilbride	0·9	3·1	0·9	0·4
Glenrothes	0·6	1·0	0·3	1·1
Irvine	0·1	1·3	1·3	0·2
Livingston	1·5	1·6	1·9	1·9
Totals	3·6	9·5	4·7	4·1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes are proposed in the investigation of sexual assault cases, in the light of the recent research study by his Department on this subject.

My Department has today published the first report of a research study into the processing of sexual assault cases in the Scottish criminal justice system. Copies have been placed in the Library and a copy will be made available by the Scottish Home and Health Department to any Member who requests it.This report deals with the police investigation of sexual assault cases. A further report on procurator fiscal and court procedures is awaited. It should be stressed that this report is not a statement of Government policy and that the researchers' findings have yet to be considered in depth. Since much of the police approach to the investigation of sexual assaults is dictated by the criminal justice system within which they operate, including the evidential and other requirements of the procurator fiscal and the courts, decisions on certain of the research findings at this stage would be premature pending receipt of the report on the prosecution and court stages of the processing of sexual assault cases, expected next year; but those findings which are not affected by consideration of prosecution and court

Authority	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Allerdale	956,779	1,074,402	1,320,252	1,777,592	2,298,425	1,422,298	487,753
		(-1 per cent.)	(+11 percent.)	(+15 per cent.)	(+9 per cent.)	(-44 per cent.)	(-68 per cent.)
Barrow-in-Furness	538,374	605,115	686,038	906,994	1,177,868	497,055	310,998
		(-1 percent.)	(+3 percent.)	(+13 percent.)	(+10 per cent.)	(-62 per cent.	(-42 per cent.)
Carlisle	471,137	624,107	772,829	1,016,535	1,417,605	nil	nil
		(+16 per cent.)	(+12 per cent.)	(+12 percent.)	(+18 percent.)	(-100 percent.)	—
Copeland	945,960	956,504	1,026,664	1,193,660	1,385,439	481,861	nil
		(-11 per cent.)	(-3 per cent.)	(-1 per cent.)	(-2 per cent.)	(-69 per cent.)	(-100 per cent.)
Eden	161,285	235,920	279,812	324,945	405,035	45,626	nil
		(+28 per cent.)	(+7 per cent.)	(-1 per cent.)	(+5 per cent.)	(-90 per cent.)	(-100 percent.)
South Lakeland	341,514	394,956	470,699	601,127	775,291	nil	nil
		(+2 per cent.)	(+8 per cent.)	(+9 percent.)	(+9 per cent.)	(-100 percent.)	—

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are employed in the Opposition Whips' Office in the House of Commons; and what are their salaries.

The Opposition Whips' Office, House of Commons, is provided with the services of four civil servants: one chief clerk superintendent and three office assistants. The salary scale for each grade is as follows:

	With effect from 1 October 1983
	£
Chief clerk superintendent	7,035
	7,393
	8,088
Office assistant	4,832
	5,240
	5,708

In addition inner London weighting and a night duty allowance are payable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of housing subsidy paid to each local authority within the county of Cumbria; and how it compares in real terms with each preceding year since 1976.

The available information on main housing subsidy payments for 1976–77 to 1982–83 is as follows. The subsidy system has changed during this period, so comparisons between years are of limited value.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the rebuilding of Richmond terrace started; when it will finish; and what will it cost.

Rebuilding of the terrace started in September 1982. This forms part of a larger development, which also comprises the construction of a major new building on the Richmond yard site immediately behind the terrace and work on the adjacent buildings facing on to Parliament street. The development as a whole is expected to be completed in 1986. Its current estimated cost is £28 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will have permanent flowering bushes and plants set around the Hyde park and Regents park memorials to soldiers killed on 20 July 1932; and if he will make a statement.

	April 1982					September 1982	30 September 1983
Authority	Staff Group NJC					Senior Staff JNC	Chief Officers
		Numbers in Grades:				Numbers	Numbers
	10 (top)	11	12	13	Above 13
Anglian	n.a.	52	24	5	—	85	5
Northumbrian	n.a.	28	14	12	—	17	3
North West	n.a.	54	42	1	—	51	4
Severn Trent	n.a.	138	62	35	7	51	5
Southern	n.a.	47	19	20	—	20	3
South West	n.a.	19	6	17	—	7	4
Thames	n.a.	89	73	41	49	17	4
Welsh	n.a.	59	21	6	—	45	5
Wessex	n.a.	28	23	4	—	16	3
Yorkshire	n.a.	46	26	13	—	42	4
Totals	775	560	310	154	56	351	40

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the First Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology on the water industry HL 47-i, 1982–83.

Together with his right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland, the Secretary of State has sent a joint memorandum of response to the Select Committee today. Copies of the response have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for the last 10 years the number of planning issues that have been referred to him as a specific result of the special provision given to the china clay area of St. Austell, Cornwall.

My Department is aware of 12 occasions in the last 10 years when planning applications

No. The dignified simplicity of memorials requires no embellishment. Moreover, permanent flowering bushes and plants would not be in keeping with the layout of the parks, which is predominately grass and trees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grades of official of water authorities receive salaries of over £15,000 per annum; and how many persons are in each grade (a) in total, and (b) in each water authority.

The following grades of officials in water authorities are entitled to salaries over £15,000 per annum:

(i) Chief officers;

(ii) Senior staff in band 3–15, and some in bands 1 and 2;

(iii) Staff in grades 11–13 and above, and those at the top point of grade 10.

The numbers employed in these grades by each water authority at the latest dates for which figures are available centrally are as follows.have been referred to the Secretary of State as a result of the special provision given to the china clay area of St. Austell, Cornwall.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not approved the draft review of the definitive map for Berkshire, showing those paths to which the public enjoys access as of right; what has been the reason for the delay; and when approval, with or without modification, will be given.

About 1,800 objections were received to Berkshire's draft review map and staff resources have not been available to consider and determine these within a reasonable time scale. My right hon. Friend now proposes shortly to direct the county council to abandon this review and it will then be able to implement the new and simpler procedure for keeping definitive maps up to date which was introduced by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Following abandonment of the review, effect will be given by the county to unopposed proposals contained in the draft review map.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many council tenants in England and Wales have signed away their "right-to-buy" when seeking a transfer of local authority accommodation in England and Wales since May 1979; and if he is taking any action to restore those rights;(2) how many local authorities in England and Wales since May 1979 require tenants seeking a transfer of accommodation to sign away their "right-to-buy" before consenting to the transfer; and if he will list the authorities concerned.

As far as I am aware, only tenants of Norwich city council have been required to make exchanges of their secure tenancies by assignment, thus denying them the right to buy. My Department does not have precise information about the number of tenants affected, but has received at least 15 queries from tenants whose right to buy has been denied in these circumstances. As my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction told my hon. Friend on 22 August, the Government are proposing to deal with this anomaly in the Housing and Building Control Bill, which is at present before Parliament. Clause 22 of the Bill, as drafted, is designed to restore security of tenure which ceased on the assignment of secure tenancies at any time after the commencement of the Housing Act 1980, and this will enable those tenants affected to buy their homes if they desire to do so and if they otherwise qualify.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total discharge into the sea per annum of plutonium, ruthenium and caesium from each United Kingdom nuclear establishment; and what progress has been made in the design of filtering techniques to avoid the need for open sea liquid discharge.

The table shows discharges to the sea in 1982 from United Kingdom nuclear establishments of isotopes of these substances. Figures for earlier years are contained in the additional tables to my Department's annual "Digest of Environmental Pollution and Water Statistics", which are obtainable from the Department and are in the Library of the House. At the Sellafield works of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. which is the source of the most significant discharges, considerable progress is being made in effluent treatment. Measures utilising an ion exchange procedure have halved caesium discharges and a major new plant, involving expenditure of more than £80 million, will reduce such discharges to one tenth of their peak level in recent years. Discharges of plutonium and its daughter products have also been reduced, and a further 15 per cent. reduction should be achieved by the use of filters which were installed this year. New plant and procedures are to be introduced progressively so that by 1985 discharges of all alpha bearing wastes should be reduced by at least four fifths of their current level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received a report from the Building Research Establishment on Smith's system houses; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what projects have been approved in the west midlands under the urban development grant scheme; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has so far approved 23 offers of urban development grant towards projects in the west midlands. The estimated total costs of these projects are £104 million, of which £18 million would be met by urban development grant. The projects concerned are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had any discussions with the various national associations concerned with energy conservation products on the question of a jointly initiated programme of advice and information to the public on energy conservation matters.

I have been asked to reply.Both my right hon. Friend and my noble Friend who is responsible for energy conservation matters have had discussions with a number of organisations concerned with energy conservation products. My right ton. Friend has given the energy efficiency office, which we launched recently, the task of developing this initiative with the suppliers of equipment and services as part of the new national campaign to save money through increasing energy efficiency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities in energy conservation schemes; and with what results.

I have been asked to reply.My Department is funding a project by the Local Authorities Management Services and Computer Committee costing about £50,000. Phase I of this study showed that about £100 million could be cut from the sector's fuel bills without affecting services. Work is about to start on phase II, which will aim to set up and demonstrate energy management systems in a group of local authorities that would be broadly replicable throughout the country.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is writing to all major local authorities to inform them of this work and to urge them to review how they manage their use of energy. My right hon. Friend and other Department of Energy Ministers intend to meet as many local authority representatives as possible during the forthcoming energy-saving campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of permitted daily business flights to and from Northolt airport; whether he has any plans to increase them; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to him on 31 January and 10 February by the then Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces. Our plans have not changed since then. —[Vol. 36, c. 37 and c. 455.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the total number of cruise missiles due to be deployed at Molesworth; when deployment is planned to start; and when all the missiles are expected to be fully operational;(2) what is the total number of cruise missiles due to be deployed at Greenham common; and when he expects the full number to be operational.

Current plans provide for the deployment of 96 cruise missiles at RAF Greenham common and 64 cruise missiles at RAF Molesworth. Deployment is planned to take place over a period of about five years, beginning at Greenham common by the end of 1983 and at Molesworth towards the end of the deployment schedule.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what proportion of (a) unemployed males and (b) unemployed females in the Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Whitehaven, Carlisle, Keswick and Penrith travel-to-work areas had been out of work for (i) one year, (ii) two years and (iii) three years at the latest available date;(2) what proportion of

The following is the information for unemployed claimants on 14 July, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available.

Travel-to-work area	Unemployed for over 52 and up to 104 weeks		Unemployed for over 104 and up to 156 weeks		Unemployed for over 156 weeks
	Per cent.		Per cent.		Per cent.
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
*Furness	13·9	17·3	7·7	5·5	10·5	4·6
*Kendal	15·8	7·7	9·5	2·3	2·2	1·4
*Whitehaven	22·4	15·3	9·5	5·6	10·5	4·6
Carlisle	19·3	15·6	10·3	3·9	12·1	5·4
Keswick	17·9	19·3	6·0	5·3	3·3	5·3
Penrith	18·4	14·9	9·0	3·7	6·3	2·5
*Workington	28·8	18·8	9·0	6·5	6·5	6·3
* Travel-to-work area comprising two or more jobcentre areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the unemployment figures for Cumbria, categorised by sex, age and the duration of unemployment, for the last month for which statistics are available.

Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	12	38	22	29	97	36	32	23	9	12	10	14	9	0	343
Over 1 and up to 2	10	33	21	24	167	48	38	29	18	22	24	11	16	0	461
Over 2 and up to 4	19	90	40	33	197	65	52	43	31	28	23	27	19	0	667
Over 4 and up to 6	17	37	33	24	116	56	48	37	29	18	28	23	23	0	489
Over 6 and up to 8	9	34	39	22	79	58	42	32	26	20	22	37	27	0	447
Over 8 and up to 13	29	88	63	33	149	109	90	86	57	53	38	58	62	0	915
Over 13 and up to 26	134	147	168	85	364	217	164	153	101	101	100	143	120	0	1,997
Over 26 and up to 39	8	58	112	71	296	181	158	155	108	99	95	111	87	0	1,539
Over 39 and up to 52	12	50	116	95	240	156	126	83	85	71	58	150	127	1	1,370
Over 52 and up to 65	0	15	67	73	184	126	86	80	61	42	55	109	54	0	952
Over 65 and up to 78	0	4	37	50	101	73	61	50	37	36	38	78	19	2	586
Over 78 and up to 104	0	4	34	85	243	157	154	126	107	93	107	177	26	0	1,313
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	6	40	269	170	122	125	71	93	120	157	26	0	1,199
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	9	151	115	109	79	72	73	59	77	6	0	750
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	31	22	28	24	30	31	43	27	6	0	242
Over 260	0	0	0	0	7	9	17	18	19	28	71	113	21	0	303
Total Males	250	598	758	673	2,691	1,598	1,327	1,143	861	820	891	1,312	648	3	13,573

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–s54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	8	23	13	24	88	34	21	12	11	1	8	3	0	252
Over 1 and up to 2	3	25	28	22	139	31	21	12	9	5	3	4	0	302
Over 2 and up to 4	9	39	43	43	135	58	27	12	16	11	9	6	0	408
Over 4 and up to 6	9	30	28	25	105	55	29	20	18	10	11	15	0	355
Over 6 and up to 8	6	25	26	20	80	49	28	19	6	15	9	9	1	293
Over 8 and up to 13	15	58	61	30	150	99	53	42	32	30	15	24	0	609
Over 13 and up to 26	97	130	91	90	302	219	126	79	72	50	48	49	0	1,353
Over 26 and up to 39	6	53	96	74	253	181	78	58	46	29	44	36	0	954
Over 39 and up to 52	11	54	100	101	221	153	65	50	35	42	39	39	0	910
Over 52 and up to 65	0	10	55	53	127	89	44	34	24	32	30	31	0	529
Over 65 and up to 78	0	2	23	30	52	41	16	15	17	14	6	22	1	239
Over 78 and up to 104	0	6	26	54	115	59	36	18	26	32	32	46	0	450
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	9	23	106	35	20	17	15	33	55	63	1	377
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	7	69	21	8	9	10	18	20	31	0	193
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	10	4	4	3	3	9	13	19	0	65
Over 260	0	0	0	0	10	5	5	3	3	5	21	52	0	104
Total Females	164	455	599	596	1,962	1,133	581	403	343	342	363	449	3	7,393

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average length of time an unemployed person spent out of work in Coventry, in the

The following is the information for unemployed claimants in Cumbria on 14 July, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available.west midlands and nationally in the month of May in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 and at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the ratio in Coventry, in the west midlands and nationally of the number of unemployed to the number of employment vacancies at the latest available date on 9 June 1983 and on 4 May 1979, respectively; and if he will make a statement.