asked the Prime Minister what response she intends to make to the protests about National Health Service cuts in Scotland which she has received from readers of The Sunday Mail; and if, because of the numbers, it is impossible to answer each correspondent individually, whether she will reply by way of a statement for publication in The Sunday Mail.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland responded to The Sunday Mail campaign in an article in The Sunday Mail on 6 November. His Department is responding to those readers who wrote personally in support of the campaign.

asked the Prime Minister how many forms from The Sunday Mail readers protesting against National Health Service cuts in Scotland she has received to date.

Just under 20,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to his reply of 3 November, Official Report, c. 409, to the hon. Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes, when he expects to have completed his consideration of the report prepared for his Department regarding the oil spillage at Immingham on 27 September; and if he will make public his conclusions;(2) if the report which he received from the inspector relating to the oil spillage at Immingham on 27 September concluded who was responsible for any human errors which may have occurred.

It has never been the practice to publish the preliminary report on a marine accident. These are prepared solely for internal consideration by the Department. Such reports are used to decide on further action which could be a formal investigation that would be public.When I have reached my conclusions in this case I shall take any necessary action arising from the incident. In addition, I shall make available a report of the counter-pollution measures taken following the accident.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include Heathrow and Gatwick airports as primary destinations for signposting purposes.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the objectives of Her Majesty's Government in their civil aviation policy.

Our civil aviation policy objectives are to further the interests of users of air transport services by seeing that British airlines provide services that satisfy all substantial categories of public demand at the lowest charges, consistent with a high standard of safety, an economic return to efficient operators, and the sound development of the civil air transport industry of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on new road projects and on road maintenance for the latest six-month period for which figures are available.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the results of the study of the possible uses of the former Woodside to Selsdon railway line; and if he will make a statement.

A report, prepared by Messrs. Brian Colquhoun and Partners, was published on 10 October, when copies were placed in the Library.I welcome this study as an important factual contribution to the debate about the conversion of disused railway lines into roads. It clearly illustrates the costs and engineering problems of converting lines into roads of varying standards. I hope all those interested in the rail-road conversion issue will read the report carefully.

asked the Attorney-General what is the estimated annual cost of travel undertaken by civil servants employed by the Law Officers' Department (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

The estimated annual cost of travel undertaken by civil servants employed by the Law Officers' Department, based on the average of the financial years 1981–82 and 1982–83 (a) within the United Kingdom is £5,810 and (b) overseas is £1,145.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Law Officers' Department maintains, or supports the maintenance of, any offices or personnel abroad.

No.

the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in the London borough of Newham left school in the current year; of these how many are unemployed; how many have places on the youth training scheme; and how many have jobs.

Some 2,365 16-year-olds left school in the London borough of Newham in 1983. Of those whose whereabouts were known to the careers service on 14 November, 921 were unemployed. The remaining information is not at present available from the careers service, but I shall write to the hon. Member when I have obtained it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many youth training scheme places were identified and supported in the Workington travel-to-work area and the county of Cumbria during the last month for which statistics are available.

The Manpower Services Commission's area office for Cumbria has now identified and approved all the youth training scheme places required in the Workington travel-to-work area and in Cumbria.In the Allerdale and Copeland local authority districts, which broadly correspond to the Workington travel-to-work area, some 1,450 YTS places have now been approved, and in Cumbria 3,940 places have been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many community programme places were being supported in the Workington travel-to-work area and the county of Cumbria during the last month for which statistics are available; and how many of those places were part-time and full-time, respectively.

On 31 October in the Workington travel-to-work area there were 560 filled places under the community programme, of which 177 were full-time and 383 part-time.In the county of Cumbria there were 1,439 filled places, of which 428 were full-time and 1,011 part-time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what methods are used to keep jobcentre staff up to date with wages council requirements.

Guidance issued to jobcentre staff includes information about the industries covered by wages councils and the addresses of wages inspectors. Instructions make clear the procedures to be followed when staff are in doubt whether a vacancy offers at least the legal minimum rate of pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to direct the Manpower Services Commission not to employ, under its community programme, unemployed biologists engaged by conservation organisations on field survey work; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to direct the Manpower Services Commission to stop the employment of biologists by conservation organisations on projects sponsored under the community programme.The programme remains open to all those who meet the eligibility criteria.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the level of financial aid from all sources given to Zimbabwe in each year for which figures are available since its independence and the comparable figures for the five years preceding its independence in comparison to other African states over the same periods.

Net official development assistance from all donors, including OPEC but excluding CMEA countries, was as follows:

	Zimbabwe	Other African countries
	US$ million	US$ million
1975	4	6,820
1976	6	6,150
1977	7	7,261
1978	9	8,700
1979	12	9,307
1980	170	10,495
1981	212	10,256

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider legislative control on the use of unofficial coats of arms as a means of marketing goods and services; and if he will make a statement.

I see no need at present for new legal controls, but would be willing to look into any abuses in this area of which my hon. Friend is aware.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made towards free and open trade in the European Community; what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in this regard; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are fully committed to making a reality of the internal Community market through the removal of remaining obstacles to free trade in goods and services. Considerable attention has been given in the Community over the past year to the removal of obstacles to the free movement of goods. We support this. The Government are also pressing for equal attention to be given to liberalising trade in the services sector. The growth in the United Kingdom's trade with the rest of the Community from 31 per cent. of our total trade in 1972 to 43 per cent. in 1982 suggests that a great deal of trade within the Community is free and open. But much more remains to be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the movement of unit labour costs since the beginning of 1982; and what has been the movement of export volume of manufactures during the same period.

Between the first quarter of 1982 and the third quarter of 1983 unit wage and salary costs in manufacturing industry increased by 5 per cent. Between the same two periods export volume of manufactures fell by 4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will increase the amount of aid available for tourism and, in particular, for farm-based tourist schemes.

I have no current plans to increase the aid provided by my Department to assist the tourist industry which this year amounts to £32·5 million taking into account the grants-in-aid of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board and the provision for the operation of the section 4 tourism assistance scheme in England.Farm tourism is already able to benefit under the section 4 scheme and from the BTA's marketing and advisory services.The level of the funds made available to the tourist boards for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretaries of State for those countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the future of the Airbus Industry project and on British participation in it.

The Government are studying British Aerospace's application for launch aid in connection with the company's participation in the proposed Airbus A320. Rolls-Royce has also applied for launch aid towards its participation in the V2500 engine which is a potential power plant for the A320. I have nothing to add at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will use his powers under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 to establish temporary aid schemes to support the restructuring of certain traditional industries and fish processing in rural areas.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe of 4 November, Official Report,c. 501 and 502, if he will estimate the length of time it would take to assemble the information requested by the hon. Member; and how much it would cost to assemble.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 November 1983, c. 277]: It is estimated that limited data on aid from the European regional development fund, and aid given under the Industrial Development Act 1982, to Scunthorpe and other steel closure areas would take over 30 man-hours to assemble at a cost of £340. It is not possible to estimate the cost of attempting to assemble information in the form sought concerning other forms of aid, but it would be very considerable, and certainly above the advisory cost limit of £200.—[Vol. 32, c. 81.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list, for each of the Scottish electricity boards, the number of domestic supply disconnections which have taken place because of fuel debts in each month since January 1979 and the resultant total number of householders without supply in each month over the same period; and whether he will express those figures as a percentage of the total number of electricity consumers.

The information requested is not held centrally, but I am asking the chairmen of the boards to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the amount allocated for capital spending on education to Tayside region in each of the past three years; and how much was spent in each year.

The available information is as follows:

Year	Total Tayside Education Allocation	Tayside Gross Education Capital Expenditure
		£000
1980–81	2034	1851
1981–82	2192	1867
1982–83	2226	2153

Notes:1. Figures relate to block allocations for education which cover nursery, primary, secondary and special schools and further education colleges.2. Under the conditions attached to the allocations issued in these years the council was able to carry forward into its allocation for the subsequent year any underspend to a maximum of 5 per cent. of the total consent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information his Department has collected on the number of people employed in Dundee in the following specialities: electronics, biotechnology, health care industries, advanced engineering and energy-related industries.

Employment information used within the Scottish Office is for the most part collected by other Departments, including the Department of Employment and the Business Statistics Office.The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the number of people in Dundee employed in electronics currently compares with the number five years ago.

According to the latest available information from the Scottish Manufacturing Establishments Record, which excludes units with lower than 11 employees, employment in electronics in Dundee is around 3,300. The corresponding figure for 1978 was 2,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information his Department has collected on the numbers of school leavers in Dundee in employment and the number unemployed, respectively.

The Scottish Office does not have information on the employment status of school leavers in Dundee. At 13 October 1983, the latest date for which information is available, the number of unemployed school or student leavers—defined as those who have not entered employment since completing full-time education—residing in the area covered by the Dundee jobcentre and careers office, and claiming unemployment benefit, was 2,202, of whom 1,096 were under 18 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out in the Official Report the amount of money paid out in school clothing grants by regional councils since they assumed this responsibility in its entirety; and whether he has made any extra provision for this in the rate grant settlement.

Regional councils, as education authorities, do not have entire responsibility in this respect. The normal rates of supplementary benefit contain an element for clothing; and the Department of Health and Social Security continues to make exceptional needs payments for school clothing under the Supplementary Benefit (Single Payment) Regulations 1980. Education authorities made payments of £734,000 for school clothing in 1981–82, the latest financial year for which figures are available. School clothing grants are taken into account but not separately identified in arriving at relevant expenditure for rate support grant purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be in a position to make a decision on the application by the Fraserburgh harbour commissioners for financial aid towards the provision of a new fish market and other related capital works; and if he will make a statement.

Following a meeting between the Fraserburgh harbour commissioners and officials of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland on 15 August the commissioners asked the Sea Fish Industry Authority to undertake an investment appraisal of their proposed development. Once the results are known, there will be further consultations with the commissioners before my right hon. Friend reaches a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will take steps to support the economy of rural parts of Grampian both through assistance to local industries and through funding of rural development programmes; and if he will make a statement;(2) what plans he has to help finance the necessary restructuring and modernisation of plant and equipment in rural traditional industries, including fish processing, distilling, textiles, paper-making and other indigenous industries; and if he will make a statement.

There is already a wide range of assistance available in Grampian and elsewhere under the Government's schemes of support for industry, including industry in rural areas. These include tax incentives, loans for small businesses and schemes to promote innovation in the development of new products and processes. The Scottish Development Agency operates extensive programmes of factory building and support for small firms and has a responsibility to promote the economy of rural meas. More generally, the Government's success in controlling inflation is helping to create conditions in which all sectors of industry can become more competitive.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is currently being taken to protect British lives and property in Grenada.

We are not aware of any current threat to British lives and property in Grenada.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United States Government about the binding and blind-folding of alleged Grenadian soldiers who were wearing civilian clothes.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any complaints about the fact that the high commission in Grenada was open for only two days a week before the recent United States occupation.

We are unaware of any such complaints. The office of the British high commission's representative, Mr. John Kelly, is normally open five days a week. Exceptionally the office was closed for certain periods during the curfew imposed by the Revolutionary Military Council between 20 and 24 October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in the light of the Burmese Government's announcement on 4 November about the responsibility for the assassination of five Ministers of the Republic of Korea, 12 other Koreans and four Burmese citizens, if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with the countries concerned.

Following the announcement by the Burmese Government, we took the earliest opportunity to condemn the North Korean terrorist act. I should like once again to express our sense of outrage. We have made known our approval and sympathy for the Burmese Government's firm action. The steadfastness in the face of tragedy shown by the Government and people of the Republic of Korea have impressed us all.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) to the Republic of South Africa; and what discussions he had with representatives of the South African Government.

I visited South Africa from 5 to 8 November as part of a wider visit to the region and met a range of leading South Africans of all opinions. I called on the South African Foreign and other Ministers and discussed with them bilateral and regional issues, including Namibia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the objectives of Her Majesty's Government's policy in the middle east.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) on 9 November.—[Vol. 45, c. 293.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the objectives of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards eastern Europe.

Our policy towards eastern Europe is to treat each country individually and to strive to achieve a more constructive relationship with them. The possibilities for achieving such an improvement will clearly vary from country to country and will depend on a variety of political, economic and other factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the objectives of Her Majesty's Government in their foreign policy.

The principal objectives of our foreign policy are to enhance security, prosperity and stability not only of the people of this country and of the dependent territories for which Britain is responsible, but of our allies and partners as well.Our foreign policy is founded on the conviction that Britain cannot flourish in isolation. Accordingly, British membership of NATO and of the European Community plays a central role in the Government's foreign policy. Our active membership of the Commonwealth strengthens links to the rest of the world. The Government support the work of the United Nations where Her Majesty's Government carry out their responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council. Our approach for the attainment of our objectives is one of vigorous promotion of Britain and British interests in every sphere.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) to the Republic of Zimbabwe.

I visited Zimbabwe from 2 to 5 November. I was able to discuss a number of bilateral and regional issues. I had useful meetings with the Prime Minister, Mr. Mugabe, and with Zimbabwean Ministers, other leading figures in the community and British business men. I also addressed the British Zimbabwe Society. I saw something of the working of the British Council in Zimbabwe and visited projects associated with British development aid and with the British military advisory and training team. During my visit I reiterated our concern for the early release of the air force officers remaining in detention.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the continued imprisonment of British mercenaries in Angola; what representations were made by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) to the Angolan Government in this regard during his recent visit to Angola; and what response was given by the Angolan authorities.

We continue to press at the highest level for the early release of the British prisoners. This was one of the major subjects that I raised during my recent visit to Luanda. I expressed our strong concern again to the Angolan Foreign Minister and urged that the men should be released soon. Angolan Ministers took careful note of my representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) to Angola.

I visited Angola from 31 October to 2 November. It was both a familiarisation visit and part of the continuing ministerial contacts between our two countries. I was able to discuss a number of bilateral and regional issues. I had useful discussions with Sr. Paulo Jorge, the Angolan Foreign Minister, as well as with the Ministers of Planning, External Trade, Petroleum and Industry. I also met members of the British community.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the figures used by him in assessing the level of relative deprivation between the following districts of Wales: Afan, Blaenau Gwent, Cardiff, Cynon Valley, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Rhymney Valley and Swansea.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities in Wales make no direct residential provision, excluding voluntary facilities, for mentally ill people; and if he will list them.

All local authorities in Wales make direct residential provision for mentally ill people.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his response to European Community Commission proposals to limit expenditure on the sheepmeat regime by a ceiling on the variable slaughter premium and an adjustment to the formula for evaluating the annual ewe premium; and if he will make a statement.

We are studying the Commission's report which was published at the beginning of this month, and will want to clarify some of the proposals. We shall not be prepared to accept any changes that would discriminate against our producers or operate to our national disadvantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about his proposals for the Welsh rate support grant settlement for 1984–85.

I am today circulating to members of the Welsh consultative council on local government finance a consultation paper setting out my proposals for the key elements of the 1984–85 rate support grant settlement for Wales. They are as follows:RELEVANT CURRENT EXPENDITURERelevant current expenditure is proposed to be £1,253 million. When allowance is made for the 1·5 per cent. reduction in the national insurance surcharge local authority employers will pay from next April, and changes related to the way in which housing benefit administration costs are counted for rate support grant purposes, this total is £57 million—4·8 per cent.—more than the current expenditure provision underlying the 1983–84 settlement.AGGREGATE EXCHEQUER GRANTAggregate Exchequer grant is proposed to be £996 million. This is £21 million, 2·2 per cent., more than the figure in the main rate support grant report for 1983–84, and £36 million, 3·8 per cent., higher than the amount authorities have included in their budgets for the present year.GRANT HOLDBACKIn order to increase the cost of spending in excess of the targets, I am proposing to strengthen the scheme for withholding block grant. As in the present year, grant withheld would amount to 40 per cent. of any excess up to 1 per cent. above target. The rate of holdback would then increase up to a maximum rate of 90 per cent. at 5 per cent. above target, compared with a maximum rate of 75 per cent. at 6 per cent. in the current year.Any authority which spends at, or below, target will be exempted from both grant holdback and close-ending. The limitation of grant holdback for low resource authorities introduced in the present year will be retained for 1984–85.DISTRIBUTION OF BLOCK GRANTBlock grant will be distributed in accordance with grant related expenditure — GRE — formulae agreed by the Welsh local authority associations. As regards the block grant mechanisms, I do not propose to adjust either the slope of the grant-related poundage schedules adopted for the present year, or the position of the threshold above GRE. I also propose to retain the same safety net for limiting any loss of grant associated with changes in GRE as used in the present year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated annual cost of travel undertaken by civil servants employed by his Department (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

Expenditure on travel and subsistence^* in 1982–83 was as follows:

	£
(a) Within the United Kingdom	10,324,000
(b) Overseas	248,000
* Separate figures for travel only are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the police have taken in the London borough of Newham in the past 12 months to counter racial attacks; and how many prosecutions have been brought.

In accordance with the standardised procedure for recording and dealing with racial attacks, introduced throughout the Metropolitan police district at the end of April 1982, the police in Newham have continued to monitor the number of racial incidents. In the 12 months to 14 November 1983, 90 such incidents were recorded. In 33 cases arrests were made and in each of these a prosecution was brought.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many random spot checks occur in each metropolitan police division where private motor vehicles are stopped; and on how many occasions suspects have been arrested for criminal offences involving theft or dishonesty.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to bring before Parliament his proposals concerning the release of life sentence prisoners and the release on parole of violent offenders and drug traffickers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends that prisoners convicted of a violent offence or sentenced to more than five years' imprisonment will not be released on parole until the last few months of their sentence.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 November to my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler).—[Vol. 48, c. 281.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make Delours Price, a convicted Irish Republican Army murderer, subject to an exclusion order to prevent her from coming to Great Britain on a social visit.

The provisions governing the making of exclusion orders are in sections 4 to 7 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976. If the police make an application to me under the Act, I always consider it in the light of the statutory requirements. I have not received an application in the case of Delours Price.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to increase the staff to deal with applications for citizenship; and if he will make a statement.

The staff complement of the nationality division has been increased by 14. There has also been a redeployment of staff within the division in order to increase the number of applications dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the delays applied to applications for citizenship by persons qualified to apply and who have paid the appropriate fee; and if he will make a statement.

For the time being, applications for citizenship are taking longer to process because of the large influx of applications made in December 1982.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the dollar-denominated assets of United Kingdom banks in total and in the form of loans to third countries for each year since 1970.

Information in the form requested is not available. However, details of the external dollar-denominated claims of United Kingdom banks and other financial institutions in total are published in table 14.1 of the "Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin" —in dollar terms — and in table 11.6 of the United Kingdom balance of payments "Pink Book"—converted to sterling terms. The banks' dollar claims on other United Kingdom residents are, of course, excluded. The Bank of England table also identifies total dollar claims on the United States and total foreign currency claims on individual third countries. Both publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to withdraw the £1 note from circulation; what he expects to be the fall in £1 notes in circulation in 1983 and during the next year, two years, three years, four years and five years, respectively; and whether he has plans to issue a £2 note.

It has always been the Government's intention to withdraw the £1 note from circulation in due course once the public have had time to become accustomed to the £1 coin. The fall in circulation of £1 notes in 1983, so far, has been about 50 million. The fall in circulation in future years would depend on when the £1 note ceases to be issued. There are no plans to issue a £2 note.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in the Official Report the level of expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product in each country in the European Community for each of the last five years.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the saving to the Exchequer if mortgage interest tax relief were set at 17·5 per cent.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of revenue raised through road tax and car tax for the period January to July 1983.

For the period from 1 January to 31 July 1983 the total amount of revenue raised through vehicle excise duty and car tax was £1,126 million and £371 million, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer of allowing (a) all tax reliefs and (b) personal tax allowances against higher rates of tax rather than the standard rate only.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Inland Revenue staffing figures for 1984 to 1988 will affect the Department's work on tax evasion and the black economy.

The new manpower targets will still enable the present level of investigation work against tax evasion to be maintained generally. For work in the area of "ghosts" — people unknown to the Revenue — and "moonlighters" — those with undeclared income from secondary occupations—I have approved the redeployment of 850 staff over the four-year period. This is a substantial increase on present levels of investigations in this area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update table 1.5 in Cmnd. 8789-I to take account of the decisions announced in his autumn statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 November 1983, c. 509]: The detailed information needed to update table 1.5 will not be available for some time. As the hon. Member will appreciate, the autumn statement is primarily concerned with 1984–85. Paragraph 2.27 gives the provision for current expenditure relevant for rate support grant in Great Britain. Paragraph 2.30 gives an approximate figure for local authority capital spending. A full revision of table 1.5 will be published in the next public expenditure White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about the Gleneagles agreement; and if he will make a statement.

I have recently received several letters from individuals and organisations on this subject. The Government support the 1977 Commonwealth statement on apartheid in sport and I fulfil the undertaking this embodies to discourage British sporting contacts with South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply of the Minister for Housing and Construction on 10 November, Official Report, c. 426, what resources will be available to assist local authorities facing major defects in system-built flats erected after 1960; and on what conditions.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday announced the total resources available for public expenditure on housing in 1984–85. We shall announce the amount for housing investment by local authorities and their individual housing investment programme allocations as soon as possible. In determining those allocations, the need for expenditure by individual local authorities on defective dwellings will be taken into account. There are no special conditions on expenditure for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Countryside Commission's report on the uplands is to be published; and what consultations he proposes about its impact upon upland scenery and wildlife conservation.

The Countryside Commission expects to publish this report early in the new year. This will follow extensive consultations by the Commission. My right hon. Friend will consider when he receives the report what further consultations are needed to enable decisions to be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Offical Report the grant-related expenditure level, the target expenditure level, and the budget, either actual or estimated, for Thurrock borough council in (a) 1981–82, (b) 1982–83, (c) 1983–84 and (d) 1984–85.

The figures are as follows. All are in cash unless otherwise indicated.

£ million
	GRE*	Expenditure target†	Expenditure‡
1981–82	6·073	5·320	4·350
1982–83	5·186	6·619	7·541
1983–84	5·918	7·535	7·936
1984–85	N/A	7·646	N/A
* The figures are those determined in the most recent rate support grant supplementary report for each year. Figures for 1984–85 have not yet been announced.
† For f1981–82 the figure is the current expenditure target, at November 1980 prices. For all subsequent years targets are for "total expenditure" as defined in the rate support grant reports, in cash. The figure for 1984–85 is provisional; final target figures will be issued in the Rate Support Grant Settlement.
‡ For 1981–82 the figure is outturn current expenditure in November 1980 prices, as reported to the Department. For 1982–83 and 1983–84 the figures are taken from the council's return of expenditure and rates 1983 and 1984, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report the grant-related expenditure level, the target expenditure level and the budget, either actual or estimated, for Basildon district council in (a) 1981–82, (b) 1982–83, (c) 1983–84 and (d) 1984–85.

The figures are as follows. All are in cash unless otherwise indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are taken to test supplies of water on Merseyside for pollution; what measures are taken to test for radioactivity; what are the permitted levels of radioactivity in public water supplies; what recent levels have been recorded on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

The North-West water authority tests the Merseyside water supplies every day, and regularly analyses samples for a wide range of possible pollutants. The Department's radiochemical inspectorate has recently completed a comprehensive analysis programme of river Dee water, which is used to supply Merseyside, and regularly analyses water from a typical impounding reservoir in north Wales. The radioactive

£000s Cash
DOE programmes, expenditure	Estimated outturn	Estimated outturn	Allocation
	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Urban programme
Partnership (Liverpool)	17,448	24,801	24,100
Programme (Wirral and Knowsley)	2,959	3,844	5,470
Other	2,079	2,002	2,317
Special projects in Merseyside	—	5,000	13,100
Merseyside Development Corporation	5,300	22,500	35,100
New towns: Skelmersdale and Runcorn	15,000	12,300	16,700
Housing investment programme	68,800	102,000	70,060
Special housing projects in Merseyside	—	1,000	7,100
Derelict land	2,700	8,223	11,850
Sports council	134	132	160
Special projects	—	839	1,000
Historic buildings and conservation grants (offers made)	759	824	N/A
Special projects	—	—	2,000
Housing corporation	44,200	54,640	53,000
Special projects	—	—	8,630
Total	159,379	238,105	250,587
Government support for local authority current expenditure via
Rate support grant	384,417	380,297	388,925

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on Government support for public expenditure on Merseyside.

Over the last three years capital expenditure by local authorities and other bodies on Merseyside, under the Department's main programmes, has reached £650 million. This expenditure is substantially supported by Exchequer grant. The money has been, and is being, spent on a wide variety of programmes and projects aimed at helping to tackle Merseyside's problems. The following table gives the details:tourism potential of the area. Support has also been given to experimental projects to tackle some of the worst housing problems. Many of these projects invoke the private sector in new and imaginative ways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about withdrawing listed building status from Battersea power station; who had made such representations; and what has been the outcome.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 November 1983, c. 529]: Battersea power station was added to the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest in 1980 on the recommendation of the Historic Buildings Council. I have received no requests that it should be removed from the list.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of Turkey's refusal to accept decisions of the United Nations, its military occupation of a Commonwealth country and other actions which offend the criteria agreed by Her Majesty's Government prior to the sale of arms to any country, he will not enter into any agreement to supply Sea Skua anti-ship missiles to Turkey.

It has been the consistent policy of this and previous Administrations not to discuss details of the sale of defence and defence-related equipment to other countries. All such sales are considered on a case by case basis with all relevant factors taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now answer parliamentary questions regarding the number of British forces stationed at bases in Great Britain.

Deployment of service personnel in the United Kingdom is given in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983, Volume 2, table 4.6. Detailed information on the numbers at particular bases is not given for operational reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his intention that the Royal Naval Reserve should continue to play a role in mine-hunting operations for the foreseeable future.

Yes — at least until the end of the 1980s.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that the code of guidance on heather and grass burning, when published receives the widest possible circulation, particularly in the upland areas of the country.

I intend to publish the code of guidance on heather and grass burning as quickly as possible after it has been finalised and make it available in all parts of the country, including the upland areas. In addition, I am arranging for a free leaflet to be issued, setting out the essential "do's and don'ts" of heather and grass burning, as agreed with the working party. This leaflet will encourage everyone who may wish to carry out heather and grass burning, whether under licence or during the unrestricted period, to study the code as a whole. A copy of the leaflet will be supplied as a matter of course to all those applying for a licence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made with the proposed European Community scheme announced by his predecessor for releasing grain from intervention at cheaper prices to assist livestock producers.

The Commission, in consultation with the United Kingdom and other member states, completed preparations for the release on special terms this season of intervention wheat for incorporation in animal feed. In September the Commission announced that it had decided not to introduce those arrangements, in the light of a lower harvest and stronger demand for feed grain in the Community this season. It has instead proposed a simpler scheme involving the release of a smaller tonnage of wheat over a more limited period, and a decision on this proposal is expected very soon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much it cost the European Community to sustain sugar beet, cereals, milk, sheep and beef in the United Kingdom during the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Details of expenditure by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce were published on 4 November, in the Appropriation Accounts for 1982–83—volume 3: Class III Vote 1: 88-III of 1983–84 Session—which are available in the Library.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the international importance of Derwent Ings, North Yorkshire, for nature conservation, he will consult widely before reaching a decision on the application by the Ouse and Derwent internal drainage board for a grant to aid pump drainage in the area of North Duffield Cans.

The requirements of section 22 of the Water Act 1973, as amended by section 48 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, will be observed in the consideration of this scheme, as they are with any other scheme for which grant under the Land Drainage Act 1976 is sought.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of United Kingdom wheat has been exported to Cuba in each of the past five years and with what level of subsidy; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that no phytopathological risks will be entailed in the importation of Christmas trees in the current year.

I am satisfied that all reasonable measures are being taken to deal with the risk of the introduction of harmful pests or diseases into this country on imported wood and trees.These measures have recently been strengthened by the Import and Export of Trees, Wood and Bark (Health) (Great Britain) (Amendment) Order 1983. Under this order the import of Christmas trees over three metres in height is prohibited, except where they have been grown in nurseries in Europe and have not been severed from their roots. The Forestry Commission may, however, license imports in special cases. Smaller Christmas trees may be imported from European countries, but they and the larger nursery-grown trees must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. The Forestry Commission also carries out inspections at ports of entry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many arboreal phytopathologists are employed by his Department; and whether he is satisfied that sufficient such staff are employed.

Infant cot deaths by age and sex, 1978 to 1982
	Age
Year	Sex	Total under 1 year	Under 1 week	1 to 3 weeks	1 to 2 months	3 to 5 months	6 to 8 months	9 to 11 months
1978	M	601	6	21	267	235	57	15
	F	373	8	25	156	128	50	6
1979	M	647	17	26	268	251	63	22
	F	455	10	19	167	176	70	13
1980	M	740	12	44	294	276	90	24
	F	482	5	31	183	174	68	21
1981	M	754	8	39	314	287	86	20
	F	511	15	25	199	190	60	22
1982	M	801	7	33	331	308	95	27
	F	532	7	18	201	203	74	29

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how may babies died in (a) the Brighton area, and (b) the east Sussex county council area during

The Forestry Commission employs 10 forest pathologists. In addition, two of the commission's staff are at present on contract to the Department of the Environment as arboricultural pathologists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social services how many patients were on waiting lists as needing kidney transplants in the most recent 12-month period; what were the number of transplants actually performed; whether the shortfall stems from a shortage of suitable donors; and what plans he has to increase the number of donors.

The number of people in the United Kingdom awaiting a kidney transplant on 31 October 1983 was 2,443, compared with 2,225 one year earlier. 1,030 transplants were performed in 1982, more than in any previous year. So far the figures for 1983 have been encouraging and suggest that the 1982 total will be surpassed. I understand that most renal transplant units would have the capacity to perform more operations if they had more donor kidneys. The Department is continuing to promote the donor card scheme. We are planning a new publicity campaign for early in 1984 to increase public awareness of the need for organ donation and of the benefits of transplantation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many babies died during each of the years 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979 and 1978 as a result of the cot death syndrome; and what were their ages and sexes.

The information requested is shown in the following table:each of the years 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979 and 1978 as a result of the cot death syndrome; and what were their ages and sexes.

The information requested is shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the total annual cost of the death grant, and of the average administrative cost per grant paid out.

It is estimated that in 1983–84 the total annual cost will be £28 million. The average administrative cost per grant is about £18.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he is giving to extending the use of postal claim forms to reduce the need for claimants to attend in person when claiming benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Following the success of the postal claim form for unemployed claimants, a three-month experiment will start in January 1984 in 14 local offices to test two new postal claim forms for all other claimants to supplementary benefit. Pensioners will be able to choose either to complete a postal claim form or to have an interview in their own homes or at the local DHSS office. Other claimants will usually be asked to attend their local office should they have difficulty in completing the form or should their circumstances be unusual. If the experiment is a success the new forms could be introduced by early 1985. A supplementary benefit postal claim form for use by people involved in a trade dispute will be introduced in December this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, from the 1981 family expenditure data material, he will estimate the number and percentage of those eligible claiming (a) supplementary allowance and pension, (b) family income supplement and (c) rent and rate rebates; and if he will subdivide each answer according to the different groups of beneficiaries.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to give the 1981 take-up figures for supplementary benefit and family income supplement. I hope to be able to give the supplementary benefit figures shortly and those for family income supplement are expected to be available early next year. In the case of rent and rate rebates, overall estimates for 1981 of the proportion of those eligible claiming rent rebates, rent allowances and rate rebates have been published in "Housing and Construction Statistics 1972–82", table 11.3, a copy of which is available in the Library. The data are currently being analysed to show different groups of beneficiaries, and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the results are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to amend the legislation relating to social security payment for household items to reduce the qualifying period for such benefits.

We have no plans to relax the conditions prescribed in those regulations in any way that would enable unemployed claimants to obtain single payments, possibly for several hundred pounds, automatically on their obtaining unfurnished accommodation. To do so would put supplementary benefit claimants in a far better position than equivalent groups, such as those in work on low incomes, who are not on supplementary benefit. We have, however, asked the social security policy inspectorate to look at the operation of these particular regulations and will be considering whether any amendments are appropriate in the light of its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the value of child support, including any family allowance child benefit payments, for a two-child family on unemployment benefit, for each year since 1953 (a) as a percentage of the married couple's unemployment benefit rate and (b) as an index number using 1980 as 100.

I refer the hon. Member to "Social Security Statistics 1982", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. That gives the rates of unemployment benefit, including the rates of additions for a dependent wife and for children, and the rates of family allowance-child benefit throughout the period from 1953 to date. As the hon. Member may know, the rates will go up next week: unemployment benefit for a couple will be £43·75 a week, and dependency additions plus child benefit for two children will be £13·30 a week. The comparisons sought by the hon. Member can be derived from those figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any action can be taken to ensure that consultants provide information on their waiting list lengths when the consultant refuses to reveal them.

Routine waiting list information is compiled by health authorities from administrative records. Authorities have been encouraged to make this information available to local general practitioners, and I would expect them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure a common policy for the release of records of orthopaedic waiting lists at the North Staffordshire hospital and Leighton hospital.

It is for individual health authorities to adopt their own system for releasing details of waiting lists to local general practitioners, but I shall draw the attention of the health authorities to the hon. Member's question.