asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government give any assistance to the Bangladesh Government's national population control board.

Her Majesty's Government have provided bilateral aid of £1·4 million in collaboration with the International Development Association to assist the Bangladesh Government's population control programme. We are not aware of a national population control board in Bangladesh. There is, however, a National Council for Population Control; but this has not received assistance under the British aid programme.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list in specific terms the grounds of objection of Her Majesty's Government to a freeze on nuclear weapons; and whether she will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.A nuclear weapons freeze would freeze Soviet superiority in a range of important weapons systems and remove the principal incentive for the Russians to negotiate reductions in nuclear arsenals. Some elements of a freeze would be extremely difficult to verify, and the negotiations required would take attention away from the search for balanced reductions in nuclear weapons, to which we give the highest priority. The Government's attitude to a nuclear freeze is contained in the recent FC0- MOD leaflet, "Defence and Disarmament Issues—No. 3", a copy of which is being sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will now announce the names of the members of the review body for nurses and midwifery staff and professions allied to medicine.

I have been asked to reply.The following members have agreed to serve on a new review body which will be chaired, as already announced, by Sir John Greenborough.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of taking and driving away of motor vehicles have occurred in the Chelsea police area during the last 12-month period.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 557 offences of theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle were recorded in the Chelsea division in the year ending 30 June 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the stops conducted by the police in the London borough of Newham in the past 12 months were of (a) blacks and (b) whites.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stops were carried out in each of the London boroughs in the past 12 months; and how many resulted in charges being brought.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to questions from the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Dubs) on 17 November.—[Vol. 48, c. 514–15.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Metropolitan police officers currently on duty outside RAF Greenham common have been issued with tents, overcoats and wellington boots to enable them to fulfil their duties.

Overcoats and other adverse weather clothing are provided to all Metropolitan police officers as standard issue. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that arrangements have been made to provide his officers on duty at RAF Greenham common with wellington boots, but not tents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the monthly cost to his Department caused by the National Association of Probation Officers withholding criminal statistics returns from his Department's computer; and what has been the cumulative cost since industrial action began in July.

The costs—both to the Home Office and the probation service itself—of not having timely information about the service's activities are not of a kind that can be expressed in money terms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the British Nationality Act 1981 has had on Commonwealth citizens permanently resident in the United Kingdom in regard to the issuing of no-passport excursion cards; and what advice he now circulates to travel agents on this matter.

The 1971 memorandum of understanding with France on no-passport excursions covers all Commonwealth citizens. The passing of the British Nationality Act 1981 did not affect in any way the memorandum's application to them. The French Government informed the British Government in August that, while the operation of the scheme was under discussion, they were prepared to admit only British citizens on no-passport excursion cards and that other Commonwealth citizens must travel on a passport, obtaining a visa where appropriate. The travel companies were informed accordingly, and Commonwealth citizens who were not British citizens were advised not to travel to France on no-passport excursion cards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the recruitment of British subjects of ethnic minority origin with a view to their serving in his Department's divisions or areas covering the needs of people from their area of origin; and if he will make a statement.

It is Government policy that all persons who are eligible under the nationality rules—which, broadly speaking, admit all British and Commonwealth citizens—should have equal opportunities for employment in the Civil Service on the basis of their ability, qualifications and fitness for the work. In general, individuals are recruited on the basis of their suitability for the range of duties appropriate to a grade rather than for specific posts or types of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the current contribution by each London borough to the total money spent on concessionary fares and the estimated expenditure on concessionary fares in 1983–84 on the pensioners living in each borough.

London boroughs contribute nothing since they are simply the collecting agents for the GLC rate precept which includes the £58·6 million cost of this current scheme.To calculate the expenditure on concessionary fares per pensioner living in each borough would require information about how many had travel passes and how much they were used. This information is not, so far as I am aware, available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with maintenance and safety procedures on British-registered aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Measures to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft on the United Kingdom register are the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority. I have no reason to believe that the measures prescribed by the authority, and its continuous monitoring of compliance with them, have in any way failed adequately to discharge this responsibility.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts, pursuant to his reply of 8 November, Official Report, c. 96, if he will give a breakdown of the £14 per capita expenditure on the arts in England in 1982–83 by source and by each branch of the arts.

Further detailed analysis of source data shows that the per capita figure was £14·14, broken down as follows:

	£ per capita
From central government funds:
Museums and galleries	1·59
British Library	0·95
National Heritage Memorial Fund	0·14
Arts Council of Great Britain	1·60
Film	0·20
Other	0·11
	4·58
From Local authorities:
Museums	1·28
Libraries	6·63
Arts	1·39
	9·30
From business sponsors:
Arts	0·26
TOTAL	14·14

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts, when Her Majesty's Government will publish the promised White Paper arising from the recommendations made in the eighth report of the Education, Science and Arts Committee, "The Public and Private Funding of the Arts," Session 1981–82.

The preparation of the Government's response to the Select Committee's report on public and private funding of the arts is at an advanced stage, and it should be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for goods vehicles other than heavy goods vehicles, the volume and value of imports from and exports to the European Community and to the rest of the world;(2) whether he will publish in the

The information that can be provided within acceptable limits of cost is as follows:

United Kingdom Trade in Commercial Vehicles
No's in thousands
Values in £ million.
		European Community		Rest of the World
		Imports cif	Exports fob	Imports cif	Exports fob
1970	No.	8	29	3	152
	Value	5	29	10	165
1971	No.	16	32	3	174
	Value	11	36	14	205
1972	No.	29	26	7	124
	Value	22	29	18	159
1973	No.	29	36	9	137
	Value	30	46	29	184
1974	No.	32	35	8	137
	Value	54	57	44	214
1975	No.	20	37	7	157
	Value	47	83	51	380
1976	No.	20	52	8	149
	Value	77	133	57	457
1977	No.	26	53	11	152
	Value	141	172	84	527
1978	No.	26	40	22	114
	Value	152	171	125	442
1979	No.	38	39	32	114
	Value	236	197	161	485
1980	No.	41	43	35	93
	Value	233	214	149	472
1981	No.	21	28	27	79
	Value	139	153	106	503
1982	No.	40	17	33	84
	Value	300	40	139	473

United Kingdom Trade in passenger cars with the rest of the European Community
(No's in thousands, Values in £ million)
		Imports cif	Exports fob	Exports as a percentage of imports
1970	No.	136	212	156
	Value	69	77	110
1971	No.	236	221	94
	Value	139	82	59
1972	No.	332	211	64
	Value	238	83	35
1973	No.	346	235	68
	Value	308	113	37
1974	No.	248	161	65
	Value	246	87	35
1975	No.	278	124	44
	Value	337	108	32
1976	No.	362	135	37
	Value	643	179	28
1977	No.	468	141	29
	Value	986	247	25
1978	No.	548	128	23
	Value	1,288	286	22
1979	No.	728	147	20
	Value	1,915	280	15
1980	No.	556	129	23
	Value	1,516	276	18
1981	No.	538	135	25
	Value	1,594	284	18
1982	No.	658	125	19
	Value	2,216	315	14
1983* January-August	No.	537	55	10
	Value	1,982	175	9
1983* † At an annual rate	No.	805	82	10
	Value	2,973	262	9
* The European Community is defined throughout in accordance with current membership.
† The comparison of exports and imports in the final column is based on exports valued fob and imports valued cif. (For convenience, exports divided by imports is provided.)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report, a table showing for each year since 1970 and the current year to date, at an annual rate, the number and value of passenger motor cars imported from and exported to the European Community countries collectively and individually;(2) whether he will publish in the

The information which can be provided within acceptable limits of cost is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year from 1970 and the current year to date, at an annual rate, the number and value of

United Kingdom trade in passenger cars with countries outside the European Community
Numbers in thousands
Values in £ million
			Imports cif	Exports fob	Exports as a percentage of imports
1970		Number	23	481	2,074
		Value	17	253	1,526
1971		Number	48	503	1,051
		Value	34	289	838
1972		Number	122	417	342
		Value	89	248	279
1973		Number	163	365	224
		Value	133	263	198
1974		Number	129	408	316
		Value	112	339	304
1975		Number	174	398	229
		Value	179	386	216
1976		Number	176	371	211
		Value	246	476	194
1977		Number	216	346	160
		Value	342	528	154
1978		Number	259	351	136
		Value	486	660	136
1979		Number	344	273	79
		Value	685	557	81
1980		Number	317	237	75
		Value	595	563	95
1981		Number	279	221	79
		Value	627	626	100
1982		Number	287	194	68
		Value	673	645	96
1983:	(a) January to August	Number	236	105	44
		Value	630	428	68
	(b) (a) at an annual rate	Number	354	157	44
		Value	944	642	68

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied that the Government are complying with Community directive 68/151 article 3 paragraph 3.

Yes.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the costs of the materials used to produce one microfiche of the type used to carry company records at the companies registration office.

Less than 1p.

asked Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the case of inquirers who ask the Registrar of Companies for copies of certified and uncertified company records on photostat, such copies are of original documents or printouts from microfiche copies; and, in the case of the latter, what use is made of the microfiche copy after photostating.

Such copies are normally produced from microfiche copies of original documents; the microfiche copies are then destroyed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reply his Department makes to inquirers who write to the Registrar of Companies asking for uncertified microfiche copies of company records to be sent to them by post.

The registrar at present offers to provide photostat copies of individual documents at a charge which covers the cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Registrar of Companies met the request of Mr. Edwin Fleming of Liverpool for the postal supply of microfiche records of Radio City, Sound of Merseyside on what date the registrar replied; how he proposed to provide the information by post; and what charge was proposed.

Mr. Fleming was offered, on 5 August 1983, photostat copies of each document delivered by the company in question, to be sent by post at a total cost of £53·70p.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the returns sent by individual companies to the Registrar of Companies in Cardiff are filed for storage in individual company files or by a system based on the date of microfilming; and for how long the present system of filing paper returns has been in operation.

Documents relating to the formation or dissolution of a company, the appointment of a receiver or liquidator, or the registration of charges and memoranda of satisfaction are still placed on individual company files. Since 19 December 1980, all other documents have been retained separately in order of the date of receipt.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the maximum numbers of pages which may be shown on each microfiche used for storing company records at the companies registration office; and if he will indicate, in the case of an average size company the number of microfiche used to carry its records.

The microfiche used can contain the images of 48 or 60 pages. The average number of microfiches currently held for each company is 5·2.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce a postal sales service on company information from the companies registration office direct to inquirers by post.

Yes. From a date that I shall announce shortly the offices at Cardiff and Edinburgh will supply by post microfiches, uncertified photostat copies of particular documents or certified copies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in order to increase the number of jobs in the silk fabric dyeing and finishing industry, he will take steps to remove silk quota category 5009.2000.

In response to representations from dyers and finishers the Department is examining the possibility of liberalising imports of certain silk fabrics in the grey state. In carrying out this review, account is also being taken of the interest of United Kingdom weavers of competing silk fabrics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on regional development grant in each of the past three years; and if he will estimate the number of jobs created thereby and the average cost per job.

In each of the past three financial years the amount spent on regional development grant was:

	£ million
1980–81	490·5
1981–82	616·8
1982–83	689·6

Regional development grant is paid in respect of capital investment and applicants for RDG are not required to demonstrate that the investment leads to the creation of jobs, although it will do so in many instances. The information on which to base the estimates requested is therefore not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to prevent the dumping of cement; and if he is taking the matter to the European Commission.

The European cement industry is discussing with the Commission the possibility of antidumping action against imports of cement from a number of sources. My Department has given the United Kingdom industry help and advice in the preparation of this case. It is, however, for the Commission, in consultation with member states, to decide whether or not to accept a case for investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy towards the recruitment of British subjects of ethnic minority origin with a view to their serving in his Department's divisions or areas covering the needs of people from their area of origin; and if he will make a statement.

It is Government policy that all persons who are eligible under the nationality rules—which, broadly speaking, admit all British and Commonwealth citizens—shall have equal opportunities for employment in the Civil Service on the basis of their ability and qualifications and fitness for the work. In general, individuals are recruited on the basis of their suitability for the range of duties appropriate to their grade rather than for specific posts or types of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government have now reached a decision on the future of the Co-operative Development Agency.

Yes. The Government have decided that their funding of the agency should continue for a further six years, at the present level of £200,000 per annum. the Government also propose to give the agency limited additional powers to enable it to maximise its own earning powers and to seek further support from the private sector.I recognise the agency's potential for continued promotion of industrial co-operatives and the contribution that such co-operatives can make to employment and job ownership.A Bill to implement these changes will be introduced in Parliament this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales for the most recent date for which figures are available, what percentage of family medical practitioners make use of night and weekend deputising services.

Year	Hospital	Health authority	Bed numbers	Designation
1979	Glyncornel, Rhondda	Mid Glamorgan	60	Geriatric
	St. Thomas' Haverfordwest	Dyfed	20	Obstetric
			66	Geriatric
	Llwynderw Annexe, Swansea	West Glamorgan	20	Pre-convalescent
1980	Llangwyfan	Clwyd	168	Chest
			24	General Surgery
			18	Orthopaedic
	Prince Edward War Memorial, Rhyl	Clwyd	31	Accident and Emergency
	Bron-y-Nant	Clwyd	25	Chest
	Blaenavon	Gwent	12	Acute
	Snatchwood	Gwent	25	Geriatric
	Gors, Holyhead	Gwynedd	17	Maternity
1981	St. James' Annexe, Swansea	West Glamorgan	12	Radiotherapy
1982	Nil
1983	Cefh Mably	Mid Glamorgan	20	Geriatric
			56	Chest

All of the foregoing facilities have been relocated in new or redeveloped hospitals. Hospitals whose closure is being considered are as follows:

Health authority	Hosptial	Explanation
Clwyd	Chats worth House, Prestatyn, Colwyn Bay	Proposals to transfer facilities elsewhere under consideration
Gwynedd	C & A Bangor Minfordd Gallt-y-Sil	All facilities to transfer to Ysbyty Gwynedd
Powys	Adelina Patti	To close when Ystradgynlais Community Hospital is completed
Pembroke	County War Memorial, Haverfordwest	Closure of 20 bed geriatric unit following relocation at Withybush under consideration
East Dyfed	Allt-y-Mynydd, Llanybyther	Proposal yet to go to public consultation.

:As I explained to the hon. Gentleman in my reply to him on 9 February 1982—[Vol. 17, c. 308]—the information is not available in the form requested. The percentage of unrestricted principals in general medical practice in Wales with consent to use deputising services was 24·59 as at 1 October 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospitals, giving the number of beds and the designation of beds, in each of the health areas in Wales have been closed in each of the past four years; and how many hospitals are currently under threat of closure at present.

Closures over the past four years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the further guidance by the Department of Health and Social Security on the right of a person to receive National Health Service treatment after a private consultation, referred to in the report of the Health Service Commissioners, April-September 1980, case No. W 190/78–79—Refusal of NHS treatment after private consultation, para. 22, page 35—was circulated to health authorities in Wales.

Yes. In paragraph 15 of part II of Welsh health circular (82)11, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the unemployment figures for those travelto-work areas within the county of Dyfed other than the Carmarthen travel-to-work area.

On 13 October 1983, the numbers of unemployed claimants were as follows:

Unemployment in Dyfed
Area	Number
Aberystwyth	1,243
Cardigan	689
Fishguard	352
Lampeter	1,454
Llandeilo	451
Llanelli	5,563
Milford Haven	3,978
Pembroke Dock	1,335
Tenby	856

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department will make funds available to associations endeavouring to increase the provisions of child-minding facilities and amenities for children under five years of age in Wales.

The provision of day care for the under-fives is primarily the responsibility of county council social service departments. Nevertheless, for some years the Welsh Office has given substantial administration grants to two voluntary organisations, the Pre-School Playgroups Association and Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, which also make such provision in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total of the European regional development fund devoted to tourism projects in Wales, analysed annually to date.

Commitments to schemes designed primarily to benefit tourism account for over £11 million. Other schemes and projects, such as major roads schemes, supported by the fund will also have been of benefit to tourism generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply to the lion. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) Official Report, 3 November, c. 450, in view of the large number of applications he has received for designation as free ports, if he will increase the number projected.

The Government intend to designate free ports on an experimental basis at a limited number of locations so as to test the value of such facilities in practice. The precise number has not yet been determined.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will forecast the impact of the recently announced gas and electricity price increases on (a) the retail price index and (b) the pensioner price indices.

No announcement has yet been made by the industries concerned on forthcoming price changes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that the horse is treated as an agricultural animal for all tax purposes.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that there is harmonisation of value added tax on horses within all countries of the European Community.

The VAT treatment of horses in the European Community is governed by the provisions of the sixth directive on he harmonisation of VAT. This provides that supplies and imports of horses should be taxable on the full selling price or import value. The position in all member states conforms to this except in Greece, which has not yet introduced a value added tax, and in Ireland, which is permitted to continue to exempt thoroughbred horses under a "temporary" derogation from the directive. The European Commission has prepared a report on the temporary derogations, but has not yet made proposals for ending any of them. It should be appreciated that ending of derogations, like other measures of harmonisation, require the unanimous agreement of the Council of Ministers to proposals by the Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the stamp duty liability of tenants of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority who are buying their own homes.

Section 107 of the Finance Act 1981 changed the stamp duty law so that those buying public sector dwellings at a discount—either under the right-tobuy provisions of the Housing Act 1980 or the Tenants Rights etc. (Scotland) Act 1980, or under a consent issued by the appropriate Secretary of State—should pay stamp duty on the actual—that is post-discount—price they pay for their house. This legislation does not apply to houses sold by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. My right hon. Friend intends to include a provision in next year's Finance Bill which would extend section 107 to sales by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and by other public sector bodies not at present covered. It is intended to give effect to the change as soon after next year's Budget day as practicable. As stamp duty is payable on the document which completes the transaction, purchasers will be able to benefit from the proposed change if the sale is completed after the date from which the proposed change takes effect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will construct an index, with 1978–79 equalling 100, of the changes in the level of income tax and national insurance contributions for each subsequent year for a taxpayer on (a) two thirds, (b) average, (c) five times average and (d) 10 times average earnings for households where the taxpayer is (i) single, (ii) married, (iii) married with two children, (iv) married with four children, and in all cases assuming that the wife does not work.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1983, c. 51.]: The following table shows (a) income tax plus national insurance contributions less child benefit where appropriate as a percentage of gross earnings; and (b) real net income after income tax, NIC and child benefit in index number form with 1978–79 equalling 100. The

Multiple of average earnings
Single	⅔		1		5		10
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
1978–79	27·7	100·0	31·7	100·0	52·6	100·0	61·7	100·0
1979–80	26·5	103·5	29·8	104·5	43·1	122·0	51·6	152·6
1980–81	27·8	104·9	30·8	106·4	44·5	122·9	52·3	155·4
1981–82	29·7	101·8	32·4	103·5	46·7	117·7	53·3	151·3
1982–83	30·3	101·7	33·1	103·2	46·1	119·8	53·1	153·3
1983–84	30·0	104·1	33·0	105·4	45·1	124·4	52·6	157·9
Married with no children
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
1978–79	22·2	100·0	28·0	100·0	50·9	100·0	66·8	100·0
1979–80	21·4	102·7	26·4	103·9	41·8	120·6	50·9	150·4
1980–81	22·9	104·2	27·5	105·8	43·2	121·5	51·6	153·1
1981–82	25·2	100·6	29·4	102·6	45·5	116·2	52·7	148·9
1982–83	25·5	100·9	29·9	102·6	44·9	118·4	52·4	151·0
1983–84	24·9	103·8	29·6	105·1	43·8	123·1	51·9	155·7
Married with two children (both under 11)
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
1978–79	12·0	100·0	21·2	100·0	49·2	100·0	65·9	100·0
1979–80	10·6	103·3	19·2	104·2	40·3	119·5	50·2	148·7
1980–81	13·3	103·6	21·1	105·2	41·9	120·1	51·0	151·1
1981–82	15·3	100·8	22·8	102·6	44·1	115·1	52·1	147·1
1982–83	15·3	101·5	23·1	102·9	43·5	117·3	51·8	149·2
1983–84	14·2	104·8	22·5	105·7	42·3	122·0	51·2	153·9
Married with four children (two under 11, one 11–15, one over 16)
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
1978–79	0·8	100·0	13·7	100·0	47·2	100·0	64·9	100·0
1979–80	-0·2	102·7	12·1	103·7	38·9	117·7	49·4	146·3
1980–81	3·7	102·1	14·7	103·9	40·7	118·1	50·3	148·5
1981–82	5·3	99·9	16·1	101·7	42·8	113·3	51·4	144·7
1982–83	5·0	101·0	16·3	102·3	42·1	115·6	51·1	146·8
1983–84	3·6	104·5	15·4	105·4	40·9	120·2	50·5	151·5

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will now introduce a Freedom of Information Bill.

No. We have made clear on several occasions why we do not believe that a statutory right of access to information would be appropriate. But it is the Government's policy to make available as much information as is possible while preserving the confidentiality essential to national security and to the effective working of Government. It is for my right hon. Friends in charge of Departments to implement this policy in their own areas of responsibility and to explain to the House and to the public the decisions they take. But my general impression is that good progress has been made in increasing the amount of information which is publicly available. In particular the evidence taken by departmental Select Committees provides a large range of information on the background to policies and problems over wide areas of Government activity.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service in which Departments MINIS (a) is and (b) is not now operating; and what are the reasons in the latter case.

All the Departments taking part in the financial management initiative are either using or making good progress in establishing management systems that, like MINIS, provide the information needed to monitor in detail the matching of resources to objectives. The Departments are listed, and their plans described, in part 2 of the White Paper "Financial Management in Government Departments", Cmnd. 9058, which was published in September.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what progress has been made in extending unified grading in the Civil Service; and whether he will make a statement.

On 14 July I announced that one of our major priorities in the personnel field for this year was to extend unified grading arrangements in the senior levels of the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures in the various employment offices in the London borough of Newham; and if he will give the average period of unemployment and the age breakdown in each case.

The following table gives the figures for unemployed claimants on 13 October for the East Ham, Plaistow and Stratford jobcentre areas.

	East Ham job-centre area	Plaistow job-centre area	Stratford job-centre area
Total unemployed	6,039	4,307	7,594
Median duration of unemployment	30 weeks	39 weeks	34 weeks
Unemployment by age
Under 18	554	445	642
18	365	255	483
19	333	214	411
20–24	1,214	892	1,590
25–29	804	526	989
30–34	537	391	697
35–39	415	352	526
40–44	365	267	485
45–49	366	273	520
50–54	375	296	503
55–59	456	294	479
60 and over	255	102	269

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were, for the most recent year for which statistics are available, the numbers of employers found to be paying wages below the wages council rates; how many employees were affected; and if he will estimate the amount of wages, in total, that went unpaid.

In 1982, pay rates at 39,514 establishments in wages council trades were checked and 9,269, or 23·4 per cent., were found to have underlaid one or more workers; the number of workers covered by these checks was 327,627, of whom 20,406, or 6·2 per cent., were found to have been underpaid. The total arrears assessed as due were £2,286,893.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the Government intend to lay regulations on hazardous substances and their conveyance by road in packaged goods.

I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the commission has approved the publication of a consultative document containing proposals for regulations to control the conveyance by road of dangerous substances in packages. It is expected that the consultative document will be available at the beginning of 1984. Subject to the outcome of consultation, the final proposals of the commission will be forwarded to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport by the end of that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, due to their work load and the sensitivity of their task, he will now consider increasing the number of inspectors employed by the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate as a means of improving the quality of the service.

I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the number of nuclear installations inspectors currently in post, at 100, is higher than it has ever been and that the inspectorate plans a further recruitment campaign in 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number estimated to be in employment in each of the last six quarters.

The latest available figures are for June 1983 and these, together with the figures for the previous quarters, were published in table 1.1 of the October 1983 issue of Employment Gazette. A copy of the Employment Gazette is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what methods are adopted to ensure that instructors who are engaged to oversee the training of young persons on the youth training scheme have the necessary qualifications for their appointment.

It is the responsibility of the Manpower Services Commission area manager, guided by the area manpower board, to satisfy himslf prior to entering into a contract with a managing agent that the agent and any sub-contractors are capable of delivering the youth training scheme programme in accordance with the criteria specified by MSC.Schemes will be monitored by the Manpower Services Commission to identify any shortcomings in instructional-supervisory staff, and managing agents will be advised on the action to take to counter any such shortcomings. Training for staff involved in the delivery of youth training schemes is available through a network of 55 accredited centres—one in each MSC area—appointed by the MSC for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy towards the recruitment of British subjects of ethnic minority origin with a view to their serving in his Department's divisions or areas concerning the needs of people from their area of origin; and if he will make a statement.

It is the policy of this Department that all people who are eligible under the nationality

	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Fatal injuries	714	691	628	451	468
Incidence rate per 100,000 employees	3·2	3·0	2·8	2·1	2·3
Major injuries	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	12,319	12,001
Incidence rate per 100,000 employees	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	58·2	58·5
Other injuries	580,000	545,000	458,000	422,022	375,530
Incidence rate per 100,000 employees	2,600	2,420	2,070	2,000	1,830
(1) From 1981 to 1982, figures refer to cases reported under NADO. The definition of what constitutes "major injury" reflects the precise requirement of those regulations.
(2) For 1978 to 1980 the figures given are in respect of awards of industrial death benefit and industrial injury benefit and were compiled by the Department of Health and Social Security.
(3) Before 1981, records of non-fatal injuries did not distinguish those which involved major injury as defined by the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figures for the numbers of trainees, excluding those at college, suffering (a) fatal accidents, (b) accidents resulting in major injuries and (c) other accidents for each year of the youth opportunities programme, and show in each case the accident rate per 100,000 trainees participating in the scheme excluding those at college, taking the average for the year.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1983, c. 53–54]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 14 November by my hon. Friend the Minister of State.—[Vol. 48, c. 319–320.]Considerable care is needed where comparisons between accidents to young people on the youth opportunities programme and accidents to the general work force are concerned, and I am anxious to ensure that the hon. Member has figures which are as nearly comparable as possible. The Manpower Services Commission is currently reviewing the accident figures it has published in this light. I shall write to the hon. Member with as full a range of figures and comparisons as possible at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the numbers of employees in Great Britain suffering (a) fatal accidents, (b) accidents resulting in major injuries and (c) other accidents, for each of the years 1978 to 1983 inclusive; and in each case what was the rate per 100,000 employees at work.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1983, c. 53–54]: The following table shows the number of injuries to employees reported from 1978 to 1982 under relevant legislation, the requirements of which changed in 1981. It also shows incidence rates. Figures for 1983 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it the policy of the Health and Safety Executive that every workplace where a youth training scheme trainee has on-the-job training should be visited by a Manpower Services Commission officer.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1983, c. 55]: The Health and Safety Executive will continue to monitor workplaces according to their hazard-rating systems. The presence of young people in the workplace is a factor that is considered in the assessments made.In addition to statutory obligations, managing agents have a contractual commitment with the Manpower Services Commission to secure the health, safety and welfare of all young people participating in their training programme to the same extent and in the same manner as an employer is required to do in relation to his employees under current legislation.Both organisations will continue to play their part in seeking to reduce accidents. In this context, it is not appropriate for the Health and Safety Executive to seek to direct the Manpower Services Commission in the way indicated by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East on 14 November, Official Report, c. 319–20, what was the nature of the injuries sustained by young people on the youth opportunities programme in each year.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1983, c.53]: The information in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but I hope to be able to help the hon. Member in this matter, and will write to him as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints his Department has received in the current year on the subject of aircraft noise around RAF Manston; and what was the equivalent number of complaints during the same period in 1982.

From 1 January 1983 to 17 November 1983 there were 44 complaints relating to aircraft noise connected with RAF Manston. There were 16 in the same period in 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the real increase in defence expenditure in each North Atlantic Treaty Organisation country over the past four years.

NATO does not publish information in the form requested. The United Kingdom has achieved the following real increases in defence expenditure over the past four years:

	Per cent.
1979–80	2·9
1980–81	2·8
1981–82	1·4
1982–83	6·0

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether cruise missile launcher vehicles will be accompanied by Royal Marines during deployment; and who will be responsible for overcoming any attempts to disrupt deployment after vehicles leave the base.

The composition of the joint United States-United Kingdom defence force was given in the statement on the Defence Estimates 1983—Cmnd. 8951-I, paragraph 209. Responsibility for matters of public order rests with the civil police.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons in each decile age group 65 to 75, 75 to 85 and 85 to 95 years in England and Wales have served in the armed forces.

I regret that the information requested could not be provided, except at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will supply a full list of equipment and weapons stored at Burtonwood air base.

For security reasons we do not provide lists of equipment and weapons stored at defence establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure the continued viability of the British Aerospace Hawk contract with the United States Government; and if he will make a statement.

The United States Congress decided last week to proceed with R and D funding of the Hawk VTX programme for the United States navy on the basis that all the aircraft would be suitable for carrier operations. This programme is of great importance to both the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The British Government will continue to work closely with British Aerospace to bring the programme to a successful conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he is giving to the request of the Secretary General of the United Nations to member states to contribute towards a project in Denmark for the care and rehabilitation of victims of torture.

The request of the United Nations Secretary General was for contributions to the United Nations voluntary fund for victims of torture. The fund has supported the work of a special unit for treatment of torture victims attached to the University hospital, Copenhagen. I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 26 October to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Mr. Johnston).—[Vol. 47, c. 103.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he now offers New Commonwealth citizens permanently resident in the United Kingdom who wish to day-travel in Europe without a British or other European Community passport.

All travellers—not only those who are New Commonwealth citizens—should carry a national passport or a travel document acceptable to the authorities of the country to be visited, obtaining a visa where necessary. In case of doubt, they should consult the consulate in the United Kingdom of the country in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in the European Community talks about the use of no-passport excursion cards or day trip identity cards by non-European Community nationals resident in the European Community.

No talks are being held within the European Community on the use of no-passport excursion identity cards. The arrangements made under bilateral agreements permitting short visits to Belgium, France and the Netherlands without passports are outside the framework of the treaty establishing the European Community and pre-date our accession. Talks are, however, continuing with the French Government about the 1971 Anglo-French memorandum of understanding relating to the use of these cards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it will be the policy of Her Majesty's Government to issue European Community passports to all persons permanently resident in the United Kingdom irrespective of their nationality or the national passport on which they travel.

No. When the new British passport in the European Community common format is introduced, it will be issued to those British nationals who are entitled to benefit from the European Community provisions relating to the free movement of persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will (a) list all visitors from South Africa invited by the British Council for the years 1979 to 1983 including the purpose of each visit, (b) list all British Council-sponsored visits to South Africa, including the names of all visitors and the purpose of the visit, (c) list all British Council-sponsored posts in South Africa and the purpose of the posts, and (d) list all British Council-sponsored projects in South Africa and the purpose of the projects.

Since the number of visitors to and from South Africa sponsored by the British Council amounted to over 700, it will take some time to provide the information. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all visitors from South Africa invited by the Central Office of Information in the years 1979 to 1983, including the purpose of each visit.

The names of visitors invited from South Africa from 1979 to 1983 are as follows. They were invited by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in pursuance of the Government's policy of maintaining and fostering links with South Africa in order to promote dialogue and thus to encourage peaceful change. They are influential members of all communities in South Africa and follow programmes arranged by the Central Office of Information covering visits to a wide range of organisations and discussion of a variety of issues, including the problems of South Africa, with a cross-section of informed people. Information in greater detail regarding the individual purpose of each visit is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The visitors were:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects will he discussed at the special meeting of the Council of Ministers at the European Community on 4 to 6 December; and if he will list these in the Official Report.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 1 November 1983.—[Vol. 47, c. 315.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's military mission in Bangladesh; what are the ranks of each of the mission's members; and if he will set out in detail each officer's tasks and duties.

I have been asked to reply.The British military advisory team in Bangladesh consists of three British loan service personnel with the ranks of brigadier, captain RN, and group captain RAF. They are there to assist in the running of the Bangladesh defence services command and staff college.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any British officer serving in the high commission in Bangladesh has recruited staff from the armed forces of that country in any of the last six years.

I have been asked to reply.We have no record of any such recruitment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British military mission in Bangladesh ever concerned itself with instruction in counter-insurgency methods in that country.

I have been asked to reply.The British military advisory team covers the normal range of staff college syllabus subjects, which include only the general principles of counter-insurgency operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 4 November, Official Report, c. 492, what percentage (a) nurses and midwives, (b) administrative and clinical staff and (c) ancillary staff form of the total numbers of persons employed by each health authority.

The following table shows nursing and midwifery staff, administrative and clerical staff and ancillary staff employed in each district health

Trent Regional Health Authority
District Health Authorities	Nurses and Midwives (excluding Agency)	Administrative and Clerical	Ancillary
North Derbyshire	58·4	9·3	22·4
South Derbyshire	50·9	11·3	21·7
Leicestershire	51·1	11·9	23·5
North Lincolnshire	49·5	10·2	23·2
South Lincolnshire	54·3	11·4	24·2
Bassetlaw	55·2	13·2	20·1
Central Nottinghamshire	49·5	10·5	27·9
Nottingham	46·3	12·8	23·7
Barnsley	52·1	13·7	22·7
Doncaster	59·0	11·2	19·6
Rotherham	52·8	11·7	23·8
Sheffield	49·4	11·8	25·9