asked the Minister for the Civil Service what further progress has been made in implementing the recommendations in the "Review of the Government Statistical Services", Cmnd. 8236.

Statisticians continue to provide a wide-ranging service of information, advice and analysis in every Government Department.The target saving arising from the Review of Government Statistical Service (Cmnd. 8236) were £26½million. By April this year £25 million had already been implemented. It is expected that savings will rise to £28½ million a year by April 1984.These savings will mean that staff and administrative costs in the Government statistical services have been reduced by a quarter since 1979. During that period the number of forms sent out to businesses has also been very substantially reduced. In 1982 one million fewer forms were sent out than in 1979—a reduction of one-third.The credit for this substantial progress rests firmly with the members of the service. They will continue their efforts to realise further savings.The system of departmental statistical budgets will be an important tool in managing statistical resources. It is being successful in generating greater awareness amongst statisticians and their customers of the costs of the service and in stimulating them to question existing methods and processes and to examine alternative ways of doing things. It will be made more effective by relating costs to clearly-stated objectives and measures of output.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what representations the Office of Arts and Libraries has received from the Horniman museum advisory committee concerning the Government's proposal to transfer responsibility for the Horniman museum from the Greater London council to the British museum.

The Horniman museum advisory committee, whilst welcoming the Government's recognition of the museum's national standing, has suggested that it should continue to be administered by a unified inner London education service. The Government will take the committee's view into account alongside all other representations received during the present consultation period.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on the outcome of the public inquiry for the A12 Chelmsford bypass.

I hope to announce a decision next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the forecast loads the Severn bridge can safely carry over the next 10 years.

The safe loading will depend on the extent to which it is decided the crossing can be strengthened after the assessment of the options has been completed. Traffic management arrangements will ensure that the crossing continues to be safe to use.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes have been approved, and how much grant was payable under section 13 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 and section 7 of the Local Employment Act 1972 in the Corby development area within his Department's area of responsibility in each year since 1979–80.

Eight schemes have been approved within my Department's area of responsibility since 1979–80. The total grant payable is approximately £585,000. The grants issued in each year are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the report by Major Holden, inspecting officer of railways, into the fatal accident at Reddish lane level crossing, Lymm, Cheshire, on 21 January.

Major Holden was appointed as an assessor to Her Majesty's coroner for Cheshire—central district—under the provisions of section 8 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1871. He has now completed his investigations into matters raised at the inquest, which was held on 28 April 1983. Publication of his report, which is at the draft stage, is expected in about four months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the details of his plans to extend the trunk road network upon the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

We shall decide on such amendments to the trunk road network as are necessary following abolition of the metropolitan county councils when comments on our consultation paper on the reallocation of transport responsibilities have been received and considered. We have asked for comments by 31 January. It is too soon to say by what date decisions will be published thereafter, but the announcement will be made as soon as possible consistent with thorough consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if in view of the further accidents on the A57—Manchester road at junctions with Hulme road and Balmoral drive, he will agree to the immediate installation of two pelican crossings.

Proposals to install a pelican crossing on the A57 are already in hand. We have no plans to provide a pelican crossing at Hulme Road, although we propose to introduce traffic signal control of the junction, as part of the side road works associated with the Portwood-Denton section of the M66 Manchester outer ring road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of additional policing required throughout England and Wales during the week commencing 13 November to maintain public order in the face of demonstrations against the deployment of cruise missiles.

It will cost a disproportionate amount to ask every chief officer of police to provide an answer. I have, however, asked the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the chief constable of Thames Valley police for information on demonstrations in their respective areas, and will reply when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detention centre orders were made by the courts (a) in the six months prior to the introduction of youth custody orders and (b) since their introduction.

The authority for courts to make youth custody orders came into effect on 24 May 1983. Information on detention centre orders made by the courts is published annually in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales" (Tables 7.7–7.10 of the issue for 1982, Cmnd. 9048). Information for 1983 is not yet available. The readily available relevant information on receptions into detention centres, under a detention centre order, is given as follows.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss the activities of the Greater London council police committee with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him by the Prison Officers Association on his recent policy statement as to changes in possible parole of prisoners serving long or life sentences; and if he will make a statement.

None, but my right hon. and learned Friend expects to meet representatives of the association shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the South Wales police on the interrogation methods and procedures of the serious crimes squad of the South Wales police.

No. Members of the serious crimes squad of the South Wales police operate under the same force instructions, drawn up in conformity with the judges rules and Home Office guidance, as all other officers of the force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners currently in Her Majesty's prisons both on remand and sentenced are married and have children under the age of 16 years or children who are in full-time education.

The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now announce to which parts of the Metropolitan police district the pilot scheme for lay visiting will be extended; and if he will include the London borough of Newham.

We have not yet reached any conclusions on this matter, but my right hon. and learned Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase expenditure on prison libraries; and if he will make a statement.

Pending the outcome of negotiations now being held between the Home Department and the local authorities' associations on the funding of prison libraries, my right hon. and learned Friend has no statement to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the manpower levels in his Department in June 1983; and what are his plans for those levels in June 1984.

The position is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people over the age of 70 years were prosecuted for shoplifting, and how many were convicted, in the latest year for which figures are available.

In 1982, about 630 persons aged 70 or over were proceeded against in magistrates' courts in England and Wales for shoplifting; also in 1982, about 500 persons were found guilty of shoplifting at magistrates' courts or the Crown court. In the same year about 2,360 persons aged 70 or over were cautioned by the police for shoplifting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the original £4,241 million estimated expenditure in 1984–85 before the Chancellor's autumn statement was to be divided within his Department's budget; and if he will break down the net increase of £92 million announced in the autumn statement.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all police authorities currently offering police cadet places, the numbers currently serving in each force area and the proposed number of places in 1984 and 1985 within England and Wales.

Under section 17(1) of the Police Act 1964, police authorities are responsible for approving the number of police cadets appointed in each force in England and Wales, and information for all forces about cadet recruitment plans is not available centrally. There were 1,097 police cadets in England and Wales at the end of September 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why £100,000 was spent on the old E wing at Her Majesty's prison, Durham, to install extra security measures before women were allocated there.

Total expenditure was appreciably less than £100,000. The aim was to ensure that the unit was appropriate for prisoners in the highest security category.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what alternative accommodation is available for dispersal or transfer of female category A prisoners from H wing, Her Majesty's prison, Durham.

There is no alternative accommodation available at present for the permanent allocation of category A women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many category A women there are now on H wing, Her Majesty's prison, Durham; and how long they have been there;

There are three category A women in Her Majesty's prison, Durham and they have been held there for approximately four years, four years, and nine years respectively. Our records show that, since 1974 when H wing opened for women, nine category A prisoners have been held there, with a maximum of seven at any one time. Information on the number of women not classified category A allocated to H wing since 1974 could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but H wing normally holds about 35 such inmates at any time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors determine the level of security needed for women prisoners at Her Majesty's Prison, Durham.

The level of security required is determined by the fact that Her Majesty's prison Durham currently holds women in security category 'A'.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of violence causing injury to the person have been recorded against prisoners convicted of an offence connected with the problems in Northern Ireland in Great Britain and sentenced to serve a sentence of imprisonment in Great Britain during the period 1968 to 1983.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made to provide heaters for Metropolitan police officers on duty outside RAF Greenham common in order to comply with the district council byelaws banning open braziers.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that his officers have been provided with hot drinks; and that the question of heating arrangements is under review.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech made by the Secretary of State for Energy on the 20th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government on current issues at home and abroad.

I have been asked to reply.Yes. As I said in the House on 24 November, my right hon. Friend's speech was entirely consistent with Government policy.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what subjects he expects to discuss at his next meeting with the Scottish Law Commission.

I have no meetings arranged at present. As indicated to the hon. Member on 2 November, I visited the Scottish Law Commission on 18 October. I expect to meet the commission from time to time to discuss all aspects of law reform which it has under consideration.—[Vol, 47, c. 874–75.]

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether the Lord Advocate was consulted before the procurator fiscal decided to prosecute Mr. David Whitehouse on a charge of assault; and if he will make a statement.

The Lord Advocate was consulted. I have no other statement to make.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland who carries the responsibility in Scotland for deciding whether to prosecute kerb crawlers who solicit prostitutes.

The appropriate procurator fiscal.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if the Crown Office will adopt a policy of prosecuting kerb crawlers for breach of the peace.

Each case will be considered on its own merits.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will take steps to forbid parking by all vehicles at all times along the perimeter of the Palace of Westminster by means of double yellow lines; and if he will make a statement.

The policy on the control of parking along the perimeter of the Palace of Westminster rests with Westminster city council and I am advised that there is no requirement to vary current arrangements.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many petitions containing how many signatures on the subject of the guidelines to doctors for prescribing contraceptives to under 16-year olds without parental consent and had been presented to the House by 22 November; and if he will make a statement.

A total of 518 petitions had been presented by 22 November. It is no longer the practice of the House to count signatures to petitions. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. [Vol. 48, c. 174.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1970 the proportion of gross domestic product accounted for by contractual savings and the savings ratio, together with his forecast for the current year.

The available figures^* for 1970 to 1972 are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the effective exchange rate for sterling is still calculated on the basis described in the March 1981 issue of Economic Trends; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the movement in the rate on the basis of trade in 1982, or the latest year for which figures are available.

The effective exchange rate index for sterling continues to be calculated on the basis of weights from the IMF's multilateral exchange rate model as described in the March 1981 issue of Economic Trends. The calculation uses the most up-to-date weights available from this complex model, which is based on 1977 trade flows, and figures are regularly published in a number of statistical periodicals which can be obtained from the House of Commons Library. When, in due course, the IMF model is revised to take account of more recent trade flows the effective exchange rate index will be similarly revised, as it was in 1981.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy towards the initiative of the accounting standards committee of the six professional associations and institutes in establishing a public sector liaison group with the aim of developing further financial reporting standards and procedures in the public sector accounting field.

The accounting standards committee is well placed to offer valuable advice to the Departments concerned on how to carry out their responsibilities in the public sector accounting field, and I wholeheartedly welcome its initiative in setting up a public sector liaison group for this purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider introducing a plastic £1 note similar to that introduced in the Isle of Man.

There are no plans to introduce a plastic £1 note.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider introducing a plastic £1 note, similar to that now in circulation in the Isle of Man, in place of the £1 coin.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the report from the Royal College of Physicians indicating that 100,000 people die prematurely each year because of smoking, he will introduce a much higher tax on cigarettes.

Health considerations are one of the factors that are taken into account when rates of duty are reviewed. However, I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Bank of England has increased substantially its charge for the issue of new notes; and if he will make a statement.

The Bank of England supplies notes to meet public demand, which in practice is channelled through the commercial banks, from their head office and branches at the face value of the note. The cost of printing, issue and distribution of notes to the banking system is a charge on the issue department of the bank; details of these costs are published in the bank's annual report and accounts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures for 1982–83 showing the percentages of income tax coming from tax units with incomes (a) below average earnings, (b) below one and a half times average earnings and (c) below twice average earnings.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has evaluated the present pilot schemes for Civil Service catering; and when he expects to reach a decision about their extension across the Civil Service.

The last of the pilot projects forecast in the Government statement of 1 February is due to start shortly. Evaluation of the different strategies for Civil Service catering which the projects are designed to test cannot take place until all of them have run their course. It will therefore be some months before any decisions based on that evaluation can be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what percentage of the equity of Bradford University Software Systems is held by the National Enterprise Board;(2) what percentage of the equity of C Squared is held by the National Enterprise Board;(3) what percentage of the equity of Electronic Automation is held by the National Enterprise Board;(4) what percentage of the equity of Durascreen is held by the National Enterprise Board;(5) what percentage of the equity of Shelton Instruments is held by the National Enterprise Board;(6) what percentage of the equity of Solglo is held by the National Enterprise Board;(7) what percentage of the equity of White Cross Rubber Products is held by the National Enterprise Board;(8) what percentage of the equity of British Vacuum Technology is held by the National Enterprise Board;(9) what percentage of the equity of Epichem is held by the National Enterprise Board;(10) what percentage of the equity of Britpharm is held by the National Enterprise Board;(11) what percentage of the equity of Mather Machinery is held by the National Enterprise Board;(12) what percentage of the equity of Silicon Microsystems is held by the National Enterprise Board;(13) what percentage of the equity of Tarlan Services is held by the National Enterprise Board;(14) what percentage of the equity of WFI (Europe) is held by the National Enterprise Board;(15) what percentage of the equity of Focom Systems is held by the National Enterprise Board;(16) what percentage of the equity of Hilton (Products) is held by the National Enterprise Board;(17) what percentage of the equity of Integrated Micro Products is held by the National Enterprise Board;

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the period since 1953 the effect on the increase in export and import unit values of each move in the base year for statistical purposes; and what was the corresponding effect in the case of wholesale prices.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report for each year since 1970 such information as he has available showing the number of cars produced by Ford and General Motors in Germany and Belgium and sold in the United Kingdom and the number of cars produced by such firms in the United Kingdom and sold in Germany and Belgium.

The following is the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a list of the four-digit headings in chapter 84 of the Brussels nomenclature in which one or more tariff headings will be 10 per cent. or more on 1 January 1987 applied to imports from non-EC countries of items which fall within division 72 of the standard international trade classification together with figures of imports from such countries in the current year to date compared to imports before the reductions made in accordance with the agreement reached in the Tokyo round;(2) if he will publish in the

None of the headings or sub-headings of the European Community's common customs tariff (CCT) falling within divisions 61 or 72 of the standard industrial trade classification will be subject to a duty of 10 per cent. or more by 1 January 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the approximate number of jobs currently being carried out in the United Kingdom by robots;(2) what is the average number of jobs lost on the installation of a robot in British industry.

Information of this kind is not available. Each of the estimated 1,152 robots in use in British industry at the end of 1982 is carrying out industrial tasks but this does not mean that their introduction has reduced employment correspondingly. Experience to date suggests that robots improve competitiveness of companies using them thus increasing job security. Failure to use new technology is likely to lead to substantial job loss.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the annual growth rate in the robot population in the United Kingdom in 1981–82 and 1982–83.

Figures compiled by the British Robot Association show a 61 per cent. increase in the United Kingdom robot population from 713 in 1981 to 1,152 by the end of 1982. Figures for 1983 will not be available until February 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information is available as to the number of robots per 10,000 people employed in manufacturing in (a) Sweden, (b) Japan, (c) Germany, (d) the United States of American, (e) France and (f) the United Kingdom.

In 1981, the latest year for which the comparative figures requested are available, the number of robots per 10,000 people employed in manufacturing were:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what notification Her Majesty's Government have received about the delays in the construction of Atlantic Conveyor.

My Department receives regular progress reports on the construction of the Atlantic Conveyor replacement vessel at Swan Hunter. At the present stage, problems are foreseen on both time scale and cost, some of which may be held to arise from events outside the contractor's control. British Shipbuilders is making strenuous efforts to retrieve the position, but its success will depend on the active co-operation of the whole work force.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the state of trade and the future prospects of trade with the Republic of Zimbabwe.

In the period January to September 1983 British exports fob to Zimbabwe amounted to £45·8 million and imports from Zimbabwe cif amounted to £43·2 million. The figures for the full year of 1982 were £95 million and £63 million respectively.The decrease in the volume of trade this year is a result of the "knock-on" effect of world recession and of Zimbabwe's short-term financial difficulties. I hope that this reduced level of trade will be only temporary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the state of trade and the future prospects for trade with Angola.

United Kingdom exports to Angola have declined in recent years, as have those of our major competitors, due to the imposition of strict import licensing in 1981. Exports from the United Kingdom to Angola were valued at £39·5 million in 1981, £25·8 million in 1982 and for January to September 1983 exports were £11·8 million, a further 30 per cent. reduction. Imports from Angola have remained steady at a rate of £6–7 million per year since 1981.I expect future trade with Angola to be centred on the energy, mining and transport sectors as well as industrial rehabilitation, all priority areas identified by an emergency plan drawn up by the Angolan Government earlier this year. A number of major contracts are now at advanced stages of negotiation and I hope that the level of our exports to Angola in future will improve.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ask British Telecom to postpone its proposed price increases; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes have been completed for assured tenancy lettings; and how many are now occupied.