asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to extend the eligibility for industrial buildings allowances.

The industrial buildings allowance already applies to a wide range of buildings used for manufacturing, processing, storage, transport and other industrial purposes. I have no plans to extend eligibility.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many submissions, both written and oral, he has received since his last Budget from the tobacco industry, retail tobacconists and organisations sponsored by the tobacco industry on the subject of the taxation of cigarettes in his next Budget.

A few representations on cigarette taxation, all written, may have a link with the tobacco industry but only a memorandum from the Tobacco Advisory Council is clearly in this category.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the estimated value of goods confiscated by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in each of the last five years; what are the main categories of confiscated goods; and what is done with the goods once they have been confiscated by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise officers.

Information about goods seized over the last five years is contained in the revelant annual reports of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. These show the categories of goods concerned and, where available, the value of the items seized.Confiscated goods are wherever possible either sold or, in certain circumstances, restored to their previous owners on payment of restoration sums. Goods which cannot be sold or restored, such as drugs and obscene or indecent material, are destroyed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total cost of administration of the Treasury expressed in constant prices in each of the last five years.

The total cost of administration of the Treasury expressed in 1982–83 prices was £67·3 million in 1981–82 and £67·4 million in 1982–83. This information is taken from the last annual scrutiny of departmental running costs. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available because of machinery of Government changes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he has had from the new Argentine Government to his request to withdraw Argentine official observers or supervisors put in to oversee British firms in Argentina during the Falklands conflict.

There have been no further developments in this matter. The best prospects continue to lie in progress towards more normal relations generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish any advice that has been given by his Department to public sector organisations about the effects of the rescinding of the Fair Wages Resolution.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the net increase in cost to central Government funds of the rise in unemployment in Wales from the financial years 1979–80 to 1983–84.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends in the next Finance Bill to amend the provisions of section 20 of the Finance Act 1983 on the taxation of scholarships awarded by employers to the children of their employees.

Section 20 of the Finance Act 1983 passed into law without the benefit of a full Committee stage. In the light of further consideration and representations received we intend to propose two sets of amendments in the next Finance Bill. The first set of amendments to take effect from 15 March 1983 (last year's Budget day), will relax the existing transitional rules to provide that in the normal case of scholarship awards made before 15 March 1983 and taken up before 6 April 1984 will remain exempt from tax until 5 April 1989 or the expiry of the scholarship whichever is the sooner.The purpose of the second set of amendments, which will take effect from 6 April 1984, will be to ensure that the 25 per cent. test in section 20 operates to exclude from charge only those awards where the connection between the award and the parent's employment is purely fortuitous.The Inland Revenue will be issuing a press notice, copies of which will be placed in the library, to explain the proposed amendments in more detail.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of implementing a minimum wage of £100 per week for full-time workers in the Civil Service, taking into account any savings made by a reduction in means tested benefits to civil servants eligible to claim them.

No. Information about the amount of means tested benefits paid to civil servants could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of all civil servants were earning weekly wages of less than two-thirds average male earnings in 1982;(2) if he has studied the research document produced by the Civil Service Union and the Low Pay Unit, "Making Ends Meet," a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will estimate the numbers of civil servants earning less than two-thirds average male earnings in 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83;(4) if he will estimate the extent of the decline in real terms of the earnings of civil servants in receipt of less than two-thirds average male earnings since the change of basis of the Civil Service pay agreements in 1981.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total Government exenditure for the years 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1983; and what percentage of gross domestic product it represents for each of those years.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1984, c. 16]: The figures for 1960, 1970 and 1980 are as follows:

	1960	1970	1980
General Government expenditure (£ million cash)	8,932	20,896	103,857
£ million cost terms (base 1982–83)	60,392	95,582	126,037
Expenditure as a percentage of GDP	35	41	46

These figures are for general Government expenditure as recorded in the national accounts. An alternative definition is the public expenditure planning total. A fuller discussion of the two definitions and historical figures for the two series can be found in an article in the November issue of

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, using the same information and assumptions used in the reply of 23 November 1983, Official Report, c. 170–172, he will give the level of earnings in 1983–84 for each category of person at which the percentage of income tax and national insurance is the same as in 1978–79.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1984, c. 22]: The table following shows the multiple of gross average earnings at which the proportion taken in income tax plus national insurance contributions less child benefit (where appropriate) is equal in 1978–79 and 1983–84:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now set out the 1984–85 levels of income tax allowances, thresholds and bands assuming the indexation provisions of the Finance Act 1980 are followed, and give an estimate of the numbers who will be removed from income tax.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 January 1984, c. 346]: The indexed levels of income tax allowances, thresholds and bands are as follows. It is estimated that about 500,000 fewer people would be liable to income tax in 1984–85 if allowances were to be indexed than would be liable if the present levels of allowances were to be retained.

	1983–84 £	1984–85 Assuming indexation £
Income tax allowances
Single and wife's earned income allowance	1,785	1,885
Married allowance	2,795	2,945
Additional personal and widow's bereavement allowance	1,010	1,060
Single age allowance	2,360	2,490
Married age allowance	3,755	3,955
Aged income limit	7,600	8,100

per cent	Bands of taxable income
	1983–84 £	1984–85 Assuming indexation £
Income tax rates
30	0–14,600	0–15,400
40	14,601–17,200	15,401–18,200
45	17,201–21,800	18,201–23,100
50	21,801–28,900	23,101–30,600
55	28,901–36,000	30,601–38,100
60	over 36,000	over 38,100
Investment income surcharge threshold
	7,100	7,500

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give details of specific changes in prices in 1984–85 due to revalorisation of excise duties.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 January 1984, c. 347.]: The price changes for typical items, which would result from exact revalorisation of the excise duties are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department, the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise in the past four years, stating subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

[pursuant to the reply, 17 January 1984, c. 196]: The following accountancy firms have received consultancy contracts from HM Treasury, the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise in the past four years:

	£
HM Treasury:
Deloitte, Haskins and Sells
Examination of a company's accounts on behalf of the Central Computer & Telecommunications Agency	863
Inland Revenue:
Spicer & Pegler
Tax treatment on the effects of Inflation on business profits	5,985
Customs & Excise
Spicer & Pegler
Interpretation of business accounts	460
Arthur Young, McClelland Moore & Co.
Interpretation of business accounts	61,638

asked the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the annual cost of the wages of catering and bar staff at the House of Commons.

The annual cost of the salaries and wages (including employers' national insurance contributions) of staff of the House of Commons Refreshment Department is estimated in 1983–84 to amount to £1·819 million. This is borne on the House of Commons Administration Vote (Class XIIIA, Vote 1). Overtime and casual staff costs for banqueting are met from the Refreshment Department's trading and profit and loss account. In 1983–84, these are estimated to amount to some £90,000.

asked the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission will in future make it its practice to include in its annual report details of staff consultation in the manner of the details now required to be included in the annual reports of companies.

The Commission's annual reports have always contained references to negotiations and consultations with unions acting on behalf of most grades of staff in the House. Information on such matters will also be included in future reports, whenever it seems appropriate.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, how many churches are currently redundant; and what are the prospects of finding alternative uses for them.

At 31 December 1983 there were 137 redundant churches for which a suitable alternative use was being sought by diocesan authorities. Based on past achievement I would expect that a suitable use will in the end be found for rather more than half.

asked the Attorney-General what was the total cost in 1983 for the payment of British Telecom accounts in respect of all United Kingdom offices under (a) his control and (b) the Lord Chancellor's control.

The total amount paid to British Telecom in 1983 by offices (a) under my control was the. follwing:

	£
i Law Officers' Department	9,435
ii The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales	121,454

and

asked the Attorney-General what were the expenses of running the Court of Protection in each of the last four financial years; and what is the budgeted expense for the current year.

The information is as follows:

Year	£ million
1979–80	2·4
1980–81	2·9
1981–82	3·4
1982–83	3·9
1983–84*	5·5
* Estimated.

This table includes in 1982–83 £0·6 million and in 1983–84 £2·3 million, the cost of the receivership section of the Official Solicitor's Department which was merged with the Court of Protection on 1 January 1983.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on Government policy for the future funding of law centres.

The recommendations of the Royal Commission on Legal Services on the funding of law centres are still under consideration. Financial support for law centres continues to be provided by the central Government, mainly under the urban programme.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government have now received the report on the prevention of drug abuse by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; and if this report will be made public.

We expect to receive the report shortly and to publish it in due course.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on progress towards the normalisation of relations with Argentina.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mr. Evans) on 17 January. [Vol. 52, c. 166.]

asked the Prime Minister if she will revive the metrication programme; and if she will make a statement.

There are very few legal barriers to metrication so the scope for Government action is limited. It is for manufacturers and traders to dictate the timing of metrication, if costs are to be minimised or, if there are significant savings to be made by industry. We are, nevertheless, always willing to respond to requests from relevant interest groups that any remaining large barriers to metrication be removed. If, therefore, my hon. Friend has a particular point in mind, perhaps he could write to me.

asked the Prime Minister whether the persistent absence from public life of Mr. Andropov has any implications for relations between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union; and if she will make a statement.

No. We continue to pursue our policy of seeking a better relationship between East and West and in the right circumstances, a serious dialogue with the Soviet Union.

asked the Prime Minister if she will identify separately all the categories of state benefits and pensions currently being paid and the number of recipients of each for the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 and (a) give the annual total paid out for each category for the same years, (b) state the percentage of gross domestic product and total public expenditure represented separately and in total by each category in the same years and (c) indicate the Departments involved in the distribution of these benefits and pensions.

The information on expenditure and numbers of beneficiaries is given in the annual volume of "Social Security Statistics", "National Income and Expenditure", and "Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics" published by HMSO. Copies are available in the Library. The main departments involved in the payment of social security benefits are the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) and the Department of Employment. Certain services are provided by the Paymaster General's office.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent meeting with the Governor of Hong Kong concerning the future of the colony.

I met the Governor of Hong Kong and the Unofficial Members of the Executive Council on 16 January. This was their third visit to London for discussions since July 1983. It enabled me to reaffirm our continuing commitment to Hong Kong and to the search for a settlement, acceptable to Parliament, to China and to the people of Hong Kong. I also reiterated the importance which we continue to attach to keeping the Executive Council fully informed and to receiving then-advice.As on previous such occasions, there was a comprehensive review of the developments in the Sino-British talks on Hong Kong's future. This produced a close identity of views on the matters involved.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer on 17 January, Official Report, c. 161, about the main reason why taxes have risen, if she will give figures in real terms for the items mentioned in that answer.

Since 1978–79, average male earnings (all occupations) have increased by 6 per cent. in real terms, and real net take-home pay, for a man on average earnings has increased by about 5 per cent.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer of 18 January to the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore), if she will set out in the Official Report the guidance referred to in that answer.

The general principle is that Ministers must order their affairs so that no conflict arises between their private interests and their public duties. The background to this guidance and its historical development were described in a memorandum submitted to the Royal Commission on standards of conduct in public life by the then Secretary of the Cabinet in March 1975, of which there is a copy in the Library.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received concerning the importation of ultra heat treated milk from France.

Many individuals and organisations have made representations about our milk import arrangements: most of these have been in general terms and I regret that the number relating specifically to imports from France or other member states is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish an index of agricultural net output in the United Kingdom for each year since 1969 taking the average for 1954 to 1957 at 100, in continuation of table K on page 29 of the "Annual Review" of March 1969.

The following series extend the series given in table K of the annual review 1969. This indicator is now redesignated as Net Product. It is no longer practicable to recalculate the series in terms of 1954–1957 prices and 1974–75 is the latest year for which reliable crop-year figures are available. The current statistics are based on calendar years and incorporate changes in coverage and methodology, so are not strictly comparable to the previous series.

Index of agricultural net product at constant prices*
(United Kingdom)
Average 1968–69 to 1971–72=100†		1975=100‡
1964–65	93	1970	99
1965–66	92	1971	109
1966–67	92	1972	109
1967–68	98	1973	110
1968–69	90	1974	111
1969–70	96	1975	100
1970–71	103	1976	89
1971–72	110	1977	106
1972–73	112	1978	117
1973–74	118	1979	116
1974–75	120	1980	128
		1981	129
		1982 (f/c)	142
* Both series measure in index form the value added by the agricultural industry to all the goods and services purchased from outside agriculture, after provision has been made for depreciation.
† June/May years. The series relates to all commercially significant holdings, essentially holdings requiring 26 standard man days or more per year where a standard man day represents 8 hours of productive work by an adult male worker under average conditions.
‡ Calendar years. To bring United Kingdom figures into line with EC statistics, estimates for minor sectors such as agricultural contractors and very small holdings are included. For the same reason the calculation also incorporates certain changes in the treatment of farm stocks and other minor methodological changes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total cost in 1983 for the payment of British Telecom accounts in respect of all United Kingdom offices under his control.

£4·1 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he can now announce the date for the republication of his Department's document "Home Defence and the Farmer".

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will make available the booklet "Home Defence and the Farmer".

An updated version of "Home Defence and the Farmer" is being considered but no date can yet be given for its publication.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to pay the hill compensatory allowances for 1983–84 to the hill fanners; and if he will make a statement.

The failure of the Council of Ministers at its meeting on 9–10 January to agree to the terms on which the structures directives should be continued has caused a temporary delay in the start of payments of 1984 hill livestock compensatory allowances. I fully appreciate the importance to hill fanners of receiving their allowances at this time of year and we are pressing for urgent resolution of the legal difficulties in Brussels. Meanwhile, claims are being processed and it is our intention to begin payments as soon as the way is clear.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he hopes to announce his proposals to prevent further damage to Atlantic salmon stocks both within the 12-mile limit and further afield; and what cost estimate he has made of his proposals.

I have not yet anything to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Morrison) on 15 December 1983.—[Vol. 71, c. 1160.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will report progress on negotiations on the proposed European Community directive on motor insurance.

I am pleased to say that the directive was adopted on 30 December 1983. As I explained to the House in the debate on 31 January 1983, its main purpose is to improve guarantees of compensation for victims of motor accidents by providing for a minimum level of protection for third parties which Member States will be free to exceed if they so desire.The most significant effect for this country is that we shall have to extend our compulsory insurance law to cover liability for property damage as well as for personal injury and to provide guarantees in cases of damage where the driver responsible was uninsured. The directive will also benefit Britons involved in motor accidents elsewhere in the Community.I shall be seeking the views of insurers and of representative bodies on its implementation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the results of his assessment of the proposals for large scale urban cycle schemes which were submitted to his Department in 1983.

In our cycling policy statement we originally proposed to undertake one or two large scale urban cycling schemes to examine the effect on cycling demand of developing a continuous urban route or network. We have now selected five schemes from the ten submitted to us;

• Stockton—Cleveland county council
• Canterbury—Kent county council
• Bedford/Kempston—Bedfordshire county council
• Nottingham—Nottinghamshire county council
• Exeter—Devon county council

and we are discussing with the local authorities the possibility of implementing them on the basis that the Department will fund through its research programme 50 per cent. of the implementation costs, and all the monitoring costs. The monitoring will be undertaken by the transport and road research laboratory.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of concern among airline pilots about the effect of personal radios, calculators and similar equipment, particularly that which includes the use of light-emitting displays, on aircraft instruments during flight, he will prohibit the use of such equipment by passengers in the interests of aircraft safety.

Civil aircraft safety is the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority. In recent discussions between representatives of airline pilots and the authority about the inflight operation of passengers' personal electronic equipment no great concern was expressed by the pilots, and the very few incidents which have been reported to the authority have not been hazardous.Guidance on the subject was published by the authority in June 1982 with a recommendation to pilots and operators to monitor the use of such equipment. The aircraft commander has the authority to require any or all devices to be turned off at any time.Presently the authority is participating with airlines in tests to establish what interference if any is possible. The need for a general prohibition will be decided after the results of these tests are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the stranding of the MV Pergo at Dunbar on Sunday 15 January; whether it is normal practice for the engines and automatic steering of abandoned vessels to be left in operation; whether the Norwegian authorities gave any warning to mariners, the United Kingdom coastguard or oil production companies of the possible progress of an unmanned vessel in the North sea; and what action he proposes to take as a consequence of this incident.

On 13 January the Norwegian authorities, responding to a distress signal, rescued all five members from the Dutch registered vessel Pergo. It would generally be desirable to stop the engine before abandoning a ship if it is possible to do so. In this event the weather conditions were severe and I understand that the helicopter evacuation procedure required the ship to make headway through the sea and I have been advised that she was making 2 to 3 knots with her automatic steering engaged on a westerly course.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to implement the recommendation to him by Inbucon that an experimental extension of direct labour organisation legislation type competition within one or two agent authorities might be introduced within three to six months of the Inbucon report.

Since Inbucon reported we have made two changes to the direct labour organisation legislation; the lowering of the tendering threshold for general highway works from 100,000 to £50,000 on 1 October 1982 and the further requirement since 1 October 1983 that 30 per cent. by value of work below that threshold should also be put to competitive tender. In addition I am planning experiments in contracting-out to the private sector the maintenance of specified lengths of motorway.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths on the road were caused by drunken driving during 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.

The cause of road accidents is not routinely collected. Alcohol is considered to be a significant contributory cause in about a tenth of all road accidents in Great Britain (ie about 26,000 personal injury accidents, of which about 540 would have been fatal, in 1982).About a fifth (ie 1,200 in 1982) of all road deaths are associated with drinking by drivers and pedestrians in excess of the legal limit for drivers.It is not possible to distinguish between years for such estimates, but annual percentages of dead drivers whose blood alcohol exceeded 80 mg./100 ml, and of drivers involved in accidents who failed the breath test, are given in "Road Accidents Great Britain 1982", a copy of which is in the Library, pages 20 and 42.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many rear seat car passengers died during 1983 as a result of road accidents; by what proportion that figure would have been reduced if the wearing of rear seat belts had been compulsory; and if he will publish the statistical evidence on which the answer is based.

[pursuant to the reply, 17 January 1984, c. 60]: The answer, correctly attributing the figures to "seat belt not fitted" is as follows:In the nine months to September 1983, it is provisionally estimated that 220 rear seat car occupants were killed. Figures for 1982 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the dates of the meetings of the Council of Research Ministers of the Community since 1 January 1979; and at which meetings the United Kingdom was represented by a Minister and at which by an official of his Department.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to his question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy, which listed the dates of meetings of the Council of the Research Ministers of the Community since 1 January 1979. Ministers of this Department represented the United Kingdom on 22 October 1979, 9 November 1981, 8 March and 30 June 1982, and on 8 February, 10 March, 28 June, 26 October and 13 December 1983. Officials of my Department have not represented the United Kingdom at any research councils since 1 January 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the level of new British capital investment in South Africa for each year since 1973.

The available information relates to net outward direct investment by United Kingdom companies (excluding oil) in South Africa and is given for each year since 1973 in table 3.1 of Business Monitor MA4 (Overseas Transactions). A definition of direct investment is given in the introductory notes to that publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the value in total of British corporate assets in South Africa.

The latest available information is given in table 1 of the supplement to Business Monitor MA4 (Census of Overseas Assets 1978).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total cost of administration of his Department expressed in constant prices in each of the last five years.

The information is not available because the Department of Trade and Industry was formed in 1983. However, the total costs of administration of the separate Departments of Trade and Industry expressed in 1982/83 prices for the last 4 years was:

Year	Amount £m
1979–80	260·6
1980–81	291·8
1981–82	282·0
1982–83	276·5

This information is taken from the annual scrutinies of departmental running costs which only cover 1979–80 onwards. The costs for 1979–80 are not comparable because of certain changes in accounting.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to prohibit the sale of expanding novelties containing any salts of poly (acrylic acid); and if he will make a statement.

On 5 December last I made the Expanding Novelties (Safety) Order 1983 (Statutory Instrument 1983 No. 1791) under the procedure specified in schedule 1, part 1, paragraph 5 of the Consumer Safety Act 1978.The order prohibits the supply of any article that contains any salts of poly (acrylic acid) or of its copolymers, or any substance that reacts with water to form such salts.Such articles, if swallowed by a child, could swell up in the gut and cause obstruction and/or perforation of the gut wall, or could become lodged in the trachea or bronchial tubes and swell up, and so possibly cause suffocation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he has considered the future of capital allowances in the British film industry;(2) what plans he has for the future funding of the National film school;(3) whether he has completed his inquiry into the future of the British film industry; and if he will make a statement.

The review of this Department's relations with the film industry is now at an advanced stage and will be published as soon as possible. The review has covered a wide range of issues, including capital allowances for film making, and the funding of the national film and television school.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what definition he uses of local content in his negotiations with the Nissan Motor Company; if he will specify the items included; and if he will make a statement.

Our discussions have been based on an ex-works price definition; this includes EC bought-in components and materials, local labour and other overheads including depreciation, and manufacturing profit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conveniently-available figures he has for the number of visitors from Argentina to the United Kingdom in 1981, 1982 and 1983.

Estimates, given in the following table are taken from the results of the international passenger survey. This is a sample survey and, because there are relatively few visitors from Argentina, the estimates are subject to sampling errors of around 25 per cent.

	Estimated number of visitors Thousands
1981
Q1	24
Q2	13
Q3	13
Q4	4
1982
Q1	18
Q2	3
Q3	*
Q4	*
1983
Q1	*
Q2	*
* Negligible

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what efforts he has made to help the British Tourist Authority maintain or restore good relations with Latin American tourist and travel trade, after the Falklands war.

The British Tourist Authority has been continuing its work to develop good relations with the tourist and travel trade in Latin America.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what use his Department makes of the private sector for the movement of parcels, packages, documents and letters; and if he will estimate the proportion of his Department's mail handled in this way.

My Department makes no use of private sector mail services at present, although the cost effectiveness of doing so, taking into account weight, volume, security and urgency, is kept under review. Some possibilities have been examined but have not been found to meet these criteria in the particular circumstances involved. Eighty-five per cent. of my Department's staff of around 1,100 are housed in one building. The scope for using private sector mail services for internal communications would therefore in any case be very limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the dates of the meetings of the Council of Research Ministers of the Community since 1 January 1979; and at which meetings the United Kingdom was represented by a Minister and at which by an official of his Department.

The Council of Research Ministers of the Community has met on the following occasions since 1 January 1979: 22 October and 20 December 1979; 9 November 1981; 3 March, 30 June and 4 November 1982; and 8 February, 10 March, 28 June, 26 October (continued on 5 November), and 13 December 1983. Ministers of this Department represented the United Kingdom on 20 December 1979 and 4 November 1982. Officials of my Department have not represented the United Kingdom at any research councils since 1 January 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the powers he exercises, and functions he can carry out, without any specific parliamentary approval.

A large number of provisions in a wide range of statutes require or empower the Secretary of State for Energy to take certain action or decisions, with or without the specific approval of Parliament in the particular case. Other powers and functions are inherent in the office of a Minister of the Crown: for example the day to day management of his Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his answer on 22 December 1983, he will list the minor services in the period 1974 to 1981 which were purchased by the Argentine CNEA from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in the period 1974 to 1981; and if he will define the term 'low-sensitive technology' as used in the answer.

The minor services which the CNEA purchased from the UKAEA during the period 1974–1981 comprised the following:

1. Consultancies:

(a) three days in 1973 on reactor problems;

(b) one month in 1977 on basic aspects of fusion research;

(c) one week in 1978 on non-destructive testing methods;

(d) two weeks in 1981 on a feasibility study of a non-destructive testing project (which did not materialise);

2. Attachments of CNEA personnel to the UKAEA:

(a) 2¼ years between 1973 and 1975 on general research on the effects of radiation on materials;

(b) three months training in 1975 on the technical aspects of transporting radioactive material;

(c) one year's basic research in 1978 on the preparation of low enriched uranium (LEU) for use in power reactors;

(d) one year in 1979 on basic research on the sintering of oxide ceramics;

(e) three weeks training in 1979 on reactor safety;

(f) three weeks in 1980 on the application of computers to safety problems;

The term non-sensitive technology normally means information for use for civil nuclear purposes which would not contribute to the design or production of a nuclear explosive device.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ask the International Atomic Energy Agency to approach the new Government in Argentina with a view to that Government signing the statutes of International Atomic Energy Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Argentina signed the agency's statute on 26 October 1956, as an initial member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and deposited an instrument of ratification on 3 October 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. has carried out studies of cancer incidence amongst its work force at Sellafield as compared with the general population other than mortality incidence studies;(2) what evidence exists to compare the incidence of cancers amongst radiation workers or former radiation workers as opposed to non-radiation workers at Sellafield with the incidence of cancer in the general population; and what conclusions he draws;(3) if the study by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. on the mortality incidence from cancer 1948 to 1980 includes females; if the study gave the ages of those with cancer, their dose rate and the amount of time worked for the company; and if he will make a statement;(4) how many of the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. work force, past or present, who are currently alive, are known to be suffering from multiple myeloma;(5) what studies have been carried out at Sellafield of the incidence of types of cancer, including the 19 radio-sensitive types of cancer recognised by the International Commission on Radiological Protection; what comparison can be made with the incidence of each type of cancer in the general population; and if these studies are mortality incidence studies;(6) if the recommendation contained in the report of the Windscale inquiry by Mr. Justice Parker in 1977 that an independent expert be called to analyse the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. health statistics has been carried out; which expert was selected; when the first statistics were provided for analysis; and whether the report will be published;(7) what was the nature of the studies relating to cancer incidence in workers at Sellafield carried out by British Nuclear Fuels and referred to in a letter of 23 December 1983 from the Under-Secretary of State at his Department to the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch; when these studies were carried out; and if these studies included a study of cancer incidence amongst the existing work force.

Much of the information sought: by the hon. Member is contained in technical papers which have been published at international conferences or in appropriate journals and in public statements by BNFL. Sir Douglas Black's inquiry will also be considering the data compiled by BNFL from amongst its work forces as part of the evidence submitted for analysis in respect of the inquiry into the published claims of an increase of cancer in the vicinity of Sellafield. I have asked the chairman of BNFL to give the hon. Member the information he requires. Copies of his answer will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate when the National Coal Board is likely to take over the ownership of the fluidised bed combustion facility at Grimethorpe, Barnsley; what further work needs to be done; and what are the prospects of continuing financial support for this project.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) further to his answer of 18 January, Official Report, which organisations other than German and Japanese ones have been approached as potential partners with the National Coal Board in continuation of the experimentation in the fluidised bed combustion facility at Grimethorpe.(2) when the National Coal Board is likely to take over the fluidised bed combustion facility at Grimethorpe, Barnsley.

It is expected that plant operations under the IEA programme will cease around the end of April this year and that the facility will be handed over to the National Coal Board around the end of July. The questions on further work and financial support are for the National Coal Board and I am asking the chairman to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation colleagues; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend met his NATO colleagues on 16 January before the opening session of the conference on confidence and security building measures and disarmament in Europe. They will all meet again at the spring Ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Washington at the end of May. My right hon. and learned Friend will be meeting individual colleagues from NATO countries on other occasions before that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what pressures are being brought by the Government as a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member to get the strategic arms reduction talks and intermediate nuclear force negotiations reopened.

We and our allies have repeatedly made clear our wish to see the Geneva negotiations resumed without pre-conditions on either side. My right hon. and learned Friend emphasised this in his speech in Stockholm on 20 January and in his discussions with Mr. Gromyko on 19 January. President Reagan reflected the views of NATO allies when he said on 16 January:

"Whenever the Soviet Union is ready to do likewise, we will meet them halfway".

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms exist in the European Economic Community to prevent the European Assembly exceeding functions and powers given it by the treaty of Rome.

Under the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) treaty, the powers of the European Parliament are circumscribed by article 38 under which the court, on the application of a member state, may declare an Act of the Parliament void. There is no provision in the EEC treaty which expressly confers a similar jurisdiction on the European Court. The court has ruled, however, that the actions of the Parliament which concern all three Communities indivisibly can be challenged under article 38 of the ECSC treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total cost of administration of his Department expressed in constant prices in each of the last five years.

The total cost of administration of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, expressed in 1982–83 prices in the last four years was

	£
1979–80	361,666,000
1980–81	356,084,000
1981–82	357,358,000
1982–83	370,885,000

This information is taken from the annual scrutinies of departmental running costs which only cover 1979–80 onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent progress towards implementation of United Nations resolution 435; and what recent discussions he has had in this regard and with what outcome.

Agreement has been reached on the main issues under United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 and we look for early implementation of the United Nations plan. In practice, further progress depends on resolution of outstanding regional security problems. The prospect of a disengagement of South African forces on the Angola-Namibian border may offer an opportunity for the resumption of negotiations. We are in close touch with the Secretary-General and our Western partners and remain ready to help in any way we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has now decided to make a contribution to the United Nations voluntary fund for victims of torture.

We will, subject to approval of the Supply Estimates by this House, make a contribution of £10,000 to this voluntary fund in the next financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions have been taken by the Council of the European Economic Community since June 1982 concerning Commission proposals for a new office in Tokyo; and what is the cost of new building authorised.

The Commission has not submitted to the Council any proposals for a new office in Tokyo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he is having through third parties with the Argentine Government about the permanent establishment of fishery protection vessels round the Falklands.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the distinguised Falkand Islanders who have recently visited the Minister of State in his Department; and what representations they made about re-establishing a rational working relationship with Argentina.

Three Falkland Islands councillors—Mr. A. T. (Tony) Blake, Mr. L. G. (Tim) Blake, and Mr. J. E. Cheek—have called on my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in London in the past six months. Regarding the details of their discussions, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 19 December. (Vol. 51, c. 37.] My right hon. and noble Friend also attended a meeting of the Islands Council in Port Stanley on 16 January. The discussions at that meeting are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current relations between civilian and military populations in the Falkland Islands.

As my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, made clear in another place on 6 December, relations between the civilian and military populations are excellent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his consideration with the Falkland Islanders of the future structure of their internal Government and electoral system.

We are considering with the Falkland Islands Government the recommendations of their Select Committee on the constitution. These discussions are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Falkland Islanders on proportional representation.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sale or lease has taken place to islanders interested in farming their own land of the £450,000 West Falkland farm, financed by Her Majesty's Government and made available to the Falklands Islands Government.

The Packe Brothers estate, to which the hon. Member refers, was purchased by the Falkland Islands Government in June 1983: it has been sub-divided into six units. The sale of these is currently in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply he has had from the European Community and its presidency about the reciprocal lifting of commercial and economic sanctions imposed at the time of the Falklands conflict on Argentina.

We have been in regular contact with successive presidencies about this matter. In the first half of 1983 the German Presidency, with the agreement of our partners, invited the previous Argentine Government to send a high-level delegation to Brussels to discuss the normalisation of commercial and economic relations, in particular those between the United Kingdom and Argentina. The Argentine Government consistently declined to enter into substantive discussions, but the Community offer has been repeated and remains on the table. We naturally hope that, following the return to democracy, the new Government in Argentina will be more willing to respond.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches have been made through third parties, such as Switzerland, to ask the Argentine Government about the visit of next-of-kin to Argentine graves in the Falklands.

The Argentine Government are aware of our continuing readiness in principle for a suitably prepared visit to the Islands by close relatives of the dead to take place or, preferably, for Argentina to take back the bodies of those killed in the Falklands. Details of discussions between Governments are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reasons he has given to the United Nations Secretary General for Her Majesty's Government's failure to comply with the United Nations Assembly resolution adopted on 16 November 1983, recommending that the United Kingdom should enter into negotiations with Argentina over the sovereignty of the Falklands; and whether he will place a copy of exchanges between Her Majesty's Government and the United Nations on the subject in the Library.

The exchanges with the United Nations Secretary-General are confidential. During the debate and in his explanation of vote, however, our permanent representative to the United Nations made clear our reasons for opposing the resolution adopted on 16 November in the General Assembly. Texts of these statements (UN documents A/38/PV57 and A/38/PV59) are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to make available to the public the Foreign Office file, entitled "Proposed offer by Her Majesty's Government to reunite Falkland Islands with Argentina and acceptance of lease" from 1940, which has been withdrawn from public scrutiny.

The record to which the hon. Member refers is due to be made available to public scrutiny in 1991.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts are made with Argentina through Her Majesty's embassy, Montevideo.

None. We are grateful to the Government of Uruguay for their humanitarian assistance in the repatriation of prisoners of war in 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations Her Majesty's Government have had on the nature of the arms contemplated being sold by the United States Administration to Argentina.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my statement on 9 December.—[Vol. 50, c. 604.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now seek agreement to send a British ambassador to Buenos Aires.

We wish to work for a more normal relationship with Argentina, including steps towards the resumption of diplomatic relations. But it is premature to contemplate an exchange of ambassadors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards compliance with United Nations resolutions.

Our policy is to comply scrupulously with those resolutions of the Security Council which are mandatory, and to determine our attitude to other resolutions — including those adopted by the General Assembly, which are recommendatory and non-binding in character—according to their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy regarding the European Economic Community ESPRIT programme which is designed to strengthen co-operation in the European Economic Community on information technology.

We attach importance to increased industrial co-operation in Europe, particularly in high technology areas such as information technology. But before the Community can enter into a major long-term commitment such as a European strategic plan for research in information and technology the implications for the Community Budget will need careful consideration. In consultation with our Community partners, we are doing this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow on 18 January about negotiations for the future of the Falkland Islands, if he will set out in the Official Report the several British suggestions referred to by the official spokesman of his Department in his statement on 4 January.

The suggestions, which have been made over a period, relate to practical areas in which we believe agreement with Argentina should be possible. They include proposals made through the European Community and its Presidency for the normalisation of economic and commercial relations; repeated indications of our willingness to facilitate the return of Argentine dead buried in the Falklands and, failing that, our readiness in principle to accept a suitably-prepared visit to the Islands by Argentine next-of-kin.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with Mr. Gromyko.

I shall be making an early statement to the House covering the opening of the CDE Conference in Stockholm and my meeting there with Mr. Gromyko.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each fire brigade in England and Wales (a) the numbers of fire service officers, and civilian supporting personnel, respectively, (b) the costs for each brigade showing Home Office contribution and that borne by rates, (c) the number of retained firemen for each brigade, and (d) the annual average inclusive cost for a full-time fire officer.

The number of firemen, including retained firemen, in each brigade in England and Wales is published annually in the reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services. The latest available figures will be found at appendix 5 of the 1982 report (Cmnd. 8964).The figures below show the number of civilians employed, and the total expenditure, on the fire service by each fire authority in 1982–83. The information has been taken from returns made by each local authority to the Department of the Environment. Expenditure is met from rate support grant and rate income, but information on the apportionment between the two and the average cost for a full-time fire officer is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Fire Brigade	Civilians (at 31 March 1983)	Total expenditure (1982–83) £
1. Avon	124	9,932,975
2. Bedfordshire	38	4,818,002
3. Berkshire	72	6,895,143
4. Buckinghamshire	40·5	4,831,305
5. Cambridgeshire	47	5,423,248
6. Cheshire	108·5	10,454,105

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often fire appliances in the London fire brigade area attended "serious" fires in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Information on fires attended in the London Fire Brigade area is published in tables 57–59 of "Fire Statistics, United Kingdom, 1982" a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Various indicators of the seriousness of these fires are collected; if required, further information could be provided according to the spread beyond the item first ignited, the method of extinction and the number and type of casualties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reported to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on progress in bringing prison rules and conditions into line with the standard minimum rules laid down by the Council of Europe for the treatment of prisoners; and if he will publish that report.

A copy of the reply sent last year in response to the quinquennial enquiry about implementation of the standard minimum rules was lodged in the Library of the House. We do not propose any more general publication.